High ALDH1A1 expression correlates with poor survival in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: High expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) has been confirmed in many tumors. This enzyme plays an important role in tumor proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. However, in the case of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the relationship between ALDH1 expression and prognosis remains unknown. METHOD: We used tissue microarrays to evaluate ALDH1A1 expression in 247 surgically resected PTC specimens by immunochemistry, and correlated the findings with the clinicopathological parameters. RESULT: ALDH1A1 levels were significantly higher than in normal thyroid tissues. Moreover, ALDH1A1 overexpression was significantly associated with extrathyroid extension (P = 0.001), pT status (P < 0.001), pN status (P = 0.016) and TNM stage (P < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that high ALDH1A1 expression reflects a poorer lymph node recurrence-free survival (LN-RFS) and distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS) in PTC patients, as compared with patients having low ALDH1A1 expression. Multivariate analysis confirmed the ALDH1A1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for LN-RFS and DRFS in PTC patients. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, high ALDH1A1 expression correlates with poor survival in PTC patients.

Comprehensive circular RNA profiling reveals the regulatory role of circRNA_0007694 in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in thyroid cancer and verify their potential functions. METHODS: Next-generation sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed circRNAs between papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues and paired pericarcinomatous tissues. Polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing methods successfully identified hsa_circ_0007694. A hsa_circ_0007694 over-expression vector was prepared to determine the effect of this circRNA on proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and the cell cycle in PTC cells. An in vivo animal assay was conducted by injecting PTC cells into the chests of mice. Further, RNA-seq was performed, followed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, to verify the regulatory mechanism of hsa_circ_0007694. Western blotting was used to verify the genes thought to be involved in the hsa_circ_0007694 regulatory pathways based on KEGG analysis. RESULTS: We identified a circRNA, hsa_circ_0007694 that was down-regulated in PTC tissues compared to pericarcinomatous tissues. Over-expression of hsa_circ_0007694 promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion in PTC cells in vitro, and decreased tumor growth in vivo. Transcriptome sequence analysis suggested 129 differentially expressed genes between PTC tissue and paired pericarcinomatous tissue. KEGG analysis and western blotting indicated that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt signaling networks are most likely to be related to hsa_circ_0007694 in thyroid cancer. CONCLUSION: The circRNA hsa_circ_0007694 is down-regulated in PTC and is therefore a potential therapeutic target.

International normalized ratio on admission predicts the 90-day mortality of critically ill patients undergoing endarterectomy.

The association of the international normalized ratio (INR) with the long-term clinical outcome of patients who undergo endarterectomy has not yet been studied. The present study therefore primarily aimed to evaluate the association of INR on admission with the 90-day mortality of critically ill patients who underwent endarterectomy during hospitalization. The Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database was queried for patients undergoing endarterectomy. The 90-day mortality of patients was selected as a primary endpoint. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to present the accuracy of predictions. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to analyse associations. Propensity score matching (PSM) was also conducted to reduce confounding bias. A total of 230 patients were included, with 36 90-day non-survivors. Patients with a high INR (≥1.5) on admission exhibited a higher 90-day mortality than those with a low INR (<1.5; 29.09 vs. 11.43%; P=0.003). The ROC area under the curve value was 0.687 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.571-0.780]. Kaplan-Meier plots identified divergence in survival between patients with different INR levels (log-rank test, P=0.0013). The results of the multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that a high INR level was significantly associated with 90-day mortality (hazard ratio, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.08-4.45; P=0.0305). Analysis of the PSM cohort presented similar results. In conclusion, the INR levels of critically ill patients who undergo endarterectomy may be used to stratify their risk of 90-day mortality.

Effect of neurological monitoring in postoperative 5-15 days residual thyroidectomy after primary thyroid cancer surgery.

AIM: To explore the application of intraoperative neurological monitoring in residual thyroidectomy 5-15 days after thyroid cancer operation and the influence on postoperative serum thyroglobulin (Tg), recurrent laryngeal nerve and function of parathyroid glands. METHODS: Material of patients receiving thyroid surgery from January 2010 to December 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. Cases meeting with standards were enrolled for analysis and the patients were divided into neurological monitoring group and non-neurological monitoring group in line with the use of neurological monitoring during the operation. Recurrent laryngeal nerve-injured hoarseness, hypoparathyroidism and concentration of serum Tg before and after the surgery were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Four-hundred and thirty-five patients met with standards, among which 227 from neurological monitoring group and 208 from non-neurological monitoring group. Temporary hoarseness rate of non-neurological monitoring group and neurological monitoring group was 8.67% and 2.2%. Permanent hoarseness rate of non-neurological monitoring group and neurological monitoring group was 1.92% and 0.44%. Temporary hypoparathyroidism rate of non-neurological monitoring group and neurological monitoring group was 18.75% and 7.48%. Permanent hypoparathyroidism rate of non-neurological monitoring group and neurological monitoring group was 1.92% and 0.88%. Average Tg concentration 1 month after the surgery in non-neurological monitoring group and neurological monitoring group was 2.82 and 1.37 ng/mL, respectively. Rate of average Tg concentration less than 1 ng/mL 1 month after the surgery in non-neurological monitoring group and neurological monitoring group was 45.06% and 67.4%. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative neurological monitoring can be adopted in residual thyroidectomy in postoperative 5-15 days after primary thyroid cancer surgery, as to reduce incidence rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism and to enhance thorough removal of thyroid tissues and cancer tissues.

[Expression and biological activities of arresten in CHO cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the eukaryotic expression of arresten in CHO cells and to investigate its basic biological activities. METHODS: CHO cells were divided into three groups: transfected pSecTag-arresten group, transfected pSecTag group and control group without transfection. PSecTag-arresten was transfected into CHO cells by Lipofectamine 2000 method. The arresten mRNA in CHO cells was assayed by RT-PCR. The protein expression of arresten gene was examined by Western-Blot. The cells expressing arresten were screened out by Zeocin. The effect of arresten on huvec cell migration and anchoring to three-dimensional vascular structures was measured. RESULTS: The result of RT-PCR and Western-blot showed that arresten gene has been successfully transfected into CHO cells and expressed in those cells. Arrssten inhibited huvec cell migration and anchoring to three-dimensional vascular structures. CONCLUSION: CHO cells expressing arresten have been obtained successfully. Arresten can inhibit huvec cell migration and anchoring to three-dimensional vascular structures, indicating that it might be one of its anti-angiogenetic approaches.

Comparative analysis of autologous blood transfusion and allogeneic blood transfusion in surgical patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate application effects of autologous blood transfusion and allogeneic blood transfusion in surgically treated patients receiving spine surgery, abdomen surgery and ectopic pregnancy surgery. METHODS: 130 patients who would undergo selective operations were divided into autologous transfusion group and allogeneic transfusion group. Both groups received the same anesthesia, and there was no significant difference in transfusion volume or fluid infusion volume. RESULTS: The serum TNF-α level in autologous transfusion group after operation showed a clear upward trend and had significant difference compared with that before operation (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, after operation, the serum TNF-α level in autologous transfusion group was all significantly higher than that allogeneic transfusion group and the comparative difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). IgG level in treatment group did not significantly fluctuate during perioperative period, but IgG level in allogeneic transfusion group after operation was all significantly lower than that before operation, and there was statistically significant difference between both groups (P < 0.05). At the same time, complement C3 level in treatment group after operation was significantly higher than that before operation (P < 0.05), but complement C3 level in allogeneic transfusion group did not significantly change. After operation, there was statistically significant difference in complement C3 level between both groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Autologous transfusion is already a widely accepted transfusion method at present, and it can increase TNF-α and complement C3 levels in the body of surgically treated patients to strengthen immune ability against infection.

Expression of chemokine receptor-4 in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on experimental rat abdominal aortic aneurysms and the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with stromal-derived factor-1.

This study investigated the expression and role of chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from experimental rats with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) for migration of BMSCs. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into an experimental group and control group (n = 18 each). AAA was induced with 0.75 M solution infiltrate for 30 minutes, after which the abdomen was rinsed and closed. Saline was used in place of CaCl2 in the control group. CD34 and CD29 were detected by flow cytometry, the gene and protein expression of CXCR4 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. The migration of BMSCs with stromal-derived factor-1 was detected by Transwell chamber. CD34 expression was negative and CD29 expression was positive. The gene and protein expression of CXCR4 were significantly higher in experimental group than them in control group (p < 0.05), the migration ability of BMSCs from the experimental group was significantly higher than that from the control group (p < 0.05). Stromal-derived factor -1/CXCR4 can enhance the migration of BMSCs in vitro in a rat AAA model.

[Inhibitory effects of transfection of arresten gene on liver metastasis from colorectal cancer in nude mice].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Liver metastasis is the most common cause of death due to colorectal cancer. Above 50% colorecal cancer patients have liver metastasis. This study was to investigate the effect of transfection of arresten gene on liver metastasis from human colorectal cancer (LoVo) xenografts in nude mice. METHODS: The eukaryotic expression plasmid pSecTag2-arresten was transfected into human colorectal cancer cell line LoVo using Lipofectamine 2000. Cells were divided into pSecTag2-arresten group, pSecTag2 group and control group. Expressions of arresten at mRNA and protein levels were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The effect of arresten on proliferation of LoVo cells was measured using MTT assay. LoVo cells transfected with pSecTag2-arresten were implanted into nude mice to investigate the effect of arresten on hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer. Microvessel density (MVD) of xenograft tumors was assessed using immunohistochemistry with FVIIIRag monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Arresten was successfully transfected and expressed in LoVo cells. Inhibition of cell proliferation did not differ significantly in all three groups (P > 0.05). The metastastic rate was lower in pSecTag2-arresten group [(25.1+/-2.1)%] than in pSecTag2 group [(87.1+/-1.2)% or control group [(87.1+/-1.5)%] in LoVo cells (P < 0.05). The number of xenograft tumors and MVD were higher in pSecTag2-arresten group [(4.5 +/-0.5) and (15.3+/-3.5)] than in pSecTag2 group [(19.6+/-2.5) and (42.2+/-2.6)] or in control group [(20.4+/-2.5)and (45.6+/-5.1)] in nude mice. CONCLUSION: Arresten can inhibit hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer, which may be through its inhibition on tumor angiogenesis.