CTRP1 Knockout Attenuates Tumor Progression in A549 and HCT116 Cancer Cells.

C1q and TNF-related 1 (C1QTNF1/CTRP1) is an adiponectin-associated protein belonging to the C1q/TNF-related protein family. Recent studies have shown that the C1q and TNF-related protein (CTRP) family is involved in cancer progression; however, the specific role of CTRP1 in tumor progression has not yet been elucidated. To examine the role of CTRP1 in tumor progression, we generated CTRP1 knockout A549 and HCT116 cell lines, which reduced the expression levels of nuclear factor (NF)-κB-dependent and metastasis-promoting transcripts. We demonstrated that CTRP1 knockout inhibited the cell proliferation and invasion and tumor growth. Finally, database analysis showed that CTRP1 expression was upregulated in metastatic cancers and elevated levels of CTRP1 were associated with poor prognosis. These results suggest that CTRP1 expression contributes to NF-κB signaling and promotes tumor progression.

Educational applications of metaverse: possibilities and limitations.

This review aims to define the 4 types of the metaverse and to explain the potential and limitations of its educational applications. The metaverse roadmap categorizes the metaverse into 4 types: augmented reality, lifelogging, mirror world, and virtual reality. An example of the application of augmented reality in medical education would be an augmented reality T-shirt that allows students to examine the inside of the human body as an anatomy lab. Furthermore, a research team in a hospital in Seoul developed a spinal surgery platform that applied augmented reality technology. The potential of the metaverse as a new educational environment is suggested to be as follows: a space for new social communication; a higher degree of freedom to create and share; and the provision of new experiences and high immersion through virtualization. Some of its limitations may be weaker social connections and the possibility of privacy impingement; the commission of various crimes due to the virtual space and anonymity of the metaverse; and maladaptation to the real world for students whose identity has not been established. The metaverse is predicted to change our daily life and economy beyond the realm of games and entertainment. The metaverse has infinite potential as a new social communication space. The following future tasks are suggested for the educational use of the metaverse: first, teachers should carefully analyze how students understand the metaverse; second, teachers should design classes for students to solve problems or perform projects cooperatively and creatively; third, educational metaverse platforms should be developed that prevent misuse of student data.

Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), a Green Tea Polyphenol, Reduces Coronavirus Replication in a Mouse Model.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a huge number of deaths from 2020 to 2021; however, effective antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 are currently under development. Recent studies have demonstrated that green tea polyphenols, particularly EGCG, inhibit coronavirus enzymes as well as coronavirus replication in vitro. Herein, we examined the inhibitory effect of green tea polyphenols on coronavirus replication in a mouse model. We used epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and green tea polyphenols containing more than 60% catechin (GTP60) and human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) as a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. Scanning electron microscopy analysis results showed that HCoV-OC43 infection resulted in virion particle production in infected cells. EGCG and GTP60 treatment reduced coronavirus protein and virus production in the cells. Finally, EGCG- and GTP60-fed mice exhibited reduced levels of coronavirus RNA in mouse lungs. These results demonstrate that green tea polyphenol treatment is effective in decreasing the level of coronavirus in vivo.

LNX1 Contributes to Cell Cycle Progression and Cisplatin Resistance.

The ligand of numb-protein X1 (LNX1) acts as a proto-oncogene by inhibiting p53 stability; however, the regulation of LNX1 expression has not been investigated. In this study, we screened chemicals to identify factors that potentially regulate LNX1 expression. We found that LNX1 expression levels were decreased by DNA damage, including that by cisplatin. Upon treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), LNX1 expression levels increased. In addition, cell-cycle progression increased upon LNX1 expression; the levels of S and G2/M populations were correlated with LNX1 expression. Moreover, in CRISPR-Cas9-mediated LNX1 knockout cells, we observed a delay in cell-cycle progression and a downregulation of genes encoding the cell-cycle markers cyclin D1 and cyclin E1. Finally, the upregulation of LNX1-activated cell-cycle progression and increased resistance to cisplatin-mediated cell death. Taken together, these results suggest that LNX1 contributes to cell-cycle progression and cisplatin resistance.

Elevated Levels of CTRP1 in Obesity Contribute to Tumor Progression in a p53-Dependent Manner.

Mounting evidence supports the relationship between obesity and cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms linking obesity with cancer remain largely uninvestigated. In this study, we demonstrate that the expression of C1q/TNF-related protein 1 (CTRP1), an adiponectin paralogue, contributes to tumor growth by regulating the tumor suppressor p53. In our study, obese mice on a high-fat diet showed higher serum CTRP1 levels. Through in vitro experiments, we showed that the secreted form of CTRP1 in the culture medium decreased p53 expression and p53-dependent transcription in the cells. Moreover, CTRP1 treatment enhanced colony formation and cell migration. These results collectively suggest that elevated levels of CTRP1 in obesity significantly contribute to tumor progression.

Comparison of Intracardiac Echocardiography and Transesophageal Echocardiography for Image Guidance in Percutaneous Patent Foramen Ovale Closure.

Background and Objectives: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance is the current gold standard for catheter-based procedures in the treatment of structural heart diseases. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), which can be performed under local anesthesia, has been recently introduced and is becoming more widely used. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ICE and TEE in patent foramen ovale (PFO) device closure. Materials and Methods: All 74 patients with a history of cryptogenic stroke undergoing PFO closure for secondary prophylaxis were selected from our registry. Intraprocedural TEE was performed by echocardiographer-cardiologists with the patient under general anesthesia. Conversely, ICE was performed with the patient under local anesthesia. Baseline characteristics, procedural details, and immediate outcomes were compared between the TEE and ICE groups (n = 49 and n = 25, respectively). Results: Although patients in the ICE group were older (47 ± 10 vs. 57 ± 7 years, p < 0.001), sex and comorbidity variables were similar between the two groups. The degree of inducible right-to-left shunt via the PFO, assessed using preprocedural TEE, was also comparable. Notably, fluoroscopy time (22 ± 18 vs. 16 ± 7 min, p = 0.030), radiation dose (498 ± 880 vs. 196 ± 111 mGy, p = 0.022), and total procedural time in the catheter laboratory (99 ± 30 vs. 67 ± 12 min, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the ICE group than those in the TEE group. The entire hospital stay was similar between groups (3.8 ± 2.2 vs. 3.4 ± 1.3 days, p = 0.433). No procedural complications, such as device embolization, pericardial hemorrhage, major bleeding, mortality, or access-related vascular injury were reported in either group. Conclusions: ICE-guided PFO device closure is quicker and less hazardous in terms of radiation exposure than the TEE-guided procedure, with similar procedural outcomes and duration of hospital stay.

Risk Factors for Closure Failure following Percutaneous Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

BACKGROUND: The percutaneous access site of transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures is commonly closed using a preclosure technique with suture-type closure devices. We sought to evaluate the predictors and outcomes of percutaneous closure device (PCD) failure during transfemoral TAVI. METHODS AND RESULTS: This single-center retrospective analysis included 184 patients who underwent transfemoral TAVI using 2 ProGlide sutures for severe aortic stenosis between July 2011 and September 2018. PCD failure was observed in 11.4%. The causes of PCD failure included 5 cases of insufficient hemostasis, 13 cases of arterial stenosis or occlusion, and 3 cases of dissection. Closure failures were managed by surgical repair in 10 patients and endovascular treatment in 11 patients. In a multivariate binary logistic model, a minimum lumen diameter of the common femoral artery (CFA) (odds ratio [OR] 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15-0.83, P = 0.017) and left femoral access (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.01-8.30, P = 0.048) was identified as a predictor of PCD failure. PCD failure was not associated with increased mortality (0% vs. 2.5%, P = 1.000) or a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE; 4.8% vs. 4.3%, P = 1.000) at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: PCD failures were not uncommon in patients undergoing percutaneous transfemoral TAVI. Small CFA diameter and left femoral access are predictors of PCD failure. However, PCD failures were not associated with increased mortality or MACE.

Role of FDG-PET/CT in detecting lymphomatous bone marrow involvement in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

To evaluate the role of FDG-PET/CT in detecting bone marrow (BM) involvement, pre-treatment bilateral bone marrow biopsies (BMBs) and FDG-PET/CT scans of 89 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with rituximab-CHOP were reviewed and analyzed. Fourteen patients (15.7%) had lymphomatous involvement based on BMB (BMB+), and 17 patients (19.1%) had the possibility of BM involvement on FDG-PET/CT (FDG-PET/CT+). Seventy-two patients (80.8%) had concordant results between BMB and FDG-PET/CT (seven patients were positive for both, and 65 patients were negative for both), but 17 patients (19.2%) had a discordant interpretation (seven patients were BMB+ and FDG-PET/CT-, and ten were BMB- and FDG-PET/CT+). Although BMB+ patients had an inferior 2-year EFS (37.0% vs. 79.8%, p < 0.001) and OS (36.3% vs. 81.0%, p < 0.001) compared to BMB- patients, no differences in EFS (62.6% vs. 72.7%, p = 0.185) and OS (59.4% vs. 78.0%, p = 0.146) were shown between FDG-PET/CT+ and FDG-PET/CT- patients. Whereas six of seven patients with diffuse hypermetabolism were BMB+, only one of ten patients with focal hypermetabolism was BMB+. The results suggest that FDG-PET/CT had a limited value to detect BM involvement in patients with DLBCL. Focal hypermetabolism of hematopoietic BM in FDG-PET/CT had no impact on survival.