Imipramine Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits the Metastatic Potential of Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and deadly subtype of breast cancer, and there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. The highly metastatic and anti-apoptotic characteristics are known to be the major factors causing uncontrolled growth in TNBC. Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant that possesses anti-inflammatory activity and has been reported to inhibit the progression of highly metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used MTT assay, apoptosis markers flow cytometry analysis, open-source data analysis, NF-B reporter gene assay, and western blotting to elucidate the effect of imipramine on MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells. RESULTS: Imipramine induced caspase-mediated extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis and was potentially associated with patient overall survival. Furthermore, imipramine suppressed the invasion and migration abilities and the expression of metastasis-associated proteins in TNBC cells. CONCLUSION: Imipramine effectively suppressed TNBC progression by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting metastasis.

The safety and feasibility of laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy vs. open approach: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy (LRPS) is one of the most technically challenging and potentially hazardous procedures in laparoscopic liver resection. Although some available literature works demonstrated the safety and feasibility of LRPS, these data are limited to reports from a single institution and a small sample size without support from evidence-based medicine. So, we performed a meta-analysis to assess further the safety and feasibility of LRPS by comparing it with open right posterior sectionectomy (ORPS). Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for eligible studies comparing LRPS and open approaches. Random and fixed-effects models were used to calculate outcome measures. Results: Four studies involving a total of 541 patients were identified for inclusion: 250 in the LRPS group and 291 in the ORPS group. The postoperative complication and margin were not statistically different between the two groups (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.18 to 1.35, P = 0.17) (MD: 0.05, 95% CI: -0.47 to 0.57, P = 0.86), respectively. LRPS had a significantly longer operative time and shorter hospital stay (MD: 140.32, 95% CI: 16.73 to 263.91, P = 0.03) (MD: -1.64, 95% CI: -2.56 to -0.72, P = 0.0005) respectively. Conclusion: Data from currently available literature suggest that LRPS performed by an experienced surgeon is a safe and feasible procedure in selected patients and is associated with a reduction in the hospital stay.

Comparison of Plantar Pressure Distribution between Different Speed and Incline During Treadmill Jogging.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of changes in speed and incline slope on plantar pressure distribution of the foot during treadmill jogging. Plantar pressure parameters were measured with the Pedar-X system in twenty healthy girls (mean age of 20.7 years, mean height of 1.60m, and a mean weight of 53.35kg). Because variations in walking speed or slope can significantly change the magnitude of plantar pressure, comparisons of plantar pressure distribution between the two independent protocols during treadmill jogging were considered in this study. First, the subjects ran at the same speed of 2 m·s(-1) with different incline slopes of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. Second, they ran on the same slope of 0% with different speeds of 1.5 m·s(-1), 2.0 m·s(-1), and 2.5 m·s(-1). The peak pressure of the eight plantar surface areas, apart from the medial forefoot and the hallux, significantly increased (p < 0.05) with an increase of 33% of peak pressure from 1.5 m·s(-1) to 2.5 m·s(-1) (speed) at heel region. In contrast, the peak pressures at the heel, medial fore-foot, toe and hallux decreased significantly (p < 0. 05) with increasing incline slope. At the heel, peak pressure reduced by 27% from 0% to 15% incline, however, pressure at the lateral midfoot region increased as following. Different speeds and incline slopes during jogging were associated with changes in plantar pressures. By systematic investigation of foot kinematics and plantar pressure during jogging with varying incline slope and speed, the results of this study provided further insight into foot biomechanics during jogging. Key pointsThe study aimed to compare the plantar pressure distribution of the foot between different incline and speed during treadmill jogging by using plantar insole measurement system.With the increase of speed, apart from the hallux and medical forefoot, the peak pressure of all regions was raised significantly.As the slope increased, there was reduced peak pressure of the heel, medial forefoot, and hallux and toes.