Effect of Cichoric Acid on Colorectal Cancer: Impact on Migration, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, and Proliferation via RhoA/ROCK Signaling Pathway Modulation.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. To improve CMC prognosis, research must identify safe and effective natural drugs that improve the proliferation, migration, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes of CRC. The purpose of this paper is to understand how cichoric acid (CA) impacts CRC proliferation, metastasis, and EMT of CRC by adjusting the Ras homolog family member A (RhoA)/RHO-associated coiled coil protein kinase (ROCK) pathway. METHODS: Human Colon Cancer Cells (HCT116) cells were randomly divided into Control (blank medium treatment), low concentration CA (CA-L), medium concentration CA (CA-M), high concentration CA (CA-H), and high-concentration CA+RhoA activator U46619 (CA-H+U46619) groups. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of RhoA, ROCK, and EMT-associated proteins were detected by Western Blot. The CRC transplanted tumor model of nude mice was constructed, and the mice were grouped into low-dose CA (CA-Low, 15 mg/kg CA), high-dose CA (CA-High, 30 mg/kg CA), high-dose CA+RhoA activator U46619 (CA-High+U46619, 30 mg/kg CA+10 mM U46619), and Model groups at random, with 12 mice in each group. Tumor volume, mass, and inhibition rate were measured and calculated, and the pathological changes of tumor in nude mice were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. RESULTS: Compared with Control, the optical density of cells at 450 nm (OD450) value (48 h, 72 h), cell migration number, cell invasion number, RhoA, ROCK1, N-cadherin, vimentin protein expression levels of HCT116 cells were reduced in CA-M and CA-H groups; however, E-cadherin level and apoptosis rate were increased (p < 0.05). In the CA-High group, we observed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in both tumor volume and mass in nude mice. Additionally, the tumor tissue cells exhibited better organization, reduced size, reduced tumor and vascular tissue hyperplasia, and decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells. U46619 decreased the retardation of CA on the proliferation, EMT, and migration of CRC tumor cells as well as the growth of transplanted CRC tumors in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: CA may reduce CRC migration, proliferation, and EMT by inhibiting the activation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

Treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures with locking gamma nail (LGN): A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Intertrochanteric femoral fractures remain a challenge to orthopedists. Although technologies and instruments have been continuously improved, fixation failure still poses a problem in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a new type of intramedullary fixing device--locking gamma nail (LGN)--in treating unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures. METHODS: From March 2009 to March 2012, 88 patients with unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures were treated at our department with LGNs. Twelve patients were excluded from the study. The clinical and radiographic results of the remaining 76 patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The mean duration of operation, volume of blood loss, and hospital stay was 50 min, 85 mL, and 8.5 days, respectively. No perioperative complications. Seven patients died 1 year after surgery. The other 69 patients received a mean 23-month follow-up. The mean fracture healing time was 16 weeks. Nine patients felt pain in their hips. Ten patients experienced delayed fracture healing. No other complications. Sixty-one patients had recovered to preoperative levels of function, with a mean Harris hip score of 86.6 and a mean Parker-Palmer mobility score of 7.42. Patients with malreduction were more likely to sustain pain complications (p = 0.002). Older patients were more likely to experience delayed fracture healing (p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: LGN is a simple and safe treatment for unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures with satisfactory clinical efficacy and may be considered a new, minimally invasive operative method for treating unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures.