Body mass index and the risk of mortality among Chinese adults with Type 2 diabetes

AIMS

To examine the associations between BMI and the risks of all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD)-specific and cancer-specific mortality among people with Type 2 diabetes, and thus provide recommendations for weight management in the population.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted among 52 763 people with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2014 in Shanghai, China. All cases of death were identified by linking to the Shanghai Vital Statistics. Some 52 488 people were included in the analysis. Survival curves for people with different BMI categories were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard models within or without restricted cubic spline functions were applied to examine the potential non-linear or linear relationship between BMI and the risk of mortalities respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 4777 deaths were identified during an average of 6-year follow-up. An L-shaped association was observed between BMI and all-cause mortality in men (P for overall association < 0.001 and P for non-linearity < 0.001) while a U-shaped association was found in women (P for overall association < 0.001 and P for non-linearity< 0.001). In men, no significant association was observed for BMI with cancer-specific and CVD-specific mortality. In women, an increased risk of cancer-specific mortality was observed with increasing BMI, whereas decreasing BMI was associated with the increased CVD-specific mortality rate.

CONCLUSION

The increased all-cause mortality in men with low BMI and in women with either low or high BMI indicate the importance of keeping BMI in a normal range for Chinese adults with Type 2 diabetes.

[Protective effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine against binge drinking-induced fatty liver in mice]

Objective: To investigate the roles of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) against binge drinking-induced fatty liver in mice. Methods: SPF male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e. control group, model group, and NAC/ethanol group (n=10). Mice in model and NAC/ethanol groups were exposed to 3 doses of ethanol (6 g/kg bw) to induced fatty liver, while mice in control group received equal volume and equal energy of maltodextrin solution. NAC was administered to mice at 1 h before ethanol exposure (100 mg/kg bw, i.p.). The mice were sacrificed at 6 h after the last ethanol exposure. The liver and epididymal adipose tissues were collected. Histopathological examination and biochemical assay kit were used to evaluate the fat accumulation, while Western-blot was performed to detect the protein levels of some key factors involved in fat metabolism in liver and adipose tissues. Results: Compored with control group mice, the liver index and liver weight were significantly increased compared with model group, the liver index and TG level in NAC/ethanol group mice were all significantly decreased (P<0.05). Histological examination showed NAC effectively suppressed binge drinking-induced fat accumulation in mice liver. In addition, NAC had no significant effects on the protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), Acy-CoA oxidase (ACOX), sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 c (SREBP-1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Furthermore, the protein levels of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) did not significantly differ among 3 groups, whereas NAC prevented binge drinking-induced increase of HSL phosphorylation at ser563 and ser660. Conclusion: NAC could effectively attenuate binge drinking-induced fatty liver, which might be associated with the inhibition of lipid mobilization by suppressing the phosphorylation of HSL.

A statistical tool for risk assessment as a function of the number of lymph nodes retrieved from rectal cancer patients

AIM

Although a minimum of 12 lymph nodes (LNs) has been recommended for examination in colorectal cancer patients there remains considerable debate with regard to rectal cancer. Inadequacy of examined LNs could lead to understaging and inappropriate treatment as a consequence. We describe a statistical tool that allows an estimate of the probability of false-negative nodes.

METHOD

A total of 26 778 patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 with rectal adenocarcinoma [tumour stage (T stage) 1-3] who did not receive neoadjuvant therapies and had at least one histologically assessed LN were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. A statistical tool using beta-binomial distribution was developed to estimate the probability of missing a positive node as a function of the total number of LNs examined and T stage.

RESULTS

The probability of falsely identifying a patient as node-negative decreased with increasing number of nodes examined for each stage. It was estimated to be 72%, 66% and 52% for T1, T2 and T3 patients, respectively, with a single node examined. To confirm an occult nodal disease with 90% confidence, 5, 9 and 29 nodes need to be examined for patients from stages T1, T2 and T3, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The false-negative rate of the examined LNs in rectal cancer was verified to be dependent preoperatively on the clinical T stage. A more accurate nodal staging score was developed to recommend a threshold for the minimum number of examined nodes with regard to the favoured level of confidence.

