[Study of sequence-dependent in vitro effects of zoledronic acid and paclitaxel upon human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HNE1].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the in vitro effects of anti-proliferation and apoptosis-inducing with different sequence regimens of zoledronic acid plus paclitaxel in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HNE1 so as to explore the optimal sequence regimen of these two drugs and related mechanism. METHODS: The cytotoxic effects of different sequence schemes of zoledronic acid plus paclitaxel on HNE1 cells were detected by methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry (FCM) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were used to measure the effects of zoledronic acid plus paclitaxel upon apoptosis. The expressions of mRNA of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase3 and Caspase9 gene were detected by real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and protein was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: All experiment groups enhanced the effect of anti-proliferation by MTT assay (P < 0.05); the treatment of zoledronic acid followed by paclitaxel was superior to the other two regimens (P < 0.05). As detected by FCM, the early apoptotic rate of control group was 2.59% ± 0.28% and the experiment groups were 13.89% ± 0.69%, 11.73% ± 0.54%, 23.97% ± 0.68%, 10.45% ± 0.16% and 8.59% ± 0.74% respectively (P < 0.05). TUNEL assay detected the late apoptosis of HNE1 cells and the experiment groups enhanced the effect of apoptosis-inducing (P < 0.05). The treatment of zoledronic acid followed by paclitaxel was superior to the other regimens (P < 0.05). Such an effect was due to the down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and up-regulations of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, Caspase3 and Caspase9 at the expression levels of mRNA and protein. There was a greater regulation in the group of zoledronic acid followed by paclitaxel. CONCLUSION: Zoledronic acid can enhance the in vitro effects of anti-proliferation and apoptosis-inducing for paclitaxel on HNE1 cell. The treatment of zoledronic acid followed by paclitaxel may be the optimal regimen. Synergistic induction of apoptosis is via the effects of Bcl-2 family and through the mitochondrial pathway.

Bibliometric analysis of the effects of mental fatigue on athletic performance from 2001 to 2021.

Aims: To explore the research hot topics and main contents in the field of the influence of mental fatigue on athletic performance, and to provide new ideas and directions for future research in this field. Methods: Using CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualization tool software core collection of Web of Science database to TS = ("mental fatigue" OR "mental exertion" OR "cognitive fatigue" OR "Cognitive exertion" OR "mental exhaustion" OR "mental tiredness") AND ("athletic performance" OR "technical skill*" OR "Skill*" OR "technique" OR "decision making" OR "performance") AND ("Humans") searched for the influence of mental fatigue on athletic performance from 2001 to 2021 to conduct visual analysis. Research hot topics were analyzed from the aspects of high-impact countries/regions, institutions, authors, high-frequency keywords, and mutation terms. Results: A total of 658 publications were identified finally, and there has been an increasing trend in the annual number of publications, with the United States ranking first in the number of publications and influence. Future research will focus on promoting the application of EEG technology as an objective indicator for assessing mental fatigue, exploring effective methods and measures for pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions against fatigue, and focusing on the effects of mental fatigue on endurance performance, technical skills, and sports-related decision-making. Conclusion: The results of the present study help us understand the status of the mental fatigue and athletic performance field and its recent developments.

[Inhibitory effects of zoledronic acid on cell proliferation and invasion in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HNE1].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the in vitro anti-tumor effects of zoledronic acid on cell proliferation and invasion in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HNE1. METHODS: The cytotoxic effects of zoledronic acid on HNE1 cells were detected by MTT assay, invasion of HNE1 cells by Transwell assay, secretion of (vascular endothelial growth factor)VEGF by (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) ELISA and the activities of MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) 2 and MMP9 by gelatine zymography. And the expressions of mRNA and proteins of MMP2, MMP9 and VEGF were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot respectively. RESULTS: After a treatment of zoledronic acid at 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mol/L for 48 h or 72 h, the highest inhibition rate of proliferation at approximately 50% was observed in the 40 mol/L group after 72 h. The inhibitory effect was not in a dose/time-dependent manner. After a 24-hour treatment of zoledronic acid at different concentrations (0, 10, 20 and 40 mol/L), the numbers of membrane-invading cells were 75.8 ± 2.6, 54.8 ± 5.4, 44.6 ± 6.4 and 38.6 ± 8.2 respectively (all P < 0.01). Gelatinase zymography demonstrated that the activities of MMP2 and MMP9 were inhibited significantly only in cells treated at 0 µmol/L. After a 24-hour exposure to zoledronic acid at 0, 10, 20 and 40 µmol/L, the concentrations of VEGF in supernatant were (5264 ± 89), (4626 ± 30), (4155 ± 40) and (1908 ± 171) g/L respectively (all P < 0.01). The expressions of mRNA and protein of MMP2, MMP9 and VEGF were down-regulated. CONCLUSION: Zoledronic acid can inhibit the in vitro proliferation and invasion of HNE1 cell through suppressing the secretion of VEGF, the activities of MMP2 and MMP9 and the expressions of VEGF, MMP2 and MMP9.

[Inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on the tube-like structure formation in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma HNE-1 cell line in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-angiogenic effect of ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3 in abbreviation) in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma HNE-1 cells in vitro. METHODS: The tube-like structure (TLS) formation of HNE-1 cells, cultured in medium with different concentrations of Rg3, was determined by in vitro anti-angiogenic test based on preliminary experiment observing the TLSs formed by HNE-1 cells on Matrigel and their structural characteristics. The VEGF expression level in HNE-1 cells was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western-blot test after 48-hour cultured in medium with different concentrations of Rg3. RESULTS: HNE-1 cells could form TLSs and mosaic vessels when mix-cultured with CRL-2480 on Matrigel. Rg3 could inhibit the TLS formation of HNE-1 cells. After 24-hour culture in medium with Rg3 at concentrations of 0, 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml, the number of TLSs were 75.50 ± 6.86, 55.00 ± 11.92, 39.75 ± 7.93 and 24.50 ± 6.25, respectively, which were negatively correlated with the concentrations of Rg3 (r = -0.928; P < 0.01). After 48 hours of culture, the expressions of VEGF significantly declined by IHC test with results as 0.19 ± 0.03, 0.13 ± 0.02, 0.11 ± 0.01, and 0.08 ± 0.01, respectively, which were negatively correlated with the concentrations of Rg3 (r = -0.911; P < 0.01). The expressions of VEGF also gradually decreased as revealed by Western blot test, with corresponding results as 119.49, 111.51, 86.45, and 38.29. All of the tests showed significantly declined results in the group at the concentration of 200 µg/ml Rg3. CONCLUSION: Rg3 can inhibit the vasculogenic mimicry of HNE-1 cells, and the possible mechanism might be associated with the down-regulation of VEGF protein expression in HNE-1 cells.

CDK4/6 inhibition versus mTOR blockade as second-line strategy in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer: A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors (palbociclib and abemaciclib) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors (everolimus) are effective agents for restoring endocrine sensitivity in patients with advanced breast cancer progression on prior aromatase inhibitors. We conducted a network meta-analysis to compare these treatments in terms of progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and clinical benefit rate (CBR). METHODS: The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant publications between January 2000 and June 2018. Treatments were ranked based on a network meta-analysis. Ranking was determined by P-score. A random-effect model was used when heterogeneity was detected; otherwise, a fixed-effect model was used. RESULTS: Six trials comprising 4063 patients formed the comparison network. Compared with everolimus plus exemestane, the combinations of palbociclib or abemaciclib with fulvestrant showed similar efficacies in PFS and no differences in ORR. For the CBR, palbociclib demonstrated improvement, while abemaciclib did not. Incidences of severe adverse events did not significantly differ. A total of 29%, 15.9%, and 4% of patients discontinued everolimus, abemaciclib, and palbociclib, respectively, due to toxicity. CONCLUSION: These results suggest similar efficacies between CDK4/6 inhibition and mTOR blockade; however, CDK4/6 inhibitors were associated with favorable toxicity profiles.

Fulvestrant plus targeted agents versus fulvestrant alone for treatment of hormone-receptor positive advanced breast cancer progressed on previous endocrine therapy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

To compare the addition of targeted agents to fulvestrant with fulvestrant alone in hormone-receptor positive advanced breast cancer progressed on previous endocrine therapy; a meta-analysis of all relevant randomized controlled trials was performed. The PubMed, Embase databases and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for relevant publications reporting randomized controlled trials between January 2000 and June 2016. Progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and toxicity were assessed. Eight trials with a total of 2,470 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with fulvestrant alone, combination therapy improved PFS (HR = 0.79; 95% CI 0.72-0.87; P = 0.00), increased ORR (RR = 1.70; 95% CI 1.30-2.21; P = 0.00), and showed a trend of increase in DCR (RR = 1.27; 95% CI 0.96-1.69, P = 0.09). In network analysis, only CD4/6 and PI3K/m-TOR inhibitors showed significant treatment effects with a P-score of 0.9999 and 0.7615, respectively. Patients treated with combination therapy developed more grade 3 or greater toxic effects (RR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.13-1.36; P = 0.00). Combining targeted agents with fulvestrant showed benefit but with increased toxicity in patients with advanced breast cancer compared with fulvestrant alone. Biomarkers for treatment optimization are lacking. The CD4/6 and PI3K/m-TOR pathways merit further investigation.

Zoledronic acid inhibits human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation by activating mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

We investigated the apoptosis-inducing effect of zoledronic acid in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell HNE-1 and explore the potential mechanism. Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell HNE-1 was exposed to various concentrations (0-40 µmol/L) of zoledronic acid. Cell proliferation was studied by an MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Gene expressions were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR, and protein expressions were investigated by Western blot. The results showed zoledronic acid decreased cell proliferation not in a time- or dose-dependent fashion. TUNEL assay, together with Annexin V/propidium iodide FACS analysis, confirmed the increase in apoptotic HNE-1 cells treated with zoledronic acid. Cell cycle analysis showed a larger number of treated cells occupied the S-phase. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot revealed that the pro-apoptotic genes, Bad, Bax, and Caspase-9, were upregulated in treated HNE-1 cells, whereas the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2, was downregulated in both mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, zoledronic inhibits human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.