Meta-analysis of the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neither improvements in surgical techniques and methods nor advances in radiotherapy equipment and techniques have significantly improved cervical cancer survival rates for quite some time. AIM: By comparing the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer, this study aimed to explore effective treatment methods for locally advanced cervical cancer, and provide a theoretical basis to guide clinical practice. METHODS: A search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane databases was undertaken to identify randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer, where the intervention in the experimental group was neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the studies were evaluated for quality according to the Cochrane Quality Rating Scale. Baseline information, intervention information and outcome indicators of the included studies were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. RESULTS: Significant differences in overall survival [relative risk (RR) 1.63, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.69-2.57; p = 0.0007] and complete remission rate (RR 0.37, 95 % CI -0.49 to 1.23; p = 0.041) were found between the two groups. Heterogeneity of the objective response rate showed p < 0.0001 and I2 = 99 % (I2 = 99 > 50 % and p > 0.1 for the Q-test suggested strong heterogeneity). The fixed effects model was chosen for the integration statistic [standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.81, 95 % CI -0.21 to 1.83; p = 0.12]; the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). Heterogeneity of the adverse effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed p < 0.0001 and I2 = 98 % (I2 = 98 %>50 % and p > 0.1 for the Q-test suggested strong heterogeneity). The fixed effects model was chosen for the integration statistic (SMD -0.023, 95 % CI -0.95 to 0.49; p = 0.53); the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer improved the objective response rate and the complete remission rate of patients, but failed to improve overall survival and adverse effects.

CRISPR-Cas9-mediated deletion of carbonic anhydrase 2 in the ciliary body to treat glaucoma.

The carbonic anhydrase 2 (Car2) gene encodes the primary isoenzyme responsible for aqueous humor (AH) production and plays a major role in the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP). The CRISPR-Cas9 system, based on the ShH10 adenovirus-associated virus, can efficiently disrupt the Car2 gene in the ciliary body. With a single intravitreal injection, Car2 knockout can significantly and sustainably reduce IOP in both normal mice and glaucoma models by inhibiting AH production. Furthermore, it effectively delays and even halts glaucomatous damage induced by prolonged high IOP in a chronic ocular hypertension model, surpassing the efficacy of clinically available carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as brinzolamide. The clinical application of CRISPR-Cas9 based disruption of Car2 is an attractive therapeutic strategy that could bring additional benefits to patients with glaucoma.

Integrated Transcriptome Analysis of Long Noncoding RNA and mRNA in Developing and Aging Mouse Retina.

Mice have emerged as a widely employed model for investigating various retinal diseases. However, the availability of comprehensive datasets capturing the entire developmental and aging stages of the mouse retina, particularly during the elderly period, encompassing integrated lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles, is limited. In this study, we assembled a total of 18 retina samples from mice across 6 distinct stages of development and aging (5 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 6 months, and 15 months) to conduct integrated lncRNA and mRNA sequencing analysis. This invaluable dataset offers a comprehensive transcriptomic resource of mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles during the natural progression of retinal development and aging. The discoveries stemming from this investigation will significantly contribute to the elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with various retinal diseases, such as congenital retinal dysplasia and retinal degenerative diseases.

MicroRNA-93/STAT3 signalling pathway mediates retinal microglial activation and protects retinal ganglion cells in an acute ocular hypertension model.

Glaucoma is a common neurodegenerative disease and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Retinal microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in the process of optic nerve damage, but the mechanisms driving this microglial activation remain mostly elusive. Previous investigations reported that microRNAs are associated with the retinal microglial reaction and neural apoptosis. In the present study, we found that microRNA-93-5p (miR-93) played a key role in the reaction of retinal microglial cells in vivo and in vitro. The miR-93 level was significantly reduced in the retinae of rat acute ocular hypertension (AOH) models, which were accompanied by retinal microglial activation, overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, and subsequent retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) death, versus the retinae of controls. The induction of miR-93 overexpression significantly reduced microglial proliferation, migration and cytokine release, inhibited the expression of the target gene signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and p-STAT3, and was associated with a reduced loss of RGCs. Treatment with a STAT3 inhibitor also decreased retinal microglial activation after AOH injury. Taken together, these results suggest that the miR-93/STAT3 pathway is directly related to the downregulation of retinal microglia-mediated neuro-inflammation and showed a neuroprotective effect. Regulating microglial activation through miR-93 may serve as a target for neuroprotective therapy in pathological ocular hypertension.

