Verbascoside inhibits progression of glioblastoma cells by promoting Let-7g-5p and down-regulating HMGA2 via Wnt/beta-catenin signalling blockade.

Glioblastoma (GBM) continues to show a poor prognosis despite advances in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The discovery of reliable prognostic indicators may significantly improve treatment outcome of GBM. In this study, we aimed to explore the function of verbascoside (VB) in GBM and its effects on GBM cell biological processes via let-7g-5p and HMGA2. Differentially expressed GBM-related microRNAs (miRNAs) were initially screened. Different concentrations of VB were applied to U87 and U251 GBM cells, and 50 µmol/L of VB was selected for subsequent experiments. Cells were transfected with let-7g-5p inhibitor or mimic, and overexpression of HMGA2 or siRNA against HMGA2 was induced, followed by treatment with VB. The regulatory relationships between VB, let-7g-5p, HMGA2 and Wnt/ß-catenin signalling pathway were determined. The results showed that HMGA2 was a direct target gene of let-7g-5p. VB treatment or let-7g-5p overexpression inhibited HMGA2 expression and the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling pathway, which further inhibited cell viability, invasion, migration, tumour growth and promoted GBM cell apoptosis and autophagy. On the contrary, HMGA2 overexpression promoted cell viability, invasion, migration, tumour growth while inhibiting GBM cell apoptosis and autophagy. We demonstrated that VB inhibits cell viability and promotes cell autophagy in GBM cells by up-regulating let-7g-5p and down-regulating HMGA2 via Wnt/ß-catenin signalling blockade.

[Effect of thyroxine on the expression of HIF-1α after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in rat brain and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the effect of thyroxine (T4) on the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in rat brain after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and its mechanism. Methods: Seventy-two adult male SD rats were randomly divided into the following 4 groups: subarachnoid hemorrhage model group(SAH), subarachnoid hemorrhage model and T4 group (SAH with T4), subarachnoid hemorrhage model with normal saline group (SAH with vehicle), and sham-operation group, 18 rats in each group. The model of subarachnoid hemorrhage group was established by internal carotid artery puncture. CT plain scan was performed after the modeling immediately, T4 was administrated by intraabdominal injection of 3 µg/100 g every 24 hours for 3 days. SAH with T4 group was treated with thyroxine. SAH with vehicle group was treated with equal volume vehicle, all of them were killed 72 hours after modeling. The brain water content was determined to evaluate the brain edema, the apoptosis of cerebral cortex cells was detected by TUNEL method, and HIF-1α protein and p-Akt protein in cerebral cortex were detected by immunohistochemistry in six SD rats of each group. Results: After the modeling, the brain tissues of SAH group, SAH + T4 group and SAH +vehicle group were swollen obviously, and blood clots were observed in subarachnoid space. The neurobehavioral score,the brain water content, apoptosis index, HIF-1α protein and p-Akt protein in SAH group were significantly higher than those in sham-operation group(P＜0.05).The neurobehavioral score,HIF-1α protein and p-Akt protein in SAH with T4 group were significantly higher than those in SAH group, and the brain water content, apoptosis index were significantly lower than those in SAH group (P＜0.05). Conclusion: The expression of HIF-1α protein in the brain of rats after aneurysm subarachnoid hemorrhage can be upregulated by T4 replacement therapy, which may by activating the signal pathway of inositol triphosphate kinase / protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt). Finally, apoptosis index was decreased, the rat behavior was improved and the brain was protected.

