MicroRNA-585 inhibits human glioma cell proliferation by directly targeting MDM2

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators for cancer cell proliferation. miR-585 has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of several types of cancer, however, little is known about its role in human glioma cells.

Methods

miR-585 levels in human glioma clinical samples and cell lines were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Cell proliferation was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and EdU incorporation assays in vitro. For in vivo investigations, U251 cells were intracranially inoculated in BALB/c nude mice and xenografted tumors were visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results

miR-585 expression is downregulated in human glioma tissues and cell lines compared with non-cancerous counterparts. Additionally, miR-585 overexpression inhibits and its knockdown promotes human glioma cell proliferation in vitro. Moreover, miR-585 overexpression also inhibits the growth of glioma xenografts in vivo, suggesting that miR-585 may act as a tumor suppressor to inhibit the proliferation of human glioma. Furthermore, miR-585 directly targets and decreases the expression of oncoprotein murine double minute 2 (MDM2). More importantly, the restoration of MDM2 via enforced overexpression markedly rescues miR-585 inhibitory effect on human glioma cell proliferation, thus demonstrating that targeting MDM2 is a critical mechanism by which miR-585 inhibits human glioma cell proliferation.

Conclusions

Our study unveils the anti-proliferative role of miR-585 in human glioma cells, and also implicates its potential application in clinical therapy.

Phthalyl starch nanoparticles as prebiotics enhanced nisin production in Lactococcus lactis through the induction of mild stress in probiotics

AIM OF THE STUDY

Effect of internalized phthalyl starch nanoparticles (PSNs) on the antimicrobial ability of Lactococcus lactis (LL) KCTC 2013.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Phthalyl starch nanoparticles were prepared by self-assembly of phthalyl starch and the amount of the hydrophobic phthalic moieties were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance: PSN1 (DS: 14·3 mol.%), PSN2 (DS: 17·8 mol.%) and PSN3 (DS: 30·4 mol.%). The sizes of PSN1, PSN2 and PSN3 measured by dynamic light scattering were 364·7, 248·4 and 213·4 nm, respectively, and the surface charges of PSNs measured by electrophoretic light scattering were negative charges and PSNs were spherical in shape according to scanning electron microscope. It was found that when PSNs were treated with LL, the PSNs were internalized into LL through nanoparticle size-, energy- and glucose transporter-dependent mechanisms. The internalization was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Nisin was isolated and identified by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Also, more nisin was produced from PSNs-treated LL than untreated- or starch-treated LL. Co-culture assay and agar diffusion test were performed to test the antimicrobial ability. Antimicrobial ability against Gram-negative Escherichia coli k88, Salmonella gallinarum and Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes of LL treated with PSNs was higher than that of untreated or starch-treated group. Finally, it was found that the expression level of stress response genes dnaK, dnaJ and groES was significantly higher in PSNs-treated groups compared with starch-treated group or LL alone.

CONCLUSION

The internalization of PSNs into LL enhanced the production of nisin through mild intracellular stimulation, resulting in enhanced antimicrobial ability.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study shows the promising potential of PSNs as new prebiotics for increasing the production of nisin, thus demonstrating a new method for the biological production of such antimicrobial peptides.

MiR-135a-5p promotes the migration and invasion of trophoblast cells in preeclampsia by targeting β-TrCP

BACKGROUND

MiR-135a-5p is an important regulator of cell migration and invasion in several diseases. However, the biological functions and mechanisms of miR-135a-5p in women with preeclampsia (PE) remain unclear.

METHODS

The levels of miR-135a-5p and beta-transducin repeat containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (β-TrCP) expression in samples of placenta tissue from PE patients and healthy control subjects were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The effects of miR-135a-5p and β-TrCP on cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in two trophoblast cell lines (HTR-8/SVneo and TEV-1) were examined using wound healing, Transwell, and western blot assays, respectively. A luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the association between miR-135a-5p and β-TrCP, and an in vivo mouse model was established and used to analyze the effect of β-TrCP on PE clinical phenotypes.

