Neuropilin1, a novel independent prognostic factor and therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer, and thus, has limited treatment options. Neuropilin1 (NRP1) is a multi-functional transmembrane protein that interacts with a number of signaling receptors and plays an important role in cancer progression. Previous studies demonstrated that the expression of NRP1 is activated and promotes the progression of breast cancer particularly in TNBC compared to other molecular subtypes; however, whether or not the level of NRP1 expression is related to the progression of TNBC warrants further study. In the current study, we determined the expression and function of NRP1 and evaluated the clinical significance of NRP1 in patients with TNBC. In addition, we determined whether or not an NRP1 antagonist potentiates the inhibitory effects of paclitaxel (PTX) in patients with TNBC. In our clinical study, NRP1 had higher expression in TNBC tissues than non-TNBC tissues at the same stage, and NRP1 was an independent prognostic factor. Specifically, the high expression of NRP1 was associated with shorter survival in TNBC patients. In addition, TNBC cells treated with NRP1 antagonist significantly potentiated the effect of PTX on cell proliferation, cell migration, and apoptosis. Our findings suggest that NRP1 expression can act as an independent prognostic factor for TNBC patients, and the combination of PTX and an NRP1 antagonist may be an effective treatment regimen for TNBC.

[Effects of bone marrow stromal cells on the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells].

Objective: To investigate the influences of bone marrow stromal cells, components of extracellular matrix and cytokine secreted by stromal cells on the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells to cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). Methods: The co-culture model of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell Sup-B15 and bone marrow stromal cell OP9 was constructed. Sup-B15 cells were cultured alone or co-cultured with OP9 cells, inactivated OP9 cells, the conditional medium (CM) of co-cultured OP9 cells and Sup-B15 cells, the CM of OP9 cells alone or Sup-B15 cells alone, respectively. The effects of different concentrations of Ara-C on the proliferation of each Sup-B1 cell group mentioned above were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method. The effects of different concentrations of Ara-C on the apoptosis of each group were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The expressions of Bcl-2 protein in each group were detected by western blot. Results: The results of CCK-8 test showed that the inhibitory efficiency of Ara-C was in a dose-dependent manner. With different concentrations of Ara-C treatment for 48 hours, the half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) of Sup-B15 and OP9 co-cultured group, Sup-B15 and inactivated OP9 co-cultured group were 0.510 and 0.339 µg/ml, respectively, significantly higher than 0.091 µg/ml of Sup-B15 cultured alone group (P<0.05). The IC(50) of CM of Sup-B15 and OP9 co-cultured group was 0.204 µg/ml, significantly higher than 0.087 µg/ml of the CM of OP9 cultured alone group (P<0.05) and 0.097 µg/ml of the CM of Sup-B15 cultured alone group (P<0.05). The results of flow cytometry showed that with 0.10 µg/ml Ara-C treatment for 24 hours, the early apoptotic cell percentages of Sup-B15 and OP9 co-cultured group, Sup-B15 and inactivated OP9 co-cultured group and Sup-B15 cultured alone group were (6.67±2.19) %, (8.95±3.04) % and (20.46±2.63) %, respectively. The early apoptotic cell percentages of Sup-B15 and OP9 co-cultured group, Sup-B15 and inactivated OP9 co-cultured group were significantly lower than that of Sup-B15 cultured alone group (P<0.05). The early apoptotic cell percentages of the CM of Sup-B15 and OP9 co-cultured group, the CM of OP9 cultured alone group and the CM of Sup-B15 cultured alone group were (11.16±2.97)%, (22.08±2.71)% and (19.25±1.57)%, respectively, the former two of which were significantly lower than the last one (P<0.05). The results of western blot showed that the relative expression levels of Bcl-2 protein of Sup-B15 cultured alone group, Sup-B15 and OP9 co-cultured group, Sup-B15 and inactivated OP9 co-cultured group, the CM of Sup-B15 and OP9 co-cultured group, the CM of OP9 cultured alone group and the CM of Sup-B15 cultured alone group were 1.00±0.00, 1.53±0.03, 1.38±0.01, 1.26±0.05, 1.03±0.01 and 0.98±0.02, respectively. The expression levels of bcl-2 protein of three combined groups were significantly higher than that of Sup-B15 cultured alone group (P<0.05). while no statistically significant difference was observed between the CM of OP9 cultured alone group and the CM of Sup-B15 cultured alone group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Bone marrow stromal cell OP9, the components of bone marrow extracellular matrix and cytokine secreted by stromal cells are involved in the induction of the chemotherapeutic resistance of Sup-B15 cells to Ara-C.

