Maresins as novel anti-inflammatory actors and putative therapeutic targets in sepsis.

Sepsis, a complex clinical syndrome characterized by an exaggerated host response to infection, often necessitates hospitalization and intensive care unit admission. Delayed or inaccurate diagnosis of sepsis, coupled with suboptimal treatment strategies, can result in unfavorable outcomes, including mortality. Maresins, a newly discovered family of lipid mediators synthesized from docosahexaenoic acid by macrophages, have emerged as key players in promoting inflammation resolution and the termination of inflammatory processes. Extensive evidence has unequivocally demonstrated the beneficial effects of maresins in modulating the inflammatory response associated with sepsis; however, their bioactivity and functions exhibit remarkable diversity and complexity. This article presents a comprehensive review of recent research on the role of maresins in sepsis, aiming to enhance our understanding of their effectiveness and elucidate the specific mechanisms underlying their actions in sepsis treatment. Furthermore, emerging insights into the management of patients with sepsis are also highlighted.

Prognostic Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Cervical Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have published the association between the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the outcome of cervical cancer. However, the prognostic value in cervical cancer remains controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the prognostic functions of MMP expression in cervical cancer. METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify the eligible studies according to defined selection and excluding criteria and analyzed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Fixed and random effects models were evaluated through the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and progress-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: A total of 18 eligible studies including 1967 patients were analyzed for prognostic value. Totally 16 selected studies including 21 tests were relevant to the cervical cancer OS, 4 studies focused on RFS, and 1 study on PFS. The combined pooled HRs and 95% CIs of OS were calculated with random-effects models (HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.01-2.65, P = .000). In the subgroup analysis for OS, there was no heterogeneity in MMP-2 (I2 = .0%, P = .880), MMP-1 (I2 = .0%, P = .587), and MMP-14 (I2 = 28.3%, P = .248). In MMP-7 and MMP-9, the heterogeneities were obvious (I2 = 99.2% (P = .000) and I2 = 77.9% (P = .000), respectively). The pooled HRs and 95% CIs of RFS were calculated with fixed-effects models (HR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.38-3.58, P = .001) and PFS (HR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.14-4.58, P = .035). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that MMP overexpression was associated with shorter OS and RFS in cervical cancer patients. It suggested that MMP overexpression might be a poor prognostic marker in cervical cancer. Research Registry Registration Number: reviewregistry 1159.

Early Forebrain Neurons and Scaffold Fibers in Human Embryos.

Neural progenitor proliferation, neuronal migration, areal organization, and pioneer axon wiring are critical events during early forebrain development, yet remain incompletely understood, especially in human. Here, we studied forebrain development in human embryos aged 5 to 8 postconceptional weeks (WPC5-8), stages that correspond to the neuroepithelium/early marginal zone (WPC5), telencephalic preplate (WPC6 & 7), and incipient cortical plate (WPC8). We show that early telencephalic neurons are formed at the neuroepithelial stage; the most precocious ones originate from local telencephalic neuroepithelium and possibly from the olfactory placode. At the preplate stage, forebrain organization is quite similar in human and mouse in terms of areal organization and of differentiation of Cajal-Retzius cells, pioneer neurons, and axons. Like in mice, axons from pioneer neurons in prethalamus, ventral telencephalon, and cortical preplate cross the diencephalon-telencephalon junction and the pallial-subpallial boundary, forming scaffolds that could guide thalamic and cortical axons at later stages. In accord with this model, at the early cortical plate stage, corticofugal axons run in ventral telencephalon in close contact with scaffold neurons, which express CELSR3 and FZD3, two molecules that regulates formation of similar scaffolds in mice.

CD4+ T cell imbalance is associated with recurrent endometrial polyps.

Endometrial polyps (EPs) are localized benign overgrowths at the endometrium, with currently unknown aetiology and pathogenesis. Although symptoms of EP can be alleviated or resolved by hysteroscopic polypectomy, a significant fraction of individuals develop recurrent EPs after initial EP removal. In rare cases, EPs may also undergo malignant transformation. In-depth understanding of the mechanisms that are involved in EP development is urgently needed. Recent works indicate that dysregulations in the immune system participate in the development of a variety of symptoms, such as aging, obesity and hypertension, many of which are EP risk factors. Based on these discoveries, we investigated the cellular immune system in premenopausal women with and without EP. Compared to EP-free controls, the women with EP presented significantly higher RORC expression but unchanged TBX21 and FOXP3 expression in the circulating CD4+ T cells. When stimulated with PMA/ionomycin, CD4+ T cells from women with EP presented significantly higher interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17 secretion, and lower transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß secretion. Hysteroscopic polypectomy did not significantly alter the composition of CD4+ T cells, as the women with EP presented a similar upregulation of Th17 inflammation and a downregulation of regulatory T cell (Treg) response postoperatively. Notably, in women that developed recurrent EP, the CD4+ T cells presented higher preoperative and postoperative RORC, IFN-γ, and IL-17 expression, as well as lower postoperative FOXP3 and TGF-ß expression, than hysteroscopic polypectomy-treated women without EP recurrence. These data demonstrated an association between CD4+ T cell imbalance and recurrent EP development.

Macrophages in patients with recurrent endometrial polyps could exacerbate Th17 responses.

Endometrial polyps (EPs) are outgrowths in the endometrium with unknown etiology. The fact that EPs can often recur after surgical removal suggests that EPs are not induced by random events but by continuous or recurrent processes in patients. We previously demonstrated that the risk of EP development was positively associated with overactive Th17 responses. However, the requirements of Th17 upregulation are yet unclear. Here, we recruited 26 women with symptomatic EP and 24 without EP, and peripheral mononuclear cells were harvested for the examination of circulating immunity. Compared to controls without EP, the patients with symptomatic EP presented significantly elevated levels of monocyte activation. The circulating monocytes from patients secreted higher levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and IL-23 directly ex vivo and with LPS stimulation. In memory CD4+ T cells, monocytes were not required for IL-17 expression, but the presence of activated monocytes significantly increased the secretion of IL-17. In naive CD4+ T cells, activated monocytes were required for significant IL-17 secretion and RORC transcription. Interestingly, the monocytes from EP individuals were significantly more potent in promoting Th17 differentiation from naive CD4+ T cells than the monocytes from controls. Furthermore, we showed that monocyte-mediated Th17 differentiation required the secretion of TNF, IL-1ß and IL-6. Together, this study demonstrated activated monocytes supported Th17 inflammation in patients with EP.

CircFLNA facilitates gastric cancer cell proliferation and glycolysis via regulating SOX5 by sponging miR-1200.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are important regulators for gastric cancer (GC) progression. Our study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of circFLNA in GC progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The levels of circFLNA, microRNA (miR)-1200 and SRY-box transcription factor 5 (SOX5) were examined using qRT-PCR. Flow cytometry, cell counting kit 8 assay and EdU assay were performed to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis. Cell glycolysis ability was assessed by examining glucose uptake and lactate produce. RNA interaction was determined using RNA pull-down assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Mice xenograft models were constructed to evaluate the regulation of circFLNA knockdown on GC tumor growth. RESULTS: CircFLNA was upregulated in GC tissues. Functional experiments showed that circFLNA knockdown suppressed GC cell proliferation, inhibited glycolysis, and promoted apoptosis in vitro, as well as reduced GC tumor growth in vivo. CircFLNA sponged miR-1200, and miR-1200 targeted SOX5. MiR-1200 mimic reversed the promotion effect of circFLNA overexpression on GC cell growth and glycolysis, and SOX5 upregulation also abolished the inhibiting effect of miR-1200 mimic on GC cell growth and glycolysis. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that circFLNA might exert oncogenic role in GC development, which promoted GC proliferation and glycolysis through regulating miR-1200/SOX5 axis.

Case report: Successful management of primary hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma in nasopharynx: a report of 2 cases and system analysis.

Hyalinizing clear cell carcinomas (HCCCs) are infrequent, malignant tumors characterized by their low-grade nature. They typically originate from minor salivary glands. However, these tumors can potentially emerge in any location with minor salivary glands, including the nasopharynx. This report presents two cases of HCCC in females aged 61 and 72 years, with both tumors approximately 4 cm in size. In the first case, a 72-year-old female presented with recurrent bilateral epistaxis. Imaging studies revealed a nasopharyngeal mass, surgically excised, and histopathological analysis confirmed HCCC. Postoperatively, the patient received combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy, achieving a recurrence-free status 2.5 years later. The second case involves a 61-year-old female with a two-year history of bloody nasal discharge. Imaging studies identified a nasopharyngeal lesion, surgically removed, and histopathological examination confirmed HCCC. This patient underwent radiotherapy followed by combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin, displaying no signs of recurrence upon reevaluation after 10 months. These cases highlight the successful management of HCCC through a comprehensive, multimodal approach, integrating surgical intervention and adjuvant therapy. The favorable outcomes emphasize the significance of a thorough treatment strategy for HCCC in the nasopharynx, providing valuable insights for clinicians. Further studies are essential to enhance our understanding of this rare entity and refine treatment protocols for optimized patient outcomes.

