Activin and Bmp4 Signaling Converge on Wnt Activation during Odontogenesis

Previous studies show that both activin and Bmp4 act as crucial mesenchymal odontogenic signals during early tooth development. Remarkably, mice lacking activin-βA ( Inhba^-/-) and mice with neural crest-specific inactivation of Bmp4 ( Bmp4^ncko/ncko) both exhibit bud-stage developmental arrest of the mandibular molar tooth germs while their maxillary molar tooth germs completed morphogenesis. In this study, we found that, whereas expression of Inhba and Bmp4 in the developing tooth mesenchyme is independent of each other, Bmp4^ncko/nckoInhba^-/- compound mutant mice exhibit early developmental arrest of all tooth germs. Moreover, genetic inactivation of Osr2, a negative regulator of the odontogenic function of the Bmp4-Msx1 signaling pathway, rescues mandibular molar morphogenesis in Inhba^-/- embryos. We recently reported that Osr2 and the Bmp4-Msx1 pathway control the bud-to-cap transition of tooth morphogenesis through antagonistic regulation of expression of secreted Wnt antagonists, including Dkk2 and Sfrp2, in the developing tooth mesenchyme. We show here that expression of Dkk2 messenger RNAs was significantly upregulated and expanded into the tooth bud mesenchyme in Inhba^-/- embryos in comparison with wild-type littermates. Furthermore, in utero treatment with either lithium chloride, an agonist of canonical Wnt signaling, or the DKK inhibitor IIIC3a rescued mandibular molar tooth morphogenesis in Inhba^-/- embryos. Together with our finding that the developing mandibular molar tooth bud mesenchyme expresses significantly higher levels of Dkk2 than the developing maxillary molar tooth mesenchyme, these data indicate that Bmp4 and activin signaling pathways converge on activation of the Wnt signaling pathway to promote tooth morphogenesis through the bud-to-cap transition and that the differential effects of loss of activin or Bmp4 signaling on maxillary and mandibular molar tooth morphogenesis are mainly due to the differential expression of Wnt antagonists, particularly Dkk2, in the maxillary and mandibular tooth mesenchyme.

Efficacy of antidepressive medication for depression in Parkinson disease: a network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Parkinson disease (PD) was considered as the 2nd most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer disease, while depression is a prevailing nonmotor symptom of PD. Typically used antidepression medication includes tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), and dopamine agonists (DA). Our study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of antidepressive medications for depression of PD.

METHODS

Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched for related articles. Traditional meta-analysis and network meta-analysis (NMA) were performed with outcomes including depression score, UPDRS-II, UPDRS-III, and adverse effects. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was also performed to illustrate the rank probabilities of different medications on various outcomes. The consistency of direct and indirect evidence was also assessed by node-splitting method.

RESULTS

Results of traditional pairwise meta-analysis were performed. Concerning depression score, significant improvement was observed in AD, MAOI, SSRI, and SNRI compared with placebo. NMA was performed and more information could be obtained. DA was illustrated to be effective over placebo concerning UPDRS-III, MAOI, and SNRI. DA demonstrated a better prognosis in UPDRS-II scores compared with placebo and MAOI. However, DA and SSRI demonstrated a significant increase in adverse effects compared with placebo. The SUCRA value was calculated to evaluate the ranking probabilities of all medications on investigated outcomes, and the consistency between direct and indirect evidences was assessed by node-splitting method.

CONCLUSION

SSRI had a satisfying efficacy for the depression of PD patients and could improve activities of daily living and motor function of patient but the adverse effects are unneglectable. SNRI are the safest medication with high efficacy for depression as well while other outcomes are relatively poor.

