John J, Sulak L, Zou D, Alimena J, Berry E, Bhattacharya S, Cutts D, Dhingra N, Ferapontov A, Garabedian A, Hakala J, Heintz U, Laird E, Landsberg G, Mao Z, Narain M, Piperov S, Sagir S, Syarif R, Breedon R, Breto G, De La Barca Sanchez MC, Chauhan S, Chertok M, Conway J, Conway R, Cox PT, Erbacher R, Funk G, Gardner M, Ko W, Lander R, Mulhearn M, Pellett D, Pilot J, Ricci-Tam F, Shalhout S, Smith J, Squires M, Stolp D, Tripathi M, Wilbur S, Yohay R, Bravo C, Cousins R, Everaerts P, Farrell C, Florent A, Hauser J, Ignatenko M, Saltzberg D, Schnaible C, Valuev V, Weber M, Burt K, Clare R, Ellison J, Gary JW, Hanson G, Heilman J, Ivova PANEVA M, Jandir P, Kennedy E, Lacroix F, Long OR, Luthra A, Malberti M, Negrete MO, Shrinivas A, Wei H, Wimpenny S, Yates BR, Branson JG, Cerati GB, Cittolin S, D’Agnolo RT, Derdzinski M, Holzner A, Kelley R, Klein D, Letts J, Macneill I, Olivito D, Padhi S, Pieri M, Sani M, Sharma V, Simon S, Tadel M, Tu Y, Vartak A, Wasserbaech S, Welke C, Würthwein F, Yagil A, Zevi Della Porta G, Bradmiller-Feld J, Campagnari C, Dishaw A, Dutta V, Flowers K, Franco Sevilla M, Geffert P, George C, Golf F, Gouskos L, Gran J, Incandela J, Mccoll N, Mullin SD, Mullin SD, Richman J, Stuart D, Suarez I, West C, Yoo J, Anderson D, Apresyan A, Bornheim A, Bunn J, Chen Y, Duarte J, Mott A, Newman HB, Pena C, Pierini M, Spiropulu M, Vlimant JR, Xie S, Zhu RY, Andrews MB, Azzolini V, Calamba A, Carlson B, Ferguson T, Paulini M, Russ J, Sun M, Vogel H, Vorobiev I, Cumalat JP, Ford WT, Gaz A, Jensen F, Johnson A, Krohn M, Mulholland T, Nauenberg U, Stenson K, Wagner SR, Alexander J, Chatterjee A, Chaves J, Chu J, Dittmer S, Eggert N, Mirman N, Nicolas Kaufman G, Patterson JR, Rinkevicius A, Ryd A, Skinnari L, Soffi L, Sun W, Tan SM, Teo WD, Thom J, Thompson J, Tucker J, Weng Y, Wittich P, Abdullin S, Albrow M, Apollinari G, Banerjee S, Bauerdick LAT, Beretvas A, Berryhill J, Bhat PC, Bolla G, Burkett K, Butler JN, Cheung HWK, Chlebana F, Cihangir S, Elvira VD, Fisk I, Freeman J, Gottschalk E, Gray L, Green D, Grünendahl S, Gutsche O, Hanlon J, Hare D, Harris RM, Hasegawa S, Hirschauer J, Hu Z, Jayatilaka B, Jindariani S, Johnson M, Joshi U, Jung AW, Klima B, Kreis B, Lammel S, Linacre J, Lincoln D, Lipton R, Liu T, Lopes De Sá R, Lykken J, Maeshima K, Marraffino JM, Martinez Outschoorn VI, Maruyama S, Mason D, McBride P, Merkel P, Mishra K, Mrenna S, Nahn S, Newman-Holmes C, O’Dell V, Pedro K, Prokofyev O, Rakness G, Sexton-Kennedy E, Soha A, Spalding WJ, Spiegel L, Strobbe N, Taylor L, Tkaczyk S, Tran NV, Uplegger L, Vaandering EW, Vernieri C, Verzocchi M, Vidal R, Weber HA, Whitbeck A, Acosta D, Avery P, Bortignon P, Bourilkov D, Carnes A, Carver M, Curry D, Das S, Field