The association between the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and the risk of osteoporosis among U.S. adults: analysis of NHANES data.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis frequently afflict older adults, and recent insights suggest a deeper connection between these conditions that surpasses mere aging effects. The ratio of non-high-density to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHHR) has emerged as a novel lipid marker for evaluating the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Nonetheless, investigations into the correlation of the NHHR with the risk of developing osteoporosis remain unexplored. METHODS: We collected NHHR and bone mineral density (BMD) data from 11,024 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants between 2011 and 2018. Multivariate linear regression was employed to examine the correlation between BMD and NHHR. Smooth curves were employed to deal with the nonlinearity. To further account for the nonlinear link, we used a two-part linear regression model. The threshold effects were estimated using two components of a linear regression model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were carried out to ascertain the stability of the findings. RESULTS: We discovered a negative relationship between the NHHR and lumbar spine BMD in all three models. An L-shaped curvilinear association existed between the NHHR and lumbar spine BMD, with a key inflection point of 6.91. The fully adjusted model showed that the BMD of the lumbar spine fell by 0.03 g/cm2 in those who were in the fourth quartile as opposed to the lowest quartile. The sensitivity analysis using unweighted logistic analysis verified the stability of the results. In addition, BMD in the nondiabetic group was more significantly affected by the negative effect of the NHHR in the subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS: According to this research, there appears to be a negative correlation between BMD and NHHR in US Adults. To clarify the precise physiological mechanisms by which the NHHR contributes to the onset of osteoporosis, more research is necessary.

Construction of 3D network aluminum sludge-based hydrogel beads: combination of macroization, amino functionalization, and resource utilization.

An aluminum sludge-based composite material was constructed against the problems of phosphorus pollution and the waste of aluminum sludge resources. Utilizing metal Ce doping and hydrogel microbeads with pore preparation, the adsorption performance of the original sludge was improved. Meanwhile, the macroscopic body was constructed, and on this basis, polyethyleneimine (PEI) was introduced to complete the amino functionalization further to enhance the adsorption of phosphorus by the adsorbent, and NH-CeAIS-10 microbeads were successfully prepared. In adsorption, microbeads with larger specific surface area and richer functional groups are better choice compared to original sludge. The results of SEM, BET, FT-IR, and XPS analyses indicate that the adsorption of phosphorus by the microbeads is mainly achieved through electrostatic interactions, ligand exchange, and the formation of inner-sphere complexes. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity of NH-CeAIS-10 was 29.56 mg g-1, which was four times higher compared to native aluminum sludge. This also confirms the significant enhancement of phosphorus adsorption through the modification of aluminum sludge. Besides, in dynamic adsorption column experiments, the material exhibited up to 99% removal in simulated wastewater for up to 30 days, demonstrating the great adsorption potential of NH-CeAIS-10 in engineering applications.

CircBBS9 accelerates the malignant progression of osteosarcoma through sponging miR-485-3p/HMGB1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a leading malignant tumor reported with high mortality and morbidity. Dysexpression of CircBBS9 has been reported to exhibit a critical functional role in various diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of CircBBS9 in osteosarcoma are poorly characterized. METHODS: The present study aims to investigate the impacts of CircBBS9 on the progression of osteosarcoma. RESULTS: The findings of the study demonstrated the up-regulated expression of CircBBS9 in osteosarcoma. The Actinomycin D and RNase R treatment experiments confirmed that circBBS9 is indeed a circRNA. In addition, the knockdown of circBBS9 negatively impacted the migration, proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Further investigations illustrated that circBBS9 controlled miR-485-3p and miR-485-3p might directly interact with HMGB1. miR-485-3p had a negative regulatory role in HMGB1's gene expression. Through rescue assays, it was verified that CircBBS9 promoted osteosarcoma progression through the miR-485-3p/HMGB1 axis. Finally, circBBS9 knockdown attenuated the in-vivo growth of osteosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusively, our study is the first time to examine the possible functional mechanism and regulation roles of CircBBS9 in osteosarcoma. The findings explained that CircBBS9 promoted the malignant osteosarcoma's progression by sponging miR-485-3p/HMGB1 and proposed CircBBS9 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic candidate for osteosarcoma patients.

