Glucocorticoids impair bone formation of bone marrow stromal stem cells by reciprocally regulating microRNA-34a-5p

The inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on bone marrow stromal stem cell (BMSC) proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation are an important pathway through which GCs decrease bone formation. We found that microRNA-34a-5p was a critical player in dexamethasone (Dex)-inhibited BMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. MicroRNA-34a-5p might be used as a therapeutic target for GC-impaired bone formation.

INTRODUCTION

The inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on bone marrow stromal stem cell (BMSC) proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation are an important pathway through which GCs decrease bone formation. The mechanisms of this process are still not completely understood. Recent studies implicated an important role of microRNAs in GC-mediated responses in various cellular processes, including cell proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, we hypothesized that these regulatory molecules might be implicated in the process of GC-decreased BMSC proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation.

METHODS

Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR, and cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation assays were employed to investigate the role of microRNAs in GC-inhibited BMSC proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation.

RESULTS

We found that microRNA-34a-5p was reciprocally regulated by Dex during the process of BMSC proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation. Furthermore, we confirmed that microRNA-34a-5p was a critical player in Dex-inhibited BMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Mechanistic studies showed that Dex inhibited BMSC proliferation by microRNA-34a-5p targeting cell cycle factors, including CDK4, CDK6, and Cyclin D1. Furthermore, downregulation of microRNA-34a-5p by Dex leads to Notch signaling activation, resulting in inhibition of BMSC osteogenic differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that microRNA-34a-5p, a crucial regulator for BMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, might be used as a therapeutic target for GC-impaired bone formation.

[Changes of macrophages in colitis-associated colonic carcinogenesis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes of quantity and phenotype of macrophages during the progress of colitis-associated carcinogenesis, and to identify the chemokines mediating macrophage recruitment.

METHODS

Colitis-associated cancer was induced by azoxymethane (AOM) combined with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in C57BL/6 mice. The three sequential developmental stages of colitis associated cancer in the mice were named AD1, AD2 and AD3, respectively. Colon tissues were collected and digested into single-cell suspension. The percentage and phenotype of macrophages in the colon tissues were determined by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). Protein array and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to predict potential chemotatic factors of macrophages.

RESULTS

Colitis-associated cancer was effectively induced in C57BL/6 mice using AOM combined with DSS. The percentage of macrophages was gradually elevated in the AD1, AD2 and AD3 groups [(9.93±1.28)%, (15.42±1.15)%, (21.25±0.62)%], respectively, significantly higher than that of the control group [(2.39±0.54)%, P<0.01]. The macrophages infiltrating the colonic mucosa exhibited mainly a pro-inflammatory phenotype as CD206(-)CD86(+) MHCII(-). The positive rates of CD206 in the AD1, AD2 and AD3 groups were (15.03±1.54)%, (8.11±3.70)%, and (9.06±1.16)%, respectively, significantly lower than that of the control group [(19.43±7.31)%, P<0.01]. The positive rates of CD86 in the AD2 and AD3 groups were (46.73±6.58)% and (76.90±14.32)%, respectively, significantly higher than that of the control group [(19.37±9.69)%, P<0.01)]. The positive rates of MHCⅡ in the AD1, AD2 and AD3 groups were (31.10±2.69)%, (33.93±14.08)%, and (29.93±1.41)%, respectively, significantly lower than that of the control group [(50.30±6.58)%, P<0.01]. Protein array analysis and real-time PCR data revealed that G-CSF was the potential chemokine to recruit macrophages in the AOM-DSS mouse model.

CONCLUSION

Macrophages infiltrate increasingly during the carcinogenesis and development of colitis-associated cancer, which mostly express CD206(-)CD86(+) MHCII(-) and might be potentially recruited by G-CSF.

Wnt activation protects against neomycin-induced hair cell damage in the mouse cochlea

Recent studies have reported the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hair cell (HC) development, regeneration, and differentiation in the mouse cochlea; however, the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in HC protection remains unknown. In this study, we took advantage of transgenic mice to specifically knockout or overactivate the canonical Wnt signaling mediator β-catenin in HCs, which allowed us to investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in protecting HCs against neomycin-induced damage. We first showed that loss of β-catenin in HCs made them more vulnerable to neomycin-induced injury, while constitutive activation of β-catenin in HCs reduced HC loss both in vivo and in vitro. We then showed that loss of β-catenin in HCs increased caspase-mediated apoptosis induced by neomycin injury, while β-catenin overexpression inhibited caspase-mediated apoptosis. Finally, we demonstrated that loss of β-catenin in HCs led to increased expression of forkhead box O3 transcription factor (Foxo3) and Bim along with decreased expression of antioxidant enzymes; thus, there were increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after neomycin treatment that might be responsible for the increased aminoglycoside sensitivity of HCs. In contrast, β-catenin overexpression reduced Foxo3 and Bim expression and ROS levels, suggesting that β-catenin is protective against neomycin-induced HC loss. Our findings demonstrate that Wnt/β-catenin signaling has an important role in protecting HCs against neomycin-induced HC loss and thus might be a new therapeutic target for the prevention of HC death.

Note: Enhancing the sensitivity of roll-angle measurement with a novel interferometric configuration based on waveplates and folding mirror

A novel method for very high resolution measurement of roll angle on a transparent plate is developed theoretically and tested experimentally. The new optical configuration is based on the interferometric readout of phase shift accumulated on the double passage through half wave plate, together with a careful control of polarization state by means of quarter wave plate, and optimizing the tilt of the folding mirror. Sensitivity to roll angle is greatly enhanced and a gain coefficient exceeding 700 is found theoretically, based on Jones' matrix analysis, with a 6-fold increase respect to previous results. In the experimental setup, at the optimum 36° incidence to retroreflector, we measured a gain coefficient of 340. Correspondingly, with an interferometer phase meter resolving 0.01°, a roll-angle resolution 0.1-arc sec is attained.

Effects of non-surgical factors on digital replantation survival rate: a meta-analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors affecting survival rate of digital replantation by a meta-analysis. A computer retrieval of MEDLINE, OVID, EMBASE, and CNKI databases was conducted to identify citations for digital replantation with digit or finger or thumb or digital or fingertip and replantation as keywords. RevMan 5.2 software was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios. In total, there were 4678 amputated digits in 2641 patients. Gender and ischemia time had no significant influence on the survival rate of amputation replantation (P > 0.05). Age, injured hand, injury type, zone, and the method of preservation the amputated digit significantly influence the survival rate of digital replantation (P < 0.05). Children, right hand, crush, or avulsion and little finger are the risk factors that adversely affect the outcome.

THE LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 5*.

Unraveling Photoinduced Spin Dynamics in the Topological Insulator Bi(2)Se(3)

We report on a time-resolved ultrafast optical spectroscopy study of the topological insulator Bi_{2}Se_{3}. We unravel that a net spin polarization cannot only be generated using circularly polarized light via interband transitions between topological surface states (SSs), but also via transitions between SSs and bulk states. Our experiment demonstrates that tuning photon energy or temperature can essentially allow for photoexcitation of spin-polarized electrons to unoccupied topological SSs with two distinct spin relaxation times (∼25 and ∼300  fs), depending on the coupling between SSs and bulk states. The intrinsic mechanism leading to such distinctive spin dynamics is the scattering in SSs and bulk states which is dominated by E_{g}^{2} and A_{1g}^{1} phonon modes, respectively. These findings are suggestive of novel ways to manipulate the photoinduced coherent spins in topological insulators.

Colour Doppler ultrasonography can be used to detect the changes of sacroiliitis and peripheral enthesitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis during adalimumab treatment

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) can be used to detect the effect of adalimumab on sacroiliitis and peripheral enthesitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS

AS patients (n=41) received 40 mg adalimumab every other week for 24 weeks. BASDAI, BASFI, CRP, MRI examinations of the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) and CDUS examinations of both SIJs and 10 peripheral entheseal sites were taken at baseline, week 12, and week 24. We scored the MR images by SPARCC method, recorded the resistive index (RI) value of SIJs and graded the blood signal on a semi quantitative 0-3 scale. We also scored lesions of peripheral entheses seen by CDUS. We analysed the associations between the results of CDUS and clinical indices and MRI data.

RESULTS

Significant reduction in mean CDUS score of SIJs and peripheral enthesitis and increase in mean RI value were observed in AS patients treated with adalimumab for 12 weeks and 24 weeks as compared with baseline (all p<0.05). The CDUS scores of SIJs and peripheral enthesitis positively related with clinical assessments (including BASDAI, BASFI, and CRP), while the RI value negatively related with them at all visits (all p<0.05). The results of CDUS also correlated well with the MRI data (all p<0.05) during adalimumab treatment in AS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that CDUS could be used to detect the changes of sacroiliitis and peripheral enthesitis in AS patients under adalimumab therapy.

Diversity and antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li, a well-known medicinal plant in China

About 1051 endophytic fungi were isolated from leaves, branches, barks and stems of Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li from four sites in Hainan, China. The fungi were identified as 21 genera by morphology and ITS sequences. One dominant species was Phomopsis quercella in Hainan Tropical Botanical Garden and Bawangling Nature Reserve, with relative frequency of 42·06 and 34·88% respectively. Another dominant species was Colletotrichum boninense in Wuzhishan and Jianfengling Nature Reserves, with relative frequency of 36·84 and 46·97% respectively. Among the selected 21 endophytic fungi, 17 strains (80·95%) had activity against at least one pathogenic bacteria, and 14 strains (66·67%) exhibited activity against at least one fungal pathogens. Neonectria macroconidialis showed strong inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (inhibition zone being 20 mm), Bacillus subtilis (14 mm) and Streptococcus agalactiae (28 mm). Xylaria sp. showed strong inhibition against Escherichia coli (20 mm), Rhizoctonia solani (20 mm) and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (17 mm). Verticillium bulbillosum showed great activity against Strep. agalactiae (32 mm) and Fusarium oxysporum (22 mm). These endophytic fungi showed potentials in medicine development.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Endophytic fungi from medicinal plants are an important source of novel and viable drugs. Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li is well known for leukaemia treatment and its endophytic fungi were isolated to investigate the diversity and antimicrobial activity. It was found that Ce. hainanensis Li had rich endophytic fungi, and some fungi showed strong antimicrobial activity against certain pathogens. These fungi can be used in medicine development.

Association between IL-21 polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis

Several case-control studies have been conducted to investigate the association between Interleukin-21 (IL-21) polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility, and most of the studies focused on IL-21 rs907715 and rs2221903 polymorphisms. Given the inconsistent results from these studies, the present meta-analysis aimed to obtain a more precise estimate of the association between IL-21 rs907715 and rs2221903 polymorphisms and SLE. Studies regarding these specific polymorphisms and SLE were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and CBM. Data were extracted and meta-analysis was performed using the STATA 12.0 software. For the IL-21 rs907715 polymorphism, seven sets of comparisons involving 7977 SLE cases and 8097 healthy controls were considered. Results showed that there were significant differences in the IL-21 rs907715 genotype distribution between SLE patients and healthy controls in the comparisons of all genetic models. Upon stratified analysis by ethnicity, a similar result was found in the Caucasian and African-American population. For the IL-21 rs2221903 polymorphism, seven sets of comparisons involving 7990 SLE cases and 8098 healthy controls were considered. Results showed that there were significant differences in the IL-21 rs2221903 genotype distribution between SLE patients and healthy controls in the comparisons of GG versus AA and GG versus GA+AA. Upon stratified analysis by ethnicity, a similar result was found in the Caucasian population. This meta-analysis suggests that the both IL-21 rs907715 and rs2221903 polymorphisms may be associated with SLE susceptibility. As current evidence remains limited, further studies are needed to warrant the association between IL-21 rs907715 and rs2221903 polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility.

Inhibitory effects of Chikusetsusaponin IVa on lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory responses in THP-1 cells

This study investigated anti-inflammatory effects and possible mechanisms of Chikusetsusaponin IVa (Chi IVa), one of the main bioactive components in saponins from Panacis japonica (SPJ), which is used in traditional Tujia and Hmong Chinese medicine. To this end, changes in the inflammatory profiles of lipopolysacchride (LPS)-stimulated phrobol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA)-differented THP-1 macrophages were evaluated following Chi IVa treatment. The results showed that Chi IVa markedly decreased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) at both the mRNA and protein level, which proved to be dose-dependent. Further studies revealed that Chi IVa strongly suppressed NF-κB activation and downregulated the phosphorylation of ERK, p38, and JNK. Our present study demonstrates that Chi IVa suppresses the production of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells likely by inhibiting NF-κB activation and ERK, JNK, and p38 signal pathway phosphorylation.

Results from a multicenter, open-label, pivotal phase II study of chidamide in relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Chidamide is a novel benzamide type of subtype-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor with unique mechanisms of action compared with marketed HDAC inhibitors. This phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of chidamide in relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) in Chinese population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL of different subtypes received chidamide of 30 mg orally twice per week. The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR). Responding patients should be confirmed at least 4 weeks after the criteria of the response were first met, and were reviewed by an independent review committee.

RESULTS

Eighty-three patients were enrolled and 79 patients with eligible PTCL histology were for efficacy assessments. Patients enrolled over 10% were with subtypes of PTCL not otherwise specified (34%), anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (22%), extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (20%), or angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL, 13%). The ORR was 28% (22 of 79) including 14% (11 of 79) with complete response/unconfirmed complete response (CR/CRu). Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 2.1 and 21.4 months, respectively. AITL patients tended to have higher ORR (50%) and CR/CRu rate (40%), as well as more durable responses, to chidamide treatment. Most adverse events (AEs) were grade 1 or 2, and AEs ≥grade 3 that occurred in ≥10% patients were thrombocytopenia (22%), leucopenia (13%) and neutropenia (11%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Chidamide represents a novel oral benzamide class of HDAC inhibitor with significant single-agent activity and manageable toxicity in relapsed or refractory PTCL, and provides a much needed treatment option in this indication in China. Results led to China Food and Drug Administration approval of chidamide in this indication.

The BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 suppresses growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in patient-derived xenograft models

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of the bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patient-derived xenograft (tumorgraft) models. A secondary aim of the study was to evaluate whether JQ1 decreases expression of the oncogene c-Myc in PDAC tumors, as has been reported for other tumor types. We used five PDAC tumorgraft models that retain specific characteristics of tumors of origin to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of JQ1. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with JQ1 (50 mg/kg daily for 21 or 28 days). Expression analyses were performed with tumors harvested from host mice after treatment with JQ1 or vehicle control. An nCounter PanCancer Pathways Panel (NanoString Technologies) of 230 cancer-related genes was used to identify gene products affected by JQ1. Quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunoblots were carried out to confirm that changes in RNA expression reflected changes in protein expression. JQ1 inhibited the growth of all five tumorgraft models (P<0.05), each of which harbors a KRAS mutation; but induced no consistent change in expression of c-Myc protein. Expression profiling identified CDC25B, a regulator of cell cycle progression, as one of the three RNA species (TIMP3, LMO2 and CDC25B) downregulated by JQ1 (P<0.05). Inhibition of tumor progression was more closely related to decreased expression of nuclear CDC25B than to changes in c-Myc expression. JQ1 and other agents that inhibit the function of proteins with bromodomains merit further investigation for treating PDAC tumors. Work is ongoing in our laboratory to identify effective drug combinations that include JQ1.

A Randomised Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Intrathecal Bupivacaine Combined with Different Adjuvants (Fentanyl, Clonidine and Dexmedetomidine) in Caesarean Section

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate comparatively, in women undergoing caesarean section under spinal anesthesia, the effectiveness of hyperbaric bupivacaine combined with 3 different adjuvants (fentanyl, clonidine, and dexmedtomidine) on quality of blockade and maternal and neonatal repercussions.

METHOD

84 patients undergoing elective surgeries under spinal anesthesia were randomized into 4 groups of 21 each, gB, gBF, gBC and gBD. Patients in groups gb, gBF, gBC and gBD were given bupivacaine alone, bupivacaine plus fentanyl (15.0 µg), bupivacaine plus fentanyl plus clonidine (75 µg), and bupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine (10 µg), respectively. Hemodynamic parameters evaluated were the onset and level of sensory block, perioperative analgesia, degree and recovery time of motor block, duration of analgesia, sedation, and maternal-foetal repercussions.

RESULTS

The onset of blockade was significantly faster in groups with adjuvants clonidine and dexmedetomidine compared with gB and gBF. Patients in Groups gB and gBF reported pain during the perioperative period. Duration of analgesia was significantly higher in Group gBD and was comparable to gBC and time to motor block recovery was significantly higher in Group gBD. Sedation was significant in Group gBD and gBC.

CONCLUSION

Addition of dexmedetomidine and clonidine as adjuvants to hyperbaric bupivacaine provided adequate anesthesia and postoperative analgesia compared to fentanyl adjuvant without causing any significant side effects.

Syntheses and discovery of a novel class of cinnamic hydroxamates as histone deacetylase inhibitors by multimodality molecular imaging in living subjects

Histone deacetylases (HDAC) that regulate gene expression are being explored as cancer therapeutic targets. In this study, we focused on HDAC6 based on its ability to inhibit cancerous Hsp90 chaperone activities by disrupting Hsp90/p23 interactions. To identify novel HDAC6 inhibitors, we used a dual-luciferase reporter system in cell culture and living mice by bioluminescence imaging (BLI). On the basis of existing knowledge, a library of hydrazone compounds was generated for screening by coupling cinnamic hydroxamates with aldehydes and ketones. Potency and selectivity were determined by in vitro HDAC profiling assays, with further evaluation to inhibit Hsp90(α/β)/p23 interactions by BLI. In this manner, we identified compound 1A12 as a dose-dependent inhibitor of Hsp90(α/β)/p23 interactions, UKE-1 myeloid cell proliferation, p21(waf1) upregulation, and acetylated histone H3 levels. 1A12 was efficacious in tumor xenografts expressing Hsp90(α)/p23 reporters relative to carrier control-treated mice as determined by BLI. Small animal (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging on the same cohort showed that 1A12 also inhibited glucose metabolism relative to control subjects. Ex vivo analyses of tumor lysates showed that 1A12 administration upregulated acetylated-H3 by approximately 3.5-fold. Taken together, our results describe the discovery and initial preclinical validation of a novel selective HDAC inhibitor.

Comparison of PEGylated FGF-21 with insulin glargine for long-lasting hypoglycaemic effect in db/db mice

AIM

This study investigated the long-acting antidiabetic efficacy of PEGylated fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 in type 2 diabetic db/db mice.

METHODS

PEGylated FGF-21 was prepared by modifying the N-terminus of human FGF-21 (hFGF-21) using mPEG-ALD. To compare the long-lasting hypoglycaemic effects of PEGylated FGF-21 and insulin glargine in diabetic db/db mice, their pharmacological efficacy was evaluated by changes in blood glucose levels, body weight, insulin levels, glycosylated haemoglobin levels, lipid profile and liver function parameters, and by oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs).

RESULTS

Both PEGylated FGF-21 and insulin glargine decreased plasma glucose in db/db mice. However, compared with insulin glargine treatment, PEGylated FGF-21 therapy had more significant effects in lowering blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels, improving lipid profile and liver function parameters, alleviating insulin resistance and reducing the glucose area under the curve in OGTTs.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that PEGylated FGF-21 is an ideal candidate as a long-acting antidiabetes drug, and holds significant promise as an effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients.

Circulating cell-free DNA in serum as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognostic prediction of colorectal cancer

Background:

To verify whether the concentrations and integrity index of circulating cell-free DNA (ccf-DNA) in serum may be clinically useful for the diagnosis and progression monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Methods:

Serum samples were collected from 104 with primary CRC, 85 with operated CRC, 16 with recurrent/metastatic CRC, 63 patients with intestinal polyps and 110 normal controls. Long (247 bp) and short (115 bp) DNA fragments in serum were detected by real-time quantitative PCR by amplifying the ALU repeats (ALU-qPCR). Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was detected by ARCHITECT assay.

Results:

The median absolute serum ALU115 and ALU247/115 in primary CRC group was significantly higher than those in intestinal polyp and normal control groups (both P<0.0001), in recurrent/metastatic CRC was significantly higher compared with primary CRC (P=0.0021, P=0.0018) or operated CRC (P<0.0001, respectively) and during follow-up, ALU115 and ALU247/115 were increased before surgery and decreased significantly after surgery.

Conclusions:

Combined detection of ALU115, ALU247/115 and CEA could improve the diagnostic efficiency for CRC. Serum DNA concentrations and integrity index may be valuable in early complementary diagnosis and monitoring of progression and prognosis of CRC.

EIF3i promotes colon oncogenesis by regulating COX-2 protein synthesis and β-catenin activation

Translational control of gene expression has recently been recognized as an important mechanism controlling cell proliferation and oncogenesis, and it mainly occurs in the initiation step of protein synthesis that involves multiple eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs). Many eIFs have been found to have aberrant expression in human tumors and the aberrant expression may contribute to oncogenesis. However, how these previously considered house-keeping proteins are potentially oncogenic remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the expression of eIF3i in human colon cancers, tested its contribution to colon oncogenesis and determined the mechanism of eIF3i action in colon oncogenesis. We found that eIF3i expression was upregulated in both human colon adenocarcinoma and adenoma polyps as well as in model inducible colon tumorigenic cell lines. Overexpression of ectopic eIF3i in intestinal epithelial cells causes oncogenesis by directly upregulating the synthesis of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein and activates the β-catenin/T-cell factor 4 signaling pathway that mediates the oncogenic function of eIF3i. Together, we conclude that eIF3i is a proto-oncogene that drives colon oncogenesis by translationally upregulating COX-2 and activating the β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings imply that proto-oncogenic eIFs likely exert their tumorigenic function by regulating/altering the synthesis level of downstream tumor suppressor or oncogenes.

Epidemiological comparison of clinical manifestations according to HLA-B*27 carrier status of Chinese ankylosing spondylitis patients

The aim of the study was to investigate and compare the clinical manifestations between HLA-B27(+) and HLA-B27(-) ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients in order to obtain knowledge of the impact of HLA-B27 status on AS, and to inform clinical treatment. A nationwide epidemiological investigation was performed from November 2008 to October 2010. The demographic data and clinical characteristics, and the status of HLA-B27 were collected using questionnaires and laboratory assay, respectively. A total of 2144 patients (78.5% males and 78.4% HLA-B27(+) AS patients) participated in this study. The percentages of males, patients with family history, and involvement of lumbar spine, thoracic spine and hip joints, were observed to be significantly higher in the HLA-B27(+) AS patients than in their HLA-B27(-) AS peers.