Light-Switching Azo-Copolymers Self-Assembly in Multi-Stationary States.

In the present research, novel tri-block-copolymers bearing polyethylene glycol (PEG), azobenzene (Azo), and tetra-ortho-methoxy-substituted Azo (mAzo) segments are synthesized and explored. Light-controlled PEG-PmAzo-PAzo self-assemblies switching between multi-stationary states is realized. Under controlling of UV, blue, green, and red light, PEG-PmAzo-PAzo isomerize between 4 photostationary states. The enrichment of cis isomers of Azo and mAzo induces the self-assembly of PEG-PmAzo-PAzo in toluene. The morphologies and scale of the self-assemblies can be switched between four stationary states, which are investigated by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.

Ghrelin Relieves Obesity-Induced Myocardial Injury by Regulating the Epigenetic Suppression of miR-196b Mediated by lncRNA HOTAIR.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity has been believed to be closely linked with many kinds of diseases including atherosclerosis, hypertension, cerebrovascular thrombosis, and diabetes. Ghrelin and Homeobox transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) were believed to be involved in the regulation of myocardial injury. METHODS: The obesity mice model was established through feeding mice (C57BL/6J, male, eight-week-old) with high-fat diet and palmitate (PA)-induced cardiomyocyte injury. RNA and protein levels were detected with Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. The levels of TG, TCH, LDL, CK-MB, cTnl, and BNP in the serum or cell medium supernatant were measured using ELISA kits. The ROS level was detected with the DCFH-DA method. Binding sites between different targets were identified using detection of dual luciferase reporter assay. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation were used to detect the binding of DNMT3B with HOTAIR or miR-196b promoter. RESULTS: The expression of HOTAIR was downregulated, and miR-196b was upregulated in the obese myocardial injury. Ghrelin attenuated PA-induced cardiomyocyte injury by increasing HOTAIR. HOTAIR regulated the expression of miR-196b by recruiting DNMT3B to induce methylation of the miR-196b gene promoter. The binding site between miR-196b and IGF-1 was identified. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that ghrelin attenuated PA-induced cardiomyocyte injury by regulating the HOTAIR/miR-196b/IGF-1 signaling pathway. Our findings might provide novel thought for the prevention and treatment of obesity-induced myocardial injury by targeting HOTAIR/miR-196b.

[Clinical outcome of single-bundle versus anatomic double-bundle reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: a meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical outcome after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with double-bundle or single-bundle by meta-analysis. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on differences of clinical outcomes of ACL reconstruction were retrieved in Ovid Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM and VIP database. Relevant journals or conference proceedings were also searched manually. Then extracted the date of KT-1000 arthrometer, pivot-shift testing, Lysholm score and IKDC final score in these researches. RevMan 5.0.23 software was used for data analyses. RESULTS: Eight prospective RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The combined results of meta-analysis indicated that there was statistical difference between two operative procedures on postoperative KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side [WMD = -0.35, 95%CI (-0.61, -0.08), P = 0.01], Lysholm score [WMD = -1.91, 95%CI (-3.45, -0.37), P = 0.01]. But the difference of KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side is demonstrated to be clinically insignificant. Others indicated that there was no statistical differences with respect to IKDC final score [OR = 1.80, 95%CI (0.98, 3.31), P = 0.06], having a normal or nearly normal pivot-shift testing [OR = 1.64, 95%CI (0.85, 3.16), P = 0.14]. CONCLUSIONS: Double-bundle reconstruction does not result in clinically significant advantage when compared with single-bundle. The results do not support the theory that double-bundle reconstruction controls knee rotation better.

[Expression of Fas, Fas ligand, Fas-associated death domain protein, caspase 8 and mutant P53 protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of five apoptosis-related proteins, Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD), caspase 8, and mutant p53, in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue, and analyze the association of these proteins with ESCC malignant progression. METHODS: 116 ESCC specimens obtained during operation. Tissue microarray composed of the 116 specimens of cancerous tissues and corresponding paracancerous normal epithelium tissues was constructed. The expression of Fas, FasL, FADD, caspase 8, and mutant p53 was detected in the ESCC tissues and paracancerous normal epithelium tissues and analysis was conducted for the correlation between the expression of these proteins and the pathoclinical features and prognosis. involvement, differentiated grade, pTNM stages and disease-free survival. RESULTS: The positive rate of Fas in the ESCC tissues was 41.4%, significantly lower than that in the normal squamous epithelium was 95.7%, P < 0.001). The positive rates of FasL and FADD in the ESCC tissues were 76.7% and 50.0%, both significantly higher than those in the normal squamous epithelium (39.7% and 7.8%, both P < 0.001). Caspase 8 was strongly positive in the whole normal esophageal epithelium tissue except basal and superbasal cells, but negative in ESCC. Mutant p53 protein was negative in the normal esophageal epithelium tissue, with only several cases positive in the basal cells, but was diffusely positive in ESCC tissues with a positive rate of 37.1%. The expression of Fas in the well and moderately differentiated ESCC tissues was significantly higher than in the poorly differentiated ones (P = 0.022). The patients with positive expression of FADD had lower disease-free survival rate (P = 0.0028). The expression of Fas, FasL, caspase 8, and mutant p53 was not related with disease-free survival rate (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The apoptosis-related markers, such as Fas, FasL, FADD, caspase 8, and mutant p53 protein may play important roles in the development and progression of ESCC, and FADD can be used as a marker to predict the advance and prognosis of ESCC.

Tissue microarray analysis reveals a tight correlation between protein expression pattern and progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progresses a multistage process, collectively known as precursor lesions, also called dysplasia (DYS) and carcinoma in situ (CIS), subsequent invasive lesions and final metastasis. In this study, we are interested in investigating the expression of a variety of functional classes of proteins in ESCC and its precursor lesions and characterizing the correlation of these proteins with ESCC malignant progression. METHODS: Fas, FADD, caspase 8, CDC25B, fascin, CK14, CK4, annexin I, laminin-5gamma2 and SPARC were analyzed using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray containing 205 ESCC and 173 adjacent precursor lesions as well as corresponding normal mucosa. To confirm the immunohistochemical results, three proteins, fascin, CK14 and laminin-5gamma2, which were overexpressed in ESCC on tissue microarray, were detected in 12 ESCC cell lines by Western blot assay. RESULTS: In ESCC and its precursor lesions, FADD, CDC25B, fascin, CK14, laminin-5gamma2 and SPARC were overexpressed, while Fas, caspase 8, CK4 and annexin I were underexpressed. The abnormalities of these proteins could be classified into different groups in relation to the stages of ESCC development. They were "early" corresponding to mild and moderate DYS with overexpression of fascin, FADD and CDC25B and underexpression of Fas, caspase 8, CK4 and annexin I, "intermediate" to severe DYS and CIS with overexpression of FADD and CK14, and "late" to invasive lesions (ESCC) and to advanced pTNM stage ESCC lesions with overexpression of CK14, laminin-5gamma2 and SPARC. CONCLUSION: Analyzing the protein expression patterns of Fas, FADD, caspase 8, CDC25B, fascin, CK14, CK4, annexin I, laminin-5gamma2 and SPARC would be valuable to develop rational strategies for early detection of lesions at risk in advance as well as for prevention and treatment of ESCC.

