[Management for lymphatic malformation in infants: a single center experience]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the therapeutic effect of management for lymphatic malformation (LM) in infants.

METHODS

This retrospective study recruited clinical data of 996 patients with LM from June 2004 to July 2015 in our center. All patients were diagnosed as LM after ultrasound, CT or MR scan. All patients were divided into Group 1 (427 patients, treated by endoscopic LM partial resection combined with cautery and postoperative intratumoral negative pressure and absolute ethyl alcohol),Group 2 (239 patients, treated by combined pinyangmycin and dexamethasone injection),Group 3 (330 patients, treated by surgical resection only).The clinical effects were observed in three groups, and therapeutic effect differences in gender, age, maximum diameter, location, range, histological typing, lymph property and treatments were analysed in cervicofacial LM.

RESULTS

Group 1:333 patients were cured (78.0％),Group 2:165 patients were cured (69.0％),Group 3:238 patients were cured (72.1％).The difference in cure rate between Group 1 and Group 2 or between Group 1 and Group 3 was significant(P ＜0.05).The number of patients with ≥ 2 treatments in Group 3 was significantly less than that in other two groups. The cure rate of LM in cervicofacial area was significantly lower than that in other parts of body (P ＜ 0.05).In cervicofacial LM patients, the therapeutic effect differences in maximum diameter, range, histological typing, lymph property were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).At the multivariable logistic regression analysis, LM range as well as histological typing were independent factors influencing the therapeutic effect (P ＜ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Both treatment of endoscopic LM partial resection combined with cautery and postoperative intratumoral negative pressure and absolute ethyl alcohol, and surgical resection have good therapeutic effect on LM in infants. LM range as well as histological typing are important factors independently influencing the therapeutic effect of cervicofacial LM in infants.

Abstract P3-06-02: ONC201 kills breast cancer cells by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration

Background: ONC201 is a small molecule originally identified as a TRAIL inducing compound (Allen et al., Sci. Trans. Med 2013). Two recent studies reported that ONC201 also induces an atypical stress response mediated in part by ATF4 and CHOP (Klein et al., Sci. Signal 2016 and Ishizawa et al., Sci. Signal 2016). ONC201 is currently being tested in phase1/2 clinical trials in multiple cancer types. In this study, we tested the effects of ONC201 on human breast cancer cells.

Methods: We tested ONC201 in 18 human breast cancer cell lines that represent ER+, HER2 amplified, TNBC basal A and TNBC basal B breast cancer. Cell death was analyzed by MTS assay after 5 days of treatment. Cells were treated with GST-TRAIL in parallel for comparison. Z-VAD-FMK was used as a pan-caspase inhibitor. To verify the mechanism of action of ONC201, siRNA against death receptors (DR) 4 and 5 were transfected to cells and tested in MTS assay and Western blotting. Seahorse XF analyzer and live cell imaging were used to further characterize the effect of ONC201.

Results: ONC201 reduced cell viability in breast cancer cell lines in all subtypes tested with IC50s ranging from 0.8-5 uM, similar to what has been reported for other cancer cell types. Unexpectedly, ONC201 did not induce caspase 3 or PARP cleavage, and its toxicity was not inhibited by Z-VAD-FMK, nor by siRNA knockdown of DR4 or DR5. By contrast GST-TRAIL induced caspase 3 and PARP cleavage and GST-TRAIL-induced cell death was inhibited by Z-VAD-FMK and by siRNA knockdown of DR5. Live cell imaging revealed ONC201 induces cell membrane ballooning followed by rupture, whereas GST-TRAIL induced classic apoptosis morphology. Together these results suggest that ONC201 kills breast cancer cells via a caspase-independent, DR4/5-independent mechanism distinct from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Western blots revealed that ONC201 induces ATF4 and CHOP, consistent with the recently published observations. ONC201 also induced phosphorylation of AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) in multiple breast cancer cell lines, suggesting that cellular ATP level is decreased by ONC201. ATP depletion by ONC201 was confirmed by direct measurement of cellular ATP. Seahorse XF analysis found that ONC201 inhibited mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) but did not inhibit glycolysis as measured by the extracellular acidification rate. Long exposure to ONC201 significantly attenuated OCR, while acute treatment did not inhibit OCR. These data suggest that ONC201 inhibits mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation via an indirect mechanism. Western blots demonstrated that ONC201 decreases expression of multiple mitochondrial proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Both ONC201-induced toxicity and ATP depletion were enhanced when cells were cultured in non-glucose (galactose) medium. This is consistent with ONC201-induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. Supplementing glucose to cells grown in galactose medium partially rescued ONC201-dependent ATP depletion and cell death, and reversed ONC201-induced phospho-eIF2, ATF4 and CHOP induction.

Conclusion: Together, these data demonstrate that ONC201 can kill breast cancer cells by a novel mechanism involving inhibition of mitochondrial respiration.

Citation Format: Greer YE, Gilbert SF, Islam C, Ji Y, Gattinoni L, Stuelten C, Voeller D, Lipkowitz S. ONC201 kills breast cancer cells by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-06-02.

Jagged1/Notch3 Signaling Modulates Hemangioma-Derived Pericyte Proliferation and Maturation

BACKGROUND

The Notch signaling pathway has been implicated in the pericyte phenotype, but its exact roles in hemangioma-derived pericytes (Hem-pericytes) remain ill defined.

METHODS

Hem-pericytes were stimulated by immobilized recombinant Jagged1. The potential mechanisms of Notch-induced Hem-pericytes growth arrest were investigated by cell cycle assay, and the role of the Notch in promoting Hem-pericyte maturation was also analyzed by real-time PCR and western blot.

RESULTS

Activation of Notch3 in Hem-pericytes significantly reduced cell proliferation and inhibited cell cycle transition. This event was associated with an increase in the levels of p21Cip1. Knockdown of p21Cip1 resulted in a significant rescue of Notch-induced cell growth arrest and an entry into the cell cycle. We showed that Jagged1 activation of Notch3 signaling upregulated the expression of the pericyte contractile markers smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (smMHC) and α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), concomitant with an increase in the expression of myocardin in Hem-pericytes. We further revealed that the endothelial-derived Jagged1 modulated the Hem-pericyte phenotype via a contact-dependent mechanism.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that Jagged1 activation of Notch3 resulted in a significant decrease in cell proliferation while concomitantly promoting Hem-pericyte maturation. These data provide initial evidence that Notch induces a quiescent phenotype in Hem-pericytes.

Regulation of crucial lncRNAs in differentiation of chicken embryonic stem cells to spermatogonia stem cells

Regulation of crucial lncRNAs involved in differentiation of chicken embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to spermatogonia stem cells (SSCs) was explored by sequencing the transcriptome of ESCs, primordial germ cells (PGCs) and SSCs with RNA-Seq; analytical bioinformatic methods were used to excavate candidate lncRNAs. We detected expression of candidate lncRNAs in ESCs, PGCs and SSCs and forecasted related target genes. Utilizing wego, david and string, function and protein-protein interactions of target genes were analyzed. Finally, based on string analysis, interaction diagrams and relevant signaling pathways were established. Our results indicate a total of 9657 lncRNAs in ESCs, PGCs and SSCs, with 3549 defined as significantly different. We screened 20 candidate lncRNAs, each demonstrating a greater than eight-fold difference in |logFC| value between groups (ESCs vs. PGCs, ESCs vs. SSCs and PGCs vs. SSCs) or specifically expressed in an individual cell type. qRT-PCR results indicated that expression tendencies of candidate lncRNAs were consistent with RNA-Seq. Fifteen cis and four trans target genes were forecasted. Based on wego and string analyses, we found lnc-SSC1, lnc-SSC5, lnc-SSC2 and lnc-ESC2 negatively regulated target genes SUFU, EPHA3, KLF3, ARL3 and TRIM8, whereas SHH, NOTCH, TGF-β, cAMP/cGMP and JAK/STAT signaling pathways were promoted, causing differentiation of ESCs into SSCs. Our findings represent a preliminary unveiling of lncRNA-associated regulatory mechanisms during differentiation of chicken ESCs into SSCs, filling a research void in male germ cell differentiation related to lncRNA. Our results also provide basic information for improving in vitro induction systems for differentiation of chicken ESCs into SSCs.

