[Bmal1 mediates the neuroprotective effect of sodium butyrate in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanisms that mediate the neuroprotective effect of the intestinal microbial metabolite sodium butyrate (NaB) in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD) via the gut-brain axis. METHODS: Thirty-nine 7-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomized equally into control group, PD model group, and NaB treatment group. In the latter two groups, PD models were established by intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) once daily for 5 consecutive days, and normal saline was injected in the control group. After modeling, the mice received daily gavage of NaB (300 mg/kg) or an equal volume of saline for 14 days. Behavioral tests were carried out to assess the changes in motor function of the mice, and Western blotting was performed to detect the expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and α-synuclein (α-syn) in the striatum and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and the tight junction proteins ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudinin the colon. HE staining was used to observe inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon of the mice. RNA sequencing analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes in mouse colon tissues, and their expressions were verified using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: The mouse models of PD with NaB treatment showed significantly increased movement speed and pulling strength of the limbs with obviously upregulated expressions of TH, Occludin, and Claudin and downregulated expressions of α-syn, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6 (all P < 0.05). HE staining showed that NaB treatment significantly ameliorated inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon of the PD mice. RNA sequencing suggested that Bmal1 gene probably mediated the neuroprotective effect of NaB in PD mice (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: NaB can improve motor dysfunction, reduce dopaminergic neuron loss in the striatum, and ameliorate colonic inflammation in PD mice possibly through a mechanism involving Bmal1.

[The effect of Wendler Glottoplasty to elevate vocal pitch in transgender women].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Wendler Glottoplasty to elevate vocal pitch in transgender women. Methods: The voice parameters of pre-and 3-month post-surgery of 29 transgender women who underwent Wendler Glottoplasty in department of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery of Beijing Friendship Hospital from January, 2017 to October, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The 29 transgender women ranged in age from 19-47 (27.0±6.3) years old. Subjective evaluation was performed using Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male to Female (TVQMtF). Objective parameters included fundamental frequency (F0), highest pitch, lowest pitch, habitual volume, Jitter, Shimmer, maximal phonation time (MPT), noise to harmonic ratio (NHR) and formants frequencies(F1, F2, F3, F4). SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistically analysis. Results: Three months after surgery, the score of TVQMtF was significantly decreased [(89.9±14.7) vs. (50.4±13.6), t=11.49, P<0.001]. The F0 was significantly elevated [(152.7±23.3) Hz vs. (207.7±45.9) Hz, t=-6.03, P<0.001]. Frequencies of F1, F2 and F3 were significantly elevated. No statistical difference was observed in the frequencies of F4. The highest pitch was not significantly altered while the lowest pitch was significantly elevated [(96.8±17.7) Hz vs. (120.0±28.9) Hz, t=-3.71, P=0.001]. Habitual speech volume was significantly increased [(60.0±5.2) dB vs. (63.6±9.6) dB, t=-2.12, P=0.043]. Jitter, Shimmer, NHR and MPT were not obviously altered (P>0.05). Conclusions: Wendler Glottoplasty could notably elevate the vocal pitch, formants frequencies and degree of vocal femininity in transgender women without affecting phonation ability and voice quality. It can be an effective treatment modality for voice feminization.

[Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome in the setting of vemurafenib therapy for metastatic melanoma: a case report].

A 53-year-old female patient complained of 1 week of bilateral visual blurring. She was previously diagnosed with metastatic melanoma of the inguinal lymph nodes and treated with the oral targeted drug vemurafenib. She exhibited aqueous flare in the left eye, and her fundus examination revealed optic disc swelling in the left eye and bilateral serious detachment of the retinal neuroepithelial layer. Fluorescein angiography showed multiple pinpoint hyperfluorescence leakage spots in the prometaphase and appeared as multilobular dye pooling in the late phase. We diagnosed her as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome and gave glucocorticoid treatment for eyes. Oral vemurafenib was also taken intermittently under the guidance of an oncologist. After treatment, her bilateral vision improved, the anterior segment inflammation disappeared, and the retinal neuroepithelial layer reattached, with presence of the "sunset glow" fundus.

Clinical effect of open reduction and internal fixation with a steel plate through the triceps approach in the treatment of fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus.

OBJECTIVE: The stability of fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the displaced humeral shaft is poor, and surgery is currently the main treatment. The posterolateral approach to the upper arm has many advantages but it is not widely used in clinical applications. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical effect of open reduction and internal fixation with a steel plate through the triceps approach in the treatment of fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 26 patients with fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus who were admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to December 2021. According to the AO ASIF classification, 12 patients had type A, 8 patients had type B, and 6 patients had type C fractures. The posterior transtriceps approach was used for open reduction and internal fixation with a steel plate to evaluate its clinical efficacy. RESULTS: All patients were followed completely, and the follow-up time was 6.0-18.0 months. Fracture nonunion occurred in 1 patient after the operation, and the other 25 patients healed well; 2 patients showed symptoms of radial nerve injury and numbness in the tiger's mouth area, which improved after 2 weeks. The average healing time of the fracture was 12.3 weeks. There were no infections or complications such as plate fractures. Elbow joint function according to Mayo scoring standards was as follows: 19 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, 2 cases were fair, and 2 cases were poor. The excellent and good rate was 84.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Open reduction through the triceps approach and internal fixation with a steel plate for the treatment of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus can directly expose and protect the radial nerve and its branches and reduce radial nerve damage, and plate fixation on the tension side is biomechanical and worthy of clinical application.

Inhibiting Hh Signaling in Gli1+ Osteogenic Progenitors Alleviates TMJOA.

The increased prevalence of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) in children and adolescents has drawn considerable attention as it may interfere with mandibular condyle growth, resulting in dento-maxillofacial deformities. However, treatments for osteoarthritis have been ineffective at restoring the damaged bone and cartilage structures due to poor understanding of the underlying degenerative mechanism. In this study, we demonstrate that Gli1+ cells residing in the subchondral bone contribute to bone formation and homeostasis in the mandibular condyle, identifying them as osteogenic progenitors in vivo. Furthermore, we show that, in a TMJOA mouse model, derivatives of Gli1+ cells undergo excessive expansion along with increased but uneven distribution of osteogenic differentiation in the subchondral bone, which leads to abnormal subchondral bone remodeling via Hedgehog (Hh) signaling activation and to the development of TMJOA. The selective pharmacological inhibition and specific genetic inhibition of Hh signaling in Gli1+ osteogenic progenitors result in improved subchondral bone microstructure, attenuated local immune inflammatory response in the subchondral bone, and reduced degeneration of the articular cartilage, providing in vivo functional evidence that targeting Hh signaling in Gli1+ osteogenic progenitors can modulate bone homeostasis in osteoarthritis and provide a potential approach for treating TMJOA.

Defining heart disease risk for death in COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was in common in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and associated with unfavorable outcomes. We aimed to compare the clinical observations and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected patients with or without CVD. METHODS: Patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were clinically evaluated at Wuhan Seventh People's Hospital, Wuhan, China, from 23 January to 14 March 2020. Demographic data, laboratory findings, comorbidities, treatments and outcomes were collected and analyzed in COVID-19 patients with and without CVD. RESULTS: Among 596 patients with COVID-19, 215 (36.1%) of them with CVD. Compared with patients without CVD, these patients were significantly older (66 vs. 52 years) and had higher proportion of men (52.5% vs. 43.8%). Complications in the course of disease were more common in patients with CVD, included acute respiratory distress syndrome (22.8% vs. 8.1%), malignant arrhythmias (3.7% vs. 1.0%) including ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, acute coagulopathy(7.9% vs. 1.8%) and acute kidney injury (11.6% vs. 3.4%). The rate of glucocorticoid therapy (36.7% vs. 25.5%), Vitamin C (23.3% vs. 11.8%), mechanical ventilation (21.9% vs. 7.6%), intensive care unit admission (12.6% vs. 3.7%) and mortality (16.7% vs. 4.7%) were higher in patients with CVD (both P < 0.05). The multivariable Cox regression models showed that older age (≥65 years old) (HR 3.165, 95% CI 1.722-5.817) and patients with CVD (HR 2.166, 95% CI 1.189-3.948) were independent risk factors for death. CONCLUSIONS: CVD are independent risk factors for COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 patients with CVD were more severe and had higher mortality rate, early intervention and vigilance should be taken.

LncRNA HOXA11-AS promotes migration and invasion through modulating miR-148a/WNT1/ß-catenin pathway in gastric cancer.

Increasing researches have focused on the biological functions of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in human cancers. HOXA11-AS, a widely known lncRNA, has been confirmed to be involved in the progression of several cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). Whereas, the detailed mechanism of this lncRNA in GC remains to be further illuminated. The abundances of HOXA11-AS, miR-148a and WNT1 in GC tissues and cell lines were examined by qRT-PCR. Clinicopathological and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were determined to explore the relationship between HOXA11-AS expression and outcomes of patients. Transwell assay was performed for the evaluation of cell migration and invasion. Bioinformatics, dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were employed to analyze the correlation between HOXA11-AS and miR-148a or miR-148a and WNT1. The protein levels of WNT1 and ß-catenin were assessed by western blot assay. Results showed that HOXA11-AS and WNT1 expression levels were upregulated, while miR-148a level was downregulated in GC tissues and cell lines relative to matched controls. Elevated expression of HOXA11-AS was associated with increased tumor size, lymph node metastasis, advanced TNM stage, as well as reduced survival of GC patients. HOXA11-AS induced migration and invasion of GC cells through serving as a molecular sponge for miR-148a. Furthermore, miR-148a inactivated WNT1/ß-catenin signaling pathway via directly targeting WNT1. HOXA11-AS increased WNT1/ß-catenin pathway activity, which was abolished by miR-148a overexpression in GC cells. In conclusion, overexpression of HOXA11-AS contributed to migration and invasion of GC cells via activation of WNT1/ß-catenin signaling pathway through repressing miR-148a, providing a prospective therapeutic target for GC.

[Clinical features and treatment outcome of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the paranasal sinus].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features and the clinical characteristics of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor(IMT) of paranasal sinus. Method: Five cases of IMT of paranasal sinus treated from 2011 to 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Of the 5 patients, CT and MRI were performed before operation. All tumors originated from paranasal sinus, and orbital, pterygopalatine fossa and palate was involved with variable degrees. All patients had been given operation and recovered well. Two cases received additional glucocorticoid therapy(prednisone) postoperatively. Result: After a follow-up of 3-80 months, one case recurred 2 years postoperatively and received surgery again. No recurrence was found after operation in the other four patients. The finial diagnosis depended on pathological findings. Postoperative pathological examination showed that the tumor cells were mainly composed of spindle fibroblasts and chronic inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive expression of SMA protein. Conclusion: IMT of paranasal sinus is a rare clinical entity without specific clinical manifestations and the extent of the lesion can be assessed by imaging examinations. Pathological examination is required for final diagnosis. Radical resection should be taken for limited lesions. Besides surgery, corticosteroid administration and irradiation therapy is recommended in some circumstances. The overall prognosis is good.

Risk factors and a predictive nomogram for non-sentinel lymph node metastases in Chinese breast cancer patients with one or two sentinel lymph node macrometastases and mastectomy.

Background: Two ongoing prospective randomized trials are evaluating whether omitting axillary lymph node dissection (alnd) in patients with breast cancer (bca) and sentinel lymph node (sln) macrometastases undergoing mastectomy is safe. Determining predictive risk factors for non-sln metastases and developing a model to predict the probability of those patients having non-sln metastases is also important. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 396 patients with bca and 1-2 slns with macrometastases who underwent alnd and mastectomy between January 2012 and December 2016. Factors influencing the non-sln metastases were determined, and a predictive nomogram was formulated. Performance of the nomogram was evaluated by its area under the curve (auc). Results: We developed a predictive nomogram with an auc of 0.81 (cross-validation 95% confidence interval: 0.75 to 0.86) that included 4 factors (tumour size, histologic grade, and number of negative slns and axillary lymph nodes on imaging). Conclusions: Our predictive nomogram assesses the risk of non-sln metastases in patients with bca and 1-2 sln macrometastases undergoing mastectomy.

[Correlations between gastric Helicobacter pylori infection and colorectal polyps or cancer].