[Prognostic significance of micropapillary pattern in pulmonary adenocarcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic significance of micropapillary pattern (MPP) in adenocarcinoma of lung. METHODS: Ninety-one consecutively excised cases of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, including follow-up data, were retrospectively studied. These tumors were divided into 2 major groups: those with MPP and those without MPP. The former was further subdivided according to extent of the micropapillary component, as follows: MPP + (constituting 1% to 10% of the tumor), MPP ++ (constituting 11% to 30% of the tumor) and MPP +++ (constituting more than 30% of the tumor). RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 64.8%. The 5-year survival rates were 88.9% for stage I tumors, 46.2% for stage II tumors, and 23.8% for stage III tumor respectively (P = 0.000). The extent of micropapillary component showed no correlation with tumor stage, size and 5-year survival rate (P = 0.065, 0.358 and 0.206, respectively). On the other hand, the 5-year survival rate was 41.5% for patients in the MPP-positive group (number = 41) and 84.0% for patients in the MPP-negative group (number = 50). The percentage of nodal metastasis in MPP-positive group was also higher than that in MPP-negative group (P = 0.000). In pulmonary adenocarcinoma, this characteristic histology correlated with tumor stage and size, but not with patient's gender and smoking history. Within the same stage, the 5-year survival rates of MPP-positive and MPP-negative groups were as follows: for stage I, 78.6% versus 92.6% (P = 0.1548), for stage II, 30.0% versus 100% (P = 0.0598), and for stage III, 17.7% versus 28.6% (P = 0.4045). CONCLUSIONS: MPP in primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma, even when only constituting a minor component, predicts an aggressive clinical behavior and is associated with poor prognosis. Although it may not be an independent prognostic factor, presence of this histologic pattern should alert clinicians for more active treatment and closer follow up.

[Diagnosis and operative treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the characteristics and operative selection of far lateral lumbar disc herniation (FLLDH). METHODS: Twenty-three cases of FLLDH, 14 were foraminal, and 9 were extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation. Of the 23 cases, low back pain was observed in 8 cases (31%), severe lower leg pain in 21 cases (91%) and Lasegue sign in 10 cases (43%). CT and MRI showed the protruded disc in and outside of the foramen clearly. Three surgical procedures were performed, including hemilaminotomy with medial facetectomy, facetectomy with pedicle screw fixation and fusion with posteolateral bone grafting, and the transmuscular approaches. RESULTS: Twenty-two cases were followed up for an average of 3.6 years. According to the Macnab criteria, 15 patients achieved excellent results, good 4, fair 3 and poor 0. Excellent and good rate was 86%. CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms and signs of FLLDH mainly result from injury of upper nerve segments with the dominant symptom of severe lower leg pain. CT and MRI appearance are not only sensitive but also specific for the diagnosis of FLLDH. In foraminal lumbar disc herniation, the hemilaminotomy with medial facetectomy is recommended. While in extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation, either facetectomy with pedicle screw fixation and fusion with posterolateral bone grafting or transmuscular approaches for removal of nucleus pulposus can be chosen. Microendoscopic discectomy is a new, safe and efficient method for the disease, however, a skillful microendoscopic technique should be mastered prior.

[A clinicopathological analysis of gastric lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of gastric lymphoma. METHODS: 83 gastric lymphoma cases were analyzed retrospectively in accordance to the criteria of the new World Health Organization classification for neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. The correlations between clinicopathological features, therapeutic measures and survival were discussed. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from 25 to 77, with a median of 52. The number of males were similar to that of females. There were no specific symptoms. The most common symptoms were stomach ache (60 cases, 72%) or discomfort. The duration of symptoms was often long and with a history of chronic gastric diseases (21 cases, 25%). 13 cases had multiple lesions in the gastrointestinal mucosa. 51 cases (61%) were accompanied by lymph node involvement. According to the new World Health Organization classification for neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues, 57 cases were extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type (MALT lymphoma), 23 were diffuse large B cell lymphoma accompanying MALT lymphoma, 2 were diffuse large B cell lymphoma and 1 was follicular lymphoma. Of all the cases, 31 were stage I E, 38 stage II E, 8 stage III E and 6 stage IV by the Ann Arbor staging system (1972). The total 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 77.8% and 70.1% respectively, with the mean survival time of 146 months. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates of MALT lymphoma were 77.4% and 72.3%, the 5-year and 10-year survival rates of diffuse large B cell lymphoma accompanying MALT lymphoma were 81.8% and 68.2%, the 5-year survival rate of diffuse large B cell lymphoma was 50.0%. CONCLUSIONS: There are no specific symptoms in gastric lymphoma patients. Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of MALT-type is the main histopathological type of gastric lymphoma, often accompanied by multiple mucosa involvement and also often accompanied by a history of chronic gastric disease. The lesion is usually localized for a long time, with a very good prognosis. Survival rate has a significant correlation with lymph node involvement and clinical stage. No correlations were found between the survival rates with age, gender, B symptoms, invasive depth of the wall of stomach, the size and range of the tumors or different therapeutic measures.