RESULTS

We found that miR-135a-5p expression was significantly decreased and negatively correlated with β-TrCP expression in the placental tissues of pregnant women with PE. Cellular function experiments showed that overexpression of miR-135a5p promoted the migration and invasion of trophoblast cells in vitro. Furthermore, β-TrCP was confirmed as a target gene of miR-135a-5p in trophoblast cells. Notably, overexpression of β-TrCP significantly reversed the effect of miR-135a-5p on migration and invasion of trophoblast cells. At the molecular level, decreases in E-cadherin levels and increases in N-cadherin, Vimentin, and β-catenin levels that were induced by miR-135a-5p overexpression were attenuated by β-TrCP overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that miR-135a-5p promotes the migration and invasion of trophoblast cells by targeting β-TrCP.

Childhood COVID-19: a multicentre retrospective study

Objectives

To investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of paediatric patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).

Methods

Paediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 15 and March 15, 2020, from seven hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, were collected retrospectively and analysed.

Results

Thirty-two children with COVID-19, ranging in age from 3 months to 18 years, were enrolled. Family aggregation occurred in 87.5% of infant and preschool-aged children (7/8), and also school-aged children (14/16), but in only 12.5% (1/8) of adolescents (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). Most of these patients had mild symptoms: mainly fever (20/32) followed by cough (10/32) and fatigue (4/32). The average durations of viral RNA in respiratory samples and gastrointestinal samples were 15.8 d and 28.9 d, respectively. Detox duration in faeces decreased with age: 39.8 d, 27.5 d and 20.4 d in infants and preschool children, school children, and adolescents respectively (p_{0–6, –18} <0.01, p_{0–6, –14} <0.05). Pneumonia was found in 14 children, but there was no statistical significance in the incidence of pneumonia between different age groups. Thirty patients were treated with antiviral drugs, and all patients were stable and gradually improved after admission.

Conclusions

Most children with COVID-19 had a mild process and a good prognosis. More attention should be paid to investigation of household contact history in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in young children. Viral RNA lasts longer in the gastrointestinal system than in the respiratory tract, especially in younger children.

Viral kinetics and factors associated with rapid viral clearance during lopinavir/ritonavir-based combination therapy in non-severe COVID-19 patients

OBJECTIVE

Lopinavir/ritonavir has modest antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The aim was to investigate the viral kinetics and factors associated with viral clearance during lopinavir/ritonavir-based combination treatment in non-severe patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty-four patients were retrospectively enrolled. Viral RNA was detected by real-time RT-PCR assay from sputum or throat swab samples at different time points. The patterns of viral kinetics were characterized, and factors associated with rapid viral clearance, which was defined as viral RNA undetectable within two weeks, were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

All patients achieved viral RNA negativity and were discharged from the hospital. Furthermore, 48 (75%) and 16 (25%) patients achieved rapid and delayed viral clearance, respectively. The lymphocyte counts of rapid viral clearance patients (1.40 [1.20-1.80] × 109/L) were higher, when compared to delayed viral clearance patients (1.00 [0.70-1.47] × 109/L) (p=0.024). The multivariate logistic analysis revealed that high lymphocyte count (≥1.3×109/L) is an independent factor associated with rapid viral clearance (OR=7.62, 95% CI=1.15-50.34, p=0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

The viral shedding exhibited different patterns during treatment. Immune insufficiency is responsible for the delayed viral clearance, suggesting that an immunomodulator should be considered to promote viral clearance in patients with low lymphocyte counts.