RD, Furic IK, Gleyzer SV, Hugon J, Konigsberg J, Korytov A, Kotov K, Low JF, Ma P, Matchev K, Mei H, Milenovic P, Mitselmakher G, Rank D, Rossin R, Shchutska L, Snowball M, Sperka D, Terentyev N, Thomas L, Wang J, Wang S, Yelton J, Hewamanage S, Linn S, Markowitz P, Martinez G, Rodriguez JL, Adams JR, Ackert A, Adams T, Askew A, Bein S, Bochenek J, Diamond B, Haas J, Hagopian S, Hagopian V, Johnson KF, Khatiwada A, Prosper H, Weinberg M, Baarmand MM, Bhopatkar V, Colafranceschi S, Hohlmann M, Kalakhety H, Noonan D, Roy T, Yumiceva F, Adams MR, Apanasevich L, Berry D, Betts RR, Bucinskaite I, Cavanaugh R, Evdokimov O, Gauthier L, Gerber CE, Hofman DJ, Kurt P, O’Brien C, Sandoval Gonzalez LD, Silkworth C, Turner P, Varelas N, Wu Z, Zakaria M, Bilki B, Clarida W, Dilsiz K, Durgut S, Gandrajula RP, Haytmyradov M, Khristenko V, Merlo JP, Mermerkaya H, Mestvirishvili A, Moeller A, Nachtman J, Ogul H, Onel Y, Ozok F, Penzo A, Snyder C, Tiras E, Wetzel J, Yi K, Anderson I, Anderson I, Barnett BA, Blumenfeld B, Eminizer N, Fehling D, Feng L, Gritsan AV, Maksimovic P, Martin C, Osherson M, Roskes J, Sady A, Sarica U, Swartz M, Xiao M, Xin Y, You C, Xiao M, Baringer P, Bean A, Benelli G, Bruner C, Kenny RP, Majumder D, Majumder D, Malek M, Murray M, Sanders S, Stringer R, Wang Q, Ivanov A, Kaadze K, Khalil S, Makouski M, Maravin Y, Mohammadi A, Saini LK, Skhirtladze N, Toda S, Lange D, Rebassoo F, Wright D, Anelli C, Baden A, Baron O, Belloni A, Calvert B, Eno SC, Ferraioli C, Gomez JA, Hadley NJ, Jabeen S, Jabeen S, Kellogg RG, Kolberg T, Kunkle J, Lu Y, Mignerey AC, Shin YH, Skuja A, Tonjes MB, Tonwar SC, Apyan A, Barbieri R, Baty A, Bierwagen K, Brandt S, Bierwagen K, Busza W, Cali IA, Demiragli Z, Di Matteo L, Gomez Ceballos G, Goncharov M, Gulhan D, Iiyama Y, Innocenti GM, Klute M, Kovalskyi D, Lai YS, Lee YJ, Levin A, Luckey PD, Marini AC, Mcginn C, Mironov C, Narayanan S, Niu X, Paus C, Ralph D, Roland C, Roland G, Salfeld-Nebgen J, Stephans GSF, Sumorok K, Varma M, Velicanu D, Veverka J, Wang J, Wang TW, Wyslouch B, Yang M, Zhukova V, Dahmes B, Evans A, Finkel A, Gude A, Hansen P, Kalafut S, Kao SC, Klapoetke K, Kubota Y, Lesko Z, Mans J, Nourbakhsh S, Ruckstuhl N, Rusack R, Tambe N, Turkewitz J, Acosta JG, Oliveros S, Avdeeva E, Bloom K, Bose S, Claes DR, Dominguez A, Fangmeier C, Gonzalez Suarez R, Kamalieddin R, Keller J, Knowlton D, Kravchenko I, Meier F, Monroy J, Ratnikov F, Siado JE, Snow GR, Alyari M, Dolen J, George J, Godshalk A, Harrington C, Iashvili I, Kaisen J, Kharchilava A, Kumar A, Rappoccio S, Roozbahani B, Alverson G, Barberis E, Baumgartel D, Chasco M, Hortiangtham A, Massironi A, Morse DM, Nash D, Orimoto T, Teixeira De Lima R, Trocino D, Wang RJ, Wood D, Zhang