miR-548e Sponged by ZFAS1 Regulates Metastasis and Cisplatin Resistance of OC by Targeting CXCR4 and let-7a/BCL-XL/S Signaling Axis.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a severe malignancy featuring a poor prognosis due to rapid metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. In this study, we extensively investigated the upstream and downstream mechanisms of miR-548e in regulating OC progression and cisplatin resistance. Our results indicated that ZFAS1 was highly expressed and promoted OC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cisplatin resistance by directly suppressing miR-548e expression. ZFAS1 co-localized with miR-548e in the cytosols of OC cells. miR-548e repressed CXCR4 expression, and elevated CXCR4 expression promoted OC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cisplatin resistance. Cisplatin resistance induced by ZFAS1 and CXCR4 overexpression in OC cells was mediated by their suppression on let-7a and elevation of BCL-XL/S expression. ZFAS1 knockdown and miR-548e and let-7a overexpression impaired cisplatin resistance and suppressed lung metastatic nodule formation in nude mice. In conclusion, ZFAS1 binds with miR-548e to enhance CXCR4 expression to promote OC cell proliferation and metastasis, which also enhances cisplatin resistance by suppressing let-7a and elevating BCL-XL/S protein expression.

Planarization of B20 clusters by Si and C atom substitution.

An optimization strategy combining a global semi-empirical quantum mechanical search and all-electron density functional theory was adopted to determine the lowest energy structures of B19Si and B19C clusters. The planarization of a B20 cluster by Si and C atom substitution was observed. The structural transition was from the double-ring tubular B20 to an almost perfect planar B19Si and a quasi-planar bowl B19C. B19Si possessed a geometry with a central B atom surrounded by a six-membered ring and a 13-atom outer ring. B19C adopted a geometry with a B5C six-membered hole. Both Si and C atoms occupied peripheral positions. The observed planarization may be attributed to sp2 hybridization, changes in the peripheral bonding, and structural mechanics. Some properties, including the HOMO-LUMO gaps, on-site charge on Si and C atoms, and deformed charge distribution, were discussed.

Evaluation of shoulder function in clavicular fracture patients after six surgical procedures based on a network meta-analysis.

Purpose Using a network meta-analysis approach, our study aims to develop a ranking of the six surgical procedures, that is, Plate, titanium elastic nail (TEN), tension band wire (TBW), hook plate (HP), reconstruction plate (RP) and Knowles pin, by comparing the post-surgery constant shoulder scores in patients with clavicular fracture (CF). Methods A comprehensive search of electronic scientific literature databases was performed to retrieve publications investigating surgical procedures in CF, with the stringent eligible criteria, and clinical experimental studies of high quality and relevance to our area of interest were selected for network meta-analysis. Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata 12.0. Results A total of 19 studies met our inclusion criteria were eventually enrolled into our network meta-analysis, representing 1164 patients who had undergone surgical procedures for CF (TEN group = 240; Plate group = 164; TBW group = 180; RP group = 168; HP group = 245; Knowles pin group = 167). The network meta-analysis results revealed that RP significantly improved constant shoulder score in patients with CF when compared with TEN, and the post-operative constant shoulder scores in patients with CF after Plate, TBW, HP, Knowles pin and TEN were similar with no statistically significant differences. The treatment relative ranking of predictive probabilities of constant shoulder scores in patients with CF after surgery revealed the surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRA) value is the highest in RP. Conclusion The current network meta-analysis suggests that RP may be the optimum surgical treatment among six inventions for patients with CF, and it can improve the shoulder score of patients with CF. Implications for Rehabilitation RP improves shoulder joint function after surgical procedure. RP achieves stability with minimal complications after surgery. RP may be the optimum surgical treatment for rehabilitation of patients with CF.

Comparison of the Clinical Effectiveness of PFNA, PFLCP, and DHS in Treatment of Unstable Intertrochanteric Femoral Fracture.