Association of miR-196a2, miR-27a, and miR-499 polymorphisms with isolated congenital heart disease in a Chinese population

We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in certain microRNAs contribute to congenital heart disease (CHD) phenotypes. Five hundred and seventy-three subjects were enrolled in this study. DNA extracted from peripheral blood cells was used for SNP genotyping of miR-196a2 (rs11614913), miR-27a (rs11671784, rs895819), and miR-499 (rs3746444). Allele and genotype association analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation between certain microRNA SNPs and three phenotypes of isolated CHD: atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). All the participants carried a homozygous CC variant of miR-27a (rs11671784). The homozygous CC variant of miR-196a2 (rs11614913, T>C) was negatively associated with ASD compared with the wild-type TT variant (OR = 0.379, 95%CI = 0.209-0.686, P = 0.001). The miR-196a2 C allele was negatively associated with ASD compared with the T allele (OR = 0.646, 95%CI = 0.491-0.849, P = 0.002). The statistically significant results were further confirmed by dominant and recessive model assays. SNPs of miR-27a (rs895819, T>C) and miR-499 (rs3746444, A>G) showed diverse association with ASD, VSD, or PDA, but the differences were not statistically significant. The rs11614913 (T>C) SNP of miR-196a2 is associated with ASD, and the homozygous CC variant and the C allele are protective factors associated with ASD. The homozygous CC variant and the C allele of the rs11614913 (T>C) SNP of miR-196a2 are associated with a significantly reduced risk of ASD.

Retraction RETRACTION of "Methylation of the RASSFIA promoter in breast cancer" by Y. Ji, H.H. Jin, M.D. Wang, W.X. Cao, J.L. Bao - Genet. Mol. Res. 15 (2): gmr.15028261 (2016) - DOI: 10.4238/gmr.15028261

The retracted article is: Ji Y, Jin HH, Wang MD, Cao WX, et al. (2016). Methylation of the RASSFIA promoter in breast cancer. Genet. Mol. Res. 15: gmr.15028261. There are significant parts of this article (particularly, in the discussion section) that are copied from "Methylation of HIN-1, RASSF1A, RIL and CDH13 in breast cancer is associated with clinical characteristics, but only RASSF1A methylation is associated with outcome", by Jia Xu, Priya B Shetty, Weiwei Feng, Carol Chenault, Robert C Bast Jr, Jean-Pierre J Issa, Susan G Hilsenbeck and Yinhua Yu, published in BMC Cancer 2012; 12: 243. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-243. The first paragraphs of both discussions are identical. This is concerning. The abstract and introduction sections have much of their text plagiarized. Overall, there is high plagiarism detected. The GMR editorial staff was alerted and after a thorough investigation, we have strong reason to believe that the peer review process was failure and, after review and contacting the authors, the editors of Genetics and Molecular Research decided to retract the article in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The authors and their institutions were advised of this serious breach of ethics.

Body fat differences by self-reported race/ethnicity in healthy term newborns

BACKGROUND

Ethnic differences in total body fat (fat mass [FM]) have been reported in adults and children, but the timing of when these differences manifest and whether they are present at birth are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess whether ethnic differences in body fat are present at birth in healthy infants born at term, where body fat is measured using air displacement plethysmography and fat distribution by skin-fold thickness.

METHODS

Data were from a multiracial cross-sectional convenience sample of 332 term infants from four racial or ethnic groups based on maternal self-report (A, Asian; AA, non-Hispanic Black [African-American]; C, non-Hispanic White; and H, Hispanic). The main outcome measure was infant body fat at 1-3 days after birth, with age, birth weight, gestational age and maternal pre-pregnancy weight as covariates.

RESULTS

Significant effects for race (P = 0.0011), sex (P = 0.0051) and a race by sex interaction (P = 0.0236) were found. C females had higher FM than C males (P = 0.0001), and AA females had higher FM than AA males (P = 0.0205). C males had less FM than A males (P = 0.0353) and H males (P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Race/ethnic and sex differences in FM are present in healthy term newborns. Although the implications of these differences are unclear, studies beginning in utero and birth set the stage for a life course approach to understanding disease later in life.

