Construction and validation of risk model of EMT-related prognostic genes for kidney renal clear cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is a prevalent type of urological malignancy. The present study aimed to predict biomarkers for KIRC. METHODS: We collected transcriptomic and clinical information for KIRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas and GSE22541 cohorts. RESULTS: Unsupervised clustering of 35 epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT)-related differentially expressed gene profiles divided samples into two clusters with distinct immune characteristics. Six genes (IL20RB, DDC, ANKRD36BP2, F2RL1, TEK, and AMN) were found to construct a prognostic risk model using multivariate Cox regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested the better prognosis of the KIRC patients in the low-risk group than that in the high-risk group. Immune infiltration analyses was conducted using xCell and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, indicating that the risk score was associated with the immune microenvironment of the KIRC. Prognostic marker gene-targeted medications with high drug sensitivity were predicted in KIRC patients. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the present study identified IL20RB, DDC, ANKRD36BP2, F2RL1, TEK, and AMN as prognostic biomarkers, providing insight into immunotherapy and gene-targeted drugs of KIRC.

Genetic polymorphisms of CYP24A1 gene and cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis including 40640 subjects.

BACKGROUND: Whether cytochrome P450 24A1 (CYP24A1) polymorphism is associated with cancer susceptibility, the individual study results are still controversial. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive study to identify the association of CYP24A1 polymorphisms (rs4809960, rs6068816, rs2296241, rs4809957, rs2762939) with cancer susceptibility. METHODS: Electronic databases including Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase were systematically retrieved for relevant publications. Fixed or random-effect model was selected to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: Eighteen published articles were identified. The results indicated that rs4809960 polymorphism was associated with a decreased cancer risk in Caucasian (TT vs. TC+CC: P=0.035; C vs. T: P=0.016) and Asian population (CC vs. TC+TT: OR P=0.044; TT vs. TC+CC: P=0.021; CC vs. TT: P=0.020; C vs. T: P=0.008) and breast cancer risk (TT vs. TC+CC: P = 0.007; TC vs. TT: P=0.004; C vs. T: P=0.033). A significant association was found between rs2296241 polymorphism and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk (AA vs. GG+AG: P = 0.023) and prostate cancer susceptibility (A vs. G: P=0.022). Furthermore, rs4809957 polymorphism was associated with prostate cancer susceptibility in Caucasian (GG vs. GA+AA: P=0.029; GA vs. GG: P=0.022) and breast cancer susceptibility (AA vs. GG+GA: P=0.012; AA vs. GG, P=0.010; A vs. G: P=0.024). Additionally, rs6068816 polymorphism significantly decreased the lung cancer (CC vs. CT+TT: P = 0.016; TT vs. CC: P = 0.044; CT vs. CC: P = 0.036; T vs. C: P = 0.016) and breast cancer risk (TT vs. CC+CT: P = 0.043; TT vs. CC: P = 0.039). No association was found for rs2762939 polymorphism with overall cancer risk. However, for rs2296241, rs4809957, and rs6068816 polymorphisms, there were no significant differences after the Bonferroni correction. CONCLUSION: The meta-analysis suggested that rs4809960 was associated with cancer risk and might be a genetic marker for predicting cancer risk. More large-scale and large-sample studies are necessary to further confirm these results.

Selective binding, magnetic separation and purification of histidine-tagged protein using biopolymer magnetic core-shell nanoparticles.