[Effectiveness and safety of argon plasma coagulation via thoracoscopy on the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax with subpleural bullae]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of argon plasma coagulation (APC) via thoracoscopy on the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax with subpleural blebs. Methods: Thirty patients with spontaneous pneumothorax with subpleural blebs were retrospectively analyzed during the period of Nov, 2012 to June, 2015 in Rizhao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to the classification of pulmonary bullae through medical thoracoscopy by Reid, type Ⅱand partial type Ⅲ pulmonary bullae (2 cm ≤ diameter <5 cm) were coagulated by argon, and pleural adhesions were mutilated by high frequency electrocision. Two years' follow-up was carried out to observe short-term and long term effect. Results: Thirty-nine pulmonary bullae were found in thirty patients, mainly in the upper lung (28 cases, 71.8%), including 28 type Ⅱ bullae (71.8%), 11 type Ⅲ bullae (28.2%) and most of them were single transparent bullae (24/39, 61.5%). Follow-up of short-term (72 h) effective rate was 70.0% and long-term effective rate was 89.3%. Conclusion: The application of APC via thoracoscopy in the treatment of subpleural bullae is safe and effective.

[Audiological basis of continuing to wear hearing aids in the contralateral ear of young children after cochlear implantation]

Objective: To study the accuracy of preoperative-ASSR in predicting behavioral thresholds of children at low age with profound hearing loss and to evaluate the feasibility of using hearing aids in non-operating ear after the cochlear implantation.Method: Children aged less than 2 years old at the time of surgery were selected as study subjects.The preoperative ASSR response threshold in 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kHz were recorded.The play audiometry test was used to get the non operative ear behavioral thresholds of the children after three years old. Altogether 179 children with good cooperation and reliable results were enrolled in this study. The results of behavioral thresholds were made a comparison with the results of ASSR response threshold with corresponding frequency before operation for statistical analysis.Result: The behavioral threshold is better than corresponding ASSR response threshold with significant differences(P<0.01). Prediction rates of ASSR response threshold corresponding to behavioral thresholds from 0.5 kHz to 4.0 kHz are 49.7%, 70.9%, 59.2% and 60.9%.There are cases at all frequencies where ASSR showed no reaction but a behavioral thresholds were detected. The proportions of undrawn ASSR reaction at each frequency were 83.3%,75.5%,64.9%,45.1%.Conclusion: In profound hearing loss, the deviation between preoperative ASSR response thresholds and postoperative behavioral thresholds exists, especially in low frequency. No ASSR reaction in clinic cannot represent that there is no measurable hearing threshold. We suggest children at low age continue to wear hearing aids in the non operative ear after cochlear implantation. Whether to give up hearing aids should be judged after gaining the behavioral audiometry to avoid missing the bimodal opportunity.

Three-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and its correlation with the expressions of serum HIF-1α, HO-1 and VEGF

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between three-dimensional echocardiography and the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with myocardial infarction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with three-dimensional echocardiography and 40 patients receiving normal physical examination were selected. According to whether the disease occurred, they were divided into the myocardial infarction group and the normal group. Relevant indexes of two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography and the expressions of HO-1, HIF-1α and VEGF in the myocardial infarction group and the normal group were compared. Besides, the correlation of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by three-dimensional echocardiography with HIF-1α area, HO-1 area and VEGF area was analyzed.

RESULTS

The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) in the myocardial infarction group was significantly larger than that in the normal group (p<0.05), while the left ventricular inferior wall thickness (LVIWT) and LVEF in the myocardial infarction group were significantly smaller than those in the normal group (p<0.05). The global end-diastolic volume (GEDV) and global end-systolic volume (GESV) measured by three-dimensional echocardiography in the myocardial infarction group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (p<0.05), while the level of GEF in the myocardial infarction group was lower than that in the normal group; the levels of HIF-1α, HO-1 and VEGF in the myocardial infarction group were significantly higher than those in normal group (p<0.05). LVEF measured by three-dimensional echocardiography was negatively correlated with HIF-1α area, HO-1 area and VEGF area (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Three-dimensional echocardiography significantly improves the diagnostic value of patients with myocardial infarction, and its index, LVEF, is negatively correlated with the expressions of serum HIF-1α, HO-1 and VEGF, which can be used for evaluating cardiac functions and predicting the prognosis of patients.