Assessment on Occurrences of Depression and Anxiety and Associated Risk Factors in the Infertile Chinese Men

The prevalence of depression and anxiety in the Chinese male population with infertility is still uncertain. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and a combination of both psychological symptoms was 20.8%, 7.8%, and 15.4%, respectively in 771 infertile Chinese men in the current study by the Mental Health Inventory–5 and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory–Short Form questionnaires. Differences in demographics (age, education, and income) had no noticeable impact on the development of psychological symptoms. Clinical factors such as concomitant disorders (varicocele, epididymal cyst, and erectile dysfunction) were identified as risk factors associated with depressive symptoms (OR = 1.47; 95% CI [1.14, 1.90]; p < .001) and both depressive and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.56; 95% CI [1.17, 2.08]; p < .001). An infertility duration over 2 years was associated with a high risk of anxiety symptoms (OR = 3.94; 95% CI [1.20, 12.93], p < .02). Other clinical conditions such as type of treatment and quality of sperm were not significant risk factors for psychological symptoms. This study provides evidence that Chinese men of reproductive age who suffer from infertility are vulnerable to psychological distress.

Risperidone reverses the spatial object recognition impairment and hippocampal BDNF-TrkB signalling system alterations induced by acute MK-801 treatment

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a commonly-used atypical antipsychotic, risperidone, on alterations in spatial learning and in the hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) signalling system caused by acute dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) treatment. In experiment 1, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to acute treatment of either low-dose MK801 (0.1 mg/kg) or normal saline (vehicle) were tested for spatial object recognition and hippocampal expression levels of BDNF, TrkB and the phophorylation of TrkB (p-TrkB). We found that compared to the vehicle, MK-801 treatment impaired spatial object recognition of animals and downregulated the expression levels of p-TrkB. In experiment 2, MK-801- or vehicle-treated animals were further injected with risperidone (0.1 mg/kg) or vehicle before behavioural testing and sacrifice. Of note, we found that risperidone successfully reversed the deleterious effects of MK-801 on spatial object recognition and upregulated the hippocampal BDNF-TrkB signalling system. Collectively, the findings suggest that cognitive deficits from acute N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blockade may be associated with the hypofunction of hippocampal BDNF-TrkB signalling system and that risperidone was able to reverse these alterations.

[End tidal PCO(2) for evaluation of severity of disease in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension]

Objective: To explore the difference in end tidal PCO(2) (P(ET)CO(2)) between idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), and to analyze the correlation between P(ET)CO(2) and the indexes of disease severity in IPAH and CTEPH patients. Methods: Data were retrieved from 68 IPAH patients and 52 CTEPH patients who all had received right-heart catheterization, pulmonary function test and cardiopulmonary exercise testing at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from October 2011 to October 2014. In addition, other clinical parameters were also collected. Results: The IPAH group had a significantly higher mPAP, PVR [(60±16) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (13±6) Wood U ] than the CTEPH group [(46±12) mmHg, (9±4) Wood U, t=4.90, 4.83, all P<0.01]. Meanwhile, the IPAH group had a lower percentage of predicted peakVO(2), oxygen pulse [(45±15)%, (60±22)%] compared with the CTEPH group [(53±16)%, (68±21)%, t=-2.42, -1.96, all P<0.05]. The value of P(ET)CO(2) at rest, AT, peak in the IPAH patients [(27±5), (28±7), (25±7) mmHg] were higher than those in the CTEPH patients [(24±4) mmHg, (23±6) mmHg, (21±6) mmHg, t=3.22-4.54, all P<0.01]. There was a significantly difference in P(ET)CO(2) at AT and peak between WHO-FC Ⅰ-Ⅱ and Ⅲ-Ⅳ subgroups in IPAH (t=2.55, 2.60, all P<0.05) and CTEPH (t=2.39, P<0.05), except for P(ET)CO(2) at peak in the CTEPH patients (t=1.71, P>0.05). A moderately inverse correlation was found between P(ET)CO(2) at AT and NT-proBNP in the IPAH group (r=-0.58, P<0.01), meanwhile P(ET)CO(2) at AT in the CTEPH group was weakly correlated with NT-proBNP (r=-0.34, P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with the CTEPH patients, the IPAH patients had significantly decreased exercise capacity and increased P(ET)CO(2). P(ET)CO(2) could reflect the disease severity in both IPAH and CTEPH patients, being superior in IPAH than in CTEPH. Furthermore, P(ET)CO(2) at AT might be better than P(ET)CO(2) at peak in reflecting the ventilatory efficiency.

Elevated THBS2, COL1A2, and SPP1 Expression Levels as Predictors of Gastric Cancer Prognosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Gastric cancer (GC) is an important health problem. Classification based on molecular subtypes may help to determine the prognosis of patients with GC. Tumor invasion and metastasis are important factors affecting the prognosis of cancer. We aimed to identify genes related to tumor invasion and metastasis, which may serve as indicators of good GC prognosis.

METHODS

Tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 105 patients with primary GC who were treated by undergoing radical surgery. Samples were used for tissue microarray analysis. Identified genes with altered expression were further analyzed using the Gene Ontology (Go) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. The expression levels of THBS2, COL1A2 and SPP1 were analyzed by RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. The overall survival curves of patients with high and low expression of each gene of interest were plotted and compared.

RESULTS

Forty-three genes were identified. THBS2, COL1A2 and SPP1 were selected for further analysis. Altered expression levels of THBS2, COL1A2 and SPP1 in tumor tissues were confirmed. Patients with low THBS2 expression had a better prognosis; the expression of COL1A2 and SPP1 might not affect the prognosis of patients with GC.

CONCLUSION

THBS2, but not COL1A2 and SPP1, may serve as an indicator of GC prognosis.

Surgical treatment of Denis type B thoracolumbar burst fracture with neurological deficiency by paraspinal approach

We aimed to describe the surgical technique and clinical outcomes of paraspinal-approach reduction and fixation (PARF) in a group of patients with Denis type B thoracolumbar burst fracture (TLBF) with neurological deficiencies. A total of 62 patients with Denis B TLBF with neurological deficiencies were included in this study between January 2009 and December 2011. Clinical evaluations including the Frankel scale, pain visual analog scale (VAS) and radiological assessment (CT scans for fragment reduction and X-ray for the Cobb angle, adjacent superior and inferior intervertebral disc height, and vertebral canal diameter) were performed preoperatively and at 3 days, 6 months, and 1 and 2 years postoperatively. All patients underwent successful PARF, and were followed-up for at least 2 years. Average surgical time, blood loss and incision length were recorded. The sagittal vertebral canal diameter was significantly enlarged. The canal stenosis index was also improved. Kyphosis was corrected and remained at 8.6±1.4^o (P>0.05) 1 year postoperatively. Adjacent disc heights remained constant. Average Frankel grades were significantly improved at the end of follow-up. All 62 patients were neurologically assessed. Pain scores decreased at 6 months postoperatively, compared to before surgery (P<0.05). PARF provided excellent reduction for traumatic segmental kyphosis, and resulted in significant spinal canal clearance, which restored and maintained the vertebral body height of patients with Denis B TLBF with neurological deficits.

Similar Fecal Microbiota Signatures in Patients With Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Patients With Depression

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often have psychiatric comorbidities. Alterations in the intestinal microbiota have been associated with IBS and depression, but it is not clear if there is a microbial relationship between these disorders. We studied the profiles of fecal microbiota samples from patients with IBS, depression, or comorbidities of IBS and depression; we determined the relationships among these profiles and clinical and pathophysiological features of these disorders.

METHODS

We used 454 pyrosequencing to analyze fecal microbiota samples from 100 subjects (40 with diarrhea-predominant IBS [IBS-D], 15 with depression, 25 with comorbidities of IBS and depression, and 20 healthy individuals [controls]), recruited at Peking University. Abdominal and psychological symptoms were evaluated with validated questionnaires. Visceral sensitivity was evaluated using a barostat. Colonic mucosal inflammation was assayed by immunohistochemical analyses of sigmoid tissue biopsy specimens.

RESULTS

Fecal microbiota signatures were similar between patients with IBS-D and depression in that they were less diverse than samples from controls and had similar abundances of alterations. They were characterized by high proportions of Bacteroides (type I), Prevotella (type II), or nondominant microbiota (type III). Most patients with IBS-D or depression had type I or type II profiles (IBS-D had 85% type I and type II profiles, depression had 80% type I and type II profiles). Colon tissues from patients with type I or type II profiles had higher levels of inflammatory markers than colon tissues from patients with type III profiles. The level of colon inflammation correlated with the severity of IBS symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with IBS-D and depression have similar alterations in fecal microbiota; these might be related to the pathogenesis of these disorders. We identified 3 microbial profiles in patients that could indicate different subtypes of IBS and depression or be used as diagnostic biomarkers.

