Proximal femoral nail antirotation internal fixation in treating intertrochanteric femoral fractures of elderly subjects

This study compared the effect of dynamic hip screw (DHS) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) in the treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fractures of elderly subjects and evaluated the effect of PFNA internal fixation. Two hundred and sixteen elderly patients with intertrochanteric femoral fracture who received treatment in Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Shandong, China were selected. They were divided into a PFNA group which adopted PFNA for internal fixation and a DHS group which adopted DHS for internal fixation, 108 cases in each group. The physical condition of the patients in the two groups were recorded on admittance. The fracture was typed according to Evans-Jensen classification criteria. Patients were followed up after surgery to evaluate the postoperative recovery and Harris score of hip joint function. Except for the length of hospital stay, the length of incision, interoperative blood loss, volume of drainage and duration of operation of the PFNA group were all superior to those of the DHS group (P less than 0.05); the incidence of postoperative complications of the PFNA group was lower than that of the DHS group (P less than 0.05); the early Harris score of the treatment was superior to that of the DHS group, and there was no remarkable difference (P>0.05). PFNA has more advantages than DHS in treating intertrochanteric femoral fracture of the elderly; hence it is worth wide application in clinical use.

MicroRNA-130b targets PTEN to mediate drug resistance and proliferation of breast cancer cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Multidrug resistance (MDR) correlates with treatment failure and poor prognosis among breast cancer patients. This study was aimed to investigate the possible mechanism by which microRNA-130b-3p (miR-130b) mediates the chemoresistance and proliferation of breast cancer. MiR-130b was found to be up-regulated in tumor tissues versus adjacent tissues of breast cancer, as well as in adriamycin (ADR) resistant breast cancer cell line (MCF-7/ADR) versus its parental line (MCF-7) and the non-malignant breast epithelial cell line (MCF-10A), demonstrating its crucial relevance for breast cancer biology. We identified that PTEN was a direct target of miR-130b and inversely correlated with miR-130b expression in breast cancer. Moreover, over-expression of miR-130b promoted drug resistance, proliferation and decreased apoptosis of MCF-7 cells, while suppression of miR-130b enhanced drug cytotoxicity and apoptosis, as well as reduced proliferation of MCF-7/ADR cells in vitro and in vivo. Particularly, miR-130b mediated the activity of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway as well as the chemoresistance and proliferation of breast cancer cell lines, which was partially blocked following knockdown of PTEN. Altogether, miR-130b targets PTEN to induce MDR, proliferation, and apoptosis via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This provides a novel promising candidate for breast cancer therapy.

Preparation of magnetic metal organic framework nanocomposites for efficient and selective adsorption of hemoglobin from bovine blood

Fe₃O₄@[Cu₃(btc)₂] particles were prepared and used for efficient and selective removal of abundant BHb from bovine blood.

Model Construction for Biological Age Based on a Cross-Sectional Study of a Healthy Chinese Han population

OBJECTIVES

Biological age (BA) has been proposed to evaluate the aging status in an objective way instead of chronological age (CA). The purpose of our study is to construct a more precise formula of BA in the cross-sectional study based on a largest-ever sample of our studies. This formula aims at better evaluation of body function and exploring the disciplines of aging in different genders and age stages.

METHODS

A total of 1,373 healthy Chinese Han (age range, 19-93 years) were recruited from five cities in China, including 581 males and 792 females. Physical examination, blood routine, blood chemistry, and other lab tests were performed to obtain a total of 74 clinical variables. Then, the principal component analysis (PCA) was used to select variables and estimate BA. The BA formula was further validated in a population with some diseases (n=266), including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, kidney diseases, pulmonary diseases, cancer and disorders in nervous system.

RESULTS

The BA formula was constructed as follows: BA = 0.358 (pulse pressure) + 0.258 (trail making test) - 11.552 (mitral valve E/A peak) + 26.383 (minimum intima-media thickness) + 31.965 (Cystatin C) + 0.163 (CA) - 3.902. In validation of the formula, BAs of patients were older than those of healthy persons. The BA accelerates faster in the middle-aged population than in the elderly population (>75 years old).

CONCLUSION

This BA formula can reflect health condition changes of aging better than CA in a Chinese Han population.

miR-379 Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Targeting Insulin-Like Factor-1

PURPOSE

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function. This study investigated the role of miR-379 on proliferation, invasion, and migration of VSMCs and explored underlying mechanisms thereof.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MicroRNA, mRNA, and protein levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. The proliferative, invasive, and migratory abilities of VSMCs were measured by CCK-8, invasion, and wound healing assay, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the target of miR-379.