Clinical features and management of multifocal hepatic hemangiomas in children: a retrospective study

Multifocal hepatic hemangioma (MHH) is a benign hepatic tumor that is commonly diagnosed in children with multiple cutaneous infantile hemangiomas (IHs). We present a review of all children with MHH at our institutions. Of the 42 patients, the median age at presentation of MHH was 2.5 months. Thirty-six (85.7%) patients had cutaneous IHs. Twelve (28.6%) patients were symptomatic at presentation. There was no significant association between the number of hepatic hemangiomas and the number of cutaneous IHs. Fourteen (33.3%) patients received some form of treatment for hepatic hemangiomas. The most common type of treatment was oral prednisone in 8 patients, followed by oral propranolol in 6 patients. Two patients were totally resistant to prednisone treatment. They died from congestive heart failure or respiratory distress and coagulopathy. Two patients with problematic facial IH were treated with intralesional triamcinolone injection. The remaining 26 patients were managed with imaging surveillance. On follow-up, all of the survivors had a favorable outcome. Our study suggests that the clinical features of MHH are variable. Our data emphasize the treatment strategy that aggressive treatment is indicated in symptomatic or progressive MHHs, whereas observation management of asymptomatic patients with a few small lesions is safe and appropriate.

Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of important medicinal plant species in genus Paeonia based on rDNA-ITS, matK, and rbcL DNA barcode sequences

This study was performed to identify and analyze the phylogenetic relationship among four herbaceous species of the genus Paeonia, P. lactiflora, P. japonica, P. veitchii, and P. suffruticosa, using DNA barcodes. These four species, which are commonly used in traditional medicine as Paeoniae Radix and Moutan Radicis Cortex, are pharmaceutically defined in different ways in the national pharmacopoeias in Korea, Japan, and China. To authenticate the different species used in these medicines, we evaluated rDNA-internal transcribed spacers (ITS), matK and rbcL regions, which provide information capable of effectively distinguishing each species from one another. Seventeen samples were collected from different geographic regions in Korea and China, and DNA barcode regions were amplified using universal primers. Comparative analyses of these DNA barcode sequences revealed species-specific nucleotide sequences capable of discriminating the four Paeonia species. Among the entire sequences of three barcodes, marker nucleotides were identified at three positions in P. lactiflora, eleven in P. japonica, five in P. veitchii, and 25 in P. suffruticosa. Phylogenetic analyses also revealed four distinct clusters showing homogeneous clades with high resolution at the species level. The results demonstrate that the analysis of these three DNA barcode sequences is a reliable method for identifying the four Paeonia species and can be used to authenticate Paeoniae Radix and Moutan Radicis Cortex at the species level. Furthermore, based on the assessment of amplicon sizes, inter/intra-specific distances, marker nucleotides, and phylogenetic analysis, rDNA-ITS was the most suitable DNA barcode for identification of these species.

Letter to the Editor "Association between the interleukin-6-174 G/C polymorphism and risk of ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis", published in Genet. Mol. Res. 14 (4): 13076-13083 (2015)

Dear Editor, We read the article "Association between the interleukin-6-174 G/C polymorphism and risk of ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis" by Jin et al. (2015) with great interest. The authors searched the literature for data sources to analyze the relationship between interlerukin-6-174G/C and ischemic stroke. Their meticulousness in study selection and data extraction is highly commendable. Of all the studies included in this meta-analysis, we were particularly interested in the extraction of data reported by Banerjee et al. (2008). For this study, Jin et al. (2015) considered all the 176 patients in the ischemic-stroke group, although 64 of them had hemorrhagic stroke. According to pathology, ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke are two of the three main types of stroke (Rodgers, 2013). Each has several subtypes, with distinct underlying vascular pathologies; their pathogenesis has also been distinguished. Inflammation and genetic factors play an important role in the development of ischemic stroke (Gao et al., 2006; Jin et al., 2010). Moreover, ischemic stroke is characterized by thrombus, which is a complex process mainly induced by either hyper- or hypo-tension (Tong et al., 2016). On the contrary, hemorrhagic stroke is mainly attributed to various environmental and genetic risk factors, and is triggered by cerebral hemorrhage (Ikram et al., 2012). Ischemic stroke is usually accompanied by the occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation in patients, especially after thrombolytic therapy (Jickling et al., 2014). Thus, ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke involve related, but different processes. Ideally, Jin et al. (2015) should have considered data for the 112 patients with ischemic stroke for their meta-analysis, instead of those for all the 176 patients. The result of this study would also have been more accurate and reliable. Further, in the second paragraph of the discussion section in this paper, the authors stated that, "This is the first systematic study of the association between the IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism and ischemic stroke risk using meta-analysis." However, we would like to bring to your notice that there have been a few meta-analytical studies on the association between IL6-174G/C polymorphism and ischemic stroke (Ye et al., 2012; Kumar et al., 2015). The literature included in Ye et al. (2012) meta-analysis is not as extensive as that in the study by Jin et al. (2015). The study by Kumar et al. (2015) included more relevant literatures. The results of these three studies are similar. All of them concluded that IL-6-174G/C gene polymorphisms may not be associated with an increased susceptibility to ischemic stroke. Thus, we suggest more attention should be paid to these relevant studies. Undoubtedly, a more systematic and comprehensive approach to literature searching was required in the study by Jin et al. (2015).