Objective: To investigate the correlations between gastric Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and colorectal polyps or cancer. Methods: Among patients who finished colonoscopy exams in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between May 2012 and May 2017, 3 483 patients were diagnosed with colorectal polyps, 135 patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer. A total of 1 925 healthy subjects were enrolled as normal controls. Gastric rapid urease tests (RUT) were done in all patients. General clinical data, RUT results, sizes and numbers of polyps, cancer location were analyzed. Results: The proportion of Hp infection in patients with colorectal polyps was 31.5%, higher than that in healthy controls. The odds ratio (OR) of Hp infection in polyp group was 1.17 (95%CI 1.04-1.32) after age and gender were adjusted. The Hp infection rate in patients with polyps over or equal to 1 cm was significantly higher than that in patients with polyps smaller than 1 cm. Patients with more than 1 polyps presented a higher rate of Hp infection than patients with only 1 polyp. Hp infection rate in patients with colorectal cancer was 36.3%, with the adjusted OR 1.56 (95%CI 1.06-2.30). The location of colorectal cancer was not correlated with Hp infection. Conclusions: Gastric Hp infection is more common in patients with colorectal polyps than in healthy controls. Polyps ≥1 cm, multiple polyps and colorectal cancer are correlated with higher rates of Hp infection. Cancer location is irrelevant to Hp infection.

Downregulation of miR-1294 associates with prognosis and tumor progression in epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing evidence has revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) act as key players in the regulation of tumor growth and metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, the clinical role and functional effects of miR-1294 in EOC remain unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined the expression of miR-1294 in 69 cases of EOC tissues and cell lines by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The associations of miR-1294 expression with clinicopathologic features and overall survival of EOC patients were analyzed. Biological functional effects of miR-1294 expression on cell growth were analyzed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assays and flow cytometry assays in vitro. RESULTS: In the present study, we identified that miR-1294 expression was lower in 76 specimens of EOC compared to adjacent normal tissues. Lower miR-1294 expression was related to FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis and shorter overall survival rate in EOC patients. Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that miR-1294 expression was an independent prognostic indicator of EOC patients. Gain function assays showed that miR-1294 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in EOC. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that miR-1294 acted as a prognostic biomarker and potential target of EOC treatment.

[Evaluation of the fabrication deviation of a kind of milling digital implant surgical guides].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the deviation of digital implant surgical guides during fabrication process in the Organical Dental Implant (ODI) system. METHODS: This study included two parts. The first part was the in vitro study. A resin block with a diagnostic template was used for the planning. After cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning, a surgical guide with eight implants was virtually designed using the ODI system. The guide was milled by a 5-axial numerical controlled milling machine, and an optical scanning was taken to digitalize the guide to a standard tessellation language (STL) form. The STL data were then imported into an ODI software and registered with the original design. The deviation of the sleeves between the design and the STL was measured in the ODI software and set as the golden standard. Then the ODI examination table was used to measure the deviation of the guide during fabrication. Examiners A and B measured 10 times separately. The reliability and the validity of the examination table was calculated. The second part was the in vivo study: The deviation during fabrication of 12 guides designed and fabricated by the ODI system were measured using the examination table. RESULTS: The standard deviation of the deviation measured using the examination table by examiners A and B were all below 0.40 mm (for the shell reference points) and 0.71 degree (for the angles). No significant difference was found between the two examiners for any implant sites. The result of the examination table was larger than that of the software for the shell reference point (t-test, P<0.05), but no significant difference was found for the angle deviation (t-test, P>0.05). The 45 implants positions in the 12 guides for the in vivo study were examined using the examination table. The deviations at the shell reference points were (1.06±0.29) mm (0.42-1.75 mm), and at the implant tip were (1.12±0.48) mm (0.41-2.44 mm). The angle deviations were (1.42±0.70) degree (0.29-2.96 degree). CONCLUSION: Deviation is unavoidable during the fabrication process of the guides. The examination table of the ODI system is a reliable and valid tool to measure the deviation during fabrication of the ODI guides. More studies should be designed to research the relationship between the fabrication deviation and the implant insertion deviation.

