[Application of the dizziness handicap inventory in the patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo]

Objective:This study was designed to observe the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) scores in patients with BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) before and after maneuver repositioning and aimed to discuss the values of DHI scores in the diagnosing and treatment of BPPV. Method:Charts of 72 patients with BPPV diagnosed by positioning test were reviewed. Four DHI scores were used including the total score (DHIT), the functional score (DHIF), the emotional score (DHIE), and the physical score (DHIP). We compared the pre-repositioning DHI scores and post-repositioning scores of patients, and also compared the DHI scores of patients with and without residual dizziness. Result:All of the 72 patients were underwent maneuver repositioning and recorded the DHI scores. The mean post-repositioning scores were dramatically decreased compared with pre-repositioning scores, and the difference was significant (P<0.01). The differences of the DHIP scores between the residual dizziness group and the non-residual dizziness group was not significant, while the DHIF scores, the DHIE scores and the DHIT scores between the two groups were statistically different. Conclusion:After maneuver repositioning the dizziness handicap of BPPV patients could be significantly improved. The next treatment program for residual dizziness patients after successful repositioning could be aimed at the functional and emotional dizziness.

Effect of daily sildenafil on patients with absent nocturnal erections due to pelvic fracture urethral disruption: a single-centre experience

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sequel of pelvic fracture urethral disruption. Those patients with nocturnal erections may respond favourably to sildenafil; however, little is known about the response to sildenafil in patients with absent nocturnal erections. The aim was to evaluate the response to the treatment of sildenafil 50 mg taken once daily in the patients with absent nocturnal erections. From January 2008 to December 2011, a total of 28 patients with absent nocturnal erections were evaluated. We recorded nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity with an erectometer. If nocturnal erections were absent for three nights, patients were administrated sildenafil 100 mg at bedtime and tested again at the fourth night. Penile duplex ultrasound with intracavernous injection was performed to define the cause of ED. All patients received a daily dose of sildenafil 50 mg for 12 weeks. Response to sildenafil treatment was defined as sustained erections allowing vaginal penetration and intercourse. Twenty-three (78%) patients completed the daily sildenafil treatment, and follow-up was available. The nocturnal erections at the fourth night in 13 patients (46.4%) were improved. About 61.5% (8/13) reported effective response to daily sildenafil. The improvement of nocturnal erections induced by sildenafil taken at bedtime might predict the response to sildenafil taken daily.

The silencing of cathepsin K used in gene therapy for periodontal disease reveals the role of cathepsin K in chronic infection and inflammation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Periodontitis is a severe chronic inflammatory disease and one of the most prevalent non-communicable chronic diseases that affects the majority of the world's adult population. While great efforts have been devoted toward understanding the pathogenesis of periodontitis, there remains a pressing need for developing potent therapeutic strategies for targeting this dreadful disease. In this study, we utilized adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing cathepsin K (Ctsk) small hairpin (sh)RNA (AAV-sh-Ctsk) to silence Ctsk in vivo and subsequently evaluated its impact in periodontitis as a potential therapeutic strategy for this disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We used a known mouse model of periodontitis, in which wild-type BALB/cJ mice were infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis W50 in the maxillary and mandibular periodontium to induce the disease. AAV-sh-Ctsk was then administrated locally into the periodontal tissues in vivo, followed by analyses to assess progression of the disease.

RESULTS

AAV-mediated Ctsk silencing drastically protected mice (> 80%) from P. gingivalis-induced bone resorption by osteoclasts. In addition, AAV-sh-Ctsk administration drastically reduced inflammation by impacting the expression of many inflammatory cytokines as well as T-cell and dendritic cell numbers in periodontal lesions.

CONCLUSION

AAV-mediated Ctsk silencing can simultaneously target both the inflammation and bone resorption associated with periodontitis through its inhibitory effect on immune cells and osteoclast function. Thereby, AAV-sh-Ctsk administration can efficiently protect against periodontal tissue damage and alveolar bone loss, establishing this AAV-mediated local silencing of Ctsk as an important therapeutic strategy for effectively treating periodontal disease.

Self-organized graphene-like boron nitride containing nanoflakes on copper by low-temperature N2 + H2 plasma

A simple and efficient method for synthesizing complex graphene-inspired BNCO nanoflakes by plasma-enhanced hot filament chemical vapour deposition using B₄C as a precursor and N₂/H₂ reactive gases is reported.

MicroRNA-138 regulates chemoresistance in human non-small cell lung cancer via epithelial mesenchymal transition

OBJECTIVE

Down-regulation of miR-138 is observed in a variety of cancers, which suggests that miR-138 may be involved in cancer pathogenesis. Our current work aimed to evaluate the effects of miR-138 in adriamycin (ADM)-resistant human NSCLC cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. Real-time PCR and western blot were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels. The target of miR-138 was validated by luciferase activity assay.

RESULTS

Compared with the chemosensitive parental cells, miR-138 was remarkably decreased in A549/ADM and NCI-H23/ADM cells. Ectopic expression of miR-138 sensitized chemoresistant tumor cells to ADM administration. In addition, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related markers E-cadherin or vimentin was up-regulated or down-regulated upon the overexpression of miR-138 in NSCLC cells. Further studies identified zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) as the target of miR-138 and up-regulation of miR-138 suppressed the mRNA and protein expression of ZEB2. Notably, luciferase reporter assay confirmed that ZEB2 was a direct target of miR-138.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that miR-138 sensitizes NSCLC cells to ADM via EMT, suggesting that miR-138 might be a potential therapeutic target for drug-resistant NSCLC patients.

LZTFL1 suppresses lung tumorigenesis by maintaining differentiation of lung epithelial cells

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, and metastatic behavior is largely responsible for this mortality. Mutations in multiple ‘driver' oncogenes and tumor suppressors are known to contribute to the lung tumorigenesis and in some cases represent therapeutic targets. Leucine Zipper Transcription Factor-like 1 (LZTFL1) is located in the chromosome region 3p21.3 where allelic loss and genetic alterations occur early and frequently in lung cancers. Previously, we found that LZTFL1 is downregulated in epithelial tumors, including lung cancer, and functions as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancers. However, the functional role of LZTFL1 in lung oncogenesis is undefined. We show here that downregulation of LZTFL1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer is associated with recurrence and poor survival, whereas re-expression of LZTFL1 in lung tumor cells inhibited extravasation/colonization of circulating tumor cells to the lung and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that LZTFL1 is expressed in ciliated human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and its expression correlates with HBEC differentiation. LZTFL1 inhibits transforming growth factor β-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase and hedgehog signaling. Alteration of intracellular levels of LZTFL1 resulted in changes of expression of genes associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We conclude that LZTFL1 inhibits lung tumorigenesis, possibly by maintaining epithelial cell differentiation and/or inhibition of signalings that lead to EMT and suggest that reactivation of LZTFL1 expression in tumor cells may be a novel lung cancer therapeutic approach.

Investigation on Behavior of Macro-Particles in TiN Film by Arc Ion Plating

Macroparticle contamination deteriorates the qualities and performances of protective coatings by arc ion plating, resulting in a limitation in their applications. In this work, the effects of transverse magnetic field (TMF), pulsed bias, gas pressure, and substrate position on behavior of the macro-particles (MPs) in TiN films are quantitatively investigated. It is demonstrated that the key factor of the deposition process on the MPs behavior is magnetic field, which controls the movement of arc spot significantly. At relatively low magnetic field intensity, the MPs behavior is greatly influenced by the other three process parameters. The sensibilities of the three parameters on MPs behavior are decreased with the increasing magnetic field intensity. At high magnetic field intensity, the MPs distribution keeps almost the same even when the other parameters are varied.

