Injectable Hydrogel Delivery System with High Drug Loading for Prolonging Local Anesthesia.

Peripheral nerve block is performed for precise pain control and lesser side effects after surgery by reducing opioid consumption. Injectable hydrogel delivery systems with high biosafety and moisture content have good clinical application prospects for local anesthetic delivery. However, how to achieve high drug loading and long-term controlled release of water-soluble narcotic drugs remains a big challenge. In this study, heterogeneous microspheres and an injectable gel-matrix composite drug delivery system are designed in two steps. First, heterogeneous hydrogel microspheres loaded with ropivacaine (HMS-ROP) are prepared using a microfluidic chip and in situ alkalization. An injectable self-healing hydrogel matrix (Gel) is then prepared from modified carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-ADH) and oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA). A local anesthetic delivery system, Gel/HMS-ROP/dexmedetomidine (DEX), with long-term retention and drug release in vivo is prepared by combining HMS-ROP and Gel/DEX. The drug loading of HMS-ROP reached 41.1%, with a drug release time of over 160 h in vitro, and sensory and motor blockade times in vivo of 48 and 36 h, respectively. In summary, the sequential release and synergistic analgesic effects of the two anesthetics are realized using core-shell microspheres, DEX, and an injectable gel, providing a promising strategy for long-acting postoperative pain management.

METTL14-mediated m6A epitranscriptomic modification contributes to chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain by stabilizing GluN2A expression via IGF2BP2.

Epigenetics is a biological process that modifies and regulates gene expression, affects neuronal function, and contributes to pain. However, the mechanism by which epigenetics facilitates and maintains chronic pain is poorly understood. We aimed to determine whether N6-methyladenosine (m6A) specifically modified by methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) alters neuronal activity and governs pain by sensitizing the GluN2A subunit of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in a model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP). Using dot blotting, immunofluorescence, gain/loss-of-function, and behavioral assays, we found that m6A levels were upregulated in L4-L6 DRG neurons in CINP in a DBP/METTL14-dependent manner, which was also confirmed in human DRGs. Blocking METTL14 reduced m6A methylation and attenuated pain hypersensitivity. Mechanistically, METTL14-mediated m6A modification facilitated the synaptic plasticity of DRG neurons by enhancing the GluN2A subunit of NMDAR, and inhibiting METTL14 blocked this effect. In contrast, overexpression of METTL14 upregulated m6A modifications, enhanced presynaptic NMDAR activity in DRG neurons, and facilitated pain sensation. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism of METTL14-mediated m6A modification in DRG neurons to maintain neuropathic pain. Targeting these molecules may provide a new strategy for pain treatment.

METTL14 contributes to acute lung injury by stabilizing NLRP3 expression in an IGF2BP2-dependent manner.

Acute lung injury (ALI) as well as its more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), frequently leads to an uncontrolled inflammatory response. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification was associated with the progression of several inflammatory diseases. However, the role of methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14)-mediated m6A methylation in ALI/ARDS remains unclear. Here, we reported an increase in overall expression levels of m6A and METTL14 in circulating monocyte-derived macrophages recruited to the lung following ALI, which is correlated with the severity of lung injury. We further demonstrated the critical function of METTL14 in activating NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in vitro and in mouse models of ALI/ARDS, and validated NLRP3 as the downstream target of METTL14 by the m6A RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) and RIP assays. Mechanistically, METTL14-methylated NLRP3 transcripts were subsequently recognized by insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2), an m6A reader, which stabilized NLRP3 mRNA. Furthermore, we observed that IGF2BP2 knockdown diminished LPS-induced ALI in mice by downregulating NLRP3 expression. In summation, our study revealed that the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS involves METTL14-mediated activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in an IGF2BP2 dependent manner, thereby demonstrating the potential of METTL14 and IGF2BP2 as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ALI/ARDS treatment.