Deep Learning-Based CT Imaging in Diagnosing Myeloma and Its Prognosis Evaluation.

Imaging examination plays an important role in the early diagnosis of myeloma. The study focused on the segmentation effects of deep learning-based models on CT images for myeloma, and the influence of different chemotherapy treatments on the prognosis of patients. Specifically, 186 patients with suspected myeloma were the research subjects. The U-Net model was adjusted to segment the CT images, and then, the Faster region convolutional neural network (RCNN) model was used to label the lesions. Patients were divided into bortezomib group (group 1, n = 128) and non-bortezomib group (group 2, n = 58). The biochemical indexes, blood routine indexes, and skeletal muscle of the two groups were compared before and after chemotherapy. The results showed that the improved U-Net model demonstrated good segmentation results, the Faster RCNN model can realize the labeling of the lesion area in the CT image, and the classification accuracy rate was as high as 99%. Compared with group 1, group 2 showed enlarged psoas major and erector spinae muscle after treatment and decreased bone marrow plasma cells content, blood M protein, urine 24 h light chain, pBNP, ß-2 microglobulin (ß2MG), ALP, and white blood cell (WBC) levels (P < 0.05). In conclusion, deep learning is suggested in the segmentation and classification of CT images for myeloma, which can lift the detection accuracy. Two different chemotherapy regimens both improve the prognosis of patients, but the effects of non-bortezomib chemotherapy are better.

Abdominal Oblique Internal and External Muscles Gap Colostomy for Lower Incidence of Parastomal Hernia and Higher Quality of Life: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Parastomal hernia and fecal incontinence cause severe distress to the rectal cancer patients with stoma after abdominoperineal resection. We attempted a new colostomy technique through the gap between the abdominal oblique internal and external muscles to prevent parastomal hernia and improve quality of life. METHODS: This cohort study retrospectively examined clinical data from a total of 114 consecutive rectal cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection in our center from March 2016 to March 2018 after propensity score matching. Group A included 57 patients who underwent colostomy through the gap between the abdominal oblique internal and oblique external muscles, while group B included 57 patients who underwent extraperitoneal colostomy. Patients' quality of life was evaluated using Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) Scale. RESULTS: Group A had a lower incidence of parastomal hernia (0% vs. 15.7%, p = 0.004) and higher quality of life, especially in lifestyle, coping/behavior and embarrassment domains (all p values < 0.05) than group B both during the follow-up period. The incidence of other outcomes did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Colostomy through the gap between the abdominal oblique internal and oblique external muscle is a new technique showing both safety and effectiveness for preventing parastomal hernia and improving quality of life after laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection.

Comparison of hematological traits and oxygenation properties of hemoglobins from highland and lowland Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans).

The Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans) belonging to the family of Bufonidae (Anura: Amphibia) is successfully residing on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). To investigate whether the oxygen delivery undergoes adaptive adjustments to high-altitude environments in Asian toads inhabiting the QTP (Zoige County, 3446 m), choosing low-altitude populations (Chengdu City, 500 m) as control, we measured hematological traits, O2 affinities of whole blood, Hb-O2 affinities of purified Hbs, their sensitivities to temperature, and allosteric effectors (H+, Cl- and ATP). Our results showed that high-altitude Asiatic toads possessed significantly increased hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and red blood cell count, but significantly decreased erythrocyte volume compared with low-altitude toads. The whole blood and purified Hbs of high-altitude Asiatic toads both exhibited significantly higher O2 affinities compared with low-altitude toads. Substantially increased intrinsic Hb-O2 affinities of high-altitude Asiatic toads Hbs are likely to be the main reason for its elevated Hb-O2 affinities given the anionic cofactor sensitivities of high- and low-altitude toads were similar. The Hbs of high-altitude toads were also characterized by distinctly strong Bohr effects at the low temperature and low-temperature sensitivities. The adaptive adjustments of hematological traits could enhance the blood-O2 carrying capacity of high-altitude Asiatic toads. The increased Hb-O2 affinities could safeguard the pulmonary O2 uploading under hypoxia. The strong Bohr effects at the low temperature could help the release of O2 in metabolic tissues and cold limbs, while low-temperature sensitivity could minimize the effect of temperature fluctuation on the Hb-O2 affinity.

