All-trans-retinoic acid promotes iodine uptake via up- regulating the sodium iodide symporter in medullary thyroid cancer stem cells.

Recently, the main therapy of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is surgical, but by which way there is a poor prognosis with a mean survival of only 5 years. In some cases, some researchers found that it is the medullary thyroid cancer stem cells (MTCSCs) that cause metastasis and recurrence. This study aimed to eradicate MTCSCs through administration of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Here we demonstrate that MTCSCs possess stem- like properties in serum-free medium. The ABCG2, OCT4 and sodium iodide symporter (NIS) were changed by ATRA. Additionally, we found that ATRA can increase the expression of NIS in vivo. All the data suggested that ATRA could increase the iodine uptake of MTCSCs through NIS.

[Wastewater pollution characteristics from typical intensive pig farms in the Pearl River Delta and its ecological risk assessment].

Based on the wastewater quality investigation data from March 2009 to November 2011, wastewater qualities from typical intensive pig farms were assessed in the Pearl River Delta by single and comprehensive pollution index model. The results showed that key pollutants of piggery wastewater were fecal coliform (FC), total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), with their average mass concentrations of 1.98 x 10(9) CFU.L-1, 158.61 mg.L-1, 5 608.68 mg.L-1 and 1984.34 mg.L-1, respectively; key pollutants of biogas slurry were FC, TP, ammonia nitrogen (NH+4 -N) and suspended substance (SS), with their average mass concentrations of 8. 10 x 10(6) CFU.L-1, 81.76 mg.L-1, 476.24 mg.L-1 and 464.58 mg.L-1, respectively. Under the effect of wastewater pollutants, environment surrounding of typical intensive pig farms was seriously polluted, which decreased gradually from piggery wastewater to biogas slurry, and comprehensive pollution indices were 11.41, 6.91, 5.27, respectively. The risk analysis showed that the high-risk wastewater could never be discharged directly and irrigated crops. After the anaerobic treatment, FC, TP, NH+4 -N and SS were still strong factors with the potential ecological risk in the biogas slurry. In the long run, the ecological risk still exists for direct discharge or irrigation of them, and it is necessary to apply further treatment.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in combination with high-intensity focused ultrasound for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the chinese literature.

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (UHCC), we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching the database. In nine controlled trials with a total of 736 patients, the effect of TACE plus HIFU (group A) was compared with TACE alone (group B) in treating UHCC. Outcomes mainly included tumor response and survival. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for each relationship from raw study data using the fixed-effect model or the random effect model. We found that group A significantly improved the tumor response and 0.5-, 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival of patients. In conclusion, combined therapy was more therapeutically beneficial. However, considering the strength of the evidence, additional randomized controlled trials are needed before combined therapy can be recommended routinely.

Synergistic antitumor effects of 131I-LC-1 IgM and IL-12 vaccine on Lewis lung carcinoma.

This study was designed to determine the antitumor effects of iodine-131 labeled monoclonal antibody LC-1 ((131)I-LC-1), interleukin-12 (IL-12) vaccine, or the combination of both on C57BL/6 mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumors. Tumor-bearing mice models were randomly divided into 4 groups that were respectively injected intratumorally with phosphate buffered solution (PBS), IL-12 vaccine gene therapy (GT), (131)I-LC-1 radioimmuno-therapy (RIT), or GT+RIT. Tumor volumes were measured before and after treatment. ELISA and RT-PCR determined the expression of IL-l2. LC-1 monoclonal antibody (Mab) was labeled with Na(131)I. Cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity assay, Natural Killer cell (NK) activity assay and apoptosis analysis were performed. Intratumoral (131)I-LC-1 injection leads to higher delivery of the antibody to the tumor. Tumor apoptosis occurred in the GT, RIT and GT+RIT groups. Tumor growth was inhibited in the GT, RIT and GT+RIT groups. Compared with other groups, the combination of GT+RIT up-regulated the expression of IL-l2 gene and inhibited the tumor growth more effectively than either GT or RIT alone (p<0.05). These results suggest that GT+RIT have the synergistic antitumor effects on tumor-bearing mice.

[Treatment of murine Lewis lung cancer with recombinant interleukin-12].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a proinflammatory cytokine with antitumor activity. The study was to compare the therapeutic effects of recombinant murine interleukin-12 (mIL-12) plasmid [pcDNA3.1(+)-mIL-12] and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cell line which could stably express mIL-12 gene in LLC. METHODS: The recombinant plasmid was transfected into LLC cells with lipofectin to obtain LLC/mIL-12 cells which stably express mIL-12 gene. Tumors were established on the right hind leg of C57 BL/6 mice by the subcutaneous injection of 2 x 106 LLC cells. Then all mice were divided into 4 groups (n=10) randomly when the tumors reached 0.5-1.0 cm in diameter. Subsequently, the mice were treated by intratumor injection of pcDNA3.1(+)-mIL-12 plasmid or LLC/mIL-12 vaccine on the first, fourth, and seventh days. Tumor size was measured before and after treatment. Tumor growth curve, CTL and NK activity of spleen cells, and tumor lymphocyte infiltration were observed after all mice were killed on the fourteenth day. RESULTS: Tumor growth were inhibited in mice treated with pcDNA3.1(+)-mIL-12 plasmid or LLC/mIL-12 vaccine; the NK and CTL cell activity was augmented by mIL-12. Overall, the effects were more satisfactory in vaccine group than in plasmid group. There was abundant CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: mIL-12 in LLC cell line can increase NK cells and CTL. Antitumor immune response could be induced both by pcDNA3.1(+)-mIL-12 plasmid and by LLC/mIL-12 vaccine; the latter one could induce stronger response.

[Reversion of multidrug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma by antisense oligonucleotides and ultrasonic microbubble intensifier transfection combined with ultrasound irradiation].

OBJECTIVE: To study whether antisense oligonucleotides and ultrasonic microbubble intensifier transfection combined with ultrasound irradiation is an effective and directional way in reversing multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumors. METHODS: Mdr1, mrp, and lrp genes antisense oligonucleotides on the ultrasound microbubble intensifier were transfected for the human HepG2/ADM cell lines and then the cells were radiated with low intensity ultrasound. The effects of the reversion of carcinoma cells' MDR and the reduction of their malignancy and growth capability in vitro and in vivo were assessed using RT-PCR, Western blot and MTT. RESULTS: The treatment restrained the multiplication of the human HepG2/AMD cell lines. The levels of their mRNA and protein of cells' mdr1 and mrp genes dropped significantly. Growth of the subcutaneous transplanted tumors in the nude mice decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Transfection of MDR genes antisense oligonucleotides on the ultrasonic microbubble intensifier combined with low intensity ultrasound radiation may serve as a new treatment method for hepatocellular carcinoma.