Factors that contribute to trait mindfulness level among hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder.

Mindfulness training among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) reduces symptoms, prevents relapse, improves prognosis, and is more efficient for those with a high level of trait mindfulness. Upon hospital admission, 126 MDD patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief, Five-Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and the Rumination Response Scale (RRS). The 65 patients that scored less than the median of all subjects on the FFMQ were placed into the low mindfulness level (LML) group. The other 61 patients were placed in the high mindfulness level (HML) group. All facet scores were statistically different between the mental health assessment scores of the HML and LML groups except for RRS brooding and FFMQ nonjudgement. Trait mindfulness level exhibited a negative and bidirectional association with MDD severity primarily through the facets of description and aware actions. Trait mindfulness was also related positively with age primarily through the facets of nonreactivity and nonjudgement. Being married is positively associated with trait mindfulness levels primarily through the facet of observation and by an associated increase in perceived quality of life. Mindfulness training prior to MDD diagnosis also associates positively with trait mindfulness level. Hospitalized MDD patients should have their trait mindfulness levels characterized to predict treatment efficiency, help establish a prognosis, and identify mindfulness-related therapeutic targets.

Anatomical study of the left colic artery in laparoscopic-assisted colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: It is important for lymph node dissection around the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) with preservation of the left colic artery (LCA) to be aware of the track and the length of the LCA. We aimed to investigate the branching pattern and trajectory of LCA and measure the distances from the root of the IMA to the origin of the LCA (D mm) and from the origin of LCA to intersection of LCA and IMV (d mm) during laparoscopic left-sided colorectal operations. METHODS: We analyzed 106 patients who underwent laparoscope-assisted left-side colorectal surgery during laparoscopic surgery. The branching patterns among the IMA, LCA, and sigmoidal trunk were evaluated; the trajectory of LCA was examined; the D mm and d mm were measured using a length of silk in the surgical operation. RESULTS: In 59.5% patients, the LCA arose independently from the sigmoidal trunk (type A); in 8.5% patients, the LCA and sigmoidal trunk arose from the IMA at the same point (type B); in 29.2% patients, the LCA and sigmoidal trunk had a common trunk (type C); the LCA did not exist in 2.8% (type D).The D mm and d mm for all cases ranged from 15.0 to 65.3 mm (median, 43.1 mm) and from 20.3 to 46.2 mm (median, 34.8 mm), respectively. 74.8% of the LCA went straight upper left and upward to proximal part of descending colon (type I), 25.2% went to the lower left at first, then turned to travel straight upward to proximal part of descending colon (type II). CONCLUSION: This study showed the anatomic variations of LCA during laparoscopic left-sided colorectal operation, which would help surgeons safely perform laparoscopic surgery in the left-side colon and rectum.

Nanocarriers of Fe3O4 as a Novel Method for Delivery of the Antineoplastic Agent Doxorubicin Into HeLa Cells in vitro.

Here we report the synthesis and in vitro characterization of a redox-sensitive, magnetically inducible nanoparticle carrier system based on the doxorubicin (DOX) drug delivery model. Each quantal nanocarrier unit consists of a magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticle core that is further encapsulated in self-assembled micelles of the redox-responsive polyethylene glycol derivative, DSPE-SS-mPEG. The nanocarrier system was prepared using a combination of ultrasonication and dialysis to produce the microenvironment sensitive delivery system. The final synthesized and DOX-loaded magnetic nanocarriers had an average size of ~150 nm when assembled with a 6.9% DOX payload. The release rate of DOX from these redox-responsive magnetic nanocarriers was shown to be accelerated in vitro when in the presence of glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, we demonstrated that more redox-responsive magnetic nanocarriers could be taken up by HeLa cells when a local magnetic field was applied. Once internalized within a cell, the micelles of the outer nanocarrier complex were broken down in the presence of higher concentrations of GSH, which accelerated the release of DOX. This produces a particle with dual operating characteristics that can be controlled via a specific cellular environment coupled with an exogenously applied signal in the form of a magnetic field triggering release.