Investigation of the treatment modality in primary lymphoma of the salivary glands.

PURPOSE: To review our experience in managing primary lymphoma of the major salivary glands by analysing the treatment modality of patients. METHODS: In this study, we reviewed the medical records of 26 patients with primary malignant lymphoma of the major salivary glands who were treated at Beijing Stomatological Hospital of Capital Medical University from January 1999 to March 2015. The predictor variable was treatment modality. The outcome variables were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), disease-special survival (DSS) and local control (LC). Other relevant variables were as follows: age, sex, pathological pattern, tumour site, clinical features, source, IPI and Ann-Arbor stage. The data were analysed by the χ2 test, log-rank test, and univariate analysis. RESULTS: Of the 26 patients, 14 received surgery only, four received initial surgery combined with adjuvant radiotherapy, five received adjuvant chemotherapy, and three received adjuvant radiochemotherapy. During the median follow-up period of 104 months, the overall estimates of OS, DFS, DSS and LC were 84.6, 84.6, 88.5 and 92.3%, respectively. Good outcomes were achieved in patients who received surgery combined with postoperative RT, followed by surgery only. MALT lymphoma had a better prognosis than the other pathological patterns. Mass, swelling, pathological pattern and Ann-Arbor stage were important prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy may be an appropriate choice for patients with MALT lymphoma. The pathological pattern, mass, swelling and Ann-Arbor stage were associated with an unfavourable prognosis.

[Sequences variation and classification of B-hordein genes in hull-less barley from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau].

The goal of this study is to understand the evolution relationship of the members of B-hordein gene family in hull-less barley by analysis of their structure and to explore their utility in grain quality improvement. Six copies of B-hordein gene (Hn1-Hn3, Hn7-Hn9) were cloned from six hull-less barley cultivars collected from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and molecularly characterized. Comparison of their predicted polypeptide sequences with the published suggested that they all share the same basic protein structures. In addition, we found that the C-terminal end sequences of all B-hordeins shared a similar feature. In the six clones and the other three published (Hn4, Hn5 and Hn6) from hull-less barley, Hn2 and Hn7 contained identical C-terminal end sequence DIMPVDFWH, Hn3, Hn4, Hn5, Hn8 and Hn9 also shared the common sequence DIMPPDFWH, which was similar to that of a B-hordein reported previously. Both Hnl and Hn6 exhibited differences in their C-terminal end sequences, and they clustered into different subgroups. The B-hordeins with identical C-terminal end sequences were clustered into a same subgroup, so we believe that B-hordein gene subfamilies possibly can be classified on the basis of the conserved C-terminal end sequences of predicted polypeptide. Phylogenetic analysis also indicated that there is a relatively weak identity between our predicted B-hordeins and those reported from H. chilense and H. brevisubulatum. All of our nine predicted B-hordeins were clustered together and other B-hordeins formed another cluster. The possible use of these genes in relation to the barley quality is discussed.

Recurrent synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint: report of two cases.

Synovial chondromatosis is the most common tumour-like lesion that is found in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Although it is benign and self-limiting, it can recur. We retrospectively reviewed 274 cases that were treated in our department from 2001-16 and found two recurrences, the radiological, surgical, histopathological, and follow-up results of which we report here. The reasons for their recurrence were analysed and elucidated.