A vicious loop of fatty acid-binding protein 4 and DNA methyltransferase 1 promotes acute myeloid leukemia and acts as a therapeutic target

Aberrant DNA methylation mediated by deregulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) is a key hallmark of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), yet efforts to target DNMT deregulation for drug development have lagged. We previously demonstrated that upregulation of fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) promotes AML aggressiveness through enhanced DNMT1-dependent DNA methylation. Here, we demonstrate that FABP4 upregulation in AML cells occurs through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, thus elucidating a crucial FABP4-DNMT1 regulatory feedback loop in AML biology. We show that FABP4 dysfunction by its selective inhibitor BMS309403 leads to downregulation of DNMT1, decrease of global DNA methylation and re-expression of p15INK4B tumor suppressor gene by promoter DNA hypomethylation in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. Functionally, BMS309403 suppresses cell colony formation, induces cell differentiation, and, importantly, impairs leukemic disease progression in mouse models of leukemia. Our findings highlight AML-promoting properties of the FABP4-DNMT1 vicious loop, and identify an attractive class of therapeutic agents with a high potential for clinical use in AML patients. The results will also assist in establishing the FABP4-DNMT1 loop as a target for therapeutic discovery to enhance the index of current epigenetic therapies.

[Relationship of symptoms with sleep-stage abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome]

Objective:To study the relationship between symptoms and sleep staging in OSAHS patients.Method:A cross-sectional study. Adult subjects who attended a sleep laboratory for diagnostic polysomnography for a period of 1 month were recruited consecutively.OSAHS was diagnosed using American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria.Subjects filled a questionnaire for symptoms prior to polysomnography.Result:Thirty subjects, of whom 83.3% were obese, met diagnostic criteria, with males constituting 46.7% and females constituting 53%.Mean age was (53.40±11.60) years.Sleep architecture comprised N1 (19.50±19.00)%, N2 (53.93±13.39)%,N3 (3.90±19.50)%, and rapid eye movement (8.92±6.21)%.Excessive fatigue or sleepiness, waking up tired, falling asleep during the day, trouble paying attention, snoring and insomnia were significantly related to decreased N3 sleep.Conclusion:Most of the symptoms in OSAHS in adults are related to decreased stage N3 sleep.If confirmed by larger controlled studies, correcting N3 sleep deficiency by pharmacotherapy may become an important adjunct to CPAP/BIPAP therapy to alleviate symptoms.

Thymoquinone protects against cobalt chloride-induced neurotoxicity via Nrf2/GCL-regulated glutathione homeostasis

The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases worldwide has increased dramatically in the last decades. Hypoxia and oxidative stress play a central role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a monoterpenoid hydrocarbon compound that possesses potent antioxidant activity. In the current study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of TQ against CoCl2, a widely used hypoxia-inducing agent. We found that TQ inhibited CoCl2-indcued cytotoxicity in vitro, as reflected by an increase of cell viability and decrease of apoptosis in CoCl2-treated PC12 cells. TQ exhibited a potent protective effect against CoCl2-induced neurotoxicity in vivo, as evidenced by decreased time spent to find the platform site in the Probe trials, reduced escape latencies, decreased traveling distance and reduction of apoptotic cell death in brains in CoCl2-treated rats. CoCl2-resulted decrease of glutathione (GSH) and increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly inhibited by TQ. Inhibition of GSH synthesis by buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) significantly attenuated TQ-induced neuroprotective effects against CoCl2 in rats and in PC12 cells. TQ could upregulate nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLc) and Nrf2/glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLm) pathway which contributed to antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of TQ. In summary, we found that TQ exhibited protective effects against neurotoxicity via upregulation of Nrf2/GCL signaling. Upregulation of Nrf2/GCL signaling promoted the synthesis of GSH and contributed to attenuation of oxidative stress, neuronal cell apoptosis and neurotoxicity. These data have appointed a new path toward the understanding of the neuroprotective activities of TQ.

