[Effect of autophagy inhibitor combined with EGFR inhibitor on triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of combined administration of autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine/bafilomycin A1 and EGFR inhibitor gefitinib on triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231 cells and estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells.

METHODS

All the cells were treated with 3-methyladenine/bafilomycin A1 and/or gefitinib. The effect of autophagy inhibitor and gefitinib on the cell growth was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to determine the alteration of autophagy-related protein (such as LC3) and apoptosis-related proteins (such as caspase-3 and caspase-9).

RESULTS

MTT assay showed that the IC50 in the GE+ 3-MA and GE+ BAF groups were (4.1±0.2) μmol/L and (3.8±0.3) μmol/L, significantly lower than that of the gefitinib alone group [(7.0±0.2) μmol/L] in MDA-MB-468 cells (P<0.05). Similarly, the IC50 in the GE+ 3-MA and GE+ BAF groups were (9.7±0.1) μmol/L and (7.7±0.2) μmol/L, significantly lower than that of the gefitinib alone group [(14.7±0.1) μmol/L]in MDA-MB231 cells (P<0.05). The flow cytometry assay revealed that the apoptosis rates of MDA-MB-468 cells in GE, GE+ 3-MA and GE+ BAF groups were (12.43±3.18)%, (23.37±2.71)% and (18.71±2.81)%, respectively. The apoptosis rates of MDA-MB-231 cells of the GE, GE+ 3-MA and GE+ BAF groups were (12.15±1.82)%, (16.94±2.19)% and (33.83±5.92) %, significantly higher than that of the gefitinib alone group (All P<0.05). The apoptosis rates of the MCF-7 cells were not changed significantly among the three groups (P>0.05). Western blot data showed that the expression levels of LC3 and p-Akt were decreased in the combined groups than that of the gefitinib alone group, while the p-PTEN, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Autophagy inhibitor may enhance the sensitivity to gefitinib in MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells by activation of the PTEN/P13K/Akt pathway. Apoptosis in MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells might be enhanced by the combination treatment through caspase cascade.

RNF8 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition of breast cancer cells

Background

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial step for solid tumor progression and plays an important role in cancer invasion and metastasis. RNF8 is an ubiquitin E3 ligase with RING domain, and plays essential roles in DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation. However the role of RNF8 in the pathogenesis of breast cancer is still unclear.

Methods

The expression of RNF8 was examined in different types of breast cell lines by Western Blotting. EMT associated markers were examined by Immunofluorescence and Western Blotting in MCF-7 when RNF8 was ectopically overexpressed, or in MDA-MB-231 when RNF8 was depleted. Transwell and wound healing assays were performed to assess the effect of RNF8 on cell mobility. The xenograft model was done with nude mice to investigate the role of RNF8 in tumor metastasis in vivo. Breast tissue arrays were used to examine the expression of RNF8 by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for the relationship between survival time and RNF8 signature in breast cancer was done with an online tool (http://kmplot.com/analysis/).

Results

RNF8 is overexpressed in highly metastatic breast cancer cell lines. Overexpression of RNF8 in MCF-7 significantly promoted EMT phenotypes and facilitated cell migration. On the contrary, silencing of RNF8 in MDA-MB-231 induced MET phenotypes and inhibited cell migration. Furthermore, we proved that these metastatic behavior promoting effects of RNF8 in breast cancer was associated with the inactivation of GSK-3β and activation of β-catenin signaling. With nude mice xenograft model, we found that shRNA mediated-downregulation of RNF8 reduced tumor metastasis in vivo. In addition, we found that RNF8 expression was higher in malignant breast cancer than that of the paired normal breast tissues, and was positively correlated with lymph node metastases and poor survival time.

Conclusions

RNF8 induces EMT in the breast cancer cells and promotes breast cancer metastasis, suggesting that RNF8 could be used as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-016-0363-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

RUNX2 Mutation Impairs 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 mediated Osteoclastogenesis in Dental Follicle Cells

