[Effect of elemene on reversing chemoresistance to adriamycin in human stomach cancer cell line].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of elemene on reversing chemoresistance to adriamycin (ADM) in human stomach cancer cell, and explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: SGC7901/ADM were divided imto two groups: control group and elemene treatment group. The cytotoxicity of ADM on SGC7901/ADM was determined by MTT assay. The activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) was measured by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis rate of stomach cancer cell line was determined by flow cyotometric analysis. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical staining result showed that the activity of NF-kappaB in SGC7901/ADM was increased after treated with ADM for 9 - 12 h, while that of the elemene treatment group decreased with the increasing of the elemene concentration and the lowest level was 8 - 12%. The apoptosis rate of SGC7901/ADM stomach cancer cell line was increased with the increasing of elemene concentration. At the same elemene concentration, the apoptosis rate increased with ADM treatment time prolonged. MTT result showed that the non-cytotoxic dose of elemene had synergistic effect on rilling SGC7901/ADM stomach cancer cell line and was in a dose-dependant manner. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of elemene on reversing chemoresistance to ADM in human stomach cancer cell line maybe related to inhibiting NF-kappaB activity.

Treatment for incisional parapubic hernia: an experience of 25 cases.

We retrospectively studied the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutic effect in 25 cases of incisional parapubic hernia. We believe that it is necessary for patients with recurrent hernia to undergo CT detection; the mesh patch should be adequately large, and must be doubly fixed before and after the pubic bone. Sublay and intraperitoneal onlay mesh technique both can obtain good therapeutic effects for incisional parapubic hernia.

Role of KCNB1 in the prognosis of gliomas and autophagy modulation.

Increasing evidence suggests that ion channel genes play an important role in the progression of gliomas. However, the mechanisms by which ion channel genes influence the progression of glioma are not fully understood. We identified KCNB1 as a novel ion gene, associated with malignant progression and favorable overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in glioma patients from three datasets (CGGA, GSE16011 and REMBRANDT). Moreover, we characterized a novel function of autophagy induction accompanied by increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation and invasion of glioma cells for KCNB1. KEGG pathway analysis and in vitro studies suggested that the ERK pathway is involved in KCNB1-mediated regulation of autophagy, which was confirmed by inhibition of KCNB1-induced autophagy by using a selective ERK1/2 inhibitor (U0126) or siERK1/2. In vivo studies showed that KCNB1 induced autophagy while inhibiting tumor growth and increasing survival. Overall, our studies define KCNB1 as a novel prognostic factor for gliomas that exerts its tumor suppressive function through autophagy induction.

[Clinical study on bacterial translocation in severe multiple trauma patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate bacterial translocation in severe multiple trauma patients using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of bacteria in the blood. METHODS: Sixteen severe multiple trauma patients [injury severity score (ISS)>20] in surgery intensive care unit (SICU) were selected. Blood samples were collected 2, 24 and 48 hours after trauma for bacterial culture and microbial DNA detection. Meanwhile, plasma levels of D-lactate and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in systemic circulation were determined. PCR was performed after DNA extraction, with target beta-lactosidase gene of E. coli and 16SrRNA gene of most pathogenic bacteria. All patients were observed within 30 days for infectious complications. D-lactate and LPS levels were determined in 63 patients before selective operation. RESULTS: Microbial DNA could be detected in blood as early as 2 hours following severe trauma, and altogether positive results were found in 10 patients (62.50%). All PCR-positive patients manifested sepsis, but none of the PCR-negative patients did (P<0.01). Bacterial DNA was discovered in 100.00% of sepsis patients and none in non-sepsis patients (P<0.01). Seventy percent of PCR-positive patients developed infectious complications, while none of PCR-negative patients did (P<0.01). The blood culture was positive only in 3 patients (18.75%), all of them were PCR-positive. E.coli DNA was found in 70.00% of all the PCR positive blood specimens. Systemic plasma concentration of D-lactate and LPS of all patients was significantly higher than that in control group, which consisted of 63 inpatients waiting for elective operations. Systemic plasma level of D-lactate showed a positive correlation with that of LPS (r=0.94, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Intestinal bacterial translocation (most commonly E. coli) might occur early (2 hours) after severe trauma. Infection and sepsis have a close relationship with bacterial translocation. Detection of blood microbial DNA using PCR could reflect bacteria translocation and forecast imminent infection and sepsis.

