Association between vitamin B2 intake and prostate-specific antigen in American men: 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests a pivotal role of vitamin B2 in the pathogenesis and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Vitamin B2 intake has been postulated to modulate the screening rate for PCa by altering the concentration of prostate-specific antigen(PSA). However, the relationship between vitamin B2 and PSA remains indeterminate. Hence, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the association between vitamin B2 intake and PSA levels, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. METHODS: From a pool of 20,371 participants in the NHANES survey conducted between 2003 and 2010, a cohort of 2,323 participants was selected for the present study. The male participants were classified into four distinct groups based on their levels of vitamin B2 intake. We employed a multiple linear regression model and a non-parametric regression method to investigate the relationship between vitamin B2 and PSA levels. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised of 2,323 participants with a mean age of 54.95 years (± 11.73). Our findings revealed a statistically significant inverse correlation between vitamin B2 intake (mg) and PSA levels, with a reduction of 0.13 ng/ml PSA concentration for every unit increase in vitamin B2 intake. Furthermore, we employed a fully adjusted model to construct a smooth curve to explore the possible linear relationship between vitamin B2 intake and PSA concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Our study in American men has unveiled a notable inverse association between vitamin B2 intake and PSA levels, potentially posing a challenge for the identification of asymptomatic prostate cancer. Specifically, our findings suggest that individuals with higher vitamin B2 intake may be at a greater risk of being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in the future, possibly indicating a detection bias. These results may offer a novel explanation for the observed positive correlation between vitamin B2 intake and prostate cancer.

Fully endoscopic microvascular decompression of the hemifacial spasm: our experience.

PURPOSE: Microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery has been accepted as a potentially curative method for hemifacial spasm (HFS). The primary cause of failure of MVD is incomplete decompression of the offending vessel due to inadequate visualization. This study is aimed at evaluating the benefit of endoscopic visualization and the value of fully endoscopic MVD. METHODS: From March 2016 to March 2018, 45 HFS patients underwent fully endoscopic MVD in our department. From opening the dura to preparing to close, the assistant held the endoscope and the surgeon operated. Abnormal muscle response (AMR) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were monitored. For every patient, the offending vessel was transposed or interposed and achieved complete decompression. AMR was used to evaluate the adequacy of decompression at the end of the surgery. The intra-operative findings and postoperative outcomes and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Immediately after surgeries, 39 patients (86.7%) achieved excellent result; 2 cases (4.4%) had good result. So the postoperative effective rate was 91.1% (41/45). During 12-36 month follow-up, the outcomes were excellent in 42 cases (93.3%) and good in 2 cases (4.4%), and the effective rate reached to 97.8% (44/45). No recurrence was noted. The postoperative complications were found in 2 patients (4.4%). One patient (2.2%) showed delayed facial palsy on the tenth day but was fully recovered 1 month later. Intracranial infection was noticed in 1 patient (2.2%) and was cured by using intravenous antibiotics for 2 weeks. There was no hearing impairment, hoarseness, or other complications. CONCLUSIONS: Fully endoscopic MVD is both safe and effective in the treatment of HFS. Electrophysiological monitoring is helpful to gain a good result and reduce hearing impairment.

Posterior Fossa Re-Exploration for Recurrent Trigeminal Neuralgia: Operative Findings and Surgical Techniques.

OBJECTIVE: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is considered the first choice for the surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, recurrence after MVD is still a problem and a challenge for neurosurgeons. In this study, we share our experience in the posterior fossa re-exploration of the recurrent cases. METHODS: From January 2014 to January 2015, 15 recurrent TN patients who received fossa re-exploration were retrospectively studied. Surgeries were performed by retrosigmoid suboccipital approach. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were monitored throughout the operation. Intraoperative findings and surgical techniques were recorded. Postoperative outcomes and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 15 patients, Teflon adhesion was found in 14. Teflon felt displacement was found in 4 patients, and additional Teflon felt was used to interpose. New offending vessels were found in 5 patients. Three of them were small arteries and the other 2 were petrosal veins. After dissected, small pieces of wet gelatin sponge and Teflon felt were implanted respectively to ensure complete decompression. The remaining 6 patients had no vascular compression except severe adhesion, and nerve combing was performed. After surgery, 12 achieved complete pain relief, 2 gained partial pain relief, and 1 failed. Six patients experienced facial numbness postoperatively. There was no hearing impairment or other complications. During the mean 26-month follow-up, no recurrence occurred and all of 6 cases with facial numbness after surgery improved. CONCLUSIONS: Teflon adhesion is a significant cause of recurrent TN. Wet gelatin-assisted method is good for Teflon interposition. If no vascular compression is found during re-exploration, trigeminal nerve combing can be used. Intraoperative BAEP monitoring is helpful to reduce the incidence of hearing loss.

