Identification of potential crucial genes associated with vasculogenic mimicry in human osteosarcoma based on gene expression profile

We previously reported the presence of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in human osteosarcoma. However, the mechanistic basis of osteosarcoma VM remains unclear. Three hundred eighty-one upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 526 downregulated DEGs between human osteosarcoma cell line 143B and HOS cell exposed to Matrigel were screened out by microarray. GO categories such as "cell adhesion", "angiogenesis" were enriched in 143B group. PATHWAY analysis showed enriched TGF-beta, Wnt and VEGF signaling pathway in 143B group. The hub gene ITGA2 in signal-network of DEGs exhibited pro-VM and pro-metastasis effect. Our study provides fundamental data for further studies regarding molecules involved in osteosarcoma VM.

Electroacupuncture alleviates chemotherapy-induced pain through inhibiting phosphorylation of spinal CaMKII in rats

BACKGROUND

Current medical treatments for chemotherapy-induced pain (CIP) are either ineffective or have adverse side effects. Acupuncture may alleviate CIP, but its effectiveness against this condition has not been studied. Paclitaxel causes neuropathic pain in cancer patients.

METHODS

We evaluated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on paclitaxel-induced CIP in a rat model. Paclitaxel (2 mg/kg) or vehicle was injected (i.p.) on alternate days of 0-6. The resulting pain was treated with 10 Hz/2 mA/0.4 ms pulse EA for 30 min at the equivalent of human acupoint GB30 (Huantiao) once every other day between days 14 and 26. For sham control, EA needles were inserted into GB30 without stimulation. Von Frey filaments with bending forces of 2-8 g and 15 g were used to assess mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia, respectively, on day 13 and once every other day between 14-26 days and then for 2-3 weeks after EA treatment.

RESULTS

Compared to sham control, EA significantly alleviated paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia, as shown by less frequent withdrawal responses to the filaments. The alleviation of allodynia/hyperalgesia lasted up to 3 weeks after the EA treatment. EA significantly inhibited phosphorylation of Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the spinal cord. KN-93, a selective inhibitor of p-CaMKII, inhibited mechanical allodynia/hyperalgesia and p-CaMKII. 5-HT1A receptor antagonist blocked EA inhibition of allodynia/hyperalgesia and p-CaMKII.

CONCLUSIONS

Electroacupuncture activates 5-HT 1A receptors in the spinal cord and inhibits p-CaMKII to alleviate both allodynia and hyperalgesia. The data support acupuncture/EA as a complementary therapy for CIP.

SIGNIFICANCE

Electroacupuncture (EA) activates spinal 5-HT1A receptors to inhibit p-CaMKII to alleviate paclitaxel-induced pain. Acupuncture/EA may be used as a complementary therapy for CIP.

MiR-144 functions as tumor suppressor by targeting PIM1 in gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent types of malignant disease Worldwide. Mounting evidence has demonstrated the involvement of miRNAs in the development of GC. One of these miRNAs, miR-144 has been found aberrantly expressed in a variety of human malignancies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

GC tissues were collected from patients, and the level of miR-144 was determined by qRT-PCR. GC cell lines SGC7901 and AGS were used as model cell lines and the anti-tumor effect of miR-144 in both cells were examined. The level of miR-144 was restored in GC cells using miR-144 mimic. Moreover, the target gene of miR-144 wad identified.

RESULTS

In this study, our results showed that low miR-144 level significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis stage, TNM stage and differentiation degree. In addition, we found that miR-144 acted as a tumor suppressor in GC. Moreover, our findings showed that miR-144 exerted an anti-tumor effect by directly targeting RLIP76.

CONCLUSIONS

  miR-144 acts as a tumor suppressor in GC and it is a potential therapeutic target for GC treatment.

[Investigation of renal corticomedullary differentiation with age-related change on non-contrast-enhanced MRI]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between renal corticomedullary differentiation, renal cortical thickness and age-related changes with non-contrast-enhanced steady-state free precession(SSFP) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spatially selective inversion recovery(IR) pulse technology as well as its applied value .

