Inhibitory Effect of Crocin Against Gastric Carcinoma via Regulating TPM4 Gene.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors and the second most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide. Crocin is a kind of bioactive constituent found in the stigmas of saffron, which has shown various pharmacological activities. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of crocin on gastric cancer AGS cells proliferation and explored the underlying mechanism. A series of methods were used including cell counting kit assay, gene microarray analysis, qRT-PCR, Celigo image cytometry, cell clone formation assay, Western blot, and cell xenograft growth in vivo. RESULTS: The results indicated that crocin inhibited AGS cells proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. Further studies suggested that crocin decreased a series of genes expression, among which TPM4 gene downregulation inhibited the tumor cells proliferation and tumor growth in mice, and overexpression of TPM4 gene abolishes the inhibitory effect of crocin. Further study using microarray analysis suggested that knocking down of TPM4 altered genes related to the proliferation and apoptosis of cells. DISCUSSION: Crocin could inhibit the gastric cancer cells AGS cells proliferation by regulating TPM4 gene expression, and TPM4 may be a promising therapeutic target for GC treatment.

Diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor of the temporomandibular joint with skull base invasion: a report of 22 cases with literature review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment, and prognosis of patients with diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor (D-TGCT) involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the skull base. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed in patients with D-TGCT involving the TMJ and the skull base at our institute from April 2009 to August 2018. Data on clinical characteristics, surgical treatment, and prognosis were collected and analyzed. A literature search on D-TGCT involving the TMJ was conducted and the data analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 22 patients (14 males and 8 females), with an average age of 44 years. The main symptoms were headache and hearing limitation, accompanied by a swelling in the TMJ area. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed low signals on T1- and T2-weighted images. All lesions were completely removed. Temporal bone flap, titanium mesh, and temporal muscle flap were used for reconstruction. The recurrence rate was 4.5%. In the literature, 115 cases were reported. Surgery alone was performed in 88 cases; postoperative radiotherapy was performed in 19 cases; the tumor recurrence rates were 9.1% and 15.8% for the 2 procedures, respectively. All patients were alive at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: D-TGCT involving the TMJ and the skull base is a locally aggressive but benign lesion necessitating complete resection and has a good prognosis.

Pathogenesis and anti-proliferation mechanisms of Crocin in human gastric carcinoma cells.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death globally and the second most common in Asia. Many studies suggest that Crocin has the potential for gastric cancer antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols. Here we investigated genomic changes related to the inhibitory effect of Crocin, and elucidated the molecular mechanism of this inhibition in gastric carcinoma cells. We found that, compared with the control group, 216 significantly upregulated and 301 significantly downregulated genes were identified in Crocin-treated AGS cells. Many of these differentially expressed genes in AGS cells are involved in Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress response, p53 signaling, and integrin signaling, which suggested the mechanism of Crocin functions in therapy of gastric cancer. In summary, our study indicates that Crocin has the potential for gastric cancer adjuvant treatment through reducing cell oxidative stress levels.

Knockdown of SETDB1 inhibits breast cancer progression by miR-381-3p-related regulation.

BACKGROUND: SET domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1) has been widely considered as an oncogene playing a critical role in many human cancers, including breast cancer. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism by which SETDB1 regulates breast cancer tumorigenesis is still unknown. METHODS: qRT-PCR assay or western blot analysis was performed to assess the expression level of SETDB1 mRNA or protein, respectively. siSETDB1, pCMV6-XL5-SETDB1, miR-381-3p mimic, or miR-381-3p inhibitor was transfected into cells to regulate the expression of SETDB1 or miR-381-3p. MiRNA directly interacted with SETDB1 was verified by luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometric analysis, and transwell assay were used to detect the abilities of cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and migration, respectively. Animal model of xenograft tumor was used to observe the regulatory effect of SETDB1 on tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: We verified that SETDB1 mRNA level was upregulated in breast cancer tissues and cell lines, and SETDB1 depletion led to a suppression of cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and migration in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo. SETDB1 was verified to be a target of miR-381-3p. Moreover, miR-381-3p overexpression suppressed cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and migration, whereas SETDB1 abated miR-381-3p-mediated regulatory function on breast cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that SETDB1 knockdown might suppress breast cancer progression at least partly by miR-381-3p-related regulation, providing a novel prospect in breast cancer therapy.

miR-17-92 cluster is connected with disease progression and oxaliplatin/capecitabine chemotherapy efficacy in advanced gastric cancer patients: A preliminary study.

This study aimed to determine the role of plasma miR-17-92 cluster level in predicting chemoresistance in patients with gastric cancer (GC) undergoing oxaliplatin/capecitabine (XELOX) chemotherapy.Patients recently diagnosed with advanced GC were chosen as participants based on the inclusion criteria. The plasma levels of miR-17-5p, miR-18a, miR-19a/b, miR-20a, and miR-92-1 (miR-17-92 cluster) were determined through quantitative RT-PCR of blood samples from GC patients and healthy volunteers. All the patients received XELOX chemotherapy, and the effectiveness of the chemotherapy was evaluated.The miR-17-92 plasma level was increased in advanced GC patients and decreased after XELOX chemotherapy. Moreover, the miR-17-92 cluster level was associated with chemotherapy response but not with chemotherapy-related toxicity. The miR-17-92 cluster plasma level was decreased in chemosensitive patients, but not in chemoresistant patients, after chemotherapy. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined detection of the miR-17-92 cluster in patients with advanced GC were 100% each.The results suggest that the miR-17-92 plasma level is associated with the progression of advanced GC and effectiveness of XELOX chemotherapy.