In previous studies, we synthesized the magnetic core-shell structured Fe3O4/PMG/IDA-Ni2+ nanoparticles. The Ni2+ on the surface of nanoparticles provides abundant docking sites for histidine, and the composite nanoparticles showed potential applications in the separation and purification of histidine-tagged (His-tagged) proteins. Meanwhile, the presence of the superparamagnetic core (Fe3O4) in the nanoparticles allows them to be quickly separated and purified by an external magnetic field. Herein, the ability of magnetic nanoparticles to purify His-tagged human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) was verified. SDS-PAGE and activity data showed His-tagged hSOD1 specifically bound to Fe3O4/PMG/IDA-Ni2+, and there was no significant competition for binding between final and three intermediate products. The binding capacity of nanoparticles can reach to 62.0 mg/g (dry weight of hSOD1/nanoparticles). The nanoparticle-bound hSOD1 exhibited better thermal and storage stability compared to free hSOD1. Furthermore, the purification efficiency of the magnetic nanoparticles in the separation and purification of His-tagged proteins was comparable to the other two commercial materials (High Affinity Ni-NTA Resin, HisPur Ni-NTA Magnetic Beads). Finally, the magnetic nanoparticles can be reused in the binding of His-tagged protein for multiple times. In conclusion, the nanoparticles are ready to be applied in the separation and purification of His-tagged protein.

Rapid detection of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) by loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay combined with a lateral flow dipstick method.

The Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a principal pathogen of the domestic silkworm. The disease often breaks out in sericultural countries and due to its high infectivity; it is difficult to control, resulting in heavy economic loss. In order to develop a rapid, sensitive visual detection and simple-to-use novel technology for detection of BmNPV, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay combined with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) method was described. In this study, a set of four primers and a labeled probe were designed specifically to recognize six distinct regions of the BmNPV gp41 gene, and the LAMP for the detection of BmNPV was developed by isothermal amplification at 61 °C for 45 min, followed by hybridization with an FITC-labeled DNA probe for 5 min and detected by LFD within 5 min. The detection limit of LAMP-LFD was 0.2 pg DNA extracted from silkworm infected with BmNPV and was 100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. No product was generated from silkworm infected with other viruses. Furthermore, we applied the technique to detect BmNPV in the hemolymph and feces at different intervals post infection (pi). In conclusion, the novel LAMP-LFD setup presented here is simple, rapid, reliable, and has the potential for future use in the detection of BmNPV.

Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) in the treatment for locally advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: From March 2000 to March 2009 a total of 158 patients with unresectable HCC treated and followed at our hospital were divided into TACE group (N=80) and TACE combined with 3D-CRT group (N=78). The TACE group was treated 3-6 times. In the combination group, 2-3 TACE courses were administered and 3D-CRT was performed 2 weeks after the last TACE. Three months after the end of treatment, imaging and serum AFP were carried out to assess the treatment efficacy. RESULTS: The response rates of TACE and the combination groups were 53.7% (43/80) and 71.8% (58/78) (p<0.05). The 1, 2, and 3-year survival rates of patients in the TACE and combination groups were 58.75, 36.25, 16.25%, and 78.48, 55.12 and 25.64% (p<0.05), respectively. Treatment compliance was good, with at least 2 TACE administrations for each case and at least 52 Gy for radiotherapy. In the TACE and the combination group, there were 2 and 3 cases with grade III/IV toxicity, respectively, without treatment-related death. CONCLUSION: 3D-CRT in combination with TACE significantly improve the therapeutic outcome in patients with locally advanced unresectable HCC, without creating severe toxicity.

Nanotherapy to Reshape the Tumor Microenvironment: A New Strategy for Prostate Cancer Treatment.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in males worldwide. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the primary treatment method used for PCa. Although more effective androgen synthesis and antiandrogen inhibitors have been developed for clinical practice, hormone resistance increases the incidence of ADT-insensitive prostate cancer and poor prognoses. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has become a research hotspot with efforts to identify treatment targets based on the characteristics of the TME to improve prognosis. Herein, we introduce the basic characteristics of the PCa TME and the side effects of traditional prostate cancer treatments. We further highlight the emergence of novel nanotherapy strategies, their therapeutic mechanisms, and their effects on the PCa microenvironment. With further research, clinical applications of nanotherapy for PCa are expected in the near future. Collectively, this Review provides a valuable resource regarding the various nanotherapy types, demonstrating their broad clinical prospects to improve the quality of life in patients with PCa.

Drying Process of Waterborne Paint Film on Bamboo Laminated Lumber for Furniture.

