Small nucleolar RNA 42 acts as an oncogene in lung tumorigenesis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer death, reflecting the need for better understanding the oncogenesis, and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the malignancy. Emerging evidence suggests that small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) have malfunctioning roles in tumorigenesis. Our recent study demonstrated that small nucleolar RNA 42 (SNORA42) was overexpressed in lung tumors. Here, we investigate the role of SNORA42 in tumorigenesis of NSCLC. We simultaneously assess genomic dosages and expression levels of SNORA42 and its host gene, KIAA0907, in 10 NSCLC cell lines and a human bronchial epithelial cell line. We then determine in vitro functional significance of SNORA42 in lung cancer cell lines through gain- and loss-of-function analyses. We also inoculate cancer cells with SNORA42-siRNA into mice through either tail vein or subcutaneous injection. We finally evaluate expression level of SNORA42 on frozen surgically resected lung tumor tissues of 64 patients with stage I NSCLC by using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR assay. Genomic amplification and associated high expression of SNORA42 rather than KIAA0907 are frequently observed in lung cancer cells, suggesting that SNORA42 overexpression is activated by its genomic amplification. SNORA42 knockdown in NSCLC cells inhibits in vitro and in vivo tumorigenicity, whereas enforced SNORA42 expression in bronchial epitheliums increases cell growth and colony formation. Such pleiotropy of SNORA42 suppression could be achieved at least partially through increased apoptosis of NSCLC cells in a p53-dependent manner. SNORA42 expression in lung tumor tissue specimens is inversely correlated with survival of NSCLC patients. Therefore, SNORA42 activation could have an oncogenic role in lung tumorigenesis and provide potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the malignancy.

Current Insights into the role of HIF-1 in cutaneous wound healing

Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) is considered the major coordinator of the cellular adaptive response to hypoxia. Over recent years, its activity in the context of wound healing has been the object of increasing investigation. On the molecular level, HIF-1 transcriptional target products have been shown to regulate the process of endothelial cell survival, migration and proliferation (VEGF, ANGPT-1, ANGPT-2, ANGPT-4, FGF-2, PlGF, PDGF-B, RGC-32), vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation (FGF-2, EGF, PDGF, thrombospondin) and mobilization of Circulating Angiogenic Cells to the periphery (SFD-1/CXCR4). Studies on the effect of HIF-1 on the expression and activity of extracellular cell matrix modifying enzymes, such as MMPs and prolidase, have been conducted in the context of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, and have resulted in controversial findings. A growing body of evidence suggests that HIF-1 also affects reepithelialization of the wound bed, through increasing keratinocyte migration, but decreasing their proliferation. Diminished HIF-1 levels and activity have been documented in conditions of impaired wound healing, such as wound healing in aged and in diabetic mice. The increasing number of studies on the role of HIF-1 in wound healing, apart from answering certain questions, has also raised an equal number, if not more. Clarifying the topics that still remain unclear could introduce a new era of HIF-1 targeted management of a wide range of problematic wounds.

Bortezomib-Dexamethasone or Vincristine-Doxorubicin-Dexamethasone as Induction Therapy Followed by Thalidomide as Maintenance Therapy in Untreated Multiple Myeloma Patients

This randomized, retrospective study evaluated the effect of thalidomide combined with bortezomib-dexamethasone (TBD) or vincristine-doxorubicin-dexamethasone (T-VAD) on 46 patients with multiple myeloma. Newly diagnosed patients were randomly allocated to receive TBD ( n = 24) or T-VAD ( n = 22). The high-quality response rate (complete response plus very good partial response) was 62.5% in the TBD group and 45.4% for T-VAD. The complete response rate was 29.2% for TBD and 13.6% for T-VAD. Overall survival at 2 and 3 years, respectively, was 91.7% and 62.5% for TBD versus 86.4% and 54.5% for T-VAD. Most of the toxic effects of treatment were well tolerated. Both regimens were effective in the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. Further studies are required to determine the role of thalidomide in these two regimens.

Higher harmonic anisotropic flow measurements of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s(NN)) = 2.76 TeV

We report on the first measurement of the triangular v3, quadrangular v4, and pentagonal v5 charged particle flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s(NN)) = 2.76  TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. We show that the triangular flow can be described in terms of the initial spatial anisotropy and its fluctuations, which provides strong constraints on its origin. In the most central events, where the elliptic flow v2 and v3 have similar magnitude, a double peaked structure in the two-particle azimuthal correlations is observed, which is often interpreted as a Mach cone response to fast partons. We show that this structure can be naturally explained from the measured anisotropic flow Fourier coefficients.

[Quantitative method for simultaneous assay of four coumarins with one marker in Fraxini Cortex]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a new quantitative method for simultaneous determination of multi-coumarins in Fraxini Cortex by using one chemical reference substance, and validate its feasibilities.

