Vitamin A maintains the airway epithelium in a murine model of asthma by suppressing glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper

BACKGROUND

The effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on the repair of the airway epithelium in asthma are controversial, and we previously reported that the GC dexamethasone (Dex) inhibits the repair of human airway epithelial cells and that this process is mediated by glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) through MAPK-ERK signaling in vitro. Vitamin A (VA) is involved in the regulation of the MAPK-ERK pathway but has not been widely supplied during asthma treatment. It is unclear whether VA attenuates the negative regulation of GILZ on the MAPK-ERK pathway and maintains airway epithelium integrity during asthma treatment.

METHODS

Female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and subsequently treated with Dex, VA or intranasal inhalation of adenovirus sh-GILZ vectors. Indexes of airway epithelium integrity, including pathological alterations, pulmonary EGFR expression and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), were then measured. The expression of GILZ and key components of activated MAPK-ERK signals (p-Raf-1, p-MEK, and p-Erk1/2) were also detected.

RESULTS

Dex failed to relieve OVA-induced asthma airway epithelium injury, as assessed through H&E staining, EGFR expression and AHR. Moreover, in the OVA-challenged mice treated with Dex, GLIZ expression was increased, whereas the ratios of p-Raf-1/Raf-1, p-MEK/MEK and p-Erk1/2/Erk1/2 were significantly decreased. Further study indicated that GILZ expression was decreased and that the ratios of p-Raf-1/Raf-1, p-MEK/MEK and p-Erk1/2/Erk1/2 were up-regulated in the GILZ-silenced OVA-challenged mice and VA-fed OVA-challenged mice, independent of Dex treatment. The airway epithelium integrity of the OVA-challenged mice was maintained by treatment with both VA and Dex.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin A maintained the Dex-treated asthma airway epithelium via the down-regulation of GILZ expression and the activation MAPK-ERK signaling, and these effects might contribute to improving the effects of GC therapeutics on asthma.

Study of prevalence and influencing factors of depression in tumor patients and the therapeutic effects of fluoxetine

OBJECTIVE

To observe the depression in patients with malignant tumor and influencing factors of the disease, as well as to investigate the effects of fluoxetine on depressive symptoms in cancer patients and the immune function.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

262 patients with malignant tumors, confirmed by pathological and radiological diagnosis as malignant tumor were randomly divided into 2 groups: the control group with chemotherapy; the treatment group with chemotherapy and 20 mg/d fluoxetine for six weeks. Before and after treatment, the scores of QLQ-C30 scale and changes of immune parameters were observed, including the determination of NK and T cell subsets.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression in cancer patients was not related to the tumor location. But gender, age, tumor stage, the income level of satisfaction and chronic cancer pain were related to the occurrence of depression in cancer patients (p < 0.05). In the fluoxetine treatment groups, by QLQ-C30 scores, in quality of life scores including body, function, social and cognitive function, and single symptoms including nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and economic difficulties, the differences were not statistically significant. The QLQ-C30 scores of overall quality of life and emotional function were rising in the fluoxetine treatment group. The QLQ-C30 scores of the pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia symptoms were decreased, which had a statistical significance (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. To compare with the control group, the scores of HAMD were decreasing in the fluoxetine treatment group, which had a statistical significance (p < 0.05). Before treatment, the NK cells, CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ ratios of tumor patients decreased significantly, while CD8+ increased. After 6 weeks of treatment, NK cells, CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ ratios increased significantly and CD8+ decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Sex, age, tumor stage, income satisfaction, and cancer pain were relevant factors in patients with tumor-associated depression. If depression can be detected in the early stage, and oral fluoxetine therapy can be conducted, it can improve the depression situation and immune function of patients with malignant tumor.

αv integrins on mesenchymal cells regulate skeletal and cardiac muscle fibrosis

Mesenchymal cells expressing platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) are known to be important in fibrosis of organs such as the liver and kidney. Here we show that PDGFRβ+ cells contribute to skeletal muscle and cardiac fibrosis via a mechanism that depends on αv integrins. Mice in which αv integrin is depleted in PDGFRβ+ cells are protected from cardiotoxin and laceration-induced skeletal muscle fibrosis and angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibrosis. In addition, a small-molecule inhibitor of αv integrins attenuates fibrosis, even when pre-established, in both skeletal and cardiac muscle, and improves skeletal muscle function. αv integrin blockade also reduces TGFβ activation in primary human skeletal muscle and cardiac PDGFRβ+ cells, suggesting that αv integrin inhibitors may be effective for the treatment and prevention of a broad range of muscle fibroses.