Gene polymorphisms of METTL5 and METTL16 are related to epithelial ovarian cancer risk in South China: A three-center case-control study.

Background: The potential relation of methyltransferase-like gene polymorphisms and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains unclear. Methods: Five SNPs (METTL5 rs3769767 A>G, METTL16 rs1056321 T>C, METTL5 rs10190853 G>A, METTL5 rs3769768 G>A and METTL16 rs11869256 A>G) of methyltransferase-like genes was selected trough NCBI dbSNP database. Two hundred and eighty-eight cases and 361 controls were enrolled from three hospitals in South China to conduct the case-control study. Genomic DNA was abstracted from peripheral blood and genotyped through a TapMan assay. Stratified analysis was conducted to explore the association of rs10190853, rs3769768, rs11869256 genotype and EOC susceptibility. The combination analysis was adopted to evaluate the relation between inferred haplotypes of the METTL5, METTL16 genes and EOC risk. Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis was performed to verify the interaction of SNPs. Results: Among the five analyzed SNPs, METTL5 rs3769768 AA exhibited a significant association with increased EOC risk, while METTL5 rs10190853 GA, METTL16 rs11869256 GA was certified to decrease the susceptibility of EOC. The stratified analysis further revealed the harmful effect of METTL5 rs3769768 AA in EOC patients. On the contrary, METTL16 rs11869256 AG/GG and METTL5 rs10190853 AA showed the reduced risk of EOC in patients of specific subgroups. Combination analysis identified that haplotypes AAA highly connected with reduced risk of EOC. MDR analysis revealed that these SNPs existed no specific interactions. Conclusion: METTL5 rs3769768 was related to increased risk of EOC. METTL5 rs10190853 and METTL16 rs11869256 decreased the susceptibility in EOC. METTL5 and METTL16 could be potential target of molecular therapy and prognosis markers.

Health-related quality of life measurements in children and adolescents with refractive errors: A scoping review.

Background: Refractive errors, particularly myopia, are the leading visual disorders worldwide, significantly affecting the quality of life (QOL) even after correction. This scoping review focuses on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measurements for children and adolescents with refractive errors. Main text: We explored generic and disease-specific HRQOL tools, examining their content, psychometric properties, and the impact of various interventions on QOL. Two English databases-PubMed, Embase, and one Chinese database, CNKI, were searched for relevant studies published from January 2001 to October 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies using standardized instruments to assess the QOL of children aged 0-18 with refractive errors. The review compares prevalent HRQOL measurements, analyzes children's refractive error assessments, and discusses intervention effects on patient QOL. Conclusions: The study underlines the necessity of developing disease-specific QOL instruments for very young children and serves as a practical guide for researchers in this field. The findings advocate for a targeted approach in HRQOL assessment among the pediatric population, identifying critical gaps in current methodologies.

The roles of FXYD family members in ovarian cancer: an integrated analysis by mining TCGA and GEO databases and functional validations.

BACKGROUND: The FXYD family of ion transport regulators have emerged as important modulators of cancer progression and metastasis. However, their expression and roles in ovarian cancer (OCa) have not been systematically investigated. METHODS: The expression of FXYD genes in OCa was analyzed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), as well as independent clinical samples. The prognostic values of FXYD genes were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. To explore potential mechanisms, bioinformatics approaches including Gene Ontology, KEGG pathway analysis, GSEA and drug sensitivity correlation analysis were performed. OCa cell lines overexpressing FXYD1, FXYD5 or FXYD7 were also generated and their impacts on proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed. RESULTS: FXYD1 and FXYD6 were significantly downregulated while FXYD3, FXYD4 and FXYD5 were upregulated in OCa tissues compared to normal tissues. FXYD1, FXYD5 and FXYD7 were independent adverse prognostic factors for OCa patients. Pathway and drug correlation analysis revealed that FXYD1, FXYD5 and FXYD7 genes regulated diverse oncogenic signaling cascades and modulated the response to various chemotherapeutic agents. Overexpression of FXYD1, FXYD5 or FXYD7 enhanced OCa cell motility and invasiveness in vitro. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate aberrant expression patterns, prognostic values, and oncogenic activities of FXYD genes in OCa. FXYD1, FXYD5 and FXYD7 may serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this disease. Targeting FXYD-mediated signaling represents a promising therapeutic strategy against OCa.

