CCAT2 contributes to progression and treatment resistance of thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to uncover the correlations of the expression of colon cancer associated transcript 2 (CCAT2) in the clinical papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) specimens with the prognosis and chemoresistance of patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression level of CCAT2 in the PTC and ATC specimens was determined using Real-Time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), and the correlations of CCAT2 expression with the clinical features of patients were detected via χ2 test. Besides, survival analysis was conducted to verify the relation between CCAT2 expression and patients' survival. After knockdown or overexpression of CCAT2, the changes in the proliferation ability of human thyroid carcinoma cells were examined via Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of doxorubicin and cisplatin were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.

RESULTS

According to the χ2-test results, the expression of CCAT2 was notably correlated with the capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis of PTC, and the capsular invasion, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis of ATC. It was discovered through the survival analysis that the expression of CCAT2 was notably associated with the poor prognosis of ATC patients. After knockdown of CCAT2, both the proliferation ability and the IC50 values of doxorubicin and cisplatin substantially declined in human thyroid carcinoma cells. The opposite conditions were found after CCAT2 was overexpressed in human thyroid carcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

CCAT2 potentiates the proliferation ability and chemoresistance of cells, promotes the progression of thyroid carcinoma, and hinders the prognosis of ATC.

Periprocedural anticoagulation management in edxoaban patients undergoing catheter-based cardiovascular procedures: analyses of the noninterventional global EMIT study

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Daiichi Sankyo

Background

 The optimal periprocedural management of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), including edoxaban, in patients undergoing catheter-based cardiovascular procedures is unknown, and mainly based on physician opinion and experience.

Purpose

To assess real-world management of edoxaban in patients undergoing cardiovascular procedures, and to report their clinical events.

Methods

Global EMIT-AF/VTE is a prospective study of periprocedural management in edoxaban-treated patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. We report the data from patients undergoing cardiovascular procedures. Timing and duration of edoxaban interruption were at the treating physician’s discretion. Outcomes were collected from 5 days before until 30 days post procedure. Primary outcome was the incidence of major bleeding (MB); secondary outcomes included incidence of clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB) and acute thromboembolic events (ATE).

Results

Data was collected from 301 and 311 procedures with arterial or venous access, respectively. Baseline characteristics are shown in Table 1. Edoxaban was not interrupted in 36.9% of arterial and 52.7% of venous procedures. Edoxaban was interrupted pre-procedure in 41% of arterial and 32.8% of venous procedures. The median periprocedural interruption was 2 days. The overall incidence of bleeding was very low. Any bleeding was reported in 8 patients undergoing arterial and 10 patients undergoing venous procedures (2.7% and 3.2%). MB or CRNMB occurred in 2 arterial and 3 venous procedures (0.7% and 1.0%) and ATE occurred in 5 arterial and 1 venous procedure (1.7% and 0.3%, Table 1).

Conclusions

In this study, the periprocedural risks of bleeding and thrombotic events were low. About a third of arterial access procedures and half of venous access procedures were performed without edoxaban interruption. Arterial(n = 301) Venous(n = 311) Baseline characteristics Age, year, mean (SD)Male, n (%)Weight (kg), mean (SD) 71.9 (8.5)211 (70.1%)80.8 (16.7) 64.6 (11.1)215 (69.1%)84.1 (17.4) CrCL (mL/min), mean (SD) CHA2DS2-VASc score, mean (SD)HAS-BLED score, mean (SD) 73.5 (29.8) 3.3 (1.5)2.0 (1.0) 88.9 (35.5) 2.2 (1.5)1.3 (1.0) Edoxaban 60 mg / 30 mg, % 73% / 26% 88% / 26% Coronary heart disease, n (%) Congestive heart failure, n (%) 101 (33.6%) 58 (19.3%) 51 (16.4%) 33 (10.6%) Interruption of edoxaban, n (%) No interruption Pre-procedure only Post-procedure only Pre- and post-procedure 111 (36.9%)125 (41.5%)12 (4.0%)53 (17.6%) 164 (52.7%)102 (32.8%)8 (2.6%)37 (11.9%) Clinical events, n (%) MB or CRNMBACSStroke/Transient ischemic attackCV mortalityAll-cause mortality 2 (0.7%)2 (0.7%)3 (1.0%)1 (0.3%)2 (0.7%) 3 (1.0%) 01 (0.3%)00

[Venetoclax with low-dose cytarabine for patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy: results from the Chinese cohort of a phase three randomized placebo-controlled trial]

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of venetoclax with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) in Chinese patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are unable to tolerate intensive induction chemotherapy. Methods: Adults ≥ 18 years with newly diagnosed AML who were ineligible for intensive chemotherapy were enrolled in this international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Globally, patients (n=211) were randomized 2∶1 to either venetoclax with LDAC or placebo with LDAC in 28-d cycles, with LDAC on days 1-10. The primary endpoint was OS; the secondary endpoints included response rates, event-free survival, and adverse events. Results: A total of 15 Chinese patients were enrolled (venetoclax arm, n=9; placebo arm, n=6) . The median age was 72 years (range, 61-86) . For the primary analysis, the venetoclax arm provided a 38% reduction in death risk compared with the placebo[hazard ratio (HR) , 0.62 (95%CI 0.12-3.07) ]. An unplanned analysis with an additional 6 months of follow-up demonstrated a median OS of 9.0 months for venetoclax compared with 4.1 months for placebo. The complete remission (CR) rates with CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) were 3/9 (33%) and 0/6 (0%) , respectively. The most common non-hematologic adverse effects (venetoclax vs placebo) were hypokalemia[5/9 (56%) vs 4/6 (67%) ], vomiting[4/9 (44%) vs 3/6 (50%) ], constipation[2/9 (22%) vs 4/6 (67%) ], and hypoalbuminemia[1/9 (11%) vs 4/6 (67%) ]. Conclusion: Venetoclax with LDAC demonstrated meaningful efficacy and a manageable safety profile in Chinese patients consistent with the observations from the global VIALE-C population, making it an important treatment option for patients with newly diagnosed AML who are otherwise ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.

MACRO- AND MICRO-DISPERSION OF SILICA IN TIRE TREAD COMPOUNDS: ARE THEY RELATED?

The dispersion of rubber fillers, such as silica, can be divided into two categories: macro- and micro-dispersion. Both dispersions are important; however, to achieve the best reinforcement of rubber, micro-dispersion of silica is crucial. The common view is that these filler dispersions are strongly related. The micro-dispersion is understood as the consequence of the continuous breakdown of filler clusters from macro-dispersion. Yet, a large problem is that an objective unequivocal direct measurement method for micro-dispersion is not available. In this study, a set of parameters is defined that are anticipated to have an influence on the micro- as well as the macro-dispersion. Mixing trials are performed with varying silanization temperature and time, different amounts of silane coupling agent, and by using silicas with different structures and specific surface areas. The degrees of micro- and macro-dispersion are evaluated by measuring the Payne effect as an indirect method for micro-dispersion and using a dispergrader for quantitative measurement of macro-dispersion. The results show that the filler dispersion processes happen simultaneously but independently. These results are supported by earlier work of Blume and Uhrlandt, who stated as well that micro- and macro-dispersion are independent. The major influencing factors on micro- and macro-dispersion of silica are also identified.

Strategic ventilation reduces non-ventilated contralateral lung injury induced by one-lung ventilation in rabbits

ABSTRACT One lung ventilation (OLV) often results in trauma to the unventilated contralateral lung. This study aims to evaluate the effects of different OLV regimens on the injury of the unventilated contralateral lung to identify the best conditions for OLV. Forty rabbits were divided into five groups: a sham group, OLV group I (fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) 1.0, tidal volume (VT) 8mL/kg, respiratory rate (R) 40 breaths/min and inspiratory/expiratory ratio (I:E) 1:2), OLV group II (FIO2=1.0, VT 8mL/kg, R 40 breaths/min, I:E 1:2, and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) 5 cm H2O), OLV group III (FIO2 1.0, VT 6mL/kg, R 40 breaths/min, I:E 1:2 and PEEP 5 cm H2O) and OLV group IV (FIO2 0.8, VT 6mL/kg, R 40 breaths/min, I:E 1:2 and PEEP 5 cm H2O). Animals from all OLV groups received two-lung ventilation (TLV) to establish a baseline, followed by one of the indicated OLV regimens. The rabbits in the sham group were intubated through trachea and ventilated with fresh air. Arterial blood gas samples were collected, lung injury parameters were evaluated, and the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-8 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and pulmonary surfactant protein A (SPA) in the unventilated lung were also measured. In OLV group I, the unventilated left lung had higher TNF-α, IL-8 and lung injury score but lower SPA than the ventilated right lung. In OLV groups I to III, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-8 and lung injury score in the left lung decreased but SPA increased. No differences in these parameters between OLV groups III and IV were observed. Strategic ventilation designed for OLV groups III and IV reduced OLV-induced injury of the non-ventilated contralateral lung in rabbits.

Correction to: Elderly patients with atrial fibrillation in routine clinical practice: peri-procedural management of edoxaban oral anticoagulation therapy is associated with a low risk of bleeding and thromboembolic complications: a subset analysis of the prospective, observational, multinational EMIT-AF study

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

[Effects and mechanism of norepinephrine on the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in mice]

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanism of sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) on the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in mice. Methods: (1) Twenty 3-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were sacrificed for isolating, culturing, and identifying BMSCs from the femur and tibia. Cells of the second or third passages were divided into phosphate buffer solution (PBS) group, 1 μmol/L NE group, 10 μmol/L NE group, and 100 μmol/L NE group, with 8 wells in each group. Cells in 1 μmol/L NE group, 10 μmol/L NE group, and 100 μmol/L NE group were cultured in low-sugar Dulbecco's modified eagle medium containing 1% volume fraction of fetal bovine serum (hereinafter referred to as low-serum medium) added with NE in final molarity of 1 μmol/L, 10 μmol/L, and 100 μmol/L, respectively. Cells in PBS group were cultured in low-serum medium added with the same volume of PBS. Before stimulation (0 d) and on stimulation day 1, 3, 5, cell counting kit 8 method was used to detect cell proliferation activity (expressed as the absorbance value). (2) In cell scratch test 1, cells were divided into PBS group and simple NE group. After the scratch test, cells in simple NE group were cultured with low-serum medium+ NE in final molarity of 10 μmol/L, and cells in PBS group were cultured with low-serum medium+ the same volume of PBS. In cell scratch test 2, cells were divided into PBS group, propranolol+ NE group, and phentolamine+ NE group. After the scratch test, cells in propranolol+ NE group were pretreated with low-serum medium+ propranolol in final molarity of 1 μmol/L for 30 minutes each day, cells in phentolamine+ NE group were pretreated with low-serum medium+ phentolamine in final molarity of 10 μmol/L for 30 minutes each day, and then they were cultured with low-serum medium+ NE in final molarity of 10 μmol/L. Cells in PBS group were cultured with low-serum medium+ the same volume of PBS. In cell scratch test 3, cells were divided into simple NE group, simple (2E, 6E)-2, 6-bis (4-pyridylmethylene) cyclohexanone (SC-66) group, and SC-66+ NE group. After the scratch test, cells in simple NE group was cultured with low-serum medium+ NE in final molarity of 10 μmol/L, cells in simple SC-66 group were cultured with low-serum medium after being pretreated with SC-66 in final molarity of 30 mmol/L for 30 minutes every day, cells in SC-66+ NE group were cultured with low-serum medium+ NE in final molarity of 10 μmol/L after being pretreated with SC-66 in final molarity of 30 mmol/L for 30 minutes every day. In the above 3 cell scratch tests, the sample numbers in each group were all 6, and the scratch healing rates at post scratch hour (PSH) 24, 48, and 72 were all calculated. (3) Cells were divided into PBS group, simple NE group, propranolol+ NE group, and phentolamine+ NE group, with 3 wells in each group. The lower chamber treatment methods of PBS group and simple NE group were the same as those of the same groups in cell scratch test 1. The lower chamber treatment of propranolol+ NE group and phentolamine+ NE group were the same as those of the same groups in cell scratch test 2. After the Transwell experiment was performed and the cells were routinely cultured for 24 hours, the migrated cells were counted. (4) Cells were divided into PBS group, simple NE group, propranolol+ NE group, and phentolamine+ NE group, with 2 dishes in each group. The cell treatment of PBS group and simple NE group were the same as those of the same groups in cell scratch test 1. The cell treatment of propranolol+ NE group and phentolamine+ NE group were the same as those of the same groups in cell scratch test 2. After 24 hours of routine culture, the phosphorylation level of protein kinase B (Akt) of cells was detected by Western blotting. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, independent sample t test, least significant difference t test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: (1) After 1 day of stimulation, the absorbance value of cells in 100 μmol/L NE group was significantly lower than that in PBS group (t=2.986, P<0.05). After 5 days of stimulation, the absorbance value of cells in 10 μmol/L NE group was significantly higher than that in PBS group (t=3.547, P<0.01). (2) In cell scratch test 1, at PSH 24, 48, and 72, the scratch healing rates of cells in simple NE group were (34.4±3.4)%, (52.5±4.7)%, and (70.0±3.8)%, which were significantly lower than (44.1±4.2)%, (80.0±3.6)%, and (95.9±2.2)% in PBS group (t=19.320, 128.319, 221.575, P<0.01). In cell scratch test 2, at PSH 24, 48, and 72, the scratch healing rates of cells in propranolol+ NE group were significantly lower than those in PBS group (t=4.073, 9.618, 15.272, P<0.01). In cell scratch test 3, at PSH 72, the scratch healing rates of cells in NE group was significantly lower than that in simple SC-66 group (t=8.862, P<0.01). At PSH 24, 48, and 72, the scratch healing rates of cells in SC-66+ NE group were significantly lower than those in simple SC-66 group (t=3.862, 4.290, 10.357, P<0.01). (3) The Transwell experiment showed that after 24 hours of culture, the numbers of migrated cells in simple NE group, propranolol+ NE group, and phentolamine+ NE group were significantly less than the number in PBS group (t=11.895, 10.196, 3.222, P<0.01). (4) After 24 hours of culture, the phosphorylation levels of Akt of cells in simple NE group and propranolol+ NE group were significantly higher than the level in PBS group (t=8.186, 5.996, P<0.01). Conclusions: NE can inhibit the migration of BMSCs in mice, a process in which the signal pathway of Akt is involved in its regulation.

Elderly patients with atrial fibrillation in routine clinical practice-peri-procedural management of edoxaban oral anticoagulation therapy is associated with a low risk of bleeding and thromboembolic complications: a subset analysis of the prospective, observational, multinational EMIT-AF study

Background

Annually > 10% of patients with atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulation undergo invasive procedures. Optimal peri-procedural management of anticoagulation, as judged by major bleeding and thromboembolic events, especially in the elderly, is still debated.

Methods

Procedures from 1442 patients were evaluated. Peri-procedural edoxaban management was guided only by the experience of the attending physician. The primary safety outcome was the rate of major bleeding. Secondary outcomes included the peri-procedural administration of edoxaban, other bleeding events, and the main efficacy outcome, a composite of acute coronary syndrome, non-hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack, systemic embolic events, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and mortality.

Results

Of the 1442 patients, 280 (19%) were < 65, 550 (38%) were 65–74, 514 (36%) 75–84, and 98 (7%) were 85 years old or older. With increasing age, comorbidities and risk scores were higher. Any bleeding complications were uncommon across all ages, ranging from 3.9% in patients < 65 to 4.1% in those 85 years or older; major bleeding rates in any age group were ≤ 0.6%. Interruption rates and duration increased with advancing age. Thromboembolic events were more common in the elderly, with all nine events occurring in those > 65, and seven in patients aged > 75 years.

Conclusion

Despite increased bleeding risk factors in the elderly, bleeding rates were small and similar across all age groups. However, there was a trend toward more thromboembolic complications with advancing age. Further efforts to identify the optimal management to reduce ischemic complications are needed.

Trial registration: NCT# 02950168, October 31, 2016

Leukemia cutis with IDH1, DNMT3A and NRAS mutations conferring resistance to venetoclax plus 5-azacytidine in refractory AML

Recently, novel drugs like venetoclax plus 5-azacytidine (VA) were reported to have promising efficacy in refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, there are still some cases presented with novel drugs resistance, and its genetics composition and clinical phenotype are urging to study. We described a 58-year-old patient who was resistant to intensive chemotherapy. This refractory AML was presented with the persistence of RUNX1, IDH1 and DNMT3A mutations. RUNX1 mutations disappeared and leukemia cutis ensued after multiple chemotherapies. Leukemia cutis exhibited NRAS mutations in addition to IDH1 and DNMT3A mutations. With the VA salvage treatment, platelets were recovered to the normal level and blasts in bone marrow and peripheral blood were moderately controlled. However, leukemia cutis did not resolve. Unexpectedly, BM blasts obtained the new NRAS mutations after VA treatment, and consequently experienced leukostasis with two distinct leukemia clones. After survival of 230 days, this patient died because of spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage. This case highlights presentation of leukemia cutis with simultaneous mutations of IDH1, DNMT3A and NRAS in AML patients might act as a resistant niche to avoid the toxicity of multiple drugs including VA. There is unmet need to validate this result in the clinical trials or a large cohort of patients in the future.

Symptom-based scoring for haemorrhoidal disease: a systematic review

AIM

Haemorrhoidal disease can severely affect a patient's quality of life. Its classification is commonly based on morphology of the degree of prolapse; however, this does not take into account the symptoms and impact on the quality of life. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the most appropriate instruments that classify the severity of disease according to symptoms.

METHOD

A PRISMA-compliant search was conducted in December 2019 to identify studies that described the validation of a haemorrhoidal symptom score. The measurement properties of the scoring systems were assessed based on the consensus-based standards for the selection of health status measurement instruments (COSMIN) methodology for systematic reviews for patient-reported outcome measures.

RESULTS

A total of 5288 articles were identified, with five articles included. Three studies developed a scoring system based on a set of core symptoms for a cohort of patients and validated the score against treatment outcomes. One study developed a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire based on symptoms to evaluate disease burden. One study combined both quality of life and symptom measures and tested measurement properties on two cohorts of patients. Only one study demonstrated satisfactory valid, reliable and responsive measurement criteria.

CONCLUSION

A single study demonstrated sufficient quality in measurement properties to be recommended for clinical use. Further studies in this area should utilize consensus-based standards for designing and reporting validation research to ensure that the appropriate evidence base is acquired if any further patient-reported outcome measures are to be recommended.

Ruxolitinib Plus Decitabine Effectively Treats Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Unclassifiable, by Decreasing the Variant Allele Frequency of KRAS

Myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable (MDS/MPN-U) is a subtype of MDS/MPN that exhibits a combination of the features of both MDS and MPN. To date, no curative treatment is available for MDS/MPN-U; however, previous studies have suggested a potential survival advantage for ruxolitinib and hypomethylating agents. We reported a case of a JAK2-negative but KRAS-positive MDS/MPN-U patient treated with ruxolitinib plus decitabine. After treatment, the patient’s clinical symptoms were moderated, and the size of the spleen and the peripheral blood cell counts were reduced. These effects might be due to the regimen’s ability to reduce STAT5 activation and upregulate microRNA-181c to downregulate the variant allele frequency (VAF) of KRAS.

[Effect of imatinib on the height of children with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase]

目的

评估伊马替尼对慢性髓性白血病慢性期（CML-CP）儿童身高的影响。

方法

2018年7月至2019年7月，在全国范围内对诊断时年龄<18周岁、接受伊马替尼治疗至少3个月的CML儿童或其家长发放问卷，调查受访者伊马替尼治疗前后身高的变化。主要评价指标为身高标准差积分值（HtSDS）以及标准差积分的差值（ΔHtSDS），并分析其相关影响因素。

结果

共有238例受访者符合标准并被纳入研究，男性138例（58.0％），初诊时中位年龄11.0（1.4～17.9）岁，青春期前93例（39.0％），至填写答卷时，中位年龄15.0（2.0～34.0）岁，中位伊马替尼服药时间28（3～213）个月。受访者填写答卷时HtSDS（−0.063±1.361）较治疗前HtSDS（0.391±1.244）显著下降（P<0.001），71.0％的患儿出现身高增长减慢。青春期前服药者治疗后HtSDS下降显著（P<0.05），而青春期开始后服药者HtSDS变化不明显（P>0.05）。多因素分析显示，服药初始年龄较小（偏回归系数为0.122，B＝0.572，t＝10.733，P<0.001）和服药时间较长（偏回归系数为−0.006，B＝−0.211，t＝−4.062，P<0.001）是伊马替尼抑制身高增长的独立影响因素。

结论

伊马替尼引起CML-CP儿童身高增长障碍，服药初始年龄越小、服药时间越长，伊马替尼对身高的影响越明显。