[TTF-1 expression and its diagnostic application in lung carcinomas].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) and study its application in the diagnosis of lung carcinomas. METHODS: Of 134 specimens from lung lobectomy, 105 were primary lung carcinomas including 76 non-small cell carcinomas (NSCLCs), 28 small cell lung cancers (SCLCs) and 1 complex carcinoma (SCLC and SCC), and 29 were metastatic carcinomas. Expression of TTF-1 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression level of TTF-1 was graded as, +:6% to 25% of tumor cells positive, ++:26% to 50%, +++:51% to 75%, and ++++:> 76%. RESULTS: The positive nuclear immunoreactivity of TTF-1 was identified in 23 of 28 SCLCs (82.1%), but none in squamous cell cancer (SCC) (P < 0.001). The positive expression rate of TTF-1 in lung adenocarcinomas (ACs) was 73.8% (31/42). There was no correlation between TTF-1 expression and ACs differentiation or ACs subtypes (P > 0.05). All but one (thyroid follicular carcinoma) metastatic ACs were TTF-1-positive. Mesenchymal component and lymphoid or inflammatory cells were consistently TTF-1-negative. CONCLUSION: A significant difference of TTF-1 expression may assist in distinguishing SCLC from SCC, lymphoma or inflammatory lesions. Owing to its restrictive expression in lung tissue, TTF-1 might be used to differentiate primary from metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung.

[Relationship between overexpression of the RIalpha subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and clinicopathological features of lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the overexpression of PKA RIalpha mRNA and cliniopathological parameters in lung cancer. METHODS: RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of PKA RIalpha mRNA in 54 cases with human lung cancer and matched normal tissues. RESULTS: (1) The expression of PKA RIalpha mRNA was significantly higher in cancer tissue (66.7%) than in normal tissues (20.4%) (P < 0.01). (2) The expression was significantly correlated with TNM stage (P < 0.01), being increased with TNM stage. (3) The expression was significantly higher in patients with positive lymph nodes than in those with negative lymph nodes (P < 0.01). (4) There were no significant associations of PKA RIalpha mRNA expression with histological type, differentiation grade or size of the tumor. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the overexpression of PKA RIalpha mRNA may play an important role in the progression, metastasis and prognosis of lung cancer.

Pedicle screw fixation with translaminar facet joint screws for the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Cotrel-Dubeusset (CD) instrumentation combined with translaminar facet joint screw (TLS) in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture. METHODS: A total of six L(2)-L(4) spines were used to establish unstable fracture model with three-dimensional range of motion (ROM) of the spines measured. Fixation with CD and fixation with CD combined with translaminar facet joint screw were achieved to compare their stability. Thirty cases of thoracolumbar fracture, in whom the anterior edge of vertebral body was compressed to 59% and the posterior edge compressed to 88%, were treated by pedicle screw fixation combined with TLS. Among them, 19 received posterolateral or anterior-posterior bone grafting. RESULTS: There was significant difference in ROM between the two techniques except that in extension. In Group CD+TLS, ROM was 5.38% lower, lateral bending 4.91% lower and axial rotation 11.85% lower than those in Group CD respectively. In the clinical group, the average anterior edge restored to 97% and posterior edge to 98%. The duration of follow-up was 5-24 months (mean, 10 months). The rate of correction loss on the anterior edge was 4.5%. Among the 19 cases of bone grafting, all of them achieved bony fusion (mean fusion time, 4.3 month) with a correction loss rate of 3.4%. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture, pedicle screw fixation combined with TLS can strengthen the stability of pedicle screws, especially anti-rotation stability and enhance fusion rate and reduce correction loss.