Correlation between MRAS gene polymorphism and atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between muscle RAS oncogene homolog (MRAS) gene polymorphism and the onset risk of atherosclerosis (AS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 135 AS patients diagnosed and treated in our hospital from November 2017 to October 2018 were randomly enrolled in the observation group. Meanwhile, 150 healthy adults were selected as control group. Venous blood was withdrawn from all the subjects, and DNAs were extracted. MRAS gene loci rs9818870 and rs3755751 were analyzed by the multiplex SNaPshot method, and their correlations with the onset risk of AS were explored.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences in the frequencies at gene loci were observed between the two groups (p>0.05). Subjects with genotype TT at rs9818870 exhibited significantly higher risk of AS (p=0.041<0.05). The recessive model of rs9818870 (GG + AG/AA) in AS patients with coronary heart disease was correlated with AS (p=0.048<0.05). Similarly, the dominant model of rs3755751 (TT/TC+CC) in those with hypertension was associated with AS (p=0.027<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MRAS gene is correlated with the onset of AS to a certain degree.

Lenticulostriate arteries appearance before thrombectomy predicts good outcome in acute middle cerebral artery occlusion

Background

Endovascular therapy is widely used in acute large vessel occlusion. This study investigated whether imaging of lateral lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs) before thrombectomy would potentially be helpful for predicting prognosis of patients with acute M1 segment of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

Methods

59 consecutive patients with acute M1 segment of MCAO treated with mechanical thrombectomy at two comprehensive stroke centers were analyzed. Patients were categorized into LSA+ (appearing of lateral LSAs) and LSA- (sparing of lateral LSAs) group according to preprocedural digital substraction angiography (DSA). Baseline data and clinical outcomes were compared. A good clinical outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2 at 3 months. The association between clinical and imaging parameters and functional outcome was evaluated with logistic regression analysis.

Results

LSA+ was shown in 36 patients (61%). LSA+ group had a significantly higher proportion of good outcome (72.2% vs. 8.7%, OR 27.3,95% CI 5.38–138.4, P < 0.001), lower risk of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhages (sICH) (8.3% vs. 47.8%,OR 0.10,95% CI 0.02–0.42, P = 0.001) and lower mortality in hospital (5.6% vs. 34.8%, OR 0.11,95% CI 0.02–0.58, P < 0.004) compared with LSA- group. Patients in LSA+ group had lower baseline NIHSS score(P < 0.01) and NIHSS score at 14 days(P < 0.01) and smaller infarct core volume (P = 0.016) on computed tomography perfusion imaging (CTP) compared to the LSA- group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a small infarct core volume (OR 6.74,95% CI 1.148–39.569, P = 0.035) and LSA+(OR 22.114,95% CI 3.339–146.470, P = 0.001) were associated with a good clinical outcome.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that appearance of lateral LSAs before mechanical thrombectomy would be potentially helpful for predicting favorable prognosis of patients with acute M1 segment of MCAO.

Clinical efficacy of lopinavir/ritonavir in the treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019

OBJECTIVE

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which outbroke in December 2019 is highly contagious with a low cure rate. In view of this, there is an urgent need to find a more appropriate therapeutic scheme against COVID-19. The study aimed to investigate whether lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) in combination with other pneumonia-associated adjuvant drugs has a better therapeutic effect on COVID-19.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Totally 47 patients with COVID-19 infection who were admitted to Rui'an People's Hospital between January 22 and January 29, 2020 were collected. The patients were divided into the test group and the control group according to whether they had been treated with LPV/r or not during hospitalization. Patients in the test group were treated with LPV/r combined with adjuvant medicine, while those in the control group were just treated with adjuvant medicine. The changes of body temperature, blood routine and blood biochemistry between the two groups were observed and compared.

RESULTS

Both groups achieved good therapeutic effect with the body temperature of patients decreased gradually from admission to the 10th day of treatment. But the body temperature of patients in the test group decreased faster than that of the control group. Blood routine indexes showed that compared with the control group, the abnormal proportion of white blood cells, lymphocytes and C-reactive protein of the test group could be reduced to some extent. Blood biochemical indexes exhibited that the proportion of patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the test group were lower than the control group. The number of days for nCoV-RNA turning negative after treatment was significantly decreased in the test group than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the treatment of pneumonia-associated adjuvant drugs alone, the combination treatment with LPV/r and adjuvant drugs has a more evident therapeutic effect in lowering the body temperature and restoring normal physiological mechanisms with no evident toxic and side effects. In view of these conclusions, we suggested that the use of LPV/r combined with pneumonia-associated adjuvant drugs in the clinical treatment for patients with COVID-19 should be promoted.

Abstract WP91: Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden Predicts Poor Collateral Flow in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Large Artery Atherosclerosis

Aim: We sought to determine whether the extent of chronic white matter hyper-intensities (WMH) and white matter hypo-perfusion (WMHP), as markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), were associated with poor collateral flow in acute ischemic stroke as a potential cause of unfavorable functional outcome.

Methods: Acute ischemic stroke patients within 12 hours of symptom onset with complete baseline and follow-up clinical data, who: (1) had large vessel occlusion in anterior circulation, (2) underwent baseline perfusion CT (CTP), (3) had 24-hour MRI were prospectively recruited. The volume of WMH was measured in the unaffected hemisphere on MRI semi-automatically. WMHP was measured as Delay Time (DT)>2s in white matter of unaffected hemisphere on CTP. Quality of Collateral flow was defined by the volume ratio of DT>3s/DT>6s on CTP. Unfavorable functional outcome was 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS)>2. The association between volumes of WMH, WMHP, and collateral flow were evaluated using univariate and multivariate generalized linear models. We also assessed the relationship between WMH, WHMP, and functional outcome with logistic regression.

Results: There were 96 (66.6±12.81 years old, 35 female) ischemic stroke patients, and 51 were due to large artery atherosclerosis (LAA). In all patients, after multivariate adjustment, WMH volume (5.6±7.11ml) did not correlate with collateral flow (coefficient -0.01, 95% CI -0.03 to 0, P=0.09), although it was marginally associated with unfavorable outcome (Odds Ratio: 1.08, p=0.06, 95% CI 1 to 1.17). In all patients, WMHP volume (8.6±8.54ml) did not correlate with collateral flow (coefficient -0.01, 95% CI -0.01 to 0, P=0.29). However, in the LAA subgroup, WMH volume was strongly related to poorer collateral flow, i.e. lower DT>3s/DT>6s ratio(coefficient -0.03, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.01, P=0.01). WMHP volume was also correlated with poor collateral flow (coefficient -0.01, 95% CI -0.02 to 0, P=0.02).

Conclusion: CSVD may contribute to poor collateral flow in acute stroke, especially in patients with LAA. This potentially explains the association between CSVD and poor acute stroke outcomes.

Endogenous ET-1 promotes ANP secretion through activation of COX2-L-PGDS-PPARγ signaling in hypoxic beating rat atria

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent stimulus for the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and hypoxia stimulates the release of ET-1, which is involved in the regulation of atrial ANP secretion. However, the precise mechanism of endogenous ET-1 in the regulation of hypoxia-induced ANP secretion is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mechanism of hypoxia-induced endogenous ET-1 regulation of ANP secretion in isolated perfused hypoxic beating rat atria. The results of this study showed that acute hypoxia significantly stimulated ET-1 release and upregulated the expression of its type A as well as type B receptors (ETA and ETB receptors). Endogenous ET-1 induced by hypoxia markedly upregulated the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) through activation of its two receptors, leading to an increase in lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) expression and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) production. L-PGDS-derived PGD2 activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), ultimately promoting hypoxia-induced ANP secretion. Conversely, L-PGDS-derived PGD2 may in turn regulate L-PGDS expression by a nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-mediated feedback mechanism. These results indicate that endogenous ET-1 induced by hypoxia promotes hypoxia-induced ANP secretion by activation of COX2-L-PGDS-PPARγ signaling in beating rat atria. In addition, the positive feedback loop between L-PGDS-derived PGD2 and L-PGDS expression induced by hypoxia is part of the mechanism of hypoxia-induced ANP secretion by endogenous ET-1.

Identification of differentially expressed proteins associated with recurrence in ovarian endometriotic cysts

The objective of this study was to identify proteins that are differentially expressed in the cystic wall tissues of ovarian endometriotic cysts, simple ovarian cysts, and in normal ovarian tissues. Specimens of ovarian endometriotic cyst wall tissue, simple ovarian cyst wall tissue, and normal ovarian tissue (six specimens per group) were collected from patients who received gynecologic surgery, respectively. Differentially expressed proteins related to the ovarian endometriotic cysts were screened by use of isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) combined with functional annotation and bioinformatics analyses. All differentially expressed proteins related to cysts were validated using immunohistochemistry methods in recurrent and non-recurrent ovarian endometriotic cyst. A total of 359 proteins were identified as up-regulated in ovarian endometriotic cyst groups when compared with both the normal ovary and simple ovarian cyst groups. The levels of 27 proteins were >two-fold higher in the ovarian endometriotic cyst group than that in the other two groups. Of note, the five most significantly upregulated proteins were Charcot-Leyden Crystal Galectin (CLC), Defensin, alpha 1 (DEFA1), S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9), S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8), and Ferritin Light Chain (FTL). Immunohistochemistry results showed that the changes of S100A9 and S100A8 were consistent with the results shown by iTRAQ. However, no similarity of CLC, DEFA1, and FTL proteins was found between iTRAQ and immunohistochemistry. The ratio of patients with abnormally high S100A9 and S100A8 expression in the recurrent ovarian endometriotic cyst group was significantly higher than that in the non-recurrent group (P < 0.05). Our data identify differentially expressed proteins S100A9 and S100A8, and suggest they may serve as novel molecular markers to predict postoperative recurrence of an ovarian endometriotic cysts.Abbreviations: iTRAQ: isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation; HPRD: Human Protein Reference Database; GO: Gene Ontology; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; EM: Endometriosis; COX-2: cyclooxyenase-2; NF-kB: nuclear factor kappa-B; PR-B: progesterone receptor type B.

Mesoporous TiO2/carbon catalytic ozonation for degradation of p-chloronitrobenzene

In this study, a mesoporous TiO₂/carbon catalyst (TiO₂/C) was prepared by a facile impregnation-carbonization approach to catalyze ozonation of p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB). The catalyst was well characterized and the catalytic efficiency under various conditions was systematically evaluated. TiO₂/C has a disordered mesostructure with a high specific surface area. 92.8% of p-CNB (2 μmol/L) can be degraded within 20 min in the TiO₂/C/O₃ system in the presence of 1 mg/L O₃, 100 mg/L catalyst, at pH = 5. Based on the evaluation of the effect of basic parameters, it could be deduced that the removal of p-CNB relied on the synthetic effect of catalysis by TiO₂/C and the autocatalytic induction of p-CNB. The removal efficiency of p-CNB, the structure change and the leaching of Ti ions were also evaluated in five cycles, indicating TiO₂/C is stable and recyclable for catalytic ozonation in water treatment.

Crystallization-induced refractive index modulation on sapphire-derived fiber for ultrahigh temperature sensing

We have demonstrated crystallization-induced refractive index (RI) modulation on sapphire-derived fiber (SDF) showing superheat resistance and developed the SDF based Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPIs) for ultrahigh temperature sensing. The SDF is a special fiber with high concentration of alumina to silica in the fiber core region. Reheating and cooling the SDF by arc discharge generates mullite particles in the core region, which achieves RI modulation up to ~0.015. Such crystallized region in the SDF is explored as mirrors for FPI, showing a good linear response to temperature with sensitivity of ~13.2 pm/°C. Benefiting from superheat resistance of the crystallized SDF being mirrors, the developed SDF-FPI sensor is capable to withstand high temperature up to 1600°C, which is the highest working temperature for amorphous fiber. Moreover, the SDF-FPI sensor exhibits 6-hour stability at 1200°C. The crystallized SDF-FPIs with compactness, wide temperature working range, high sensitivity, and robustness show great potential application in harsh environment such as turbine engines, power plants, petrochemical, gas industry, etc.

The blood pressure paradox in acute ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association of poststroke baseline blood pressure with cerebral collateral flow and functional outcome in acute ischemic patients with large vessel occlusion/stenosis.

METHODS

Patients identified with large vessel occlusion/stenosis with baseline multimodal computed tomography, follow-up imaging, and complete clinical profiles were included. A 90-day modified Rankin Scale of 0-1 was defined as an excellent functional outcome. Cerebral collateral flow was quantified by the volume ratio of tissue within the delay time >3 seconds perfusion lesion with severely delayed contrast transit (delay time >3 seconds/delay time >6 seconds).

RESULTS

There were 306 patients included in this study. With every increase of 10 mmHg in baseline systolic blood pressure, the odds of achieving an excellent functional outcome decreased by 12% in multivariate analysis (odds ratio = 0.88, p = 0.048). Conversely, increased baseline blood pressure was associated with better collateral flow. In subgroup analysis of patients with major reperfusion, higher blood pressure was associated with decreased infarct growth and a better clinical outcome, and vice versa in patients without reperfusion.

INTERPRETATION

Higher baseline blood pressure in acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion/stenosis was associated with better collateral flow. However, for patients without reperfusion, higher baseline blood pressure was associated with increased infarct growth, leading to an unfavorable clinical outcome. The relationship between blood pressure and outcomes is highly dependent on reperfusion, and active blood pressure-lowering treatment may be inappropriate in acute ischemic stroke patients prior to reperfusion treatment. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:331-339.

Abstract TP261: Red Blood Cell Distribution Width is Associated With Collateral Flow and Infarct Volume Growth in Acute Stroke With Large Artery Atherosclerosis

Background and Purpose: Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been recognized as a prognostic marker in cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Increased RDW is predictive of poor outcome and mortality in acute ischemic stroke patients. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We aimed to explore the association between RDW, collateral flow, infarct volume growth, final infarct volume (FIV), and clinical outcomes in acute stroke patients with large artery atherosclerosis.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study based on a prospective registry of consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients within 6 hours of onset. Acute ischemic stroke identified with anterior circulation large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) with complete baseline and follow-up imaging (Non-contrast CT, CT Angiography, Perfusion CT) as well as clinical profiles were enrolled. Collaterals was assessed using the volume ratio between delay time (DT) >3s and DT>6s lesions. Baseline infarct core volume was defined by relative cerebral blood flow<30%. FIV was calculated by manually drawing regions of interest on the follow-up images. Infarct volume growth was determined from FIV minus baseline infarct core volume. A good functional outcome was defined as a 3-month modified Rankin Score of 0-2. The relationship between RDW, collaterals, infarct volume growth, FIV and clinical outcomes were evaluated using multivariate models.

Results: A total number of 100 patients were included in this study. Multivariate adjusted general linear models revealed that increased RDW was associated with poorer collaterals (multivariate adjusted coefficient -0.11, 95% CI -0.20 — -0.02, p=0.02) and increased infarct volume growth (multivariate adjusted coefficient 0.06, 95% CI 0.03 — 0.08, p<0.001). No significant relationship was found between RDW and FIV (multivariate adjusted coefficient 0.08, 95% CI -0.01 — 0.13, p=0.08), RDW and clinical outcomes (multivariate adjusted OR 1.66, 95% CI 0.44 — 6.28, p=0.46) probably due to the small sample size.

Conclusion: For patients with LAA stroke, high RDW was associated with poorer collateral flow and increased infarct volume growth, which may explain the predictive value of RDW and poor functional outcomes in acute stroke.

Abstract WMP22: High Baseline Blood Pressure is Associated With Better Collaterals but Not Better Clinical Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purposes: The relationship between post-stroke blood pressure (BP), collaterals and functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of post-stroke baseline BP on collateral flow and functional outcome in acute ischemic patients with large vessel occlusion/stenosis.

Methods: Patients identified with large vessel occlusion/stenosis with baseline multimodal computed tomography, clinical data, follow-up imaging, and clinical outcomes recruited from 2011 to 2017 in the International Stroke Perfusion Imaging Registry (INSPIRE) were included in this study. A modified Rankin Score of 0-1 at 90 days after stroke was defined as an excellent functional outcome. Collateral flow was quantified by the volume of tissue with severely delayed contrast transit (delay time>6 seconds) within the delay time>3 seconds perfusion lesion. The association between baseline BP, collateral flow and 3-month outcome were retrospectively investigated using multivariate models.

Results: There were 306 patients included in this study. With every increase of 10mmHg in baseline systolic BP, the odds of achieving an excellent functional outcome decreased by 12% in multivariate analysis (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.76-0.995, P=0.048). Conversely, every increment of 10mmHg in baseline BP (regardless of systolic, diastolic and mean BP) was associated with better collateral flow, and was also associated with reduced final infarct volumes (FIV). In subgroup analysis of patients with major reperfusion, higher BP was associated with decreased FIV. For patients without reperfusion, higher BP was associated with increased FIV and decreased odds of a favorable clinical outcome.

Conclusions: Higher baseline BP in acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion/stenosis was associated with better collateral flow. However, for patients without reperfusion, higher baseline BP was associated with increased infarct growth, and led to an unfavorable clinical outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the association between BP and collaterals has been quantified by perfusion imaging, and this is also the first study to demonstrate that higher BP is correlated with infarct growth.

Outcomes of an online computerized cognitive behavioral treatment program for treating chinese patients with depression: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE

This pilot study examined the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of using an online computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating Chinese patients with depression.

METHODS

Seventy-five Chinese patients with depression in outpatient clinics were randomized into a 5-week intervention. The intervention group received the Chinese translated version of MoodGYM in addition to usual treatment, and the control group continued with usual treatment. Participants completed the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) pre- and post-intervention.

RESULTS

We conducted multivariate linear regression analyses to compare the change in CES-D scores for completers after the intervention. Seventy-eight percent (n=29) of participants in the intervention group and 84% (n=32) of patients in the control group completed the post-treatment assessments, and no serious adverse events were reported. Results indicated that while both groups significantly improved at post test, the intervention group improved significantly more than the control group (t(59)=2.37, p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Computerized CBT can be a cost-effective adjunct to medication treatment, particularly in areas with limited access to mental health services. The use of online computerized CBT has been found to be effective in many studies in Western countries, but has not been studied among Chinese outpatients. This study suggests that online computerized CBT is acceptable, and that MoodGYM is a feasible and efficacious augmentative treatment, specifically when used within an outpatient clinic population. With this small sample size we were able to demonstrate that the addition of MoodGYM to usual care improved treatment outcomes for outpatients with depression in China.

Upregulation of SNHG3 expression associated with poor prognosis and enhances malignant progression of ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs is involved in the progression of ovarian cancer. However, the clinical significance and biological functions of SNHG3 expression was little known in ovarian cancer (OC).

METHODS

The SNHG3 expression in ovarian cancer tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues was detected using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Gain-of function and loss-of function assays were performed in ovarian cancer cells to demonstrate the effects of SNHG3 expression on cell proliferation and invasion. The relative protein expression levels were determined using western blot analyses.

RESULTS

The expression of SNHG3 was significantly up-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Higher SNHG3 expression levels positively associated with FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis implied that FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, higher SNHG3 expression were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) rate in ovarian cancer patients. Gain-of function and loss-of function assays demonstrated that SNHG3 knockdown inhibited ovarian cancer cell proliferation and invasion abilities. However, SNHG3 overexpression promoted ovarian cancer cell proliferation and invasion abilities. Furthermore, cell proliferation and invasion related protein CyclinD1, CDK1, MMP9 and MMP3 were significantly downregulated after SNHG3 knockdown in ovarian cancer cells, while SNHG3 overexpression had reverse effects. In addition, SNHG3 functioned as an oncogene by regulating GSK3β/β-catenin signaling activity in ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our data provide that SNHG3 has potential clinical value of and may serve as target of ovarian cancer treatment.