Freeze tolerance and the underlying metabolite responses in the Xizang plateau frog, Nanorana parkeri.

The frog Nanorana parkeri (Dicroglossidae) is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, and overwinters shallow pond within damp caves for up to 6 months. Herein, we investigate the freeze tolerance of this species and profile changes in liver and skeletal muscle metabolite levels using an untargeted LC-MS-based metabolomic approach to investigate molecular mechanisms that may contribute to freezing survival. We found that three of seven specimens of N. parkeri could survive after being frozen for 12 h at - 2.0 °C with 39.91% ± 5.4% (n = 7) of total body water converted to ice. Freezing exposure induced partial dehydration of the muscle, which contributed to decreasing the amount of freezable water within the muscle and could be protective for the myocytes themselves. A comparative metabolomic analysis showed that freezing elicited significant responses, and a total of 33 and 36 differentially expressed metabolites were identified in the liver and muscle, respectively. These metabolites mainly participate in alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism. After freezing exposure, the contents of ornithine, melezitose, and maltotriose rose significantly; these may act as cryoprotectants. Additionally, the content of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanine, 7-Ketocholesterol and hypoxanthine showed a marked increase, suggesting that freezing induced oxidative stress in the frogs. In summary, N. parkeri can tolerate a brief and partial freezing of their body, which was accompanied by substantial changes in metabolomic profiles after freezing exposure.

Metabolic characteristics of overwintering by the high-altitude dwelling Xizang plateau frog, Nanorana parkeri.

The Xizang plateau frog, Nanorana parkeri, has the highest altitudinal distribution of all frogs in the world and survives the cold of winter without feeding by entering into a hibernating state. However, little attention has been paid to its physiological and biochemical characteristics that support overwintering underwater in small ponds. Here, we measured metabolic rate and heart rate, and collected liver and muscle samples from N. parkeri in summer and winter for analysis of mitochondrial respiration rate, and activities and relative mRNA transcript expression of metabolic enzymes. Compared with summer-collected frogs, both resting metabolic rate and heart rate were significantly reduced in winter-collected frogs. Both state 3 and state 4 respiration of liver mitochondria were also significantly reduced in winter but muscle mitochondria showed a decline only in state 3 respiration in winter. The activities and corresponding mRNA expression of cytochrome c oxidase showed a marked decline in winter, whereas the activities and corresponding mRNA expression of lactate dehydrogenase increased in winter-collected frogs, compared to summer. The thermal sensitivity (Q10 values) for state 3 respiration rate by liver mitochondria, and activities of lactate dehydrogenase, and cytochrome c oxidase all increased in winter-collected frogs, compared with summer frogs, suggesting that overwintering frogs were more sensitive to changes in external temperature. Enzyme changes mainly result from lower overall quantities of these enzymes as well as post-translational modifications. We conclude that overwintering N. parkeri exhibit a seasonal, temperature-independent suppression of metabolism that is mediated at multiple levels: physiological, mitochondrial, gene expression and enzyme activity levels.

Suppressed LPS-mediated TLR4 signaling in the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) compared to the bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus).

Ecological immunology involves the study of the immune function of wildlife, which is seldom compared with that of model animals. Here, we evaluated and compared the level of the innate immune response in the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi), an indigenous underground rodent from the Tibetan Plateau, with that in the bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat (Rattus norvegicus). The spleen was observed by ordinary light and transmission electron microscopy, and the spleen index was calculated. After liposaccharide (LPS) challenge, the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in the spleen was detected by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. The expression of nuclear factor-κB1 (NF-κB1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14) in the spleen was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-ß (IFN-ß) in the spleen were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay. The spleen index of the plateau zokor was lower than that of the bamboo rat and SD rat. The expression of TLR4, NF-κB1, and MAPK14 and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the spleen of the plateau zokor were lower than those of the bamboo rat and SD rat, while the expression of TLR2 and HIF-1α and the level of IFN-ß were higher than those of the bamboo rat and SD rat. We speculate that suppression of the TLR4 signaling pathway in the plateau zokor is an adaptation to hypoxic tunnels that decreases antigenic risk and maintains immune homeostasis. Moreover, the spleen of the plateau zokor is reduced in size, reducing the innate immunity investment in the spleen. We also noted that high levels of HIF-1α in the spleen of the plateau zokor suppressed crosstalk between HIF-1α and TLR4, promoting the innate immune response.

TMEM100 expression suppresses metastasis and enhances sensitivity to chemotherapy in gastric cancer.

The gene encoding transmembrane protein 100 (TMEM100) was first discovered to be transcribed by the murine genome. It has been recently proven that TMEM100 contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This study investigates the impact of TMEM100 expression on gastric cancer (GC). TMEM100 expression was remarkably downregulated in GC samples compared to the surrounding non-malignant tissues (p < 0.01). Excessive TMEM100 expression prohibited the migration and invasion of GC cells without influencing their growth. However, TMEM100 knockdown restored their migration and invasion potential. Additionally, TMEM100 expression restored the sensitivity of GC cells to chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-fluouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin. In terms of TMEM100 modulation, it was revealed that BMP9 rather than BMP10, is the upstream modulator of TM3M100. HIF1α downregulation modulated the impact of TMEM100 on cell migration, chemotherapy sensitivity and invasion in GC cells. Eventually, the in vivo examination of TMEM100 activity revealed that its upregulation prohibits the pulmonary metastasis of GC cells and increases the sensitivity of xenograft tumors to 5-FU treatment. In conclusion, TMEM100 serves as a tumor suppressor in GC and could be used as a promising target for the treatment of GC and as a predictor of GC clinical outcome.

Targeting of glutamine transporter ASCT2 and glutamine synthetase suppresses gastric cancer cell growth.

PURPOSE: Glutamine (Gln) is essential for the proliferation of most cancer cells, making it an appealing target for cancer therapy. However, the role of Gln in gastric cancer (GC) metabolism is unknown and Gln-targeted therapy against GC remains scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of Gln in GC growth and targeting. METHODS: Expression of Gln transporter ASCT2 and glutamine synthetase (GS) in the parental and molecularly engineered GC cells or in human GC specimens was determined by RT-PCR and western blot analysis or immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation and survival was assessed by CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay. Intracellular Gln content was measured by a HPLC system. Effects of ASCT2 and/or GS inhibitor on tumor growth were investigated in xenograft models. RESULTS: A significant heterogeneity of GC cells was observed with respect to their response to the treatment of ASCT2 inhibitor benzylserine (BenSer). Gln deprivation did not affect the BenSer-resistant cell growth due to endogenous GS expression, whose inhibition remarkably reduced cell proliferation. The differential in vitro sensitivity correlated with overall intracellular Gln content. Combined therapy with both ASCT2 and GS inhibitors produced a greater therapeutic efficacy than the treatment of either inhibitor alone. Furthermore, 77% human GC tissues were found to express moderate and high levels of ASCT2, 12% of which also co-expressed relatively high levels of GS. CONCLUSION: Gln mediates GC growth and the therapeutic efficacy of Gln-targeted treatment relies on distinct ASCT2 and GS expression pattern in specific gastric cancer groups.

Analyzing and modelling the effect of long-term fertilizer management on crop yield and soil organic carbon in China.