Discovery and Validation of Circulating Hsa-miR-210-3p as a Potential Biomarker for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: Blood-based examination tools for glaucoma diagnosis in clinical practice, which can be useful for screening patients when traditional ophthalmic examinations cannot be utilized, are not available thus far. This study aimed to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and explore their utility as diagnostic markers. Methods: A total of 136 POAG patients and controls were enrolled. Next-generation RNA sequencing was used to explore the expression profile of circulating miRNAs in the sequencing set, and potential miRNAs from independent samples in both the screening and validation sets were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the ability of certain miRNAs to distinguish POAG patients from control subjects. Results: Using sequencing and qRT-PCR, hsa-miR-210-3p was found to be elevated in POAG patients in all sets. ROC analysis of the screening and validation sets revealed that hsa-miR-210-3p differentiated between POAG patients and matched controls with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.846 (sensitivity: 84.6%; specificity: 80.8%) and 0.813 (sensitivity: 84.8%; specificity: 69.7%), respectively. In case of all nonsequencing participants, analysis revealed that hsa-miR-210-3p differentiated between severe POAG patients and controls with an AUC of 0.880 (sensitivity: 85.4%; specificity: 85.7%). In addition, the expression of hsa-miR-210-3p was associated with visual field defects of |mean deviation| (ß = 0.237; P = 0.022) and average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (ß = -5.792; P = 0.014). Conclusions: Circulating hsa-miR-210-3p may serve as a potential diagnostic marker for POAG (especially for severe POAG patients).

Protocatechuic aldehyde protects against isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy via inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Protocatechuic aldehyde (PCA) is a natural compound found in the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza. It has been shown to possess multiple biological activities and to protect the cardiovascular system against oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. However, the potential effects of PCA on cardiac hypertrophy remain to be investigated. In this study, we showed that isoproterenol treatment (ISO, 10 µM for 24 h) induced significant hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, as manifested by enlargement of cell surface area (1.74-fold greater than that of the control, p < 0.05) and upregulation of hypertrophic gene markers (2.44- to 2.75-fold increase in ANF and ß-MHC protein expression, p < 0.05). These ISO-induced hypertrophic responses were attenuated by PCA (50-200 µM, p < 0.05). Furthermore, intragastric administration of PCA (10-100 mg/kg/day) ameliorated cardiac hypertrophy in ISO-treated rats (1.5 mg/kg/day, s.c., for 7 days). PCA inhibited the abnormal changes in echocardiographic parameters and suppressed ISO-induced increase in cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and collagen content (p < 0.05). It also ameliorated ISO-mediated elevation of HW/BW, LVW/BW, and HW/TL ratios (p < 0.05). Mechanistically, ISO facilitated JAK2 and STAT3 phosphorylation, increased STAT3 nuclear translocation, and enhanced STAT3 transcriptional activity. All these changes were attenuated by PCA. Taken together, these findings showed that PCA could protect against cardiac hypertrophy induced by ISO possibly via inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting the potential of PCA as a therapeutic candidate for hypertrophy-associated heart diseases.

G3BP2 is involved in isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy through activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

The RasGAP SH3 domain-binding proteins (G3BPs) are a family of RNA-binding proteins that can co-ordinate signal transduction and post-transcriptional gene regulation. G3BPs have been shown to be involved in mediating a great diversity of cellular processes such as cell survival, growth, proliferation and apoptosis. But the potential roles of G3BPs in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases remain to be clarified. In the present study, we provide the first evidence that suggests the participation of G3BP2 in cardiac hypertrophy. In cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs), treatment with isoproterenol (ISO, 0.1-100 µmol/L) significantly elevated the mRNA and protein levels of G3BP2. Similar results were observed in the hearts of rats subjected to 7D-injection of ISO, accompanied by obvious heart hypertrophy and elevated the expression of hypertrophy marker genes ANF, BNP and ß-MHC in heart tissues. Overexpression of G3BP2 in NRCMs led to hypertrophic responses evidenced by increased cellular surface area and the expression of hypertrophy marker genes, whereas knockdown of G3BP2 significantly attenuated ISO-induced hypertrophy of NRCMs. We further showed that G3BP2 directly interacted with IκBα and promoted the aggregation of the NF-κB subunit p65 in the nucleus and increased NF-κB-dependent transcriptional activity. NF-κB inhibition with PDTC (50 µmol/L) or p65 knockdown significantly decreased the hypertrophic responses in NRCMs induced by ISO or G3BP2 overexpression. These results give new insight into the functions of G3BP2 and may help further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy.

CRISPR-Cas9 System as a Versatile Tool for Genome Engineering in Human Cells.

Targeted nucleases are influential instruments for intervening in genome revision with great accuracy. RNA-guided Cas9 nucleases produced from clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems have noticeably altered the means to modify the genomes of distinct organisms. They can be notably used to facilitate effective genome manipulation in eukaryotic cells by clearly detailing a 20-nt targeting sequence inside its directed RNA. We discuss the most recent advancements in the molecular basis of the type II CRISPR/Cas system and encapsulate applications and elements affecting its use in human cells. We also propose possible applications covering its uses ranging from basic science to implementation in the clinic.