[Effect of zinc ion on the expression of osteoblastic proteins in MC3T3-E1 cells in inflammatory environment]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of zinc ion on the expression of osteoblastic proteins.

METHODS

Mice osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 cells were subcultured. Inflammatory environment model was established by tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)at a concentration of 10 mg/L. According to different concentration of Zn(2+), the cells were divided into TNF-α group, control group, group A(TNF-α+10(-4) mol/L Zn(2+)), group B(TNF-α+10(-5) mol/L Zn(2+)), group C(TNF-α+10(-6) mol/L Zn(2+)). After 24, 48, and 72 h of culture, cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay was used to analyze the proliferation of the cells. ALP activity was examined. Bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP-2), Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2), Osterix and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand(RANKL)protein levels were determined by Western blotting after 72 h of culture.

RESULTS

The cells grew by adherence after 24 h. After 72 h, the cells grew dense, and the cells showed long spindle shape or irregular shape. The proliferation of osteoblasts in TNF-α group, group B and group C became lower than that in the control group(P<0.05), and was not significantly different between group A and the control group(P >0.05). ALP activity examination demonstrated that the groups cultured for 72 h revealed the highest ALP activity and the most prominent differentation compared with 24 h and 48 h groups. ALP activity was significantly decreased in TNF-α group, group B and group C compared with control group(P<0.05), but was not significantly different between group A and control group(P>0.05). The protein levels of BMP-2, RUNX2 and Osterix were significantly decreased in TNF-α group, group B and group C compared with control group(P<0.05), while showed no significant difference between group A and the control group. Protein level of RANKL was significantly increased in TNF-α group, grope B and group C compared with control group(P<0.05), while showed no significant difference between group A and control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The concentration of 10(-4) mol/L Zn(2+) can significantly increase the expression of osteoblastic proteins such as ALP, BMP-2, RUNX2, Osterix and decrease the expression of RANKL in mice osteoblasts in TNF-α inflammatory environment.

N1-guanyl-1,7-diaminoheptane enhances the chemosensitivity of NSCLC cells to cetuximab through inhibition of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A2 activation

OBJECTIVE

N1-guanyl-1, 7-diaminoheptane (GC7), an inhibitor of deoxyhypusine synthase has been shown to exhibit significant anti-cancer activity. However, the biological role of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A2 activation (EIF5A2) and GC7 on drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been investigated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of GC7 combined with cetuximab in NSCLC therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The current study used cell viability assays, EdU incorporation assays, and western blot to detect that the GC7 exhibited synergistic cytotoxicity with cetuximab in NSCLC.

RESULTS

CCK-8 assays showed that combined treatment with GC7 and cetuximab significantly inhibited the viabilities in three NSCLC cell lines. In addition, EdU incorporation assays also indicated that GC7 co-treatment remarkably enhanced the cetuximab sensitivity in NSCLC cells. Nevertheless, down-regulation of EIF5A2 diminished the regulatory role of GC7 in cetuximab cytotoxicity. Western blot showed that transfection of EIF5A2 siRNA significantly suppressed the protein expression of EIF5A2 in NSCLC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that combined treatment with GC7 could enhance cetuximab sensitivity by inhibiting EIF5A2 in NSCLC cells, implying the potential clinical application of GC7 in cetuximab-based chemotherapy for NSCLC patients.