This study analyzes the influence of various fertilizer management practices on crop yield and soil organic carbon (SOC) based on the long-term field observations and modelling. Data covering 11 years from 8 long-term field trials were included, representing a range of typical soil, climate, and agro-ecosystems in China. The process-based model EPIC (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate model) was used to simulate the response of crop yield and SOC to various fertilization regimes. The results showed that the yield and SOC under additional manure application treatment were the highest while the yield under control treatment was the lowest (30%-50% of NPK yield) at all sites. The SOC in northern sites appeared more dynamic than that in southern sites. The variance partitioning analysis (VPA) showed more variance of crop yield could be explained by the fertilization factor (42%), including synthetic nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) fertilizers, and fertilizer NPK combined with manure. The interactive influence of soil (total N, P, K, and available N, P, K) and climate factors (mean annual temperature and precipitation) determine the largest part of the SOC variance (32%). EPIC performs well in simulating both the dynamics of crop yield (NRMSE = 32% and 31% for yield calibration and validation) and SOC (NRMSE = 13% and 19% for SOC calibration and validation) under diverse fertilization practices in China. EPIC can assist in predicting the impacts of different fertilization regimes on crop growth and soil carbon dynamics, and contribute to the optimization of fertilizer management for different areas in China.

ERp29 controls invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma by inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition via PI3K/Aktsignaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) accounts for the fourth most occurring malignancy and the third major cause of cancer death. Identifying novel molecular signaling pathways participating in gastric tumorigenesis and progression is pivotal for rational design of targeted therapies to improve advanced GC outcome. Recently, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein 29 (ERp29) has been shown to inversely associate with primary tumor development and function as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. However, the role of ERp29 in GC patients' prognosis and its function in GC progression is unknown. METHODS: Clinical importance of ERp29 in the prognosis of GC patients was assessed by examining its expression in 148 GC tumor samples and correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and survival of the patients. The function and underlying mechanisms of ERp29 in GC growth, invasion and metastasis were explored both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Downregulation of ERp29 was commonly found in GC tissues and highly correlated with more aggressive phenotypes and poorer prognosis. Functional assays demonstrated that knockdown of ERp29 increased GC cell migration and invasion and promoted metastasis. Conversely, ectopic overexpression of ERp29 produced opposite effects. Mechanistic studies revealed that loss of ERp29 induced an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the GC cells through activation of PI3K/Akt pathway signaling. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that downregulation of ERp29 is probably one of the key molecular mechanisms responsible for the development and progression of GC.

DDAH1 mediates gastric cancer cell invasion and metastasis via Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Gastric cancer (GC) represents the fourth most common malignant neoplasm and the second leading cause of cancer death. Despite therapeutic advances in recent decades, the clinical outcome remains dismal owing to the fact that most patients with GC show advanced disease at diagnosis and current chemotherapy only confers a modest survival advantage. Identification of key molecular signaling pathways involved in gastric carcinogenesis and progression would aid in early diagnosis and provide a rational design for targeted therapies in selected patients with advanced GC, to improve their outcome. Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) is the main enzyme that can degrade asymmetric dimethylarginine, an endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. Increased DDAH1 expression and NO production have been linked to multiple pathological conditions including cancer. However, the prognostic significance of DDAH1 in patients with GC and its function in GC progression remain undefined. In this study, we found that downregulation of DDAH1 was frequently detected in GC tissues and strongly correlated with more aggressive phenotypes and poor prognosis. Functional assays confirmed that forced expression of DDAH1 in the GC cells suppressed cell migration and invasion in vitro, as well as metastatic potential in vivo. DDAH1 overexpression inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process by increasing ß-catenin degradation through the attenuation of Wnt/GSK-3ß signaling. In contrast, knockdown of DDAH1 produced the opposite effect. These findings suggest that DDAH1 functions as a tumor suppressor in GC and may be exploited as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for GC.

Changes in litter quality induced by nutrient addition alter litter decomposition in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition on litter decomposition are poorly understood in Tibetan alpine meadows. Leaf litter was collected from plots within a factorial N × P addition experiment and allowed to decompose over 708 days in an unfertilized plot to determine the effects of N and/or P addition on litter decomposition. Results showed that nutrient addition significantly affected initial P and P-related biochemical properties of litter from all four species. However, the responses of litter N and N-related biochemical properties to nutrient addition were quite species-specific. Litter C decomposition and N release were species-specific. However, N and P addition significantly affected litter P release. Ratios of Hemicellulose + Cellulose to N and P were significantly related to litter C decomposition; C:N ratio was a determinant of litter N release; and C:P and (Hemicellulose + Cellulose):P controlled litter P release. Overall, litter C decomposition was controlled by litter quality of different plant species, and strongly affected by P addition. Increasing N availability is likely to affect litter C decomposition more indirectly by shifting plant species composition than directly by improving litter quality, and may accelerate N and P cycles, but shift the ecosystem to P limitation.

Lipopolysaccharide increases the release of VEGF-C that enhances cell motility and promotes lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis through the TLR4- NF-κB/JNK pathways in colorectal cancer.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exists in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Colorectal normal epithelium and colorectal cancer cells in situ are continuously exposed to LPS from intestinal bacteria, while little is known about the influence of LPS on colorectal cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the potential role of LPS on colorectal cancer progression and metastasis as well as the underlying mechanisms. We measured higher LPS concentration in colorectal cancer tissues and even higher LPS concentration in colorectal cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis. LPS significantly enhanced cancer cell motility and promoted human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells' (HDLECs') capacity of tube-like formation in vitro, as well as accelerates lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in nude mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated LPS notably increased the expression of VEGF-C in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. VEGF-C is a key regulator for lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis. By constructing lentivirus-mediated shVEGF-C cells, VEGF-C down-regulation suppressed LPS' promotive effect on cancer cell motility and HDLEC tube-like formation capacity. In addition, we found TLR4- NF-κB/JNK signal pathways were important for LPS to increase VEGF-C expression. All these result suggested a critical role for LPS in migration, invasion, lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer, providing evidence that LPS increased VEGF-C secretion to promote cell motility and lymphangiogenesis via TLR4- NF-κB/JNK signaling.

LPS Upregulated VEGFR-3 Expression Promote Migration and Invasion in Colorectal Cancer via a Mechanism of Increased NF-κB Binding to the Promoter of VEGFR-3.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) could promote the progression of colorectal cancer, but the specific regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown. So, this study aim to clarify the mechanisms that LPS upregulated VEGFR-3, which promotes colorectal cancer cells migration and invasion with a mechanism of increased NF-κB bind to the promoter of VEGFR-3. METHODS: The present study examined the VEGFR-3 expression in colorectal cancer tissues and analyzed the relationship between the VEGFR-3 expression with clinical parameters. PCR, Western blot, CCK-8, colone formation assay, and Transwell assay detected that LPS promoted the migration and invasion and the role of VEGFR-3 in the process of colorectal carcinoma in vitro. Used the methods of promoter analysis, EMSA assay and ChIP assay to explore the mechanisms LPS increased the expression of VEGFR-3. RESULTS: VEGFR-3 was significantly high expression in the colorectal cancer tissues. And the high expression was associated with the TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer. LPS could promote the migration and invasion, which could be blocked by the neutralizing antibody IgG of VEGFR-3. And found that -159 nt to +65 nt was the crucial region of VEGFR-3 promoter. And detected that the NF-κB was important transcription factor for the VEGFR-3 promoter. And LPS could increase NF-κB binding to VEGFR-3 promoter and upregulated the expression of VEGFR-3 to exert biological functions. CONCLUSION: We have elucidated the relationship between LPS and the VEGFR-3 expression and revealed that VEGFR-3 play very important role in the process of LPS promoting the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. Further illuminated the mechanism that LPS upregulated VEGFR-3 expression via increased NF-κB bind to the promoter of VEGFR-3.

Scope definition and resection significance of No. 12a group lymph nodes in gastric cancer.