Bell's Palsy: Clinical Analysis of 372 Cases and Review of Related Literature.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze some clinical and epidemiologic aspects of Bell's palsy (BP) and to develop relevant correlations between existing data in literature and those obtained in this research. METHODS: From January 2012 to December 2014, 372 consecutive patients diagnosed with BP were studied retrospectively. We reviewed the patients' data including gender, age, occupation, clinical manifestations, comorbid disease, and the rate of recurrence. RESULT: The highest incidence was identified in those between 39 and 50 years of age. BP was more frequent in warm seasons (spring and summer) with its incidence reaching a peak value in September. The seasonal incidence of BP was significantly higher in summer (p < 0.05). In addition, diabetes mellitus was the most common accompanying comorbid condition. CONCLUSION: The peak age when BP showed up was in the fourth decade of life and 55.1% of patients belonged to the male gender. BP has been observed to have the highest incidence during warm seasons (spring and summer). Diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbid condition accompanying BP. In addition, a recurrence was more likely to occur in the first 1.5 years after its first incidence.

Management of vessels passing through the facial nerve in the treatment of hemifacial spasm.

BACKGROUND: In hemifacial spasm, it is extremely rare to find a vessel passing through the facial nerve. In this study, we present our experience of the surgical treatment of four such patients. METHODS: From January 2010 to Match 2015, we treated 2,576 hemifacial spasm patients with microvascular decompression in our department. Of these, four had an intraneural vessel. Intraoperative findings and treatment were recorded, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: In three patients, the intraneural vessel was the anterior inferior cerebellar artery, which we wrapped with small pieces of wet gelatin and Teflon sponge. A small vein found in the fourth patient was treated with facial nerve combing. Complete decompression was achieved and abnormal muscle response disappeared. Three patients got an excellent result and one patient got a good result. One patient had postoperative facial paralysis, which improved over 10 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: If an artery passes through the facial nerve, it can be decompressed by wrapping the vessel with wet gelatin and Teflon sponge. If a vein passes through the facial nerve, combing can be used. Intraoperative abnormal muscle response monitoring is very helpful in achieving complete decompression.

Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia: Zone Exploration and Decompression Techniques.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to introduce zone exploration of the trigeminal nerve and decompression techniques for different types of vasculars. METHODS: The trigeminal nerve was sectioned into 5 zones. Zone 1, 2, 3, 4 was located at the rostral, caudal, ventral, and dorsal part of the nerve root entry zone (REZ) respectively, and zone 5 was located at the distal of the nerve root. This study contained 86 patients with trigeminal neuralgia underwent microvascular decompression. Every zone was exposed through preoperative imaging. During the operation, offending vessels were explored from zone 1 to zone 5, and different decompression techniques were used for different types of vessels. RESULTS: Through zone exploration, the sensitivity of preoperative imaging was 96.5% and specificity was 100%. Location of the neurovascular conflict was in the zone 1 in 53.5% of the patients, zone 2 in 32.6%, zone 3 in 45.3%, zone 4 in 29.1%, and zone 5 in 34.9%. In total, 2 zones were both involved in 59.3%, and 3 zones were involved in 18.6%. All offending arteries were moved away and interposed with Teflon sponge. Offending veins of 11 patients were too small to interpose, and coagulated and cut was adopted. The other offending veins were interposed with wet gelatin and Teflon sponge, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Zone exploration is helpful in finding offending vessels and adequate decompression can be achieved by choosing different methods according to different types of offending vessels.