Nine Novel PAX9 Mutations and a Distinct Tooth Agenesis Genotype-Phenotype

Tooth agenesis is one of the most common developmental anomalies affecting function and esthetics. The paired-domain transcription factor, Pax9, is critical for patterning and morphogenesis of tooth and taste buds. Mutations of PAX9 have been identified in patients with tooth agenesis. Despite significant progress in the genetics of tooth agenesis, many gaps in knowledge exist in refining the genotype-phenotype correlation between PAX9 and tooth agenesis. In the present study, we complete genetic and phenotypic characterization of multiplex Chinese families with nonsyndromic (NS) tooth agenesis. Direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products revealed 9 novel (c.140G>C, c.167T>A, c.332G>C, c.194C>A, c.271A>T, c.146delC, c.185_189dup, c.256_262dup, and c.592delG) and 2 known heterozygous mutations in the PAX9 gene among 120 probands. Subsequently, pedigrees were extended, and we confirmed that the mutations co-segregated with the tooth agenesis phenotype (with exception of families in which DNA analysis was not available). In 1 family ( n = 6), 2 individuals harbored both the PAX9 c.592delG mutation and a heterozygous missense mutation (c.739C>T) in the MSX1 gene. Clinical characterization of families segregating a PAX9 mutation reveal that all affected individuals were missing the mandibular second molar and their maxillary central incisors are most susceptible to microdontia. A significant reduction of bitter taste perception was documented in individuals harboring PAX9 mutations ( n = 3). Functional studies revealed that PAX9 haploinsufficiency or a loss of function of the PAX9 protein underlies tooth agenesis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibits osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblasts by downregulation of EphB4 signaling via activated nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The majority of experiments show that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibits osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and pre-osteoblasts by activated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling. However, the underlying mechanisms by which NF-κB signaling inhibits osteogenic differentiation are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether EphB4 signaling inhibition mediates the effects of TNF-α-activated NF-κB signaling on osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblasts.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Murine MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts were treated with 10 ng/mL of TNF-α. NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, was used to achieve NF-κB signaling inhibition. EphB4 signaling was activated using ephrinB2-fc. The mRNA expressions of runt related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and EphB4 were determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The protein levels of Runx2, BSP, Col Ia1, osteopontin, EphB4, p-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 were evaluated using western blot assays. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in MC3T3-E1 cells was evaluated by ALP activity kit, and mineral nodule formation was evaluated by Alizarin Red S staining.

RESULTS

TNF-α inhibited EphB4 expression, while it suppressed Runx2, BSP expression from gene and protein levels as well as ALP activity and mineral nodule formation in MC3T3-E1 cells. Activation of EphB4 signaling by ephrinB2-fc promoted osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, whereas TNF-α impaired the osteogenic differentiation enhanced by ephrinB2-fc. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate blocked the activation of NF-κB signaling induced by TNF-α, while it prevented the downregulation of Runx2, BSP and EphB4, induced by TNF-α.

CONCLUSION

TNF-α inhibits osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblasts by downregulation of EphB4 signaling via activated NF-κB signaling pathway.

[Prediction of outcome in acute myeloid leukemia by measurement of WT1 expression as a basic marker of minimal residual disease]

Objective: To probe the potential utility of Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) as a marker of minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to estimate the relapse-predicting cut-off value. Methods: Quantitative assessment of bone marrow WT1 mRNA level was preformed using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RQ-RT-PCR) assay. The expression levels of WT1 dynamically measured with RQ-RT-PCR were retrospectively analyzed in 121 AML cases (not including acute promyelocytic leukemia) achieving complete remission (CR) after induction therapy followed by consolidation therapy. By comparing WT1 levels of patients with different post-therapy outcomes, the investigators used the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to determine WT1 threshold so as to predict their clinical relapses. Then prognoses and the significance of intervention were analyzed between WT1 positive and negative patients according to the cut-off value of WT1. Results: According to ROC curve, WT1 level higher than 2.98% predicted the possibility of relapse. For simplicity and clinical application, 3.00% was used as the cut-off value of WT1 level for relapse. WT1 levels in 41 patients at diagnosis were detected, meanwhile 3 patients whose WT1 levels at diagnosis below 3.00% were excluded, then the median WT1 level of the rest 38 patients at diagnosis was 44.09% (range 7.19%-188.06%) . The median WT1 level in remission was 0.48% (352 samples, range 0-8.41%) . The median WT1 level at diagnosis was higher than that in remission. Excluding the 3 patients with WT1 level at diagnosis under 3.00%, the relapse rate of WT1 positive group (>3.00% during consolidation phase and follow-up) and WT1 negative group (≤3.00%) was 70.0% (14/20) and 12.2% (12/98) respectively (P<0.001) . The median time from WT1 positivity to clinical relapse was 58 days. Conclusions: WT1 expression level above 3.00% was associated with markedly high risk of relapse, which could be as a useful marker for monitoring MRD following consolidation therapy.

[Clinical significance of serum resistin in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis]

Objective: To detect the serum resistin levels in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG) and evaluate the clinical values of resistin. Methods: We detected the serum resistin levels in 58 patients with GMG and 58 healthy controls (HC) from January 2013 to December 2015 in Tianjin medical university general hospital.Then we analyzed the correlation of the serum resistin levels with the clinical features. Results: The serum resistin levels in patients with GMG, (8.26±4.27) ng/ml, was significantly higher than in HC, (4.12±1.36) ng/ml, (P<0.001). There was no statistical difference of the serum resistin levels between female or male patients with GMG (P=0.589). The serum resistin levels in patients with GMG was positively correlated with the quantitative MG score for disease severity (QMG) (r=0.446, P<0.001), but not correlated with age (r=0.168, P=0.206). The patients with higher resistin levels took higher risk of combining with thymoma (P=0.002), 56.5%, and these patients had higher QMG, 11(5) (P=0.001); and the ratio and QMG in the patients with lower resistin levels were 17.1%, 7(5), respectively.The GMG patients with thymoma (TGMG+ ) had remarkably higher serum resistin levels, (10.7±5.3) ng/ml (P=0.010) and the QMG score, 11(5) (P<0.001) than the GMG patients without thymoma (TGMG-) with (7.0±3.1) ng/ml and 8(5). Conclusion: Resistin is probably associated with the severity of the disease of MG, and maybe a potential biomarker of MG combined with thymoma.

[Image features and clinical significance of pneumoconiosis with large shadow]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the image features, categories, and clinical significances of Pneumoconiosis Ш with large shadow.

METHODS

The research is based on the analysis of image features of 168 pneumoconiosis Ш patients who are directly diagnosed by qualified medical professionals in our institution. These image features are large shadows bigger than 2 cm×1 cm which can be observed by high kilovolt chest radiographs, DR chest radiography and chest CT scan.

RESULTS

Large shadows bigger than 2×1 cm show noticeable imaging characteristics, like distribution of superior and middle lung regions (95.2%) , irregular shapes (97.6%) , splayed or sausage like changes on both sides perpendicular with ribs (89.2%) , small shadows of pneumoconiosis (98.8%) , and convergence of large shadow to hilum or mediastinal (53.6%). CT scan is significantly better than DR radiography on detection rate of focal emphysema, focal cavities and swollen lymph node of mediastinal.

CONCLUSION

Combining the image features of high kilovolt chest radiographs, DR chest radiographs and CT scan are the main methods to identify the shadows, and thus direct diagnose pneumoconiosis Ш; CT scan plays an important role in differential diagnosis.