[Establishment of immortalized cell line BLTR-4 and primary identification of its biological character].

OBJECTIVE: To establish immortalized cell line from the urothelium of the urinary bladder and identify the characteristics of the cell line. METHODS: Human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) plasmid was used to transfect urothelium of infant urinary bladder in vitro with the help of Fugene-6, and this plasmid contained E6 and E7 genes of HPV-16. We also identified the existence of HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes and the biological characteristics of the cell line by PCR, immunohistochemistry, and the biology identification. RESULTS: BLTR-4 cell line, produced from the transfection of HPV-16K plasmid, was a cell line from urothelium with the expression of HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes. It had been cultured more than 70 passages, and the characteristics of growth was similar to the immortalized cell line as reported. CONCLUSIONS: BLTR-4 cell line is an immortalized cell line from urothelium of the urinary bladder, which contains HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes. BLTR-4 cell line is a good experimental model to investigate the relationship of the infection of high risk HPV and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in vitro.

[Obstacles for natural regeneration of Larix olgensis plantations in montane regions of eastern Liaoning Province, China].

Based on the field investigations about the seed bank, seed germination, seedling emergence, and seedling survival and growth in the Larix olgensis plantations with different thinning intensities and various ground preparations in the montane regions of eastern Liaoning Province, the main factors affecting the natural regeneration of L. olgensis were analyzed in this paper. The results showed that in the seed rain of 40 years old L. olgensis plantation, 30% of the seeds had viability, which could meet the needs of natural regeneration. The seeds in soil seed bank mainly distributed in litter layer, and the seedlings younger than one-year old emerged in April and reached the peak in June. The accumulative emergence rate of the seedlings had no significant correlation with thinning intensities, but was affected by ground preparations. The average survival rate of appeared seedlings increased with increasing thinning intensities, but the seedling growth was generally slow in the plantation stands, e.g., the seedling height was less than 6 cm, and most of the seedlings disappeared in September. In the plantation stands, it was difficult to find the L. olgensis seedlings elder than one-year; but in the clear-cut area with enough light and less ground cover, more seedlings could survive and grew well. Based on the above mentioned results, it was concluded that the main obstacles for the natural regeneration of L. olgensis plantations in montane regions of eastern Liaoning Province could be light intensity and ground cover.

[Research advances on bladder cancer associated genes].

Bladder cancer is the most common urinary tumors in China. Carcinogenesis of bladder is a multistep process. Accumulation of abnormal genotypes in a long period leads to malignant phenotypes. The genes associated with bladder carcinogenesis include oncogenes (such as H-ras, FGFR3, erbB2, CCND1, mdm2), tumor suppressor genes (such as INK4A/ARF, Rb, TP53, PTEN, TSC1, PTCH, DBCCR1), and DNA mismatch repair genes, etc. In this review, the authors discussed the recent research advances on the genes associated with bladder carcinoma.

[Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in T cell lymphoma and clinicopathologic analysis].

BACKGROUND: To study the relationship of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and T cell lymphoma. METHODS: Sixty cases of T cell lymphomas were examined for the presence of EBV using in situ hybridization for EBV encoded RNA (EBERs). RESULTS: EBERs were detected in tumor cells in 37(69.8%) of 53 cases with peripheral T cell lymphoma, but in none of seven cases of precursor T lymphoblastic lymphoma. The total detected EBERs were 37(61.6%) in 60 cases of T cell lymphomas. By Revised European-American Lymphoma(REAL) classification, EBERs were detected in 2/2 angioimmuno-blastic T cell lymphoma,17/18 angiocentric lymphoma, 4/6 anaplastic large cell lymphoma and 14/27 peripheral T cell lymphoma, unspecified (51.9%). The frequency of EBERs among the extranodal peripheral T cell lymphoma was higher than the nodal (P less than 0.01) there was no significant correlation with the sex, age and clinical stage. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that high incidence of EBV was observed in peripheral T cell lymphoma, with predilection for angiocentric lymphoma and extranodal presentation.