Amiloride alleviates morphine tolerance by suppressing ASIC3-dependent neuroinflammation in the spinal cord.

BACKGROUND: The use of morphine in clinical medicine is severely constrained by tolerance. Therefore, it is essential to examine pharmacological therapies that suppress the development of morphine tolerance. Amiloride suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting microglial activation. Microglia play a crucial role in the establishment of morphine tolerance. Thus, we anticipated that amiloride might suppress the development of morphine tolerance. During this investigation, we assessed the impact of amiloride on mouse morphine tolerance. METHODS: Mice received morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) twice daily with intrathecally injected amiloride (0.3 µg/5 µl, 1 µg/5 µl, and 3 µg/5 µl) for nine continuous days. To assess morphine tolerance, mice underwent the tail-flick and hot plate tests. BV-2 cells were used to investigate the mechanism of amiloride. By using Western blotting, real-time PCR, and immunofluorescence labeling methods, the levels of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) p65, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins, and neuroinflammation-related cytokines were determined. RESULTS: The levels of ASIC3 in the spinal cord were considerably increased after long-term morphine administration. Amiloride was found to delay the development of tolerance to chronic morphine assessed via tail-flick and hot plate tests. Amiloride reduced microglial activation and downregulated the cytokines IL-1ß and TNF-a by inhibiting ASIC3 in response to morphine. Furthermore, amiloride reduced p38 MAPK phosphorylation and inhibited NF-κB expression. CONCLUSIONS: Amiloride effectively reduces chronic morphine tolerance by suppressing microglial activation caused by morphine by inhibiting ASIC3.

TSPO is a novel biomarker for prognosis that regulates cell proliferation through influencing mitochondrial functions in HCC.

The disorder of mitochondrial functions plays a key role in oncogenesis. It is known that TSPO (18-kDa translocator protein) lies in a peculiar location at the interface between the mitochondria and the cytosol. TSPO is found in many types of tissues and is associated with multiple cellular processes, including apoptosis, cell proliferation and the regulation of mitochondria. However, the involvement of TSPO in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In this study, we found that TSPO is upregulated in HCC tissue and is associated with poor differentiation and poor survival. Multivariate analyses showed that TSPO was an independent predictive factor for poor prognosis in HCC patients. For the first time, we provided evidence that TSPO knockdown suppressed HCC cell proliferation in vitro. Hence, TSPO knockdown-induced apoptosis by disturbing mitochondrial function by enhancing the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). An assay exploring the underlying mechanism revealed that TSPO knockdown modulated apoptotic regulatory proteins by regulating the ERK signaling pathway. Through a functional assay and an in vivo mouse model, the anti-cancer effect of PK11195, a specific ligand of TSPO, on HCC was revealed. In summary, TSPO may potentially serve as a prognostic biomarker, and TSPO might be a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

The Relationship between Blood Lead Level and Chronic Pain in US Adults: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Lead toxicity has been a major public health problem worldwide, yet no study has investigated the association between lead exposure and chronic pain. METHODS: We used data from three cycles of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with chronic pain status. We conducted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to investigate the association between chronic pain and blood lead level (BLL). Subgroup analyses were performed to explore which confounding factor modified the association between chronic pain and BLL. RESULTS: A total of 13,485 participants were included in our final analysis, out of which 1950 (14.46%) had chronic pain. In the fully adjusted model, a 1 µg/dL increase of BLL was associated with 3% higher risk of chronic pain. The highest BLL quartile (BLL > 2.40 µg/dL) was associated with a 32% increase in the risk of chronic pain compared with the lowest BLL quartile (BLL < 0.90 µg/dL). In the subgroup analyses, hypertension (P for interaction = 0.018) and arthritis (P for interaction = 0.004) status modified the association between BLL and chronic pain. Higher quartiles of BLL were associated with a higher risk of chronic pain only in individuals with hypertension or arthritis but not those without these conditions. CONCLUSION: A higher BLL was associated with a higher risk of chronic pain. Further research is warranted to investigate whether a causal relationship exists between the two, as well as potential underlying mechanisms.