METHODS

A total of 76 healthy volunteers had been recruited from August 2014 to June 2015 in First Hospital of China Medical University.All volunteers were divided into three groups: 2-40 years old, 41-60 years old, 61-80 years old. All 76 volunteers underwent non-contrast-enhanced steady-state free precession(SSFP) 3.0 T MRI scan using variable inversion times (TIs)(TI=1 000, 1 100, 1 200, 1 300, 1 400, 1 500, 1 600, 1 700 ms). The renal corticomedullary differentiation was observed and the signal intensity of renal cortex and medulla were measured respectively as well in order to calculate renal corticomedullary contrast ratio. Besides, renal cortical thickness and renal size were measured.

RESULTS

All 76 volunteers were successfully performed all the sequences of MRI scan, including 152 useful imaging of kidney in total. The renal corticomedullary differentiation was clearly shown in all subjects. There was negative correlation between the optimal inversion time(TI) and age(r=-0.65, P<0.01). Similarly, negative correlation was observed between renal corticomedullary contrast ratio and age(r=-0.35, P<0.01). The mean renal cortical thickness of all subjects was (5.33±0.71)mm and there were statistically significant difference among those different groups, which was negative-related with age(r=-0.79, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between sexuality and renal cortical thickness.Additionally, renal cortical thickness had no statistically significant difference in both sides of kidneys.

CONCLUSION

The renal corticomedullary differentiation is depicted clearly by means of non-contrast-enhanced steady-state free precession MRI with spatially selective inversion recovery pulse technology. The optimal inversion time decreases along with the increase of age. In the meanwhile, the renal cortical thickness could be measured truthfully and accurately.

Rapid and selective detection of viruses using virus-imprinted polymer films

We prepared a nanopatterned polymer film of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) via virus imprinting. The imprinted surface exhibited nanoscale cavities with the mean size of 120 ± 4 nm. These cavities demonstrated the ability to preferentially capture a target virus from an aqueous suspension of ultralow volume (5 μL) after only 1 minute of contact. Two inactivated viruses with similar shape, Influenza A (HK68) and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), were employed as model pathogens. The polymer film, which was first imprinted with HK68 and exposed sequentially to suspensions containing fluorescently labeled NDV and HK68, was able to preferentially bind HK68 at a capture ratio of 1 : 8.0. When we reversed the procedure and imprinted with NDV, the capture ratio was 1 : 7.6. These results were obtained within 20 minutes of static exposure. The suspensions contained viruses at concentrations close to those occurring physiologically in influenza infections. The limit of detection was approximately 8 fM. Production of virus-imprinted films can be readily scaled to large quantities and yields a disposable, simple-to-use device that allows for rapid detection of viruses.

Celecoxib inhibits cell growth and modulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases in human osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, on the growth inhibition of osteosarcoma and its potential anticancer mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63 was used as a model. The inhibitory effect of celecoxib on cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Flow cytometric analysis was used to detect the effects of celecoxib on cell cycle and apoptosis. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression of RECK, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in celecoxib-treated MG-63 cells.

RESULTS

MTT assays showed that at a range of concentrations (0-80 µg/ml), celecoxib significantly inhibited the MG-63 cell proliferation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of celecoxib was 47.5 µg/ml for 24 h-treatment and 19.2 µg/ml for 48 h-treatment. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that treatment with 20 µg/ml celecoxib led to a significant cell cycle arrest at S-phase and an enhancement of apoptosis induction in MG-63 cells at 24 or 48h. Moreover, compared with 24 h-treatment, 48 h-treatment induced more S-phase arrest and apoptosis in MG-63 cells. Western blot analyses revealed that the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was markedly down-regulated but RECK, an inhibitor of MMPs, was markedly up-regulated in MG-63 cells exposed to 20 µg/ml celecoxib for 24 or 48h. Furthermore, the effects of celecoxib on the expression of these molecules were more evident with the increase of treatment time.

CONCLUSIONS

Celecoxib inhibits the MG-63 cells proliferation through S-phase arrest and apoptosis induction. Celecoxib-induced down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and up-regulation of RECK may contribute to the apoptosis induction and an alteration in local tumor microenvironment. These findings suggest that celecoxib may exert at least in part of its anticancer effects via up-regulation of RECK to inhibit the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9.

Innervation of Extrahepatic Biliary Tract, With Special Reference to the Direct Bidirectional Neural Connections of the Gall Bladder, Sphincter of Oddi and Duodenum in Suncus murinus, in Whole-Mount Immunohistochemical Study

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is one of the most important symptoms in post-cholecystectomy syndrome. Using either electrical or mechanical stimulation and retrogradely transported neuronal dyes, it has been demonstrated that there are direct neural pathways connecting gall bladder and the sphincter of Oddi in the Australian opossum and the golden hamster. In the present study, we employed whole-mount immunohistochemistry staining to observe and verify that there are two different plexuses of the extrahepatic biliary tract in Suncus murinus. One, named Pathway One, showed a fine, irregular but dense network plexus that ran adhesively and resided on/in the extrahepatic biliary tract wall, and the plexus extended into the intrahepatic area. On the other hand, named Pathway Two, exhibiting simple, thicker and straight neural bundles, ran parallel to the surface of the extrahepatic biliary tract and passed between the gall bladder and duodenum, but did not give off any branches to the liver. Pathway Two was considered to involve direct bidirectional neural connections between the duodenum and the biliary tract system. For the first time, morphologically, we demonstrated direct neural connections between gall bladder and duodenum in S. murinus. Malfunction of the sphincter of Oddi may be caused by injury of the direct neural pathways between gall bladder and duodenum by cholecystectomy. From the viewpoint of preserving the function of the major duodenal papilla and common bile duct, we emphasize the importance of avoiding kocherization of the common bile duct so as to preserve the direct neural connections between gall bladder and sphincter of Oddi.

Treatment of vertebral body compression fractures using percutaneous kyphoplasty guided by a combination of computed tomography and C-arm fluoroscopy with finger-touch guidance to determine the needle entry point

This study aimed to evaluate the results and complications of image-guided percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) using computed tomography (CT) and C-arm fluoroscopy, with finger-touch guidance to determine the needle entry point. Of the 86 patients (106 PKP) examined, 56 were treated for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and 30 for vertebral tumors. All patients underwent image-guided treatment using CT and conventional fluoroscopy, with finger-touch identification of a puncture point within a small incision (1.5 to 2 cm). Partial or complete pain relief was achieved in 98% of patients within 24 h of treatment. Moreover, a significant improvement in functional mobility and reduction in analgesic use was observed. CT allowed the detection of cement leakage in 20.7% of the interventions. No bone cement leakages with neurologic symptoms were noted. All work channels were made only once, and bone cement was distributed near the center of the vertebral body. Our study confirms the efficacy of PKP treatment in osteoporotic and oncological patients. The combination of CT and C-arm fluoroscopy with finger-touch guidance reduces the risk of complications compared with conventional fluoroscopy alone, facilitates the detection of minor cement leakage, improves the operative procedure, and results in a favorable bone cement distribution.

Left upper lobectomy

This is a 32-year-old woman with a left peripheral lung lesion about 3 cm in diameter found by physical examination. Lung cancer of the left upper lobe is suspected in preoperative diagnosis.

DAMGO in the central amygdala alleviates the affective dimension of pain in a rat model of inflammatory hyperalgesia

Pain has sensory-discriminative and emotional-affective dimensions. Recent studies show that the affective component can be assessed with a conditioned place avoidance (CPA) test. We hypothesized that systemic morphine before a post-conditioning test would more potently attenuate the affective aspect compared to the sensory component and that [d-Ala2-N-Me-Phe4, Gly-ol5]-enkephalin (DAMGO), a μ-selective opioid receptor agonist, injected into the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) would reduce established CPA. A rat model of inflammatory pain, produced by a complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) injection into the hind paw, was combined with a CPA test. Three experiments were performed on adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Systemic morphine (0.5 or 1.0mg/kg) in Experiment 1, intrathecal (i.t.) morphine (2.5 μg/rat) in Experiment 2, and intra-CeA DAMGO (7.7-15.4 ng/0.4 μl) in Experiment 3 were given to CFA-injected rats (n=6-8/group) prior to a post-conditioning test. Saline-injected rats were used as control. Time spent in a pain-paired compartment was recorded twice, before conditioning and after a post-conditioning test. Paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to a noxious thermal stimulus was measured before experiment at day-1 and after the post-conditioning test; hyperalgesia was defined as a decrease in PWL. The data showed that CFA-injected rats had significantly negative CPA compared to those of saline-injected rats (P<0.05). Low-dosage systemic morphine significantly (P<0.05) reduced CFA-induced CPA but had no effect on PWL. I.t. morphine did not inhibit the display of CPA but significantly increased PWL, suppressing hyperalgesia (P<0.05). Intra-CeA DAMGO significantly inhibited the display of CPA compared to saline (P<0.05) but had no effect on PWL. The data demonstrate that morphine attenuates the affective component more powerfully than it does the sensory and suggests that the sensory and the emotional-affective dimensions are underpinned by different mechanisms.

