Clinical and pathological characteristics of multiple primary malignant neoplasms cases.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical and pathological features of multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMNs) cases. METHODS: The clinical data of 24 105 tumour patients admitted to Jiangsu Cancer Hospital in 2018 were retrospectively reviewed, and 270 patients with MPMNs were selected as the research subjects. Among them, 101 cases of synchronous carcinoma (SC) and 92 cases of metachronous carcinoma (MC) were divided into groups for statistical analysis. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 22.0 software. RESULTS: Among 24 105 cases, there was a male-to-female ratio of 1.45:1. Compared with MC cases, SC patients have a higher proportion of male cases. Primary neoplasms in gastric cancer, head and neck cancer, oesophageal cancer and colon cancer occupied most cases in male MPMNs, while primary breast cancer ranked first in female MPMNs. In addition, the leading secondary neoplasms were duodenal carcinoma, lung cancer and male MPMNs and lung cancer in female MPMNs. As for SC MPMNs, primary neoplasms were occupied by lung cancer, gastric cancer and oesophageal cancer, while the secondary neoplasms were mostly consisted of oesophageal cancer and lung cancer. Finally, the MC MPMNs were mostly consisted of breast cancer and gastric cancer as primary neoplasms, while lung cancer and oesophageal cancer as secondary neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for primary cancer should be strengthened over the age of 50 years for male patients with gastric cancer or female patients with breast cancer to reduce or monitor the occurrence of MPMNs.

Synergistic effects of high dietary calcium and exogenous parathyroid hormone in promoting osteoblastic bone formation in mice.

In the present study, we investigated whether high dietary Ca and exogenous parathyroid hormone 1-34 fragments (PTH 1-34) have synergistic effects on bone formation in adult mice, and explored the related mechanisms. Adult male mice were fed a normal diet, a high-Ca diet, a PTH-treated diet, or a high-Ca diet combined with subcutaneously injected PTH 1-34 (80 µg/kg per d) for 4 weeks. Bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume, osteoblast number, alkaline phosphatase (ALP)- and type I collagen-positive areas, and the expression levels of osteoblastic bone formation-related genes and proteins were increased significantly in mice fed the high-Ca diet, the PTH-treated diet, and, even more dramatically, the high-Ca diet combined with PTH. Osteoclast number and surface and the ratio of receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL):osteoprotegerin (OPG) were decreased in the high-Ca diet treatment group, increased in the PTH treatment group, but not in the combined treatment group. Furthermore, third-passage osteoblasts were treated with high Ca (5 mM), PTH 1-34 (10⁻8 M) or high Ca combined with PTH 1-34. Osteoblast viability and ALP activity were increased in either the high Ca-treated or PTH-treated cultures and, even more dramatically, in the cultures treated with high Ca plus PTH, with consistent up-regulation of the expression levels of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation-related genes and proteins. These results indicate that dietary Ca and PTH play synergistic roles in promoting osteoblastic bone formation by stimulating osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.

ß-Elemene Restrains PTEN mRNA Degradation to Restrain the Growth of Lung Cancer Cells via METTL3-Mediated N6 Methyladenosine Modification.

Lung cancer is one of the most fatal malignancies and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. ß-Elemene, a well-known anticancer drug, has drawn a great deal of attention from researchers attributed to its limited side impacts. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most common RNA modification and plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of multiple tumors. However, the functional link between ß-elemene and the m6A modification in lung cancer development remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated whether m6A modification was responsible for the impacts of ß-elemene on lung cancer. Firstly, outcomes suggested that ß-elemene restrained the malignant behaviors of A549 together with H1299 cells. Thereafter, we observed that ß-elemene markedly regulated METTL3, YTHDF1, and YTHDC1 among various m6A modulators. METTL3 was selected for further study because of its oncogenic function in lung cancer. RT-qRCR and western blot assays exhibited that the mRNA and protein expression levels of METTL3 were lessened by the administration of ß-elemene. Mechanistically, ß-elemene exerted the restrictive impacts on the cell growth of lung cancer in vivo and in vitro through targeting METTL3. More importantly, ß-elemene contributed to the augmented PTEN expression via suppressing its m6A modification. To sum up, we provided strong clues that ß-elemene promoted PTEN expression to retard lung cancer progression by the regulation of METTL3-mediated m6A modification.

