Circ_0001721 enhances doxorubicin resistance and promotes tumorigenesis in osteosarcoma through miR-758/TCF4 axis.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common type of bone malignancy that often occurs in children and adolescents. Chemoresistance is a huge barrier to cancer therapy. This study aimed to investigate the role and potential mechanism of circ_0001721 in doxorubicin (DXR) resistance and OS development. METHODS: The levels of circ_0001721, miR-758 and transcription factor 4 (TCF4) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot assay. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to calculate the half inhibition concentration (IC50) of DXR and assess cell viability. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by transwell assay. Cell apoptosis was monitored by flow cytometry. The levels of multidrug resistance-related and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-related proteins were measured by western blot assay. The interaction among circ_0001721, miR-758 and TCF4 were confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay or RNA pull-down assay. The xenograft model was established to analyze tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: Circ_0001721 and TCF4 were upregulated, whereas miR-758 was down-regulated in DXR-resistant OS tissues and cells. Circ_0001721 silence reduced DXR resistance of KHOS/DXR and MG63/DXR cells. Circ_0001721 regulated DXR resistance via sponging miR-758. Moreover, miR-758 modulated DXR resistance by targeting TCF4. Besides, circ_0001721 knockdown inhibited tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION: Circ_0001721 potentiated DXR resistance and facilitated the progression of OS by regulating miR-758/TCF4 axis, which provides promising therapeutic targets for OS treatment.

Preparation and application of embedded and immobilized Achromobacter sp. agent for effective removal of ammonia nitrogen from water.

A novel wastewater-quality-improver, Sodium Alginate Embedded Microbe-treated Zeolite (SAEMZ), was proposed. The strains used are screened from black-odorous water and have high-efficiency NH4+-N degradation performance. The Gram-positive bacteria, belonging to Achromobacter sp., was determined through the screening and identification for this strain, whose removal rate of NH4+-N can reach 88.06%, to decrease the NH4+-N concentration from 61.83 mg/L to 7.80 mg/L, and its optimal growth conditions are pH 7-8, rotation speed 150-210 r/min, temperature 25-35 °C. The SAEMZ's removal effect on NH4+-N was considered in this research from aspects of reusability, storage stability, and the effects of dosage, coexisting ions, and wastewater's concentration. The increase of the SAEMZ's dosage effectively improved the NH4+-N removal rate; Ca2+ in the solution promoted the NH4+-N removal rate, while Mg2+ and Mn2+ inhibited it. Also, the NH4+-N removal rate improved slightly with Fe2+ concentration's increase and then decreased significantly; with the increase of the wastewater dilution factor, the NH4+-N removal rate showed an upward trend and with the increase of the SAEMZ's reuse times, it decreased. Therefore, recycle times should be controlled to less than 3 times in practical application; the SAEMZ still maintains its physiological stability, high mechanical strength, and good storage stability after being stored at 4 °C for 120 days.

[Retrospective clinical study of hip replacement in the treatment of traumatic arthritis secondary to acetabular fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of total hip replacement (THA) in the treatment of traumatic arthritis secondary to acetabular fracture. METHODS: From October 2019 to June 2022, 15 patients with secondary traumatic arthritis of acetabulum fracture were treated with THA. There were 8 males and 7 females, aged from 40 to 76 years old with an average of (59.20±9.46) years old. Prosthesis loosening, dislocation of hip joint, range of motion of hip joint, nerve injury and other conditions were recorded before and after surgery. Harris score, visual analogue scale (VAS) and imaging were used to evaluate hip joint function and surgical effect. RESULTS: Follow-up time ranged 6 to 39 months with an average of (18.33±9.27) months. All the 15 patients successfully completed the operation, no nerve and blood vessel injury during the operation, postoperative wound healing was stageⅠ, no infection, one case of acetabular side prosthesis loosening at half a year after operation, and recovered well after revision surgery, one case of hip dislocation was cured after open reduction treatment, no adverse consequences. Harris score at the last postoperative follow-up was (88.60±4.01) points, compared with the preoperative (47.20±11.77) points, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), and VAS at the lateat postoperative follow-up was 1 (1) points, compared with the preoperative 8 (2) points, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). At the last follow-up, the pain symptoms were relieved or disappeared, and the joint function was satisfactory. The imaging data of the latest follow-up showed joint was well pseudoradiated, no abnormal ossification occurred, and the prosthesis was not loose. CONCLUSION: THA is effective in the treatment of traumatic arthritis secondary to acetabular fracture and can effectively improve the quality of life of patients. Preoperative comprehensive evaluation and bone defect evaluation of patients, and intraoperative management of acetabulum, femur, internal fixation and bone defect are key factors for the success of surgery.

Comparing end-of-life care for hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer in Taiwan.