Security and Radical Assessment in Open, Laparoscopic, Robotic Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Comparative Study.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of open, laparoscopic, robotic colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: Three hundred patients with colorectal cancer who underwent curative resection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between February 2014 and May 2016 were included. Patients were classified into open surgery group, laparoscopic surgery group, and robot-assisted group. RESULTS: The blood loss in laparoscopic surgery group was less than that in open surgery group, and the blood loss in robot-assisted group less was than the open surgery group. The number of lymph node dissection in robot-assisted group was significantly larger than that in the open group ( P < .05). The distance between the lower edge of the tumor group and the distal margin in robotic group was longer than that of the laparoscopic surgery group and the open group ( P < .05). Three (2.8%) cases of urinary retention occurred in the open surgery group, 4 (3.92%) cases in the laparoscopic surgery group, and 1 (1.1%) case in the robot-assisted group, while 2 (1.87%) cases of sexual dysfunction occurred in the open surgery group, 2 (1.96%) cases in the laparoscopic surgery group, and 1 (1.1%) case in the robot-assisted group. The urinary retention and sexual dysfunction rate did not differ between the 3 groups ( P > .05), but the minimally invasive group showed a certain advantage over the open group. CONCLUSION: Compared to the traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgery (especially in robot-assisted group) has advantages such as less intraoperative bleeding, rapid postoperative recovery, and radical cure; open group, laparoscopic surgery group, and robot-assisted group have a similar incidence of postoperative complications, but reduction in the incidence of anastomotic leakage and intestinal obstruction. Robot-assisted group has the potential advantage for pelvic autonomic nerve protection.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00959 predicts colorectal cancer patient prognosis and inhibits tumor progression.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly implicated in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. This study focused on the relationship between the lncRNA LINC00959 and colorectal cancer (CRC). We found that LINC00959 expression was lower in CRC tissues than normal colorectal mucosae. High LINC00959 expression was negatively associated with TNM stage, distant metastasis, and lymphatic metastasis, and correlated with a better prognosis in 87 CRC cases. In vitro, LINC00959 knockdown enhanced colon cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration; upregulated N-cadherin and vimentin; and downregulated E-cadherin and Caspase-3. LINC00959 overexpression produced the opposite effects. These data suggest that LINC00959 inhibits tumor cell invasion and migration by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes apoptosis through Caspase-3. LINC00959 may be a tumor suppressor and useful prognostic biomarker in CRC.

MiR-590-3p promotes proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer via Hippo pathway.

Studies reported that miR-590-3p was involved in human cancer progression. However, its roles of oncogene or anti-oncogene in malignancies still remain elusive. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of miR-590-3p on the cell proliferation and metastasis via Hippo pathway in colorectal cancer (CRC). In our study, miR-590-3p was demonstrated highly expressed in CRC tissues, compared with adjacent normal tissues (P<0.05). In addition, miR-590-3p was positively associated with TNM stage and distant metastasis. Survival analysis showed that high miR-590-3p was related with poor overall survival rate. Then, over-expressed miR-590-3p was demonstrated to promote proliferation, invasion and migration of colon caner cells. What's more, MST1, LATS1 and SAV1 mRNA were showed lowly expressed and YAP1 expression in mRNA and protein levels were highly expressed in CRC tissues, compared with adjacent normal tissues (all P<0.05). miR-590-3p expression was negatively associated with LATS1 and SAV1 mRNA respectively and positively related with YAP1 mRNA in CRC tissues, meanwhile, there was no relationship between miR-590-3p and MST1 mRNA. Furthermore, over-expressing miR-590-3p inhibited expressions of LATS1 and SAV1, promoted YAP1 expression and didn't effect MST1 expression in colon cancer cells. And luciferase assay showed that miR-590-3p over-expression inhibited the luciferase activity of LATS1 and SAV1 3'UTR, meanwhile it had no effect on the mutated form of these two plasmids. Taken together, these data suggest that highly-expressed miR-590-3p promotes biological effect of proliferation and metastasis via targeting Hippo pathway, and predicts worse clinical outcomes of CRC patients.

