[Effect of preemptive analgesia with ibuprofen on postoperative pain after mandibular third molar extraction: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To evaluate the impact of preemptive analgesia with ibuprofen on postoperative pain following the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars in a Chinese population, aiming to provide a clinical reference for its application. Methods: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial was conducted from April 2022 to October 2023 at the Capital Medical University School of Stomatology (40 cases), Beijing TianTan Hospital, Capital Medical University (22 cases), and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University (20 cases). It included 82 patients with impacted mandibular third molars, with 41 in the ibuprofen group and 41 in the control group. Participants in the ibuprofen group received 300 mg of sustained-release ibuprofen capsules orally 15 min before surgery, while the control group received a placebo. Both groups were instructed to take sustained-release ibuprofen capsules as planned for 3 days post-surgery. Pain intensity was measured using the numerical rating scale at 30 min, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after surgery, and the use of additional analgesic medication was recorded during days 4 to 6 postoperatively. Results: All 82 patients completed the study according to the protocol. No adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, or allergies were reported in either group during the trial. The ibuprofen group exhibited significantly lower pain scores at 4 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs. 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)] (Z=-3.73, P<0.001), 6 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs. 5.0(2.5, 6.0)] (Z=-3.38, P<0.001), and 8 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs. 5.0 (2.0, 6.0)] (Z=-2.11, P=0.035) postoperatively compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in pain scores between the groups at 30 min, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively (P>0.05). Additionally, 11 out of 41 patients (26.8%) in the ibuprofen group and 23 out of 41 patients (56.1%) in the control group required extra analgesic medication between days 4 and 6 post-surgery, with the ibuprofen group taking significantly fewer additional pills [0.0 (0.0, 1.0) vs. 1.0 (0.0, 3.0)] (Z=-2.81, P=0.005). Conclusions: A pain management regimen involving 300 mg of oral sustained-release ibuprofen capsules administered 15 minutes before surgery and continued for 3 d postoperatively effectively reduces pain levels and the total amount of analgesic medication used after the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Considering its efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, ibuprofen is recommended as a first-line drug for perioperative pain management, enhancing patient comfort during diagnosis and treatment in a feasible manner.

[Clinicopathological and molecular diagnostic features of early-onset gastric cancer: a study based on data from a single-center dedicated gastric cancer database].

Objective: To clarify the clinicopathological, especially molecular, features of early-onset gastric cancer with the aim of informing analysis of treatment strategies. Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, we examined data from a dedicated gastric cancer database in Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University. The original cohort comprised 2506 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone gastrectomy in Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University from July 2020 to October 2021, including 198 with early-onset gastric cancer (aged ≤45 years) and 2,308 with non-early gastric cancer. We used a simple random sampling method to select 396 of the 2,308 patients aged >45 years (ratio of 1:2) as the control group and then compared molecular diagnostic data and clinicopathological features of the two groups. Results: The median age was 39 years in the early-onset gastric cancer group, while 66 years in the control group. The clinicopathological features of early-onset gastric cancer included female predominance (59.1% [117/198] vs. 27.8% [110/396], χ2=54.816, P<0.001), less comorbidity (32.3% [64/198] vs. 57.1% [226/396], χ2=32.355, P<0.001), poorer differentiation (93.9% [186/198] vs. 74.5% [295/396], χ2=30.777, P<0.001) and higher proportion of diffuse type (40.4% [80/198] vs. 15.9% [63/396], χ2=69.639, P<0.001), distant metastasis (7.1% [14/198] vs. 2.8% [11/396], χ2=6.034, P=0.014). Regarding treatment, distal gastrectomy was more commonly performed than proximal gastrectomy (55.1% [109/198] vs. 47.0% [186/396], 1.5% [3/198] vs. 8.3% [33/396], χ2=11.644, P=0.003). Family history of gastric cancer, TNM stage, tumor size, lymph node dissection, nerve invasion, nodes harboring metastases, range of lymph node dissection, digestive tract reconstruction procedure, implementation of laparoscopic surgery, combined resection, and preoperative treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P>0.05). Molecular diagnosis showed there was a smaller percentage of mismatch repair deficiency in the early-onset gastric cancer than in the control group (1.0% [2/198] vs. 10.1% [40/396], χ2=16.301, P<0.001), and a higher rate of positivity for Claudin 18.2 (77.8% [154/198] vs. 53.0% [210/396], χ2=5.442,P<0.001). HER-2 and Epstein-Barr virus positivity rates did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion: Early-onset gastric cancer is a distinct type of gastric cancer with a high degree of malignancy, and treatment targeting Claudin 18.2 may be effective.

