Gastric cancer is an aggressive disease that continues to have a daunting impact on global health. Fra-1 (FOSL1) plays important roles in oncogenesis in various malignancies. We investigated the expression of Fra-1 in gastric cancer (GC) tissues by qPCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot technologies. The results showed that Fra-1 was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues compared with the adjacent non‑cancerous tissues. To explore the possible mechanism of Fra-1 in GC, we elucidated the effect of Fra-1 in the apoptosis and cell cycle of gastric cancer cells, AGS, and found that a considerable decrease in apoptotic cells and increase of S phase rate were observed for AGS cells with Fra-1 overexpession. We identified and confirmed that Fra-1 affected the expression level of CTTN and EZR in vitro through LC-MS/MS analyses and western blot technology. Furthermore, we found that Fra-1 was correlated with dysregulation PI3K/Akt and p53 signaling pathway in gastric cancer tissues in vitro. Moreover, we found that Fra-1 overexpression affected the expression of PI3K, Akt, MDM2 and p53 in vivo. In summary, our results suggest that Fra-1 is upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and plays its function by affecting the PI3K/Akt and p53 signaling pathway in gastric cancer.
<p>XLSX file, 863K, Lists of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from comparisons of PAR_TKO and active_inactive groups and overlapping DEGs (p<0.05).</p>
Lactotransferrin (LTF), a member of the transferrin family, serves a role in the innate immune response and is involved in anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-tumor activity. Alterations in the LTF gene are associated with an increased incidence of cancer. The LTF gene is polymorphic, and several common alleles may be observed in the general population. Our previous study identified a lower rate of occurrence of the 'A-G-G-T' haplotype (constructed with rs1126477, rs1126478, rs2073495 and rs9110) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients compared with controls. In the present study, in order to elucidate a possible mechanism of LTF-mediated anti-tumor activity in NPC, the protein profiles of NPC and non-tumorous nasopharyngeal epithelium tissues with/without the 'A-G-G-T' haplotype were constructed using LTQ Orbitrap technology. The results revealed that c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2 (JNK2) was highly expressed in NPC tissues and non-tumor nasopharyngeal epithelium tissues without the 'A-G-G-T' haplotype. These results were confirmed by western blot analysis. Furthermore, microRNA (miRNA) microarray analysis was conducted to investigate the differential miRNA profiles of NPC and non-tumor nasopharyngeal epithelium tissues with/without the 'A-G-G-T' haplotype. It was observed that hsa-miR-1256 and hsa-miR-659, which are potentially targeted to the JNK2 gene, were downregulated in NPC tissues without the 'A-G-G-T' haplotype. Hsa-miR-298, another miRNA potentially targeted to the JNK2 gene, was downregulated in non-tumor nasopharyngeal epithelium tissues without the 'A-G-G-T' haplotype. In summary, these results suggested that the expression levels of JNK2 may be associated with polymorphic LTF haplotypes in human NPC.
To 59 carries on three months health sports (for example Taijiquan, Lily magnolia fan, newly organized five-beast fight, fitness walks and so on) the middle-aged person and old person tracks the investigation, tests their for three months two peaceful electrocardiograms and the analysis, finally demonstrated: Around two unusual electrocardiograms example numbers respectively are 30 examples and 25 examples, accounts for the total number of people separately 50.20% and 42.40%, in the unusual electrocardiogram the ST - T section of changes occupies the measuring unusual electrocardiogram major part, respectively is 70.00% and 68.00%; Three month-long health sports change and PR the time lengthen, the Dou heart movement slow influence to ST - the T have been obvious; To two tests different, the normal electrocardiogram example number carries on the card side examination, the result is X2 = 0.851, p0.05, does not have the significance difference, looked from the example number, some 5 examples transfer normally, has the change for the better tendency. Explained three month-long the health sports enable middle-aged person's and old person's unusual electrocardiogram to have the change for the better tendency the performance, but is not very obvious, suggested should persist the health sports for a long time.
Objective To explore the prevalence of multilevel lumbar spondylolysis in operation patients,and to evaluate the diagnostic value of CT reconstruction on multilevel lumbar spondylolysis.Methods A total of 312 patients,who had undergone surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2004 to March 2012 for lumbar spondylolysis,were enrolled in this study.There were 147 males (47%) and 165 females (53%),aged from 12 to 76 years (average,44 years).Every patient underwent lumbar spine X-ray examination including anteroposterior,lateral,over-flexion,over-extension and double oblique X-rays,as well as CT examination.The prevalence of multilevel lumbar spondylolysis in all operation patients and the involved segments were recorded and analyzed.Moreover,the clinical manifestation and radiological features were summarized.Results In all enrolled patients,there were 9 patients (2.9%) with multilevel lumbar spondylolysis,including 5 males and 4 females,aged from 21 to 51 years (average,39 years).As for lesion distribution,there were 8 cases of bilateral spondylolysis located at both L4 and L5,and 1 case of bilateral spondylolysis at L5 combined with right spondylolysis of L4 and discontinuity in the base of left pedicle of L4.Among 9 patients,only 3 patients obtained correct diagnosis by anteroposterior and double oblique X-rays of the lumbar spine,while all patients got final diagnosis by sagittal and oblique coronal reconstruction of lumbar spine CT scan.The oblique coronal CT reconstruction could show the details of bone defect in lumbar vertebral isthmus,bony callus,peripheral osteophytes,as well as fibroplasia.For unilateral lumbar spondylolysis,the oblique coronal CT reconstruction could also show the reactive sclerosis in contralateral lamina of vertebra.Conclusion Multilevel lumbar spondylolysis is not rare in operation patients,and L4 and L5 are most common involved levels.Sagittal and oblique coronal reconstruction of lumbar spine CT scan is more accurate in showing the details of lumbar spondylolysis,which is helpful in decreasing the missed diagnosis and improving therapy.
Key words:
Lumbar vertebrae; Spondylolysis; Prevalence; Tomography, X-ray computed
Abstract Injury/dysfunction of the endothelium of pulmonary arteries contributes to hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH). We investigated whether C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-9 (CTRP9), a newly identified cardiovascular agent, has protective roles in the development of HPH. HPH was induced in adult male rats by chronic hypobaric hypoxia. CTRP9 overexpression by adeno-associated virus (AAV)-CTRP9 transfection attenuated the increases in right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy index, and pulmonary arterial remodeling of rats under hypoxia. Importantly, CTRP9 overexpression improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation in pulmonary arterioles in HPH rats. CTRP9 overexpression enhanced expression of phosphorylated 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS), and reduced phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (p-ERK1/2) expression in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) of HPH rats. In cultured PMVECs, CTRP9 not only preserved the decrease of AMPK and eNOS phosphorylation level and nitric oxide (NO) production induced by hypoxia, but also blocked the increase in hypoxia-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation level and endothelin (ET)-1 production. Furthermore, the effects of CTRP9 were interrupted by inhibitors or knockdown of AMPK. CTRP9 enhances NO production and reduces ET-1 production by regulating AMPK activation. CTRP9 could be a target for HPH.
Objectives To compare the clinical outcomes of percutaneous robot‐assisted minimally invasive pedicle screw insertion versus freehand fluoroscopy‐assisted pedicle screw insertion using a traditional open technique in elderly patients undergoing an oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) procedure. Methods Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 80 patients with lumbar degenerative disease who attended the spinal surgery department of the Beijing Jishuitan Hospital between January 2017 and April 2018 were enrolled in the present study. Patients were randomized 1:1 to undergo percutaneous robot‐assisted minimally invasive pedicle screw insertion (experimental group, n = 40) or freehand fluoroscopy‐assisted pedicle screw insertion using a traditional open technique (control group, n = 40). Outcomes were accuracy of screw placement evaluated on postoperative CT using the modified Gertzbein and Robbins scale, operative time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, lower back and leg pain evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS), lumbar function evaluated using the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and complication rates. Results A total of 344 vertebral pedicle screws were inserted: 170 screws in the experimental group, and 174 screws in the control group. Accurate screw placement was significantly higher in the experimental group (98.2% [167/170]) than in the control group (93.1% [162/174]). Clinical outcomes showed significant differences between the experimental and control groups in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative VAS for lower back pain in the immediate postoperative period. Conclusion Robot‐assisted pedicle screw insertion in OLIF is an effective strategy for the management of elderly patients with lumbar degenerative diseases.
Although pterostilbene (PTE) has been shown to have potent antitumor activities against various cancer types, the molecular mechanisms of these activities remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the antitumor activity of PTE against human lung adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo and explored the role of the Notch1 signaling pathway in this process. PTE treatment resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in the viability of A549 cells. Additionally, PTE exhibited strong antitumor activity, as evidenced not only by a reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and a decreased intracellular glutathione content but also by increases in the apoptotic index and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, PTE treatment induced the activation of the Notch1 Intracellular Domain (NICD) protein and activated Hes1. DAPT (a gamma secretase inhibitor) and Notch1 siRNA prevented the induction of NICD and Hes1 activation by PTE treatment and sensitized the cells to PTE treatment. The down-regulation of Notch signaling also prevented the activation of pro-survival pathways (most notably the PI3K/Akt pathway) after PTE treatment. In summary, lung adenocarcinoma cells may enhance Notch1 activation as a protective mechanism in response to PTE treatment. Combining a gamma secretase inhibitor with PTE treatment may represent a novel approach for treating lung adenocarcinoma by inhibiting the survival pathways of cancer cells.