Comprehensive analysis for histone acetylation of human colon cancer cells treated with a novel HDAC inhibitor.

Extensive evidence suggests that dysregulation of histone lysine acetylation is intimately linked with the development of cancer in epigenetic level. Histone acetylation on lysine is regulated mainly by the "pencil"--Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and the "eraser"--Histone deacetylases HDACs. Dramatic elevation of global histone deacetylation is considered as a biomarker for cancer. Therefore, current antitumor drug design often targets HDACs, inhibiting overexpressed HDAC in tumor cells with natural or synthesized small molecules like largazole. Recently, a novel largazole derivative (largazole-7) was designed and prepared by replacement of Val 1 with tyrosine, and this modification increases selectivity toward human cancer cells over normal cells more than 100-fold. However, it is unclear about the dynamic level of histone acetylation under the treatment of this drug. It is also unclear whether the other modifications are also affected by largazole-7 treatment. Therefore, a global mapping of modifications on the histone proteins of cancer cell line treated by this drug may be of great benefit to elucidating its molecular mechanisms and exploring its potent as an antitumor drug. To realize the goal, we combined stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and high resolution MS for comprehensive identification and quantitative analysis of histone lysine acetylation and other modifications of Human Colon Cancer Cells (HCT-116) with and without treatment of largazole-7. In this analysis, we identified 68 histone PTMs in 38 sites on core histones, including lysine acetylation, methylation and butyrylation, a novel lysine modification. Further quantitative analysis not only discovered the global increased acetylated lysines, but also observed the changes of abundance of lysine methylation and butyrylation under stimulation of the drug. To our knowledge, it is the first report that regulation of largazole-7 against lysine butyrylation. Our study expands the catalog of histone marks in cancer, and provides an approach for understanding the known and new epigenetic marks under treatment of drugs.

Mechanical Activation of Mechanophore Enhanced by Strong Hydrogen Bonding Interactions.

A mechanically active spiropyran (SP) mechanophore is incorporated into the backbone of prepolymer which is further end-capped with ureidopyrimidinone (UPy) or urethane. Strong mechanochromic reaction of SP arises in the bulk films of UPy containing materials whereas much weaker activation occurs in urethane containing counterparts, coincident with their stress-strain responses. The difference in the magnitudes of supramolecular interactions leads to different degrees of chain orientation and strain induced crystallization (SIC) in the bulk and consequently distinct capabilities to transfer the load to the mechanophores. This study may aid the design of novel mechanoresponsive materials whose mechanoresponsiveness can be tailored by tuning supramolecular interactions.

[Influence of different operation modes in treatment of leiomyoma on reproductive endocrine hormone levels].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the most reasonable operation mode for treatment of leiomyoma so as to protect the ovary function of the patients. METHODS: 103 leiomyoma patients under the age of 49 received different operation: myomectomy (Group I, n = 33), subtotal hysterectomy (Group II, n = 30), and hysterectomy (Group III, n = 40). The levels of serum estradiol (E(2)), progesterone (P), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were detected before operations and 3 and 6 months after operations. Sixty patients underwent color Doppler ultrasonography before and after hysterectomy or subtotal hysterectomy to measure the blood flow of ovary artery. The maximal systolic flow velocity (Vmax), end-diastolic minimal flow velocity (Vmin), resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were calculated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the levels of E(2), P, LH, and FSH before and after operation among the patients of Group I regardless of the age (all P > 0.05) The E(2) levels 6 months after operation of Group II and Group III were both significantly lower than those before operation (both P < 0.05), however, the P, LH, and FSH levels before and after operation were not significantly different in these 2 groups (all P > 0.05). The E(2) level 6 months after operation of the patients aged > or = 40 in group III decreased much more significantly to (362 +/- 252) pmol/L, with a greater statistical difference in comparison with that before operation, (567 +/- 417) pmol/L (P < 0.01). The values of Vmax and Vmin of the ovary artery 6 months after operation were: 0.24 +/- 0.04 m/s and 0.05 +/- 0.05 m/s respectively, both significantly lower than those before operation, (0.50 +/- 0.11 m/s and 0.17 +/- 0.24 m/s respectively, both P < 0.01). The values of RI and PI 6 months after operation were: 0.80 +/- 0.05 and 2.06 +/- 0.24 respectively, both significantly higher than those before operation (0.74 +/- 0.05 and 1.62 +/- 0.33 respectively, both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Myomectomy doesn't influence the ovary function. Both subtotal hysterectomy and hysterectomy decrease the ovary blood flow and endocrine function 6 months after operations.