[Early stage western hospitals in Harbin]

From 1900 to 1932, China Eastern Railway Central Hospital, Harbin Board First Hospital, Harbin Special City Second Hospital, Binjiang Hospital, Jewish Hospital, Kong's Hospital, Mingming Ophthalmic Hospital and other western medicine hospitals were established in Harbin. These Hospitals had different sources of funds and talents, different consumers, including general hospitals and specialized hospitals with integration of clinic, education and academic research, which encouraged the dissemination of western medicine in Harbin at the beginning of the 20th century.

Illegitimate RAG-mediated recombination events are involved in IKZF1 Δ3-6 deletion in BCR-ABL1 lymphoblastic leukaemia

Breakpoint cluster region-Abelson murine leukaemia viral oncogene homologue 1 (BCR-ABL1), encoded by the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, is the characteristic of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and a subset of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). We demonstrated that expression of the Ik6 transcript, which lacked exons 3-6, was observed exclusively in BCR-ABL1(+) B ALL and lymphoid blast crisis CML (BC-CML) patients harbouring the IKZF1 Δ3-6 deletion. To confirm the hypothesis that illegitimate recombination activating gene protein (RAG)-mediated recombination events are involved in IKZF1 Δ3-6 deletion in BCR-ABL1 lymphoblastic leukaemia, we first demonstrated that the expression rates of RAG1 and RAG2, collectively called RAG, were higher in ALL and BC-CML (lymphoid). Notably, analysis of relationships among RAG, BCR-ABL1 and Ikaros 6 (Ik6) showed that Ik6 can be generated only if RAG and BCR-ABL1 are co-existing. The sequencing data showed that the deleted segments of introns 2 and 6 contained cryptic recombination signal sequences (cRSSs) and frequently had non-template nucleotides inserted between breakpoints. Furthermore, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) technology and demonstrated that the sequences directly flanking IKZF1 Δ3-6 deletion breakpoints have significantly higher levels of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) modifications. Overall, RAG expression, good-quality cRSS and a specific chromatin modification, H3K4me3, satisfy the conditions of RAG's off-target effects on IKZF1. Our work provides evidence for RAG-mediated IKZF1 Δ3-6 deletion. Our results raise the prospect that RAG is a valuable biomarker in disease surveillance. Dissecting the contribution of RAG should not only provide valuable mechanistic insights, but will also lead to a new therapeutic direction.

[Composition of potassium channels in normal rat coronary smooth muscle cells and activation effects of docosahexaenoic acid]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the composition of potassium channels in normal rat coronary smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) and the activation effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

METHODS

CASMCs were isolated by enzyme digestion.Effects of different types of potassium channel blockers and/or DHA on potassium channels currents were studied by whole-cell patch clamp technique.

RESULTS

Potassium currents were significantly increased with 5 μmol/L DHA perfusion (P<0.05). The current density was increased from (52.80±6.68) pA/pF to (110.09±13.39) pA/pF (P<0.05) after DHA perfusion when the stimulation voltage was 100 mV.Compared with baseline, potassium currents were significantly decreased by various inhibitor perfusion (tetraethylammonium: (49.63±5.75) pA/pF vs. (13.96±2.18) pA/pF; ibritoxin: (50.67±7.89) pA/pF vs. (26.53±4.68) pA/pF; TRAM-34: (52.60±7.02) pA/pF vs. (46.05±7.60) pA/pF; apamin: (51.97±3.83) pA/pF vs. (44.89±5.04) pA/pF; 4-aminopyridine: (51.19±3.44) pA/pF vs. (29.92±2.81) pA/pF; glyburide: (49.67±1.77) pA/pF vs. (49.61±1.87) pA/pF, all P<0.05). In presence of different inhibitors, potassium channel current densities were increased after DHA perfusion except tetraethylammonium (tetraethylammonium: ( 12.79±1.89) pA/pF; ibritoxin: (67.08±5.54) pA/pF; TRAM-34: (117.91±21.79) pA/pF; apamin: (108.33±7.06) pA/pF; 4-aminopyridine: (127.73±20.56) pA/pF; glyburide: (121.53±13.83) pA/pF, all P<0.05 compared with baseline).