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a skeletal disorder characterized by delayed permanent tooth eruption and other dental abnormalities, is caused by heterozygous RUNX2 mutations. As an osteoblast-specific transcription factor, RUNX2 plays a role in bone remodeling, tooth formation and tooth eruption. To investigate the crosstalk between RUNX2 and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25-(OH)₂D₃) in human dental follicle cells (hDFCs) during osteoclast formation, we established a co-culture system of hDFCs from CCD patient and healthy donors with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Expression of the osteoclast-associated genes and the number of TRAP⁺ cells were reduced in CCD hDFCs, indicating its suppressed osteoclast-inductive ability, which was reflected by the downregulated RANKL/OPG ratio. In addition, 1α,25-(OH)₂D₃-stimulation elevated the expression of osteoclast-related genes, as well as RANKL mRNA levels and RANKL/OPG ratios in control hDFCs. Conversely, RUNX2 mutation abolished this 1α,25-(OH)₂D₃-induced RANKL gene activation and osteoclast formation in CCD hDFCs. Therefore, RUNX2 haploinsufficiency impairs dental follicle-induced osteoclast formation capacity through RANKL/OPG signaling, which may be partially responsible for delayed permanent tooth eruption in CCD patients. Furthermore, this abnormality was not rescued by 1α,25-(OH)₂D₃ application because 1α,25-(OH)₂D₃-induced RANKL activation in hDFCs is mediated principally via the RUNX2-dependent pathway.

[Outcome of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC).

METHODS

Clinical data of 251 patients with stage III (76 IIIA and 175 IIIB) NSCLC who received CCRT as initial treatment between Jan 2001 and Dec 2010 in our hospital were reviewed. A median total radiotherapy dose of 60 Gy (range, 50-74 Gy) were delivered. 174 patients were treated with IMRT, 51 with 3D-CRT and 26 with 2D-radiotherapy. EP chemotherapy regimen was administered in 112 patients, PC regimen in 99 patients, topotecan regimen in 18 patients and other regimens in the remaining 22 patients. The efficacy and toxicity of CCRT were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

244 patients were assessable for response, including 6 (2.5%) patients with CR, 183 (75.0%) with PR, 42 (17.2%) with SD and 13 (5.3%) with PD. At a median follow-up period of 20 months, the 1-, 3-, 5- year OS were 69.2%, 31.2%, 23.2%, respectively, and the median OS was 21 months. The 1-, 3-, 5- year PFS were 40.9%, 22.1%, 17.7%, respectively, and the median PFS was 10 months. Patients with stage IIIA NSCLC achieved better 5-year OS than that with IIIB NSCLC (29.2% vs. 20.7%, χ2=2.254, P=0.133). Failure pattern was assessable in 244 patients, including 61 (25.0%) locoregional progression alone, 55 (22.5%) distant metastasis alone and 77 (31.6%) with both. The rates of grade≥3 radiation pneumonitis, esophagitis and hematologic toxicity were 4.4%, 11.2% and 26.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

CCRT provide stage III NSCLC patients favorable outcome with acceptable toxicity. CCRT is standard therapeutic approach for patients with unresectable locally advanced NSCLC.

Consolidation chemotherapy may improve survival for patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy--retrospective analysis of 203 cases

Background

For patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), the role of consolidation chemotherapy (CCT) following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is partially defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of CCT.

Methods

The characteristics of LA-NSCLC patients treated with curative concurrent CRT from 2001 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Among 203 patients, 113 (55.7 %) patients received CCT. The median number of delivered CCT was 3 and 89.4 % patients completed ≥2 cycles. The OS was significantly better for patients in the CCT group compared with that in the non-CCT group (median OS, 27 months vs. 16 months; 5-year OS, 30.4 % vs. 22.5 %; p = 0.012). The median PFS were 12 months in the CCT group and 9 months in the non-CCT group (p = 0.291). The survival advantages of CCT were significant for males (HR: 0.63; 95 % CI, 0.44 − 0.90), patients with age < 60 years (HR: 0.63; 95 % CI, 0.42 − 0.95), non-squamous histology (HR: 0.44; 95 % CI, 0.25 − 0.76), pretreatment KPS ≥ 80 (HR: 0.67; 95 % CI, 0.48 − 0.93), stage IIIb (HR: 0.64; 95 % CI, 0.43 − 0.95), stable disease (HR: 0.31; 95 % CI, 0.14 − 0.65) and radiotherapy dose ≥ 60 Gy (HR: 0.69; 95 % CI, 0.48 − 1.00). There was no significant difference between the CCT group and the non-CCT group regarding treatment-related toxicities.

Conclusions

CCT might further prolong survival compared with CRT alone for LA-NSCLC without increasing treatment-related toxicities, especially for males, patients with age < 60 years, non-squamous histology, pretreatment KPS ≥ 80, stage IIIb, stable disease and radiotherapy dose ≥ 60 Gy. Large size prospective investigations that incorporate patient characteristics and treatment response are warranted to validate our findings.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1710-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Measuring the Nonuniform Evaporation Dynamics of Sprayed Sessile Microdroplets with Quantitative Phase Imaging

We demonstrate real-time quantitative phase imaging as a new optical approach for measuring the evaporation dynamics of sessile microdroplets. Quantitative phase images of various droplets were captured during evaporation. The images enabled us to generate time-resolved three-dimensional topographic profiles of droplet shape with nanometer accuracy and, without any assumptions about droplet geometry, to directly measure important physical parameters that characterize surface wetting processes. Specifically, the time-dependent variation of the droplet height, volume, contact radius, contact angle distribution along the droplet's perimeter, and mass flux density for two different surface preparations are reported. The studies clearly demonstrate three phases of evaporation reported previously: pinned, depinned, and drying modes; the studies also reveal instances of partial pinning. Finally, the apparatus is employed to investigate the cooperative evaporation of the sprayed droplets. We observe and explain the neighbor-induced reduction in evaporation rate, that is, as compared to predictions for isolated droplets. In the future, the new experimental methods should stimulate the exploration of colloidal particle dynamics on the gas-liquid-solid interface.

Radical thoracic radiotherapy may provide favorable outcomes for stage IV non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the outcome of synchronous stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who received radical thoracic radiotherapy (TRT).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of stage IV NSCLC patients treated with TRT between January 2007 and December 2011. Radiotherapy was considered radical if it was the primary therapy with non-symptom driven intent, or consolidation therapy after initial chemotherapy and the biologically equivalent dose ≥53 Gy halted disease progression. The patients' demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment parameters were uniformly collected.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients were irradiated with radical intent, including 52% with more than five metastatic lesions. The minimum follow-up was 31.5 months for survivors. The median overall survival (OS) was 20.8 months, with three and four-year OS rates of 23% and 18%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.2 months, with one and two-year PFS rates of 23% and 9%, respectively. Partial response (PR) after TRT and administration of targeted therapy were predictive of longer OS. The factors associated with favorable PFS included earlier local tunor node stage, absence of concurrent chemotherapy, and post-TRT PR. No correlation was found between the number of metastatic lesions and survival outcome. Incidences of grade ≥2 toxicities in the lung and esophagus were 9% and 26%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Radical TRT may result in advantageous outcomes for selected stage IV NSCLC patients, regardless of the number of metastatic foci. Patients who achieved post-TRT PR attained the best outcomes.

Effect of Nano Al Interlayer on the Schottky Contact Property Between Metal and Hg3In2Te6 Wafer

In this paper, the fabrication and characterization of Schottky diodes based on Hg3In2Te6 (short for MIT) wafer are presented. The Al interlayer with 1 nm thickness was grown on the MIT wafer by Vacuum thermal evaporation method. Diodes characterization of metal/Al/MIT contact were performed by I-V measurement. Then the Schottky barrier height and ideality factor were calculated from I-V test results by means of the thermionic emission model. The results showed that the Schottky barrier heights of Ni/Hg3In2Te6, Au/Hg3In2Te6 were reduced from 0.86, 0.85 eV to 0.74, 0.81 eV respectively, and ideality factors decreased from 1.88 and 1.89 to 1.67 and 1.58 accordingly when the Al thin film about 1 nm in thickness was used for the interlayer of the MIT Schottky diode. It was found that the Al interlayer can significantly alleviates the Fermi-level pinning, and the interface defect mechanisms for the depinning were discussed based on interface states model and the metal-induced gap states model.

Effect of Passivation on the Electrical Properties of Au/Hg3In2Te6 Schottky Contact

The influence of H2O2 passivation on the schottky contact properties between Au and Hg3In2Te6 wafer was studied by current-voltage (I-V) measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS results showed that the binding energy of Hg 4f shift toward higher energy direction for about 0.15 eV and the binding energy of O 1s decreased about 0.18 eV after H2O2 passivation. Moreover, Te(2-) changed into Te(0) and HgO formed on the surface of Hg3In2Te6 at the same time. Meanwhile, the Schottky barrier height of Au/Hg3In2Te6 contact varied from 0.42 eV to 0.38 eV, and the leak current reduced about 5.27 x 10(-4) A after H2O2 passivation which is confirmed by I-V measurement. It can be deduced that the passivated surface of MIT wafer decreased the number of dangling bonding, reduced the surface states and weakened the Fermi level pinning.

Role of radiotherapy in treating patients with primary malignant mediastinal non-seminomatous germ cell tumor: A 21-year experience at a single institution

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with primary malignant mediastinal non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (MMNSGCT) by comparing the efficacies of different treatment modalities.

Methods

The charts of 62 consecutive patients with MMNSGCT between 1990 and 2010 were reviewed. Analyses included Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox multivariate regression.

Results

There was sufficient data of 61 patients for inclusion in the study. The median age was 25 years. At diagnosis, 35 patients had tumors located in the mediastinum, 26 had lung and/or distant metastases. At a median follow-up of 47.2 months, 32 patients had died and 43 had developed progressive disease. The one, three, and five-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 72.1%, 50.8%, 49.2% and 47.5%, 32.8%, 32.8%, respectively. Patients who received radiotherapy in the primary treatment regimen showed improved five-year OS (68.2% vs. 38.5%, P = 0.043), PFS (45.5% vs. 20.5%, P = 0.023), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) (77.3% vs. 38.5%, P = 0.003) compared with those who did not receive radiotherapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that radiotherapy was an independent prognostic factor of five-year OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.39, P = 0.037), PFS (HR 0.42, P = 0.017), and LRFS (HR 0.31, P = 0.019).

Conclusion

Radiotherapy in a chemotherapy-based treatment regimen could significantly reduce local recurrence and improve survival of MMNGCT patients.

Correlation between p53 and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in breast cancer classification

This study aimed to explore new opportunities for developing targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by analyzing the significance and association between p53 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. The clinical and pathological data of 264 patients with breast cancer receiving surgery in our hospital from January 2012 to August 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), Ki-67, CK5/6, p53, and EGFR detected by immunohistochemical methods, breast cancer was divided into four molecular subtypes. Then, the expression of p53 and EGFR as well as their correlation in the different subtypes were determined. Among the four subtypes, luminal B breast cancer was the most common type. TNBC and HER2-enriched breast cancer had larger tumor sizes with higher expression of Ki-67 as compared with the luminal types. TNBC had a lower lymph node metastasis rate but higher CK5/6 and EGFR expression than the other three types. The expression of p53 was higher in luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancers, and this was positively correlated with the expression of EGFR in TNBC but not in the other subtypes. p53 and EGFR expression was positively correlated in TNBC, which enables us to explore the molecular biological characteristics of TNBC, so as to provide new ideas for the treatment of TNBC.

DNA damage-induced activation of CUL4B targets HUWE1 for proteasomal degradation

The E3 ubiquitin ligase HUWE1/Mule/ARF-BP1 plays an important role in integrating/coordinating diverse cellular processes such as DNA damage repair and apoptosis. A previous study has shown that HUWE1 is required for the early step of DNA damage-induced apoptosis, by targeting MCL-1 for proteasomal degradation. However, HUWE1 is subsequently inactivated, promoting cell survival and the subsequent DNA damage repair process. The mechanism underlying its regulation during this process remains largely undefined. Here, we show that the Cullin4B-RING E3 ligase (CRL4B) is required for proteasomal degradation of HUWE1 in response to DNA damage. CUL4B is activated in a NEDD8-dependent manner, and ubiquitinates HUWE1 in vitro and in vivo. The depletion of CUL4B stabilizes HUWE1, which in turn accelerates the degradation of MCL-1, leading to increased induction of apoptosis. Accordingly, cells deficient in CUL4B showed increased sensitivity to DNA damage reagents. More importantly, upon CUL4B depletion, these phenotypes can be rescued through simultaneous depletion of HUWE1, consistent with the role of CUL4B in regulating HUWE1. Collectively, these results identify CRL4B as an essential E3 ligase in targeting the proteasomal degradation of HUWE1 in response to DNA damage, and provide a potential strategy for cancer therapy by targeting HUWE1 and the CUL4B E3 ligase.

A medical costs study of older patients with acute myocardial infarction and metabolic syndrome in hospital

Background

Older patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) usually have a poor prognosis, but whether this poor prognosis leads to high hospital costs remains unclear. This study investigated the clinical outcomes of and costs incurred by older patients with AMI and metabolic syndrome (MS) in hospital.