In this study, a randomized trial was conducted to compare the clinical effectiveness of proximal femoral locking compression plate (PFLCP), dynamic hip screw (DHS), and proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) for unstable intertrochanteric femoral fracture treatment. Ninety patients diagnosed with unstable intertrochanteric femoral fracture were enrolled in this study at the department of orthopedics at Linyi Second People's Hospital between May 2010 and May 2012. Fractures were classified according to Tronzo-Evans classification, and the patients were randomly divided into 3 groups, PFLCP, DHS, and PFNA, with 30 patients in each group. The length of incision, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative weight-bearing ambulation time, and duration of fracture union were significantly lower in patients who underwent PFNA and PFLCP compared to patients treated with DHS. Furthermore, when the same clinical parameters were used for comparison, the PFNA group showed markedly lower values compared with the PFLCP group. The total incidence of postoperative complications was significantly different among the PFNA, PFLCP, and DHS groups, with the PFNA group exhibiting markedly lower complication rates compared with PFLCP and DHS groups. However, PFLCP and DHS groups did not show significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications. Notably, the Harris hip score of PFNA group was markedly higher than the DHS group. In conclusion, our results provide convincing evidence that PFNA may be the most effective internal fixation treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fracture.

Analysis of the Structures and Properties of (GaSb)n (n = 4-9) Clusters through Density Functional Theory.

An optimization strategy combining global semiempirical quantum mechanical search with all-electron density functional theory was adopted to determine the lowest energy structure of (GaSb)n clusters up to n = 9. The growth pattern of the clusters differed from those of previously reported group III-V binary clusters. A cagelike configuration was found for cluster sizes n ≤ 7. The structure of (GaSb)6 deviated from that of other III-V clusters. Competition existed between core-shell and hollow cage structures of (GaSb)7. Novel noncagelike structures were energetically preferred over the cages for the (GaSb)8 and (GaSb)9 clusters. Electronic properties, such as vertical ionization potential, adiabatic electron affinities, HOMO-LUMO gaps, and average on-site charges on Ga or Sb atoms, as well as binding energies, were computed.

DFT study on endohedral and exohedral B38 fullerenes: M@B38 (M = Sc, Y, Ti) and M&B38 (M = Nb, Fe, Co, Ni).

The structures, stabilities and electronic properties of endohedral and exohedral B38 fullerenes with transition metal atoms (M = Sc, Y, Ti, Nb, Fe, Co, Ni) are studied using all-electron density functional theory. M@B38 (M = Sc, Y, Ti) possess endohedral structures as their lowest energy structures, while Nb, Fe, Co and Ni atoms favor the coordination of B38 fullerenes in an exohedral manner. Sizable HOMO-LUMO gaps and high binding energies imply the viability of M@B38 towards experimental realization. The distributions of electron density and frontier orbitals are analyzed in detail. The analysis of vertical ionization potential and vertical electron affinity indicates that M@B38 are good electron acceptors and bad electron donors.

[Primary study of arsenic trioxide inhibits abdomino-metastatic tumor formation of human ovarian carcinoma in nude mice and its mechanisms].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been successfully used to treat the patients with acute promyelocyutic leukemia in clinic, and for the experimental studies of liver cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, etc. The objective of this study was to explore the inhibitory effect of As2O3 on the abdomino-metastasis of human ovarian carcinoma in nude mice and its mechanisms. METHODS: Compared with cisplatin(cDDP), the growth inhibiting rates to human ovarian cancer cell line 3AO by treatment with various concentrations of As2O3 for 48 h were determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) method. After implanted with 3AO cells 4 x 10(6) into abdominal cavity for 96 h, the nude mice were randomly divided into 5 groups and treated by intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, cisplatin, or different concentrations of As2O3. The rate of tumor formation, death rate, and survival period of tumor-bearing nude mice were evaluated. After treatment with As2O3, the changes of Fas, FasL, and nm23 gene expressions were estimated by flow cytometry (FCM). RESULTS: Compared with cisplatin, 3AO cell growth inhibiting rates by As2O3 were different significantly in concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05); Compared with cisplatin, As2O3 could reduce the 3AO cell tumor formation rate in nude mice and the death rate of tumor-bearing nude mice, and prolong the survival period of tumor-bearing nude mice significantly (P < 0.05). As2O3 up-regulated Fas and nm23 gene expressions of abdominal cavity implanted tumors (P < 0.05), but did not affect FasL gene expression (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: As2O3 could inhibit the abdomino-plantation of human ovarian carcinoma in nude mice and its mechanism may be associated with Fas gene and nm23 gene over-expressions.