Stem cell-like CD8+ T cells: a new pioneer in cancer immunotherapy / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[摘 要] CD8+ T细胞是抗肿瘤免疫应答的主要执行者。通过重塑CD8+ T细胞杀伤肿瘤细胞的能力，免疫疗法已在抗肿瘤领域取得重大突破，但临床获益仅局限于部分患者和癌症类型。如何克服CD8+ T细胞功能障碍是肿瘤免疫疗法亟待解决的关键问题。近年来，多项研究揭示了CD8+ T细胞的干性调控机制，发现了干细胞样CD8+ T细胞具有自我更新和增殖能力，阐明了该细胞亚群在维持持续性肿瘤免疫治疗应答中的重要性。本文论述了干细胞样CD8+ T细胞的分子与功能特征、CD8+ T细胞干性的细胞内外影响因素，归纳总结了目前靶向CD8+ T细胞的干性重编程策略，进一步展望了靶向CD8+ T细胞干性程序来提高肿瘤免疫疗法疗效的思路和方法。

Inhibitory effect of artesunate on the growth of breast cancer cells and its mechanism / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the function of artesunate on the growth of breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and its potential mechanism. Methods CCK-8 assays were used to measure growth inhibition in breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) in the presence of artesunate, the IC50 was calculated. Based on the IC50 values, various artesunate concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 μg/ml) were used to experiments in this paper. 0 μg/ml artesunate group served as the control group, using normal saline instead of the artesunate. Apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential were analyzed by flow cytometry, after the treatment of various artesunate concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 μg/ml) for 24 hours. Migration and invasion of the MDA-MB-231 cells were evaluated using wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively, after the treatment of various artesunate concentrations (0, 25 μg/ml) for 24 hours. Results Artesunate inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values for MDA-MB-231 of 54.24 μg/ml. Compared to mock-treated cells, artesunate significantly increased apoptosis, while the mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly decreased after 24 h of exposure to different concentrations of artesunate (P<0.01), in a dose-dependent manner. The cell migration and invasion abilities were also lower in the 25 μg/ml artesunate treated cells than these abilities in the mock-treated cells. Conclusions Artesunate could inhibit the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and inhibit its invasion and migration ability by inducing apoptosis and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential.

Transauricular arterial access for hepatic artery embolization in rabbit VX2 liver tumor

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of percutaneous transauricular artery access for hepatic artery catheterization using a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) device and hepatic artery catheterization through auricular approach. Methods: Ten New Zealand White rabbits were used to establish a VX2 liver tumor model. Hepatic artery angiography and embolization were performed 3 weeks after inoculation. The rabbits were restrained in supine position under anesthesia. Intra-arterial access was accomplished with percutaneous Seldinger technique through the auricular artery using a PICC device. The hepatic artery catheterization was performed with a microcatheter and guide wire. The rate of technical success and procedure time was investigated. Results: Two rabbits failed initial percutaneous transauricular arterial access, with success in a contralateral attempt. Thus, percutaneous transauricular arterial access was achieved in 10 of 12 auricular arteries, with a technical success rate of 83.3%. The time needed to obtain intra-auricular access was 7.2 ± 3.1 min. Hepatic artery catheterization, angiography, and embolization were accomplished through the auricular approach in all 10 rabbits. Conclusion: Arterial access in rabbits can be achieved through the auricular artery. Hepatic artery catheterization, angiography, and embolization can be performed through auricular arterial access

Urinary semaphorin 3A as an early biomarker to predict contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a serious complication of diagnostic coronary angiograph and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CI-AKI development are largely unknown. The present study examined whether urinary semaphorin 3A levels predict the development of CI-AKI in patients undergoing PCI. This study enrolled 168 patients with stable angina undergoing elective PCI. Serial urine samples, obtained at baseline and 2, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h post-PCI were analyzed by semaphorin 3A and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) ELISA kit. AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine beyond 50% according to the RIFLE classification system. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses identified optimal semaphorin 3A and NGAL values for diagnosing CI-AKI. CI-AKI occurred in 20 of 168 patients. There were no significant differences in the baseline clinical characteristics and angiographic findings between non-AKI patients group and AKI patients group. Both urinary semaphorin 3A and NGAL levels significantly increased at 2 and 6 h post-PCI. ROC analysis showed that the cut-off value of 389.5 pg/mg semaphorin 3A at 2 h post-PCI corresponds to 94% sensitivity and 75% specificity and the cut-off value of 94.4 ng/mg NGAL at 2 h post-PCI corresponds to 74% sensitivity and 82% specificity. Logistic regression showed that semaphorin 3A levels at 2 and 6 h post-PCI were the significant predictors of AKI in our cohort. Urinary semaphorin 3A may be a promising early biomarker for predicting CI-AKI in patients undergoing PCI.

