Optimal cisplatin cycles in locally advanced cervical carcinoma patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of cisplatin cycles on the clinical outcomes of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). METHODS: This study included 749 patients with LACC treated with CCRT between January 2011 and December 2015. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the optimal cut-off of cisplatin cycles in predicting clinical outcomes. Clinicopathological features of the patients were compared using the Chi-square test. Prognosis was assessed using log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard models. Toxicities were compared among different cisplatin cycle groups. RESULTS: Based on the ROC curve, the optimal cut-off of the cisplatin cycles was 4.5 (sensitivity, 64.3%; specificity, 54.3%). The 3-year overall, disease-free, loco-regional relapse-free, and distant metastasis-free survival for patients with low-cycles (cisplatin cycles < 5) and high-cycles (≥ 5) were 81.5% and 89.0% (P < 0.001), 73.4% and 80.1% (P = 0.024), 83.0% and 90.8% (P = 0.005), and 84.9% and 86.8% (P = 0.271), respectively. In multivariate analysis, cisplatin cycles were an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. In the subgroup analysis of high-cycle patients, patients who received over five cisplatin cycles had similar overall, disease-free, loco-regional relapse-free, and distant metastasis-free survival to patients treated with five cycles. Acute and late toxicities were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Cisplatin cycles were associated with overall, disease-free, and loco-regional relapse-free survival in LACC patients who received CCRT. Five cycles appeared to be the optimal number of cisplatin cycles during CCRT.

Long non-coding RNA DLGAP1 antisense RNA 1 accelerates glioma progression via the microRNA-628-5p/DEAD-box helicase 59 pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Abnormal expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) plays a prominent role in glioma progression. However, the biological function and mechanism of lncRNA DLGAP1 antisense RNA 1 (DLGAP1-AS1) in gliomas are still unknown. METHODS: The authors assessed DLGAP1-AS1 and miR-628-5p expression in glioma tissues and cell lines using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and evaluated their effects on glioma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, Transwell assay, and western blot, respectively. The expression of DEAD-box helicase 59 (DDX59) was quantified using western blotting, and a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to detect the interaction between DLGAP1-AS1 and miR-628-5p. RESULTS: The authors observed increased DLGAP1-AS1 expression in glioma tissues and cell lines with higher WHO grades and shorter survival time. DLGAP1-AS1 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of glioma cells, while miR-628-5p counteracted these effects. The authors identified DLGAP1-AS1 as a molecular sponge of miR-628-5p in glioma cells as the biological functions of DLGAP1-AS1 are partially mediated via miR-628-5p. In addition, DLGAP1-AS1 upregulated DDX59 expression by inhibiting miR-628-5p expression. CONCLUSION: The DLGAP1-AS1/miR-628-5p/DDX59 axis regulates glioma progression.

Long non-coding RNA DLGAP1 antisense RNA 1 accelerates glioma progression via the microRNA-628-5p/DEAD-box helicase 59 pathway

Abstract Objectives Abnormal expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) plays a prominent role in glioma progression. However, the biological function and mechanism of lncRNA DLGAP1 antisense RNA 1 (DLGAP1-AS1) in gliomas are still unknown. Methods The authors assessed DLGAP1-AS1 and miR-628-5p expression in glioma tissues and cell lines using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and evaluated their effects on glioma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, Transwell assay, and western blot, respectively. The expression of DEAD-box helicase 59 (DDX59) was quantified using western blotting, and a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to detect the interaction between DLGAP1-AS1 and miR-628-5p. Results The authors observed increased DLGAP1-AS1 expression in glioma tissues and cell lines with higher WHO grades and shorter survival time. DLGAP1-AS1 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of glioma cells, while miR-628-5p counteracted these effects. The authors identified DLGAP1-AS1 as a molecular sponge of miR-628-5p in glioma cells as the biological functions of DLGAP1-AS1 are partially mediated via miR-628-5p. In addition, DLGAP1-AS1 upregulated DDX59 expression by inhibiting miR-628-5p expression. Conclusion The DLGAP1-AS1/miR-628-5p/DDX59 axis regulates glioma progression.

Epidemiology and risk factors of candidemia due to Candida parapsilosis in an intensive care unit.

We analyzed the clinical features and risk factors of candidemia due to C. parapsilosis (n=104) in the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital over six years. This was a monocentric, retrospective study of candidemia, conducted from January 2013 to March 2019. Epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, invasive procedures, laboratory data and outcomes of 267 patients with candidemia were analyzed to determine risk factors of candidemia due to C. parapsilosis. Sixty-three cases of C. albicans and 204 cases of non-C. albicans Candida (NCAC) species were included, the latter was composed of 104 cases of C. parapsilosis and 100 cases of non-C. albicans species (46 cases of C. tropicalis, 22 cases of C. glabrata, 23 cases of C. guilliermondii, 5 cases of C. krusei and 4 cases of C. lusitaniae), suggesting that C. parapsilosis was the predominant Candida species isolated from cases of candidemia. A binary multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that APACHE II scores, central venous catheterization and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics were closely related to C. parapsilosis candidemia, with OR values of 1.159, 3.913 and 2.217, respectively. In conclusion, we found that C. parapsilosis was the main pathogen among the NCAC candidemia in the ICU patients. APACHE II scores, central venous catheterization and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics were independent risk factors for the occurrence of C. parapsilosis candidemia, which may provide data to support the early introduction of anti-fungal therapy.

