CircHIPK3 regulates fatty acid metabolism through miR-637/FASN axis to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The oncogenic role of circRNA in cancers including esophageal cancer (EC) has been well studied. However, whether and how circRNAs are involved in cancer cell metabolic processes remains largely unknown. Here, we reported that circRNA, circHIPK3, is highly expressed in ESCC cell lines and tissues. Knockdown of circHIPK3 significantly restrained cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circHIPK3 was found to act as a ceRNA by sponging miR-637 to regulate FASN expression and fatty acid metabolism in ESCC cells. Anti-sense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting circHIPK3 substantially inhibited ESCC both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, these results uncover a modulatory axis constituting of circHIPK3/miR-637/FASN may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for ESCC in the clinic.

[A biomechanical comparison of Acutrak headless compression screw and AO cannulated lag screw for the fixation of Hoffa fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the stability, strength of Letenneur type I Hoffa fractures fixed by Acutrak headless compression screws and AO cannulated lag screws. METHODS: 12 models of Letenneur type I Hoffa fractures were randomly divided into 4 groups, which were fixed with two AO cannulated lag screws or Acutrak headless compression screws anteroposteriorly or posteroanteriorly. The stress between two fragments of all specimens was tested. Axial compression test, the cycle load test and the limit load test were successively performed in every specimen. RESULTS: In axial compression test, displacement of Acutrak headless compression screw groups was lower than that of AO cannulated lag screw anteroposteriorly (P < 0.05). The load to failure for Acutrak headless compression screw groups was higher than that of AO cannulated lag screws (P < 0.05), no matter in anteroposterior or posteroanterior direction. CONCLUSION: The strength and stability of Letenneur type I Hoffa fractures fixeded with Acutrak headless compression screw were superior to those provided by AO cannulated lag screw. The direction of screw affects the initial stability for AO cannulated lag screw, other than Acutrak headless compression screw.

[Repairing bone defect with nano-hydroxyapatite and polyamide 66 composite after giant cell tumor operations].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of using granular type nano-hydroxyapatite and polyamide 66 (n-HA/PA66) composite in repairing bone defects caused by giant cell tumors. METHODS: 48 patients with giant cell tumors, who underwent lesion curettage, inactivation and cavities fill-in with granular type n-HA/PA66 from December 2007 to May 2011, were followed up. Routine blood tests, liver and kidney functions, serum calcium and phosphorus, and immunologic parameters were examined before and after the surgeries. Radiological examinations were carried out 1 week and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post operations to monitor the bone repairing process. The n-HA/ PA66 in bone issues was detected with hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: 45 patients completed the follow-up. No significant abnormalities in routine blood tests, serum calcium and phosphorus, and immunologic parameters were found pre- and post-operations. Nor abnormal liver and kidney functional lesions were identified. The radiological examination showed gradual increase in the density of the focal zone after bone implanting operations. The bone density of the implanted areas got close to normal 1 year after operations. The histological examination found that osteoblasts grew into the hole of n-HA/PA66; calcium was deposited on the materials; and large amount of osteocytes inlaid into the composite. The composite was integrated into new bone and surrounding tissues. CONCLUSION: n-HA/PA66 has good biocompatibility and biological safety. It also has good osteoconduction and osteogenesis activity. The n-HA/PA66 composite is one perfect bone repair material.

[Finite element analysis on fracture relevance as bone defect of proximal femur].

OBJECTIVE: Based on establishment three-dimensional finite element models with the different defects of proximal femur, analysis of the local stress and strain changes under normal walking condition, speculate the probable rang of fracture and provide a theoretical basis for clinical work. METHODS: By CT scanning the whole femur, establish Three-dimensional finite element models were established with analogous to the loaded lower extremity under normal walking condition. The stress distribution of the zone of lesser trochanter, intertrochanter and femur neck were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) To the defects of lateral cortex of proximal femur at lesser trochanter level, defect of 5%-25%, the local maximum stress were up to 96.74-179.10 MPa. When the defect was greater than 10%, the local maximum was greater than the ultimate stress 141 MPa. While, the stresses of medial femur were 46.15-62.13 MPa, which was much lower than that of yielding stress. (2) At the level of intertrochanter with 5%-25% defect, the stresses were 45.70-127.11 MPa, all of them were lower than that of the ultimate stress. Whereas the changes of stress of medial femur were as the same as the stress at lesser trochanter level. (3) When the intramedullary defect of femur neck not involving inner cortex was less 40%, the local stress was lower than yielding stress 93 MPa. When the defects were 45% and 50%, the local maximum stress were up to 100.20 MPa and 119.40 MPa. (4) While intramedullary defects of femur neck involving half of medial cortex were 15%-50%, the stress were 87.79-1207.40 MPa. When the defects were above the level of 45%, the local maximum is greater than 141 MPa. CONCLUSION: The defects in lateral cortex of proximal femur has little influence on the medial cortex at the same level. And have little influence on the strength of femur; If defects located in the lateral cortex of lesser trochanter, 5% was relative safe, 5%-10% was at the risk of fracture, and defects larger than 10% would result in fracture. When defects located in the lateral femur at the level of intertrochanter area, 20% was relative safe, but defects larger than 25% would have the risk of fracture. If intramedullary defects in femur neck was smaller than 45% and not involved inner cortex, it was believed safe. When intramedullary defects in femur neck involved half of cortex, it was relatively safe below 20%, 20%-40% was at the risk of fracture, and larger than 40% resulted in fracture.

[Clinical observation of gelfoam in preventing cement leakage via the anterior vertebral wall in Kümmell's patients treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of gelfoam granules application in prevention of cement leakage via anterior vertebral wall in Kümmell's patients treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). METHODS: From June 2017 to December 2019, 13 patients with Kümmell disease were treated with PKP, and gelatin sponge was inserted into the anterior wall of vertebral body to prevent bone cement leakage. There were 3 males and 10 females, with an average age of (73.84±8.44) years. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to record the degree of pain before treatment and 1 day and 3 months after treatment; Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to evaluate the thoracolumbar function before treatment and 3 monthsafter treatment;X-ray was used to observe the bone cement leakage after operation. RESULTS: The VAS scores were 7.31±0.83, 2.92±1.13 and 1.69±1.11 before treatment and 1 day and 3 months after treatment, respectively. The VAS scores on the 1st day and 3 months after treatment were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the postoperative pain was significantly relieved. The ODI before treatment and 3 months after treatment were (71.08±9.46)%, (17.85±7.82)%, respectively. The ODI at 3 months after treatment was improved compared with that before treatment (P<0.05), and the postoperative thoracolumbar function was significantly improved compared with that before treatment. Postoperative X-ray showed no leakage of bone cement in the anterior wall of vertebral body. CONCLUSION: The application of gelfoam granules in PKP can effectively prevent the leakage of bone cement via the anterior vertebral wall of Kümmell patients, and reduce the risk of thermal and mechanical injury of soft tissues such as the aorta in front of the vertebral body, and does not affect the postoperative pain relief and the recovery of thoracolumbar function.

microRNA-148a inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasion by targeting sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1.

microRNA (miR)-148a has been shown to act as an important suppressor in numerous human malignancies and is markedly downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma; however, the role of miR-148a in the regulation of hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasion, as well as the underlying mechanism, has never been studied. In the present study, the expression level of miR-148a was found to be significantly decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and HepG2 cells when compared with that in the normal adjacent tissues. Furthermore, a novel target of miR-148a was found, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), whose expression was negatively regulated by miR-148a at a post-transcriptional level in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Upregulation of miR-148a by transfection with miR-148a mimics notably suppressed HepG2 cell invasion, similar to the effect of the SIPR1 downregulation induced by SIPR1-specific small interfering RNA, while the restoration of S1PR1 expression reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-148a upregulation on HepG2 cell invasion. Accordingly, the current study suggests that miR-148a plays an inhibitory role in the regulation of hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasion by directly targeting S1PR1.