CONCLUSIONS

Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel and voltage-gated potassium channel are the major constituents of potassium channels in CASMCs.DHA can activate potassium channels in CASMCs, mainly the large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel, thus dilate coronary arteries.

Methylation of the RASSFIA promoter in breast cancer

Tumor suppressor genes are the key targets of hypermethylation in breast cancer and may therefore lead to malignancy by deregulation of cell growth and division. Our previous pilot study with pairs of malignant and normal breast tissues identified a correlation between RASSFIA gene methylation and breast cancer. To determine the relationship between RASSFIA methylation and breast cancer, we conducted a larger study. We took samples from 108 patients with breast cancer, 28 patients with benign breast tumors, and 33 subjects with normal breast tissues at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University at Wuxi between July 2013 and September 2015. We used the samples to investigate methylation levels of the RASSF1A gene for associations with breast cancer. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and methylation-specific PCR were used to investigate the levels of RASSF1A mRNA expression and RASSF1A methylation, respectively. RASSFIA was not expressed in 22 of the 108 breast cancer tissue samples (20.37%), and there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05); however, RASSFIA expression was significantly lower than that in the normal breast tissue samples (P < 0.05). Moreover, the methylation rate of the RASSFIA gene promoter was significantly higher in the breast cancer tissues (64.81%) than in the normal breast tissues (18.18%) and benign breast tumors (17.86%) (P < 0.05). High methylation of the RASSF1A gene promoter was an important reason for its downregulation, and the gene played a critical regulated role in the incidence and development of breast cancer.

[Clinical study of radiofrequency ablation combined with lauromacrogol for the treatment of parotid gland hemangioma in infants]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with lauromacrogol for the treatment of parotid gland hemangioma in infants.

METHODS

From Sep.2005 to Dec.2014,a total of 117 patients with parotid gland hemangioma were divided into observation group (n =32),control group 1 (n =30),control group 2 (n =28) and control group 3 (n =27).The observation group was treated by RFA combined with lauromacrogol, while the control group 1 was treated by RFA only, the control group 2 was treated by pingyangmycin only, and the control group 3 received additional pingyangmycin based on RFA. All the patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months, and the clinical effects were observed in four groups.

RESULTS

Control group 1:16 patients were cured (53.3％),and the number of patients with ≥2 treatments was 9.There was 1 case with skin ulceration,1 with abdominal discomfort,1 with liver function damage and 1 with high fever.Control group 2:17 patients were cured(60.7％),and number of patients with ≥2 treatments was 12.There were 3 cases with skin ulceration,9 with abdominal discomfort,6 with liver function damage and 5 with high fever.Control group 3:21 patients were cured(77.8％),and number of patients with ≥2 treatments was 2.There were 2 cases with skin ulceration,6 with abdominal discomfort,4 with liver function damage and 4 with high fever.However,in observation group,25 patients were cured(78.1％) and number of patients with ≥ 2 treatments was 4,which were significantly different from that in control group 1 or control group 2 (P ＜0.05).And the difference in postoperative adverse reactions between observation group and control group 2 or control group 3 was also of significance (2 with skin ulceration,1 with abdominal discomfort,1 with liver function damage and 6 with high fever,P ＜ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined RFA and lauromacrogol has a good therapeutic effect on parotid gland hemangioma with relatively low adverse effect, so it deserves to be suggested and applied in clinical practice.

[Docosahexaenoic acids activate large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels via phospholipase C- inositol triphosphate- calcium pathway in normal rat coronary smooth muscle cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mechanisms of docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) on activating large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BK channels) in normal rat coronary smooth muscle cells.

METHODS

Normal coronary smooth muscle cells were isolated by enzyme digestion from Sprague-Dawley rats. BK currents were recorded by patch clamp in whole cell and single channel configurations, respectively. The effects of DHA on cytosolic calcium concentrations were examined by recording the changes of fluorescence intensity ratios.