A learnable parallel processing architecture towards unity of memory and computing

Developing energy-efficient parallel information processing systems beyond von Neumann architecture is a long-standing goal of modern information technologies. The widely used von Neumann computer architecture separates memory and computing units, which leads to energy-hungry data movement when computers work. In order to meet the need of efficient information processing for the data-driven applications such as big data and Internet of Things, an energy-efficient processing architecture beyond von Neumann is critical for the information society. Here we show a non-von Neumann architecture built of resistive switching (RS) devices named "iMemComp", where memory and logic are unified with single-type devices. Leveraging nonvolatile nature and structural parallelism of crossbar RS arrays, we have equipped "iMemComp" with capabilities of computing in parallel and learning user-defined logic functions for large-scale information processing tasks. Such architecture eliminates the energy-hungry data movement in von Neumann computers. Compared with contemporary silicon technology, adder circuits based on "iMemComp" can improve the speed by 76.8% and the power dissipation by 60.3%, together with a 700 times aggressive reduction in the circuit area.

Cytotoxic Edema in Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: Correlation of MRI Features with Serum Albumin Levels

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a clinicoradiologic entity with typical MR imaging showing predominant vasogenic and occasional cytotoxic edema. It is unclear whether MR imaging correlates with levels of serum albumin. We determined potential risk factors for development of cytotoxic edema in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-nine cases with typical clinical symptoms and characteristic neuroradiologic findings conformed to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome diagnostic criteria and were included in this study. FLAIR, DWI, and ADC maps were interpreted to evaluate the severity and type of edema. MR imaging was correlated with the levels of serum albumin, and cytotoxic edema was compared with the location and severity of brain edema.

RESULTS

Pure vasogenic edema was found in 53 cases (67.09%), and vasogenic edema complicated with cytotoxic components, in 26 patients (32.91%). There was no difference in serum albumin levels between patients with cytotoxic components and those with vasogenic edema (P = .983). There was a significant difference in the edema scale scores between patients with cytotoxic edema and those with vasogenic edema (P = .006). The percentage of cytotoxic edema located in the area with higher scale scores of edema was significantly larger than that in areas with lower scale scores of edema (P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum albumin may contribute to the development of edema in PRES but is not a decisive factor for edema type. Cytotoxic edema in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is probably related to regional decreased perfusion and arteriolopathy. Further work should be undertaken to discover the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved.

Tandem overexpression of five human factors renders murine hepatocytes susceptible to hepatitis C virus

Development of mouse model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has great significance in drug screening and vaccine research. The barriers of interspecies transmission of HCV are increasingly better understood. Human factors, namely low-density lipoprotein receptor (hLDLR), CD81 (hCD81), scavenger receptor class B type I (hSCARB1), occludin (hOCLN) and claudin 1 (hCLDN1) are all required for rendering mouse hepatocytes permissive to HCV. With the aim to humanize mouse hepatocytes we constructed two recombinant vectors tandemly expressing the first three and the last two HCV entry factors mentioned above, respectively. Cotransfection of mouse hepatocytes with these vectors made them permissive to HCV binding and entry. Tandem overexpression of hLDLR, hSCARB1, hCD81, hCLDN1 and hOCLN is a novel approach to tailoring mouse hepatocytes to HCV binding and entry which can be further used to establish a mouse model of HCV infection as a basis for developing antiviral drugs and vaccines.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate opposes HBV-induced incomplete autophagy by enhancing lysosomal acidification, which is unfavorable for HBV replication

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol in green tea, exhibits diverse beneficial properties, including antiviral activity. Autophagy is a cellular process that is involved in the degradation of long-lived proteins and damaged organelles. Recent evidence indicates that modulation of autophagy is a potential therapeutic strategy for various viral diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effect of EGCG on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and the possible involvement of autophagy in this process. Our results showed that HBV induced autophagosome formation, which was required for replication of itself. However, although EGCG efficiently inhibited HBV replication, it enhanced, but not inhibited, autophagosome formation in hepatoma cells. Further study showed that HBV induced an incomplete autophagy, while EGCG, similar to starvation, was able to induce a complete autophagic process, which appeared to be unfavorable for HBV replication. Furthermore, it was found that HBV induced an incomplete autophagy by impairing lysosomal acidification, while it lost this ability in the presence of EGCG. Taken together, these data demonstrated that EGCG treatment opposed HBV-induced incomplete autophagy via enhancing lysosomal acidification, which was unfavorable for HBV replication.

Liraglutide inhibits autophagy and apoptosis induced by high glucose through GLP-1R in renal tubular epithelial cells

Tubular atrophy and dysfunction is a critical process underlying diabetic nephropathy (DN). Understanding the mechanisms underlying renal tubular epithelial cell survival is important for the prevention of kidney failure associated with glucotoxicity. Autophagy is a cellular pathway involved in protein and organelle degradation. It is associated with many types of cellular homeostasis and human diseases. To date, little is known of the association between high concentrations of glucose and autophagy in renal tubular cells. In the present study, we investigated high glucose-induced toxicity in renal tubular epithelial cells by means of several complementary assays, including cell viability, cell death assays and changes in ultrastructure in an immortalized human kidney cell line, HK-2 cells. The extent of apoptosis was significantly increased in the HK-2 cells following treatment with high levels of glucose. In addition, in in vivo experiments using diabetic rats, high glucose exerted harmful effects on the tissue structure of the kidneys in the diabetic rats. Chronic exposure of the HK-2 cells and tubular epithelial cells of nephritic rats to high levels of glucose induced autophagy. Liraglutide inhibited these effects; however, treatment witht a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) antagonist enhanced these effects. Our results also indicated that the exposure of the renal tubular epithelial cells to high glucose concentrations in vitro led to the downregulation of GLP-1R expression. Liraglutide reversed this effect, while the GLP-1R antagonist promoted it, promoting autophagy, suggesting that liraglutide exerts a renoprotective effect in the presence of high glucose, at least in part, by inhibiting autophagy and increasing GLP-1R expression in the HK-2 cells and kidneys of diabetic rats.

Minocycline inhibits brain inflammation and attenuates spontaneous recurrent seizures following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus

Mounting evidence suggests that brain inflammation mediated by glial cells may contribute to epileptogenesis. Minocycline is a second-generation tetracycline and has potent antiinflammatory effects independent of its antimicrobial action. The present study aimed to investigate whether minocycline could exert antiepileptogenic effects in a rat lithium-pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy. The temporal patterns of microglial and astrocytic activation were examined in the hippocampal CA1 and the adjacent cortex following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). These findings displayed that SE caused acute and persistent activation of microglia and astrocytes. Based on these findings, Minocycline was administered once daily at 45 mg/kg for 14 days following SE. Six weeks after termination of minocycline treatment, spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) were recorded by continuous video monitoring. Minocycline inhibited the SE-induced microglial activation and the increased production of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in the hippocampal CA1 and the adjacent cortex, without affecting astrocytic activation. In addition, Minocycline prevented the SE-induced neuronal loss in the brain regions examined. Moreover, minocycline significantly reduced the frequency, duration, and severity of SRS during the two weeks monitoring period. These results demonstrated that minocycline could mitigate SE-induced brain inflammation and might exert disease-modifying effects in an animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy. These findings offer new insights into deciphering the molecular mechanisms of epileptogenesis and exploring a novel therapeutic strategy for prevention of epilepsy.

Evidence for a time-dependent association between FOLR1 expression and survival from ovarian carcinoma: implications for clinical testing. An Ovarian Tumour Tissue Analysis consortium study

BACKGROUND

Folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) is expressed in the majority of ovarian carcinomas (OvCa), making it an attractive target for therapy. However, clinical trials testing anti-FOLR1 therapies in OvCa show mixed results and require better understanding of the prognostic relevance of FOLR1 expression. We conducted a large study evaluating FOLR1 expression with survival in different histological types of OvCa.

METHODS

Tissue microarrays composed of tumour samples from 2801 patients in the Ovarian Tumour Tissue Analysis (OTTA) consortium were assessed for FOLR1 expression by centralised immunohistochemistry. We estimated associations for overall (OS) and progression-free (PFS) survival using adjusted Cox regression models. High-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were evaluated independently for association between FOLR1 mRNA upregulation and survival.

RESULTS

FOLR1 expression ranged from 76% in HGSC to 11% in mucinous carcinomas in OTTA. For HGSC, the association between FOLR1 expression and OS changed significantly during the years following diagnosis in OTTA (Pinteraction=0.01, N=1422) and TCGA (Pinteraction=0.01, N=485). In OTTA, particularly for FIGO stage I/II tumours, patients with FOLR1-positive HGSC showed increased OS during the first 2 years only (hazard ratio=0.44, 95% confidence interval=0.20-0.96) and patients with FOLR1-positive clear cell carcinomas (CCC) showed decreased PFS independent of follow-up time (HR=1.89, 95% CI=1.10-3.25, N=259). In TCGA, FOLR1 mRNA upregulation in HGSC was also associated with increased OS during the first 2 years following diagnosis irrespective of tumour stage (HR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25-0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

FOLR1-positive HGSC tumours were associated with an increased OS in the first 2 years following diagnosis. Patients with FOLR1-negative, poor prognosis HGSC would be unlikely to benefit from anti-FOLR1 therapies. In contrast, a decreased PFS interval was observed for FOLR1-positive CCC. The clinical efficacy of FOLR1-targeted interventions should therefore be evaluated according to histology, stage and time following diagnosis.

Evidence for a time-dependent association between FOLR1 expression and survival from ovarian carcinoma: implications for clinical testing. An Ovarian Tumour Tissue Analysis consortium study

BACKGROUND

Folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) is expressed in the majority of ovarian carcinomas (OvCa), making it an attractive target for therapy. However, clinical trials testing anti-FOLR1 therapies in OvCa show mixed results and require better understanding of the prognostic relevance of FOLR1 expression. We conducted a large study evaluating FOLR1 expression with survival in different histological types of OvCa.

METHODS

Tissue microarrays composed of tumour samples from 2801 patients in the Ovarian Tumour Tissue Analysis (OTTA) consortium were assessed for FOLR1 expression by centralised immunohistochemistry. We estimated associations for overall (OS) and progression-free (PFS) survival using adjusted Cox regression models. High-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were evaluated independently for association between FOLR1 mRNA upregulation and survival.

RESULTS

FOLR1 expression ranged from 76% in HGSC to 11% in mucinous carcinomas in OTTA. For HGSC, the association between FOLR1 expression and OS changed significantly during the years following diagnosis in OTTA (Pinteraction=0.01, N=1422) and TCGA (Pinteraction=0.01, N=485). In OTTA, particularly for FIGO stage I/II tumours, patients with FOLR1-positive HGSC showed increased OS during the first 2 years only (hazard ratio=0.44, 95% confidence interval=0.20-0.96) and patients with FOLR1-positive clear cell carcinomas (CCC) showed decreased PFS independent of follow-up time (HR=1.89, 95% CI=1.10-3.25, N=259). In TCGA, FOLR1 mRNA upregulation in HGSC was also associated with increased OS during the first 2 years following diagnosis irrespective of tumour stage (HR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25-0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

FOLR1-positive HGSC tumours were associated with an increased OS in the first 2 years following diagnosis. Patients with FOLR1-negative, poor prognosis HGSC would be unlikely to benefit from anti-FOLR1 therapies. In contrast, a decreased PFS interval was observed for FOLR1-positive CCC. The clinical efficacy of FOLR1-targeted interventions should therefore be evaluated according to histology, stage and time following diagnosis.