In this study, bamboo laminated lumber for furniture was coated with waterborne acrylic paints. The effects of different environmental conditions (including temperature, humidity and wind speed) on the drying rate and performance of the waterborne paint film were investigated. Then, the drying process was optimized using the response surface methodology, and the curve model of drying rate was established, which can provide a theoretical basis for the drying process of the waterborne paint film for furniture. The results showed that the drying rate of the paint film changed with the drying condition. With an increase in temperature, the drying rate increased, and the surface and solid drying time of the film decreased. Meanwhile, with an increase in humidity, the drying rate decreased and the surface and solid drying time increased. Moreover, the wind speed can influence the drying rate, but the wind speed does not significantly affect the surface and solid drying time. The adhesion and hardness of the paint film were unaffected by the environmental conditions, but the wear resistance of the paint film was affected by the environmental conditions. Based on the response surface optimisation, the fastest drying rate was realised at a temperature of 55 °C, humidity of 25% and wind speed of 1 m/s, and the optimal wear resistance was realised at a temperature of 47 °C, humidity of 38% and wind speed of 1 m/s. The paint film drying rate reached the maximum value in 2 min and tended to remain constant after the film was completely dried.

Molecular Characterization and Bioactivities of a Novel Polysaccharide from Phyllostachys pracecox Bamboo Shoot Residues.

Dietary carbohydrates are unexploited in the by-products of economically valuable Phyllostachys pracecox bamboo shoots. A residue-derived polysaccharide (PBSR1) was aqueously extracted from the processing waste of this bamboo shoot species. Its primary structure and advanced conformation were elucidated by a combined analysis of spectroscopy, chromatography, 2D nuclear magnetic resonance, laser light scattering and atomic microscopy. The results indicated PBSR1 was a triple-helix galactan consisting of →6)-ß-D-Galp and →3)-ß-D-Galp in linear with an 863 KD molecular weight (Mw). The relationship between the radius of gyration (Rg) and intrinsic viscosity ([η]) on Mw were established as Rg = 1.95 × 10-2Mw0.52±0.03 (nm) and [η] = 9.04 × 10-1Mw0.56±0.02 (mL/g) for PBSR1 in saline solution at 25 °C, which indicated it adopted a triple-helix chain shape with a height of 1.60 ± 0.12 nm supported by a red shift of λmax in Congo red analysis. The thermodynamic test (TG) displayed that it had excellent thermal stability for the food industry. Further, those unique structure features furnish PBSR1 on antioxidation with EC50 of 0.65 mg/mL on DPPH· and an ORAC value of 329.46 ± 12.1 µmol TE/g. It also possessed pronounced immunostimulation by up-regulating pro-inflammatory signals including NO, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1ß in murine cells. Our studies provided substantial data for the high-valued application of residues and a better understanding of the structure-function relationship of polysaccharide.

Intrapleural chemo- and hyperthermotherapies for malignant pleural effusion: a randomized prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The current prospective randomized study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined intrapleural cisplatin and OK-432 (picibanil) plus hyperthermotherapy in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). METHODS: A total of 358 patients with MPE due to end-stage malignancies were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups, A and B: the intrapleural combination of cisplatin and OK-432 with hyperthermotherapy (n = 179) or without hyperthermotherapy (n = 179), respectively. Mild toxicities such as nausea, vomiting or anorexia, bone marrow depression, and pyrexia were similar in both groups. RESULT: Patients in Group A (with hyperthermotherapy) showed a significantly higher overall response (93.4%) compared to those in Group B (79.8%, χ(2) = 43.11, p < .05). The median survival time for patients in Group A and Group B were 8.9 and 6.2 months, respectively (p > .05). After treatment, the quality of life scores were significantly increased in both groups as compared to prior treatment (p < .05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study suggests that combined intrapleural cisplatin and OK-432 followed by hyperthermotherapy are more effective in the control of MPE and improve patients' quality of life.