Electrocorticography-guided surgical treatment of solitary supratentorial cavernous malformations with secondary epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of electrocorticographic (ECoG) monitoring and the application of different surgical approaches in the surgical treatment of solitary supretentorial cavernous malformations with secondary epilepsy. METHODS: This study enrolled a consecutive series of 36 patients with solitary supratentorial cavernous malformations and secondary epilepsy who underwent surgery with intraoperative ECoG monitoring in the Department of Neurosurgery between January 2004 and January 2008. The patients were composed of 15 males and 21 females, aged between 8 and 52 years (mean age 27.3±2.8 years) at the time of surgery. Epilepsy history, the type of epilepsy at the presentation, lesion location, the incidence of residual epileptiform discharges, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Histopathological examination indicated cavernous malformations and hippocampal sclerosis in 36 and 5 cases, respectively. Neuronal degeneration, glial cell proliferation, and neurofibrillary tangles were found in all the resected cerebral tissues of extended lesionectomy of residual epileptic foci. Lesionectomy, anterior temporal lobectomy, anterior temporal lobectomy plus cortical thermocoagulation, extended lesionectomy, extended lesionectomy plus cortical thermocoagulation were performed in 4, 4, 1, 14, and 13 cases, respectively. Residual epileptiform discharges were captured in 9 out of the 14 patients who had additional cortical thermocoagulation. According to Engle class for postoperative outcomes, 27 cases were class I (75.00%), 5 were class II (13.89%), 2 were class III (5.56%), and 2 were class IV (5.56%), thus the total effective rate (class I+class II) was 88.89%. Neither of epilepsy history, the type of epilepsy, and the location of cavernous malformation was significantly related to outcomes (P>0.05). A significant relationship was found between the incidence of residual epileptiform discharges and outcomes (P=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative ECoG monitoring, the application of different surgical approaches, and the resection of residual epileptic foci could produce good result in the surgical treatment of supratentorial cavernous malformation with secondary epilepsy. Postoperative residual epileptiform discharges could be a useful predictor for evaluating the outcomes.

[Clinical analysis of hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 infection in a child].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics of Streptococcus pneumonia-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (SP-HUS) in children. METHOD: Clinical and laboratory data of a pediatric case of SP-HUS were retrospectively analyzed and the key points of diagnosis and therapy were reviewed. RESULT: An 18-month old girl was admitted with chief complaint of fever and cough for 5 days combined with mild labored breath. Breath sound was found weakened in right lung with lower lobe dullness on percussion. Laboratory tests revealed: WBC 3.7×10(9)/L, Hb 83 g/L, PLT 11×10(9)/L, C-reactive protein (CRP) > 180 mg/L. Morphological study of the RBCs showed marked anisocytosis and schistocytosis. Urinalysis showed 42.66 RBCs per high-power field, occult blood (+++), proteinura (++++). Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from blood, pleural fluid and sputum. Serotyping with simplified chessboard system was 3. The direct Coombs test was positive. Serum complement levels (C3 and C4) were depressed at 0.699 g/L, 0.064 g/L, respectively. Chest X-ray showed pleural effusion and infection of the right hemothorax. The computerized tomographic scan of the chest revealed pneumatoceles in the right lower lobe. The diagnosis on admission we considered was SP-HUS. Intravenous antibiotic therapy (vancomycin + cefoperazone/sulbactam) was administered. The renal replacement theraphy was administered to maintain electrolyte and fluid balances and adequate nutrition. Transfusions of washed red blood cells were administered to correct the anemia. One month after admission the patient was good with recovery. Liver and renal function recovered and the pneumonia was resolving, anemia and platelets were corrected. The direct Coombs test turned to be negative. Serum complement levels (C3 and C4) were normal. After 3-month follow-up, no clinical anomalies were detected. CONCLUSION: SP-HUS should be suspected when the following occurs in the context of pneumococcal infections: microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure and a positive Coombs test result. Serotype 3 of SP was associated with HUS.