A comprehensive analysis of nucleotide excision repair characteristics defines a novel prognostic signature for acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: Nucleotide excision repair (NER) has been associated with various types of malignant tumors. However, the precise roles of nucleotide excision repair-related genes (NERGs) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain incompletely understood. Hence, this study aimed to develop a prognostic signature incorporating NERGs in AML, which could potentially predict patient outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By querying the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, we acquired RNA-seq data and clinical information pertaining to AML. To identify differentially expressed NERGs (DE-NERGs), we employed the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Based on the expression patterns of DE-NERGs with prognostic significance, patients were categorized into two subgroups. A prognostic signature was developed through univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses to compare the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between these two groups. Additionally, a nomogram was constructed using multivariate analysis. The biological pathways involved were elucidated through Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). RESULTS: We developed a prognostic model based on an 11-gene signature. Furthermore, the risk score derived from this model was demonstrated to independently serve as a prognostic marker for patients diagnosed with AML. CONCLUSIONS: Our prognostic model, based on NERGs, was developed and validated to provide insights into the onset and progression of AML and establish a foundation for more effective treatment. Our findings not only contribute to clinical decision-making but also underscore the significance of nucleotide excision repair. Furthermore, they may pave the way for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies specifically focused on this process.

First-in-human, phase I study of AK109, an anti-VEGFR2 antibody in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) plays a key role in antiangiogenesis which has been an essential strategy for cancer treatment. We report the first-in-human study of AK109, a novel anti-VEGFR2 monoclonal antibody, to characterize the safety profile and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) properties, and explore the preliminary antitumor efficacy in patients with solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, phase I study, including dose escalation and dose expansion (NCT04547205). Patients with advanced cancers were treated 2 and 3 weekly with escalating doses of AK109. A 3 + 3 design was used to determine the maximum tolerated dose. Blood was sampled for PK/PD analysis. The primary endpoint was safety and recommended phase II dose (RP2D). RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were enrolled. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed. However, 38 patients reported treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs); grade ≥3 TRAEs occurred in 10 patients. The most common TRAEs were proteinuria (n = 24, 60%), hypertension (n = 13, 32.5%), increased aspartate transaminase (n = 11, 27.5%), thrombopenia (n = 10, 25%), and anemia (n = 10, 25%). A total of 28 patients (70%) reported adverse events of special interest (AESIs). The most common AESIs were proteinuria (60%), hypertension (32.5%), and hemorrhage (32.5%), mainly including gum bleeding and urethrorrhagia. AK109 exhibited an approximately linear PK exposure with dose escalation at 2-12 mg/kg. PD analyses showed rapid target engagement. Among the 40 patients, 4 achieved partial response and 21 achieved stable disease with an objective response rate of 10% and a disease control rate of 62.5%. Based on the safety profile, the PK/PD profile, and preliminary antitumor activities, 12 mg/kg Q2W and 15 mg/kg Q3W were selected as RP2D. CONCLUSIONS: AK109 showed manageable safety profile and promising antitumor activity, supporting further clinical development in a large population.

[Recent progress of aptasensors for tumor exosome-associated protein detection].

Exosomes are phospholipid bilayer membrane-enclosed vesicles released from cells with diameters of 30-150 nm, exosomes can directly reflect the physiological and functional state of secretory cells, participate in material transport and information communication between cells, which are of great significance as biomarkers for early tumor diagnosis and treatment evaluation. There are many detection methods for exosomes, among which aptasensor technology with the properties of low price and easy operation, fast response, high sensitivity, remarkable specificity helps tumor patients to find, diagnose and treat early, improve the survival rate, and provide important basis for the evaluation of the prognosis. There are seven types of common aptasensors: fluorescent, electrochemical, colorimetric, luminescence, lateral flow strips, surface-enhanced Raman scattering and surface plasmon resonance sensors. Different aptasensors have different characteristics, this article focuses on the research progress of several common aptasensor for tumor exosomes detection.

[Relationship between onco-immunological and morphologic characteristics of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma and lymphocyte subtypes of peripheral blood].