Overexpression of ßIII-tubulin and survivin associated with drug resistance to docetaxel-based chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: To study the roles of ßIII-tubulin and survivin in the development of gastric cancer, and see for any relationship between the expression levels of these two genes and docetaxel chemoresistance in advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: Patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy were enrolled and their tumor samples were collected retrospectively for analysis (study group). The control group consisted of patients with benign gastric mucosa lesions. Expression levels of ßIII-tubulin and survivin were evaluated with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expression levels of ßIII-tubulin and survivin in the study group were significantly higher compared with those in the control group (p<0.01). Spearman's correlation analysis suggested that the expression of ßIII-tubulin was also correlated with that of survivin (p<0.05), but no correlation existed between the expression levels of ßIII-tubulin and survivin with age, gender and pathological tumor type. The complete response (CR) + partial response (PR) rates were 54.10%. Patients with ßIII-tubulin and/or survivin overexpression were less responsive to docetaxel-based therapy (p<0.05) and also had shorter median time to progression and 1- and 2-year survival rates (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Overexpression of ßIII-tubulin and survivin in gastric cancer cells was associated with resistance to docetaxel-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

miR-1251-5p Overexpression Inhibits Proliferation, Migration, and Immune Escape in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma by Targeting NPTX2.

Background: miR-1251-5p was identified as a tumor suppressor in a variety of malignancies; however, its biological function in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is unknown. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to download expression information, including miR-1251-5p, in 521 ccRCC tissues and 71 ordinary tissues, and bioinformatics was used to explore possible target mRNAs. The relationship between miR-1251-5p, target mRNA activity, and clinical factors was examined. To estimate the biological activity of miR-1251-5p and target mRNA in ccRCC cells, we used MTT, colony formation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, and Transwell assays. We employed a dual-luciferase reporter assay and a western blot to examine the molecular mechanisms of miR-1251-5p in ccRCC cells. In addition, the expressions of miR-1251-5p and target mRNA were further verified in the GEO database. Results: Our findings revealed that miR-1251-5p binds with NPTX2's 3'-UTR. In TCGA and GEO datasets, miR-1251-5p activity is found to be lower in ccRCC tissues than that in nearby conventional tissues, although NPTX2 activity is higher. In ccRCC sufferers, miR-1251-5p and NPTX2 act as biomarkers that indicate a bad prognosis. Meanwhile, in miR-1251-5p tissues, NPTX2 expression and multiple clinical variables (survival status, grade, T staging, N staging, M staging, and clinical stage) had significant differences (p < 0.05). Structurally, miR-1251-5p inhibited proliferation, migration, and immune escape of ccRCC cells by targeting NPTX2. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that miR-1251-5p constrained ccRCC cell advancement, migration, and immune evasion via targeting NPTX2, providing novel insights into ccRCC target treatment.

A multicomponent-based microemulsion for boosting ovarian cancer therapy through dual modification with transferrin and SA-R6H4.

Balancing the antitumor activity and systemic toxicity of tripterine still faces a big challenge due to the narrow therapeutic window. To address this issue, we report a microemulsion system based on tripterine, brucea oil, and glycyrrhizin, and dual modified with both transferrin and cell-penetrating peptide SA-R6H4 (Tf/SA-R6H4-TBG-MEs) for combinational and tumor-targeted cancer therapy. Such a microemulsion exhibited a spherical shape with a size of ~50 nm and a mildly-negative charge. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Tf/SA-R6H4-TBG-MEs against ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells was 0.27 ± 0.43 µg tripterine/mL, which was 5.85 times lower than that of free tripterine. The cellular uptake of tripterine after treatment with Tf/SA-R6H4-TBG-MEs was 1.56 times higher than that of TBG-MEs (non-modified microemulsion). In pharmacokinetics studies, the area under the curve of Tf/SA-R6H4-TBG-MEs increased by 1.97 times compared with that of the physical mixture group. The tumoral accumulation of tripterine was significantly improved in Tf/SA-R6H4-TBG-MEs group than TBG-MEs-treated group. In antitumor efficacy in vivo, Tf/SA-R6H4-TBG-MEs exhibited the strongest inhibition of tumor growth and the longest survival period among all the groups, which is associated with the rational combination, microemulsion system, and dual modification with tumor-targeted ligands. Importantly, Tf/SA-R6H4-TBG-MEs significantly reduced the toxicity of tripterine against the liver and kidney. Our design provides a new approach for efficient and safe ovarian cancer therapy based on a multicomponent combination.