J, Hahn KA, Kubik A, Mucia N, Odell N, Pollack B, Pozdnyakov A, Schmitt M, Stoynev S, Sung K, Trovato M, Velasco M, Brinkerhoff A, Dev N, Hildreth M, Jessop C, Karmgard DJ, Kellams N, Lannon K, Marinelli N, Meng F, Mueller C, Musienko Y, Planer M, Reinsvold A, Ruchti R, Smith G, Taroni S, Valls N, Wayne M, Wolf M, Woodard A, Antonelli L, Brinson J, Bylsma B, Durkin LS, Flowers S, Hart A, Hill C, Hughes R, Ji W, Ling TY, Liu B, Luo W, Puigh D, Rodenburg M, Winer BL, Wulsin HW, Driga O, Elmer P, Hardenbrook J, Hebda P, Koay SA, Lujan P, Marlow D, Medvedeva T, Mooney M, Olsen J, Palmer C, Piroué P, Saka H, Stickland D, Tully C, Zuranski A, Malik S, Barnes VE, Benedetti D, Bortoletto D, Gutay L, Jha MK, Jones M, Jung K, Miller DH, Neumeister N, Primavera F, Radburn-Smith BC, Shi X, Shipsey I, Silvers D, Sun J, Svyatkovskiy A, Wang F, Xie W, Xu L, Parashar N, Stupak J, Adair A, Akgun B, Chen Z, Ecklund KM, Geurts FJM, Guilbaud M, Li W, Michlin B, Northup M, Padley BP, Redjimi R, Roberts J, Rorie J, Tu Z, Zabel J, Betchart B, Bodek A, de Barbaro P, Demina R, Eshaq Y, Ferbel T, Galanti M, Galanti M, Garcia-Bellido A, Han J, Harel A, Hindrichs O, Hindrichs O, Khukhunaishvili A, Petrillo G, Tan P, Verzetti M, Arora S, Barker A, Chou JP, Contreras-Campana C, Contreras-Campana E, Ferencek D, Gershtein Y, Gray R, Halkiadakis E, Hidas D, Hughes E, Kaplan S, Kunnawalkam Elayavalli R, Lath A, Nash K, Panwalkar S, Park M, Salur S, Schnetzer S, Sheffield D, Somalwar S, Stone R, Thomas S, Thomassen P, Walker M, Foerster M, Riley G, Rose K, Spanier S, York A, Bouhali O, Castaneda Hernandez A, Celik A, Dalchenko M, De Mattia M, Delgado A, Dildick S, Dildick S, Eusebi R, Gilmore J, Huang T, Kamon T, Krutelyov V, Krutelyov V, Mueller R, Osipenkov I, Pakhotin Y, Patel R, Patel R, Perloff A, Rose A, Safonov A, Tatarinov A, Ulmer KA, Akchurin N, Cowden C, Damgov J, Dragoiu C, Dudero PR, Faulkner J, Kunori S, Lamichhane K, Lee SW, Libeiro T, Undleeb S, Volobouev I, Appelt E, Delannoy AG, Greene S, Gurrola A, Janjam R, Johns W, Maguire C, Mao Y, Melo A, Ni H, Sheldon P, Snook B, Tuo S, Velkovska J, Xu Q, Arenton MW, Cox B, Francis B, Goodell J, Hirosky R, Ledovskoy A, Li H, Lin C, Neu C, Sinthuprasith T, Sun X, Wang Y, Wolfe E, Wood J, Xia F, Clarke C, Harr R, Karchin PE, Kottachchi Kankanamge Don C, Lamichhane P, Sturdy J, Belknap DA, Carlsmith D, Cepeda M, Dasu S, Dodd L, Duric S, Gomber B, Grothe M, Hall-Wilton R, Herndon M, Hervé A, Klabbers P, Lanaro A, Levine A, Long K, Loveless R, Mohapatra A, Ojalvo I, Perry T, Pierro GA, Polese G, Ruggles T, Sarangi T, Savin A, Sharma A, Smith N, Smith WH, Taylor D, Woods N. Event generator tunes obtained from underlying event and multiparton scattering measurements