Knockdown of SETDB1 inhibits breast cancer progression by miR-381-3p-related regulation

BACKGROUND: SET domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1) has been widely considered as an oncogene playing a critical role in many human cancers, including breast cancer. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism by which SETDB1 regulates breast cancer tumorigenesis is still unknown. METHODS: qRT-PCR assay or western blot analysis was performed to assess the expression level of SETDB1 mRNA or protein, respectively. siSETDB1, pCMV6-XL5-SETDB1, miR-381-3p mimic, or miR-381-3p inhibitor was transfected into cells to regulate the expression of SETDB1 or miR-381-3p. MiRNA directly interacted with SETDB1 was verified by luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometric analysis, and transwell assay were used to detect the abilities of cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and migration, respectively. Animal model of xenograft tumor was used to observe the regulatory effect of SETDB1 on tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: We verified that SETDB1 mRNA level was upregulated in breast cancer tissues and cell lines, and SETDB1 depletion led to a suppression of cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and migration in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo. SETDB1 was verified to be a target of miR-381-3p. Moreover, miR-381-3p overexpression suppressed cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and migration, whereas SETDB1 abated miR-381-3p-mediated regulatory function on breast cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that SETDB1 knockdown might suppress breast cancer progression at least partly by miR-381-3p-related regulation, providing a novel prospect in breast cancer therapy.

Preoperative and postoperative transcranial Doppler sonographic evaluations of the cerebral hemodynamics of craniostenosis.

OBJECTIVES: Making use of transcranial Doppler sonographic (TCD) technology to monitor the preoperative and postoperative changes in cerebral hemodynamics of sick children with craniostenosis and to evaluate the effects brought about by decompression surgery of craniostenosis by means of various changes in the parameters of cerebral blood flow. METHODS: Choosing bilateral middle cerebral arteries as target vessels by means of TCD and recording preoperative and postoperative cerebral blood flow velocities (peak systolic [Vs] and diastolic velocities [Vd]), pulsatility index (PI), blood pressure, and pulse rate. RESULTS: Among 11 cases of children with craniostenosis, postoperative Vs and Vd of 4 children aged 0 to 3 years old increased by 20.25 (14.75) and 15.75 (12.98) cm/s, respectively (P < 0.05); PI reduced by 0.09 (0.09) (P > 0.05); finger press marks could be found in 4 skull x-ray films, and ventricular dilatation was found in one of them. Postoperative Vs and Vd of 5 children aged 4 to 7 years old increased by 16.20 (15.39) and 15.00 (11.71) cm/s, respectively (P < 0.05); PI reduced by 0.14 (0.11) (P < 0.05); one of them experienced ventricular dilatation. In 2 children aged 11 years old, postoperative Vs, Vd, and PI increased by 2.50 (5.00) and 0.500 (3.79) cm/s and 0.09 (0.09), respectively (P > 0.05). An abnormality could be found in electroencephalograms of a child with Apert syndrome and 2 children with hydrocephalus. CONCLUSIONS: Operation can improve obviously younger sick children's cerebral blood flow velocity and PI; for older children, the improvement of diastolic cerebral blood flow velocity was more obvious than that of systolic cerebral blood flow velocity, and PI reduced distinctly, which showed that decompression surgery had a perfect effect on craniostenosis. The TCD parameters of an 11-year-old sick child who has a smaller head circumference but without intracranial hypertension could not be improved obviously. Transcranial Doppler sonography can be regarded as a simple and convenient tool for the noninvasive evaluation on the effect of decompression surgery of craniostenosis.

Sensitivity and fidelity of a novel piezoelectric middle ear transducer.

OBJECTIVE: A novel implantable piezoelectric transducer has been developed in this laboratory. The transfer functions of the transducer were assessed in anesthetized acutely implanted cats, and were compared with the microphone of a cochlear implant's speech processor. METHODS: The piezoelectric transducer was fixed to the head of the malleus of the cat. Pure tone signals of 97 dB SPL ranging from 250 to 8,000 Hz delivered from a loudspeaker placed beside the auricle of the cat were used to vibrate the tympanic membrane. The frequency response of the transducer was measured by monitoring the output signal of the transducer with an oscilloscope. The transfer functions of the transducer were then compared with the standard external microphone receiving the same tonal stimulus. RESULTS: The average sensitivity of the implantable piezoelectric transducer was -38.7 dB re 1 V/Pa at 1,000 Hz. The frequency-response curve of the transducer mirrored that of the external microphone, even with high-frequency stimuli. CONCLUSION: The implantable piezoelectric transducer developed in this laboratory transmits tonal stimuli with high fidelity.

[Embolizing of high flow craniomaxillofacial arteriovenous malformations with superselected endovascular catheterization: report of 9 cases].

OBJECTIVE: Using endovascular embolization to cure and stop the enlargement of craniomaxillofacial AVMs. METHODS: Nine patients with craniomaxillofacial AVMs were treated with endovascular embolization. Among them four were males and five females. The average age was 21 years old. The diagnosis was made according to CT, MRI and DSA angiograpy. PVA particles was used via a microcatheter to embolize the AVMs. RESULTS: In this group,the lesions in six of nine patients were totally embolized by one procedure. The other three cases underwent two procedures. All the lesions were totally embolized. The follow up of eight in nine patients (except one lost) showed a good recovery of the swollen skin around the focus, the colour and the temperature became normal. No complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Endovascular embolization is an effective method to cure the lesions or to stop the enlargement of craniomaxillofacial AVMs with minimal invasion. It is important that this method can avoid damaging the face by surgical resection. We also find that the venous part or the venous pool of the fistulae is the most important part for the lesions to reoccur.