Long noncoding RNA BC032469, a novel competing endogenous RNA, upregulates hTERT expression by sponging miR-1207-5p and promotes proliferation in gastric cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as new players in gene regulation and are associated with the development of cancers. To investigate the important role and mechanism of lncRNAs in the progression of gastric cancer, we screened lncRNAs in gastric cancer tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues, and assessed the effects on gastric cancer. Here, we report that BC032469, a novel lncRNA, expressed highly in gastric cancer tissues, and the upregulation was clinically associated with larger tumor size, poor differentiation and shorter survival of gastric cancer patients. Downregulation of BC032469 resulted in a significant inhibition of proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, BC032469 could directly bind to miR-1207-5p and effectively functioned as a sponge for miR-1207-5p to modulate the derepression of hTERT. Thus, BC032469 may function as a ceRNA to impair miR-1207-5p-dependent hTERT downregulation, suggesting that it may be clinically valuable as a poor prognostic biomarker of gastric cancer.

Epidemiology and risk factors for chronic kidney disease in Chinese patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis

BACKGROUND

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is the most common secondary glomerulonephritis leading to end-stage renal disease.

AIM

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the epidemiology and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Chinese patients with LN.

METHODS

Clinical, laboratory, renal histopathology, treatment and outcome data were collected and retrospectively analysed in LN patients with or without CKD.

RESULTS

At the end of the study, 94 (45.63%) patients were identified as having CKD among 206 individuals with renal biopsy-proven LN. Renal function, represented by serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate, was significantly decreased in the CKD patients (P = 0.008 and P < 0.001, respectively) at the time of the kidney biopsy. Compared with the non-CKD group, significantly increased proportions of hypertension (P < 0.001), serositis (P = 0.042) and anti-histone antibody positivity (P = 0.004) were detected in the CKD patients. Renal pathological activity and chronicity index scores were significantly increased in the CKD group (P < 0.001 for all). Finally, hypertension (hazard ratio (HR) 2.432, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.575-3.754, P < 0.001), anti-histone antibody (HR 2.907, 95% CI 1.837-4.600, P < 0.001), and tubular atrophy (HR 1.248, 95% CI 1.007-1.547, P = 0.043) were independent risk factors for CKD.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension, anti-histone antibody and tubular atrophy are independent risk factors for CKD in Chinese LN patients.

Antiviral medication use in a cohort of pregnant women during the 2009-2010 influenza pandemic

Preventing influenza-like illness (ILI) during pregnancy with antiviral medication use (AVMU) can mitigate serious health risks to mother and foetus. We report on AVMU in pregnant women in Ontario, Canada, and describe characteristics of AVMU during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic. Rates and risk estimates of AVMU were compared across multiple categories and stratified across ILI infection status. Increased AVMU was observed in women with influenza infections, active smokers, those vaccinated against influenza, and those with pre-existing co-morbidities. Decreased AVMU was observed in women with multiple gestations, and those in neighbourhoods of high immigrant concentrations. Our stratified analysis indicated that the observed patterns differed by ILI infection status. We demonstrated that once infected, women across multiple groups were equally likely to use antiviral medications. In this report we also propose possible clinical explanations for the observed differences in AVMU, which will be useful in planning prevention initiatives for future pandemics.

Third-party tolerogenic dendritic cells reduce allo-reactivity in vitro and ameliorate the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease in allo-bone marrow transplantation

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) potently induce and maintain tolerance based on their distinct characteristics compared with conventional DCs. Recent reports show that donor or host tDCs promote allograft survival in mice. In this study, the efficacy of third-party tDCs in the prevention of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was evaluated. In vitro, tDCs derived from the bone marrow (BM) of D1 mice were induced by GM-CSF, IL-10 and TGF-β1. The phenotypes, expression of cytokines and suppression of tDCs were analysed. In vivo, the effects of adoptive transfer of third-party-tDCs were evaluated in an MHC-mismatched aGVHD mouse model. Survival, body weight, GVHD scoring, histopathological specimens and serum cytokines were analysed in tDC-treated mice and untreated controls. Tolerogenic DCs had low expression of MHC and co-stimulatory molecules, expressed high levels of 'immunosuppressive' cytokines and suppressed allo-CD4(+) T cell proliferation. In the B6→D2 mouse model, all aGVHD mice died within 18 days. Fortunately, third-party tDCs transferred at low doses (10(4)) effectively prolonged survival after allo-BMT. Furthermore, in the mice treated with 10(4) tDCs, serum levels of IL-10/TGF-β were significantly higher and the percentage of Foxp3(+) cells continually increased compared with the mice treated with other doses of tDCs. Third-party tDCs play a crucial role in reducing the severity of aGVHD by modulating the secretion of various cytokines and expanding Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells, which suggests the possibility of using third-party tDCs for therapeutic applications. Furthermore, special attention should be paid to the optimal range of tDCs for preventing allograft rejection.

miR-1207-5p and miR-1266 suppress gastric cancer growth and invasion by targeting telomerase reverse transcriptase

hTERT is the catalytic subunit of the telomerase complex. Elevated expression of hTERT is associated with the expansion and metastasis of gastric tumor. In this study, we aimed to identify novel tumor suppressor miRNAs that restrain hTERT expression. We began our screen for hTERT-targeting miRNAs with a miRNA microarray. miRNA candidates were further filtered by bioinformatic analysis, general expression pattern in different cell lines, gain-of-function effects on hTERT protein and the potential of these effects to suppress hTERT 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) luciferase activity. The clinical relevance of two miRNAs (miR-1207-5p and miR-1266) was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. The effects of these miRNAs on cell growth, cell cycle and invasion of gastric cancer cells were measured with CCK-8, flow cytometry and transwell assays. Finally, the ability of these miRNAs to suppress the transplanted tumors was also investigated. Fourteen miRNAs were identified using a combination of bioinformatics and miRNA microarray analysis. Of these fourteen miRNAs, nine were expressed at significantly lower levels in hTERT-positive cell lines compared with hTERT-negative cell lines and five could downregulate hTERT protein expression. Only miR-1207-5p and miR-1266 interacted with the 3′ UTR of hTERT and the expression levels of these two miRNAs were significantly decreased in gastric cancer tissues. These two miRNAs also inhibited gastric tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, miR-1207-5p and miR-1266 were determined to be hTERT suppressors in gastric cancer, and the delivery of these two miRNAs represents a novel therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer treatment.

Carbon nanotube growth for through silicon via application

Through silicon via (TSV) technology is key for next generation three-dimensional integrated circuits, and carbon nanotubes (CNT) provide a promising alternative to metal for filling the TSV. Three catalyst preparation methods for achieving CNT growth from the bottom of the TSV are investigated. Compared with sputtering and evaporation, catalyst deposition using dip-coating in a FeCl2 solution is found to be a more efficient method for realizing a bottom-up filling of the TSV (aspect ratio 5 or 10) with CNT. The CNT bundles grown in 5 min exceed the 50 μm length of the TSV and are multi-wall CNT with three to eight walls. The CNT bundles inside the TSV were electrically characterized by creating a direct contact using a four-point nanoprober setup. A low resistance of the CNT bundle of 69.7 Ω (297 Ω) was measured when the CNT bundle was contacted midway along (over the full length of) the 25 μm deep TSV. The electrical characterization in combination with the good filling of the TSV demonstrates the potential use of CNT in fully integrated TSV applications.

Procoagulant activity of erythrocytes and platelets through phosphatidylserine exposure and microparticles release in patients with nephrotic syndrome

Recent studies showed that an imbalance of prothrombotic and antithrombotic factors and impaired thrombolytic activity contribute to the thrombophilia of the nephrotic syndrome (NS). However, it is not clear whether blood cell injury and/or activation is involved in hypercoagulability in NS patients. Our objectives were to study the increase in microparticle (MP) release and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure on the outer membrane of MP-origin cells in NS patients, and to evaluate their procoagulant activity (PCA). The subjects were patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and healthy controls. Analyses of MPs and PS exposure were performed using a flow cytometer. PCA was determined by clotting time and purified coagulation complex assays. We found that lactadherin+ MPs, which derived from red blood cells (RBC), platelet and endothelial cell, increased in NS patients. Moreover, PS exposure on RBCs and platelets in each NS group, especially in MN, are higher than that in controls. MP shedding and PS exposure of RBCs/platelets were highly procoagulant in NS patients. However, blockade of PS with lactadherin inhibited over 90% of PCA while an anti-tissue factor antibody had no significant inhibition effect. Our results demonstrate that the thrombophilic susceptibility of NS may be partly ascribed to MP release and PS exposure of RBCs, platelets and endothelial cells. Lactadherin is a sensitive probe for PS that has high anticoagulant activity.

Predictors of relapse in chronic hepatitis B after discontinuation of anti-viral therapy

BACKGROUND

Optimal duration of anti-viral therapy in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unclear.

AIM

To investigate factors that could predict relapse after stopping anti-viral agents.

METHODS

Chronic hepatitis B patients who were treated with anti-viral agents (lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir) and have stopped the treatment were recruited. Anti-viral agents were stopped according to the recommendations of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver. Virological relapse was defined as an increase in serum HBV DNA to >1000 copies/mL after discontinuation of treatment.

RESULTS

Eighty-four (69 treatment naïve and 15 lamivudine resistant) patients were eligible for this study. Thirty-seven patients developed virological relapse at 4.3 ± 2.9 (range 1-11) months after discontinuation of therapy. The 1-year cumulative probability of virological relapse was 42% and 47% in HBeAg (hepatitis B e antigen)-positive (n = 41) and HBeAg (hepatitis B e antigen)-negative (n = 43) patients, respectively. On multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard model, pre-existing lamivudine resistance, delayed suppression of HBV DNA to undetectable level during anti-viral therapy and to a higher HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) level at the end of treatment were associated with virological relapse. Twelve of the 15 (80%) lamivudine resistant patients developed virological relapse. Among the 11 treatment naïve patients who had HBsAg ≤ 2 log IU/mL at the end of treatment, 1 (9%) of them had virological relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment cessation among lamivudine resistant patients is associated with high risk of virological relapse. Serum HBsAg level at the end of treatment and rate of HBV DNA suppression can provide supplementary information to guide the timing of stopping anti-viral drugs.

Predictors of relapse in chronic hepatitis B after discontinuation of anti-viral therapy

BACKGROUND

Optimal duration of anti-viral therapy in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unclear.

AIM

To investigate factors that could predict relapse after stopping anti-viral agents.

METHODS

Chronic hepatitis B patients who were treated with anti-viral agents (lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir) and have stopped the treatment were recruited. Anti-viral agents were stopped according to the recommendations of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver. Virological relapse was defined as an increase in serum HBV DNA to >1000 copies/mL after discontinuation of treatment.

RESULTS

Eighty-four (69 treatment naïve and 15 lamivudine resistant) patients were eligible for this study. Thirty-seven patients developed virological relapse at 4.3 ± 2.9 (range 1-11) months after discontinuation of therapy. The 1-year cumulative probability of virological relapse was 42% and 47% in HBeAg (hepatitis B e antigen)-positive (n = 41) and HBeAg (hepatitis B e antigen)-negative (n = 43) patients, respectively. On multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard model, pre-existing lamivudine resistance, delayed suppression of HBV DNA to undetectable level during anti-viral therapy and to a higher HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) level at the end of treatment were associated with virological relapse. Twelve of the 15 (80%) lamivudine resistant patients developed virological relapse. Among the 11 treatment naïve patients who had HBsAg ≤ 2 log IU/mL at the end of treatment, 1 (9%) of them had virological relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment cessation among lamivudine resistant patients is associated with high risk of virological relapse. Serum HBsAg level at the end of treatment and rate of HBV DNA suppression can provide supplementary information to guide the timing of stopping anti-viral drugs.

Orthodontic force stimulates eNOS and iNOS in rat osteocytes

Mechanosensitive osteocytes are essential for bone remodeling. Nitric oxide, an important regulator of bone remodeling, is produced by osteocytes through the activity of constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) or inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). We hypothesized that these enzymes regulate the tissue response to orthodontic force, and therefore we investigated eNOS and iNOS expression in osteocytes during orthodontic force application. The upper rat molars were moved mesially by NiTi coil springs (10 cN, 120 hrs) in a split-mouth design. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that, in the tension area, eNOS-positive osteocytes increased from 24 hrs on, while iNOS-positive osteocytes remained largely constant. In the compression area, iNOS-positive osteocytes increased after 6 hrs, while eNOS- positive osteocytes increased after 24 hrs. This suggests that eNOS mediates bone formation in the tension area, while iNOS mediates inflammation-induced bone resorption in the compression area. Both eNOS and iNOS seem to be important regulators of bone remodeling during orthodontic force application.

Advanced malignant pleural or peritoneal effusion in patients treated with recombinant adenovirus p53 injection plus cisplatin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of recombinant adenovirus p53 agent (rAd-p53) injection combined with cisplatin (CDDP) for the treatment of malignant pleural or peritoneal effusion. After puncture drainage, patients in the treatment group (n = 27) received intracavitary administration of rAd-p53 (2 x 10(12) virus particles) once a week for 4 weeks. At 48 h after each rAd-p53 injection, patients were given intracavitary administration of cisplatin 60 mg/m(2). This administration procedure continued once a week for 4 weeks. The control group (n = 21) received the same intracavitary therapy as the treatment group but without rAd-p53 therapy. Efficacy was evaluated by clinical observations, computed tomography, tumour markers, Karnofsky score and short-term follow-up. The total effective rates for the treatment group (63.0%) were significantly higher than for the control group (42.9%), suggesting that the treatment group benefited over the control group. In conclusion, rAd-p53 therapy is a safe and effective treatment for advanced malignant pleural or peritoneal effusion.

Rat Parathyroid Hormone 1 − 34 Signals through the MEK/ERK Pathway to Induce Cardiac Hypertrophy

This study aimed to characterize the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in cardiac hypertrophy induced by parathyroid hormone (PTH). Various concentrations of rat PTH1–34 were used to induce hypertrophy in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes, and the effects were compared with control cells and those treated with PD98059, a selective inhibitor of MEK1. Hypertrophy was assessed in terms of cell diameter, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA expression and protein synthesis; the MEK/ERK pathway was assessed by measuring levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2. Treatment with PTH1–34 at 100 nM for 24 h effectively induced cardiac hypertrophy (increased cell diameter, protein synthesis and ANP mRNA expression) and also increased levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 compared with normal control cells. Treatment with PTH1–34 plus PD98059 significantly attenuated these changes. These results demonstrate that inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway blocks PTH1–34-induced cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting that PTH1–34 might signal through the MAPK pathway to induce hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes.

Whole cell recordings of intrinsic properties and sound-evoked responses from the inferior colliculus

Response features of inferior colliculus (IC) neurons to both current injections and tone bursts were studied with in vivo whole cell recordings in awake Mexican free-tailed bats. Of 160 cells recorded, 95% displayed one of three general types of discharge patterns in response to the injection of positive current: 1) sustained discharges; 2) adapting discharges; and 3) onset-bursting discharges. Sustained neurons were the most common type (N=78), followed by onset-bursting (N=57). The least common type was adapting (N=17). In 90 neurons the profiles of synaptic and discharge activity evoked by tones of different frequencies at 50 dB SPL were recorded. Three major tone-evoked response profiles were obtained; 1) neurons dominated by excitation (N=32) in which tones evoked excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPs) or EPSPs with discharges over a range of frequencies with little or no evidence of inhibitory post-synaptic potentials (IPSPs) evoked by frequencies that flanked the excitation; 2) neurons that had an excitatory frequency region in which discharges were evoked that was flanked by frequencies that evoked predominantly IPSPs (N=26); 3) neurons in which all frequencies evoked IPSPs with little or no depolarizations (N=32). The question we asked is whether IC cells that express a particular profile of PSPs and discharges to acoustic stimulation also have the same current-evoked response profile. We show that, with one exception, the intrinsic features of an IC neuron are not correlated with the pattern of its synaptic innervation; the two features are unrelated in the majority of IC cells. The exception is a subtype of inhibitory dominated cell where most frequencies evoked IPSPs to both the onset and to the offset of the tone bursts. In those cells injected current steps always evoked an onset-bursting response.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of irinotecan in combination with R115777, a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor

The aims of this study were to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), toxicity profile, and pharmacokinetics of irinotecan given with oral R115777 (tipifarnib), a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor. Patients were treated with escalating doses of irinotecan with interval-modulated dosing of R115777 (continuously or on days 1–14, and repeated every 21 days). In total, 35 patients were entered onto the trial for a median duration of treatment of 43 days (range, 5–224 days). Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the dose-limiting toxicities; other side effects were mostly mild. The MTD was established at R115777 300 mg b.i.d. for 14 consecutive days with irinotecan 350 mg m⁻² given every 3 weeks starting on day 1. Three patients had a partial response and 14 had stable disease. In the continuous schedule, the area under the curves of irinotecan and its active metabolite SN-38 were 20.0% (P=0.004) and 38.0% (P<0.001) increased by R115777, respectively. Intermittent dosing of R115777 at a dose of 300 mg b.i.d. for 14 days every 3 weeks is the recommended dose of R115777 in combination with the recommended single-agent irinotecan dose of 350 mg m⁻².