METHOD

The new quality evaluation method, quantitative analysis of multi-components by singer-marker (QAMS), was established and validated with Fraxini Cortex. Four main coumarins were selected as analytes to evaluate the quality and their relative correlation factors (RCF) were determined by HPLC-DAD. Within the linear range, the values of RCF at 340 nm of aesculin to asculetin, fraxin and fraxetin were 1.771, 0.799, 1.409, respectively. And the contents of aesculin in samples of Fraxini Cortex were authentically determined by the external standard method, and the contents of the three other coumarins were calculated by their RCF. The contents of these four coumarins in all samples were also determined by the external standard method.

RESULT

Within a certain range, the RCF had a good reproducibility (RSD 2.5%-3.9%). Significant differences were not observed between the quantitative results of two methods.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible and suitable to evaluate the quality of Fraxini Cortex and its Yinpian by QAMS.

SIRT1 RNAi knockdown induces apoptosis and senescence, inhibits invasion and enhances chemosensitivity in pancreatic cancer cells

The NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), has been recently been suspected to have a role in tumorigenesis. We investigated the expression of SIRT1 in pancreatic cancer and the effect of SIRT1-targeted RNA interference (RNAi) on cell proliferation and tumor formation in a pancreatic cancer cell line, PANC1. The expression of SIRT1 was investigated in 49 specimens of pancreatic cancer and adjacent normal pancreatic tissues. SIRT1 was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues at both the mRNA and protein levels, with increased SIRT1 positivity associated with tumors from patients over 60 years old, tumors larger than 4 cm, higher TNM (extent of tumor (T), the extent of spread to lymph nodes (N), and presence of distant metastasis (M)) stage or the presence of lymph node or hepatic metastases. The PANC-1 was stably transfected with a SIRT1 small hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression plasmid and compared with untransfected and PANC-1-negative RNAi cells. Proliferation of PANC-1-SIRT1-RNAi cells was significantly reduced, accompanied by increased rates of apoptosis, G1 arrest and senescence. Furthermore, FOXO3a expression was markedly upregulated in PANC-1-SIRT1-RNAi cells, but no significant difference in p53 expression was observed. The invasive ability of PANC-1-SIRT1-RNAi cells was markedly reduced in vitro, which was linked to increased E-cadherin and reduced-MMP expression. Additionally, PANC-1-SIRT1-RNAi cells had a significantly reduced capacity to form tumors in vivo compared with untransfected and PANC-1-negative RNAi cells. These results suggest that SIRT1 may promote cell proliferation and tumor formation in pancreatic cancer, and downregulation of SIRT1 using shRNA could provide a novel therapeutic treatment.

Effect of NF-κB decoy on insulin resistance of adipocytes from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

This study aimed to investigate whether NF-κB contributes to insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue was obtained from T2DM patients and non-diabetic control subjects. Pre-adipocytes were cultured and differentiated into adipocytes in vitro. Upon insulin stimulation, IRS-1 tyrosine and AKT (Ser473) phosphorylation were examined by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting, while levels of inflammatory mediators IL-6 and MCP-1, and the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB, were examined by ELISA and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), respectively. NF-κB decoy molecules were introduced into T2DM adipocytes, and their effects on all these molecular events evaluated.

RESULTS

Compared with cells from non-diabetic subjects, adipocytes from T2DM patients showed signs of insulin resistance, with significantly reduced IRS-1 tyrosine and AKT (Ser 473) phosphorylation levels in response to insulin stimulation. At the same time, T2DM cells displayed elevated levels of IL-6 and MCP-1, and NF-κB activity. Introduction of NF-κB decoy molecules significantly inhibited both IL-6 secretion and NF-κB activity, while enhancing insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine and AKT (Ser473) phosphorylation in T2DM adipocytes.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal subcutaneous fat cells from T2DM patients display signs of insulin resistance and microinflammatory status. NF-κB decoy molecules inhibited NF-κB overactivation and also partly reversed insulin resistance. These results provide evidence of a link between inflammation and insulin resistance in T2DM cells, suggesting a potential contribution of inflammation to the mechanism of insulin resistance.

Causes of death among people with convulsive epilepsy in rural West China: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a serious health problem associated with an increased risk of premature mortality. Few studies have investigated risk factors for this. Understanding these risks may enable the implementation of preventative measures to reduce premature mortality.

METHODS

A management program for convulsive forms of epilepsy has been in place at the primary health care level in rural West China since May 2005. Demographic data and putative causes of death of attendees of the program since inception to the end of December 2009 have been recorded. Case fatality (CF), the proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) for each cause, and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for each age and cause were estimated based on the 2007 Chinese rural population.

RESULTS

There were 106 reported deaths (70 male) among 3,568 people. CF was 2.97% during a median of 28 months' follow-up. The highest PMRs were for accidental death (59%) including drowning (45.1%); probable sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) (14.7%); status epilepticus (6.9%), and neoplasm (6.9%). The overall SMR was 4.92 (95% confidence interval 4.0-6.1); the risks were high in young people. The risk of drowning was 82-fold higher in the cohort than the general population.

CONCLUSION

In rural West China, the risk of premature death is nearly 5 times higher in people with convulsive epilepsy than in the general Chinese population and especially high among young people. Accidental death, including drowning, and probable SUDEP are the leading putative causes of death in people with convulsive epilepsy in rural West China.