A Magnetic T7 Peptide&AS1411 Aptamer-Modified Microemulsion for Triple Glioma-Targeted Delivery of Shikonin and Docetaxel.

Glioma-targeted drug delivery is a hugely challenging task because of the multibarrier in the brain. In this study, we report a magnetic T7 peptide&AS1411 aptamer-modified microemulsion for triple glioma-targeted delivery of shikonin and docetaxel (Fe3O4@T7/AS1411/DTX&SKN-M). Such a system comprises two tumor-targeted ligands (T7 peptide and AS1411 aptamer), ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (Fe3O4), and shikonin&docetaxel-coloaded microemulsion (SKN&DTX-M). Fe3O4@T7/AS1411/DTX&SKN-M is capable of stably circulating in the blood, accumulating around the brain under an external magnetic field, distributing inside the glioma via the affinity to nucleolin/transferrin receptor, and retarding the growth of orthotopic glioma. Fe3O4@T7/AS1411/DTX&SKN-M encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the core to obtain the superparamagnetism, which did not influence the main surface properties. Introducing 6% (wt%) of DSPE-PEG2000-T7 and 180 nM of AS1411 collaboratively enhanced the murine glioma (G422) cellular uptake of Fe3O4@T7/AS1411/DTX&SKN-M and thereby achieved the strongest antiproliferation among all the groups. Notably, the drug distribution at the brain sites of orthotopic Luc-G422 glioma tumor-bearing nude mice treated with Fe3O4@T7/AS1411/DTX&SKN-M was overwhelming among all the treatments. Most importantly, Fe3O4@T7/AS1411/DTX&SKN-M not only significantly reduced the luminescence signal at the brain areas of orthotopic Luc-G422 glioma mice but also prolonged the overall survival period. The enhancement of anti-glioma efficacy was associated with down-regulating the population of CD133- and CD44-positive cells within the tumors. In summary, such a triple glioma-targeted delivery of shikonin and docetaxel using combinational magnetism and T7/AS1411 modification strategies provides a promising method for synergistic and precise glioma therapy.

Convalescent plasma may be a possible treatment for COVID-19: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread globally. Therapeutic options including antivirals, anti-inflammatory compounds, and vaccines are still under study. Convalescent plasma(CP) immunotherapy was an effective method for fighting against similar viral infections such as SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV. In the epidemic of COVID-19, a large number of literatures reported the application of CP. However, there is controversy over the efficacy of CP therapy for COVID-19. This systematic review was designed to evaluate the existing evidence and experience related to CP immunotherapy for COVID-19. METHODS: A literature search was conducted on Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Clinical Key, Wanfang Database; China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) were used to search for the proper keywords such as SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, plasma, serum, immunoglobulins, blood transfusion, convalescent, novel coronavirus, immune and the related words for publications published until 15.10.2020. Other available resources were also used to identify relevant articles. The present systematic review was performed based on PRISMA protocol. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were performed by two reviewers. RESULTS: Based on the inclusions and exclusions criteria, 45 articles were included in the final review. First, meta-analysis results of RCTs showed that, there were no statistically significant differences between CP transfusion and the control group in terms of reducing mortality(OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.52-1.19, I2 = 28%) and improving clinical symptoms(OR 1.21, 95%CI 0.68-2.16; I2 = 0%). The results of controlled NRSIs showed that CP therapy may reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients(RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.53-0.66, I2 = 0%). Second, limited safety data suggested that CP is a well-tolerated therapy with a low incidence of adverse events. But, due to lack of safety data for the control group, it is really not easy to determine whether CP transfusion has an impact on moderate to serious AEs. Thirdly, for children, pregnant, elderly, tumor and immunocompromised patients, CP may be a well-tolerated therapy, if the disease cannot be controlled and continues to progress. Studies were commonly of low or very low quality. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results of limited RCTs showed that CP cannot significantly reduce mortality, some non-RCTs and case report(series) have found that CP may help patients improve clinical symptoms, clear the virus, and reduce mortality, especially for patients with COVID-19 within ten days of illness. We speculate that CP may be a possible treatment option. High-quality studies are needed for establishing stronger quality of evidence and pharmacists should also be actively involved in the CP treatment process and provide close pharmaceutical care.

Clinical efficacy and safety of somatostatin in the treatment of early postoperative inflammatory small bowel obstruction: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: As one of the complications after abdominal operation, early postoperative inflammatory small bowel obstruction (EPISBO) is a great trouble for many patients. The use of somatostatin in treating this disease had been widely reported, but its efficacy and safety were controversial. Therefore, the present research carried out a systematic review of the clinical efficacy and safety of somatostatin in treating EPISBO. METHODS: Computer retrieval was conducted in foreign databases (including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and Embase) and Chinese database (including Sino Med, CNKI, VIP, and WangFang Data), supplementary search for the literatures included was performed, and manual retrieval was performed in abstracts, books, and non-electronic magazines related to the present research to ensure the recall rate. Among all republished relevant experimental studies in Chinese and English from January 1, 1996 to February 1, 2020, randomized controlled trials on the curative efficacy of somatostatin for EPISBO were collected. The evaluation measures included patients' total effective rate, peristaltic sound recovery time, time of disappearance of abdominal pain, time of first defecation after operation, drainage of gastrointestinal decompression and length of stay after treatment. The literatures were selected by two investigators independently to extract data according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, Bias Risk Assessment Tool recommended by Cochrane Review Hand book 5.2 was used to assess literature quality, and meta-analysis was carried out by using soft Stata 12.0. RESULTS: This study will scientifically and effectively analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of somatostatin in the treatment of EPISBO through systematic review and meta-analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed SCI journal to provide evidence-based medical evidence for the clinical treatment of early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction. PROTOCOL AND REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework (https://osf.io, OSF), registration number: ryd2g.

Ultrasound-microbubbles-mediated microRNA-449a inhibits lung cancer cell growth via the regulation of Notch1.

BACKGROUND: The application of gene-loaded microbubbles (MBs) combined with ultrasound that results in increased delivery efficiency may be an excellent method of gene delivery. This study aimed to discuss the effects of ultrasound-MB-mediated microRNA (miR)-449a on lung cancer (LC) development by targeting Notch1. METHODS: Initially, miR-449a expression in LC tissues, paracancerous tissues, LC cell lines, and lung epithelial cells was detected and its association with LC patients' clinical characteristics was analyzed. The gain-of-function studies were performed to probe the roles of miR-449a and ultrasound-MB-mediated miR-449a in LC progression. Then, RT-qPCR combined with Western blot analysis was applied to verify the levels of miR-449a, Notch1, proliferation- and apoptosis-related proteins. Moreover, xenograft tumors in nude mice were also applied for in vivo experiments. RESULTS: Poorly expressed miR-449a was observed in LC, and its expression was associated with clinical staging, differentiation and lymph node metastasis of LC patients. Overexpression of miR-449a suppressed LC cell proliferation and promoted G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Ultrasound-MB-mediated miR-449a strengthened inhibitory effects of miR-449a on cell growth and resistance to apoptosis. miR-449a inhibited H1299 cell activity by targeting Notch1. CONCLUSION: Our data supported that miR-449a overexpression inhibited LC cell growth, and ultrasound-MB-mediated miR-449a reinforced the repressive effects of miR-449a on LC progression. This investigation may offer new insight for LC treatment.

SYL3C aptamer-anchored microemulsion co-loading ß-elemene and PTX enhances the treatment of colorectal cancer.

