Construction of artificial neural network (ANN) based on predictive value of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

To explore the analytical worth of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma. The clinical data of 539 patients with cervical cancer in the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University from December 2007 to October 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The ROC is used to select the best cutoff values of PNI and NLR, which are 48.95 and 2.4046. Cox regression analysis was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Survival differences were assessed by Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival method. Finally, a 3-layer artificial neural network (ANN) model is established. In cervical squamous cell carcinoma, the KM survival curve showed that the overall survival (OS) rate of high-level PNI group was significantly higher than that of low-level PNI group (P < .001), while the OS rate of low-level NLR group was significantly higher than that of high-level NLR group (P = .002). In non-squamous cell carcinoma, there was no significant difference in OS between the 2 groups (P > .005). According to Cox multivariate analysis, preliminary diagnosed PNI and NLR were independent prognostic factors of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (P < .001, P = .008), and pathological type and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage also had a certain impact on tumor progression (P = .042, P = .048). The increase of PNI and the decrease of NLR will help patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma live longer. ANN showed that PNI and NLR were of great importance in predicting survival. Preoperative PNI and NLR are independent predictors of cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients related to clinicopathological features, and have particular value in judging prognosis.

Gentiopicroside exerts convincing antitumor effects in human ovarian carcinoma cells (SKOV3) by inducing cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial mediated apoptosis and inhibition of cell migration.

PURPOSE: Gentiopicroside is an important plant secondary metabolite and has been reported to exhibit tremendous pharmacological potential. In the present study we investigated the anticancer effects of gentiopicroside against ovarian SKOV3 cancer cells. METHODS: Anticancer effects were determined by MTT assay. Apoptosis was investigated by DAPI and annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) determination and cell cycle analysis were carried out by flow cytometry. Protein expression was examined by western blotting. RESULTS: The results showed that gentiopicroside exerted anticancer effects on SKOV3 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 of gentiopicroside was 20 µM against the SKOV3 cancer cells. The anticancer effects were mainly found to be due to loss of MMP and induction of apoptosis. The Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio was also altered upon gentiopicroside treatment. Furthermore, gentiopicroside could arrest the SKOV3 cells in G2/M phase of the cell cycle and prevent their migration and invasion. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that gentiopicroside could prove a potential lead molecule in the treatment and management of ovarian cancer.

The effect of lysophosphatidic acid on Toll-like receptor 4 expression and the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway in THP-1 cells.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are major receptors that mediate the innate immune and inflammatory responses, of which TLR4 has been found most closely related to human atherosclerosis. After ligands are polymerized and activated by TLR, the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways are activated, leading to promotion of NF-κB-regulated transcription of inflammatory factors, thus playing a role in the physiological and pathological processes in atherosclerosis. Oxidized lipoproteins or their components, oxidized lipids, have been confirmed as endogenous TLR receptors. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an active component of low-density lipoprotein that induces vascular endothelial lesions. However, the mechanism of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling system involved in LPA-induced atherosclerosis has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of LPA on TLR4 expression, nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit, and changes in the cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in human THP-1 cells. LPA upregulated expression of the TLR4 mRNA and protein in THP-1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, induced NF-κB p65 activation synchronously in THP-1 cells, and increased TNF-α secretion. After TLR4 was blocked using TLR4 monoclonal antibody, NF-κB p65 expression and TNF-α secretion were inhibited significantly. These data suggest that LPA can significantly upregulate TLR4 expression and promote NF-κB activation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion in THP-1 cells; it is possible that the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway mediates the atherogenic effect of LPA.

[Effect of bushen zhuanggu granule on the gonadal hormone and blood lipid metabolism in climacteric women].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Bushen Zhuanggu Granule (BZG) on the gonadal hormone, blood lipids, serum level of nitric oxide (NO) and free oxygen radical (FOR) in climacteric women. METHODS: Climacteric women were randomized according the digital table into the CM group (188 cases) and the WM group (189 cases). They were treated by BZG and Premarin plus Depogeston respectively for 2 years. The therapeutic effect on patients' symptoms and changes of blood lipids, gonadal hormones, NO, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were observed. RESULTS: There were 53 women in the CM group and 96 in the WM group dropping out in the 2-year follow-up period, the difference between them was significant (P < 0.01). The obvious and effective rates in the CM group were 36.30% (49/135), 82.96% (112/135), and in WM were 30.11% (28/93), 73.12% (68/93), the difference between the two group was significant (P < 0.05). The score of complaint was significantly lower in both groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the effect was more obvious in the CM group (P < 0.01). Effects on gonadal hormones and blood lipids were significantly improved in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05); comparison between groups showed the superiority of WM in increasing estrogen (P < 0.05), Blood levels of NO and SOD increased and MDA decreased in both groups after 1- and 2-year treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), showing no significant inter-group difference (P > 0.05). No evident adverse reaction was found in the routine tests on blood, urine and stool, hepatic and renal functions and electrocardiogram examined once every 6 months. CONCLUSION: BZG can effectively restore the disordered indices of gonadal hormones, blood lipids, NO, and SOD in climacteric women, with the efficacy equivalent to the effect of hormone replacement therapy, but it is more safe and inexpensive.

Bio-reduction of arsenate using a hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor.

Arsenate (As(V)) is a carcinogen and a significant problem in groundwater in many parts of the world. Since As(III) is generally more mobile and more toxic than As(V), the reduction of As(V) to As(III) is not a conventional treatment goal. However, reducing As(V) to As(III) may still be a means for decontamination, because As(III) can be removed from solution by precipitation or complexation with sulfide or by adsorption to Fe(II)-based solids. A promising approach for reducing oxidized contaminants is the H2-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR). In the case of arsenate, the MBfR allows bio-reduction of As(V) to As(III) and sulfate to sulfide, thereby giving the potential for As removal, such as by precipitation of As2S3(s) or formation of Fe(II)-based solids. When As(V) was added to a denitrifying MBfR, As(V) was reduced immediately to As(III). Decreasing the influent sulfate loading increased As(V) reduction for a fixed H2 pressure. A series of short-term experiments elaborated on how As(V) loading, nitrate and sulfate loadings, and H2 pressure controlled As(V) reduction. Lower nitrate loading and increased As(V) loading increased the extent of As(V) reduction, but increased H2 pressure did not increase As(V) reduction. As(V) reduction was sensitive to sulfate loading, with a maximum As(V)-removal percentage and flux with no addition of sulfate. As(III) could be precipitated with sulfide or adsorbed to Fe(II) solids, which was verified by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis.