MicroRNA-375 inhibits laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma progression via targeting CST1

Abstract Objective: This study aims to explore the effect and mechanism of miR-375 in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC) cell progression. Methods: LSCC cells (LSC-1 and TU177) were transfected with miR-375-mimic, miR-375-inhibitor or miR-375-mimic + oe-CST1. The expression of miR-375, CST1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 was measured. The effect of miR-375-mimic, miR-375-inhibitor or miR-375-mimic + oe-CST1 on cell biological functions, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, was also assessed. The potential relationship between CST1 and miR-375 was predicted by Jefferson software and validated by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Results: Downregulated miR-375 expression was found in LSCC cells. Overexpression of miR-375 inhibited the viability and migration and promoted apoptosis of LSCC cells. Jefferson database and dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that miR-375 directly targeted CST1. Over-expression of CST1 could reverse the anti-cancer effect of miR-375 overexpression in LSCC cells. Conclusion: Collected evidence showed that miR-375/CST1 axis was implicated in LSCC progression. Level of evidence: Level 3

Pneumonia, Multiple Pulmonary Infarction and Abscess Caused by a Bamboo Stick Accidentally Piercing into Chest: a Case Misdiagnosed as Pulmonary Tuberculosis / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Computed tomography (CT) examination is the major measure for detecting and diagnosis of foreign bodies in human body. Although CT has high sensitivity in diagnosis of foreign body, some interference factors may still lead to missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Here we report a rare case that a bamboo stick accidentally pierced into the left chest of a young man who was drunk and unware of this hurt. The patient experienced cough, chest pain, fever, hemoptysis, and was misdiagnosed as primary and secondary tuberculosis based on chest CT examinations at a local hospital, although no tubercular bacillus detected by sputum smear. He subsequently received anti-tuberculous treatments in the following three years, but no improvement of his symptoms was observed. Until one month before his death, the bamboo stick was detected by spiral CT examination as well as three-dimensional image reconstruction at another hospital. Postmortem examination revealed pneumonia, pulmonary infarction, and abscess as the causes of his death. We analyze the potential reasons of misdiagnosis in this case, aiming to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary inflammation associated with foreign body in the future.

Introduction of Applications for AQoL Instruments / 中国卫生经济

It made a brief introduction to a series of AQo (assessment of quality of life) instruments,which was consisted of the developments,features,utility tariffs and applications about AQoL-4D,AQoL-6D,AQoL-7D and AQoL-8D,so as to provide basic support for health economic evaluations,especially for health utility measurements and cost-utility analysis in China.

Forensic Pathology Analysis of 363 Sudden Death Cases in Yunnan Province / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the epidemiological and pathological features of sudden death （SD） in Yunnan Province and to provide scientific evidence for prevention and forensic identification of sudden death.@*METHODS@#Totally 363 SD cases were collected from the autopsies between 2009 and 2017 in the Forensic Centre of Kunming Medical University. The related factors such as etiology, age, inducing factor, time interval between the onset of disease and death, morbidity season and pathological change were retrospectively analysed.@*RESULTS@#The incidence of SD in males was significantly higher than that of females. The peak age was ≥35-55 years. The mortality rate was relatively high within 6 h after the onset of disease. The season order with descending number of deaths was spring, summer, winter and autumn. The top ten causes of SD were coronary heart disease, sudden unexplained death （SUD）, cerebral hemorrhage, acute hemorrhagic necrotic pancreatitis, aortic dissection rupture, cardiomyopathy, pneumonia, pulmonary thromboembolism, amniotic fluid embolism and allergy. Exercise, infusion, surgery, medication and minor injury were the most common predisposing factors of sudden coronary death. Consciousness disorder or coma, chest pain or chest tightness, and abdominal pain were the most common premortem symptoms of sudden coronary death.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The SD is more common in middle-aged males, which is the key population for the prevention of SD. For the forensic identification and prevention of SD, the attention on SUD should be paid.

The Influence of Case Teaching of Forensic Pathology Based on Network Platform on Critical Thinking Skills among Forensic Students / 昆明医科大学学报

Objective The paper aimed to discuss the influence of case teaching of forensic pathology based on network platform on the critical thinking ability of forensic students.Methods Students majoring in forensic were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group with 20 students per group. According to heterogeneity classification, the experimental group was divided into 4 subgroups. The subgroups participated in network cases learning whereas the control group received traditional case teaching. Participants were required to fill in California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory-Chinese Version (CCTDI-CV) before and after learning. CCTDI-CV scores, the scores of final exam and the number of students who had improved in CCTDI-CV scores were compared between the two groups. Results For the experimental group, the total score of CCTDI-CVand the scores of items including looking for the truth, systematized ability, self-confidence, thirst for knowledge were significantly improved after learning. The performance of the experimental group was better than that of the control group at the end of teaching (P＜0.05) . The scores of final exam were higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (P＜0.05) .Conclusion Forensic pathology cases teaching based on network platform is an effective way to stimulate students'critical thinking ability and to improve the study ability.