A three ion channel genes-based signature predicts prognosis of primary glioblastoma patients and reveals a chemotherapy sensitive subtype.

Increasing evidence suggests that ion channels not only regulate electric signaling in excitable cells but also play important roles in the development of brain tumor. However, the roles of ion channels in glioma remain controversial. In the present study, we systematically analyzed the expression patterns of ion channel genes in a cohort of Chinese patients with glioma using RNAseq expression profiling. First, a molecular signature comprising three ion channel genes (KCNN4, KCNB1 and KCNJ10) was identified using Univariate Cox regression and two-tailed student's t test conducted in overall survival (OS) and gene expression. We assigned a risk score based on three ion channel genes to each primary Glioblastoma multiforme (pGBM) patient. We demonstrated that pGBM patients who had a high risk of unfavorable outcome were sensitive to chemotherapy. Next, we screened the three ion genes-based signature in different molecular glioma subtypes. The signature showed a Mesenchymal subtype and wild-type IDH1 preference. Gene ontology (GO) analysis for the functional annotation of the signature showed that patients with high-risk scores tended to exhibit the increased expression of proteins associated with apoptosis, immune response, cell adhesion and motion and vasculature development. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) results showed that pathways associated with negative regulation of programmed cell death, cell proliferation and locomotory behavior were highly expressed in the high-risk group. These results suggest that ion channel gene expression could improve the subtype classification in gliomas at the molecular level. The findings in the present study have been validated in two independent cohorts.

The comparison of clinical and biological characteristics between IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) are frequent in low-grade gliomas and secondary glioblastomas (sGBM). Because they yield the same oncometabolite, D-2-hydroxyglutarate, they are often treated as equivalent and pooled. The objective of this study was to provide insight into the differences between IDH1 and IDH2 mutant gliomas. METHODS: To investigate the different clinical and molecular characterization between IDH1 mutant and IDH2 mutant gliomas, we studied 811 patients with IDH1 mutations, IDH2 mutations and IDH1/2 wild-type. In addition, whole-transcriptome sequencing and DNA methylation data were used to assess the distribution of genetic changes in IDH1 and IDH2 mutant gliomas in a Chinese population-based cohort. RESULTS: Among 811 gliomas in our cohort, 448 cases (55.2%) harbored an IDH1 mutation, 18 cases (2.2%) harbored an IDH2 mutation and 345 cases (42.6%) harbored an IDH1/2 wild-type. We found that IDH1 and IDH2 are mutually exclusive in gliomas, and IDH2 mutations are mutually exclusive with PTEN, P53 and ATRX mutations. Patients with IDH2 mutations had a higher frequency of 1p/19q co-deletion (p < 0.05) than IDH1 mutant patients. In addition, a Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that IDH2 mutant gliomas were associated with the oxidative phosphorylation gene set, and the four most representative biological processes for genes commonly altered by hypermethylation in IDH2 mutant gliomas were the regulation of cell proliferation, cell motion, cell migration and response to hypoxia. Patients with IDH2 mutant gliomas exhibited longer Overall survival (OS) (p < 0.05) and longer Progression-free survival (PFS) (p < 0.05) than patients with IDH1/2 wild-type gliomas. However, their OS and PFS did not differ from that of IDH1 mutant patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed an intrinsic distinction between IDH1 and IDH2 mutant gliomas, and these mutations should be considered separately because their differences could have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of IDH1/2 mutant gliomas.

Responses of benthic foraminifera to the 2011 oil spill in the Bohai Sea, PR China.