Functional whole-brain mechanisms underlying effects of tDCS on athletic performance of male rowing athletes revealed by resting-state fMRI.

Introduction: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that applied to modulate brain activity and enhance motor recovery. However, the neurobiological substrates underlying the effects of tDCS on brain function remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the central mechanisms of tDCS on improving the athletic performance of male rowing athletes. Methods: Twelve right-handed male professional rowing athletes received tDCS over the left primary motor cortex while undergoing regular training. The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired before and after tDCS. Measures of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were calculated and compared between baseline and follow-up, as well as topological measures including global and local efficiency of functional brain networks constructed by graph theoretical analysis. Results: Male rowing athletes showed increased isokinetic muscle strength of the left knee and left shoulder after tDCS. Increased ALFF values were found in the right precentral gyrus of male rowing athletes after tDCS when compared with those before tDCS. In addition, male rowing athletes showed increased ReHo values in the left paracentral lobule following tDCS. Moreover, increased nodal global efficiency was identified in the left inferior frontal gyrus (opercular part) of male rowing athletes after tDCS. Conclusion: The findings suggested that simultaneous tDCS-induced excitation over the primary motor cortex might potentially improve the overall athletic performance in male rowing athletes through the right precentral gyrus and left paracentral lobule, as well as left inferior frontal gyrus.

IL-33 Promotes the Growth of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Through Regulating miR-128-3p/CDIP1 Signalling Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, and it is also the most frequently diagnosed cancer. Previous studies indicate that IL-33 plays a crucial role in the development of NSCLC. In recent years, the role of miRNAs in cancer has become increasingly clear. However, reports focused on the relation between IL-33 and miRNAs in NSCLC have been limited. METHODS: The expression of IL-33 and miR-128-3p was detected by qPCR. MTT, EdU, and colony formation assays were used to detect the proliferation ability of NSCLC cells. Transwell assay was used to investigate the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. The expression of bax, cyt-c, and caspase 3 was detected by Western blot. Finally, in vivo tumor xenograft was used to detect the effects of IL-33 and miR-128-3p on tumor growth capacity. RESULTS: IL-33 was notably increased in the serum and tumor tissue of NSCLC patients. The in vitro function study revealed that IL-33 significantly promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the NSCLC cells. In vivo experiments further confirmed the pro-tumor effect of IL-33 on NSCLC. The study on the underlying mechanism elucidated that IL-33 regulates the expression of miR-128-3p, which can directly target and inhibit the expression of CDIP1. Furthermore, IL-33 regulates the expression of downstream apoptotic proteins such as bax, cyt-c, and caspase3. Rescue experiments demonstrated that miR-28-3p can reverse the effect of IL-33. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that IL-33 and miR-128-3p may play a potential role in the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.

Physicochemical parameter based estimation of discarding points for frying oil using data interpolation and principal component transformation.

Data interpolation and principal component transformation (PCT) were used to compute the discarding points of a frying oil by measuring the physicochemical parameters-acid value, carbonyl value, and total polar compounds. Herein, the discarding point refers to the time point (associated with the value of each physicochemical parameter) at which the frying oil should be discarded. First, a primary visual analysis was performed for the obtained data by using line charts. Second, a curve interpolation method was used to compute the discarding points for each parameter and thus determine the discarding points for the frying oil. At 190, 205, and 220°C, the frying oil reached the discarding points at 22.1, 17.7, and 13 hr, respectively. The discarding area was also visualized on the corresponding surfaces for the originally obtained data and the interpolated data to investigate the discarding points. Third, the PCT was conducted for the three parameters at each temperature; the discarding point estimation for the three parameters could be reduced to the estimation from the first principal component (FPC), thereby simplifying this process. At 190, 205, and 220°C, the frying oil reached the discarding points when the FPCs were 10.4524, 6.2881, and -1.7629 at the time points 22.1, 17.7, and 13 hr, respectively. Finally, a verification experiment revealed that the correlation between the results obtained by our interpolation method or PCT and the verified data was higher than 0.98, which demonstrates the effectiveness of our method.