Glutamate transporter 1-mediated antidepressant-like effect in a rat model of chronic unpredictable stress / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

In recent years, more attention has been paid to the role of the glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1, EAAT2) in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, experimental data on brain GLT-1 levels are, to some extent, inconsistent in human postmortem and animal studies. These discrepancies imply that the role of GLT-1 in the pathophysiology of MDD and the action of antidepressants remain obscure. This work was designed to study the impact of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) for 2 sessions per day for 35 days and four weeks of fluoxetine (FLX) on depressive-like behaviors in rats, as well as the concomitant expression of the GLT-1 protein in the hippocampus. Behavioral changes were assessed by the sucrose preference and open field tests. GLT-1 levels were detected by immunohistchemistry and Western blot analysis. Our study demonstrated that the animals exposed to CUS showed depressive-like behaviors and exhibited a significant decrease in GLT-1 expression in the hippocampus. Chronic FLX treatment reversed the behavioral deficits and the CUS-induced decrease in GLT-1 levels. Taken together, our results support the reduction of GLT-1 in human postmortem studies in MDD and suggest that GLT-1 may be involved in the antidepressant activity of FLX. Our studies further support the notion that GLT-1 is an attractive candidate molecule associated with the fundamental processes of MDD and may be a potential, and novel pharmacological target for the treatment of MDD.

Glutamate transporter 1-mediated antidepressant-like effect in a rat model of chronic unpredictable stress / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

In recent years, more attention has been paid to the role of the glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1, EAAT2) in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, experimental data on brain GLT-1 levels are, to some extent, inconsistent in human postmortem and animal studies. These discrepancies imply that the role of GLT-1 in the pathophysiology of MDD and the action of antidepressants remain obscure. This work was designed to study the impact of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) for 2 sessions per day for 35 days and four weeks of fluoxetine (FLX) on depressive-like behaviors in rats, as well as the concomitant expression of the GLT-1 protein in the hippocampus. Behavioral changes were assessed by the sucrose preference and open field tests. GLT-1 levels were detected by immunohistchemistry and Western blot analysis. Our study demonstrated that the animals exposed to CUS showed depressive-like behaviors and exhibited a significant decrease in GLT-1 expression in the hippocampus. Chronic FLX treatment reversed the behavioral deficits and the CUS-induced decrease in GLT-1 levels. Taken together, our results support the reduction of GLT-1 in human postmortem studies in MDD and suggest that GLT-1 may be involved in the antidepressant activity of FLX. Our studies further support the notion that GLT-1 is an attractive candidate molecule associated with the fundamental processes of MDD and may be a potential, and novel pharmacological target for the treatment of MDD.

Aberrant expression pattern of a novel mutation in connexin 26 gene resulting in autosomal recessive deafness / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report a novel deafness-causing mutation c.465T>A, p.Y155X in connexin 26 (CX26) (also called gap junction protein beta-2, GJB2), and perform functional analysis of the mutated protein p.Y155X in Hela cells to explore the underlying mechanism on deafness.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mutations in CX26 gene of the proband in an autosomal recessive inherited deafness family were tested by direct DNA sequencing method. Mutant p.Y155X, which was found in the deafness family, and wild type CX26 (wtCX26), were directionally subcloned into the pEGFP-N1 plasmid to construct the recombinant fusion protein expression vector of CX26 p.Y155X-EGFP and wtCX26-EGFP, followed by transfecting into HeLa cells. The expression of the mutated and wild type proteins was analyzed using Western blot analysis. The intracellular localization of proteins and the formation of gap junction-like plaques at plasma membrane were observed under confocal microscope. Gap junction coupling was tested by calcein-AM dye transfer experiment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A novel nonsense mutation c.465T>A, p.Y155X in the CX26 gene was found in the autosomal recessive deafness family. The molecular weight of protein p.Y155X was smaller than that of wtCX26 in transiently expressed HeLa cells. The mutated protein failed to reach the cell surface to form gap junction plaques, and displayed cytoplasmic accumulation. Also, no calcein-AM dye was transferred from the donor cells to the recipient cells when both were transfected with CX26 p.Y155X. The wtCX26 protein localized at the cell membrane to form gap junction plaques with permeability to fluorescent dye calcein AM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CX26 p.Y155X could not be targeted to the plasma membrane and there was no formation of gap junction channels between the adjacent cells. The mutation c.465T>A, p.Y155X in CX26 gene was responsible for the autosomal recessive hearing impairment in this family.</p>

Influence of luxS of Streptococcus mutans on biofilm of dental plaque / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct luxS mutant aften luxS gene of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) was knocked out, and examine their ability of biofilm formation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A recombinant plasmid containing the flanking fragment of luxS of S. mutans was transformed into S. mutans UA159, and selected by brain heart infusion (BHI) agar medium with kanamicin. The luxS mutant further confirmed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the autoinducer-2 (AI-2) bioluminescence assay of Vibrio harveyi (V. harveyi), and ability of luxS mutant and S. mutans UA159 biofilm formation was examined in different phases, in BHI medium with 1% sucrose and 1% glycose by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LuxS-deficient S. mutans strains were successfully constructed. Compared with S. mutans UA159, the luxS mutant maintained in BHI medium containing 1% sucrose displayed an apparent defect in biofilm formation, while they showed no significant deviation in BHI medium containing 1% glycose.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>luxS gene in S.mutans can play a role in dental plaque biofilm formation, and the luxS gene is possible to regulate sucrose-dependent biofilm formation.</p>