LINC01225 promotes occurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in an epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent pathway

The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have long been clarified to participate in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a biomarker. We carried out the present study in order to identify HCC-related lncRNAs and elucidate the functional roles in the development and progression of HCC. Our previous study has provided that LINC01225 may be an HCC-related gene. Here, we verified that LINC01225 was upregulated in HCC. Knockdown of LINC01225 resulted in inhibited cell proliferation and invasion with activated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in vitro. Overexpression of LINC01225 in LINC01225 knockdown cells presented that attenuated cell proliferation and invasion were restored and enhanced. Subcutaneous and tail vein/intraperitoneal injection xenotransplantation model in vivo validated reduced tumor progression and metastasis. Investigation of mechanism found that LINC01225 could bind to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and increase the protein level of EGFR, and subsequently fine tune the EGFR/Ras/Raf-1/MEK/MAPK signaling pathway. Analysis with clinicopathological information suggested a high expression of LINC01225 is positively associated with poor prognosis. We also proved that LINC01225 was stably expressed in serum and can act as a novel biomarker in predicting the diagnosis of HCC. As a conclusion, LINC01225 plays a crucial role in HCC and can act as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.

Training of deep microsurgical skill: Establishment of a high-volume intracranial carotid bypass model

OBJECTIVE

To establish a model for a high-volume intracranial carotid bypass operation.

METHODS

High-volume internal carotid-middle cerebral artery bypass was performed on 9 cadaver heads with arteries of porcine forearms as grafts by 6 residents with no previous experience in vascular anastomosis on cadavers. The intima was dissected immediately after the anastomoses were completed to observe the patency of anastomosis.

RESULTS

After different duration periods of training using this model, 36 vascular anastomoses on 18 sides were successfully performed by the 6 residents with a self-made difficulty regulation device. As the difficulty level increased, the time needed for anastomosis lengthened and patency rate showed a decreasing trend. As the amount of training increased, the residents were able to decrease the amount of time to complete the operation with increasing patency rates.

CONCLUSIONS

The model of high-volume internal carotid-middle cerebral artery bypass with arteries of porcine forearms has the advantages of material similarity, easy access of grafts, better simulation of intraoperative conditions, and adjustable difficulties. Our results suggest that this new procedure has a better simulation-training platform which is closer to the real surgical procedure for surgeons willing to master the technique of a high-volume bypass operation.

Deletion of Osr2 Partially Rescues Tooth Development in Runx2 Mutant Mice

Tooth organogenesis depends on genetically programmed sequential and reciprocal inductive interactions between the dental epithelium and neural crest-derived mesenchyme. Previous studies showed that the Msx1 and Runx2 transcription factors are required for activation of odontogenic signals, including Bmp4 and Fgf3, in the early tooth mesenchyme to drive tooth morphogenesis through the bud-to-cap transition and that Runx2 acts downstream of Msx1 to activate Fgf3 expression. Recent studies identified Osr2 as a repressor of tooth development and showed that inactivation of Osr2 rescued molar tooth morphogenesis in the Msx1(-/-) mutant mice as well as in mice with neural crest-specific inactivation of Bmp4. Here we show that Runx2 expression is expanded in the tooth bud mesenchyme in Osr2(-/-) mutant mouse embryos and is partially restored in the tooth mesenchyme in Msx1(-/-)Osr2(-/-) mutants in comparison with Msx1(-/-) and wild-type embryos. Whereas mandibular molar development arrested at the bud stage and maxillary molar development arrested at the bud-to-cap transition in Runx2(-/-) mutant mice, both mandibular and maxillary molar tooth germs progressed to the early bell stage, with rescued expression of Msx1 and Bmp4 in the dental papilla as well as expression of Bmp4, p21, and Shh in the primary enamel knot in the Osr2(-/-)Runx2(-/-) compound mutants. In contrast to the Msx1(-/-)Osr2(-/-) compound mutants, which exhibit nearly normal first molar morphogenesis, the Osr2(-/-)Runx2(-/-) compound mutant embryos failed to activate the expression of Fgf3 and Fgf10 in the dental papilla and exhibited significant deficit in cell proliferation in both the dental epithelium and mesenchyme in comparison with the control embryos. These data indicate that Runx2 synergizes with Msx1 to drive tooth morphogenesis through the bud-to-cap transition and that Runx2 controls continued tooth growth and morphogenesis beyond the cap stage through activation of Fgf3 and Fgf10 expression in the dental papilla.