Association of marital status with stage and survival in patients with mycosis fungoides: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that marital status was associated with stages and survival in patients with melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma. To date, the impacts of marital status on stage and survival in patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) have not been determined yet. METHODS: A total of 3375 eligible cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2015 were included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Association of marital status with stage and survival in patients with MF was analyzed. RESULTS: Married patients were more likely to be diagnosed at T1 stage (p = 0.041). And married patients were less likely to present with lymph node involvement (p = 0.007). More favorable overall survival (p < 0.001) and cancer-specific survival (p < 0.001) were demonstrated in married patients as compared with divorced patients or widowed patients. A clinically feasible prognostic model including marital status, age, sex, race, and stage at presentation was constructed. CONCLUSION: Married marital status was associated with earlier stage at diagnosis and longer survival compared with divorced or widowed marital status in patients with MF.

Low prevalence and independent prognostic role of del(11q) in Chinese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The 11q deletion (del(11q)) is a conventional cytogenetic aberration observed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. However, the prevalence and the prognostic value of del(11q) are still controversial. In this research, we retrospectively explored the prevalence, association, and prognostic significance of del(11q) in 352 untreated and 99 relapsed/refractory Chinese CLL patients. Totally 11.4% of untreated and 19.2% of relapsed/refractory patients harbored del(11q). Del(11q) was more common in patients with ß2-microglobulin > 3.5 mg/L, positive CD38, positive zeta-chain associated protein kinase 70, unmutated immunoglobulin heavy variable-region gene and ataxia telangiectasia mutated mutation. Kaplan-Meier method and univariate Cox regression indicated that del(11q) was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). Based on the results of univariate Cox regression analysis, two nomograms that included del(11q) were established to predict survival. Desirable area under curve of receiver operating characteristic curves was obtained in the training and validation cohorts. In addition, the calibration curves for the probability of survival showed good agreement between the prediction by nomogram and actual observation. In summary, the prevalence of del(11q) is relatively low in our cohort and del(11q) is an unfavorable prognostic factor for untreated CLL patients. Besides, these two nomograms could be used to accurately predict the prognosis of untreated CLL patients.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 modulates osteoblast differentiation through direct association with and dephosphorylation of GSK3ß.

SHP-1, the Src homology-2 (SH2) domain-containing phosphatase 1, is a cytosolic protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) predominantly expressed in hematopoietic-derived cells. Previous studies have focused on the involvement of SHP-1 in osteoclastogenesis. Using primary cultured mouse fetal calvaria-derived osteoblasts as a model, this study aims to investigate the effects of SHP-1 on differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts and elucidate the signaling pathways responsible for these effects. We found that osteoblasts treated by osteogenic media showed significant increase in SHP-1 expression, which contributed to osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization. Using immunoprecipitation assay, we found that a direct association between SHP-1 and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3ß could be detected in differentiated osteoblasts and was significantly inhibited by SHP-1 inhibitor NSC87877. Inhibition of SHP-1 activated GSK3ß, thereby leading to suppression of osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, which could be rescued by the inhibitor of GSK3ß. In addition, we found that rosiglitazone (RSG) treatment led to significant decrease in SHP-1 expression. Overexpression of SHP-1 reversed RSG-induced GSK3ß activation, thus rescuing the inhibitory effect of RSG on osteoblast differentiation and mineralization. These findings suggest that protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 may act as a positive regulator of osteoblast differentiation through direct association with and dephosphorylation of GSK3ß. Downregulation of SHP-1 may contribute to RSG-induced inhibition of mouse calvaria osteoblast differentiation by activating GSK3ß-dependent pathway.

Upregulation of microRNA-22 contributes to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by interfering with the mitochondrial function.

Mitochondrial oxidative damage is critically involved in cardiac ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. MicroRNA-22 (miR-22) has been predicted to potentially target sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α), both of which are known to provide protection against mitochondrial oxidative injury. The present study aims to investigate whether miR-22 is involved in the regulation of cardiac I/R injury by regulation of mitochondrial function. We found that miR-22 level was significantly increased in rat hearts subjected to I/R injury, as compared with the sham group. Intra-myocardial injection of 20 ug miR-22 inhibitor reduced I/R injury as evidenced by significant decreases in cardiac infarct size, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) levels and the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes. H9c2 cardiomyocytes exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) insult exhibited an increase in miR-22 expression, which was blocked by reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger and p53 inhibitor. In addition, miR-22 inhibitor attenuated, whereas miR-22 mimic aggravated H/R-induced injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. MiR-22 inhibitor per se had no significant effect on cardiac mitochondrial function. Mitochondria from rat receiving miR-22 inhibitor 48h before ischemia were found to have a significantly less mitochondrial superoxide production and greater mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production as compared with rat receiving miR control. In H9c2 cardiomyocyte, it was found that miR-22 mimic aggravated, whilst miR-22 inhibitor significantly attenuated H/R-induced mitochondrial damage. By using real time PCR, western blot and dual-luciferase reporter gene analyses, we identified Sirt1 and PGC1α as miR-22 targets in cardiomyocytes. It was found that silencing of Sirt1 abolished the protective effect of miR-22 inhibitor against H/R-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell injury in cardiomyocytes. Taken together, our findings reveal a novel molecular mechanism for cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction during myocardial I/R injury at the miRNA level and demonstrate the therapeutic potential of miR-22 inhibition for acute myocardial I/R injury by maintaining cardiac mitochondrial function.

Resveratrol alleviates endotoxemia-associated adrenal insufficiency by suppressing oxidative/nitrative stress.

We have recently demonstrated that endotoxin causes oxidative stress and overproduction of nitric oxide in adrenal glands, thereby leading to adrenocortical insufficiency. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of resveratrol, a natural plant polyphenol with anti-oxidant and anti-nitrative properties, on endotoxemia-associated adrenocortical insufficiency. Resveratrol was administered immediately before injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Twenty four hours later, the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests was been performed to measure the plasma corticosterone level and the adrenal gland tissues were collected for histopathologic examination, and determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite production. Treatment with resveratrol significantly inhibited endotoxemia-induced iNOS expression, NO production, and peroxynitrite formation and also attenuated LPS-induced oxidative stress in the adrenal gland, as evidenced by the decrease of pro-oxidant biomarker (MDA), and the increases of anti-oxidant biomarkers (T-AOC, CAT and SOD activity). H&E staining demonstrated that administration of LPS resulted in increased into the adrenal gland. H&E-stained sections of adrenal glands demonstrated signs of leukocyte infiltration and hemorrhage during endotoxemia, which were significantly improved by resveratrol treatment. In addition, resveratrol reversed the LPS-induced downregulation of ACTH receptor and silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) in adrenal gland, as well as adrenocortical hyporesponsiveness to ACTH. Resveratrol exerts protective effects against endotoxemia-associated adrenocortical insufficiency by suppressing oxidative/nitrative stress. These findings support the potential for resveratrol as a possible pharmacological agent to improve adrenocortical insufficiency resulting from oxidative/nitrative damage.

MiR-22/Sp-1 Links Estrogens With the Up-Regulation of Cystathionine γ-Lyase in Myocardium, Which Contributes to Estrogenic Cardioprotection Against Oxidative Stress.

Hydrogen sulfide, generated in the myocardium predominantly via cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), is cardioprotective. Our previous study has shown that estrogens enhance CSE expression in myocardium of female rats. The present study aims to explore the mechanisms by which estrogens regulate CSE expression, in particular to clarify the role of estrogen receptor subtypes and the transcriptional factor responsible for the estrogenic effects. We found that either the CSE inhibitor or the CSE small interfering RNA attenuated the protective effect of 17ß-estradiol (E2) against H2O2- and hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury in primary cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes. E2 stimulates CSE expression via estrogen receptor (ER)-α both in cultured cardiomyocytes in vitro and in the myocardium of female mice in vivo. A specificity protein-1 (Sp-1) consensus site was identified in the rat CSE promoter and was found to mediate the E2-induced CSE expression. E2 increases ERα and Sp-1 and inhibits microRNA (miR)-22 expression in myocardium of ovariectomized rats. In primary cardiomyocytes, E2 stimulates Sp-1 expression through the ERα-mediated down-regulation of miR-22. It was confirmed that both ERα and Sp-1 were targeted by miR-22. In the myocardium of ovariectomized rats, the level of miR-22 inversely correlated to CSE, ERα, Sp-1, and antioxidant biomarkers and positively correlated to oxidative biomarkers. In summary, this study demonstrates that estrogens stimulate Sp-1 through the ERα-mediated down-regulation of miR-22 in cardiomyocytes, leading to the up-regulation of CSE, which in turn results in an increase of antioxidative defense. Interaction of ERα, miR-22, and Sp-1 may play a critical role in the control of oxidative stress status in the myocardium of female rats.

Overproduction of nitric oxide by endothelial cells and macrophages contributes to mitochondrial oxidative stress in adrenocortical cells and adrenal insufficiency during endotoxemia.

We have recently demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) causes mitochondrial oxidative stress and dysfunction in adrenal glands, thereby leading to adrenocortical insufficiency. Since nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) leads to mitochondrial damage in various tissues, the present study aims to investigate whether NO contributes to mitochondrial oxidative stress in adrenal cortex and adrenocortical insufficiency during endotoxemia. Systemic administration of LPS increased iNOS expression and NO production in adrenal glands of mice. The specific iNOS inhibitor 1400 W significantly attenuated the LPS-induced mitochondrial superoxide production and dysfunction in adrenal glands, and reversed the LPS-induced adrenocortical hyporesponsiveness to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). In contrast, administration of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) led to mitochondrial oxidative stress and dysfunction in adrenal glands, which resulted in a blunted corticosterone response to ACTH. Using double immunofluorescence staining for iNOS with the vascular endothelial cell marker CD31 or the macrophage marker CD68, we found that increased iNOS expression was found in vascular endothelial cells and macrophages, but not adrenocortical cells in the adrenal gland during endotoxemia. Administration of the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor GYY4137 inhibited NO production and reversed LPS-induced adrenocortical hyporesponsiveness. Our data suggest that overproduction of NO, which is mainly generated by endothelial cells and macrophages during endotoxemia, contributes to mitochondrial oxidative stress in adrenocortical cells and subsequently leads to adrenal insufficiency.

[Effect of isoflavones in regulating the transcription of target genes through estrogen receptors].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the transcriptional regulation of the two isoflavones genistein and daidzein on target genes. METHODS: In this study, we used ERalpha or ERbeta over-expressing Hela cells to observe the transcriptional regulation of genistein and daidzein on ERE reporter gene with calcium-phosphate method, and furthermore observing the effects of phytoestrogen antagonist ICI 182780 on their activation. RESULTS: Our results showed that both genistein and daidzein could activate ERE receptor gene through ERalpha and ERbeta, and these effects could be blocked by ICI 182780. CONCLUSION: Both genistein and daidzein can mimic estrogen's effect to activate the transcription of target genes through binding to the ERs.