Precancerous gastric lesions in a population at high risk of stomach cancer.

A population-based screening for detection of early cancers evaluated the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions in an area in Shandong province, China, with one of the world's highest rates of stomach cancer. A total of 3433 residents aged 35 to 64 yr received gastroscopical examinations with biopsies taken from standard locations. Chronic atrophic gastritis was nearly universal; less than 2% of the population had biopsies showing entirely normal mucosa or only superficial gastritis. Intestinal metaplasia was the most advanced lesion for 33% and gastric dysplasia for 20%, although the prevalence of each increased significantly with age. Intestinal metaplasia and gastric dysplasia were detected throughout the stomach, but the lesions were more pronounced along the lesser curvature, especially in the angulus and antrum. There was no sex difference in rates of chronic atrophic gastritis, but males had a slightly higher prevalence of intestinal metaplasia, a 1.6-fold increase in dysplasia, and a 3-fold excess of gastric cancer. The data quantify the extensiveness of gastric lesions likely to be involved in the natural history of stomach cancer in this high-risk population.

Stopped-flow ESR study on the reactivity of vitamin E, vitamin C and its lipophilic derivatives towards Fremy's salt in micellar systems.

The reaction between Fremy's salt and alpha-tocopherol (VE), ascorbic acid (VC) and its lipophilic derivatives ascorbyl-6-caprylate (VC-8), 6-laurate (VC-12) and 6-palmitate (VC-16) were studied by stopped-flow ESR spectroscopy in cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles, as a model reaction of these antioxidants with alkyl peroxy radicals in biological systems. The second order rate constants for the reaction of Fremy's salt with VE in CTAB and SDS micelles were found to be 7.9 x 10(3) and 2.2 M-1 s-1, respectively, with as high as a 3600-fold variation. Rate constants for VC, VC-8, VC-12 and VC-16 are 4.3, 35, 53 and 56 x 10(3) M-1 s-1 and 3.3, 2.7, 1.2 and 0.86 x 10(3) M-1 s-1 in CTAB and SDS micelles, respectively. The results demonstrate remarkable effects of the charge type of the micelles and the side-chain of the antioxidants on the antioxidation reactivity in the micelles. It reveals that the inter-micellar diffusion may be the rate-limiting step for antioxidation carried out in micelles.

Dynamic output feedback controller design for fuzzy systems.

This paper presents dynamic output feedback controller design for fuzzy dynamic systems. Three kinds of controller design methods are proposed based on a smooth Lyapunov function or a piecewise smooth Lyapunov function. The controller design involves solving a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMI's) and the control laws are numerically tractable via LMI techniques. The global stability of the closed-loop fuzzy control system is also established.

Studies on bio-antioxidants--micellar effects on the reduction of nitroxides by vitamin C.

The kinetics of reduction of nitroxides including 4-hydroxy-TEMPO, 4-methoxy-TEMPO and 4-hexanoyloxy-TEMPO, which are of different lipophilicities, by vitamin C in cationic, non-ionic and anionic micelles, i.e. CTAB, Triton X-100 and SDS, respectively, have been studied by FSR spectroscopy by a stopped-flow technique. A mechanism for the reaction conducted in micelles is proposed and the rate constants for the elementary reactions are evaluated. It is found that the rates of single electron transfer reactions involving the nitroxides are dependent on the nature of the micelle and the lipophilicity of the nitroxide. The rates are increased in CTAB, decreased in SDS, whereas unaffected in Triton X-100. And the greater the lipophilicity of the nitroxide, the more pronounced the rate variation. As high as a 3600-fold increase in the rate was observed for 4-hexanoyloxy-TEMPO in CTAB over that in SDS. The micellar effects are rationalized on the basis of analysis of parameters and line shape of the ESR spectra for the nitroxides in the micelles.