New sets of parameters ("tunes") for the underlying-event (UE) modelling of the pythia8, pythia6 and herwig++ Monte Carlo event generators are constructed using different parton distribution functions. Combined fits to CMS UE proton-proton ([Formula: see text]) data at [Formula: see text] and to UE proton-antiproton ([Formula: see text]) data from the CDF experiment at lower [Formula: see text], are used to study the UE models and constrain their parameters, providing thereby improved predictions for proton-proton collisions at 13[Formula: see text]. In addition, it is investigated whether the values of the parameters obtained from fits to UE observables are consistent with the values determined from fitting observables sensitive to double-parton scattering processes. Finally, comparisons are presented of the UE tunes to "minimum bias" (MB) events, multijet, and Drell-Yan ([Formula: see text] lepton-antilepton+jets) observables at 7 and 8[Formula: see text], as well as predictions for MB and UE observables at 13[Formula: see text].

Correlation among RKIP expression, NF-κB p65 levels, and T-lymphocyte subsets in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma

The aim of this study was to characterize variations in Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) expression and related signaling molecules in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. Cancerous and precancerous tissues were collected from patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma and normal tissue was collected from healthy controls. RKIP expression was detected in these tissues and the serum levels of NF-κB p65 and T-lymphocyte subsets were measured. Positive RKIP expression was higher in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma tissues than in precancerous tissues. The serum level of total NF-κB p65 was higher in patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma than in healthy controls. Levels of NF-κB p65 did not correlate with positive and negative expression of RKIP, but were higher in patients with lymph node metastasis than in those without it. The cellular immune function of the gastric cardia adenocarcinoma group was lower than in normal controls, particularly in cases with negative RKIP expression. RKIP is downregulated in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma tissues, which is related to the occurrence, progression, invasion, and metastasis of tumors. The possible mechanism for this may be the inhibition of NF-κB activity and cellular immune function, which allows for the escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance.

High hydrostatic pressure upon the vasa vasorum of the greater saphenous and splenic vein walls: a comparative study

AIMS

Hypoxia and high hydrostatic pressure can induce an increase in the thickness of the tunica media and intima; secondary vasa vasorum (VV) increase to fit the remodeling of the vessel wall. We aimed to investigate the impact of high hydrostatic pressure on VV in the varicose greater saphenous veins (VGSVs) and diseased splenic veins (DSVs).

METHODS

We collected 34 VGSVs and DSVs. Thirty-four normal greater saphenous veins (GSVs) and splenic veins (SVs) were also collected (control group). Samples were cut into slices, and observed under both light and electron microscopy. The mean density and cross-sectional areas of the VV in the adventitia were measured.

RESULTS

In both VGSVs and DSVs, VV density increased, in the adventitia and exterior tunica media, offering an intensive linear distribution. However, sporadic distribution of the interior tunica media and intima were seen on light microscopy. The integrated structure of the cell nucleus of endothelial cells in VV, normal morphology and distribution of chromatin, partially hyperchromatic mitochondria matrix, fuzzy or fractured mitochondria cristae, and medullary cristae changes were observed by electron microscopy. Mean density and cross-sectional areas of VV in the adventitia of GSVs and SVs were significantly different.

CONCLUSION

Under high hydrostatic pressure conditions, the number of VV were increased in the wall of VGSVs and DSVs. There was heterogeneity between both types of veins. The splenic vein has a higher number of VV, but the greater saphenous vein has a higher average cross-sectional area. The same ultrastructural changes are seen in the endothelial cells of the VV in both vessels.

Blocking proteinase-activated receptor 2 alleviated neuropathic pain evoked by spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an extremely serious type of physical trauma observed in clinics. Especially, neuropathic pain resulting from SCI has a lasting and significant impact on most aspects of daily life. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular pathways responsible for the cause of neuropathic pain observed in SCI is important to develop effectively therapeutic agents and treatment strategies. Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) are a family member of G-protein-coupled receptors and are activated by a proteolytic mechanism. One of its subtypes PAR2 has been reported to be engaged in mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Thus, in this study we specifically examined the underlying mechanisms responsible for SCI evoked-neuropathic pain in a rat model. Overall, we demonstrated that SCI increases PAR2 and its downstream pathways TRPV1 and TRPA1 expression in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Also, we showed that blocking spinal PAR2 by intrathecal injection of FSLLRY-NH2 significantly inhibits neuropathic pain responses induced by mechanical and thermal stimulation whereas FSLLRY-NH2 decreases the protein expression of TRPV1 and TRPA1 as well as the levels of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Results of this study have important implications, i.e. targeting one or more of these signaling molecules involved in activation of PAR2 and TRPV1/TRPA1 evoked by SCI may present new opportunities for treatment and management of neuropathic pain often observed in patients with SCI.

Antihyperglycemic and Antioxidant Activity of Fructus hordei Germinatus Extract on Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Purpose: To explore the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of Fructus Hordei Germinatus extract (FHGE) in diabetic rats.Methods: The aqueous extract of FHG was obtained by steeping the dried Fructus Hordei Germinatus in water at 60oC three times, each for 1 h before first drying in an oven and then freeze-drying the last extract thus obtained. Antihyperglycemic effect was measured by blood glucose and plasma insulin levels. Oxidative stress was evaluated in liver and kidney by antioxidant markers, viz, lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT), while blood serum levels of creatinine and urea were also determined in both diabetic control and treated rats.Results: Compared with diabetic rats, oral administration of FHGE at a concentration of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg daily for 45 days showed a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.05) and increased insulin (p < 0.05) level,. Furthermore, it significantly reduced biochemical parameters (serum creatinine and serum urea, p < 0.05)). The treatment also resulted in significant increase in GSH, GPx (p < 0.05), SOD and CAT (p < 0.05), as well as decreased LPO (p < 0.05) level in the liver and kidney of diabetic rats.Conclusion: The results suggest that FHGE may effectively normalize the impaired antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in a dose-dependent manner. FHGE has a protective effect against lipid peroxidation by scavenging free radicals and is thus capable of reducing the risk of diabetic complications.Keywords: Fructus hordei Germinatus, Diabetic, Antihyperglycemic, Lipid peroxidation, Antioxidant, Fasting blood glucose, Creatinine, Urea

Tegafur gimeracil oter combined with oxaliplatin for advanced colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the therapeutic actions of tegafur gimeracil oteracil combined with oxaliplatin for treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer, and its effects on the K-ras gene mutation and the CK20 mRNA.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-one patients with advanced colorectal cancer from our hospital, from October 2013 to October 2014, were enrolled in this study. After obtaining consent from the hospital Ethics Committee and the patients as well as their relatives, all 41 patients were divided into two groups. The control group, which consisted of 20 cases, were treated with capecitabine combined with oxaliplatin. The study group, which comprised of 21 cases, were treated with tegafur gimeracil oteracil combined with oxaliplatin. Both groups were followed-up after six months to evaluate the treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

The survival rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group. The progression-free survival time (PFS) in the observation group was longer than that in the control group. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were higher for the observation group. The differences had statistical significance (p < 0.05). The proportion of K-ras gene mutation in the observation group was substantially superior to that in the control group. The positive expression rate of CK 20 mRNA in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The differences had statistical significance (p < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reaction in the observation group was lower than that of the control group, and the differences had statistical significance (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil combined with oxaliplatin therapy had better treatment outcomes than capecitabine combined oxaliplatin for advanced colorectal cancer. This maybe related to K-ras gene mutation and the reduction of CK20 mRNA expression.