Ochracenoids A and B, guaiazulene-based analogues from gorgonian Anthogorgia ochracea collected from the South China Sea.

Two new guaiazulene-based analogues, ochracenoids A (1) and B (2), along with four known analogues (3-6), were isolated from the gorgonian Anthogorgia ochracea collected from the South China Sea. The planar structures of the new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined as 3R by the comparison of TDDFT calculated electronic circular dichroism with its experimental spectrum. Compound 1 is a rare guaiazulene-based analogue possessing a unique C16 skeleton. The possible generation process of 1 through an intermolecular one-carbon-transfer reaction was also discussed. Compound 2 was previously described as a presumed intermediate involved in the biogenesis of anthogorgienes A and I. Compound 3 exhibited antiproliferative effects on the embryo development of zebrafish Danio rerio.

The down-regulation of GADD45B leads to a conversion of cellular oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis and promotes the progression of bladder cancer.

Background: The predominant feature of cancer cells during the process of carcinogenesis is the inclination towards glycolytic metabolism rather than mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research investigating the correlation between bladder cancer and mitochondrial energy metabolism. Methods: A qPCR array comprising 90 genes associated with mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was employed to discern metabolic disparities between three sets of bladder cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue. Wound healing and transwell assays were utilized to assess cell migration and invasion capabilities, respectively. Colony formation assays were conducted to ascertain the tumorigenic potential of the cells. The proliferative capacity of the cells was examined through in vitro CCK-8 assays. Additionally, nude mouse models were established to evaluate the impact of bladder tumor cells on in vivo proliferation. The Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer was utilized to quantify mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, while the levels of glucose-6-phosphate and pyruvate were assessed to evaluate glycolysis. Results: Examination of qPCR array data demonstrated a noteworthy inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in bladder cancer tissue, as evidenced by the down-regulation of a majority of genes associated with mitochondrial energy metabolism. Notably, GADD45B may potentially exert a significant influence on bladder cancer development, warranting further investigation. The down-regulation of GADD45B in bladder cancer cells resulted in impaired mitochondrial respiration and elevated levels of glycolysis, thereby enhancing cell migration and invasion. Conversely, up-regulation of GADD45B had the opposite effect. Furthermore, over-expression of GADD45B inhibited tumor proliferation and tumorigenesis in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Conclusion: These findings from our study indicate that the down-regulation of GADD45B promotes the shift of cell mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation towards glycolysis, thereby facilitating the progression of bladder cancer.

Association between laminin γ1 expression and meningioma grade, recurrence, and progression-free survival.

BACKGROUND: Laminins are central components of basement membranes and play important roles in cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration. However, the role of laminins in tumor progression has not been thoroughly investigated in meningiomas. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the expression of laminin γ1 in various grades of meningiomas in Chinese patients. METHODS: In the current study, clinical and pathological data for 32 meningioma patients with various tumor grades were collected. The expression of laminin γ1 in each tumor was assessed by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis and was correlated with the meningioma grade, tumor recurrence and patient survival. Patient prognoses were attained and the progression-free survival was calculated based on the Kaplan-Meier method. A two-sided probability cutoff of 0.05 was chosen for statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 32 meningioma patients with various pathological subtypes (WHO grade I: 13, grade II: 10 and grade III: 9) were enrolled in this study. The qPCR results showed that laminin γ1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in grade III meningiomas than in grade I meningiomas (p < 0.05), although there was no significant difference in laminin γ1 expression between grade II and grade I meningiomas (p > 0.05). Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed that the expression of laminin γ1 protein was relatively higher in grade III meningiomas when compared with grade I meningiomas. Higher levels of laminin γ1 expression in meningiomas are associated with a significantly shorter tumor recurrence time (p < 0.05) and a decreased patient survival time (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that laminin γ1 is associated with meningioma grades and could play a role in enhancing tumor invasion. Laminin γ1 could be used as a predictor for meningioma recurrence and patient survival. Furthermore, laminin γ1 may represent a druggable molecular target for future therapies for tumors that overexpress this marker.

miRNA326-5p Targets DKC1 Gene to Regulate Apoptosis-Related Proteins and Intervene in the Development of Neuroblastoma.

Objective: To study the effect of congenital dyskeratosis 1 (DKC1) on neuroblastoma and its regulation mechanism. Methods: The expression of DKC1 in neuroblastoma was analyzed by TCGA database and molecular assay. NB cells were transfected with siDKC1 to observe the effects of DKC1 on proliferation, cloning, metastasis, and invasion, and apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins. The tumor-bearing mouse model was constructed, shDKC1 was transfected to observe the tumor growth and tumor tissue changes, and the expression of DKC1 and Ki-67 was detected. Screening and identification of miRNA326-5p targeting DKC1. NB cells were treated with miRNA326-5p mimic or inhibitors to detect the expression of DKC1. NB cells were transfected with miRNA326-5p and DKC1 mimics to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, and apoptotic protein expression. Results: DKC1 was highly expressed in NB cells and tissues. The activity, proliferation, invasion, and migration of NB cells were significantly decreased by DKC1 gene knockout, while apoptosis was significantly increased. The expression level of B-cell lymphoma-2 in shDKC1 group was significantly lower than that of the control group, while the expression level of BAK, BAX, and caspase-3 was significantly higher than that of the control group. The results of experiments on tumor-bearing mice were consistent with the above results. The results of miRNA assay showed that miRNA326-5p could bind DKC1 mRNA to inhibit the protein expression, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of NB cells, promoting their apoptosis, and regulating the expression of apoptotic proteins. Conclusion: miRNA326-5p targeting DKC1 mRNA regulates apoptosis-related proteins to inhibit neuroblastoma proliferation and promote the apoptotic process.

How to Improve the Effect of Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm: A Retrospective Study of 32 Cases with Unsuccessful First Time MVD.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular decompression (MVD) has become accepted as an effective therapeutic option for hemifacial spasm (HFS); however, the curative rate of MVD for HFS varies widely (50-98%) in different medical centers. This study could contribute to the improvement of the MVD procedure. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 32 patients in whom initial MVD failed in other hospitals and who underwent a second MVD at our center. The clinical characteristics, operative findings, outcome of the second MVD, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: There were 18 women and 14 men (56.3 and 43.7%, respectively). The left-to-right ratio was 19:13. The mean age of the patients was 59.8 years. We found an undiscovered conflict site located in zone 4 in 10 patients and in the root entry zone in 8 patients. The initial MVD failed in nine patients because of ignorance of the arterioles that originate from the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. There were no special findings in four patients. No Teflon felts were found in the whole surgical field in one patient. CONCLUSION: Omission of the offending vessel is the most common cause of an unsuccessful MVD. Intraoperative abnormal muscle response associated with the Z-L response is a good measure to correctly identify the involved arterioles.

Astragaloside IV improves metabolic syndrome and endothelium dysfunction in fructose-fed rats.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased in modern society and the condition is proving to be a common precursor of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether astragaloside IV, a major active constituent of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge., is able to prevent the development of hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in fructose-fed rats. Rats were fed with 10% fructose in their drinking water for 8 weeks. From the beginning of week 5, two groups of fructose-fed rats were treated with 0.5 or 2 mg/kg, i.p., astragaloside IV. Another group of fructose-fed rats, injected with the same volume of vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide, DMSO) from week 5, served as the control group. At the end of the treatment period, blood pressure, blood glucose, glucose tolerance, blood insulin and lipids were determined. In addition, in vitro experiments were conducted at the end of the eight week treatment period to evaluate endothelium-dependent aortic vasorelaxation, as well as myocardial and aortic tissue levels of nitrate and nitrite (NOx) and cGMP. Fructose-fed rats developed clustering signs of metabolic syndrome, such as increased bodyweight, mild hypertension, hyperinsulinaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, impaired glucose tolerance and impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. Administration of astragaloside IV reduced blood pressure and triglyceride levels in fructose-fed rats and high dose of astragaloside IV also improved glucose tolerance and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. The astragaloside IV-induced improvement in vasorelaxation was associated with increased levels of aortic NOx and cGMP and was abrogated by blockade of nitric oxide synthase with NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). On the basis of its favourable effects on lipid metabolism, endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and the nitric oxide-cGMP-related pathway, astragaloside IV may be useful in ameliorating food-induced metabolic syndrome.