Transcriptome Profiling of miRNA-mRNA Interactions and Associated Mechanisms in Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain.

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP) is a dose-limiting adverse event affecting 40% of chemotherapy patients. MiRNA-mRNA interaction plays an important role in various processes. However, detailed profiling of miRNA-mRNA interactions in CINP remains unclear. Here, a rat-based CINP model was established using paclitaxel, followed by nociceptive behavioral tests related to mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and cold allodynia. The landscape of miRNA-mRNA interaction in the spinal dorsal horn was investigated through mRNA transcriptomics and small RNA sequencing. Under CINP condition, 86 differentially expressed mRNAs and 56 miRNAs were identified. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses indicated the activity of Odorant binding, postsynaptic specialization and synaptic density, extracellular matrix, mitochondrial matrix, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, and GTPase activity. Protein-protein interaction (PPI), networks of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA, lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA, and TF-genes were demonstrated. We next explored the immune infiltration microenvironment and found a higher infiltration abundance of Th17 and a lower abundance of MDSC in CINP. RT-qPCR and dual-luciferase assays were used to verify the sequencing results, and single-cell analysis based on the SekSeeq database was conducted. Combined with bioinformatics analyses and experimental validations, Mpz, a protein-coding gene specifically expressed in Schwann cells, was found critical in maintaining CINP under miRNA regulation. Therefore, these data highlight the expression patterns of miRNA-mRNA, and the underlying mechanism in the spinal dorsal horn under CINP condition, and Mpz may serve as a promising therapeutic target for patients with CINP.

Activation of G-protein-coupled receptor 183 initiates inflammatory pain via macrophage CCL22 secretion.

Chronic pain is a major public health problem with limited effective therapeutic options. G-protein-coupled receptors play a significant role in pain modulation; however, whether and how G-protein-coupled receptor 183 participates in pain regulation remain unclear. In the present study, we found that G-protein-coupled receptor 183 expression was specifically upregulated in the hind paws of mice in various inflammatory pain models. Activation of G-protein-coupled receptor 183 induced acute pain, whereas inhibition or silencing of this receptor alleviated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) model. Mechanistically, activating G-protein-coupled receptor 183 triggers pain responses via the upregulation of C-C motif chemokine 22(CCL22) in macrophages while blocking the CCL22 receptor C-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) attenuates pain hypersensitivity. Taken together, our findings indicate that the G-protein-coupled receptor 183-CCL22 axis has a critical role in the development and maintenance of inflammatory pain.

Association of Sialic Acid-Binding Immunoglobulin-Like Lectin 15 With Phenotypes in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Setting of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

Importance: Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 15 (Siglec-15) is a novel immune checkpoint molecule that is highly homologous to programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), but information remains limited about its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Objective: To explore the expression pattern and association of Siglec-15 with outcomes among patients with ESCC who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at an academic institution in China. Participants included patients with ESCC who underwent neoadjuvant CRT and esophagectomy between June 2002 and December 2018. Multiplexed immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate the expression of Siglec-15 and PD-L1 in tumor cells (TCs) or tumor-associated macrophages based on pre-CRT biopsies. Different immune phenotypes have been proposed and further validated in an independent cohort. Data analysis was conducted from January to May 2021. Exposures: Siglec-15 or PD-L1 positivity vs negativity. Main Outcomes and Measures: Pathologic complete response (pCR), overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: Of 130 participants (median [range] age, 56 [42-73] years; 108 [83.1%] male participants) in the primary cohort, 58 patients (44.6%) achieved a pCR after neoadjuvant CRT. Siglec-15 and PD-L1 were detected in both TCs and macrophages. The percentage of Siglec-15-positive macrophages was notably higher than that of Siglec-15-positive TCs (median [IQR]: 34.4% [12.7%-64.3%] vs 4.8% [0.7%-25.6%]; P < .001). TC-Siglec-15 expression was significantly and positively associated with macrophage-Siglec-15 expression (r = 0.78; P < .001). Siglec-15 positivity was significantly associated with a higher rate of pCR (37 of 70 [52.9%] vs 21 of 60 [35.0%]; P = .04), more favorable OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.25-0.85; P = .01), and RFS (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.26-0.88; P = .02). However, PD-L1 positivity in TCs was negatively associated with survival. Stratification analysis further revealed that patients with combined Siglec-15 positivity and PD-L1 negativity had better survival than those with other phenotypes. Major findings were reproducible in a validation cohort with 55 patients. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of patients with ESCC receiving neoadjuvant CRT, Siglec-15 positivity was associated with a better pathological response and more favorable survival. Siglec-15 could serve as a novel biomarker to identify potential candidates that may benefit from immunotherapy combined with CRT.

Dopamine receptor D3 is related to prognosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma and inhibits tumor growth.

BACKGROUND: Dopamine receptors have been reported to play important roles in cancer progression. However, the role of dopamine receptor D3 (DRD3) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. METHODS: The expression of DRD3 was detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time qPCR. The prognostic value of DRD3 in patients was investigated by analyzing selected databases, including cBioPortal and Kaplan-Meier plotter. Cell growth was tested by CCK8 assay, and Transwell assays were performed to assess cancer cell migration and invasion. The cAMP/ERK/CREB signaling pathway was evaluated by Western blot analysis and ELISA. An HCC xenograft model was established for in vivo experiments. RESULTS: DRD3 mRNA expression was significantly higher in nontumor tissues than in tumor tissues. Lower protein expression of DRD3 was related to poor recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis showed that higher expression of DRD3 mRNA was associated with better OS, RFS, disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free survival (PFS). cBioPortal analysis revealed that the alteration group, which harbored genetic mutations in DRD3, exhibited poor OS, RFS, DSS and PFS. According to CCK8 and Transwell assays, stable DRD3 overexpression cell line (ex-DRD3-SK-HEP-1) showed weaker proliferation, migration and invasion behaviors. PD128907, a DRD3 agonist, suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC cell lines, while U99194, a DRD3 antagonist, enhanced proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC cell lines. Western blot analysis and ELISA revealed that stable DRD3 knock-down cell line (sh-DRD3-PLC/PRF/5) and U99194 both increased the protein levels of cAMP, p-ERK and p-CREB; on the other hand, ex-DRD3-SK-HEP-1 and PD128907 decreased the protein levels of cAMP, p-ERK and p-CREB. SCH772984, an ERK antagonist, abolished the effect of U99194 on the malignant biological behaviors of HCC cells. In vivo, PD128907 suppressed tumor growth, and U99194 enhanced tumor growth. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that down-regulation of DRD3 is strongly involved in the progression of HCC, and DRD3 might be consider as an independent prognostic factor for HCC. Furthermore, DRD3 agonists may be a promising strategy for HCC therapy.

Identification of the common differentially expressed genes and pathogenesis between neuropathic pain and aging.