Mouse undifferentiated spermatogonial stem cells cultured as aggregates under simulated microgravity

Dynamic simulated microgravity (SMG) culture systems provide environments that stimulate stem cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the effect of SMG on spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) remains unclear. Here, we used a rotating cell culture system (RCCS) to determine its effect on mouse SSC proliferation and differentiation. SSCs were enriched from mouse pub testis and cocultured with Sertoli cell feeders pre-treated with mitomycin C on fibrin scaffolds in a rotary bioreactor for 14 days. Our results show that mouse SSCs cultured in a rotary bioreactor exhibited enhanced proliferation surpassing those cultured in static conditions, although SSC cultures in SMG underwent a growth lag at initial 3 days. After 14 days, mouse SSCs and feeders grew into cell aggregates with average diameters of 242.63 ± 16.53 μm compared with those in conventional static culture (49.51 ± 15.64 μm). Related detection revealed that proliferating SSCs in SMG remained undifferentiated, maintained clone-forming capacity and were capable of differentiation into round spermatids with flagella. The growth characteristics of mouse SSCs in RCCS suggest that the resulting aggregates are similar to native in vivo cells. Rotary bioreactors that create SMG environments may be an alternative to conventional systems for the clinical application of SSCs.

Serum S100A4 levels as a novel biomarker for detection of acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

Myocardial infarction causes significant mortality and morbidity. Timely diagnosis allows clinicians to risk stratify their patients and select appropriate treatment. Biomarkers have been used to assist with timely diagnosis, while an increasing number of novel markers have been identified to predict outcome following an acute myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome. The objective of this study was to determine S100A4 expression in AMI and determine whether S100A4 could be a biomarker for detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We measured circulating S100A4 levels in 173 patients (median age 58.3 years) who presented with first-time AMI 8 hours after the incident. The circulating S100A4 levels in 173 healthy volunteers (median age 57.3 years) was also measured. S100A4 was detected using enzyme immunoassay in both groups.

RESULTS

Serum S100A4 levels were significantly higher in patients with AMI [89.6 (4.3-214.6) pg/ml] compared to controls [11.8 (0-41.5) pg/ml] (p < 0.001). We found that a S100A4 level > 41.5 pg/ml had a Sensitivity 76.3% and specificity 87.5% for predicting AMI. S100A4 revealed the higher sensitivity for diagnosing AMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated S100A4 in plasma may be a novel biomarker for early detection of AMI.

Pectic polysaccharides extracted from Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill. var. hainanensis Tsiang increase LκB-α expression and ameliorate ulcerative colitis

The therapeutic potential of pectic polysaccharides extracted from Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill. var. hainanensis Tsiang in ulcerative colitis were investigated. This study showed that pectic polysaccharides extracted from Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill. var. hainanensis Tsiang ameliorated ulcerative colitis and were proposed to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects via increased expression of IκB-α proteins and suppressing NF-αB translocation.

YM155 inhibits tumor growth and enhances chemosensitivity to cisplatin in osteosarcoma

OBJECTIVE

Chemoresistance is the principal reason for poor survival and disease recurrence in osteosarcoma patients. Survivin, a family member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, plays an important role in inhibition of apoptosis. Survivin is expressed in a vast majority of human cancers, which is often correlated with poor prognosis in a wide variety of cancer patients. Furthermore, survivin expression is often related with chemoresistance in cancer cells, including osteosarcoma (OS). Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of YM155, a selective survivin suppressant alone and in combination with cisplatin using human OS models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

U-2 OS, SW1353, MG-63 cells were treated with YM155, and/or cisplatin, and cell viability, apoptosis, survivin protein expression levels were then evaluated. Furthermore, the efficacy of YM155 combined with cisplatin was further examined in established xenograft models.

RESULTS

YM155 was sufficient to induce spontaneous apoptosis of OS cells. Combination with YM155 significantly augmented the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in OS cells. Combination treatment of YM155 and cisplatin showed antiproliferative effects and induced a greater rate of apoptosis than the sum of the single-treatment rates and promoted tumor regression in established OS xenograft models.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide evidence that YM155 could act as a survivin inhibitor on OS cells. Chemotherapeutic approaches using YM155 might enhance the benefit of the cisplatin in the treatment of OS cells. YM155 could be further developed as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of OS.

