Downregulation of hsa_circ_0000285 serves as a prognostic biomarker for bladder cancer and is involved in cisplatin resistance.

Bladder cancer remains a very challenging disease to treat with the high rates of recurrence and progression associated with current therapies. Although the association between bladder cancer pathology and circRNAs remains undetermined, circRNAs signatures may be useful as prognostic and predictive factors and clinical tools for assessing disease state, treatment response and outcome. This study investigates if these circRNAs can be used as biomarkers for bladder cancer diagnosis and predicting treatment response. Herein, qPCR measured the expression of hsa_circRNA_100783, hsa_circ_0000285 and hsa_circRNA_100782 in bladder cancer tissues. It was established that sa_circ_0000285, but not hsa_circRNA_100782 and hsa_circRNA_10078, are significantly reduced in bladder cancer tissues and serum compared to adjacent tissues and healthy controls. Moreover, hsa_circ_0000285 expression was lower in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer patients than in those who were cisplatin-sensitive. Here, hsa_circ_0000285 was associated with tumor size (p<0.001), differentiation (p<0.001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.038), distant metastasis (p=0.004) and TNM stage (p=0.013). Further analysis showed that hsa_circ_0000285 would be an independent prognostic factor for bladder cancer patient outcome. In conclusion, our study indicates hsa_circ_0000285 may be a novel biomarker for bladder cancer because of its involvement in bladder cancer chemo-sensitivity.

RETRACTED: Modulation of macrophage phenotype through controlled release of interleukin-4 from gelatine coatings on titanium surfaces.

Pro-inflammatory phenotype (M1) macrophages initiate angiogenesis, while their prolonged activation can induce chronic inflammation. Anti-inflammatory phenotype (M2) macrophages promote vessel maturation and tissue regeneration. Biomaterials which can promote M2 polarisation after appropriate inflammation should enhance angiogenesis and wound healing. Herein, Interleukin-4 (IL-4), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, was adsorbed onto a titanium surface. Then, a genipin cross-linked gelatine hydrogel was coated onto the surface to delay IL-4 release. The cross-linking degree of the hydrogel was modulated by the different amount of genipin to control release of IL-4. When 0.7 wt% (weight %) genipin was used as a cross-linker, the sample (GG07-I) released less IL-4 within the first several days, followed by a sustained release time to 14 d. Meanwhile, the release rate of IL-4 in GG07-I reached a peak between 3 d and 7 d. In culture with macrophages in vitro, GG07-I and GG07 exhibited good cytocompatibility. The phenotypical switch of macrophages stimulated by the samples was determined by FACS, ELISA and PCR. Macrophages cultured with GG07-I, GG07 and PT were firstly activated to the M1 phenotype by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Then, due to the release of IL-4 in 5 to 7 d, GG07-I enhanced CD206, increased the secretion and gene expression of M2 marker, such as interleukin-10 (IL-10), arginase-1 (ARG-1) and platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF- BB). GG07-I prompted the switch from M1 to M2 phenotype. Those appropriate secretion of cytokines would benefit both vascularisation and osseointegration. Thus, the biomaterial directing inflammatory reaction has good prospects for clinical treatments.

Effect of miRNA-203 on cervical cancer cells and its underlying mechanism.

miRNA-203 is involved in the development and progression of various types of cancer. However, its role in cervical cancer remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of miRNA-203 on the proliferation and migration of HeLa cervical cancer cells, as well as survivin expression in these cells. A miRNA-203 primer probe was designed according to a sequence obtained from NCBI. The expression of miRNA-203 in cervical epithelial cells and cervical cancer cells was detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The miRNA-203 expression pattern was compared between these two cell lines. The cervical cancer cells were transfected with miRNA-203 mimic or inhibitor to determine their effects on proliferation and migration. The expression of the miRNA-203 target protein (survivin) was analyzed by western blot. Cervical cancer cells showed reduced miRNA-203 expression compared to cervical epithelial cells. Transfection of miRNA-203 mimic upregulated the expression of miRNA-203, suppressed cell proliferation and migration, and downregulated survivin expression (P < 0.05). However, downregulation of miRNA-203 expression did not affect proliferation, migration, and survivin expression in cervical cancer cells (P > 0.05). In conclusion, upregulation of miRNA-203 in cervical cancer cells inhibits the proliferative and migratory capacities of these cells by downregulating the expression of survivin.

Peroxidized low-density lipoprotein with four kinds of hydroperoxidized cholesteryl linoleate estimated in plasma of young heavy smokers.

AIM: To clarify the mechanisms of vascular complications due to heavy smoking, it was studied whether hydroperoxidized low-density lipoprotein (HPO-LDL) was estimated in plasma of young heavy smokers. METHOD: Plasmas were separated from 15 young male students (HS-M) who smoked more than 30 cigarettes/day over 5 years, and from 10 nonsmoker students (NS-M) too. LDL was isolated by ultracentrifugation. HPO-cholesteryl linoleate (HPO-CL) was identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and lipid peroxide was measured by Determiner LPO (Kyowa Medics Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan). The molecular structure of lipid peroxide in LDL was identified using GMS analysis, HPLC chromatography and 1H-NMR analysis. RESULTS: (1) HPO-CL was clearly observed on the TLC in LDL lipids of HS-M but from NS-M it was barely found. (2) Lipid peroxide in LDL separated from HS-M consisted of HPO-CL and reduced HPO-CL. CONCLUSION: Peroxidized LDL was estimated in plasma with young heavy smokers. Because of injurious reactions in vessels of peroxidized LDL, it is considered that heavy smoking is one of the risk factors for vascular complications in heavy smokers.

Protective effects of soy protein on the peroxidizability of lipoproteins in cerebrovascular diseases.

To study the mechanism of dyslipoproteinemia, lipoproteins [very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL)] were isolated from stroke patients and healthy persons by ultracentrifugation. Lipoproteins were dialyzed into copper dichloride solution to study the effects of soycreme administration on lipoprotein peroxidation. Blood was drawn from 15 patients with cerebral thrombosis who were not administered soycreme, 10 patients with cerebral thrombosis who were administered soycreme and 11 healthy persons. The lipoproteins were dialyzed into 5 mol/l copper dichloride solution for various lengths of time, and then lipid constituents in the lipoproteins were measured by thin-layer chromatography. After the dialysis, percentages of cholesteryl ester and triglyceride in various lipoproteins decreased significantly (P < 0.05 or 0.01) in both patient groups and in healthy persons. Spot X1 was found between triglyceride and free fatty acid on the thin-layer chromatography, and spot X2 was located between free fatty acid and free cholesterol after dialysis. Spots X1 and X2 reflect lipoprotein peroxidation. Percentages of these spots were higher in VLDL, LDL and HDL in the patient groups than in the healthy subjects. Soycreme administration suppressed the appearance of spots X1 and X2. Furthermore, blood cholesterol concentrations were reduced by the administration of soy protein. Thus, soy may be useful in the prevention and/or treatment of atherosclerosis.

[Controlled observations on 65 infantile acute viral myocarditis treated with traditional and Western medicine].

A prospective study of 65 infantile acute viral myocarditis was done, they were divided into two groups, the first group mainly treated with Tong-Mai oral liquid, a TCM drug, the second group used general therapy with Mixture ATP as its main drug. The results showed that the effective rate of the 1st and 2nd group was 93.02% and 72.73% respectively; their symptoms and signs such as suffocation, fatigue, chest pain, improved in reducing the size of enlarged heart, the effective rate of EKG, particularly ST-T and various blocks, as well as in improving the function of left ventricular and abnormal systolic time interval (STI), the 1st group was better than that of 2nd one in all above-mentioned five aspects (P < 0.05-0.01). Therefore, it was assumed that therapy of activating the blood circulation to relieve stasis, the Tong-Mai oral liquid might be a good approach in treating infantile acute viral myocarditis.