[Multidisciplinary regenerative treatment and mechanisms for rescuing a severe calciphylaxis patient with human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells]

Calciphylaxis is a rare disease with severe pain and high-mortality due to cutaneous ischemic necrosis and infection that currently lacks proved effective therapies. The occurrence of calciphylaxis in end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients is known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), which is characterized histologically by dermal microvessel calcification, intimal fibroplasia and microthrombosis. Here we innovatively treated a severe CUA patient with human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). A 34-year-old uremic woman was presented with progressive, painful malodorous ulcers in buttocks and mummified lower limbs. Skin pathological features supported the diagnosis of calciphylaxis. The patient was refractory to conventional multidisciplinary symptomatic therapies. With the approval of our hospital ethics committee, she was treated with hAMSCs including intravenous and local intramuscular injection, and external application of hAMSC culture supernatant to the wound area. During 15-month follow-up, the patient had regeneration of skin and soft tissues, with improved blood biochemical, inflammatory, mineral and bone metabolic indices and immunoregulation effects. After 15-month hAMSC treatment, the score of pain visual analog scale (VAS) decreased from 10 to 0, Bates-Jensen wound assessment tool (BWAT) score decreased from 65 to 13, and wound-quality of life (Wound-QoL) questionnaire score decreased from 68 to 0. We propose that hAMSC treatment is promising for CUA patients. The therapy is potentially involved in the multiple beneficial effects of inhibiting vascular calcification, stimulating angiogenesis and myogenesis, modulating adverse inflammatory and immunologic responses, promoting re-epithelialization and restoring skin integrity.

MicroRNA-328-3p inhibits the tumorigenesis of bladder cancer through targeting ITGA5 and inactivating PI3K/AKT pathway

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have shown that microRNA-328-3p (miR-328-3p) is involved in tumorigenesis of many human cancers. However, the specific function of miR-328-3p remains unclear in bladder cancer (BC). Therefore, this research was designed to investigate the role of miR-328-3p in BC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Expressions of miR-328-3p and integrin α5 (ITGA5) were measured by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and transwell assays were used to explore the function of miR-328-3p in BC. The expression of the corresponding genes was observed via Western blot and immunocytochemical assays. The dual luciferase assay was applied to verify the relationship between miR-328-3p and ITGA5. Tumor growth was measured via xenograft tumor formation assay.

RESULTS

Downregulation of miR-328-3p was identified in BC tissues, which predicted poor prognosis in BC patients. Moreover, miR-328-3p suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in BC through targeting ITGA5. Furthermore, miR-328-3p inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inactivated PI3K/AKT pathway in BC. Besides that, miR-328-3p was found to inhibit tumor growth of BC.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-328-3p inhibited tumorigenesis of BC through targeting ITGA5 and inactivating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Variation of As concentration between soil types and rice genotypes and the selection of cultivars for reducing As in the diet

Human exposure to toxic heavy metals via the food chain is of increasing concern. In the present study, the effects of soil type and genotype on variation in arsenic (As) concentrations of different organs were investigated by using nine rice cultivars grown in two soils, with two levels of As contamination. There were significant genotypic differences (P<0.05) in As concentrations of all organs, and As concentrations of polished grain were significantly affected by genotype and soil type. The As concentration in polished grain was higher in red paddy soil under As treatment, with range from 0.24 to 1.03 mg kg(-1), and the As concentration of three cultivars exceeded the concentration of Chinese Food Hygiene Standard (0.7 mg kg(-1)). The As concentrations in stems, leaves and polished grain were all significantly and positively correlated. The As concentrations in polished grain were positively and significantly (P<0.01) correlated with As root-grain translocation factor. The results indicated that As concentration in grain was partially governed by As uptake and the transfer of As from root to grain. The grain As concentration of the nine cultivars was significantly correlated between the two soil types at different levels of As contamination. Some genotypes, such as japonica rice (e.g. Ning jing 1 and Nan jing 32) had consistently low grain As concentrations. The results suggest the possibility of breeding the As rice cultivars to produce grain for safe consumption from soils with slight and moderate levels of As.

HIV/AIDS education effects on behaviour among senior high school students in a medium-sized city in China

Few studies have examined the long-term effects of peer-led HIV prevention in Chinese adolescents. A two-year follow-up study was conducted among senior high school students in a medium-sized city of Fujian Province, from 1 March 2006 to 30 April 2008. In all, 3068 students from 14 schools were invited in March 2006, and 893 students in five schools were followed up. Data were collected at baseline, right after intervention (one month later) and two years later by a self-administered questionnaire. In the intervention group, the average knowledge score including reproductive health and HIV/AIDS/sexually transmitted diseases rose from 4.30 to 7.06 one month later (P < 0.01) and to 7.08 two years later (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the average knowledge score after one month and two years (P > 0.05). Sustained increases were found in the attitude scores towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and intention of condom use after intervention. The study indicates that peer-led HIV prevention education succeeds in improving and sustaining HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and some behaviour intentions. Future research should focus on strategies to sustain long-term behaviour change.