The members of the miR-148/152 family inhibit cancer stem cell-like properties in gastric cancer via negative regulation of ITGA5.

BACKGROUND: The role of microRNA (miRNA) in modulating the function of cancer stem cells through diverse signaling pathway has been evidenced. We here identified a role of microRNA (miRNA) family, specifically miR-148/152, in gastric cancer and delineated its functional effects on gastric cancer stem cells. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to analyze expression of integrin α5 (ITGA5) which was verified through expression determination in clinical tissue samples. Next, the upstream regulatory factors of ITGA5 were determined. CD44+EpCAM (high) cells sorted from AGS cells subjected to gain-of-function experiments, followed by evaluation of their capacity of colony formation, generation of tumorosphere, cell migration and viability in vitro and xenograft tumor formation in vivo. RESULTS: ITGA5 was elevated in gastric cancer tissues and confirmed as a target gene of the miR-148/152 family members. The miR-148/152 family members were downregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells. Decreased expression of miR-148/152 family members was also detected in gastric cancer stem cells. However, the raised expression led to reduced colony formation, tumorosphere, cell migration, cell viability, and drug resistance of CD44+EpCAM (high) AGS cells in vitro, and tumorigenesis in vitro. ITGA5 overexpression reversed the effect of the miR-148/152 family members. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the miR-148/152 family members may prevent gastric cancer stem cell-like properties by targeting ITGA5, which can serve as an appealing target for gastric cancer treatment.

[Clinical observation on post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy treated with the interaction of twelve meridian muscle regions and contralateral needling therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect on post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy treated with the interaction of twelve meridian muscle regions and contralateral needling therapy. METHODS: A total of 46 patients with post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 23 cases in each one. In the control group, the intramusclar injection of mecobalamine at the buttock region was given, 1 mL each time, once every two days, 3 times weekly. Besides, citicoline sodium capsules were prescribed for oral administration, 0.2 g each time, 3 times daily. In the observation group, on the base of the treatment as the control group, the interaction of twelve meridian muscle regions and contralateral needling therapy was supplemented. Acupoints on the health sides included Juliao (ST 3) and Hanyan (GB 4), acupoints on the affected side included Jingming (BL 1), Sibai (ST 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Shangming (Extra), Sizhukong (TE 23), Tongziliao (GB 1) and bilateral Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Pianli (LI 6), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4) were selected. The needles were retained for 30 min in each acupuncture treatment, once a day, 5 times weekly. The treatment for 4 weeks was required in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the score of cervical range of motion (CROM), pupil size, eye fissure width and eyeball mobility were observed in the patients of the two groups. The clinical effect was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, CROM scores and pupil size were reduced in the patients of the two groups (P<0.05), and the values in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The eye fissure width and eyeball mobility were increased in the two groups (P<0.05), the eye fissure width and the mobility of the muscles of rectus internus, inferior rectus and inferior oblique in the observation group were larger than the control group (P<0.05). The effective rate was 82.6% (19/23) in the observation group, higher than 65.2% (15/23) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The interaction of twelve meridian muscle regions and contrallateral needling therapy effectively relieves diplopia, pupil dilation, narrow eye fissure and limited eyeball mobility in the patients with post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy.

[Importance of cultural transmission in acupuncture translation].

The loss of cultural information transmission, inaccurate of translation or misunderstanding of the whole sentence in acupuncture translation are illustrated in this article. It suggests that these mistakes should be paid attention to and avoided; simultaneously, the solutions are stated so as to insure the accurate transmission of acupuncture.

The Holocene Asian monsoon: links to solar changes and North Atlantic climate.

A 5-year-resolution absolute-dated oxygen isotope record from Dongge Cave, southern China, provides a continuous history of the Asian monsoon over the past 9000 years. Although the record broadly follows summer insolation, it is punctuated by eight weak monsoon events lasting approximately 1 to 5 centuries. One correlates with the "8200-year" event, another with the collapse of the Chinese Neolithic culture, and most with North Atlantic ice-rafting events. Cross-correlation of the decadal- to centennial-scale monsoon record with the atmospheric carbon-14 record shows that some, but not all, of the monsoon variability at these frequencies results from changes in solar output.