[A variety of microorganism species at the burn ward].

From 1975 to 1987, 965 exudate cultures of burn wounds were done in 553 cases. 1205 colonies (28 species) of microorganisms were separated out from these patients. Among 1205 colonies, 1050 colonies (87.13%) were "common microorganism" included P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, and P. vulgaris. There were mixed infection of P. aeruginosa and E. coli in 23.66-25.95% cases. In early stage P. aeruginosa (23.25%) was predominant and in late stage, S. aureus was predominant. The sensitivity of microorganisms to 18 kinds of antibiotics gradually decreased, year by year. The authors consider that reasonable use of antibiotics, early eschar excision and skin grafting play an important role in decreasing the occurrence of drug-fast bacteria and preventing cross infection.

Genetic diversity of avian infectious bronchitis coronavirus strains isolated in China between 1995 and 2004.

Twenty-six avian infectious bronchitis (IB) viruses (IBV) were isolated from outbreaks in chickens in China between 1995 and 2004. They were characterized by comparison with twenty-six Chinese reference strains and five other IBV strains. Chinese IBVs, which were mainly nephropathogenic, were placed into seven genotypes. Fourteen Chinese IBV isolates were placed in genotype I, having small evolutionary distances from each other. Genotype II included 6 strains that were isolated in the 1990s in China. Genotype III consisted of eight Chinese isolates that showed close relationship with Korean IBV isolates. Another eight IBV isolates clustered in genotype IV and showed larger evolutionary distances. The Massachusetts serotype was present in China in 1990s and was in a separate genotype. Two isolates, HN99 and CK/CH/LHN/00I, which might be a reisolation of vaccine strains, clustered into genotype VI. Four Chinese IBV isolates formed another genotype and showed larger evolutionary distances from other Chinese IBV genotypes (genotype VII). IBVs in same genotypes showed more than 90% amino acid sequence similarities, whereas most of the viruses in different genotypes showed less than 90%. The results showed that IBVs in China came from genetic changes both in IBV populations that existed before the advent of vaccination and in the viruses that were introduced through live vaccines. IBVs showing various genetic differences are cocirculating in China.

[Histopathological changes in rabbit TMJ associated with experimentally induced anterior disk displacement]

OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the early histopathological changes that occur in the rabbit temporomandibular joint(TMJ) following surgical induction of ADD.METHODS:The left joints of 12 New Zealand rabbits were subjected to surgical induction of ADD,the right served as sham control.Four joints from two additional rabbits served as non-operated control.The TMJ were removed after 24h,1 week,2 weeks,3 weeks,4 weeks or 10 weeks and stained with HE.RESULTS:The results showed neovascularization,cell clustering and fibrillation of the displaced disk.Fibrosis and pseudo-disk formation were observed in bilaminar zone.The condyle and synovial membrane showed osteoarthritic changes.CONCLUSION:Surgical induction of ADD in the rabbit TMJ leads to histopathological changes in TMJ region similar to those described in human ADD,and the mechanical trauma resulting from ADD could lead to the changes in affected joints similar to those described for osteoarthritis.

[Effects of total saponins of Panax notoginseng on increasing PGI2 in carotid artery and decreasing TXA2 in blood platelets].

Total saponins of Panax notoginseng (PNS) were given orally 100 mg/(kg.d) to rabbit for 8 wk. Aortic atherosclerotic plaque formation was restrained as compared to the control group. Radioimmunoassay was used to investigate the effects of PNS on the contents of prostacyclin in carotid artery and thromboxane A2 in blood platelets of rat. Oral administration of PNS 25,50,100 mg/(kg.d) for 10 d, the caused an increase of prostacyclin in carotid artery and a decrease of thromboxane A2 in blood platelets as compared to the control group. These results show that the anti-atherosclerotic action of PNS may be a result of the correction of the unbalance between prostacyclin and thromboxane A2.