Tandospirone prevents stress-induced anxiety-like behavior and visceral hypersensitivity by suppressing theta oscillation enhancement via 5-HT1A receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex in rats.

Tandospirone, a third-generation of antianxiety agent with fewer side effects, has been widely used in the treatment of anxiety. Moreover, it is interesting that tandospirone has been found to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome who also have psychological dysfunctions. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, using a visceral hypersensitivity rat model induced by chronic water avoidance stress to mimic the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, we found that tandospirone relieved anxiety-like behavior and visceral hypersensitivity induced by stress. Meanwhile, stressed rats had increased 5-HT concentration, less 5-HT1A receptor expression, and enhanced theta oscillations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Furthermore, the power of the theta band in ACC is positively correlated with the level of visceral sensitivity. Activation of 5-HT1A receptors by its agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, to compensate for their effect in ACC reduced the enhancement of theta oscillations in ACC slices in stressed rats, whereas 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, WAY100135, facilitates theta oscillations in slices of normal rats. Tandospirone reduced the enhancement of theta band power in ACC in vitro and in vivo, thus alleviating anxiety-like behavior and visceral hypersensitivity through 5-HT1A receptors in stressed rats. These results suggest a novel mechanism by which tandospirone activates 5-HT1A receptors to relieve stress-induced anxiety and visceral hypersensitivity by suppressing theta oscillation enhancement in ACC.

The anti-aging gene KLOTHO is a novel target for epigenetic silencing in human cervical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Klotho was originally characterized as an anti-aging gene that predisposed Klotho-deficient mice to a premature aging-like syndrome. Recently, KLOTHO was reported to function as a secreted Wnt antagonist and as a tumor suppressor. Epigenetic gene silencing of secreted Wnt antagonists is considered a common event in a wide range of human malignancies. Abnormal activation of the canonical Wnt pathway due to epigenetic deregulation of Wnt antagonists is thought to play a crucial role in cervical tumorigenesis. In this study, we examined epigenetic silencing of KLOTHO in human cervical carcinoma. RESULTS: Loss of KLOTHO mRNA was observed in several cervical cancer cell lines and in invasive carcinoma samples, but not during the early, preinvasive phase of primary cervical tumorigenesis. KLOTHO mRNA was restored after treatment with either the DNA demethylating agent 2'-deoxy-5-azacytidine or histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. Methylation-specific PCR and bisulfite genomic sequencing analysis of the promoter region of KLOTHO revealed CpG hypermethylation in non-KLOTHO-expressing cervical cancer cell lines and in 41% (9/22) of invasive carcinoma cases. Histone deacetylation was also found to be the major epigenetic silencing mechanism for KLOTHO in the SiHa cell line. Ectopic expression of the secreted form of KLOTHO restored anti-Wnt signaling and anti-clonogenic activity in the CaSki cell line including decreased active beta-catenin levels, suppression of T-cell factor/beta-catenin target genes, such as c-MYC and CCND1, and inhibition of colony growth. CONCLUSIONS: Epigenetic silencing of KLOTHO may occur during the late phase of cervical tumorigenesis, and consequent functional loss of KLOTHO as the secreted Wnt antagonist may contribute to aberrant activation of the canonical Wnt pathway in cervical carcinoma.

Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Regulation of RWP-RK Gene Family in the Nitrogen-Fixing Clade.

RWP-RK is a plant-specific family of transcription factors, involved in nitrate response, gametogenesis, and nodulation. However, genome-wide characterization, phylogeny, and the regulation of RWP-RK genes in the nodulating and non-nodulating plant species of nitrogen-fixing clade (NFC) are widely unknown. Therefore, we identified a total of 292 RWP-RKs, including 278 RWP-RKs from 25 NFC species and 14 RWP-RKs from the outgroup, Arabidopsis thaliana. We classified the 292 RWP-RKs in two subfamilies: the NIN-like proteins (NLPs) and the RWP-RK domain proteins (RKDs). The transcriptome and phylogenetic analysis of RWP-RKs suggested that, compared to RKD genes, the NLP genes were just upregulated in nitrate response and nodulation. Moreover, nodule-specific NLP genes of some nodulating NFC species may have a common ancestor (OG0002084) with AtNLP genes in A. thaliana. Further, co-expression networks of A.thaliana under N-starvation and N-supplementation conditions revealed that there is a higher correlation between expression of AtNLP genes and symbiotic genes during N-starvation. In P. vulgaris, we confirmed that N-starvation stimulated nodulation by regulating expression of PvNLP2, closely related to AtNLP6 and AtNLP7 with another common origin (OG0004041). Taken together, we concluded that different origins of the NLP genes involved in both N-starvation response and specific expression of nodulation would contribute to the evolution of nodulation in NFC plant species. Our results shed light on the phylogenetic relationships of NLP genes and their differential regulation in nitrate response of A. thaliana and nodulation of NFC.

Overexpression of TGF-ß enhances the migration and invasive ability of ectopic endometrial cells via ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease with manifestations of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) is known to facilitate a series of biological events in many cells, including migration. However, the roles of TGF-ß in endometriosis still remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to discover the role of TGF-ß1 in endometriosis development and progression and its associated mechanisms. It was demonstrated that the expression of TGF-ß1 was significantly elevated in endometriosis in comparison with that in normal tissue. Overexpression of TGF-ß increased the proliferation and upregulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin D1 in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). Furthermore, TGF-ß overexpression also triggered a series of biological events occurring in ESCs, including cell migration and invasion, and activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The inhibition of the ERK/MAPK pathway reversed the previous effects of TGF-ß overexpression. Collectively, the present results indicate that overexpression of TGF-ß enhances the migration and invasion of ectopic ESCs via the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway, providing theoretical evidence for the development of new treatment methods targeting the TGF-ß-ERK/MAPK signaling pathway for prophylaxis of endometriosis.

Down-regulation of HTR1A-modulated ACC activation contributes to stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Long-term stress was suggested to cause visceral hypersensitivity and promote functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Some brain regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) may play an important role for generating visceral hypersensitivity; however, its molecular mechanisms are not clear. This study aimed to explore the role of 5-HT1A receptors (HTR1As) in activating ACC and corresponding mechanism, in stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia rats. METHODS: The VH rat model was established by chronic water avoidance stress (WAS), and the visceral sensitivity was measured by electromyogram. Rat's anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM). To overexpress or down-regulate HTR1A expression, HTR1A-specific lentivirus expressing the green fluorescent protein was administered into the ACC. Protein expression levels were observed by Western blot. RESULTS: The protein expression of HTR1A in bilateral ACC in WAS group was significantly lower than that in normal control (NC) and Sham-WAS groups, while the levels of c-fos in the ACC of WAS rats were significantly higher. Down-regulation of HTR1As could induce VH in control rats with the increased expression of c-fos, p-ERK, and p-Akt in ACC, while up-regulation of HTR1As in the ACC could partly inhibit ACC sensitization and stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Down-regulation of HTR1As modulates ACC activation probably through activating ERK and Akt pathways, thus contributes to the formation of stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia.

A New Scoring System to Predict Poor Clinical Outcomes in Acute Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Patients with High-Risk Stigmata.

AIMS: To explore the risk factors for rebleeding in acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding patients with high-risk stigmata after endoscopic hemostasis and to develop a new scoring system for them. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was conducted from January 2012 to June 2017. The logistic regression model was used to explore risk factors of poor clinical outcomes. Accuracy of new scoring systems was compared with Rockall score (RS) and Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) using receiver operating characteristics curve. RESULTS: Two hundred nine patients were included. In multivariate regression analysis, systolic blood pressure, endoscopic hemostasis method, hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine were identified as indicators for rebleeding. New scoring systems with 4 variables and 5 variables based on these 5 risk factors were chosen. The 4-variable scoring system outperformed GBS in predicting rebleeding while 5-variable scoring system outperformed RS and GBS in predicting rebleeding significantly. Score 2 was identified as the best cut-off of these 2 scoring systems. CONCLUSIONS: Systolic blood pressure, endoscopic hemostasis method, hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine were all associated with poor clinical outcomes. The new scoring systems had greater accuracy than RS and GBS in predicting rebleeding. Further external validation should be performed to verify the results.

Maternal Separation Induced Visceral Hypersensitivity from Childhood to Adulthood.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early adverse life events (EALs) are relevant to irritable bowel syndrome in adulthood. Maternal separation (MS), as one of the EALs, has proved to induce visceral hypersensitivity in adult rats. However, the effect of MS on visceral hypersensitvity from the post-weaning period to adulthood remains unknown. METHODS: One hundred and ten neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: rats in the MS group were exposed to 3 hours daily MS on postnatal day (PND) 2-14; the normal control (NC) group remained undisturbed. Visceral sensitivity was determined by measuring the visceromotor response to colorectal distention on PND21, 35, and 56. Anxiety-like behaviors were measured by the open field test. RESULTS: Compared with NC rats, MS rats showed significant visceral hypersensitivity from the post-weaning period to adult. The proportion of visceral hypersensitive rats decreased with age from 87.5% to 70.0% in the female MS group and from 90.0% to 66.7% in the male MS group. The relative VMR ratio of MS and NC on PND21 was higher than PND35 and PND56. MS rats showed decreased ability of movement and exploration to the novel environment in the post-weaning period, obesity in the prepubertal period, and more anxiety-like behaviors in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: MS can significantly affect visceral sensitivity and behaviors of rats in different age stages, especially in the post-weaning period. Visceral hypersensitivity of MS rats is more pronounced in the post-weaning period and slightly restored in adults. Thus, visceral hypersensitivity in the post-weaning period might play a more meaningful pathophysiologic role in the formation of adult irritable bowel syndrome.

Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

Background/Aims. Patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM) were known to have higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the Western countries, but data on the impact of GERD on DM patients in our country are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of GERD in type II DM patients in Shanghai, China, and to explore its possible risk factors. Methods. 775 type II DM cases were randomly collected. Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) was used to check the presence of GERD. Patients' characteristics, laboratory data, face-to-face interview, nerve conduction study, and needle electromyogram (EMG) test were analyzed. Results. 16% patients were found with typical GERD symptoms. Pathophysiological factors such as peripheral neuropathy, metabolism syndrome, and obesity were found to have no significant differences between GERD and non-GERD type II DM patients in the present study. Conclusion. The prevalence of GERD in type II DM patients is higher than that in adult inhabitants in Shanghai, China. No difference in pathophysiological factors, such as peripheral neuropathy, and metabolism syndrome was found in DM-GERD patients, suggesting that further study and efforts are needed to explore deeper the potential risk factors for the high prevalence rate of GERD in DM patients.

Role of insular cortex in visceral hypersensitivity model in rats subjected to chronic stress.

Abnormal processing of visceral sensation at the level of the central nervous system has been proven to be important in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of stress related functional gastrointestinal disorders. However, the specific mechanism is still not clear. The insular cortex (IC) was considered as one important visceral sensory area. Moreover, the IC has been shown to be involved in various neuropsychiatric diseases such as panic disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, whether the IC is important in psychological stress related visceral hypersensitivity has not been studied yet. In our study, through destruction of the bilateral IC, we explored whether the IC played a critical role in the formation of visceral hypersensitivity induced by chronic stress on rats. Chronic partial restraint stress was used to establish viscerally hypersensitive rat model. Bilateral IC lesions were generated by N-methyl-D-day (door) aspartate. After a recovery period of 7 days, 14-day consecutive restraint stress was performed. The visceromotor response to colorectal distension was monitored by recording electromyogram to measure rats׳ visceral sensitivity. We found that bilateral insular cortex lesion could markedly inhibit the formation of visceral hypersensitivity induced by chronic stress. The insular cortex plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of stress-related visceral hypersensitivity.

The role of vimentin as a methylation biomarker for early diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Multiple cytosine guanine dinucleotides (CpG island) are found in the VIM promoter region. The levels of VIM promoter methylation and VIM gene expression were investigated in 7 cervical cancer cell lines and 50 human tissue samples with a distinctive degree of malignant trans-formation. While multiple CpG sites in the VIM promoter were highly methylated in CIN III and invasive carcinoma cells, they were rarely methylated in normal cells. Our result shows that methylation in the VIM promoter appears to start from CIN I and CIN II, relatively early stages of multistep carcinogenesis. This epigenetic alteration in VIM promoter suggests the availability as a biomarker for the early diagnosis and prevention of cervical cancer. We also show that hypermethylation in the VIM promoter is responsible for transcriptional silencing of the VIM gene in cervical cancer cells. In addition, our result shows that exogenous overexpression of the VIM gene in SiHa cervical cancer cells slightly activated cell proliferation and migration as shown in soft agar colony formation and migration assays.