The construction of sports public service system for the elderly from the perspective of healthy aging / Estructura del sistema de servicios públicos para los deportes de edad en el contexto del envejecimiento saludable / Construção de um sistema de serviço público de desportos para idosos sob a perspectiva do envelhecimento saudável

ABSTRACT With the gradual improvement of people's quality of life, the average life expectancy of our country has been extended. It is estimated that the total number of the elderly population in China will exceed 250 million by the end of 2020. Therefore, promoting healthy aging is a necessary measure to cope with the coming aging society in China, and physical exercise is an important method to keep the physical and mental health of the elderly. In order to promote the development of healthy aging in China, this study focused on the current level of public sports services for the elderly. This study uses the expert consultation method to test the rationality of the evaluation index, and uses the method of questionnaire survey to score each evaluation index, and uses the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to calculate the weight of the index. Finally, the paper takes the public sports service of the elderly in a city as an example to verify. The results show that the level of sports public service for the elderly in this city is only 77,928. Especially the two aspects of allocation of sports venues and the use of funds are the most unsatisfactory ones. It can be targeted to improve these two aspects, so as to improve the level of public sports services for the elderly. It is hoped that, through this study, we can provide some reference for improving the level of sports public service for the elderly from the perspective of healthy aging.

RESUMO Com a melhoria gradual da qualidade de vida das pessoas, a expectativa média de vida do nosso país foi ampliada. Estima-se que o número total de pessoas idosas na China excederá 250 milhões até o final de 2020. Por isso, promover um envelhecimento saudável é uma medida necessária para lidar com a futura população idosa na China, e o exercício físico é um método importante para manter a saúde física e mental dos idosos. A fim de promover o desenvolvimento de um envelhecimento saudável na China, este estudo centrou-se no nível atual de serviços desportivos públicos para os idosos. Este trabalho utiliza o método de consulta de especialistas para testar a racionalidade do índice de avaliação, e utiliza o método de levantamento por questionário para marcar cada índice de avaliação, e utiliza o processo hierárquico analítico (AHP) para calcular o peso do índice. Finalmente, a pesquisa toma como exemplo o serviço público de desportos dos idosos numa cidade. Os resultados mostram que o nível de serviço público desportivo para os idosos nesta cidade é apenas 77.928. Em especial, os aspectos da atribuição de espaços desportivos e a utilização de recursos financeiros são os mais insatisfatórios. Pode visar-se melhorar esses dois aspectos, de modo a melhorar o nível dos serviços desportivos públicos para os idosos. Espera-se que, através deste estudo, possamos oferecer uma referência para melhorar o nível de serviço público desportivo para os idosos sob a perspectiva do envelhecimento saudável.

RESUMEN Con la mejora paulatina de la calidad de vida de las personas se ha ampliado la esperanza de vida media de nuestro país. Se estima que el número total de personas añosas en China superará los 250 millones a finales de 2020. Por lo tanto, promover un envejecimiento saludable es una medida necesaria para hacer frente al aumento de la edad de la sociedad en China. El ejercicio físico es un método importante para mantener la salud física y mental de las personas mayores. Con el fin de promover el desarrollo del envejecimiento saludable en China, este estudio se centró en el nivel actual de los servicios deportivos públicos para las personas añosas. Este estudio utiliza la consulta de expertos para probar la racionalidad del índice de evaluación, la encuesta de cuestionario para calificar cada índice de evaluación, y el proceso de jerarquía analítica (PJA) para calcular el peso del índice. Finalmente, el trabajo toma como ejemplo a ser verificado, el servicio público deportivo de la tercera edad en una ciudad determinada. Los resultados muestran que el nivel de servicio público deportivo para personas añosas en esa ciudad es de solo 77.928. Especialmente los aspectos de la asignación de instalaciones deportivas y del uso de fondos son los más insatisfactorios. Se debe apuntar a mejorar estos dos aspectos, a fin de conseguir un mejor nivel de servicios deportivos públicos para las personas añosas. Esperamos que, a través de este estudio, podamos proporcionar una referencia para mejorar el nivel de servicio público deportivo para las personas añosas desde la perspectiva del envejecimiento saludable.

Toxoplasma gondii Hsp20 is a stripe-arranged chaperone-like protein associated with the outer leaflet of the inner membrane complex.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Toxoplasma gondii is among the most successful parasites, with nearly half of the human population chronically infected. T. gondii has five sHsps [small Hsps (heat-shock proteins)] located in different subcellular compartments. Among them, Hsp20 showed to be localized at the periphery of the parasite body. sHsps are widespread, constituting the most poorly conserved family of molecular chaperones. The presence of sHsps in membrane structures is unusual. RESULTS: The localization of Hsp20 was further analysed using high-resolution fluorescent light microscopy as well as electron microscopy, which revealed that Hsp20 is associated with the outer surface of the IMC (inner membrane complex), in a set of discontinuous stripes following the same spiralling trajectories as the subpellicular microtubules. The detergent extraction profile of Hsp20 was similar to that of GAP45 [45 kDa GAP (gliding-associated protein)], a glideosome protein associated with the IMC, but was different from that of IMC1 protein. Although we were unable to detect interacting protein partners of Hsp20 either in normal or stressed tachyzoites, an interaction of Hsp20 with phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phospholipids could be observed. CONCLUSIONS: Hsp20 was shown to be associated with a specialized membranous structure of the parasite, the IMC. This discontinuous striped-arrangement is unique in T. gondii, indicating that the topology of the outer leaflet of the IMC is not homogeneous.