When it comes to end-of-life care, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are often treated differently from lung cancer patients. However, few reports have compared end-of-life care between these two groups. We investigated the differences between patients with end-stage COPD and end-stage lung cancer based on end-of-life symptoms and clinical practice patterns using a retrospective study of COPD and lung cancer patients who died in an acute care hospital in Taiwan. End-stage COPD patients had more comorbidities and spent more days in the intensive care unit (ICU) than end-stage lung cancer patients. They were more likely to die in the ICU and less likely to receive hospice care. COPD patients also had more invasive procedures, were less likely to use narcotic and sedative drugs, and were less likely to have given do-not-resuscitate consent. Symptoms were similar between these two groups. Differences in treatment management suggest that COPD patients receive more care aimed at prolonging life than care aimed at relieving symptoms and providing end-of-life support. It may be more difficult to determine when COPD patients are at the end-of-life stage than it is to identify when lung cancer patients are at that stage. Our findings indicate that in Taiwan, more effort should be made to give end-stage COPD patients the same access to hospice care as end-stage lung cancer patients.

Potential benefits of palliative care for polysymptomatic patients with late-stage nonmalignant disease in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Taiwan is only now beginning to offer palliative care to patients who do not have cancer. This study aimed to document the polysymptomatic presentation of illness in Taiwanese patients with late-stage nonmalignant disease and to evaluate the potential benefits of palliative care for these patients. The results may help to educate healthcare personnel regarding the need for and importance of palliative treatment as comprehensive, appropriate end-of-life care for patients with nonmalignant disease. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 115 patients without cancer hospitalized in a community hospital in Taiwan: 61 had organic brain disease, 31 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 17 had chronic renal failure, 14 had congestive heart failure, 12 had liver cirrhosis, and 20 had multiple illnesses. The median age was 81 years (interquartile range 69-86 years), and 51% of patients were enrolled from intensive care. Symptoms and their severity were analyzed. Patients' and their families' understanding of the diagnosis and prognosis and "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) consent were evaluated pre- and post-palliative care. RESULTS: The four leading symptoms were fatigue (96%), fever (86%), cough (81%), and dyspnea (79%). No significant differences in symptom prevalence were found between different sexes, ages, performance statuses, ward locations, or underlying diseases, except for fewer episodes of dizziness, more frequent episodes of cough in patients older than 80 years, and more episodes of jaundice in ward service subjects. Only the presence of abdominal distension differed significantly between surviving and deceased patients (22.9% vs. 40.3%; p=0.004). After the start of palliative care, patients' DNR consent increased (105/115 before, 114/115 after). Patients' recognition of the diagnosis and prognosis increased from 13 to 64, respectively, with a simultaneous increase in family members' recognition (66 before, 114 after). CONCLUSION: Hospice care with good symptom control is warranted for patients with late-stage nonmalignant disease who need appropriate end-of-life care. Medical personnel need education in the importance of palliative care and the identification of patients who could benefit from it. In addition, patients should be informed of its availability.

Research and application of arsenic-contaminated groundwater remediation by manganese ore permeable reactive barrier.

Arsenic pollution in the water environment is one of the important environmental problems at present. High arsenic groundwater and its resulting local arsenic poisoning have caused a great threat to human life and health. The permeable reactive barrier (PRB) is an underground in-situ remediation technology, which has the advantages of high efficiency, low energy consumption, long aging, low operating and maintenance costs. By studying the arsenic removal effects of different materials, this paper selected natural manganese ore, manganese ore granulation, loaded manganese ore and mixed manganese ore as fillers for PRB. And it conducted a simulated experiment to study the feasibility of actual PRB engineering to repair arsenic-containing groundwater. The experiment proves that the removal rate of arsenic by four manganese ore materials exceeds 90%. After examining the geographical location and hydrogeological conditions of the PRB project, the Dengjiatang area of Chenzhou City, Hunan Province was selected as the construction area. Studies show that after the completion of PRB, the arsenic content of the effluent at each monitoring point is below 10 µg/L. It indicates that all four fillers achieve the purpose of removing arsenic, and can be applied to the project according to actual needs. Finally, the safety evaluation of the PRB project was carried out. And FeCl3·6H2O was selected as the base curing material and cement was as the process auxiliary stabilizer to solidify the arsenic-containing waste residue. The arsenic concentration in the leaching solution of the arsenic slag after curing is only 1 µg/L.

A comparison of cancer and noncancer patients who receive palliative care consultation services.

This study aimed to compare multiaspect characteristics in cancer and noncancer patients who received palliative care. Totally, 226 patients with cancer and 115 noncancer patients received palliative care consultation service in Taiwan from September 2007 through December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Noncancer patients were older (81 vs 67 years, P < .001), more likely to be enrolled from an intensive care unit (51% vs 5%, P < .001), and waited longer to be referred for admission to a palliative care (8 vs 3 days, P < .001) than patients with cancer. Cancer and noncancer patients presented as polysymptomatics in both physical and psychosocial symptoms at the end of life. Such physical and psychosocial characteristics should be taken into account in providing appropriate end-of-life care in the same way as it is for the patients with cancer.