SOX17 inhibits proliferation and invasion of neuroblastoma through CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis.

SOX17 has been shown to be involved in the transcriptional regulation of CXCR4, and CXCL12 functions by binding to its receptor CXCR4. Here, we explored the expression of SOX17 in neuroblastoma (NB), its mutual regulation with CXCL12, and its effects on cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Five human NB cell lines and 15 pairs of NB and adjacent tissue specimens were used, to conduct RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry, western blot, ELISA, CCK-8, colony formation, Edu, transwell, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and dual-luciferase assays, to study the role of SOX17 in NB. SOX17 levels were reduced in both NB tissues and cell lines. SOX17 inhibited NB tumor growth, migration and invasion in vivo and suppressed NB cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. SOX17 knockdown or overexpression revealed a negative correlation between SOX17 and CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway activation. ChIP and dual-luciferase assays in NB cells demonstrated that SOX17 significantly inhibited CXCL12 gene and protein levels by binding to CXCL12 promoter regions. In vivo and in vitro experiments using the CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, demonstrated that cell proliferation, migration and invasion were significantly abrogated by AMD3100 in NB cells with SOX17 knocked down. Further, AMD3100 impaired growth of NB tumors with SOX17 knocked down in mice. Importantly, SOX17 bound to the CXCL12 promoter, which then activated downstream targets to regulate cell viability, proliferation, and migration. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that SOX17 expression is repressed in NB tissues and cells, and that SOX17 suppresses NB tumor formation and proliferation through inhibition of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling.

An analysis of failed microvascular decompression in patients with hemifacial spasm: focused on the early reoperative findings.

BACKGROUND: Although the microvascular decompression (MVD) has become a definitive treatment for the primary hemifacial spasm (HFS), there still are some failed cases. To obtain a satisfactory postoperative outcome, those failure cases of MVD need to be analyzed. METHOD: Between January and October 2009, 393 patients with primary HFS underwent MVD. Postoperatively, 375 presented complete spasm-free, 7 improved apparently, and 11 without any improvement at all. A reoperation was performed in 9 of the 11 patients who had poor outcome within 5 days. Those redo MVD cases were reviewed. FINDINGS: After the reoperation, the symptom of those patients all disappeared immediately. Therefore, the final outcomes were excellent in 97.7%, good in 1.8%, and poor in 0.5%. Up to the 1 year follow-up period, neither recurrence nor change was found. For the two patients without reoperation, their symptoms remained. The previous surgery was a failure due to insufficient decompression in two and conflict missed in seven. CONCLUSIONS: A successful MVD operation is attributable to a thorough exploration of the entire nerve course. An early relief should become the ambition of the operator while performing MVD.

[Denitrification Process and N2O Production Characteristics of Heterotrophic Nitrifying Bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa YL].