[Contents of serum albumin after surgical operation in children with acute intussusception].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of serum albumin contents after operation and investigate whether post-operational serum albumin contents are correlated with the disease severity in children with acute intussusception. METHODS: Serum albumin contents were measured using the automatic biochemistry analyzer in 32 children with mild acute intussusception and 21 children with severe acute intussusception 1 day after surgical operation. After 5 days combined treatment, serum albumin contents were re-examined. Thirty healthy children severed as the control group. The correlation between post-operational serum albumin contents and critical illness scores was evaluated. RESULTS: Serum albumin contents in the mild (34.2+/-6.5 g/L; P<0.05) and the severe intussusception groups (25.8+/-7.5 g/L; P<0.01) 1 day after operation were significantly lower than those in the control group (37.1+/-4.1 g/L). There were significant differences in serum albumin contents between the mild and the severe intussusception groups (P<0.05). Five days after operation, serum albumin contents in the mild intussusception group significantly increased (37.1+/-11.4 g/L; P<0.05), while serum albumin contents in the severe intussusception group did not differ from those 1 day after operation. There was a positive correlation between serum albumin contents on the 1st day after operation and the critical illness scores (r=0.879, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Serum albumin contents decreased on the 1st day after operation and were correlated with the disease severity in children with acute intussusception. Hypoalbuminemia lasted for a longer period in severe cases. The post-operational measurement of serum albumin contents may be useful in the evaluation of the severity for children with acute intussusception.

[Effects of different irrigation treatments on photosynthesis of Tieguanyin tea plants].

By using chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics technique, the effects of different irrigation intervals, i.e., 5 d (T1), 10 d (T2), 15 d (T3), 20 d (T4), and 25 d (T5), on the photosynthesis of 2-year Tieguanyin tea plants were investigated in the field, with no irrigation as the control. The results showed that the leaf water potential and chlorophyll content decreased with increasing irrigation interval, while the net photosynthesis (P) increased first and decreased then, reaching its highest value (15.55, micromol x m(-2) x s(-1)) in treatment T2. The ratio of the variable to maximal fluorescence (F(v)/F(m)), the variable fluorescence quenching (deltaF(v)), and the variable fluorescence quenching rate (deltaF(v)/F(o)) all got the highest in treatment T2, being 0.844, 342.5, and 4.03, respectively. The initial fluorescence (F(o)) decreased with increasing irrigation interval, while a reverse changing trend of F(o) was observed in the control, demonstrating that PS II reaction center was damaged by drought stress. In conclusion, irrigating per 10 d was favorable to the photosynthetic electron transport and CO2 assimilation of the tea plants, which would enhance their photosynthesis efficiency.

[Anatomical study and three dimensional image characteristic analysis of basicranial artery and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To observe and measure the inside diameter of basicranial arteries, the angulation of main arteries, the three dimensional image characteristic of internal carotid arteries and the anatomical variation of Willis circle. METHODS: The arteries of 30 formalin-fixed adult heads were injected with latex after which the caliber and characteristic of cerebral arteries were observed and measured. The three dimensional image characteristic of internal carotid arteries and its branches were measured using 3D-DSA. RESULTS: (1) Main artery caliber: origin of internal carotid artery (Left 5.12 +/- 1.48 mm; Right 5.11 +/- 1.42 mm); origin of middle cerebral artery (Left 2.93 +/- 1.44 mm; Right 2.92 +/- 1.46 mm); origin of anterior cerebral artery (Left 2.63 +/- 1.33 mm; Right 2.61 +/- 1.32 mm); origin of vertebral artery (Left 4.37 +/- 1.21 mm; Right 3.22 +/- 1.64 mm); origin of basilar artery (4.45 +/- 1.28 mm); origin of posterior cerebral artery (Left 2.62 +/- 1.36 mm; Right 2.61 +/- 1.22 mm). (2) The angulation of main arteries: C1, 2 of ICA and C4, 5 of ICA (Left 32 +/- 22 degrees; Right 36 +/- 28 degrees ); ICA and ACA (Left 43 +/- 26 degrees; Right 46 +/- 28 degrees). (3) The results show that anatomical and three dimensional image characteristic of internal carotid arteries have no difference (P > 0.05). (4) The anatomical variation of Willis circle: Type O (56.7%); Type A (16.7%); Type P (20.0%); Type AP (6.7%). CONCLUSIONS: It is helpful to measure the inside diameter of basicranial arteries for the selection of various catheter in interventional neuroradiology, to observe the angulation of main arteries and the three dimensional image characteristic of internal carotid arteries for the moulding of various catheter in endovascular therapy and to master the anatomical variation of Willis circle for decreasing complications of endovascular treatment and judging prognosis of cerebrovascular diseases.