Adenosine inhibits migration, invasion and induces apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells

Extracellular adenosine is a key signaling molecule which mediates immune suppression, angiogenesis, and regulates cancer cells growth. The effect of adenosine on cervical cancer cells migration and invasion has not been well studied. In the current study, we used Hela and SiHa cell lines to evaluate the effects of adenosine on cervical cancer cells migration, invasion, and apoptosis. The results showed that adenosine treatment inhibited the migration and invasion activities of Hela and SiHa cells. Moreover, by determining the expression of molecules which were involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) progress, we found that epithelial marker E-cadherin was significantly increased in response to adenosine treatment, while the mesenchymal markers including N-cadherin and fibronectin were decreased. These data suggested that adenosine inhibited cervical cancer cells via repressing the EMT progress. The flow cytometry analysis showed that adenosine could also induce cervical cancer cell apoptosis, which mechanism was further confirmed by investigating the expression levels of apoptosis related molecules, via activating mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. These data might suggest that adenosine could be used as an agent for the treatment of cervical cancer.

[Network correlation of circRNA-miRNA and the possible regulatory mechanism in acute myocardial infarction]

Objective: Using microarray technology, to research characteristic circRNA and miRNA expression profile of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and then explore the role of these circRNA and miRNA in gene regulation. The aim is to explore the mechanism of development of AMI. Methods: The patients hospitalized in the Cardiovascular Research Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between November 2016 and January 2017 were included and divided into control group and AMI group according to diagnostic criteria. We collected their whole blood and extracted the total RNA, and the expression profiles of circRNA and microRNA genes in peripheral blood of AMI were analyzed by gene chip. We predicted circRNA which was possible to combine with miRNA, and drew a network diagram, and the differentially expressed circRNA was analyzed by GO and Pathway. Results: There was difference in circRNA expression profile between the control group and the AMI group. The results showed: (1) a total of 1 670 circRNA had differential expressions, and in the analysis of miRNA expression, 13 miRNA had differential expressions (P<0.05, fc≥2); (2) multiple circRNAs-miRNAs were involved in the occurrence of AMI; (3) the analysis of GO and Pathway for differentially expressed circRNAs showed that many pathways, disease and function participated in it. Conclusion: CircRNA, as an important post transcriptional regulator, is closely related to the development of AMI with miRNA.

[Clinical application of modified global osteitis score in chronic rhinosinusitis]

Objective:To compare GOSS and a newly proposed modified scoring system for assessment of CRS with osteitis.Method:Seventy-one CRS patients were enrolled prospectively.Their preoperative computed tomography (CT) were assessed for severity and extent of osteitis by two otolaryngologists using OsiriX DICOM Viewer software. The method of measurement was similar with GOSS, which retained scoring maxillary and sphenoid, producing a modified global osteitis score(rang: 0-20). Collected the history and completed VAS, SNOT-22, Lund-Kennedy, Lund-Mackay in preoperative. Postoperative follow-up mounted up to 12 months and evaluating CRS patients' outcome. Compared for test-retest and inter-rater reliability between the modified system and GOSS.Result:There is a significant linear positive correlation between Modified GOSS score and GOSS(r=0.913,P<0.001).And Modified GOSS had more association with pre and postoperative L-M and L-K scores than GOSS (r=0.316, 0.357). The modified GOSS showed the highest inter-rater and test-retest, interclass correlation coefficient (pre-ICC=0.947; post-ICC=0.943).Conclusion:Modified GOSS may be a more suitable and convenient scoring system for clinical practice to grading osteitis.

[Mechanism of action for oligomeric proanthocyaniclins in pava qnat-induced acute lung injury]

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) in mice exposed to paraquat (PQ) , and to explore the molecular mechanism. Methods: Four experimental groups were designed.

CONTROL GROUP

10 BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline) . PQ group: 10 BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with PQ (100 mg/kg) . PQ+OPC group: 10 BALB/c mice were administered with OPC (100 mg/kg) for 1 h before PQ (100 mg/kg) expo-sure. OPC group: 10 BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with OPC (100 mg/kg) . The peripheral blood samples or lung tissue samples were collected at the designed time points for measuring the levels of oxi-dative stress indicators, the related protein levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and nuclear fac-tor erythroid related factor-2 (Nrf2) pathway. Results: Compared with the control group, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) , the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the PQ group were significantly induced, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the PQ group was decreased in the peripheral blood. As com-pared with the PQ group, the level of ROS and the content of MDA in the PQ+OPC group were significantly re-duced, the activity SOD in the PQ+OPC group was increased in the peripheral blood; the level of ROS and the content of MDA were also reduced in lung tissues in the PQ+OPC group. Moreover, compared with the con-trol group, the phosphorylation of IκBα and the expression of NF-κB p65 were increased in lung tissues in the PQ group. The phosphorylation of IκBα and the expression of NF-κB p65 were decreased in lung tissues in the PQ+OPC group as compared with the PQ group. In addition, compared with the control group, the expressions of HO-1 and Nrf2 were increased in lung tissues in OPC group, and these were decreased in lung tissues in PQ groups. Furthermore, the expressions of HO-1 and Nrf2 were also increased in lung tissues in PQ+OPC as com-pared with the PQ group. Conclusion: OPC could alleviate PQ-induced systemic toxicity in mice by regulating oxidative stress via NF-κB and Nrf2 pathway.

[Analysis of surgical outcomes of functional endoscopic sinus surgery and radical sinus surgery for refractory rhinosinusitis]

Objective:To study the surgical outcomes of functional endoscopic sinus surgery and radical sinus surgery for refractory rhinosinusitis.Method:A retrospective analysis of 56 cases with refractory rhinosinusitis was performed, who were enrolled in Beijing Tongren hospital from January 2011 to April 2013. According to different surgical methods, all patients were classified into functional endoscopic surgery group (FESS group) and radical sinus surgery group (RSS group). All patients were followed up for more than one year after surgery. Symptom visual analog scale (VAS), peripheral blood eosinophil percentage, serum total IgE, skin prick test (SPT), olfactory function, Lund-Kennedy score and Lund-Mackay score were all examined and analyzed in two groups before and after surgery. SPSS 17.0 was used to do data statistic analysis.Result:There was no significant difference between two groups in age, gender, complicated with allergic rhinitis and asthma (P> 0.05). However, there was significant difference between two groups in the number of patients with previous surgery (P< 0.05). Pre-operative VAS symptom score, Lund-Kennedy score and Lund-Mackay score were higher in RSS group than in FESS group. All patients were followed up for at least one year. VAS symptom score, Lund-Kennedy score and Lund-Mackay score in two groups were compared before and after surgery respectively. VAS symptom score (P< 0.01; P< 0.01), Lund-Kennedy score (P< 0.01; P< 0.01), Lund-Mackay score (P< 0.01; P< 0.01) were significantly lower after surgery. There was no significant difference in VAS symptom scores between two groups postoperatively (P> 0.05). However, Lund-Kennedy score (P< 0.01) and Lund-Mackay score (P< 0.01) were lower in RSS group postoperatively. Among patients with surgery history, Lund-Kennedy score (P< 0.01) and Lund-Mackay score (P< 0.01) were also lower in RSS group at one year follow-up. Conclusion:Radical sinus surgery was more effective in relieving symptoms and reducing inflammation of sinus, compared with functional sinus surgery, especially in refractory sinusitis patients with previous surgery.

Association of betel nut chewing with exercise performance in a military male cohort: the CHIEF study

INTRODUCTION

Betel nut chewing may cause obesity, neurohormonal activation and inflammation, possibly impairing exercise performances.

METHODS

We examined the cross-sectional association in 4388 military male adults aged 18-50 years from the cardiorespiratory fitness in armed forces study in Taiwan between 2013 and 2014. The status of betel nut chewing was classified as current and former/never based on each participant's response to a questionnaire. Physical fitness was evaluated by three basic exercise tests including 3000 m running, 2 min sit-ups and 2 min push-ups. Multiple logistic regression for the best 10% and the worst 10% performers in each exercise, and linear regression were used to determine the relationship.

RESULTS

There were 564 current chewers and 3824 non-current chewers for the analysis. The linear regression shows that current betel nut chewing was positively correlated with 3000 m running duration (r=0.37, p=0.042) after adjusting for age, service specialty, body mass index, exercise frequency and alcohol intake. In addition, the logistic regression shows that as compared with non-current chewers, current chewers had lower odds of being the top 10% performers in 2 min push-ups and higher odds of being the bottom 10% performers in 2 min sit-ups (ORs and 95% CIs: 0.71 (0.50 to 0.99) and 1.32 (1.00 to 1.75), respectively). However, the associations between betel nut chewing and physical fitness were all insignificant after further adjusting for current smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the impairment of physical fitness associated with betel nut chewing of military young men might be mainly mediated or moderated by the coexisted cigarette smoking.

Cortistatin inhibits arterial calcification in rats via GSK3β/β-catenin and protein kinase C signalling but not c-Jun N-terminal kinase signalling

AIM

Cortistatin (CST) is a newly discovered endogenous active peptide that exerts protective effects on the cardiovascular system. However, the relationship between CST and aortic calcification and the underlying mechanism remain obscure. Therefore, we investigated effects of CST on aortic calcification and its signalling pathways.

METHODS

Calcium content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were measured using the o-cresolphthalein colorimetric method and ALP assay kit respectively. Protein expression of smooth muscle (SM)-ɑ-actin, osteocalcin (OCN), β-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), p-GSK3β, protein kinase C (PKC), p-PKC, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p-JNK was determined using Western blotting.

RESULTS

In aorta from a rat vitamin D3 calcification model, CST abrogated calcium deposition and pathological damage, decreased the protein expression of OCN and β-catenin and increased SM-ɑ-actin expression. In a rat cultured vascular smooth muscular cell (VSMC) calcification model induced by β-glycerophosphate (β-GP), CST inhibited the increase in ALP activity, calcium content and OCN protein and the decrease in SM-α-actin expression. CST also inhibited the β-GP-induced increase in p-GSK3β and β-catenin protein (both P < .05). The inhibitory effects of CST on ALP activity, calcium deposition and β-catenin protein were abolished by pretreatment with lithium chloride, a GSK3β inhibitor. CST promoted the protein expression of p-PKC by 68.5% (P < .01), but not p-JNK. The ability of CST to attenuate β-GP-induced increase in ALP activity, calcium content and OCN expression in the VSMC model was abolished by pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor Go6976.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that CST inhibits aortic calcification and osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs likely via the GSK3β/β-catenin and PKC signalling pathways, but not JNK signalling pathway.