Electroacupuncture alleviates affective pain in an inflammatory pain rat model

Pain has both sensory-discriminative and emotional-affective dimensions. Previous studies demonstrate that electroacupuncture (EA) alleviates the sensory dimension but do not address the affective. An inflammatory pain rat model, produced by a complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) injection into the hind paw, was combined with a conditioned place avoidance (CPA) test to determine whether EA inhibits spontaneous pain-induced affective response and, if so, to study the possibility that rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) opioids underlie this effect. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-275 g, Harlan) were used. The rats showed place aversion (i.e. affective pain) by spending less time in a pain-paired compartment after conditioning than during a preconditioning test. Systemic non-analgesic morphine (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited the affective reaction, suggesting that the affective dimension is underpinned by mechanisms different from those of the sensory dimension of pain. Morphine at 0.5 and at 1 mg/kg did not induce reward. Rats given EA treatment before pain-paired conditioning at GB 30 showed no aversion to the pain-paired compartment, indicating that EA inhibited the affective dimension. EA treatment did not produce reward or aversive effect. Intra-rACC administration of D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr amide (CTOP), a selective mu opioid receptor antagonist, but not norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI), a selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist, blocked EA inhibition of the affective dimension. These data demonstrate that EA activates opioid receptors in the rACC to inhibit pain-induced affective responses and that EA may be an effective therapy for both the sensory-discriminative and the affective dimensions of pain.

Electroacupuncture inhibition of hyperalgesia in an inflammatory pain rat model: involvement of distinct spinal serotonin and norepinephrine receptor subtypes

BACKGROUND

Although acupuncture analgesia is well documented, its mechanisms have not been thoroughly clarified. We previously showed that electroacupuncture (EA) activates supraspinal serotonin- and norepinephrine-containing neurones that project to the spinal cord. This study investigates the involvement of spinal alpha(2)-adrenoceptors (α2-ARs) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptors (5-HTRs) in EA effects on an inflammatory pain rat model.

METHODS

Inflammatory hyperalgesia was induced by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, 0.08 ml) into the plantar surface of one hind paw and assessed by paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to a noxious thermal stimulus. The selective α2a-AR antagonist BRL-44408, α2b-AR antagonist imiloxan hydrochloride, 5-HT2B receptor (5-HT2BR) antagonist SB204741, 5-HT3R antagonist LY278584, or 5-HT1AR antagonists NAN-190 hydrobromide, or WAY-100635 were intrathecally administered 20 min before EA or sham EA, which was given 2 h post-CFA at acupoint GB30.

RESULTS

EA significantly increased PWL compared with sham [7.20 (0.46) vs 5.20 (0.43) s]. Pretreatment with α2a-AR [5.35 (0.45) s] or 5-HT1AR [5.22 (0.38) s] antagonists blocked EA-produced anti-hyperalgesia; α2b-AR, 5-HT2BR, and 5-HT3R antagonist pretreatment did not. Sham plus these antagonists did not significantly change PWL compared with sham plus vehicle, indicating that the antagonists had little effect on PWL. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that α2a-ARs are on primary afferents and 5-HT1ARs are localized in N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) subunit NR1-containing neurones in the spinal dorsal horn.

CONCLUSIONS

The data show that α2a-ARs and 5-HT1ARs are involved in the EA inhibition of inflammatory pain and that the NMDA receptors are involved in EA action.