RESULTS

Platelet-derived growth factor-bb was found to promote cell proliferation and suppress miR-379 expression in VSMCs. Functional assays demonstrated that miR-379 inhibited cell proliferation, cell invasion, and migration. Flow cytometry results further showed that miR-379 induced apoptosis in VSMCs. TargetScan analysis and luciferase report assay confirmed that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) 3'UTR is a direct target of miR-379, and mRNA and protein levels of miR-379 and IGF-1 were inversely correlated. Rescue experiments showed that enforced expression of IGF-1 sufficiently overcomes the inhibitory effect of miR-379 on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in VSMCs.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that miR-379 plays an important role in regulating VSMCs proliferation, invasion, and migration by targeting IGF-1.

Functional roles of sialylation in breast cancer progression through miR-26a/26b targeting ST8SIA4

Sialylation is one of the altered glycosylation patterns associated with cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the N-glycan profiles of breast cancer patients and cell lines to reveal sialylation associated with breast cancer progression, and provided new evidences of miRNA-mediated sialylation. MALDI-TOF MS analysis revealed that N-glycans found in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 featured increased levels of sialylation compared with adjacent tissues and normal breast epithelial cell MCF-10A. The expressional profiles of 20 sialyltransferase genes were then analyzed and found significantly different comparing breast cancer samples with adjacent tissues, and two breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 with different metastatic potential and MCF-10A cells. Tumor tissues and highly metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 exhibited higher levels of ST8SIA4. Knocking down ST8SIA4 in breast cancer cell lines significantly inhibited their malignant behaviors including cell proliferation and invasion in a sialyltransferase-dependent manner. By applying bioinformatic approaches for the prediction of miRNA targeting 3′-UTR of ST8SIA4, we identified ST8SIA4 as one of the miR-26a/26b-targeted genes. Further data analysis revealed the inversely related expression of ST8SIA4 and miR-26a/26b in breast cancer cells, tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues. The ability of miR-26a/26b to interact specifically with and regulate the 3′-UTR of ST8SIA4 was demonstrated via a luciferase reporter assay. The forced expression of miR-26a/26b was able to induce a decrease of ST8SIA4 level and also to affect breast cancer cells progression, while altered expression of ST8SIA4 in breast cancer cells modulated progression upon transfection with miR-26a/26b mimics or inhibiter. Taken together, these results indicate that changes in the glycosylation patterns and sialylation levels may be useful markers of the progression of breast cancer, as well as miR-26a/26b may be widely involved in the regulation of sialylation machinery by targeting ST8SIA4.

T-Cell Transfer Therapy Targeting Mutant KRAS in Cancer

We identified a polyclonal CD8+ T-cell response against mutant KRAS G12D in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes obtained from a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer. We observed objective regression of all seven lung metastases after the infusion of approximately 1.11×10¹¹ HLA-C*08:02-restricted tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes that were composed of four different T-cell clonotypes that specifically targeted KRAS G12D. However, one of these lesions had progressed on evaluation 9 months after therapy. The lesion was resected and found to have lost the chromosome 6 haplotype encoding the HLA-C*08:02 class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule. The loss of expression of this molecule provided a direct mechanism of tumor immune evasion. Thus, the infusion of CD8+ cells targeting mutant KRAS mediated effective antitumor immunotherapy against a cancer that expressed mutant KRAS G12D and HLA-C*08:02.

Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid Attenuates Angiotensin II Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation in Apolipoprotein E-deficient Mice by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is characterised by the infiltration of smooth muscle cell (SMC) apoptosis, inflammatory cells, neovascularisation, and degradation of the extracellular matrix. Previous work has shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and SMC apoptosis were increased both in a mouse model and human thoracic aortic aneurysm. However, whether the ER stress is activated in AAA formation and whether suppressing ER stress attenuates AAA is unknown.

METHODS

Human AAA and control aorta samples were collected. Expression of ER stress chaperones glucose-regulated protein (GRP)-78 and GRP-94 was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The effect of ER stress inhibitor tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) on AAA formation in angiotensin (Ang) II induced apolipoprotein E^-/- mice was explored. Elastin staining was used to observe the rupture of elastic fragmentation. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed, to detect the protein expression of ER stress chaperones and apoptosis molecules.