[Short-term effectiveness of selective treatment of senile osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures of Denis type B with kyphoplasty and Jack vertebral dilator].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of selective treatment of senile osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures of Denis type B with kyphoplasty and Jack vertebral dilator. METHODS: Between August 2007 and May 2011, 30 patients (32 vertebra) with osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures of Denis type B were treated with kyphoplasty and Jack vertebral dilator. There were 7 males and 23 females, aged 57-85 years (mean, 76.9 years). The injured vertebrae included T11 in 2 vertebrae, T12 in 11 vertebrae, L1 in 7 vertebrae, L2 in 5 vertebrae, L3 in 3 vertebrae, and L4 in 4 vertebrae. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), the anterior and middle height of the vertebral body, and the Cobb angle were assessed before and after operation. RESULTS: The operation was completed smoothly in all cases; no cement leakage or intraoperative complication was found. Obvious back pain relief was achieved in all patients after operation. Thirty patients were followed up at 1 week and 6 months after operation. The VAS score was decreased from 8.2 +/- 1.3 before operation to 1.5 +/- 0.9 at 1 week after operation and 1.9 +/- 0.5 at 6 months after operation; the ODI was decreased from 82.4% +/- 15.0% to 17.8% +/- 9.5% and 23.0% +/- 8.6%; the anterior height of the vertebral body was increased from (19.5 +/- 3.2) mm to (24.8 +/- 3.0) mm and (24.0 +/- 2.6) mm; the middle height of the vertebral body was increased from (18.5 +/- 3.4) mm to (23.7 +/- 3.7) mm and (22.8 +/- 3.5) mm; the Cobb angle was decreased from (14.9 +/- 7.5)degrees to (7.6 +/- 6.0)degrees and (8.3 +/- 6.0)degrees; and there were significant differences in the VAS score, ODI, the anterior and middle height of the vertebral body, and the Cobb angle between at pre- and at post-operation (P < 0.05), but no significant difference between at 1 week and at 6 months after operation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Kyphoplasty with Jack vertebral dilator for selective treatment of senile osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures of Denis type B can restore the anterior and middle height of the vertebral body, correct the Cobb angle, and relieve pain, and it has good short-term effectiveness and safety.

Endogenous PTH deficiency impairs fracture healing and impedes the fracture-healing efficacy of exogenous PTH(1-34).

BACKGROUND: Although the capacity of exogenous PTH1-34 to enhance the rate of bone repair is well established in animal models, our understanding of the mechanism(s) whereby PTH induces an anabolic response during skeletal repair remains limited. Furthermore it is unknown whether endogenous PTH is required for fracture healing and how the absence of endogenous PTH would influence the fracture-healing capacity of exogenous PTH. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Closed mid-diaphyseal femur fractures were created and stabilized with an intramedullary pin in 8-week-old wild-type and Pth null (Pth(-/-)) mice. Mice received daily injections of vehicle or of PTH1-34 (80 µg/kg) for 1-4 weeks post-fracture, and callus tissue properties were analyzed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks post-fracture. Cartilaginous callus areas were reduced at 1 week post-fracture, but were increased at 2 weeks post-fracture in vehicle-treated and PTH-treated Pth(-/-) mice compared to vehicle-treated and PTH-treated wild-type mice respectively. The mineralized callus areas, bony callus areas, osteoblast number and activity, osteoclast number and surface in callus tissues were all reduced in vehicle-treated and PTH-treated Pth(-/-) mice compared to vehicle-treated and PTH-treated wild-type mice, but were increased in PTH-treated wild-type and Pth(-/-) mice compared to vehicle-treated wild-type and Pth(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Absence of endogenous PTH1-84 impedes bone fracture healing. Exogenous PTH1-34 can act in the absence of endogenous PTH but callus formation, including accelerated endochondral bone formation and callus remodeling as well as mechanical strength of the bone are greater when endogenous PTH is present. Results of this study suggest a complementary role for endogenous PTH1-84 and exogenous PTH1-34 in accelerating fracture healing.