Prognostic value of lymph node metastasis in patients with T1-stage colorectal cancer from multiple centers in China.

AIM: To explore the features and prognostic value of lymph node metastasis in patients with T1-stage colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: In all, 321 cases of T1-stage CRC were selected from 10132 patients with CRC who received surgical therapy in six large-scale hospitals in China and were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the risk factors for lymphatic metastasis. A survival analysis was then performed to analyze the prognostic value of lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: The occurrence rate of T1 stage was 3.17% (321/10132); of these patients, the lymph node metastasis rate was 8.41% (27/321), and the non-lymph node metastasis rate was 91.59% (294/321). Univariate analysis showed that preoperative serum CEA, preoperative serum CA199, preoperative serum CA724, vascular invasion, and degree of differentiation were associated with lymph node metastasis in T1-stage CRC (P < 0.05 for all). Multivariate analysis indicated that preoperative serum CA724, vascular invasion, and degree of differentiation were closely related to lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05 for all). Log-rank survival analysis showed that age, preoperative serum CEA, preoperative serum CA199, vascular invasion, degree of differentiation, and lymph node metastasis (χ2 = 24.180, P < 0.001) were predictors of 5-year overall survival (OS) (P < 0.05 for all). COX regression analysis demonstrated that preoperative serum CA199 and lymph node metastasis (HR = 5.117; P < 0.05; 95%CI: 0.058-0.815) were independent prognostic indicators of 5-year OS in patients with T1-stage CRC (P < 0.05 for both). CONCLUSION: The morbidity of T1-stage CRC was 3.17% for all CRC cases. Preoperative serum CA724, vascular invasion, and degree of differentiation are independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis. Lymph node metastasis is an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with T1-stage CRC.

Effects of mine wastewater irrigation on activities of soil enzymes and physiological properties, heavy metal uptake and grain yield in winter wheat.

In China, coal-mining industries are mainly located in the water shortage areas including arid or semiarid areas. Mine wastewater is used for irrigation of agricultural land in these areas. However, few studies have been conducted to address ecological and food safety risks caused by mine wastewater irrigation. In this research, a pot experiment was performed to examine the effects of mine wastewater irrigation on soil enzymes, physiological properties of wheat and potential risks of heavy metal contamination to wheat crop. Plants were subjected to three mine wastewater irrigation treatments: leacheate of coal gangue (T1), coal-washing wastewater (T2) and precipitated coal-washing wastewater (T3). Plants irrigated with well water were taken as the control (CK). The results showed that mine wastewater irrigation caused adverse effects on soil enzymes, physiological properties and grain yield of winter wheat. At anthesis, T1, T2 and T3 treatments significantly reduced the activities of soil enzymes (urease, sucrase and catalase), root activity and net photosynthetic rate of wheat compared to CK. At maturity, grain yield was decreased by 17.8%, 15.4% and 9.8% by T1, T2 and T3, respectively, as compared to that of CK. Importantly, mine wastewater irrigation resulted in accumulation of heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cu and Zn) in wheat grain. Contents of these heavy metals in grains of winter wheat subjected to mine wastewater irrigation were significantly higher than those in CK. The comprehensive contamination indexes of wheat grain in T1, T2 and T3 all reached high pollution level. Our results showed that mine wastewater irrigation significantly increased the pollution risk of heavy metals, thus unsuitable for crop irrigation.

Modification of chemokine receptor expression to enhance levels of trafficking receptors on autologous cytokine-induced killer cells derived from patients with colorectal cancer.