Methods and results

Patients with AMI seen at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between January 2011 and May 2013 were separated into four groups: young non-MS patients (n=282), older non-MS patients (n=324), young MS patients (n=217), and older MS patients (n=174). We found that advanced age was significantly associated with worse clinical outcomes, and that the clinical outcomes in patients with AMI and MS are also worsened. At the same cost (RMB¥10,000), older patients with and without MS had a markedly increased number of cardiovascular incidences compared with younger patients without MS. In a comparison of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of percutaneous coronary intervention, older patients without MS had a lower ICER for cardiovascular incidences and a higher ICER for cardiac event-free survival rate when compared with young patients without MS, but a lower ICER for cardiovascular incidences and a higher ICER for cardiac event-free survival rate when compared with older MS patients.

Conclusion

Older AMI patients have poor clinical outcomes and their treatment is not cost-effective; however, the results are worse in patients with AMI and MS. Percutaneous coronary intervention is a cost-effective therapy in older patients with AMI, but its cost-effectiveness decreases in patients with AMI and MS.

Current situation on the availability of nanostructure-biological activity data

Recent developments in nanotechnology have not only increased the number of nanoproducts on the market, but also raised concerns about the safety of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) for human health and the environment. As the production and use of ENMs increase, we are approaching the point at which it is impossible to individually assess the toxicity of a vast number of ENMs. Therefore, it is desirable to use time-effective computational methods, such as the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, to predict the toxicity of ENMs. However, the accuracy of the nano-(Q)SARs is directly tied to the quality of the data from which the model is estimated. Although the amount of available nanotoxicity data is insufficient for generating robust nano-(Q)SAR models in most cases, there are a handful of studies that provide appropriate experimental data for (Q)SAR-like modelling investigations. The aim of this study is to review the available literature data that are particularly suitable for nano-(Q)SAR modelling. We hope that this paper can serve as a starting point for those who would like to know more about the current availability of experimental data on the health effects of ENMs for future modelling purposes.

Correlation analysis of hormone receptors and the expressions of HER-2 and Ki-67 in breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the correlation and clinical significance of hormone receptors and the expressions of HER-2 and Ki-67 in breast cancer primary lesions and lymph node metastatic tissues.

METHODS

83 cases were studied, who were performed breast cancer surgeries and confirmed the ipsilateral axillary lymph node metastasis by the postoperative pathological diagnosis. Immunohistochemical method was used to simultaneously detect the expressions of ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki-67 in the primary lesions and lymph node metastases.

RESULTS

ER exhibited the expression concordance rate as 85.5% in primary lesions and metastases, with significant difference (P = 0.039); the expression concordance rates of PR and HER-2 in primary lesions and metastases were 90.4% and 89.2%, respectively, without significant difference (P = 0.289, 0.180); between the Ki-67-highly-expressed primary lesions and Ki-67-lowly-expressed metastases, the expressions of ER in primary lesions and metastases exhibited statistical significance, with P as 0.031.

CONCLUSIONS

The primary lesions and lymph node metastases had higher consistency, while there was still about 10% patients showed differentiated expression. The simultaneous detection of breast cancer primary lesions and lymph node metastases was still very necessary.

High level of CXCR4 in triple-negative breast cancer specimens associated with a poor clinical outcome

Despite high sensitivity to chemotherapy, the prognosis for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains poor because of its high rate of metastasis and low sensitivity to endocrine therapy. CXCR4 expression has been reported in many subtypes of human breast cancers, but it remains unknown whether CXCR4 is expressed in TNBC and whether CXCR4 expression in TNBC could be a prognostic indicator. TNBCs tissues were formalin fixed, paraffin embedded and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) stained. Immunohistochemical staining was utilized to determine the CXCR4 expression in those specimens. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS16.0 software to reveal the correlation of CXCR4 expression in TNBC specimens and cancer recurrence and cancer-related death. Our results showed that there was a strong association between CXCR4 overexpression and both menopause and the histological cancer grade of TNBC patients (p values were separately 0.004 and 0.001). The 5-y disease-free survival (DFS) and the 5-y overall survival (OS) were 57.69% and 58.33% for the low-CXCR4 group versus 42.11% and 44.74% for the high-CXCR4 group, respectively (p＝0.031 and 0.048). CXCR4 overexpression plays an important role in triple-negative breast cancers, and may be a predictor of poor prognosis.

Impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on hospitalization costs in older patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on hospitalization costs in older patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of data from the case retrieval system of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University located in Jinan city of Shandong Province was done for patients with acute MI from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012.

Results

Stenting was an important factor affecting older patients’ total hospitalization costs (β=0.685, P=0.000) and treatment costs during the follow-up period (duration of hospital stay only, β=0.508, P=0.000). Stenting was also a protective factor in the prevention of acute heart failure (HF) in older patients with acute MI during the follow-up period (odds ratio 0.189, 95% confidence interval 0.059–0.602, P=0.005). Implementation of percutaneous coronary intervention reduced the incidence of acute HF in older inpatients with acute MI (27.8% versus 4.3%, P=0.001) and without diabetes (18.2% versus 3.8%, P=0.001). Moreover, among the elderly, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio estimate for implementing percutaneous coronary intervention in diabetic patients was higher than in nondiabetic patients.

Conclusion

Stenting was a protective factor for preventing acute HF in the elderly during the follow-up period. From the perspective of reducing the incidence of acute HF in inpatients, implementation of percutaneous coronary intervention after an acute MI is more cost-effective in older patients with diabetes mellitus than in those without it.

Applying the technique of volume-modulated arc radiotherapy to upper esophageal carcinoma

This study aims to evaluate the possibility of using the technique of volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to combine the advantages of simplified intensity-modulated radiation therapy (sIMRT) with that of regular intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in upper esophageal cancer. Ten patients with upper esophageal carcinoma were randomly chosen in this retrospective study. sIMRT, IMRT, and VMAT plans were generated to deliver 60 Gy in 30 fractions to the planning target volume (PTV). For each patient, with the same clinical requirements (target dose prescription, and dose/dose-volume constraints to organs at risk (OARs)), three plans were designed for sIMRT (five equispaced coplanar beams), IMRT (seven equispaced coplanar beams), and VMAT (two complete arcs). Comparisons were performed for dosimetric parameters of PTV and of OARs (lungs, spinal cord PRV, heart and normal tissue (NT)). All the plans were delivered to a phantom to evaluate the treatment time. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs, signed-rank test was used for intragroup comparison. For all patients, compared to sIMRT plans, VMAT plans statistically provide: a) significant improvement in HI and CI for PTV; b) significant decrease in delivery time, lung V20, MLD, heart V30 and spinal cord PRV D1cc; c) significant increase in NT V5; and d) no significant reduction in lung V5, V10, and heart MD. For all patients, compared to IMRT plans, VMAT plans statistically provide: a) significant improvement in CI for PTV; b) significant decrease in delivery time, lung V20, MLD, NT and spinal cord PRV D1cc; c) significant increase in NT V5; and d) no significant reduction in HI for PTV, lung V5, V10, heart V30 and heart MD. For patients with upper esophageal carcinoma, using VMAT significantly reduces the delivery time and the dose to the lungs compared with IMRT, and consequently saves as much treatment time as sIMRT. Considering those significant advantages, compared to sIMRT and IMRT, VMAT is the first choice of radiotherapy techniques for upper esophageal carcinoma.

HUWE1 interacts with BRCA1 and promotes its degradation in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway

The cellular BRCA1 protein level is essential for its tumor suppression activity and is tightly regulated through multiple mechanisms including ubiquitn-proteasome system. E3 ligases are involved to promote BRCA1 for ubiquitination and degradation. Here, we identified HUWE1/Mule/ARF-BP1 as a novel BRCA1-interacting protein involved in the control of BRCA1 protein level. HUWE1 binds BRCA1 through its N-terminus degron domain. Depletion of HUWE1 by siRNA-mediated interference significantly increases BRCA1 protein levels and prolongs the half-life of BRCA1. Moreover, exogenous expression of HUWE1 promotes BRCA1 degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which could explain an inverse correlation between HUWE1 and BRCA1 levels in MCF10F, MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Consistent with a functional role for HUWE1 in regulating BRCA1-mediated cellular response to DNA damage, depletion of HUWE1 by siRNA confers increased resistance to ionizing radiation and mitomycin. These data indicate that HUWE1 is a critical negative regulator of BRCA1 and suggest a new molecular mechanism for breast cancer pathogenesis.

An efficient regeneration protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of melon (Cucumis melo L.)

