Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma: clinical features, complications and risk factors for Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon

BACKGROUND

Few studies have reported the clinical features, complications and predictors of Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) associated with Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma (KHE).

OBJECTIVES

To determine the clinical characteristics present at diagnosis and to identify features that may aid clinicians in managing KHE.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study of 146 patients diagnosed with KHE.

RESULTS

KHE precursors or lesions were present at birth in 52·1% of patients. In 91·8% of patients, lesions developed within the first year of life. The median age at diagnosis of KHE was 2·3 months (interquartile range 1·0-6·0). The extremities were the dominant location, representing 50·7% of all KHEs. Among KHEs in the cohort, 63·0% were mixed lesions (cutaneous lesions with deep infiltration). Approximately 70% of patients showed KMP. A KHE diagnosis was delayed by ≥ 1 month in 65·7% of patients with KMP. Patients with KMP were more likely to have major complications than patients without KMP (P = 0·023). Young age (< 6 months), trunk location, large lesion size (> 5·0 cm) and mixed lesion type were associated with KMP in a univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, only age [odds ratio (OR) 11·9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4·07-34·8; P < 0·001], large lesion size (OR 5·08, 95% CI 2·24-11·5; P < 0·001) and mixed lesion type (OR 2·96, 95% CI 1·23-7·13; P = 0·016) were associated with KMP.

CONCLUSIONS

Most KHEs appeared before 12 months of age. KHEs are associated with various major complications, which can occur in combination and develop early in the disease process. Young age, large lesion size and mixed lesion type are important predictors of KMP.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT), a naturally occurring flavolignan, has a broad range of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anticancer properties. The present study investigated the anti-proliferative effect of DPT on human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 and RBE cell lines and its underlying mechanisms of inducing cytotoxicity. MTT assays demonstrated that DPT inhibited the viability of the QBC939 and RBE cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. In addition, DPT treatment resulted in G2/M phase cell cycle arrest associated with the downregulation of Cyclin B and cyclin dependent kinase 1 and caused an increase in apoptosis that was confirmed by characteristic morphological changes. Apoptosis was accompanied by increasing B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2 associated X protein ratios and activated expression of caspase-3, -8 and -9. These findings suggested that DPT may be a novel anticancer agent against human cholangiocarcinoma.

Inhibition of CD9 expression reduces the metastatic capacity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC97-H

Metastasis is a characteristic of malignant tumors and may be a fatal clinical factor for many patients with cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are highly metastatic; the mechanism of metastasis is complicated and may be influenced by a number of factors. Membrane proteins may block receptors or inhibit important enzymes, thus inhibiting tumor progression, and may be potential therapeutic targets for tumor prognosis and treatment. The present study aimed to use proteomics to analyze the dynamic changes of membrane proteins in HCC cells, to improve our understanding of membrane protein functions and to clarify the important components of the mechanisms of HCC metastasis. The present study used the highly metastatic MHCC97-H and the lowly metastatic MHCC97-L HCC cell lines, and the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) approach was used for high-throughput screening of metastasis-related membrane proteins. A total of 22 membrane proteins were identified as differentially expressed between the MHCC97-H and MHCC97-L cell lines; these results were verified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. A number of the identified proteins were revealed to be related to tumor metastasis, including the tetraspan in transmembrane protein CD9. CD9 was demonstrated to be highly expressed in MHCC97-H cells compared with MHCC97-L cells. The functional role of CD9 was characterized by inhibiting its expression using a small interfering RNAs, which demonstrated that reduced CD9 expression inhibited cell migration and metastasis, as determined by wound-healing and invasion assays. Results from the present study demonstrated that CD9 was highly expressed in the highly metastatic HCC cells and promoted HCC cell migration. This protein may be a novel target for regulating the invasive phenotype in HCC.

Association between bedtime and self-reported illness among college students: a representative nationwide study of China

OBJECTIVE

This study was to examine the association between bedtime and self-reported illness among Chinese college students.

METHODS

Participants were 11,942 students, who were identified through a multistage survey sampling process. Sleep and illness status were obtained by self report. Both unadjusted and adjusted methods were considered in the analyses.

RESULTS

The logistic regression model found that late bedtime was positively associated with self reported short and long-term illness (OR: 3.70 and 1, 79) after adjusting for demographic characteristics, short sleep duration, and mental disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to find a positive relationship between late bedtime and self reported illnesses in China or elsewhere. The findings underscore the importance of educating college students about the importance of sleep.