RESULTS

There was significant upregulation of GRP-78 and GRP-94 in aneurysmal areas of human AAA and Ang II induced ApoE^-/- mice (p < .05). TUDCA significantly attenuated the maximum diameters of abdominal aortas in Ang II induced ApoE^-/- mice (p < .05). TUDCA significantly reduced expression of ER stress chaperones and the apoptotic cell numbers (p < .05). Furthermore, TUDCA significantly reduced expression of apoptosis molecules, such as caspase-3, caspase-12, C/EBP homologous protein, c-Jun N-terminal kinase activating transcription factor 4, X-box binding protein, and eukaryotic initiation factor 2α in Ang II induced ApoE^-/- mice (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that ER stress is involved in human and Ang II induced AAA formation in ApoE^-/- mice. TUDCA attenuates Ang II induced AAA formation in ApoE^-/- mice by inhibiting ER stress mediated apoptosis.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide attenuates high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis by up-regulating SIRT1 expression and deacetylase activity

In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on high-fat-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recently, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of hepatocellular lipid metabolism. Here, we demonstrated that LBP up-regulates SIRT1 deacetylase activity and protein expression by enhancing the NAD⁺/NADH ratio. Subsequently, LBP promoted LKB1 deacetylation and AMPK phosphorylation via SIRT1-dependent signalling. We also found that LBP increases acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) protein expression and decreases fatty acid synthase (FAS) by activating the SIRT1/LKB1/AMPK pathway in vitro and in vivo. However, SIRT1 small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown reversed the LBP-mediated effects on ACC, FAS and ATGL. Moreover, LBP elevated carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 alpha (CPT-1α) expression by suppressing malonyl-CoA accumulation. Taken together, our data indicate that LBP plays a vital role in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism and that pharmacological activation of SIRT1 by LBP may be a strategy for the prevention of NAFLD.

Ultrasonic guided percutaneous ethanol injection with or without combined radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinomas

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate whether radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) improves treatment outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively included 66 HCC patients who received RFA or RFA plus PEI from February 2011 to January 2014 in Jingmen No. 1 People's Hospital. Moreover, 31 cases received RFA plus PEI as the experiment group and 35 subjects treated with RFA aloe as the control group. The overall survival and treatment related complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

For RFA group, the 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rate were 82.0%, 69.3%, and 30.7%, respectively, with the median survival time of 27.1 months. For RFA plus PEI group, the 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rate were 97.1%, 73.9%, and 37.5%, respectively, with the median survival time of 33.6 months. The overall survival of the two groups was not statistical different with the hazard ratio of 1.48 (P > 0.05); three cases of treatment associated complications were found in RFA group with 1 abscess, 1 pleural effusion, and 1 portal vein thrombosis. Moreover, 2 cases of complication were recorded in RFA plus PEI group with 1 pleural effusion and 1 portal vein thrombosis. The complicated incidence rate was not statistical different between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The combination treatment of HCC was safe and had a slightly higher primary effectiveness rate than RFA alone.

Rare Variation in TET2 Is Associated with Clinically Relevant Prostate Carcinoma in African Americans

BACKGROUND

Common variants have been associated with prostate cancer risk. Unfortunately, few are reproducibly linked to aggressive disease, the phenotype of greatest clinical relevance. One possible explanation is that rare genetic variants underlie a significant proportion of the risk for aggressive disease.

METHOD

To identify such variants, we performed a two-stage approach using whole-exome sequencing followed by targeted sequencing of 800 genes in 652 aggressive prostate cancer patients and 752 disease-free controls in both African and European Americans. In each population, we tested rare variants for association using two gene-based aggregation tests. We established a study-wide significance threshold of 3.125 × 10-5 to correct for multiple testing.

RESULTS

TET2 in African Americans was associated with aggressive disease, with 24.4% of cases harboring a rare deleterious variant compared with 9.6% of controls (FET P = 1.84 × 10-5, OR = 3.0; SKAT-O P = 2.74 × 10-5). We report 8 additional genes with suggestive evidence of association, including the DNA repair genes PARP2 and MSH6 Finally, we observed an excess of rare truncation variants in 5 genes, including the DNA repair genes MSH6, BRCA1, and BRCA2 This adds to the growing body of evidence that DNA repair pathway defects may influence susceptibility to aggressive prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that rare variants influence risk of clinically relevant prostate cancer and, if validated, could serve to identify men for screening, prophylaxis, and treatment.