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells have achieved therapeutic benefit in treatment of solid tumors in clinic. However, some patients show no response after CIK treatment. Animal assays have shown that successful infiltration of CIK cells to the tumor sites could affect the outcome. Chemokines play important roles in lymphocyte trafficking. Understanding the molecular mechanism of chemokines in the process of CIK cell homing is important for further modification of CIK therapy. In this study, we investigated the spectrum of chemokine ligands in the colorectal cancer sites and observed that chemokine ligands CCL20 and CXCL10 were overexpressed in the CRC tumor tissues compared with adjacent tissues. Although the corresponding receptors CCR6 and CXCR3 increased on CIK cells compared with PBMCs, their expression on CIK cells derived from CRC patients had lower levels than healthy donors, which might be a limited factor for autologous-CIK cells trafficking to tumor site. Importantly, stimulation with chemokines CCL20 and CXCL10 promotes the expression levels of CCR6 and CXCR3 on CIK cells, thus augmenting the relative migration of CIK cells in vitro. Our results suggest that modification of surface chemokine receptors may enhance the homing ability of CIK cells for better therapeutic achievements.

Bis(2-amino-benzothia-zol-3-ium) bis-(7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxyl-ato-κ(3)O(2),O(3),O(7))nickelate(II) hexa-hydrate.

In the title compound, (C(7)H(7)N(2)S)(2)[Ni(C(8)H(8)O(5))(2)]·6H(2)O, the Ni(II) cation is located on an inversion center and is O,O',O''-chelated by two symmetry-related 7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxyl-ate anions in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. The 2-amino-benzothia-zol-3-ium cation links with the Ni complex anion via N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding. Extensive O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the lattice water mol-ecules also occur in the crystal structure.

Long-term EGF treatment partially prevents reduction of renal blood flow in response to neonatally induced partial unilateral ureteral obstruction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the effects of long-term epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment on kidney growth, renal blood flow (RBF), AQP2 expression and urine output in newborn rats with partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (PUUO). METHODS: PUUO (n = 29) and sham-operated control (CON) (n = 26) was created in 2-day-old rats. Fifteen PUUO and 14 CON rats were treated with EGF beginning from the second day after operation to 8 weeks of age. Total kidney volume (TKV) and RBF were measured by MRI at weeks 4 and 8, respectively. Urine volume and osmolality, plasma osmolality, and free water clearance were measured. Renal AQP2 expression was determined using semiquantitative immuno-blotting. RESULTS: PUUO induced a severe hydronephrosis and RBF reduction in the obstructed kidney which was attenuated in EGF-treated rats. Body weight, urine output and free water clearance increased, osmolality and the osmolar clearance decreased significantly in EGF-treated rats, despite unchanged AQP2 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term EGF treatment attenuated the obstruction- induced RBF reduction. Body weight, urine output increased, and urine osmolality decreased in both control and PUUO rats treated with EGF. Solute-free water clearance increased in PUUO rats which seem to be independent of AQP2 expression.

[Heme oxygenase-1 gene transfer protects rat kidney transplant from ischemia/reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene transfer on rat renal autograft against ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: HO-1 recombinant adenovirus vectors were constructed and transduced into rat renal autograft by renal arterial perfusion. The renal autografts were transplanted orthotopically after store at 4 degrees C for 24 h, followed by contralateral native nephrectomy 5 d after transplantation. There were 25 rats in the control group. 5 h and 3 d after transplantation, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of HO-1 gene; enzyme-labeled immunosorbent (ELISA) was used to measure HO-1 protein content in the homogenate of renal autograft. RESULTS: The intensity of HO-1mRNA expression at 3 h and 3 d after transplantation were 0.65 +/- 0.11, 0.86 +/- 0.17 in the experimental group and 0.09 +/- 0.01, 0.15 +/- 0.02 in the control group respectively. The differences between the two groups were significant (t = 14.38, 11.73, P < 0.05). HO-1 protein content at 3 h and 3 d after transplantation were significantly increased in the experimental group, as compared with the control group [(297 +/- 61) ng/g and (468 +/- 51) ng/g versus (98 +/- 30) ng/g and (155 +/- 31) ng/g; t = 8.27, 14.83, P < 0.05]. HO-1 transduced autografts had less renal ischemic injury and lower serum creatinine level compared with control animals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Adenoviral vector can successfully transduce rat kidneys with the HO-1cDNA, which can protect rat renal autografts from ischemia/reperfusion injury.