Background: Neuropathic pain is a debilitating disease caused by damage or diseases of the somatosensory nervous system. Previous research has indicated potential associations between neuropathic pain and aging. However, the mechanisms by which they are interconnected remain unclear. In this study, we aim to identify the common differentially expressed genes (co-DEGs) between neuropathic pain and aging through integrated bioinformatics methods and further explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: The microarray datasets GSE24982, GSE63442, and GSE63651 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and co-DEGs were first identified. Functional enrichment analyses, protein-protein Interaction (PPI) network, module construction and hub genes identification were performed. Immune infiltration analysis was conducted. Targeted transcription factors (TFs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and potential effective drug compounds for hub genes were also predicted. Results: A total of 563 and 1,250 DEGs of neuropathic pain and aging were screened, respectively. 16 genes were further identified as co-DEGs. The functional analysis emphasizes the vital roles of the humoral immune response and complement and coagulation cascades in these two diseases. Cxcl14, Fblim1, RT1-Da, Serping1, Cfd, and Fcgr2b were identified as hub genes. Activated B cell, mast cell, activated dendritic cell, CD56 bright natural killer cell, effector memory CD8 + T cell, and type 2 T helper cell were significantly up-regulated in the pain and aging condition. Importantly, hub genes were found to correlate with the activated B cell, activated dendritic cell, Gamma delta T cell, central memory CD4 + T cell and mast cell in pain and aging diseases. Finally, Spic, miR-883-5p, and miR-363-5p et al. were predicted as the potential vital regulators for hub genes. Aldesleukin, Valziflocept, MGD-010, Cinryze, and Rhucin were the potential effective drugs in neuropathic pain and aging. Conclusion: This study identified co-DEGs, revealed molecular mechanisms, demonstrated the immune microenvironment, and predicted the possible TFs, miRNAs regulation networks and new drug targets for neuropathic pain and aging, providing novel insights into further research.

Identification of potential Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-related key genes and regulation networks in molecular subtypes of major depressive disorder.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous and prevalent mental disorder associated with increased morbidity, disability, and mortality. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Materials and methods: All analyses were conducted based on integrated samples from the GEO database. Differential expression analysis, unsupervised consensus clustering analysis, enrichment analysis, and regulation network analysis were performed. Results: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was identified as an associated pathway in the development of MDD. From transcriptional signatures, we classified the MDD patients into two subgroups using unsupervised clustering and revealed 13 differential expression genes between subgroups, which indicates the probably relative complications. We further illustrated potential molecular mechanisms of MDD, including dysregulation in the neurotrophin signaling pathway, peptidyl-serine phosphorylation, and endocrine resistance. Moreover, we identified hub genes, including MAPK8, TP53, and HRAS in the maintenance of MDD. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the axis of miRNAs-TFs-HRAS/TP53/MAPK8 may play a critical role in MDD. Conclusion: Taken together, we demonstrated an overview of MAPK-related key genes in MDD, determined two molecular subtypes, and identified the key genes and core network that may contribute to the procession of MDD.

Dexmedetomidine Attenuates Apoptosis and Neurological Deficits by Modulating Neuronal NADPH Oxidase 2-Derived Oxidative Stress in Neonates Following Hypoxic Brain Injury.

Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is an important cause of neonatal neurological deficits. Our previous study demonstrated that dexmedetomidine (Dex) provided neuroprotection against neonatal hypoxic brain injury; however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Overactivation of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) can cause neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits. Hence, we aimed to investigate the role of neuronal NOX2 in Dex-mediated neuroprotection and to explore its potential mechanisms. Hypoxic injury was modeled in neonatal rodents in vivo and in cultured hippocampal neurons in vitro. Our results showed that pre- or post-treatment with Dex improved the neurological deficits and alleviated the hippocampal neuronal damage and apoptosis caused by neonatal hypoxia. In addition, Dex treatment significantly suppressed hypoxia-induced neuronal NOX2 activation; it also reduced oxidative stress, as evidenced by decreases in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, malondialdehyde, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, as well as increases in the antioxidant enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in neonatal rat hippocampi and in hippocampal neurons. Lastly, the posthypoxicneuroprotective action of Dex was almost completely abolished in NOX2-deficient neonatal mice and NOX2-knockdown neurons. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that neuronal NOX2-mediated oxidative stress is involved in the neuroprotection that Dex provides against apoptosis and neurological deficits in neonates following hypoxia.

Intraoperative low-dose dopamine is associated with worse survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis.

Background: Dopamine is widely used in patients during surgery. We evaluated the association between intraoperative low-dose dopamine administration and recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Consecutive patients with nonmetastatic HCC who underwent radical hepatectomy were enrolled between 2008 and 2010. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic factors for RFS and OS. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analyses with the log-rank test. A one-to-one propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to reduce confounding bias. Results: A total of 805 HCC patients, including 699 patients who did not receive dopamine consumption and 106 patients who received low-dose dopamine during the operation, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients who were assigned low-dose dopamine had worse RFS (p = 0.009) and OS (p = 0.041) than those who did not receive dopamine. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the intraoperative administration of low-dose dopamine was an independent unfavorable predictor for RFS (p = 0.004) but not for OS (p = 0.059). After PSM, the low-dose dopamine-treated group still had significantly poorer RFS (p = 0.003) and OS (p = 0.002). When stratified by time of recurrence, patients with low-dose dopamine use had a significantly greater chance of recurrence within 2 years (p = 0.007) but not after 2 years (p = 0.186). Conclusions: Intraoperative low-dose dopamine use has a negative impact on RFS and OS in HCC patients who have undergone radical hepatectomy. Further prospective studies are required to assess the effects of low-dose dopamine on surgical outcomes in HCC patients.

Potential influence of anaesthesia techniques on the recurrence and progression after resection of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: The non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is a common malignancy of the urinary system. Many patients relapse after transurethral resection surgery. Different anaesthesia techniques may influence a patient's immune system during the perioperative time. In this study, we examined the effects of different anaesthesia techniques on the prognosis of primary non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer after transurethral resection surgery. METHODS: In the period 2008 to 2017, a total of 926 patients suffered primary non-muscle-invasive bladder and underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour surgery for the first time. These patients were divided into two groups according to the techniques that were used. There were 662 patients in the general anaesthesia group, who received propofol, opioid drugs (fentanyl family), non-depolarizing muscle relaxants, and sevoflurane, and 264 patients in the epidural anaesthesia group, who had an epidural catheter placed in the L2-L3 or L3-L4 interspace with a combination of lidocaine and ropivacaine or bupivacaine. We analyzed the influence factors that might affect prognosis and compared the recurrence-free survival time and the progression between the two groups. RESULTS: The differences between the two groups in recurrence rate and progression rate were not statistically significant. Progression-free survival time of the epidural anaesthesia group was longer. Multivariate regression analysis showed that anaesthesia techniques were not independent influencing factors for recurrence and progression. CONCLUSIONS: It was not found that anaesthesia techniques affected the recurrence or progression of patients with primary non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer after transurethral resection of bladder tumour.

Peroxiredoxin 6 mediates the protective function of curcumin pretreatment in acute lung injury induced by serum from patients undergoing one-lung ventilation in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin has attracted much attention due to its wide range of therapeutic effects. In this study, we used serum collected from patients undergoing one-lung ventilation (OLV) to establish an in vitro acute lung injury (ALI) model to explore the potential protective mechanism of curcumin on ALI. Our study provides a new reference for the prevention and treatment of ALI induced by OLV. METHODS: A549 cells were treated with 20% serum from patients undergoing OLV to establish an in vitro ALI model. Curcumin, at a dose of 40 µg/ml, was administered two hours prior to this model. The levels of inflammation and oxidative stress markers were observed by Western blot, qRT-PCR, ELISA and reactive oxygen species assay. Additionally, the expression of peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) and proteins involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway was evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty percent of serum collected from patients undergoing OLV downregulated the expression of Prdx6, leading to the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which was associated with the subsequent overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species. Pretreatment with curcumin restored Prdx6 downregulation and inhibited NF-κB pathway activation by suppressing the nuclear translocation of P65, eventually reducing inflammation and oxidative stress damage in A549 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Prdx6 mediated the protective function of curcumin by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB pathway in ALI in vitro.

A novel prognostic time window based on conditional survival and outcomes analyses of primary liver cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Liver cancer is one of the most deadly and prevalent cancers. A routine follow-up plan for liver cancer is crucial but limited. In the present study, we aimed to disclose possible risk factors and critical survival time windows for primary liver cancer. METHODS: We enrolled 692 liver cancer patients from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of cirrhosis and recurrence were conducted. A meta-analysis was utilized to validate an indication of creatinine (CRE) in recurrence. Conditional survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The results were further verified by the SYSUCC validation cohort and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) validation cohort. RESULTS: Our results indicated that A/G, history of hepatitis, history of alcohol consumption and platelet (PLT) might be potential prognostic factors for cirrhosis in liver cancer patients. CRE was significantly correlated with recurrence due to various therapies, especially after transarterial embolization. Moreover, 1.5 years to 2 years may be a critical time window for deterioration in survival rate based on the conditional survival analysis. CONCLUSION: A/G, history of hepatitis, alcohol consumption and PLT may be potential prognostic factors for cirrhosis in liver cancer patients. More attention should be focused on the renal function when treating the patients due to the significant role of CRE. 1.5 years to 2 years is a critical time window for deterioration in survival rate for liver cancer patients that contributes to determining the optimal follow-up plan in the future.

The nociceptin receptor promotes autophagy through NF-kB signaling and is transcriptionally regulated by E2F1 in HCC.

Opioids and their receptors are involved in cancer progression. However, the roles of the nociceptin receptor (NOP) and its antagonist (JTC801) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are poorly understood. The prognostic value of NOP expression was evaluated using tissue microarray and immunohistochemical staining analyses in a human HCC cohort. The biological role and mechanism of NOP in HCC tumor growth were determined in vitro and in vivo. We found that NOP was associated with the clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of HCC patients. NOP overexpression promoted HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NOP activated NF-kB signaling to promote autophagy, which inhibited apoptosis, in HCC cells. An inhibitor of autophagy, 3-MA, and an inhibitor of NF-kB, JSH-23, attenuated the function of NOP in HCC. E2F1 was identified as a transcription factor of NOP. The oncogenic role of NOP was positively regulated by E2F1. Furthermore, JTC801, a selective antagonist of NOP, abolished the function of NOP by inhibiting NF-kB signaling and autophagy. Our study demonstrates that NOP is an oncogene in HCC. We provide a potential therapeutic candidate and prognostic predictor for HCC. JTC801 could become a potential drug for HCC therapy.

Mutation-Derived Long Noncoding RNA Signature Predicts Survival in Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Genomic instability is one of the representative features of cancer evolution. Recent research has revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in maintaining genomic instability. Our work proposed a gene signature (GILncSig) based on genomic instability-derived lncRNAs to probe the possibility of lncRNA signatures as an index of genomic instability, providing a potential new approach to identify genomic instability-related cancer biomarkers. Methods: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) gene expression data from an RNA-seq FPKM dataset, somatic mutation information and relevant clinical materials were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). A prognostic model consisting of genomic instability-related lncRNAs was constructed, termed GILncSig, to calculate the risk score. We validated GILncSig using data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. In this study, we used R software for data analysis. Results: Through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, five genomic instability-associated lncRNAs (LINC01671, LINC01116, LINC01214, lncRNA PTCSC3, and LINC02555) were identified. We constructed a lncRNA signature (GILncSig) related to genomic instability. LUAD patients were classified into two risk groups by GILncSig. The results showed that the survival rate of LUAD patients in the low-risk group was higher than that of those in the high-risk group. Then, we verified GILncSig in the GEO database. GILncSig was associated with the genomic mutation rate of LUAD. We also used GILncSig to divide TP53 mutant-type patients and TP53 wild-type patients into two groups and performed prognostic analysis. The results suggested that compared with TP53 mutation status, GILncSig may have better prognostic significance. Conclusions: By combining the lncRNA expression profiles associated with somatic mutations and the corresponding clinical characteristics of LUAD, a lncRNA signature (GILncSig) related to genomic instability was established.