PRRX1/FOXM1 reduces gemcitabin-induced cytotoxicity by regulating autophagy in bladder cancer

Background

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common urological malignancy with high mortality worldwide. Many proteins can influence tumorigenesis by participating in cellular processes. Recently, abundant evidence has illustrated that paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is closely related to the progression and development of human cancers. However, the function of PRRX1 in BC remains poorly understood. The aim of our study is to explore the role of PRRX1 in BC progression.

Methods

The expression of genes (PRRX1, FOXM1, LC3B, and Beclin-1) was examined through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot. The expression of proteins (PRRX1, FOXM1, LC3B, and Beclin-1) was measured through immunohistochemistry. Cell viability and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration were detected using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed through flow cytometry. Autophagy was tested by GFP-LC3 immunofluorescence assay. Tumors were grown in nude mice in vivo, and the tumor size, volume, and weight were evaluated.

Results

In our study, PRRX1 was highly expressed in BC tissues and cells, and high PRRX1 expression resulted in poor overall survival in patients with BC. PRRX1 accelerated the viability and hindered the apoptosis of BC cells. It also weakened gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity and strengthened gemcitabine-induced autophagy. PRRX1 was found to cooperate with forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) to influence downstream genes, and FOXM1 was found to regulate Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) genes to influence autophagy. PRRX1 up-regulated the expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 by cooperating with FOXM1. In rescue assays, FOXM1 reversed the effects of PRRX1 on gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity and autophagy. Knockdown of PRRX1 enhanced the inhibitive effects of gemcitabine on tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusions

PRRX1 reduces gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity in BC cells by regulating the expression of the autophagy proteins LC3 and Beclin-1. This discovery suggests that PRRX1 may be a useful therapeutic biomarker for BC.

Ultrafast Internal Exciton Dissociation through Edge States in MoS2 Nanosheets with Diffusion Blocking

Edge states of two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are crucial to quantum circuits and optoelectronics. However, their dynamics are pivotal but remain unclear due to the edge states being obscured by their bulk counterparts. Herein, we study the state-resolved transient absorption spectra of ball-milling-produced MoS₂ nanosheets with 10 nm lateral size with highly exposed free edges. Electron energy loss spectroscopy and first-principles calculations confirm that the edge states are located in the range from 1.23 to 1.78 eV. Upon above bandgap excitations, excitons populate and diffuse toward the boundary, where the potential gradient blocks excitons and the edge states are formed through interband transitions within 400 fs. With below bandgap excitations, edge states are slowed down to 1.1 ps due to the weakened valence orbital coupling. These results shed light on the fundamental exciton dissociation processes on the boundary of functionalized TMDCs, enabling the ground work for applications in optoelectronics and light-harvesting.

[Application of three risk assessment methods to noise risk assessment in an automobile foundry enterprise]

Objective: To explore the applicability of three different kinds of noise occupational health risk assessment methods to the occupational health risk assessment of noise exposed positions in an automobile foundry enterprise. Methods: In July 2020, the occupational-health risk assessment of noise-exposed positions was conducted by using the Guidelines for risk management of occupational noise hazard (guideline method) , the International Commission on Mining and Metals Guidelines for Occupational Health Risk Assessment (ICMM) method and the Occupational-health risk index method (index method) respectively, and the results were analyzed and compared. Results: Through the occupational health field investigation, the noise exposure level of the enterprise's main workstations was between 80.3 and 94.8 dB (A) , among which the noise of the posts of shaking-sand, cleaning and modeling was greater than 85 dB (A) ; The noise risk of each position was evaluated by the three methods, and the adjustment risk level was between 2 and 5 assessed using the guideline method, between 2 and 3 assessed using the index method, and 5 evaluated using the ICMM model. Conclusion: Each of the three risk assessment methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. The ICMM model has a large difference in value assignment, and values in the results are larger than expected. The evaluation results of the guideline method and the index method are consistent in some positions, there is certain subjectivity in the evaluation using the index method, and the guideline method is more objective.

[Safety evaluation of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with local advanced gastric cancer after radical resection for prevention of peritoneal metastasis]

Objective: Patients with advanced gastric cancer have a poor prognosis and a possibility of peritoneal metastasis even if receiving gastrectomy. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can effectively kill free cancer cells or small lesions in the abdominal cavity. At present, preventive HIPEC still lacks safety evaluation in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. This study aims to explore the safety of radical resection combined with HIPEC in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. Methods: A descriptive case series study was carried out. Clinicopathological data of 130 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who underwent radical resection + HIPEC at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2020 to February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Inclusion criteria: (1) locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma confirmed by postoperative pathology; (2) no distant metastasis was found before surgery; (3) radical resection; (4) at least one HIPEC treatment was performed. Exclusion criteria: (1) incomplete clinicopathological data; (2) tumor metastasis was found during operation; (3) concomitant with other tumors. HIPEC method: all the patients received the first HIPEC immediately after D2 radical resection, and returned to the ward after waking up from anesthesia; the second and the third HIPEC were carried out according to the patient's postoperative recovery and tolerance; interval between two HIPEC treatments was 48 h. Observation indicators: (1) basic information, including gender, age, body mass index, etc.; (2) treatment status; (3) perioperative adverse events: based on the standard of common adverse events published by the US Department of Health and Public Health (CTCAE 5.0), the adverse events of grade 2 and above during the treatment period were recorded, including hypoalbuminemia, bone marrow cell reduction, wound complications, abdominal infection, lung infection, gastroparesis, anemia, postoperative bleeding, anastomotic leakage, intestinal obstruction, pleural effusion, abdominal distension, impaired liver function, and finally a senior professional title chief physician reviewed the above adverse events and made a safety evaluation of the patient; (4) association between times of HIPEC treatment and adverse events in perioperative period; (5) analysis of risk factors for adverse events in perioperative period. Results: Among the 130 patients, 79 were males and 51 were females with a median age of 59 (54, 66) years and an average body mass index of (23.9±7.4) kg/m(2). The tumor size was (5.4±3.0) cm and 100 patients (76.9%) had nerve invasion. All the 130 patients received radical resection + HIPEC and 125 (96.2%) patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. The mean operative time was (345.6±52.3) min and intraoperative blood loss was (82.0±36.5) ml. One HIPEC treatment was performed in 54 patients (41.5%), 2 HIPEC treatments were in 57 (43.8%), and 3 HIPEC treatments were in 19 (14.6%). The average postoperative hospital stay was (13.1±7.5) d. A total of 57 patients (43.8%) had 71 cases of postoperative complications of different degrees. Among them, the incidence of hypoalbuminemia was 22.3% (29/130), and the grade 2 and above anemia was 15.4% (20/130), lung infection was 3.8% (5/130), bone marrow cell suppression was 3.7% (4/130), abdominal cavity infection was 2.3% (3/130), and liver damage was 2.3% (3/130), wound complications was 1.5% (2/130), abdominal distension was 1.5% (2/130), anastomotic leakage was 0.8% (1/130), gastroparesis was 0.8% (1/130) and intestinal obstruction was 0.8% (1/130), etc. These adverse events were all improved by conservative treatments. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse events during the perioperative period among patients undergoing 1, 2, and 3 times of HIPEC treatments (all P>0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses showed that age > 60 years (OR: 2.346, 95%CI: 1.069-5.150, P=0.034) and neurological invasion (OR: 2.992, 95%CI: 1.050-8.523, P=0.040) were independent risk factors for adverse events in locally advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing radical resection+HIPEC (both P<0.05). Conclusions: Radical surgery + HIPEC does not significantly increase the incidence of perioperative complications in patients with advanced gastric cancer. The age >60 years and nerve invasion are independent risk factors for adverse events in these patients.

[Cumulative noise exposure and the risk of high-frequency hearing loss relationships]

Objective: To explore the dose-response relationship between cumulative noise exposure and high-frequency hearing loss, and further to provide a basis for the control of occupational hazards of noise. Methods: A Meta-analysis of dose-response relationships was performed on the data of eligible literatures published in China from January 2000.1 to December 2019.12. Results: The initial combined Odds Ratio (OR) and its 95%CI in the Meta-analysis were 1.10 (1.08-1.12) . As the Begg's funnel plot and Egger's test indicated publication bias (t=5.97, P<0.01) , the Trim-and-Fill Method was used for OR value adjustment. The adjusted-OR was 1.09 (1.07-1.12) ; sensitivity analysis showed that the results of this Meta-analysis have high stability; subgroup analysis indicated that the ORs of the steady-state noise group and the non-steady-state noise group were 1.10 (1.08-1.12) and 1.14 (1.07-1.21) , the ORs of the old standard group and the new standard group were 1.10 (1.08-1.12) and 1.11 (1.00-1.24) , respectively. The nonlinear dose-response relationship curve demonstrated that the risk of high-frequency hearing loss increases rapidly after CNE reaches 95 dB (A) ·years. Conclusion: There is a definite dose-response relationship between CNE and high-frequency hearing loss, which can be used to predict the risk of high-frequency hearing loss in noisy workers.

