Anlotinib suppressed tumor cell proliferation and migration in hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to study the in-vitro effects of multitarget inhibitor anlotinib on hypopharyngeal cancer cell proliferation and cell migration, and the underlying mechanism, which will provide new drug choices for hypopharyngeal cancer treatment. METHODS: The Hypopharyngeal cancer Fadu cells were treated with anlotinib at a concentration of 0, 5, and 10 µmoL/L, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 and the colony-forming assay were used to detect the inhibition of cell proliferation. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay were used to detect the migration and invasion ability of cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effects of anlotinib on cell cycle and apoptosis. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to measure gene expression levels. RESULTS: CCK-8 and colony-forming assay showed that anlotinib could significantly inhibit cell proliferative activity. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay showed that anlotinib could inhibit cell migration and scratch. These results showed that anlotinib has obvious antitumor activity. Flow cell cycle experiment showed that anlotinib could promote Fadu cell apoptosis and block the G2/M phase for inhibiting cell proliferation. In addition, anlotinib decreased the expression of HIF-1α. CONCLUSIONS: Anlotinib has an excellent suppressing effect on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hypopharyngeal cancer Fadu cells in-vitro. Moreover, it can play an anti-tumor role through blocking cell cycle G2/M and promoting apoptosis, which may be related to the decrease of HIF-1a expression. Our study would provide a potential treatment method for patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.

Anlotinib suppressed tumor cell proliferation and migration in hypopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to study the in-vitro effects of multitarget inhibitor anlotinib on hypopharyngeal cancer cell proliferation and cell migration, and the underlying mechanism, which will provide new drug choices for hypopharyngeal cancer treatment. Methods The Hypopharyngeal cancer Fadu cells were treated with anlotinib at a concentration of 0, 5, and 10 μmoL/L, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 and the colony-forming assay were used to detect the inhibition of cell proliferation. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay were used to detect the migration and invasion ability of cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effects of anlotinib on cell cycle and apoptosis. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to measure gene expression levels. Results CCK-8 and colony-forming assay showed that anlotinib could significantly inhibit cell proliferative activity. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay showed that anlotinib could inhibit cell migration and scratch. These results showed that anlotinib has obvious antitumor activity. Flow cell cycle experiment showed that anlotinib could promote Fadu cell apoptosis and block the G2/M phase for inhibiting cell proliferation. In addition, anlotinib decreased the expression of HIF-1α. Conclusions Anlotinib has an excellent suppressing effect on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hypopharyngeal cancer Fadu cells in-vitro. Moreover, it can play an anti-tumor role through blocking cell cycle G2/M and promoting apoptosis, which may be related to the decrease of HIF-1a expression. Our study would provide a potential treatment method for patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. Level of evidence: Level 3.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people in El Salvador: Associations with peer and family relationships, artistic activities and health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the correlates of mental health, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in lower income countries. Using data from almost the entire population of graduating high school students in El Salvador, we examine the associations between depression and anxiety symptoms and potentially protective factors including peer and family relationships, health behaviours and artistic leisure activities. METHODS: Data comes from the AVANZO survey conducted in El Salvador with 42,314 graduating high school students aged 15-21 in November 2020. Participants completed the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale and Socioemotional Skills Scale. Using a structural equation modelling framework, we tested the associations between these variables and whether these associations varied by sex. RESULTS: Participants who experienced more positive family relationships reported fewer symptoms of depression (ß = -0.304, p < .001) and anxiety (ß = -0.103, p < .001). Similar results were found between health behaviours and symptoms of depression (ß = -0.398, p < .001), and anxiety (ß = -0.312, p < .001). Peer relationships were non-significantly associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Associations were similar for boys and girls. LIMITATIONS: Students undertook the mental health survey as part of an academic test, which might have increased mental stress. The Socioemotional Skills Scales is newly developed, and results are cross-sectional. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide insight into the experiences of an understudied population during the pandemic and identify positive family relationships and health behaviours as important correlates of mental health during this time.

Sex differences in the association between diabetes and depressive symptoms: findings from Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018-2019.

AIMS: We set out to investigate the potential sex differences in the association between diabetes and depressive symptoms by conducting an interaction analysis, and to investigate whether sex mediates the effect of diabetes on depressive symptoms. METHODS: We conducted analyses on cross-sectional data of adults aged 20 years or older in the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018-2019 (ENSANUT 2018-2019). Diabetes was defined by self-reported medical diagnosis, and depressive symptoms were measured using the seven-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. First, an unadjusted interaction analysis was conducted. Second, the inverse probability of treatment weighting was applied to account for imbalances and biases. Third, the four-way decomposition method was used to estimate the potential mediating effect of sex. RESULTS: In the study population (N=43 074), the prevalence of diabetes was 9.3% for men and 11.7% for women. Depressive symptoms were more prevalent in women (19.0%) than in men (9.5%). Women with diabetes had the greatest odds of having depressive symptoms, compared with men without diabetes (ORwomen-diabetes3.49 (95% CI: 3.16 to 3.86)). The interaction analysis indicated that diabetes and sex interact on both, multiplicative and additive scales (ratio of ORs (95% CI) 1.22 (1.02 to 1.45), and relative excess risk due to interaction (95% CI) 0.99 (0.63 to 1.36)). The four-way decomposition analysis showed that the interaction effect between diabetes and sex is larger than the mediation effect. CONCLUSIONS: We found a positive interaction between diabetes and sex in the odds of having depressive symptoms. Mental health and diabetes care services planning would benefit from adopting a sex-informed approach.

Artificial liver support system in pediatric acute liver failure due to mushroom poisoning: Case series.

Pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) due to mushroom poisoning is a rare and life-threatening disease. There is no specific treatment. Plasma exchange (PE) is often used as a bridge to the regeneration of the liver or transplantation. However, PE is limited due to an inadequate plasma supply and transfusion-related risks. The double plasma molecular adsorption system (DPMAS) can adsorb toxins, including bilirubin and inflammatory mediators. However, the DPMAS cannot improve coagulation disorders. Combining PE and the DPMAS could compensate for the shortcomings of the two techniques. A previous study showed that the combination might be more effective than using PE or the DPMAS alone in patients with mild acute-on-chronic liver failure. To the best of our knowledge, few studies combined PE and the DPMAS for the treatment of PALF due to mushroom poisoning. Here, we specifically describe our experience with PE and the DPMAS in PALF. In conclusion, our study shows that the DPMAS and PE are safe and effective in reducing the bilirubin level and improving blood coagulation in PALF due to mushroom poisoning as a bridge to transplantation or recovery.

Production optimization, purification, expression, and characterization of a novel α-L-arabinofuranosidase from Paenibacillus polymyxa

Background: α-L-Arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55) catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal α-L-1,2-, -1,3-, and -1,5- arabinofuranosyl residues in arabinose-containing polymers, and hence, it plays an important role in hemicellulose degradation. Herein, the bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa, which secretes arabinofuranosidase with high activity, was selected for enzyme production, purification, and characterization. Results: Medium components and cultural conditions were optimized by the response surface method using shake flask cultures. Arabinofuranosidase production reached 25.2 U/mL under optimized conditions, which were pH 7.5, 28°C, and a basic medium supplemented with 1.5 g/L mannitol and 3.5 g/L soymeal. Furthermore, the arabinofuranosidase secreted by P. polymyxa, named as PpAFase-1, was partially purified from the supernatant using a DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow column and a hydroxyapatite column. The approximate molecular mass of the purified PpAFase-1 was determined as 56.8 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Protein identification by mass spectrometry analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequence had significant similarity to the glycosyl hydrolase family 51. The deduced gene of 1515 bp was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells. Purified recombinant PpAFase-1 was active toward p-nitrophenyl-α-L-arabinofuranoside (pNPAraf). The Km and kcat values toward pNPAraf were 0.81 mM and 53.2 s−1 , respectively. When wheat arabinoxylan and oat spelt xylan were used as substrates, PpAFase-1 showed poor efficiency. However, a synergistic effect was observed when PpAFase-1 was combined with xylanase from Thermomyces lanuginosus. Conclusion: A novel GH51 enzyme PpAFase-1 was cloned from the genome of P. polymyxa and expressed in E. coli. This enzyme may be suitable for hemicellulose degradation on an industrial scale.

Changes in serum cardiac myosin light chain 1 levels in children with fulminant myocarditis during continuous blood purification.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in serum cardiac myosin light chain 1 (CMLC-1) levels in children with fulminant myocarditis (FM) during continuous blood purification (CBP), as well as to analyze its correlation with other laboratory indexes. METHOD: Twenty-four (24) children with FM who underwent CBP were enrolled. Before and during treatment (48 and 72 hours after treatment, or death), the optical density value of serum CMLC-1 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and then the serum CMLC-1 concentration was calculated. The correlations between CMLC-1 OD value change and laboratory indexes including creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), troponin, myohemoglobin and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were analyzed. RESULTS: The serum CMLC-1 concentration significantly increased in the children with FM and decreased obviously during CBP therapy. In the same period, the change of CMLC-1 concentration were positively correlated with creatine kinase-MB (r=0.528), troponin (r=0.726), myohemoglobin (r=0.702), and NT-proBNP levels (r=0.589). CONCLUSION: The serum CMLC-1 concentration increases significantly in children with FM, but CBP therapy can effectively control this increase.

Changes in serum cardiac myosin light chain 1 levels in children with fulminant myocarditis during continuous blood purification

Summary Objective: To investigate the changes in serum cardiac myosin light chain 1 (CMLC-1) levels in children with fulminant myocarditis (FM) during continuous blood purification (CBP), as well as to analyze its correlation with other laboratory indexes. Method: Twenty-four (24) children with FM who underwent CBP were enrolled. Before and during treatment (48 and 72 hours after treatment, or death), the optical density value of serum CMLC-1 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and then the serum CMLC-1 concentration was calculated. The correlations between CMLC-1 OD value change and laboratory indexes including creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), troponin, myohemoglobin and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were analyzed. Results: The serum CMLC-1 concentration significantly increased in the children with FM and decreased obviously during CBP therapy. In the same period, the change of CMLC-1 concentration were positively correlated with creatine kinase-MB (r=0.528), troponin (r=0.726), myohemoglobin (r=0.702), and NT-proBNP levels (r=0.589). Conclusion: The serum CMLC-1 concentration increases significantly in children with FM, but CBP therapy can effectively control this increase.