Retraction Note: LncRNA BRE-AS1 acts as a tumor suppressor factor in bladder cancer via mediating STAT3.

The article "LncRNA BRE-AS1 acts as a tumor suppressor factor in bladder cancer via mediating STAT3", by L. Zhang, B. Liu, Q.-H. Deng, J.-X. Li, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (10): 5320-5328-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202005_21314-PMID: 32495865 has been retracted by the Editor in Chief for the following reasons: This paper has been questioned on PubPeer (https://pubpeer.com/publications/F4A75D571A58C9005B703B2B8C4A8E). In particular, concerns were raised about Figures 2D and 5A as the figures result to overlap with previously published papers. The paper has been identified with the "The Clear Skies Papermill Alarm". The Editorial Office has contacted the corresponding author of the article to provide a reply to the comments on PubPeer and the raw data. Still, the journal has yet to receive a reply. Therefore, considering the comments released on PubPeer and the lack of response from authors, the Editor in Chief no longer relies on the data presented and decided to withdraw the manuscript. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/21314.

LncRNA BRE-AS1 acts as a tumor suppressor factor in bladder cancer via mediating STAT3.

OBJECTIVE: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been verified to regulate several cancers, including bladder cancer (BC). Our study aimed to elucidate the expression, function, and mechanism of lncRNA BRE-AS1 in BC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Relative expression of lncRNA BRE-AS1 in 77 BC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was determined using quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Expression of lncRNA BRE-AS1 in T24 and EJ cells was up-regulated using lentivirus transfection. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and colony formation assay were used to assess the proliferation of T24 and EJ cells influenced by lncRNA BRE-AS1. Also, the influence of lncRNA BRE-AS1 on cell apoptosis and cell cycle was measured using flow cytometry. Western blot was employed to explore the downstream molecules for lncRNA BRE-AS1 in BC. In vivo, xenograft formation experiment was established in nude mice to study the function of lncRNA BRE-AS1 in BC. RESULTS: LncRNA BRE-AS1 showed significantly decreased expression in BC tissues than the paired normal tissues. In vitro experiments demonstrated that over-expression of lncRNA BRE-AS1 inhibited cell proliferation but promoted cell apoptosis of EJ and T24 cells. STAT3 was determined as a target for lncRNA BRE-AS1. In vivo, up-regulation of lncRNA BRE-AS1 reduced cancer growth in nude mice bearing BC via repressing the phosphorylation of STAT3. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA BRE-AS1 was down-regulated in BC tissues. Over-expression of lncRNA BRE-AS1 inhibited BC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo via repressing the phosphorylation of STAT3. This might provide a new sight for the understanding of BC progression and biotherapy.

Effect of patchouli alcohol on macrophage mediated Helicobacter pylori digestion based on intracellular urease inhibition.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infects almost half of the world population and is listed as a type I carcinoma factor since 1994. Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. (Labiatae) has been used to treat gastro-intestinal diseases for thousands of years in many east Asian countries, and the key ingredient, patchouli alcohol (PA), has been observed to exert anti-H. pylori and anti-urease activities. PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of PA on H. pylori urease and its subsequent influence on macrophage phagosome maturation and function. METHODS: In H. pylori experiment, the berthelot method and pH shock assay were adopted to evaluate the effect of PA on extracellular and intracellular H. pylori urease. And then, Q-PCR and Western blot were carried out to analyze the alterations in the expression of urease-related genes and proteins after PA treatment. In the H. pylori and macrophage cell (RAW264.7) co-culture experiment, the effects of PA on H. pylori-induced phagocytosis and intracellular killing of RAW264.7 were investigated using gentamycin protection assay, and the underlying mechanism was explored by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: PA at 25 and 50 µM inhibited intracellular H. pylori urease activity but not isolated urease by down-regulating the gene expression levels of ureB, ureE, ureI and nixA and reducing the protein expression level of UreB, thereby inhibiting the acid resistance of H. pylori. PA also recovered the function of macrophage bacterial digestion, and prior treatment with ammonium chloride inhibited the efficacy of PA. CONCLUSION: PA suppressed intracellular H. pylori urease function and maturation, which increased macrophage digestion ability.

Double contrast percutaneous transhepatic cholangiographic CT in patients with obstructive jaundice: an initial experience of seven cases.

PURPOSE: To explore the technical feasibility of double contrast percutaneous transhepatic cholangiographic CT (DC-PCT-CT) in patients with bile duct obstruction. METHODS: Seven patients with bile duct obstructive diseases were studied, including 5 males and 3 females, ranging in age from 24 yrs to 74 yrs (average: 47.7 yrs). There were 5 cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, 1 case of sclerosing cholangitis, and 1 case of malignant transformation of adenoma at the distal end of the common bile duct. PTC was carried out initially, involving injection of 30 ml 4.5-6.0 mgl iohexol. After the bile duct system was filled, CT scan was performed, and further followed by enhanced CT with intravenous injection of 300 mgl/ml contrast agent. Arterial phase, venous phase, and parenchymal phase acquisitions were obtained. Raw CT images were viewed and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP), and volume rendering (VR) image post-processing were performed. RESULTS: DC-PCT-CT was performed successfully and bile duct drainage was carried out. Mild lesion enhancement was demonstrated in three cases in arterial phase, while all seven cases demonstrated enhancement of various degrees in venous phase.The lesions lead to track-like, asymmetrical or irregular bile duct obstructive narrowing, and in one case intra-luminal filling defect. Reliable diagnosis was suggested in all cases. MPR, MIP and VR images were useful in demonstrating precise lesion location and for surgical planning. CONCLUSION: In patients with bile duct obstruction, DC-PTC-CT is a feasible technique offering both important diagnostic value and drainage application.