Advances in the relationship between peritoneal microenvironment and peritoneal me-tastasis in colorectal cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

Peritoneal metastasis is very common in colorectal cancer and often indicates bad prognosis. The peritoneum, which con-tains an abundant supply of blood and specific types of resident and migrating cells, lines the surface of the abdominal wall and covers the abdominal organs. The combination of cells, extracellular matrix, and local unique physicochemical composition of the abdominal cavity provide a complex and relatively stable peritoneal microenvironment. The cells in this environment can be induced by cancer cells to be involved in tumor growth, invasion, and peritoneal metastasis. This review summarizes the major cellular components in-volved in the peritoneal microenvironment.

Three-dimensional printing-assisted atlantoaxial pedicle screw placement for type II C odontoid fracture / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has been widely applied in pelvic fracture and joint surgeries, but its feasibility in atlantoaxial pedicle screw placement needs to be studied further.OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and accuracy of 3D printing-assisted atlantoaxial pedicle screw placement in the treatment of type II C odontoid fracture.METHODS: Clinical data of 20 patients with type II C odontoid fracture admitted in the Ganzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University from June 2014 to December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were randomized into two groups, and then received 3D printing-assisted atlantoaxial pedicle screw placement (experimental group), or conventional atlantoaxial pedicle screw placemen (control group). The placement was observed through X-ray and CT scanning. All patients were followed up for 12 months, and the clinical efficacy was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale and cervical Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The operation time, blood loss and radiation exposure time in the experimental group were significantly less than in the control group (P < 0.05). (2) The accuracy of placement in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). No spinal cord, vertebral artery or nerve injuries occurred in the two groups. (3) The postoperative clinical efficacy was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale and cervical Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores in the two groups were significantly improved (P < 0.05). (4) These findings manifest that 3D printing-assisted trans-atlantoaxial pediele screw placement is a safe and effective method for type Ⅱ C odontoid fracture.

Advances in the relationship between peritoneal microenvironment and peritoneal me-tastasis in colorectal cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

Peritoneal metastasis is very common in colorectal cancer and often indicates bad prognosis. The peritoneum, which con-tains an abundant supply of blood and specific types of resident and migrating cells, lines the surface of the abdominal wall and covers the abdominal organs. The combination of cells, extracellular matrix, and local unique physicochemical composition of the abdominal cavity provide a complex and relatively stable peritoneal microenvironment. The cells in this environment can be induced by cancer cells to be involved in tumor growth, invasion, and peritoneal metastasis. This review summarizes the major cellular components in-volved in the peritoneal microenvironment.

Construction of a eukaryotic expression vector for pEGFP-FST and its biological activity in duck myoblasts

Background Follistatin (FST), a secreted glycoprotein, is intrinsically linked to muscle hypertrophy. To explore the function of duck FST in myoblast proliferation and differentiation, the pEGFP-FST eukaryotic expression vector was constructed and identified. The biological activities of this vector were analyzed by transfecting pEGFP-FST into cultured duck myoblasts using Lipofectamine™ 2000 and subsequently determining the mRNA expression profiles of FST and myostatin (MSTN). Results The duck pEGFP-FST vector was successfully constructed and was confirmed to have high liposome-mediated transfection efficiency in duck myoblasts. Additionally, myoblasts transfected with pEGFP-FST had a higher biological activity. Significantly, the overexpression of FST in these cells significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of MSTN (a target gene that is negatively regulated by FST). Conclusions The duck pEGFP-FST vector has been constructed successfully and exhibits biological activity by promoting myoblast proliferation and differentiation in vitro.

Molecular cloning and expression pattern of duck Six1 and its preliminary functional analysis in myoblasts transfected with eukaryotic expression vector.

Skeletal muscle development is regulated by Six1, an important myogenic transcription factor. However, the functional analysis of duck Six1 has not been reported. Here, we cloned the coding domain sequence (CDS) region of the duck Six1 gene using RT-PCR and RACE methods. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that duck Six1 CDS region comprised of 849 bp and encoded 282 amino acids and had a high degree of homology with other species, suggesting that the functions of duck Six1 gene are conserved among other animals. Real-time PCR used to determine the mRNA expression profiles of duck Six1 in different tissues and different developmental stages showed that Six1 was highly expressed in skeletal muscle and the embryonic stage. Furthermore, the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-duSix1 was constructed and transfected into the duck myoblasts; the MTT assay revealed an obvious increase of cell proliferation after transfection. The expression profiles of Six1, Myf5 and MyoD showed that their expression levels were significantly increased. These results together suggested that pEGFP-duSix1 vector was constructed successfully and overexpression of duck Six1 in the myoblasts could promote cell proliferation activity and significant up-regulate expression of Myf5 and MyoD.

Intravenous Leiomyomatosis with Right Heart Involvement—A Report of 4 Cases and Literature Review / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is a rare benign neoplasm which originates from the smooth muscle cells and is usually confined to the pelvic venous system.Rarely,intracaval and intracardiac extension has been described.Death can occur as a result of intracardiac involvement.We reported 4 cases of IVL with right heart inyolvement (intracardiac leiomyomatosis,ICL).Three of them suffered recurrent sudden syncope,and the other one was totally asymptomatic.All of them were successfully treated through one-stage operation under extracorporeal circulation.