IDH2 is a novel diagnostic and prognostic serum biomarker for non-small-cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Late diagnosis contributes to a high mortality rate and poor survival of this cancer. In our previous study, we found that IDH2 polymorphism rs11540478 is a risk factor for lung cancer. Here, we examined IDH2 protein expression in culture medium in which two non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, H460 and A549, were growing. We found that the IDH2 protein was elevated in the culture supernatant fraction in a time‐ and cell number‐dependent manner. Next, we used ELISA methods to examine IDH2 protein level in serum from patients with NSCLC and healthy controls. We found that IDH2 protein levels in serum could distinguish NSCLC patients from healthy controls with an AUC (area under the curve) of 0.83 (95% confidence interval = 0.79–0.88). The IDH2 level was decreased in serum from NSCLC postsurgical patients compared with the paired presurgical serum. High serum IDH2 levels appear to correlate with poor survival in patients with NSCLC. These results suggest that IDH2 levels in the serum could be a new effective biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of NSCLC.

The effect of icariin on bone metabolism and its potential clinical application

Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass, which leads to increased risk of bone fractures, and poses a significant risk to public health, especially in the elderly population. The traditional Chinese medicinal herb Epimedii has been utilized for centuries to treat bone fracture and bone loss. Icariin is a prenylated flavonol glycoside isolated from Epimedium herb, and has been shown to be the main bioactive component. This review provides a comprehensive survey of previous studies on icariin, including its structure and function, effect on bone metabolism, and potential for clinical application. These studies show that icariin promotes bone formation by stimulating osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs (bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells), while inhibiting osteoclastogenic differentiation and the bone resorption activity of osteoclasts. Furthermore, icariin has been shown to be more potent than other flavonoid compounds in promoting osteogenic differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts. A 24-month randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial reported that icariin was effective in preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis with relatively low side effects. In conclusion, icariin may represent a class of flavonoids with bone-promoting activity, which could be used as potential treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

[Clinical efficacy of tonsillectomy in renal transplant patients with recurrent IgA nephropathy]

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of tonsillectomy for patients with recurrence of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) after kidney transplantation. Methods: From May 2014, tonsillectomy was performed in 11 renal transplant patients with biopsy-proved recurrent IgAN. In a median follow-up of 14 (4-38) months, data of proteinuria, hematuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and serum levels of IgA in these patients were compared before and after tonsillectomy.Patient's survival and renal graft survival were also summarized. Results: A remission of proteinuria was observed in 8 patients after tonsillectomy, and this status maintained well in the subsequent follow-up.Three patients had no or minimal reduction of proteinuria after tonsillectomy and returned to dialysis within 1 year after tonsillectomy.Possible causes could be severe primary IgAN of crescentric glomerulonephritis, IgAN recurrence in kidney retransplantation, and late tonsillectomy after IgAN recurrence.Serum levels of IgA significant decreased and no patients developed acute rejection or infection after tonsillectomy.In the 1-year follow-up, no patients died and grafts survived well in 8 out of 11 patients. Conclusions: Tonsillectomy may represent an effective and reliable way to treat recurrence IgAN after kidney transplantation, and may be applied widely in the future clinical management. However, early intervention is critical and effects may depend on the pathological features of primary IgAN.

Novel biomolecular information in rotenone-induced cellular model of Parkinson's disease

In order to uncover the remarkable pathogenic genes or molecular pathological process in Parkinson's disease (PD), we employed a microarray analysis upon the cellular PD model induced by rotenone. Compared to the control group, 2174 genes were screened out to be expressed differently in the rotenone-induced group by certain criterion. GO analysis and the pathways analysis showed the significant enrichment of genes that were associated with the biological process of cell cycle, apoptotic process, organelle fusion, mitochondrial lesion, endoplasmic reticulum stress and so on. Among these significant DE genes, some were sorted out to be involved in cell cycle and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum. As the PPI network analysis showed, the interaction relationship of the DEGs involved in the process of protein generation in endoplasmic reticulum(ER) was clearly showed up. As a prediction, we emphasized the genes EDEM1, ATF4, TRAF2 might play central roles in the protein misfolding process during the progression of Parkinson's disease and these new-found genes might be the future research focus and therapeutic targets in PD.

[MicroRNA-33b inhibits cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting SALL4]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of miR-33b in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to explore regulatory mechanism of miR-33b for cell proliferation of HCC.


METHODS

HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were collected for this study (n=32 for each). Real-time PCR and Western blot were conducted to examine the mRNA and protein expression, respectively. MTT assay was used to detect the cell proliferation. Luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to verify the target relationship between miR-33b and Sal-like 4 (SALL4).


RESULTS

MiR-33b was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues. Overexpression of miR-33b decreased the proliferation of HCC LH86 cells. SALL4 was identified as a target gene of miR-33b, and its protein expression was negatively regulated by miR-33b. Overexpression of SALL4 reversed the suppressive effect of miR-33b on LH86 cell proliferation. SALL4 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues.


CONCLUSION

The miR-33b suppresses HCC cell proliferation through down-regulation of SALL4.

Microarray analysis of an synthetic α-synuclein induced cellular model reveals the expression profile of long non-coding RNA in Parkinson's disease

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a new research focus that are reported to influence the pathogenetic process of neurodegenerative disorders. To uncover new disease-associated genes and their relevant mechanisms, we carried out a gene microarray analysis based on a Parkinson's disease (PD) in vitro model induced by α-synuclein oligomers. This cellular model induced by 25 μmol/L α-synuclein oligomers has been confirmed to show the stable, transmissible neurotoxicity of α-synuclein, a typical PD pathological marker. And several differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were identified in this model, such as G046036, G030771, AC009365.4, RPS14P3, CTB-11I22.1, and G007549. Subsequent ceRNA analysis determined the potential relationships between these lncRNAs and their associated mRNAs and microRNAs. The results of the present study widen our horizon of PD susceptibility genes and provide new pathways towards efficient diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PD.

Heterologous Expression of Chaperones from Hyperthermophilic Archaea Inhibits Aminoglycoside-Induced Protein Misfolding in Escherichia coli

Aminoglycoside antibiotics affect protein translation fidelity and lead to protein aggregation and an increase in intracellular oxidative stress level as well. The overexpression of the chaperonin GroEL/GroES system promotes short-term tolerance to aminoglycosides in Escherichia coli. Here, we demonstrated that the coexpression of prefoldin or Hsp60 originating from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus in E. coli cells can rescue cell growth and inhibit protein aggregation induced by streptomycin exposure. The results of our study show that hyperthermophilic chaperones endow E. coli with a higher tolerance to streptomycin than the GroEL/GroES system, and that they exert better effects on the reduction of intracellular protein misfolding, indicating that these chaperones have unique features and functions.

The association between MICA/MICB polymorphism and respiratory syncytial virus infection in children

MICA/MICB gene polymorphisms are related to several cancers and infectious diseases, but there are no reports on the association between MICA/MICB gene polymorphisms and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. To clarify the association between MICA/MICB gene polymorphisms and infection of RSV in children, we collected fresh blood samples from paediatric patients with and without pneumonia after RSV infection. The MICA/MICB alleles were characterized by PCR sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) and PCR sequence-based genotyping (PCR-SBT), and then, the frequency of the MICA/MICB alleles and haplotypes was calculated. The results showed that the frequencies of MICA*002:01 and MICA-A9 in RSV-infected patients were significantly lower than in controls (9% vs. 20%, pc = 0.04). The allele frequency of MICA*002:01 in pneumonia patients (8%) and nonpneumonia patients (9%) was significantly lower than in controls (20%, pc = 0.02). MICA*002:01-MICB*008(Δrel = 0.616), MICA*009-MICB*016 (Δrel = 0.506), and MICA*045-MICB*014 (Δrel = 0.700) showed linkage disequilibrium in patients infected with RSV. The haplotype frequency of MICA*002:01-MICB*005:02 in RSV-infected patients was significantly lower than in controls (10% vs. 16%, pc = 0.033). In conclusion, allele MICA*002:01/A9 and haplotype MICA*002:01-MICB*005:02 were negatively associated with RSV respiratory tract infections.

Uncertainty in the response of terrestrial carbon sink to environmental drivers undermines carbon-climate feedback predictions

Terrestrial ecosystems play a vital role in regulating the accumulation of carbon (C) in the atmosphere. Understanding the factors controlling land C uptake is critical for reducing uncertainties in projections of future climate. The relative importance of changing climate, rising atmospheric CO2, and other factors, however, remains unclear despite decades of research. Here, we use an ensemble of land models to show that models disagree on the primary driver of cumulative C uptake for 85% of vegetated land area. Disagreement is largest in model sensitivity to rising atmospheric CO2 which shows almost twice the variability in cumulative land uptake since 1901 (1 s.d. of 212.8 PgC vs. 138.5 PgC, respectively). We find that variability in CO2 and temperature sensitivity is attributable, in part, to their compensatory effects on C uptake, whereby comparable estimates of C uptake can arise by invoking different sensitivities to key environmental conditions. Conversely, divergent estimates of C uptake can occur despite being based on the same environmental sensitivities. Together, these findings imply an important limitation to the predictability of C cycling and climate under unprecedented environmental conditions. We suggest that the carbon modeling community prioritize a probabilistic multi-model approach to generate more robust C cycle projections.