IMPACT

This study provides evidence that rare variants in TET2 may help identify African American men at increased risk for clinically relevant prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(11); 1456-63. ©2016 AACR.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel 3-O-descladinosylazithromycin derivatives

Novel series of novel 3-O-arylalkylcarbamoyl descladinosylazithromycin derivatives with the 2'-O-acetyl and 11,12-cyclic carbonate groups, the 11,12-cyclic carbonate group and the 11-O-arylalkylcarbamoyl side chain, and 2'-O-arylalkylcarbamoyl descladinosylazithromycin with the 11,12-cyclic carbonate group were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial activity using broth microdilution method. The results showed that the majority of the target compounds showed moderate to favorable activity against six kinds of susceptible strains and almost all of them displayed significantly improved activity compared with references against three erythromycin-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae B1 expressing the ermB gene, S. pneumoniae AB11 expressing the ermB and mefA genes, and S. pyogenes R1. In particular, compound 6h exhibited the most potent activity against susceptible B. subtilis ATCC9372 (0.5 μg/mL), penicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (0.125 μg/mL), and erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae B1 (1 μg/mL) and S. pneumoniae AB11 (1 μg/mL), which were 2-, 2-, 256-, 256-fold better activity than azithromycin, respectively. Additionally, compounds 6f (0.5 μg/mL) and 6g (0.25 μg/mL) were the most active against S. pneumoniae A22072, which were 8- and 16-fold better activity than azithromycin (4 μg/mL). As for erythromycin-resistant S. pyogenes R1, compound 5a presented the most excellent activity (8 μg/mL), showing 32- and 32-fold higher activity than azithromycin (256 μg/mL) and clarithromycin (256 μg/mL).

Dynamin-related protein Drp1 is required for Bax translocation to mitochondria in response to irradiation-induced apoptosis

Translocation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax from the cytosol to the mitochondria is a crucial step in DNA damage-mediated apoptosis, and is also found to be involved in mitochondrial fragmentation. Irradiation-induced cytochrome c release and apoptosis was associated with Bax activation, but not mitochondrial fragmentation. Both Bax and Drp1 translocated from the cytosol to the mitochondria in response to irradiation. However, Drp1 mitochondrial translocation and oligomerization did not require Bax, and failed to induce apoptosis in Bax deficient diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells. Using fluorescent microscopy and the intensity correlation analysis, we demonstrated that Bax and Drp1 were colocalized and the levels of colocalization were increased by UV irradiation. Using co-immuno-precipitation, we confirmed that Bax and Drp1 were binding partners. Irradiation induced a time-associated increase in the interaction between active Bax and Drp1. Knocking down Drp1 using siRNA blocked UV irradiation-mediated Bax mitochondrial translocation. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate for the first time, that Drp1 is required for Bax mitochondrial translocation, but Drp1-induced mitochondrial fragmentation alone is not sufficient to induce apoptosis in DLBCL cells.

Aluminum alkoxide, amide and halide complexes supported by a bulky dipyrromethene ligand: synthesis, characterization, and preliminary ε-caprolactone polymerization activity

Aluminum halide, alkoxide and amide complexes 2-6 of the form (N,N)AlX2-nYn (n = 0, 1 and (N,N) = 1,9-dimesityl-5-phenyldipyrromethene (1)) were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The in situ generated lithium salt of dipyrromethene 1 was reacted with AlX3 to afford aluminum halide complexes (N,N)AlX2 (X = Cl (2), I (3)) which were isolated as dichroic crystals. Salt metathesis reactions were employed to produce alkoxide complexes (N,N)Al(Cl)(O(t)Bu) (4) and (N,N)Al(O(t)Bu)2 (5) from compound 2. The dimethylamide complex (N,N)Al(NMe2)2 (6) was prepared by reaction of dipyrromethene 1 with [Al(NMe2)3]2. Crystallographic data revealed that the dipyrromethene is non-planar when bulky coligands are present as in compounds 3-6, while in the dichloride complex 2 the dipyrromethene is planar. Halide complexes 2 and 3 reacted with adventitious moisture in toluene to afford crystalline acid-base adducts (N,N)H·HX, (X = Cl (7), I (8)), which adopted structures reminiscent of anion receptors. Alkoxide and dimethylamide complexes 5 and 6 were also applied as precatalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and preliminary results are reported.