The silencing of FNDC1 inhibits the tumorigenesis of breast cancer cells via modulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Fibronectin type III domain­containing protein 1 (FNDC1) is a protein that contains a major component of the structural domain of fibronectin. Although many studies have indicated that FNDC1 serves vital roles in the development of various diseases, the role of FNDC1 in the progression of breast cancer (BC) remains elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate the biological functions of FNDC1 in BC cells and the associated mechanisms. The expression levels of FNDC1 in BC tissues and normal breast tissues were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). Kaplan­Meier curves were mined from TCGA to examine the clinical prognostic significance of FNDC1 mRNA in patients with BC. The expression of FNDC1 was knocked down by transfection with shRNA in BC cells. Cell viability, colony formation ability, migration and invasion were assayed following the silencing of FNDC1 in BC cells. The expression of proteins was measured using a western blotting assay. The bioinformatic data indicated that the FNDC1 mRNA expression levels were significantly upregulated in BC tissues compared with normal breast tissues, and the high mRNA expression levels of FNDC1 were associated with a lower overall survival in patients with BC. The downregulation of FNDC1 inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of BC cells. Investigation of the mechanisms revealed that the silencing of FNDC1 decreased the protein expression levels of MMPs and epithelial­to­mesenchymal markers. Furthermore, the silencing of FNDC1 led to the inactivation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. FNDC1 was highly upregulated and acted as an oncogene in BC. Therefore, targeting FNDC1 may be a potential strategy for the treatment of BC.

The relationship between shear wave velocity and the ratio of typeⅠ/typeⅢ collagen fiber in the carotid plaques / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To assess the correlation between the shear wave velocity(SWV) and the ratio of type Ⅰ /type Ⅲ collagen fibers in plaques using virtual touch tissue imaging quantification(VTIQ).Methods Fifty four patients (54 plaques) who scheduled to carotid endarterectomy(CEA) were enrolled in this study.Their carotid plaques were preoperatively examined using VTIQ.The value of SWE of each plaque was obtained.The SWV of the plaque was evaluated by VTIQ.The endarterectomy specimens were transferred to the pathological department immediately after surgery to evaluate the plaque types and the distribution of collagen fibers in plaques.According to HE staining,the 54 plaques were divided into stable and unstable group.Results Among 54 plaques,14 were stable plaque and 40 were unstable plaques.The thickness and stenosis rate had no significant difference between stable group and unstable group (both P ＞ 0.05).The mean value of SWV and the ratio of type Ⅰ/typeⅢ collagen fiber in stable plaques were higher than those in the unstable plaques (both P ＜0.05).Based on ROC analysis,a cut-off value of SWE of 3.725 m/s (AUC=0.936) showed a sensitivity of 92.9％,a specificity of 80.0％ and an accuracy of 83.3％ for predicting stable plaques (95％ CI 0.818-0.982,P ＜0.05).The value of SWVs was closely correlated to the ratio of type Ⅰ/typeⅢ collagen fiber in plaques(r =0.882,P ＜0.05).Conclusions SWV of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque can be used to reflect the ratio of the type Ⅰ/typeⅢ collagen fiber in the plaques,and to evaluate the stability of plaque.

Application of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the evaluation of the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque / 中国基层医药

Objective To study the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the evaluation of the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP).Methods 162 patients with CAP were selected as study group.Meanwhile,34 patients with carotid artery strong echo plaques were selected as control group.The color doppler ultrasound was used to observe the CAP.Results The proportions of lipid type,fiber type,calcification and ulcer plaque in the study group were 21.60%,33.33%,34.57% and 10.37%,which were higher than those of the control group (5.88%,2.94%,2.94% and 2.94%),the differences were statistically significant (χ2=4.537,12.859,13.629 and 3.855,all P0.05).The plaque diameter (4.13±0.75)mm diagnosed by CEUS was significantly larger than that of conventional ultrasound [(3.62±1.14)mm],the difference was statistically significant (t=4.757,P=0.000).Conclusion The CEUS can qualitatively detect the atherosclerotic plaque angiogenesis,can quantitatively assess plaque,evaluate the stability of the plaques,and the sensitivity is high.