The aim of this study is to construct a SYL3C aptamer-anchored microemulsion based on ß-elemene and PTX (SYL3C/EP-MEs) for enhancement on colorectal cancer therapy. Such microemulsion is consist of encapsulated drugs (ß-elemene and PTX), tumor targeting ligand (3'-end thiolated SYL3C aptamer), thiol conjugated site (maleimide-modified PEGylated 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, mal-DOPE-PEG), pH-sensitive component (DOPE) and other necessary excipients. SYL3C/EP-MEs showed a spherical particle with an average particle size around 30 nm and a high encapsulation efficiency (>80%) for both drugs. ß-elemene and PTX could be released controllably from SYL3C/EP-MEs as pH values changed. SYL3C/EP-MEs displayed a selective affinity to HT-29 cells, leading to an obvious increase in cellular uptake, cell apoptosis and cytotoxicity. In the HT-29 tumor xenograft-bearing nude mice model studies, SYL3C/EP-MEs showed an overwhelming tumor growth inhibition, the longest survival time and the lowest systemic toxicity among all the treatments. The potential mechanism of enhanced anti-cancer ability was probably associated with the induction of M1 macrophage polarization, the downregulation of mutant p53 protein and the reduction of bcl-2 protein expression. Collectively, the microemulsion codelivery of ß-elemene and PTX using functionalization with SYL3C aptamer provides a novel approach for combinational colorectal cancer-targeted treatment.

An exploratory study of CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for stage I thymoma.

BACKGROUND: Thymoma is a rare tumor that originates from thymic epithelial cells and is usually associated with myasthenia gravis. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive and curative treatment for other tumors, but RFA has not been used for the early treatment of thymoma. METHODS: The current study included 13 patients with stage I thymoma who were not candidates for surgical resection or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). All patients underwent first-line CT-guided percutaneous RFA. The feasibility and therapeutic effects of the intervention were thoroughly documented. RESULTS: All tumors were completely ablated (13 / 13, 100%). During follow-up (median 80.5 months, range, 64.6-116.9 months), only 1 of the 13 patients had recurrence of thymoma (1 / 13, 7.7%) at 35.5 months after the initial ablation. There were no surgery-related deaths after RFA treatment. The most common complications were fever (13 / 13, 100%) and pain (13 / 13, 100%). There was only one patient who occurred severe puncture-related bleeding during the procedure that needed blood transfusion and intravascular embolization of the punctured-injured vessel. CONCLUSION: CT-guided percutaneous RFA for treatment of stage I thymoma is associated with minor trauma, few complications and good treatment outcomes.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of phloroglucinol and magnesium sulfate in the treatment of threatened abortion: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of phloroglucinol (PHL) and magnesium sulfate (MS) in the treatment of threatened abortion through systematic review. METHODS: Foreign databases, such as the Cochrane Library, PubMed and EMBASE, and Chinese databases, including the China Biology Medicine disc (SinoMed), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP (VIP) and WanFang Data, were searched. Published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) documents obtained from these databases were included if they were associated with the research objective. The search timeframe was from the beginning of the establishment of each database to May 2018. Document selection, data abstraction and document quality evaluation were independently performed by 2 investigators. A combined analysis of the data was performed for those documents that fulfilled the study requirements; Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software were used to compare and analyze the 2 drugs in terms of the total effective rate (TER), rate of adverse events, time required to relieve uterine contractions, onset time, time of complete relief of uterine contraction symptoms, medication duration and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: A total of 21 RCT trials were included in the present research, according to the inclusion criteria. However, the quality of the included studies was low. The meta-analysis suggested that the TER and drug onset time of PHL were higher than those for MS, while the rate of adverse events, the time required to relieve uterine contractions, time to complete relief of uterine contraction symptoms, drug continuous treatment time and length of hospital stay were shorter than those for MS. CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of PHL is better than that of MS, and PHL obviously results in fewer adverse reactions than MS. However, due to poor quality of evidence, high quality, multi-center RCTs with large samples are required for further verification.