Analysis of allopolyploidy-induced rapid genetic and epigenetic changes and their relationship in wheat

We used the conventional and methylation-sensitive randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analyses to assess genome-wide changes and explore the relationships between genetic and epigenetic variations among individuals of a newly synthesized allohexaploid wheat line whose genomic constitution is identical to that of the natural common wheat, compared with its parent plants and a natural counterpart named Chinese Spring. We found rapid, extensive, and predominantly consistent non-Mendelian changes in the form of genetic and DNA methylation variations in the allohexaploid individuals. Specifically, at least 30-40% of the epigenetic component was truly independent of genetic changes, which answered a critical question, i.e. its autonomy in relation to the genetic context. Striking correlations were detected between genetic and epigenetic changes. Interestingly, as previously reported, the paternally donated nuclear genomes showed more genetic changes than the maternally donated ones; the loss of paternal bands was significantly correlated with the hypomethylation of CG or CHG sequences, suggesting an unknown link between genetic instability and hypomethylation. Sequence analysis indicated that most variations occurred in the cellular genes and sequences related to transposable elements. Based on these findings, the possible mechanisms and effects of the genomic changes in allopolyploid speciation and evolution were discussed.

The inhibitory effect of resveratrol on COX-2 expression in human colorectal cancer: a promising therapeutic strategy

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to investigate the mechanism of resveratrol (RSVL) on the inhibitory effect on the expression of COX-2 in human colorectal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we used the HCT-116 cells as the observation group, and the normal cells as the control group. The inhibitory effect induced by RSVL on the COX-2 expression in human colorectal cancer was investigated. For the observation group, cells were cultured in the nutrition solution with RSVL, while the cells in both control group (normal colon epithelial cells) and blank control group (none-treated HCT-116 cells) were cultured in the regular nutrition solution. We assayed the mRNA expression and the protein expression of COX-2 in different groups using Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot methods, respectively. Also, we measured the cell growth and apoptosis in different treatment groups by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT) method, and detected the differences in COX-2 expression among different groups through immunohistochemistry staining RESULTS: Compared with blank control group, the rate of cell proliferation in the observation group treated with RSVL was significantly reduced. The results of RT-qPCR revealed that the mRNA expression of COX-2 of the observation group was affected compared with the blank control group. According to the results from enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot, the expression of the COX-2 protein in the observation group treated with RSVL was significantly lower than that in the blank control group; however, results from the observation group and the control group were similar. Also, the immunohistochemistry results showed the positive rate of COX-2 expression in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

RSVL (in a certain concentration) can suppress the human colorectal cancer through inhibition of COX-2 expression.

Roles of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and nuclear factor-κB in immune response to spinal tuberculosis in a New Zealand white rabbit model

This study aimed to explore the roles of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in immune response to spinal tuberculosis in a New Zealand white rabbit model. Forty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were collected and divided into four groups: experimental group (n=30, spinal tuberculosis model was established), the sham group (n=15, sham operation was performed) and the blank group (n=3). The qRT-PCR assay and western blotting were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of MCP-1 and NF-κB in peripheral blood. ELISA was used to measure serum levels of MCP-1, NF-κB, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10. Flow cytometry was adopted to assess the distributions of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ lymphocytes and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3 lymphocyte subsets. Compared with the sham and blank groups, the mRNA and protein expressions of MCP-1 and NF-κB in the experimental group were significantly increased. The experimental group had lower serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ and higher serum level of IL-10 than the sham and blank groups. In comparison to the sham and blank groups, CD4⁺ T lymphocyte subsets percentage, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio and CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3+ Tregs subsets accounting for CD4⁺ lymphocyte in the experimental group were lower, while percentage of CD8⁺ T lymphocyte subsets was higher. Our study provided evidence that higher expression of MCP-1 and NF-κB may be associated with decreased immune function of spinal tuberculosis, which can provide a new treatment direction for spinal tuberculosis.