Expressions and correlation analysis of HIF-1α, survivin and VEGF in patients with hepatocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of HIF-1α, surviving, and VEGF in patients with hepatocarcinoma as well as the correlation analysis among them. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 65 patients, who were admitted to our hospital and diagnosed as hepatocarcinoma from January 2014 to October 2015, were selected as hepatocarcinoma group, while 50 healthy cases that do not have hepatocarcinoma were selected as normal control group. The expression levels of HIF-1α, surviving, and VEGF in hepatocarcinoma tissues of hepatocarcinoma group and normal liver tissues of control group were detected by immunohistochemical (SP) staining method; then, the correlation among them was explored. The expression levels of HIF-1α, surviving, and VEGF protein in hepatocarcinoma tissues and corresponding normal tissues were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The positive expression rate of HIF-1α, surviving, and VEGF in hepatocarcinoma tissues of hepatocarcinoma group was respectively 46.2%, 55.4%, and 61.5%, significantly higher than that in cancer adjacent normal liver tissues of control group which was 2%, 2%, and 2%, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). The expressions of HIF-1α, surviving, and VEGF in hepatocarcinoma tissues of patients with hepatocarcinoma were correlated with clinical stage, tumor differentiation degree and extrahepatic metastasis (p<0.05), but were not related to gender and tumor size (p>0.05). By Spearman rank correlation analysis, it could be seen that HIF-1α expression was positively correlated with VEGF protein expression in hepatocarcinoma tissues (r=0.683, p<0.05). Survivin expression was positively correlated with VEGF protein expression (r=0.717, p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between HIF-1α expression and survivin expression (p>0.05). The relative quantitative value of HIF-1α, surviving, and VEGF in hepatocarcinoma tissues of hepatocarcinoma group was respectively 3.04±0.23, 2.26±0.31, and 2.57±0.36, significantly higher than that in cancer adjacent liver tissues of control group which was 1.07±0.17, 1.31±0.27, and 1.42±0.43, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). From Western blot electrophoresis scanning, it could be seen that the expressions of HIF-1α, surviving, and VEGF in hepatocarcinoma tissues were higher than those in cancer adjacent normal liver tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of HIF-1α, surviving, and VEGF played important roles in the occurrence, invasion, and metastasis of hepatocarcinoma. In hepatocarcinoma tissues, HIF-1α, and survivin protein expression was positively correlated with VEGF expression, but survivin protein was not related to HIF-1α expression, which indicated that HIF-1α and survivin may inhibit the apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells and promote tumor angiogenesis by up-regulating the expression of VEGF protein, thus accelerating the occurrence and development of hepatocarcinoma.

[Clinical application of pedicel frontal flap in reconstruction of the nasal defects].

Objective:The aim of this study is to explorethe application of improving the design of the myocutaneous flap and the transfer mode in nasal facial defect. Method:Six cases with nasal defects were treated by using lateral or median vascular frontal flap which is nourished by supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries. Three patients with basal cell carcinoma of external nose and three patients with cranial base tumor were hospitalized and underwent surgeries. Result:There were 6 cases in this cohort, with the largest defect being 6.5 cm×3.0 cm and the smallest one being 3.0 cm×2.5 cm in size. Except one patient was missing, the rest of the patients flaps survived, and wounds were healed by first intention. Among 6 patients, 3 patients were treated with lateral forehead flap, 2 patients were treated with median forehead flap, and 1 patient was treated with oblique forehead flap. The follow-up being conducted for 6 months to 12 months, the flaps were normal color and sensation, satisfactory appearance and functional recovery of forehead region. Conclusion:Forearm myocutaneous vessels running more constant, superficial, rich blood supply, easy to dissect and can provide a larger area flap, suitable for different causes of nasal facial defect repair. Large area of flap can be provided. These may be favorable choice for repair of the nasal defects. The tunnel through which the flap was transferred to the defect should be wide enough to avoid flap necrosis because of pedicel flap constriction.

[Experience of successful rescue from 5 cases of internal carotid artery injury during transnasal endoscopic skull base surgery].

Objective: To investigate the cause and urgent management of internal carotid artery injury during transnasal endoscopic skull base surgery. Methods: Five cases of internal carotid artery injury encountered during transnasal endoscopic skull base surgery in Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science of Technology of China, Anhui Provincial Hospital from December 2010 to July 2017 were analysed retrospectively. There were 2 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma, 1 case of salivary gland-type adenocarcinoma, 1 case of petrous apex cholesterol granulomas and 1 case of squamous carcinoma. The cause of internal carotid artery injury and subsequent treatment were analysed, in order to prevent internal carotid artery injury during transnasal endoscopic surgery. Results: Intraoperatively, all these 5 cases were packed with vaseline strip successfully. Two cases underwent subsequent intravascular covered stent graft implantation; 1 case underwent replacement of packing with muscle fascia graft; 1 case was packed with vaseline strip in nasal and nasopharyngeal cavity; 1 case accepted ligation of common carotid artery after failure of nasal packing. Four cases were successfully treated without craniocerebral or ocular complications. Otherwise, 1 case demonstrated with extremity paralysis after ligation. Follow up ranged from 6 to 84 months, no patient died. Conclusion: The injury of internal carotid artery is related with improper operative procedures and anatomic localization, which should be treated properly with emergent hemostasis, and an experienced multidisciplinary team to repair vascular damage is very important.

Early diagnostic role of PSA combined miR-155 detection in prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: As a kind of malignant tumor in the male genitourinary system, prostate cancer exhibits significantly increased occurrence. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expression can be seen in the prostate cancer, prostatitis, and other diseases, therefore, lack of diagnostic specificity. The miR-155 expression is abnormally increased in the tumors. Therefore, this study aims to explore the clinical significance of PSA combined miR-155 detection in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 86 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer were enrolled in this study. PSA and miR-155 gene expression in tumor tissue were detected by using Real-time PCR. The serum levels of PSA were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation of PSA and miR-155 expression with age, body mass index (BMI), tumor volume, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, lymph node metastasis (LNM), and other clinicopathological features were analyzed, respectively. RESULTS: Serum PSA expression and PSA gene in tumor tissue were significantly higher compared to that in adjacent tissues (p<0.05). PSA gene and protein increased significantly with the clinical stage of TNM and decreased following the increase of grade (p<0.05). The miR-155 level was significantly elevated in the tumor tissue compared with para-carcinoma tissue (p<0.05). PSA and miR-155 expressions were positively correlated with TNM stage, tumor volume, and LNM, and negatively correlated with grade (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PSA and miR-155 were closely related to the clinicopathological features of prostate cancer. Combined detection is helpful for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

[Trend of cancer mortality in Hebei province, 1973-2013].

Objective: To analyze the data of malignant tumor mortality and change in disease burden in Hebei province from 1973 to 2013. Methods: Cancer mortality rate, age-standardized mortality rate and the years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLLs) were calculated by using the data from three rounds of all death causes survey and database of cancer registry in Hebei during 1973-2013. Results: From 1973 to 2013, a linear upward of malignant tumor mortality was observed, with a 51.57% increase. The mortality rate during 1973-1975 was 98.52/100 000 and it was 149.33/100 000 during 2011-2013. During 1973-1975, the YLLs was 17.0/1 000 in males and 12.8/1 000 in females. While during 2011-2013, the YLLs was 23.2/1 000 in males and 15.9/1 000 in females. During 1973-1975, esophagus cancer, stomach cancer and liver cancer were top three leading causes of deaths. During 2011-2013, lung cancer, stomach cancer and liver cancer were main leading causes of deaths. During the past 40 years, the deaths of esophagus cancer and cervix cancer decreased dramatically, but the deaths of lung cancer and breast cancer increased sharply. Conclusions: The disease burden caused by malignant tumor is becoming more serious in Hebei. It is necessary to strengthen the primary prevention and screening of malignant tumor.

CXCL12 gene silencing down-regulates metastatic potential via blockage of MAPK/PI3K/AP-1 signaling pathway in colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of CXCL12 gene silencing on proliferation,invasion, angiogenesis and the relationship of MAPK/PI3K/AP-1 signaling pathway in colon cancer cells. METHODS: RT-PCR and Western-blot were used to detect the expression of CXCL12 mRNA and protein in four colon cancer cell lines. Human colon cancer cells were transfected with CXCL12 siRNA carrying by Lipofectamine 2000. The expression of CXCL12 protein was confirmed by immunoblotting. WST-1, invasion and angiogenesis assay were used to examine the effect on proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis in colon cancer cells after CXCL12 siRNA silence, respectively. The phosphorylation of MAPK/PI3K/AP-1 protein levels was detected by Western blotting in CXCL12 siRNA suppression DLD-1 cell. RESULTS: CXCL12 mRNA and proteins were only expressed in DLD-1 colon cancer cell lines. CXCL12 siRNA were transfected into DLD-1 cells, the expression CXCL12 proteins was significantly inhibited (P < 0.01), and the proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis of DLD-1 cells were inhibited significantly (P < 0.01). CXCL12 gene silencing resulted in blockage of MAPK, PI3K and AP-1 phosphorylation by CXCL12-induced in DLD-1 colon cancer cell. CONCLUSION: The silencing CXCL12 gene significantly inhibits the proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis ability of some types colon carcinoma cells through down-regulation of MAPK/PI3K/AP-1 signaling pathway.