Because of the massive discharge of nitrogenous wastewater, the eutrophication of a water body is becoming increasingly serious, and how to effectively remove nitrogen from this wastewater remains an urgent problem to be solved. In this study, due to disadvantages in the traditional biological nitrogen removal process, such as complex and long procedures, high energy consumption, weak impact resistance, and N2O release, the nitrogen removal theory by heterotrophic nitrification was further analyzed by discussing the physiological-biochemical, heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification, and N2O production characteristics of a high-efficiency heterotrophic nitrifying bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa YL. Results show that the strain YL had an eminent heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification ability, and NH4+-N, NO2--N, and NO3--N with concentration of 100 mg·L-1 could be completely removed during the 24-hour incubation period. There was almost no intermediate product in the process of heterotrophic nitrification, however when NO3--N was used as nitrogen source, the accumulation of NO2--N reached 25.55 mg·L-1. Meanwhile, the successful expression of denitrification genes napA, nirK, and nosZ further confirmed the aerobic denitrification ability of strain YL. Gaseous nitrogen products accounted for about 30%-40% of removed TN in the heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification process by strain YL, and N2 was the main denitrification product. When NH4+-N, NO2--N, and NO3--N were used as the sole nitrogen source, N2 production amounted to 3.46, 3.49, and 3.36 mg, respectively. In contrast, only small amounts of N2O were produced in the denitrification process by strain YL, and the total amount was 6.63 µg when NH4+-N was the nitrogen source, which was much lower than in the cases of NO2--N and NO3--N as the sole nitrogen source. In addition, high C/N, low pH, high temperature, high NH4+-N, and high NO2--N conditions could result in more N2O generation. Nevertheless, most environmental factors had little effect on N2O production of strain YL, and the maximum N2O production was significantly lower than that of short-cut nitrification system and autotrophic nitrification system. These results demonstrated that strain YL exhibited excellent abilities of nitrogen removal, N2O emission control, and tolerance to environmental conditions, and could be an effective candidate for treating wastewater without secondary air pollution.

Effect of acupuncture treatment on spastic states of stroke patients.

PURPOSES: The control of spasticity is often a significant problem in the management of patients with stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture treatment on the spastic states of stroke patients. SETTING: An outpatient Acupuncture Department in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and thirty-one patients, mean (SD) age of 59 (12) years, with spastic hemiplegia were included at mean (SD) month of 17 (7) months after stroke. INTERVENTION: Participants received two 30-day treatment regimens: combined stimulating surface projection zone of decussation of pyramid and traditional acupuncture treatment, and traditional acupuncture treatment only. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Barthel Index (BI), and the electromyographic activity of the affected extremity between arms. RESULTS: The average (+/-SD) upper extremity Ashworth score significantly decreased, from 3.08+/-0.77 before treatment to 1.82+/-0.65 after acupuncture intervention (wrist joint, P<0.05), and from 2.72+/-0.59 to 1.32+/-0.71 (elbow joint, P<0.05) for treatment group. There were significant differences noted between the treatment group and control group after administration. Lower extremity treatment responses were similar to upper extremity responses. However, both groups showed similar improvement in FMA (upper extremity) and FMA (lower extremity). However, the improvements of FMA (total), BI, and F/M ratio were better in treatment group than in control group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that acupuncturing surface projection zone of decussation of pyramid was effective in reducing spastically increased muscle tone and motor neuron excitability in spastic hemiplegia, and could improve spastic states of stroke patients, thus providing a safe and economical method for treating stroke patients.

[Zoledronic acid blocks cell cycle and induces apoptosis in lung cancer cell line 95D cells and their mechanisms of action].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of zoledronic acid on cell cycle blocking and induction of apoptosis in lung cancer cell line 95D cells, and their mechanisms of action. METHODS: The effect of zoledronic acid (ZOL) on proliferation of lung cancer cell line 95D cells was observed by MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis of the lung cancer cells was examined by flow cytometry. The apoptosis in the cancer cells was also examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of ERK, Bcl-2, Bax and survivin were measured by Western blot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: ZOL showed inhibitory effect on the proliferation of lung cancer cells in vitro, in a time-dependant and a dose-dependant manner. With time extending after ZOL treatment, the number of apoptosis cells was increased. The expression of ERK, Bcl-2 and survivin was down-regulated and that of Bax up-regulated. CONCLUSION: Zoledronic acid can block the cell cycle and induce apoptosis in lung cancer cells in vitro.

