The clinical value of miRNA-21 in cervical cancer: A comprehensive investigation based on microarray datasets.

Previous work has demonstrated that the expression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) is implicated in cervical cancer (CC). However, little is known regarding its associations with clinical parameters. We first conducted a meta-analysis using data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarrays and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Then, enrichment analysis and hub gene screening were performed by bioinformatic methods. Finally, the role of the screened target genes in CC was explored. According to the meta-analysis, the expression of miR-21 in cancer tissues was higher than in adjacent nontumor tissues (P < 0.05). In addition, 46 genes were predicted as potential targets of miR-21. After enrichment analyses, it was detected that these genes were enriched in various cancer pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol signaling system and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. In this study, bioinformatic tools and meta-analysis validated that miR-21 may function as a highly sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of CC, which may provide a novel approach to the diagnosis and treatment of CC.

Identification of differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways involved in endometriosis by integrated bioinformatics analysis.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease characterized by the presence and growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, including the pelvis and abdominal cavity. This condition causes various clinical symptoms, such as non-menstrual pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and infertility, seriously affecting the health and quality of life of women. To date, the specific mechanism and the key molecules of endometriosis remain uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the development and persistence of the disease. A number of mRNA expression profile datasets (namely GSE11691, GSE23339, GSE25628 and GSE78851) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. These gene expression profiles were normalized, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by integrated bioinformatics analysis. A total of 103 DEGs were screened upon excluding the genes that exhibited inconsistency of expression (P<0.05). Furthermore, the Gene Ontology analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis, and construction of protein-protein interaction networks of DEGs were performed using online software. The results revealed that the DEGs were closely associated with cell migration, adherens junction and hypoxia-inducible factor signaling. In addition, immunohistochemical assay results were found to be consistent with the bioinformatics results. The present study may help us understand underlying molecular mechanisms and the development of endometriosis, which has a great clinical significance for early diagnosis of the disease.

New rapid method to detect BCR-ABL fusion genes with multiplex RT-qPCR in one-tube at a time.

Fast identification of BCR-ABL fusion genes is critical for precise diagnosis, risk stratification and therapy scheme selection in leukemia. More convenient methods are needed for quickly detection of the BCR-ABL fusion genes. Multiplex fluorescent reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (Multiplex RT-qPCR) methods are developed for detection of the at least 14 subtypes of BCR-ABL fusion genes in one tube at a time by using patients' bone marrow samples. The new Multiplex RT-qPCR method could quickly detect BCR-ABL fusion genes with sensitivity up to 10-106 copies. It can detect the fusion genes in patients' bone marrow samples containing any subtypes of the major bcr (M-bcr) e13a2, e14a2, e13a3 and e14a3, the minor bcr (m-bcr) e1a2 and e1a3, the micro bcr (µ-bcr) e19a2 and e19a3, and the nano bcr (n-bcr) e6a2 and e6a3. The specificity is comparable to the FISH methods. The cutoff for clinical diagnosis of BCR-ABL(+) is also determined by testing in clinical chronic myeloid leukemia samples. This is a new fast method with high sensitivity and specificity for clinical detection of BCR-ABL fusion genes. It will benefit the precise diagnosis, targeted therapy and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring in leukemia.

The effect of artemether on psychotic symptoms and cognitive impairment in first-episode, antipsychotic drug-naive persons with schizophrenia seropositive to Toxoplasma gondii.

The objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of add-on artemether in first-episode, untreated people with schizophrenia, who were Toxoplasma gondii seropositive, and explore the change in T. gondii antibodies during treatment. In this eight-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 100 T. gondii seropositive participants with schizophrenia were randomized to either the artemether or placebo group. Participants in the artemether group received 80 mg artemether once per day during the second week (days 8-14) and the fourth week (days 22-28). Participants in the placebo group received identical looking placebo capsules. Psychopathology, adverse side effects and cognitive function were measured using standardized instruments. The group × time interaction effects for the scores of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) subscales and performances on all cognitive components were not significant, only the main effect of group was significant. Compared to the placebo group, artemether group participants showed significantly greater reduction in the PANSS negative symptom scale (F(1,46) = 4.7, p = 0.03) and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (F(1,96) = 6.2, p = 0.01) scores, but there were no significant differences in the PANSS positive symptom and general psychopathology scales (p > 0.05). There were also no significant differences between the two groups in performance on any of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) cognitive domains. The artemether-risperidone combination is safe and well tolerated, but artemether as an adjunct to risperidone does not appear to alleviate cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR) TRC-13003145.

Globular adiponectin protects H9c2 cells from palmitate-induced apoptosis via Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.

UNLABELLED: Cardiomyocytes apoptosis is an important contributor to myocardial dysfunction and heart failure. Adiponectin has cardioprotective effects, potential mechanisms behind it are not clear in cardiomyocytes. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether adiponectin can block palmitate-induced apoptosis and the underlying biochemical mechanism in H9c2 cells. METHODS: H9c2 cells were treated with palmitate presence or absence of 2.5 µg/mL globular adiponectin. The effect on the cell viability of H9c2 cells was evaluated using MTT assay, and cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33342 staining. Protein expression was measured using the western blot method. RESULTS: Our results showed that the palmitate treatment induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells, which was associated with increasing the level of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP. Meanwhile, palmitate-induced apoptosis increased the protein level of p-ERK1/2, and decreased the protein level of p-Akt significantly. However, levels of both of these proteins were restored to the normal when pretreated with adiponectin, and followed with the decrease of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP. In line with these results, the protective effect of adiponectin can be blocked by PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002, and palmitate-induced apoptosis can be attenuated by ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the present study demonstrated that adiponectin protects H9c2 cells from palmitate-induced apoptosis via PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Our results reveal a link between adiponectin and cardiomyocytes apoptosis, suggesting that adioponectin may be a promising therapeutic for the treatment of lipotoxicity cardiomyopathy.

[Effect of chronic Toxoplasma infection on the spatial learning and memory capability in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of chronic infection of Toxoplasma gondii on the spatial learning and memory capability in mice. METHODS: Toxoplasma tachyzoites (RH strain) were reanimated at 37 degrees C after 15 days' storage at -20 degrees C, and injected intraperitoneally to mice of the experimental group each with 7.7 x 10(5). Normal saline was given to the control group, 0.5 ml per mouse. Two months later, all mice were tested in the Morris Water Maze. Smears of the mice brain homogenate and pathological sections were examined. RESULTS: (1) The density of cysts in the brain homogenate was 15/HP, and there was no evident pathological change in the hippocampus and adjacent areas of mice in the brain in the experimental mice. (2) Latency to platform, cumulative distance to the platform, total distance traveled in both experimental and control groups decreased significantly with the increase of training days (P < 0.01). The latency and cumulative distance in experimental group were significantly longer than that of the control group (P < 0.01). (3) The searching strategy of mice in the experimental group was significantly different from that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Toxoplasma tachyzoites can induce chronic infection in mice and the infection can damage at some extent the spatial learning and memory capability of mice.