Entecavir maleate versus entecavir in Chinese chronic hepatitis B predominantly genotype B or C: Results at week 144

Reports on the efficacy and safety of long-term entecavir treatment in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) predominantly genotype B or C are insufficient. This study presents the efficacy and safety of entecavir maleate in Chinese CHB patients. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 48-week treatment with either 0.5 mg/day entecavir (group A) or 0.5 mg/day entecavir maleate (group B), and then all patients received treatment with 0.5 mg/day entecavir maleate from week 49. Two hundred and seventy-five patients with CHB (HBeAg-positive: 218) were analysed, predominantly (98.5%) with genotype B or C. Baseline characteristics were balanced. For the HBeAg-positive CHB patients, the mean HBV DNA level decreased similarly (A: by 6.36 log₁₀ IU/mL vs B: by 6.31 log₁₀ IU/mL) between groups at week 144. The percentages of patients who achieved undetectable HBV DNA were similar (A: 70.59% vs B: 66.67%) between groups. Similar HBeAg loss rates (A: 43.53% vs B: 40.23%; P>.05) and HBeAg seroconversion rates (A: 21.52% vs B: 21.18%) were achieved. For the HBeAg-negative CHB patients, similar reductions in HBV DNA levels from baseline (A: by 6.13 log₁₀ IU/mL vs B: by 5.65 log₁₀ IU/mL) and percentages of patients who achieved undetectable HBV DNA (A: 100% vs B: 100%) were achieved. The overall incidence of adverse events was comparable between groups. In conclusions, 48-week administration of entecavir maleate and entecavir showed similar efficacy and safety in Chinese patients with CHB. Long-term entecavir maleate treatment was effective and safe in CHB patients.

Chemoprevention by Quercetin of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Suppression of the NF-κB Signaling Pathway in DMBA-treated Hamsters

BACKGROUND/AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the flavonoid quercetin on chemoprevention of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The study involved molecular signaling pathways in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DMBA (0.5%) was painted at the right buccal pouches of hamsters for 14 weeks to induce carcinoma. DMBA-treated hamsters received simultaneous doses of quercetin. Animals without DMBA induction were used as normal controls. The incidence of OSCC and the severity of pre-malignant lesions were determined histologically. Apoptosis in the pouch tissue was determined by TUNEL staining. The mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB p50 and p65, as well as Bcl-2 and Bax genes were analyzed using RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

Quercetin, at various doses, significantly reduced OSCC incidence and severity of hyperplasia and dysplasia compared to the DMBA-induction-only group (p<0.01). Apoptosis was induced by quercetin treatment compared to the DMBA-induction-only group (p<0.01). mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB p50, p65 as well as Bcl-2 genes were significantly suppressed by quercetin at high doses compared to DMBA induction only (p<0.05). However, mRNA and protein expression of the Bax gene was increased by quercetin treatment at medium and high doses, compared to the DMBA-induction-only group (p<0.05). Quercetin significantly reduced body-weight loss compared to the DMBA-induction-only group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Quercetin reduced tumor incidence and induced apoptosis through modulation of NF-κB signaling and its target genes Bcl-2 and Bax in the DMBA-induced carcigenesis hamster model, suggesting the potential of quercetin as a candidate for OSCC chemoprevention.

[Follicular bronchiolitis: report of 3 cases and literature review]

Objective: To improve understanding of the characteristics of follicular bronchiolitis(FB). Methods: The clinical data of 3 patients with FB confirmed by thoracoscopic lung biopsy were retrospectively analyzed. A literature search was performed with "follicular bronchiolitis" as the key word in China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Wanfang and PubMed, Ovid Database. The time interval was from January 1947 to December 2015. Related articles of FB were retrieved and the clinical, radiographic characteristics and prognosis were analyzed. Results: Among the 3 patients, 1 was male and 2 were female, aging 32-55 years. Two patients were asymptomatic, and 1 patient presented with fever, cough and dyspnea. Two patients showed normal pulmonary ventilatory function with decreased diffusive function, and 1 patient showed normal pulmonary function. The predominant HRCT findings were bilateral multiple small nodules and cystic opacities, patchy ground-glass opacities, reticular opacities and traction bronchiectasis. The pathological examination by thoracoscopic biopsy revealed bronchiolar and peribronchiolar lymphoid follicles. All patients were treated with corticosteroids, with 2 patients receiving immunosuppressants. Follow-up HRCT after 1-2 months showed no improvement, and further follow-up HRCT after 2-4 years revealed no change in 2 patients while the other patient had increased pulmonary nodules and cystic opacities. Seventeen articles concerning FB with complete records were included in the literature review. A total of 64 patients were reported in these articles. The typical images were bilateral multiple small nodules and ground-glass opacities, reticular opacities, and cystic opacities. The majority of patients improved after treatment of corticosteroids and (or) immunosuppressants. But our 3 cases showed no improvement. Conclusions: FB is a rare small airway disease which has non-specific clinical manifestations and pulmonary function. The most common imaging findings are bilateral multiple small nodules, with cystic opacities, ground-glass opacities, and reticular opacities. Surgical thoracoscopic biopsy can get ideal specimen which is useful for diagnosis. The curative effects of corticosteroids or immunosuppressants on FB need to be further clinically investigated.

[Efficacy of semicircular canal occlusion in the treatment of stage 3 or 4 Ménière's disease]

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of semicircular canal occlusion in the treatment of intractable Ménière's disease in stage 3 or 4.Method:Retrospective analysis of clincal date of twenty-nine patients who were referred to our institute and diagonsed with Ménière's disease. According to the preoperative staging of hearing, there were 12 cases in stage 3 and 17 cases in stage 4, and all patients underwent semicircular canal occlusion. The preoperative and postoperative frequency of vertigo, hearing, caloric test, functional level and tinnitus level were compared. Postoperative following-up period was 6-23 months, with an average of 13 months.Result:Postoperatively, vertigo was controlled effectively in all 29 cases, of which 26 cases(89.7%) were completely controlled and 3 cases(10.3%) were basic controlled. The hearing stabilized in 25 cases(86.2%), worse in 2 cases(6.9%) and improved in 2 cases(6.9%). The semicircular canal function of all patients were in low status by caloric test. The rate of tinnitus relief and functional improvement was 41.4%(12/29) and 96.6%(28/29).Conclusion:Semicircular canal occlusion is an effective measure for treatment of Ménière's disease in stage 3 or stage 4, especially in controlling vertigo and improving functional level, but the long-term follow-up is necessary.

Synergistic Inhibitory Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Astragaloside IV and Curcumin on Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis in an Orthotopic Nude-Mouse Model of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

AIM

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), astragaloside IV (AS-IV) and curcumin on tumor growth and angiogenesis in an orthotopic nude-mouse model of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have previously shown the usefulness of orthotopic models of human cancer for evaluation of the efficacy of TCM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nude mice with orthotopic HepG2 HCC were treated with vehicle control (0.01 ml/g normal saline), cisplatinum (2 mg/kg), AS-IV (20 mg/kg), curcumin (100 mg/kg) or AS-IV plus curcumin (20 mg/kg + 100 mg/kg). Tumor inhibition in each group was evaluated by tumor weight at autopsy. The effect of AS-IV and curcumin on tumor angiogenesis was assessed by CD34 staining and expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), thrombosis-related factor tissue factor (TF) and coagulation factor VII (FVII), as well as microRNAs miR-122 and miR-221.

RESULTS

AS-IV and curcumin alone and in combination significantly reduced mean tumor weight compared to vehicle control (p<0.05). Tumor microvessel count was reduced by AS-IV and curcumin alone. Expression of FGF2, MMP2, VEGF, HGF, TF and FVII was reduced by AS-IV and curcumin alone. AS-IV and curcumin alone up-regulated expression of miR-122 and down-regulated that of miR-221. The combination of AS-IV and curcumin demonstrated significant synergistic effects on microvessel count as well as on expression of angiogenic and thrombosis-related factors and microRNAs.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates future clinical potential of combination therapy with AS-IV and curcumin for HCC.

Quantitative Proteomic Profiling of Tachyplesin I Targets in U251 Gliomaspheres

Tachyplesin I is a cationic peptide isolated from hemocytes of the horseshoe crab and its anti-tumor activity has been demonstrated in several tumor cells. However, there is limited information providing the global effects and mechanisms of tachyplesin I on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Here, by using two complementary proteomic strategies (2D-DIGE and dimethyl isotope labeling-based shotgun proteomics), we explored the effect of tachyplesin I on the proteome of gliomaspheres, a three-dimensional growth model formed by a GBM cell line U251. In total, the expression levels of 192 proteins were found to be significantly altered by tachyplesin I treatment. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that many of them were cytoskeleton proteins and lysosomal acid hydrolases, and the mostly altered biological process was related to cellular metabolism, especially glycolysis. Moreover, we built protein-protein interaction network of these proteins and suggested the important role of DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha (TOP2A) in the signal-transduction cascade of tachyplesin I. In conclusion, we propose that tachyplesin I might down-regulate cathepsins in lysosomes and up-regulate TOP2A to inhibit migration and promote apoptosis in glioma, thus contribute to its anti-tumor function. Our results suggest tachyplesin I is a potential candidate for treatment of glioma.