An efficient selection and plant regeneration protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, using cotyledon node zone-stem connection region of melon, has been developed. The new Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methodology, independent of organ culture, used the entire germinated seed as explants. The transformation system was maximized to maintain the integrity of melon itself, thus avoiding the limitations of traditional tissue culture methods. The transformation was carried out under a non-sterile environment. The incorporation of a selectable marker (neomycin phosphotransferase II) into the genome of transgenic plants was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses. The transformation frequency based on the PCR was 13%. Transgenic melon plants were usually detected by PCR in less than 1 month after Agrobacterium inoculation, and seeds could be harvested in 3 months. The growth characteristics and morphology of the transgenic plants were identical to the untransformed wild-type plants. This method would be beneficial for facilitating the characteristics of gene functions and for boosting the manipulation of melon transformation for commercial purposes.

[Accommodation perimeters after phakic posterior chamber implantable contact lens implantation]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the change of accommodation function after phakic posterior chamber implantable contact lens (PPC-ICL) implantation for high myopic eyes.

METHODS

It was a retrospective case series study. PPC-ICL implantation surgery was performed in 36 eyes of 18 high myopic patients. Uncorrected visual acuity, best-corrected visual accuracy, amplitude of accommodation, pupil distance were tested and AC/A was calculated before, one month and three months after operation. Rank-sum test and variance analysis test was performed for statistic study.

RESULTS

Before surgery, long-distance best corrected visual acuity was 0.55 (0.20, 1.50) for left eyes and 0.60 (0.10, 1.20) for right eyes. One and six months after surgery, it was 0.80 (0.40, 1.20), 0.85 (0.50, 1.50) for left eyes and 1.00 (0.30, 1.50), 0.95 (0.30, 1.50) for right eyes, all were improved. The difference between left and right eyes was statistically significant (W value 6.36, 6.18, P < 0.05). One and six months after surgery, uncorrected close-distance visual acuity was 1.00 (1.00, 4.00), 1.00 (1.00, 3.00) for left eyes and 1.00 (1.00, 4.00), 1.00 (1.00, 4.00) for right eyes. The difference for both eyes was not statistically significant compared with preoperative(W value 1.61, 2.72, P > 0.05). At one and six months after surgery, amplitude of accommodation was (8.28 ± 2.12) D, (8.28 ± 2.16) D for left eyes and (8.58 ± 1.98) D, (8.49 ± 2.10) D for right eyes, much better than the result (6.78 ± 1.96) D and (6.69 ± 2.14) D before surgery. The difference was statistically significant (F = 4.36, P < 0.05 and F = 4.04, P < 0.05). At one and six months after surgery, near and distant AC/A ratio were (3.96 ± 1.37) , (4.22 ± 1.33) , (4.78 ± 1.06) and (5.04 ± 1.01) , higher than (4.87 ± 0.97) and (5.23 ± 0.92) before surgery. The difference of near and distant AC/A ratio was statistically significant (F = 3.31, P < 0.05 and F = 4.10, P < 0.05). At one month and six months after surgery, near and distant pupil distance was (58.72 ± 2.78) mm, (61.56 ± 2.50) mm, (58.56 ± 2.4) mm and (61.61 ± 2.52) mm, smaller than that of (59.78 ± 2.39) mm and (62.44 ± 2.48) mm before surgery, but the difference was not statistically significant (F = 1.28, P > 0.05 and F = 0.76, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Accommodation parameters after PPC-ICL implantation are improved obviously compared with those before surgery.

Polarization-maintaining property of tapered polarization-maintaining fibers

Distributed group birefringence of tapered polarization-maintaining fibers (PMFs) is measured by employing a high-resolution optical frequency-domain reflectometry system. Autocorrelation data processing reveals distributed mode coupling between the fast and slow modes and higher-order modes excited by the tapering process along the taper region. The polarization-maintaining property of a tapered PMF is examined by distributed group birefringence along the tapered PMF with a spatial resolution of ~1.25 cm and a polarization-extinction ratio at the fiber taper output over the wavelength range of 1510-1570 nm. With a waist diameter of 80 μm, the polarization state of the launched light is maintained and the birefringence of the tapered PMF is slightly reduced from 3.28×10(-4) to 2.89×10(-4) at the taper waist. For both the waist diameters of 60 and 40 μm, mode coupling is observed in the form of significantly decreased birefringence by a factor of ~10 at the taper waists.