The endoplasmic reticulum stress response is associated with insulin resistance-mediated drug resistance in HepG2 cells

Insulin resistance has a close relationship with tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and cancer prognosis. Importantly, the liver is the main target tissue of insulin, and the resistance to chemotherapeutic agents has been reported in hepatocarcinoma. However, little is known about the relationship between drug resistance and insulin resistance in hepatocarcinoma. Therefore, we treated HepG2 cells (a human hepatoma cell line) with high concentrations of insulin to establish a cell-based model of insulin resistance (HepG2/IR cells) to define the relationship between insulin resistance and the resistance to chemotherapy. We identified that HepG2/IR cells exhibited stable insulin resistance, with decreased glucose consumption, reduced glycogen synthesis, and decreased expression of the insulin receptor gene. HepG2/IR cells also exhibited endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dilatation and degranulation. Molecular markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress, including glucose-regulated protein78 (GRP78) and phosphorylated protein kinase R-like ER kinase (p-PERK), increased significantly, which was accompanied by increased reactive oxygen metabolism and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, HepG2/IR cells were resistant to the chemotherapy agent Adriamycin, which was accompanied by the upregulation of multidrug resistance gene 1/ P-glycoprotein (P-gp; an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone that plays a role in ER stress), and enhanced drug efflux. These data suggest that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response was active in HepG2/IR cells, and that insulin resistance was related to drug resistance in HepG2 cells. Interestingly, the ER stress and chemotherapy resistance observed in HepG2/IR cells could be reversed by treatment with the insulin sensitizer pioglitazone. Therefore, our study suggests that there is a close relationship between the resistance to chemotherapy and insulin resistance in HepG2 cells, and that the ER stress response play a role in insulin resistance-mediated drug resistance in hepatocarcinoma cells.

KEYWORDS

Insulin resistance, drug resistance, P-gp, endoplasmic reticulum stress, HepG2 cells.

Bidirectional amygdaloid control of neuropathic hypersensitivity mediated by descending serotonergic pathways acting on spinal 5-HT3 and 5-HT1A receptors

Amygdala is involved in processing of primary emotions and particularly its central nucleus (CeA) also in pain control. Here we studied mechanisms mediating the descending control of mechanical hypersensitivity by the CeA in rats with a peripheral neuropathy in the left hind limb. For drug administrations, the animals had a guide cannula in the right CeA and an intrathecal catheter or another guide cannula in the medullary raphe. Hypersensitivity was tested with monofilaments. Glutamate administration in the CeA produced a bidirectional effect on hypersensitivity that varied from an increase at a low-dose (9μg) to a reduction at high doses (30-100μg). The increase but not the reduction of hypersensitivity was prevented by blocking the amygdaloid NMDA receptor with a dose of MK-801 that alone had no effects. The glutamate-induced increase in hypersensitivity was reversed by blocking the spinal 5-HT3 receptor with ondansetron, whereas the reduction in hypersensitivity was reversed by blocking the spinal 5-HT1A receptor with WAY-100635. Both the increase and decrease of hypersensitivity induced by amygdaloid glutamate treatment were reversed by medullary administration of a 5-HT1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, that presumably produced autoinhibition of serotonergic cell bodies in the medullary raphe. The results indicate that depending on the dose, glutamate in the CeA has a descending facilitatory or inhibitory effect on neuropathic pain hypersensitivity. Serotoninergic raphe neurons are involved in mediating both of these effects. Spinally, the 5-HT3 receptor contributes to the increase and the 5-HT1A receptor to the decrease of neuropathic hypersensitivity induced by amygdaloid glutamate.