Detection methods for Pseudomonas aeruginosa: history and future perspective

The current review summarized and analyzed the development of detection techniques forPseudomonas aeruginosaover the past 50 years.

Lasing mode regulation and single-mode realization in ZnO whispering gallery microcavities by the Vernier effect

The wide direct bandgap and strong exciton binding energy of ZnO have inspired examinations of ultraviolet lasing over the previous decades. However, regulation of the lasing mode, especially the realization of single mode lasing, is still a challenge. In this study, a ZnO comb-like structure with an array of microrods was selected to design coupled whispering-gallery-mode cavities, wherein the naturally varied air-gap between the adjacent microrods created a flexible condition for optical field coupling without any complicated micromanipulation. Spectral behaviour of lasing and coupling interaction between coupled ZnO microrods were systematically investigated. By regulating the nano-scale inter-space of dual coupled microrods, stable single-mode lasing with a higher Q factor and lower threshold was obtained successfully based on the Vernier effect. The formation conditions and the mechanism of single-mode lasing derived from the coupled ZnO microrods were discussed in detail. It also demonstrated an approach to construct high quality single-mode lasing by tuning the diameters of the coupled ZnO microrods.

A study of CCND1 with epithelial ovarian cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

Ovarian cancer is a gynecological malignancy with high mortality rates all over the world. Markers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy are urgently required to improve the mortality rates. As a key proto-oncogene, CCND1 is known to be amplified in many different carcinomas, including breast cancer, esophageal cancer, bladder cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer, etc. CCND1 plays an important role in cancer development and progression. However, its function and mechanism have not been completely elucidated in ovarian cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, we use cisplatin in vitro to inhibit the cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3. CCND1 expression, cell proliferation and cell cycle analysis were carried out by real-time PCR, CCK-8 and flow cytometry respectively.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that cisplatin could inhibit the expression of CCND1 in human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line, which is related to the decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that CCND1 is a potential therapeutic target for epithelial ovarian cancer treatment.

Genotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type III Secretion System Using Magnetic Enrichment Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction and Chemiluminescence

The pathologic characteristics and toxicity mechanism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are different in strains with different Type III secretion system (T3SS) genes. The T3SS gene based genotyping of P. aeruginosa strains is important to understand its virulence and predict the clinical outcomes. In this study, a rapid and automatable method for T3SS genotyping was developed using magnetic enrichment multiplex PCR and chemiluminescence. Three P. aeruginosa standard strains were analyzed using this method. The results showed that the chemiluminescent intensity of exoT, exoY, and exoS of these strains were 10 times greater than that of the control, and that their Q values were greater than 2.1. These results were consistent with the regular PCR and electrophoresis results, indicating that the method was reliable. Out of the 22 clinical isolates tested using this method, 100%, 72.7%, 95.5%, and 4.5% of the isolates contained exoT, exoY, exoS, and exoU genes, respectively. The isolates harbored either exoS or exoU gene, but not both. All genotyping results of the isolates were consistent with the information obtained using regular PCR and electrophoresis.

[Revised endoscopic sinus surgery combined middle turbinectomy in the treatment of refractory rhinosinusitis]

Objective:To investigate the comprehensive curativeeffect of refractory rhinosinusitis by endoscopic sinus surgery and middle turbinate resection.Method:A retrospective analysis with 178 cases of refractory rhinosinusitis.According to the operation methods, these patients were divided into two groups, observation group and control group, with 89 patients each. The observationgroup received revision endoscopic sinus surgery combined with middle turbinectomy and the control with traditional surgery. Followup to observe the curative effect and recurrence rate between the two groups. Result:Follow-up after 6 months, total effective rate of observation group was 88.76% and the effective rate of control group was 68.54%.The total effective rate of observation group is higher than the control group, and non efficiency rate is lower than that of the control group; besides that the incidence of complications and the recurrence rate of the observation group was lower than the control group. Conclusion:It can effectively prevent the recurrence of sinusitis by the revised operation of nasal endoscopic frontal sinus combined with middle turbinate partial or complete removal and fully treatment measures of peri operation period, that is to say it can improve the therapeutic effect of refractory sinusitis witch worthing the clinical popularization and application.