A discrepancy exists between the 7th edition guidelines of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the 3rd edition Japanese treatment guidelines in terms of the classification of No. 12a lymph nodes as regional or distant lymph nodes in D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. The scope definition of No. 12a lymph nodes has yet to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to assess the appropriateness of reclassifying No. 12a lymph node metastasis as distant metastasis according to the survival rate outcome, and to provide a clear and practical definition of the No. 12a group lymph nodes of gastric cancer. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with gastric cancer who underwent standard or greater lymphadenectomy between January 2000 and December 2009 to find an association between No. 12a node metastasis and survival outcome. The present study first presented a clear and practical scope definition of the No. 12a group lymph nodes of gastric cancer, according to our clinical experiences and practices (Table I and Fig. 1). The survival outcome of patients with gastric cancer and No. 12a lymph node metastasis was poorer compared with that of patients with no No. 12a lymph node metastasis (P=0.0003). The results were similar in stage III patients with gastric cancer (P<0.0001). However, the survival outcome of patients was similar with or without No. 12a lymph node metastasis in stage IV gastric cancer (P=0.1968). Cox regression analysis revealed that the AJCC stage was independently associated with an unfavorable cumulative survival rate. Logistic regression analysis revealed that tumor location, AJCC stage, intravascular cancer emboli and nerve invasion were associated with No. 12a lymph node metastasis. In conclusion, the data in the present study suggested that No. 12a lymph node metastasis is associated with distant metastasis, and therefore they concur with the 7th edition AJCC gastric cancer guidelines, which appear to be correct in terms of considering No. 12a lymph node metastasis as distant metastasis.

[The X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer Based on Pyroelectric Effect].

Pyroelectric X-ray generator is implemented, and an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer is accomplished by combining the pyroelectric X-ray generator with a high energy resolution silicon drift detector. Firstly, the parameters of the X-ray generator are decided by analyzing and calculating the influence of the thickness of the pyroelectriccrystal and the thickness of the target on emitted X-ray. Secondly, the emitted X-ray is measured. The energy of emitted X-ray is from 1 to 27 keV, containing the characteristic X-ray of Cu and Ta, and the max counting rate is more than 3 000 per second. The measurement also proves that the detector of the spectrometer has a high energy resolution which the FWMH is 210 eV at 8. 05 keV. Lastly, samples of Fe, Ti, Cr and high-Ti basalt are analyzed using the spectrometer, and the results are agreed with the elements of the samples. It shows that the spectrometer consisting of a pyroelectric X-ray generator and a silicon drift detector is effective for element analysis. Additionally, because each part of the spectrometer has a small volume, it can be easily modified to a portable one which is suitable for non-destructive, on-site and quick element analysis.

Receptor-interacting protein-1 promotes the growth and invasion in gastric cancer.

The receptor-interacting protein-1 (RIP-1) is an important molecular in inflammation signaling pathways, but the role of RIP-1 in gastric cancer is largely unknown. In this study, we tested the expression of RIP-1 in gastric cancer samples and analyzed the effects of expression of RIP-1 on the prognosis in gastric cancer patients. We analyzed the role of the RIP-1 in gastric cancer cells and addressed the functional role of RIP-1 using a xenograft mouse model. A lentivirus-based effective RIP-1 siRNA vector was infected into HGC and AGS cells. The effect of RIP-1 siRNA on HGC and AGS cells were investigated by cell proliferation assay and invasion assay. Furthermore, we examined the role of RIP-1-siRNA on HGC cells in the mice with subcutaneous xenograft tumor, and preliminarily analyzed the underlying mechanisms. The results indicated that the expression of RIP-1 in the gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than the expression in the normal gastric tissues. Additionally, RIP-1 immunoreactivity was positive at the site of invasion, but little or no immunoreactivity was detected at the gastric cancer parts of interstitial substance. Gastric cancer patients with high expression of RIP-1 had a poor survival rate. RIP-1 expression in the gastric cancer cell lines were general. HGC-R-1-RNAi-LV inhibited HGC and AGS cell proliferation and invasion ability in vitro. RIP-NF-κB/AP-1-VEGF-C signaling pathways have a crucial role in the regulate the biological functions of HGC cells. HGC-R-1-RNAi-LV suppressed tumor growth in the HGC cell subcutaneous xenograft model. In conclusion, our data indicate that RIP-1 promote the growth and invasion of gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo, additionally providing evidence that targeting RIP-1 may be useful in the treatment of gastric cancer.