Ca2+ signalling underlying pancreatitis

In spite of significant scientific progress in recent years, acute pancreatitis (AP) is still a dangerous and in up to 5% of cases deadly disease with no specific cure. It is self-resolved in the majority of cases, but could result in chronic pancreatitis (CP) and increased risk of pancreatic cancer (PC). One of the early events in AP is premature activation of digestive pro-enzymes, including trypsinogen, inside pancreatic acinar cells (PACs) due to an excessive rise in the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration, which is the result of Ca²⁺ release from internal stores followed by Ca²⁺ entry through the store operated Ca²⁺ channels in the plasma membrane. The leading causes of AP are high alcohol intake and biliary disease with gallstones obstruction leading to bile reflux into the pancreatic duct. Recently attention in this area of research turned to another cause of AP - Asparaginase based drugs - which have been used quite successfully in treatments of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Unfortunately, Asparaginase is implicated in triggering AP in 5-10% of cases as a side effect of the anti-cancer therapy. The main features of Asparaginase-elicited AP (AAP) were found to be remarkably similar to AP induced by alcohol metabolites and bile acids. Several potential therapeutic avenues in counteracting AAP have been suggested and could also be useful for dealing with AP induced by other causes. Another interesting development in this field includes recent research related to pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) that are much less studied in their natural environment but nevertheless critically involved in AP, CP and PC. This review will attempt to evaluate developments, approaches and potential therapies for AP and discuss links to other relevant diseases.

Rifampicin pre-treatment inhibits the toxicity of rotenone-induced PC12 cells by enhancing sumoylation modification of α-synuclein

Our previous research revealed that rifampicin could protect PC12 (pheochromocytoma 12) cells from rotenone-induced cytotoxicity by reversing the aggregation of α-synuclein. Furthermore, increasing evidence indicated that the misfolded α-synuclein with SUMOylation, an important protein posttranslational modification, was easier to solubilize and was less toxic. Here, we investigated whether rifampicin could stabilize α-synuclein and prevent rotenone-induced PC12 cells from undergoing apoptosis by enhancing SUMOylation of α-synuclein. The expression of SUMO1 and SUMO2/3, the two main proteins responsible for the SUMOylation modification in PC12 cells, were detected by western blotting. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to compare qualitatively the SUMOylation modification of α-synuclein. The cell viability and apoptosis rate were measured by a CCK-8 assay kit and flow cytometry, respectively. We targeted Ubc9 as a key enzyme in the SUMOylation modification pathway and knocked down the UBC9 gene using a short interfering RNA. Treatment with 150 μmol/L rifampicin, increased the expressions of SUMO1 and SUMO2/3 in cells by 1.5 times compared with the control group; meanwhile, the cell viability of rotenone-induced cells increased from 20 to 80% (P < 0.05). In addition, the increased SUMOylation activity in the cells stimulated by rifampicin was observed 18 h earlier compared with cells treated by rotenone alone. SUMOylation of α-synuclein was more significant in rifampicin-treated cells and Ubc9 upregulated cells. However, the same phenomenon and the protective effect of rifampicin were reversed after UBC9 knockout. In conclusion, rifampicin might reduce the cytotoxicity of rotenone-induced PC12 cells by promoting SUMOylation of α-synuclein.

Antitumor Activity of 2,9-Di-Sec-Butyl-1,10-Phenanthroline

The anti-tumor effect of a chelating phen-based ligand 2,9-di-sec-butyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dsBPT) and its combination with cisplatin were examined in both lung and head and neck cancer cell lines and xenograft animal models in this study. The effects of this agent on cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated. Protein markers relevant to these mechanisms were also assessed. We found that the inhibitory effect of dsBPT on lung and head and neck cancer cell growth (IC₅₀ ranged between 0.1–0.2 μM) was 10 times greater than that on normal epithelial cells. dsBPT alone induced autophagy, G1 cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Our in vivo studies indicated that dsBPT inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner in a head and neck cancer xenograft mouse model. The combination of dsBPT with cisplatin synergistically inhibited cancer cell growth with a combination index of 0.3. Moreover, the combination significantly reduced tumor volume as compared with the untreated control (p = 0.0017) in a head and neck cancer xenograft model. No organ related toxicities were observed in treated animals. Our data suggest that dsBPT is a novel and potent antitumor drug that warrants further preclinical and clinical development either as a single agent or in combination with known chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin.