[Effect of tiaoren tongdu acupuncture method on fractional anisotropy of diffusion densor imaging and upper extremity motor function after cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of tiaoren tongdu acupuncture method (for regulating the function of the Conception Vessel and promoting the circulation of the Governor Vessel) on fractional anisotropy (FA) and upper-extremity motor function after cerebral infarction by diffusion densor imaging (DTI) technology. METHODS: The patients with cerebral infarction were divided into an acupuncture group and a control group according to the random number table method, 27 cases in each group. In the control group, the basic treatment with conventional medication was used. In the acupuncture group, on the basic treatment as the control group, the tiaoren tongdu acupuncture method was provided. Main acupoints included Baihui (GV20), Shuigou(GV26), Chengjiang(CV24), Guanyuan(CV4), Qihai (CV6), Zhongwan (CV12), Shenting(GV24) and Mingmen(GV4). Supplementary points included Jianyu(LI15), Chize(LU5), Houxi (SI3), Weizhong (BL40), Zusanli (ST36) and Taichong (LR3) on the affected side. The needles were retained for 30 min. Acupuncture was given once a day, at the interval of 1 days every week, consecutively for 4 weeks. The upper extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment (UE-FMA) was used to evaluate the motor function of upper extremity before and after treatment. DTI was adopted to observe the FA values of infarct focus, posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC) and cerebral peduncle on the affected side, as well as FA values at the corresponding parts on the healthy side in the patients of two groups. The relative differences (rFA) were calculated. RESULTS: Compared with their own pretreatment, the UE-FMA value was significantly higher after treatment in either of two groups separately (P<0.05 in the control group, P<0.01 in the acupuncture group). The difference of UE-FMA before and after treatment in the acupuncture group was larger than that in the control group (P<0.05). The FA and rFA values in infarct focus were higher than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05). The FA and rFA differences before and after treatment in the infarct focus and PLIC on the affected side were higher in the acupuncture group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The UE-FMA difference was positively correlated with the rFA difference of each part in either group (P<0.05), and the correlation was the strongest in PLIC on the affected side in either group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Tiaoren tongdu acupuncture significantly improves the upper limb movement function after cerebral infarction. The rFA value of PLIC combined with UE-FMA can be used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on the upper extremity movement after cerebral infarction.

LINC00501 Inhibits the Growth and Metastasis of Lung Cancer by Mediating miR-129-5p/HMGB1.

BACKGROUND: The function of LINC00501, a long-non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is unclear at present. According to the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), LINC00501 is highly expressed in lung cancer (LC), but whether it can be adopted as a potential therapy target for LC still needs further research. METHODS: The expression of LINC00501 in LC was analyzed based on the TCGA, and a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR assay was carried out to quantify LINC00501 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Additionally, bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter gene technique, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) were employed to analyze the direct interaction between LINC00501 and miR-129-5p, and CCK-8 and Transwell assays and flow cytometry were employed to analyze the effects of LINC00501 on cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. Furthermore, a Western blot assay was carried out to determine the protein level of HMGB1. RESULTS: LINC00501 was highly expressed in LC according to the database, and it was found that LINC00501 was upregulated in NSCLC specimens and cells, and the up-regulation indicated an unfavorable prognosis. Besides, knockdown of LINC00501 hindered the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells and intensified their apoptosis, and LINC00501 could be adopted as competitive endogenous RNA to regulate HMGB1 and tumorigenesis through miR-129-5p. CONCLUSION: LINC00501 is overexpressed in LC and the overexpression indicates poor prognosis of patients. In addition, LINC00501 can inhibit the invasion and migration of LC by mediating miR-129-5p/HMGB1.

LFC131 peptide-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles for the effective delivery of docetaxel in CXCR4 overexpressed lung cancer cells.

CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor which is over expressed in multiple cancers including lung cancers. LFC131 peptide (d-Tyr-Arg-Arg-2-Nal-Gly), an inhibitor of CXCR4-ligand binding, is a low molecular weight CXCR4 antagonist. In this study, we developed novel LFC131 peptide surface conjugated O-carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles (O-CMC NP) to target CXCR4 over expressed A549 lung cancer cells. CXCR4-targeted drug delivery system was characterized for its binding, uptake, targeting specificity, and in vitro antitumour effect. Our main goal was to increase the intracellular concentration of docetaxel (DTX) in the cancer cells via a targeted approach. We have reported a nanosized particle with spherical shape and showed a high loading capacity. The CMC NP showed a controlled release pattern and presence of LFC131 did not influence the release of DTX. The fluorescence analysis showed an enhanced cell uptake for targeted NP via CXCR4-LFC131 biological interactions. The receptor-mediated cellular internalization was further confirmed confocal microscopy. The cytotoxicity assays showed enhanced cancer cell death by targeted NPs due to the selective delivery of DTX. Consistent with the cellular uptake analysis, targeted NPs induced a greater caspase-3 activity in A549 cancer cells. LFC/CMC NP exhibited a remarkable cell apoptosis by inducing apoptotic and necrotic cell death. Together, targeted LFC/CMC NP significantly enhanced cancer cell death than compared to non-targeted and free drugs. This kind of targeted nanoplatform which is based on polymeric nanocarriers could further facilitate a treatment protocol for CXCR4 overexpressing A549 lung cancer cells.

[Goserelin plus anastrozole in the treatment of premenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of goserelin plus anastrozole in advanced premenopausal breast cancer patients. METHODS: We summarized a single-centre experience with goserelin plus anastrozole in 32 premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). All patients received goserelin 3.6 mg by subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks concurrently with anastrozole 1 mg daily. The median duration of treatment was 12 months. RESULTS: No patient achieved complete remission (CR) (0%), 6 partial remissions (PR) (18.8%), 21 stable diseases (SD) (65.6%) and 5 progressive diseases (PD) (15.6%). Objective response rate (ORR) was achieved in 18.8% and clinical benefit (CR + PR + SD > 6 months) in 68.8%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12 (2 - 57) months. One-year overall survival rate (OS) was 87.4% and two-year OS 66.9%. The OS of patients without visceral metastasis was significantly longer than that of patients with visceral metastasis (P = 0.04). Hot flushes and nausea were predominant toxicities. CONCLUSION: The combination of goserelin and anastrozole appears to be an efficient and well-tolerated regimen in premenopausal MBC women.

[Message RNA expression of LUNX, CK19 and CEA genes in NSCLC with micrometastasis in lymph nodes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of mRNA expression level of three cancer-associated genes-LUNX mRNA, CK19 mRNA and CEA mRNA with metastasis in lymph nodes and histopathological staging in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Fifty-six tumor tissue samples and 103 regional lymph node samples were obtained from 56 patients with NSCLC, and another 35 lymph node samples as control from 15 patients with benign pulmonary diseases. The mRNA expression of LUNX, CK19 and CEA genes was detected in these samples by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), meanwhile, all lymph nodes were also examined by conventional pathological method. RESULTS: mRNA expression of LUNX, CK19 and CEA genes in the regional lymph nodes of NSCLC was significantly higher than that in those of benign lung diseases (P < 0.05). Compared with conventional pathological method, RT-PCT was more sensitive (P < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between positive mRNA expression of LUNX mRNA and CK19 mRNA in the lymph nodes and histopathologic type of lung cancer (P > 0.05). But positive expression rate of CEA mRNA in the lymph nodes from adenocarcinoma patients was significantly higher than that in these from squamous cell carcinoma and other types of NSCLC (P < 0.05). The expression level of LUNX mRNA in the lymph nodes was positively correlated with TNM stages. CONCLUSION: LUNX mRNA and CK19 mRNA may serve as a molecular marker for detection of lymph node micrometastasis in patient with non-small cell lung cancer, but LUNX mRNA is superior to CK19 mRNA in both sensitivity and specificity.