Antitumor Effect of Docetaxel in Osteosarcoma by the Inhibition of Wnt Signal Channel

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of malignant bone tumor in adults and children. Despite the great strides in biology and medicine, the survival rate of patients with metastatic disease remains very poor. This rate has been staggering with recurrence and metastasis. In the present study, we proposed Wnt/β-catenin pathway as a key biological target for the effective treatment in OS. Wnt signaling has been reported to play important roles in osteoblastogenesis. We hypothesized that docetaxel (DTX) will effectively arrest the osteosarcoma progression by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in OS cells. Our results show that DTX significantly inhibited the cell proliferation of U2OS and SaOS-2 cancer cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. DTX inhibited the intrinsic transcriptional activity of β-catenin/Tcf in U2OS cancer cells and SaOS-2 cancer cells. GSK-3βinhibitor (SB216763) treatment remarkably increased the β-catenin/Tcf transcriptional activities. The transcriptional activities have been increased by around ~200% due to the decrease in the degradation of β-catenin mediated through GSK-3β. Summarizing, present study clearly showed that DTX inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathways and significantly reduced the matrix metallopeptodase 9 (MMP-9) protein expressions and its activity. Taken together, our findings provide novel insight on the effect of anticancer small molecules to improve the outcomes in osteosarcoma.

Characteristics of spermatogonial stem cells derived from neonatal porcine testis

The aim of this study was to isolate and characterise porcine spermatogonial stem cells (PSSCs). The putative porcine germline stem cells from testis were isolated successfully by an improving way of enrichment with lymphocyte separation medium (LSM). Results from RT-PCR analyses showed that PSSCs were positive for OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, PGP9.5, c-MYC, KEL4 and PRDM-14 which are multipotent stem cell markers. At the protein level, the results of immunofluorescence analyses showed that PSSCs were positive for OCT4, PGP9.5, SOX2 and CD29. We successfully differentiated these PSSCs into adipocytes and muscle cells and then defined their characteristics, including morphology, surface stem cell markers, and mechanical properties. But the experiment of teratoma formation was negative. The results indicated the PSSCs could be multipotent. Atomic force microscopy was used to characterise the morphological and mechanical properties of undifferentiated PSSCs, as well as the differentiated adipocytes and muscle cells, which could be potentially useful for distinguishing PSSCs from differentiated cells.

Genetic tuning of the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus during interspecies transmission, China, 2013

A novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus causing human infection emerged in February 2013 in China. To elucidate the mechanism of interspecies transmission, we compared the signature amino acids of avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses from human and non-human hosts and analysed the reassortants of 146 influenza A(H7N9) viruses with full genome sequences. We propose a genetic tuning procedure with continuous amino acid substitutions and reassorting that mediates host adaptation and interspecies transmission. When the early influenza A(H7N9) virus, containing ancestor haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes similar to A/Shanghai/05 virus, circulated in waterfowl and transmitted to terrestrial poultry, it acquired an NA stalk deletion at amino acid positions 69 to 73. Then, receptor binding preference was tuned to increase the affinity to human-like receptors through HA G186V and Q226L mutations in terrestrial poultry. Additional mammalian adaptations such as PB2 E627K were selected in humans. The continual reassortation between H7N9 and H9N2 viruses resulted in multiple genotypes for further host adaptation. When we analysed a potential association of mutations and reassortants with clinical outcome, only the PB2 E627K mutation slightly increased the case fatality rate. Genetic tuning may create opportunities for further adaptation of influenza A(H7N9) and its potential to cause a pandemic.

Spectral measurement of electron antineutrino oscillation amplitude and frequency at Daya Bay

A measurement of the energy dependence of antineutrino disappearance at the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment is reported. Electron antineutrinos (ν¯(e)) from six 2.9  GW(th) reactors were detected with six detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls. Using 217 days of data, 41 589 (203 809 and 92 912) antineutrino candidates were detected in the far hall (near halls). An improved measurement of the oscillation amplitude sin(2)2θ(13)=0.090(-0.009)(+0.008) and the first direct measurement of the ν¯(e) mass-squared difference |Δm(ee)2|=(2.59(-0.20)(+0.19))×10(-3)  eV2 is obtained using the observed ν¯(e) rates and energy spectra in a three-neutrino framework. This value of |Δm(ee)2| is consistent with |Δm(μμ)2| measured by muon neutrino disappearance, supporting the three-flavor oscillation model.