RESULTS

DHA (1 μmol/L) could activate BK channels. Open probabilities (NP0) of BK channels at test potential 60 mV, and calcium concentrations in external solution at 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 3, 10, 50 and 100 μmol/L were 0.002 7±0.000 4, 0.006 0±0.001 4, 0.097 2±0.010 6, 0.137 9±0.032 9, 0.468 7±0.163 7, 2.097 1±0.310 4 and 3.120 4±0.242 7, respectively (P<0.05, n=4). Before DHA perfusion, the fluorescence intensity ratio was 0.51±0.01, and the ratios were 0.53±0.02 and 0.55±0.01 after 0.001 and 0.01 μmol/L DHA perfusion, respectively (P>0.05, n≥5). The ratios were 0.64±0.01, 0.65±0.01, 0.70±0.01, 0.69±0.01, 0.68±0.01 and 0.67±0.02 after 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 5 and 10 μmol/L DHA perfusion, respectively, and EC50 was (0.04±0.02) μmol/L(P<0.05, n≥4). They were all higher than that before DHA perfusion. After incubating with phospholipase C (PLC) blocker U73122 and inositol triphosphate (IP3) blocker 2-APB, the ratios were 0.52±0.01 and 0.49±0.02 on the setting of 0.1 μmol/L DHA, respectively. Compared with control group(0.64±0.01), the ratios decreased after incubating with blockers (P<0.05, n≥4).

CONCLUSIONS

Docosahexaenoic acids can activate large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels by the pathway of PLC-IP3-Ca(2+) to increase cytosolic calcium concentration in normal coronary smooth muscle cells, dilate the coronary vessels and bestow protective effects on cardiovascular system.

BDNF pro-peptide regulates dendritic spines via caspase-3

The precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (proBDNF) is enzymatically cleaved, by either intracellular (furin/PC1) or extracellular proteases (tPA/plasmin/MMP), to generate mature BDNF (mBDNF) and its pro-peptide (BDNF pro-peptide). Little is known about the function of BDNF pro-peptide. We have developed an antibody that specifically detects cleaved BDNF pro-peptide, but not proBDNF or mBDNF. Neuronal depolarization elicited a marked increase in extracellular BDNF pro-peptide, suggesting activity-dependent regulation of its extracellular levels. Exposure of BDNF pro-peptide to mature hippocampal neurons in culture dramatically reduced dendritic spine density. This effect was mediated by caspase-3, as revealed by studies with pharmacological inhibitors and genetic knockdown. BDNF pro-peptide also increased the number of ‘elongated' mitochondria and cytosolic cytochrome c, suggesting the involvement of mitochondrial-caspase-3 pathway. These results, along with BDNF pro-peptide effects recently reported on growth cones and long-term depression (LTD), suggest that BDNF pro-peptide is a negative regulator of neuronal structure and function.

Oral atenolol therapy for proliferating infantile hemangioma: A prospective study

Propranolol, a lipophilic nonselective β-blocker, has recently been reported to be the treatment of choice for select types of infantile hemangiomas (IHs). Atenolol is a hydrophilic, selective β1-blocker and therefore may be not associated with side effects attributable to β2-adrenergic receptor blockade and lipophilicity. However, the efficacy and safety of atenolol in the treatment of IH are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atenolol in the treatment of proliferating IHs.A study of 76 infants between the ages of 5 to 20 weeks with superficial or mixed IH was conducted between August 2013 and March 2015. Oral atenolol was administered in a progressive schedule to 1 mg/kg per day in a single dose. Efficacy was assessed using the Hemangioma Activity Score (HAS) at weeks 0, 1, 4, 12, and 24. Safety was evaluated at weeks 0, 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24.In total, 70 patients completed 24 weeks of treatment. IH growth abruptly stopped for 93.4% of patients within the fourth week of treatment with atenolol. In ulcerated IHs, complete healing of the ulcerations occurred in an average treatment time of 5.5 weeks. Atenolol treatment promoted dramatic decreases in HAS scores after week 1. An "excellent" treatment response (compete or nearly complete resolution of the IH) was observed in 56.5% of patients at week 24. No significant hypoglycemia, bronchospasm, bradycardia, or hypotension occurred. The most common adverse event was diarrhea, followed by agitation and sleep disturbance.This study demonstrated that atenolol was effective and safe at a dose of 1 mg/kg per day for 24 weeks in the treatment of proliferating IHs.