Effects of postoperative atorvastatin use in elderly patients with chronic subdural hematoma

OBJECTIVE

Atorvastatin has been suggested to reduce hematoma volume and improve neurological outcomes in patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). However, the benefits and harms of atorvastatin use after surgery in elderly patients are not well studied.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective trial to analyze older people (> 60 years) with CSDH, those who were treated with surgical intervention. Patients were assigned to study group if they received oral atorvastatin after surgery at least 1 week, and patients without atorvastatin medication postoperatively were assigned to control group. The primary outcome was the overall rate of recurrence at 1 month after surgery. The main secondary endpoints were the scores on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), hematoma volume, mortality, and complications after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 49 eligible patients were included - 21 in the study group and 28 in the control group. The baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. At 1 month, recurrence of subdual hematoma requiring repeat surgery was reported in 4 of 21 patients (19.0%) in the study group and in 5 of 28 patients (17.9%) in the control group (p=0.915). The hematoma volume was similar between the 2 groups (p=0.979). A favorable outcome (a score of 2 or less on the mRS) occurred in 90.5% of patients in the study group and in 96.4% of those in the control group (p=0.390).

CONCLUSIONS

In older people with CSDH, postoperative atorvastatin use barely reduces the incidence of recurrence and hematoma volume.

[The Museum of Western Studies on Chinese Medicine:Chinese medicine in the western societies]

The historical artifacts displayed in the Museum of Western study on Chinese Medicine at Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine came from a variety of Chinese medical schools in America and European countries. They are in the memorial galleries for some well-known figures, such as George Soulié de Morant (Su Lie), Jacques-André Lavier (La Wei Ai), Felix Mann (Man Fu Li) and Manfred Porkert (Man Xi Bo), representing the development and status of respective Chinese medical schools in America and European countries. The displayed artifacts are nearly 3,000 photos, manuscripts, documents and more than 500 hours of audiovisual materials, including instruments for acupuncture and moxibustion, books, passports, letters and even supplies for their life. The displayed artifacts demonstrate the process and the access of people in the western societies to know, learn and take use of Chinese medicine.

[Investigation on high-frequency hearing loss of noise workers in an automobile factory]

Objective: To investigate the high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) of workers in an automobile factory and its influencing factors, so as to provide a scientific basis for occupational health management of noise workers. Methods: From March to July 2019, 2647 workers from an automobile factory were selected as the research objects by cluster sampling method. The basic personal information (such as gender, age, education level, height, weight, etc.) , history of ear disease, the history of detonation, history of exposure to ototoxic drugs, history of exposure to occupational noise, etc., were investigated by questionnaire and occupational health examination. Chi-square test was used to compare the detection rates of HFHL in different populations, and multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of HFHL. Results: The noise level of 2647 individual workers ranged from 75.0 dB (A) to 92.0 dB (A) , with an average of (84.14±2.47) dB (A) . The detection rate of HFHL was 17.2% (456/2647) . There were significant differences in the the detection rate of HFHL among workers of different gender, age, educational level, working age, noise exposure level, diabetes history, detonation history, smoking and drinking workers (P<0.05) . Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male, age ≥30 years old, smoking and noise exposure were risk factors for HFHL (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The detection rate of HFHL in automobile factory workers is high. Gender, age, smoking and noise are the influencing factors of HFHL. It is necessary to strengthen the noise control in the workplace and guide workers to choose healthy lifestyle.

[A local case with alveolar echinococcosis in Nanzhang County, Hubei Province]

The diagnosis and treatment of a local case with alveolar echinococcosis was presented. Based on clinical data and epidemiological surveys, this is a rare, local case with alveolar echinococcosis in Nanzhang County, suggesting the possibility of local transmission of echinococcosis. The prevention, control and surveillance of echinococcosis requires to be reinforced in nonendemic areas.

Isoalantolactone Increases the Sensitivity of Prostate Cancer Cells to Cisplatin Treatment by Inducing Oxidative Stress

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among men worldwide. Platinum (II)-based chemotherapy has been used to treat a number of malignancies including prostate cancer. However, the potential of cisplatin for treating prostate cancer is restricted owing to its limited efficacy and toxic side effects. Combination therapies have been proposed to increase the efficacy and reduce the toxic side effects. In the present study, we investigated how isoalantolactone (IATL), a sesquiterpene lactone extracted from the medicinal plant Inula helenium L., acts synergistically with cisplatin on human prostate cancer cells. We show that IATL significantly increased cisplatin-induced growth suppression and apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. Mechanistically, the combined treatment resulted in an excessive accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to the activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the JNK signaling pathway in human prostate cancer cells. Pretreatment of cells with the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly abrogated the combined treatment-induced ROS accumulation and cell apoptosis. In addition, the activation of ER stress and the JNK signaling pathway prompted by IATL and cisplatin was also reversed by NAC pretreatment. In vivo, we found that IATL combined with cisplatin showed the strongest antitumor effects compared with single agents. These results support the notion that IATL and cisplatin combinational treatment may be more effective for treating prostate cancer than cisplatin alone.