Self-assembled nanoparticles of reduction-sensitive poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)-conjugated chondroitin sulfate A for doxorubicin delivery: preparation, characterization and evaluation.

In this study, reduction-sensitive self-assembled polymer nanoparticles based on poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) were developed and characterized. PLGA was conjugated with CSA via a disulfide linkage (PLGA-ss-CSA). The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of PLGA-ss-CSA conjugate is 3.5 µg/mL. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was chosen as a model drug, and was effectively encapsulated into the nanoparticles (PLGA-ss-CSA/DOX) with high loading efficiency of 15.1%. The cumulative release of DOX from reduction-sensitive nanoparticles was only 34.8% over 96 h in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4). However, in the presence of 20 mM glutathione-containing PBS environment, DOX release was notably accelerated and almost complete from the reduction-sensitive nanoparticles up to 96 h. Moreover, efficient intracellular DOX release of PLGA-ss-CSA/DOX nanoparticles was confirmed by CLSM assay in A549 cells. In vitro cytotoxicity study showed that the half inhibitory concentrations of PLGA-ss-CSA/DOX nanoparticles and free DOX against A549 cells were 1.141 and 1.825 µg/mL, respectively. Therefore, PLGA-ss-CSA/DOX nanoparticles enhanced the cytotoxicity of DOX in vitro. These results suggested that PLGA-ss-CSA nanoparticles could be a promising carrier for drug delivery.

The role of key image notes in CT imaging study interpretation.

The objective of the study was to investigate the clinical effects of CT key image notes (KIN) in the interpretation of a CT image study. All experiments were approved by the ethics committee of the local district. Six experienced radiologists were equally divided into routine reporting (RR) group and KIN reporting (KIN) group. CT scans of each 100 consecutive cases before and after using KIN technique were randomly selected, and the reports were made by group RR and KIN, respectively. All the reports were again reviewed 3 months later by both groups. All the results with using or not using KIN were interpreted and reinterpreted after 3 months by six clinicians, who were experienced in picture archiving and communication system (PACS) applications and were equally divided into the clinical routine report group and the clinical KIN report group, respectively. The results were statistically analyzed; the time used in making a report, the re-reading time 3 months later, and the consistency of imaging interpretation were determined and compared between groups. After using KIN technique, the time used in making a report was significantly increased (8.77 ± 5.27 vs. 10.53 ± 5.71 min, P < 0.05), the re-reading time was decreased (5.23 ± 2.54 vs. 4.99 ± 1.70 min, P < 0.05), the clinical interpretation and reinterpretation time after 3 months were decreased, and the consistency of the interpretation, reinterpretation between different doctors in different time was markedly improved (P < 0.01). CT report with KIN technique in PACS can significantly improve the consistency of the interpretation and efficiency in routine clinical work.

circST6GALNAC6 suppresses bladder cancer metastasis by sponging miR-200a-3p to modulate the STMN1/EMT axis.

Bladder cancer (BCa) is an aggressive malignancy because of its distant metastasis and high recurrence rate. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) exert critical regulatory functions in cancer progression. However, the expression patterns and roles of circRNAs in BCa have not been well investigated. In this study, we first screened circRNA expression profiles using a circRNA microarray of paired BCa and normal tissues, and the expression of circST6GALNAC6 was confirmed by qRT-PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). MTT, colony formation and Transwell assays were performed to measure cell proliferation, migration and invasion. We investigated the regulatory effect of circST6GALNAC6 on miRNA and its target genes to explore the potential regulatory mechanisms of circST6GALNAC6 by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), MS2-tagged RNA affinity purification (MS2-TRAP), immunofluorescence (IF) and dual luciferase activity assays. A nude mouse xenograft model was used to examine the functions of circST6GALNAC6/STMN1 in tumour metastasis in vivo. We found that 881 circRNAs were significantly dysregulated in BCa tissues compared to normal tissues. circST6GALNAC6(hsa_circ_0088708) was downregulated in BCa tissues and cells. Overexpression of circST6GALNAC6 effectively inhibited the cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and suppressed BCa metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we showed that the SP1 transcription factor, which binds to the circST6GALNAC6 mRNA transcript, activates circST6GALNAC6 transcription. Next, we verified that circST6GALNAC6 serves as a sponge that directly binds miR-200a-3p to regulate stathmin (STMN1) expression. Furthermore, we found that STMN1 is involved in circST6GALNAC6/miR-200a-3p axis-regulated BCa EMT and metastasis. Thus, our findings indicate an important underlying mechanism in BCa metastasis by which SP1-induced circST6GALNAC6 sponges miR-200a-3p to promote STMN1/EMT signalling. This mechanism could provide pivotal potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for BCa.

MicroRNA-200c affects bladder cancer angiogenesis by regulating the Akt2/mTOR/HIF-1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is one of the most frequent urologic tumours in the world. MicroRNA-200c (miR-200c) has been considered a regulator of tumour angiogenesis. Akt2/mTOR was considered a regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). However, the mechanism by which miR-200c regulates bladder cancer angiogenesis remains unknown. METHODS: Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of protein and mRNA, respectively. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were detected using MTT, wound-healing and transwell assays, respectively. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the binding site between miR-200c and Akt2. A tube formation assay was also applied to detect the angiogenesis ability. RESULTS: Significantly higher expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF and lower levels of miR-200c were observed in three types of bladder cancer cell lines. Transfection with the miR-200c mimic markedly inhibited cell viability, angiogenesis, and the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α. Overexpression of miR-200c remarkably suppressed the expression of Akt2, and the binding site between them was identified. Knockdown of Akt2 remarkably decreased the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α by regulating mTOR. miR-200c influenced the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α through the Akt2/mTOR signalling pathway and further regulated angiogenesis in bladder cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: We proved that miR-200c could suppress HIF-1α/VEGF expression in bladder cancer cells and inhibit angiogenesis, and these regulations were achieved by targeting Akt2/mTOR. This study may provide new insight into the prevention and treatment of bladder cancer.

Diagnosis of prostatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: Two cases report and literature review.

Two cases of prostatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (PNEC) imaged by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and literature review are presented. Early enhanced CT, MRI, especially diffusion-weighted image were emphasized, the complementary roles of ultrasound, CT, MRI, clinical and laboratory characteristic's features in achieving accurate diagnosis were valued in the preoperative diagnosis of PNEC.