Objective: To study the relationship between the onco-immunological and morphologic characteristics of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) and peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes and its clinical significance. Methods: The pathologic and clinical data of 117 LELC patients who were admitted to the Tumor Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences from 2006 to 2018 were collected. The histological classification was based on previously reported morphological classification method. The onco-immunological and morphologic characteristics of the tumors such as lymphoid follicle formation and interstitial fibrous hyperplasia, patient's peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes and prognosis data were collected. The relationship between various factors and their impact on prognosis were analyzed. Results: There were 117 patients, including 61 females and 56 males. The male to female ratio was 0.9∶1.0. The age of onset was 24-89 years (median 52 years). Primary sites included head and neck (68 cases), lungs (26 cases), stomach (15 cases), and others (eight cases). Morphologically, 54 cases were type Ⅰ, 62 cases were type Ⅱ, and one case could not be classified. The onco-immunological and morphologic features of the LELC tumors showed a continuous spectrum. Interstitial TILs were noted from focally to diffuse, and the interstitial fibrous tissues were from hardly visible to obvious sclerotic. Formation of lymphoid follicles was seen in 42 patients; obvious fibrosis was seen in 31 cases. Data of peripheral blood lymphocyte subtyping by flow cytometry were available in 73 cases. These data included CD3+total T cells, CD3+CD4+helper T cells, CD3+CD8+cytotoxic T cells, CD3-CD56+natural killer (NK) cells, CD3-CD19+B cells, CD4+CD45RA-T helper induction subgroup, CD4+CD45RA+ T suppression induction subgroup, CD4+CD45RO+memory T cell subgroup, CD45RA+CD45RO+activated T cell subgroup, CD8+CD38+activated cytotoxic T cell, and CD25+lymphocytes and CD44+lymphocyte. The proportion of lymphocytes of each subtype was normal in most patients, but the proportion of CD44+lymphocytes in 61 cases (83.6%) was increased; the proportion of T cell suppression induced subgroups was decreased in 53 cases (72.6%). Correlation analysis found a significant correlation between clinical stage and NK cells (P=0.023); tumor histologic type and cytotoxic T cells were significantly positively correlated (P=0.012); while tumor cell morphologic differentiation was significantly related to total T cells (P=0.003) and NK cells (P=0.026); Formation of interstitial lymphoid follicles was positively correlated with memory T cell subsets (P=0.025); Tumor interstitial fibrosis was significantly positively correlated with T suppression-induced subpopulations (P=0.004), and was significantly negatively correlated with total T cells (P=0.023) and with the expression of CD44 adhesion molecules (P=0.003). Survival analysis found that lymphoid follicle formation was a favorable prognostic factor for LELC (P=0.001). Conclusions: The onco-immunological and morphologic features in LELC show a continuous spectrum; the tumor clinicopathological characteristics and onco-immunological morphology are closely related to peripheral blood T lymphocyte subtypes, and the formation of interstitial lymphoid follicles is a favorable prognostic factor for LELC.

[Can periodontitis affect colorectal cancer by altering microbiota balance?]

Emerging evidence suggests that, along with dietary, genetic and environmental factors, gut microbiota plays a role in the progress of colorectal cancer. Dysbiosis of oral flora in patients with periodontitis affects the composition of microbial community in the gut, impairs gut barrier function, and induces a proinflammatory microenvironment, all of which contribute to the progression of colorectal cancer. In view of the influences by microbiota dysbiosis, this article reviews the role of periodontitis in affecting the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer.

[A survey on human resources of dentists who deal with periodontal disease in Beijing].

Objective: To investigate the status quo of human resources of dentists who deal with periodontal disease in Beijing area through an online survey, which may hopefully provide a preliminary basis for the decision-making of administrative departments and the formulation of periodontal professional development plan. Methods: The dentists who deal with periodontal disease at least half a day per week in Beijing area were investigated. A questionnaire was designed by the chairman of the Periodontology Committee of Beijing Stomatological Association. The questionnaire was sent to and finished by the dentists via "WenJuanXing" online survey software. The contents of the survey included general condition, the property of practice unit, title and position of the dentist, membership of professional society, time and content of periodontal treatment, adoption of new technology and new method of periodontal therapy during the past one year, status of periodontal treatment in the local population and reasons, understanding and influencing factors of periodontal professional development. Results: A total of 1 255 dentists completed the survey, who came from all 16 districts in Beijing, mainly Haidian, Chaoyang, Dongcheng and Xicheng Districts [The total percentage of these four main districts was 70.3% (882/1 255)]. The mean age of the dentists was (36.1±8.3) years. Among the dentists, 71.1% (892/1 255) were females, 88.1% (1 106/1 255) got a Bachelor's degree or above. It was estimated that 35.4% (444/1 255) of the dentists had received standardized periodontal training ever. The percentage of dentists carrying out new technology in the past one year was as high as 68.1% (855/1 255). There were only 163 periodontal specialists (13.0%) out of the dentists in the survey. Only 15.9% (200/1 255) of the dentists routinely performed periodontal surgery. The majority of the dentists [82.8% (1 039/1 255)] were from the state-owned hospitals. Fifty-four point seven percemt (686/1 255) of the dentists thought that lack of knowledge was the main reason why the general public failed to receive periodontal treatment. As for the biggest bottleneck affecting periodontal professional development, fifty-one point zero percent (640/1 255) of the dentists attributed it to the public neglect. Conclusions: The periodontal practitioners in Beijing are young, highly educated, unevenly distributed in 16 districts and mostly females. State-owned oral health institutions are an important force in periodontal diagnosis and treatment services in Beijing. The number of periodontal specialists need to be improved. Promotion of standardized periodontal surgery and the popularization of healthcare knowledge on periodontal disease should also be the focus in the future.

[Screening of periodontal and salivary parameters in patients with frequent acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To screen the risk factors of patients with frequent acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by detecting the clinical indicators of periodontitis and the level of bacterial and inflammatory markers in saliva. Methods: Thirty-eight COPD patients in their stable period were recruited and detected from Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital,Capital Medical University during December 2016 to May 2017. The periodontal index were recorded. The levels of inflammatory factors in saliva samples were examined by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The bacteria composition in the saliva samples were identified by using 16SrRNA gene pyrosequencing. All patients were followed up and monitored for acute exacerbation of COPD for 12 months. The patients were divided into frequent acute exacerbation group (≥2 times/year, n=10) and non frequent acute exacerbation group (<2 times/year, n=28). Results: In univariate analysis, the patients' average age of frequent acute exacerbation group (69.0±7.3) was significantly older than that of non-frequent acute exacerbation group (61.8±8.3) (P=0.02). The numbers of remaining teeth ≤26 [100% (10/10)] was significantly higher and plaque index ≤2.5 (2/10) in frequent acute exacerbation group was significantly lower compared with the remaining teeth ≤26 [43% (12/28)] and the plaque index ≤2.5 [71% (21/28)] in non-frequent acute exacerbation group (P=0.02, P=0.01). The proportions of salivary inflammatory factors interleukin-6 (IL-6) level ≤60 ng/L (10%),C-reactive protein (CRP) level ≤1 550 µg/L (30%), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) level ≤140 µg/L (30%) and fibrinogen level ≤90 mg/L (30%) in frequent acute exacerbation group were significantly lower compared with salivary inflammatory factors IL-6 level ≤60 ng/L (71%),CRP level ≤1 550 µg/L (71%), MMP-8 level ≤140 µg/L (86%) and fibrinogen level ≤90 mg/L (71%) in non-frequent acute exacerbation group (P<0.05). The differences of relative abundances of salivary bacteria,such as species of Chloroflexi, Anaerolineae, Anaeroales, Corynebacteriales, Anaerolineaceae, Tissierellaceae, Leptotrichiaceae, Corynebacteriaceae, Leptotrichia, Moryella, Lachnoanaerobaculum and Corynebacterium between frequent acute exacerbation group and non-frequent acute exacerbation group were significantly different (P<0.05). In multivariate logistics regression analysis,the level of IL-6 >60 ng/L and the relative abundance of Corynebacteriales >0.2 had significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusions: The level of IL-6 and the relative abundance of Corynebacteriales might be the markers of frequent acute exacerbation in COPD patients.

MEG3 promotes liver cancer by activating PI3K/AKT pathway through regulating AP1G1.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the biological function of maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) in liver cancer and the potential mechanism of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway in regulating proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to examine the level of MEG3 in 72 pairs of liver cancer tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues. Expression levels of MEG3 and AP1G1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines including SMMC-7721 and BEL-7402 were detected. After transfection of MEG3-siRNA or AP1G1 overexpression plasmid, the proliferative and invasive abilities of hepatoma cells were detected through cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and cell invasion assay. The effects of MEG3 and AP1G1 on the cell cycle of hepatoma cell lines were examined using flow cytometry. Western blot was conducted to estimate the changes in the protein levels of AP1G1, p-PI3K, p-AKT and VEGF before and after transfection. RESULTS: The level of MEG3 in hepatoma cancer tissues and cell lines was significantly reduced, especially in patients with advanced liver cancer. Knockdown of MEG3 significantly promoted proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells, but accelerated cell cycle. Western blot analysis revealed that knockdown of MEG3 reduced the level of AP1G1 and activated the PI3K/AKT pathway. In addition, rescue experiments demonstrated that overexpression of AP1G1 partially reversed the promotive effect of lowly-expressed MEG3 on cell proliferation and invasion, suggesting that low expression of MEG3 may activate PI3K/AKT pathway by inhibiting AP1G1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Low expression of MEG3 could promote the proliferative and invasive abilities of hepatoma cells and accelerate cell cycle. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of AP1G1 expression and activation of PI3K/AKT pathway.

[Influence of non-surgical periodontal treatment on the quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with chronic periodontitis].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of periodontal therapy on the quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). Methods: In a randomized controlled pilot study, 60 COPD patients with CP were randomly assigned into three groups to receive scaling and root planing (SRP) treatment, supragingival scaling treatment and oral hygiene instructions only with no periodontal treatment, respectively. The scores of each patient's quality of life at baseline, 1 year and 2 years, respectively, were evaluated by using the standardized St George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ). The SGRQ was composed of three dimensions: symptoms, activity, and impact. A score was calculated for each section and a total summary score was also calculated. A high score indicated poor health and a decrease in the score indicates an improvement in quality of life. Results: There were no statistically significant differences among the three groups for age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, lung funtion, periodontal parameters and the SGRQ scores (including total, symptoms, activity and impacts scores) among three groups at baseline (all P>0.05). The SGRQ scores were all significantly correlated with major lung function parameters (r=-0.54 --0.28). The result of ANCOVA analysis adjusted for the influence of baseline measurements showed that the total scores of two periodontal treatment groups were significantly lower (P=0.01) than that of control group at 2-year follow-up (SRP group: 31.1±12.1; scaling group: 28.9±9.8; control group: 46.5±24.9). The symptoms score of SRP group (45.4±19.7) was significantly lower (P=0.03) than that of control group (53.6±25.4) at 2-year follow-up. The impacts scores of two treatment groups were significantly lower (P=0.02) than that of control group at 2-year follow-up (SRP group: 15.2±8.3; scaling group: 14.9±7.7; control group: 34.8±18.8). Conclusions: Our preliminary results from this study suggest that non-surgical periodontal treatment in COPD patients with CP might improve the quality of life of the COPD patient.

The prognostic roles of long non-coding RNA SNHG17 in the patients with gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Dysregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) might exert critical roles in pathways associated with gastric cancer (GC) development. Long non-coding RNA (SNHG17), a newly identified lncRNA, has been reported to be dysregulated in several tumors. Our present study aimed to explore the expression level of SNHG17 in patients with GC and investigate the relationship between the SNHG17 level and the prognosis of GC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression levels of SNHG17 were detected by Real-time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). The chi-square test was performed to investigate the associations between SNHG17 expression and the clinical features of GC patients. The prognostic value of SNHG17 was demonstrated using Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: We showed that SNHG17 was significantly up-regulated in GC tissues compared with adjacent normal gastric tissues (p<0.01) and higher expression of SNHG17 was observed in advanced GC tissues. The results by analyzing the clinicopathological features showed that overexpression of SNHG17 expression was associated with advanced TNM stage (p=0.006), positively lymph node metastasis (p=0.006) and positively distant metastasis p=0.024). Moreover, clinical assays revealed that patients with high SNHG17 expression levels had a significantly shorter overall survival (OS) (p=0.0034) and progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.0002) than those expressing lower. Finally, multivariate assays showed that SNHG17 was an independent prognostic marker for both OS and PFS of patients with GC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that SNHG17 was a novel molecule involved in GC progression, providing a potential prognostic biomarker for GC patients.

[Clinical significance of interleukin-6 and -8 in patients with chronic periodontal disease and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To investigate the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and -8 in patients with chronic periodontal disease and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and the possible relationship between IL-6 and IL-8 with two diseases. Methods: A total of 40 cases of healthy subjects (control group 1) from graduate school of Anhui Medical University, and 120 cases (40 cases in each of the 3 groups) of eligible patients were collected, of which 40 were patients with chronic periodontal disease and AECOPD (experimental group) from Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and Anhui NO.2 Provincial People's Hospital, 40 were patients with chronic periodontal disease (control group 2) from Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 40 were patients with AECOPD (control group 3) from Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. The clinical indicators of all subjects were collected, including tooth mobility degree, probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI), attachment level (AL), vital capacity max (VC Max), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and forced expiratory volume in first second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the subjects of four groups. Results: The attachment levels had no significant differences between experimental group and control group 2 (P>0.05). The pulmonary function indices of experimental group including VC MAX% pre[(56.1±11.1)%], FEV1 %pre [(44.8±12.2)%], FEV1/FVC(%) [(56.8±11.4)%] were significantly different from those in control group 3 [(66.3±10.1)%, (53.0±10.4)%, (66.5±8.2)%, respectively]. The IL-6 levels of experimental group, control groups 1, 2 and 3 were (14.4±3.9), (2.1±1.1), (4.8±1.9) and (8.6±1.4) ng/L, respectively. And the IL-8 levels were (35.3±33.3), (4.8±1.7), (9.7±3.3) and (15.6±9.6) ng/L. In experimental group the IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly higher than those in control groups 1, 2, and 3 (P<0.01). In control group 2 and 3 the IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly higher than that in control group 1 (P< 0.01). Conclusions: The IL-6 and IL-8 levels of experimental group were significantly increased. IL-6 and IL-8 may be associated with the development of periodontal disease and AECOPD closely.

Long non-coding RNA BLACAT1 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion in cervical cancer through activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are aberrantly expressed in various cancers. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of lncRNA (BLACAT1) with the prognosis of cervical cancer (CC) patients, and to further investigate the potential mechanisms of BLACAT1 function in CC progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expressions of BLACAT1 in CC tissues and cells were estimated by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We compared the expression of BLACAT1 with the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of CC patients. MTT, colony formation, and transwell assay were performed to explore the effects of BLACAT1 expression on growth, migration, and invasion of CC cells. Protein levels of ß-catenin and MMP-7 were evaluated by Western blotting. RESULTS: We found that BLACAT1 expression was significantly increased in CC tissues and cells lines. In addition, the expression level of BLACAT1 was positively correlated with distant metastasis (p=0.001), FIGO stage (p=0.010), and histological grade (p=0.012). Moreover, patients with high BLACAT12 expression had shorter overall survival and progression-free survival time than those with low BLACAT1 expression, with the data provided by multivariate analysis suggesting that BLACAT1 expression could serve as an independent prognostic factor in CC patients. Functionally, in vitro assay indicated that down-regulation of BLACAT1 significantly suppressed CC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Mechanistically, the results of Western blot showed that the expression of ß-catenin and MMP-7 was significantly down-regulated in CC cells transfected with si-BLACAT1. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that BLACAT1, as a novel prognostic biomarker, might be an oncogenic lncRNA which promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion by modulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Our results enlarged our knowledge in the molecular pathology of CC tumorigenesis.

Autophagy suppresses the proliferation of renal carcinoma cell.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effetcs of autophagy on the proliferation of renal carcinoma (RCCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Authophagy related protein 7 (Atg7)-overexpressing and knockdown RCC cell lines were established using lentiviral transfection and shRNA interference, respectively. (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) was used to determine the Cell growth rate, and western blot was used to determine the expression of protein. In order to establish xenograft animal models, stable transfected cells were injected into nude mice. After that those mice were used to detect the effect of autophagy on the growth of RCC in vivo. RESULTS: Atg7 overexpression could up-regulate the level of LC3II in RCC cell lines, while Atg7-knockdown suppressed the expression of light chain 3 II (LC3II) in RCC cell lines. Atg7-overexpression cells exhibited a decreased growth profile, while suppressing the expression of Atg7 could accelerate the growth of RCC formed tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicated that autophagy could suppress the growth of RCC cells in vivo and in vitro, and autophagy appeared to be a new therapeutic target for treating advanced renal cell carcinoma.