Study on surgical approaches and electrode implantation of oculomotor nerve and inferior obliquus in beagle dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To study the surgical anatomy and approaches of intracranial oculomotor nerve (OMN) and inferior obliquus (IO), and the methods of their electrode implantation in dogs. METHODS: The research was performed on 30 adult beagle dogs at Shanghai Jiaotong University Medical College, Shanghai, China from November 2007 to August 2008. All animals were subjected to a right transfrontotemperal approach to intracranial OMN, a transconjunctival route to IO, and the neuro-stimulating and recording electrode implantation under general anaesthesia. The OMN was stimulated and the electromyography of IO recorded and analyzed with the Powerlab System. The security and reliability of the implanted electrodes were investigated. RESULTS: The surgical anatomy and approaches of both the OMN from its exit from midbrain to the entrance into cavernous sinus and the IO were described. Moreover, the implantation methods of OMN stimulating electrode and the electromyographic recording electrode of IO were displayed. The implanted electrodes were safe and reliable. Some electrophysiologic data of IO were obtained in the healthy dogs. Also, some perioperative precautions for intracranial and ophthalmic surgical procedures in dog were exhibited. The mortality rate of the dogs was 0%, and no operative complications were observed. CONCLUSION: With the data provided, these surgical approaches and the methods of electrode implantation offer a choice to construct an animal model for studying various aspects of OMN regeneration.

IGF1R facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell properties in neuroblastoma via the STAT3/AKT axis.

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastoma (NB) displays the most heterogeneity in clinical manifestation. The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) has long been recognized for its role in tumourigenesis and growth. The IGF/IGF1R pathway is important in maintaining cell survival. It is reported that IGF1R participates in the occurrence of NB, but the mechanism is still unclear. METHODS: Human NB cell lines IMR-32 and SH-SY5Y were recruited in this study. IGF1R was knocked down by transfection with short hairpin RNA. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression was inhibited by Cryptotanshinone treatment. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined by MTT assay, wound healing assay, and cell invasion assay, respectively. The cancer stem cell properties were characterized by tumour sphere formation assay and colony formation assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels of related proteins were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: The knockdown of IGF1R inhibits NB cell tumourigenesis and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of NB cells. Additionally, IGF1R was found to stimulate cancer stem cell-like properties in NPC cells. The knockdown of IGF1R significantly reduced the phosphorylation of AKT, and STAT3, indicating that the activation of the AKT and STAT3 pathways was inhibited by IGF1R knockdown. Furthermore, IGF1R was demonstrated to stimulate cancer stem cell-like properties in NB cells via the regulation of the STAT3/AKT axis. CONCLUSION: IGF1R promotes cancer stem cell properties to facilitate EMT in neuroblastoma via the STAT3/AKT axis.

[Nitrogen Removal by Heterotrophic Nitrifying Bacterium Pseudomonas putida YH and Its Kinetic Characteristics].

Due to the low nitrogen removal efficiency, lengthy procedure, and vulnerability to high loads of ammonium of the traditional sewage treatment process, the physiological characteristics, nitrogen removal characteristics, influencing factors, and kinetic analysis were systematically studied for the heterotrophic nitrifier Pseudomonas putida YH, which has efficient nitrogen removal ability. The results showed that strain YH exhibited efficient heterotrophic nitrification ability with a low accumulation of nitrification products. The maximum ammonium removal rate was 99.1%, and nearly 53% of the removed TN was converted to intracellular nitrogen. In addition, nitrite and nitrate could also be metabolized by strain YH under aerobic conditions, with a maximum removal rate of 99.8% and 99.5%, respectively. Additionally, the successful PCR amplification of the napA and nirK genes further improved the aerobic denitrification characteristics of strain YH. The bacterial growth process of strain YH matched the Logistic model (R2>0.99), and the nitrogen degradation conformed to the Compertz model (R2>0.99). The order of the maximum conversion rates of nitrogen (Rm) was ammonia > nitrate > nitrite, and that of the lag time (t0) was nitrate > nitrite > ammonia. The optimal conditions for heterotrophic ammonium oxidation with strain YH were succinate as the carbon source, C/N=10, T=30℃, r=160-200 r·min-1, and pH=7.0. Under the optimal conditions, the average ammonia oxidation rate and Rm were 8.35 and 16.71 mg·(L·h)-1, respectively. Strain YH could adapt to a broad range of ammonium loads. A high ammonium removal rate was observed under high ammonium concentrations (1000 mg·L-1), indicating the high potential of strain YH for application in high-strength ammonium wastewater treatment.