The 2011 oil spill in the Bohai Sea was the largest spill event in China. Nine sediment cores were taken near the spill site and environmental factors including Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs), oils, sulfides, organic carbon were measured 6 months later. Benthic foraminifera were separated into >150 µm (large) and 63-150 µm (small) size fractions for 2-cm depth interval of each sediment core. Statistical analyses suggested that the species composition of living foraminifera was impacted by oils, PAHs and sulfides. Large foraminifera were more sensitive to the oils than the small. Abnormal specimens were positively correlated with oils or PAHs. Small forms, however, tended to have high reproduction and mortality. Pollution-resistant and opportunistic taxa were identified to calculate a Foraminiferal Index of Environmental Impacts (FIEI). The FIEI increased from low to high oil-polluted station and from deep layer to surface sediment reflects the impact of oil pollution in this area.

[Effects of anticoagulation therapy with low molecular weight heparin in acute pancreatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of anticoagulation therapy with low molecular weight heparin in acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Low molecular weight heparin, in a dose of 40 mg or 0.01 ml/kg, by subcutaneous injection, every 12 hours, was administered to 17 acute pancreatitis patients combined with conventional therapy. The changes of serum enzymology and prognosis in patients treated with low molecular weight heparin or conventional therapy were observed. RESULTS: Anticoagulation by low molecular weight heparin could significantly decrease the blood white cell count of patients with acute pancreatitis and increase their arterial blood oxygen partial pressure. It could cut down the duration of hospitalization and reduce the aggravation rate, secondary operation rate, and mortality of these patients without increasing hemorrhagic tendency or its related complications. CONCLUSION: Anticoagulation therapy with low molecular weight heparin is safe and effective in the treatment of acute pancreatitis, and it may improve its prognosis.

Significance of measurements of herniary area and volume and abdominal cavity volume in the treatment of incisional hernia: application of CT 3D reconstruction in 17 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of CT 3D reconstruction in the diagnosis and treatment of incisional hernia and the related factor of abdominal cavity volume. METHODS: Abdominal wall defect and herniary volume were measured using 3D reconstruction based on plain CT scans in 17 patients with incisional hernias. RESULTS: The herniary diameter, area and volume could be measured in the 17 patients and the abdominal cavity volume was also measured in 10 patients using the 3D reconstruction technique. The correlation indices of the abdominal cavity volume with the patient's height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were all less than 0.01. CONCLUSION: Herniary area and volume and abdominal cavity volume can be accurately calculated through CT 3D reconstruction. The patch area should be more than 5 times as large as the defect area; combined with the perioperative overlap margin measurement method, this results in more scientific surgical management. The ratio of the herniary volume to the abdominal cavity volume may be conducive to preoperative assessment of the risk of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS); however, the ratio that may lead to postoperative ACS remains to be determined. There are correlations of abdominal cavity volume with patient height, weight and BMI, especially with weight. We therefore propose that the abdominal cavity volume should be evaluated with internationally accepted indices.

[Expression of a novel human interleukin-13 in E.coli and its biological activity assay].

AIM: To express a novel Gln98-deleted human interleukin-13 in E.coli. METHODS: Total RNA was isolated from Jurkat cells costimulated with PHA and ConA. A 358 bp-specific DNA fragment encoding hIL-13 was amplified by semi-nested RT-PCR. DNA sequencing showed that the target DNA was a Gln98-deleted novel splicing of hIL-13. This hIL-13 cDNA and plasmid pBV220 were ligated at BamH I and EcoR I sites to construct the expression vector. After transforming E.coli strain DH5alpha, the expression of the novel splicing hIL-13 gene was induced by shifting culture temperature from 30 degrees Celsius to 42 degrees Celsius. The expression product was then purified by chromatography on Sepharcryl-200 gel column, and the bioactivity was detected by MTT colorimetry on the growth of TF-1 cell line. RESULTS: The novel rhIL-13 was expressed in the form of inclusion bodies. After purification and renaturation, the specific activity of the novel rhIL-13 was 1.6x10(6) IU/mg. CONCLUSION: The novel rhIL-13 with biological activity has been obtained, which lays the foundation for treating cancer and septicemia by the cytokine in future.