Neutralizing Antibody Responses against Five SARS-CoV-2 Variants and T Lymphocyte Change after Vaccine Breakthrough Infections from the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 Variant in Tianjin, China: A Prospective Study / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate whether Omicron BA.1 breakthrough infection after receiving the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine could create a strong immunity barrier.@*METHODS@#Blood samples were collected at two different time points from 124 Omicron BA.1 breakthrough infected patients and 124 controls matched for age, gender, and vaccination profile. Live virus-neutralizing antibodies against five SARS-CoV-2 variants, including WT, Gamma, Beta, Delta, and Omicron BA.1, and T-lymphocyte lymphocyte counts in both groups were measured and statistically analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The neutralizing antibody titers against five different variants of SARS-CoV-2 were significantly increased in the vaccinated population infected with the Omicron BA.1 variant at 3 months after infection, but mainly increased the antibody level against the WT strain, and the antibody against the Omicron strain was the lowest. The neutralizing antibody level decreased rapidly 6 months after infection. The T-lymphocyte cell counts of patients with mild and moderate disease recovered at 3 months and completely returned to the normal state at 6 months.@*CONCLUSION@#Omicron BA.1 breakthrough infection mainly evoked humoral immune memory in the original strain after vaccination and hardly produced neutralizing antibodies specific to Omicron BA.1. Neutralizing antibodies against the different strains declined rapidly and showed features similar to those of influenza. Thus, T-lymphocytes may play an important role in recovery.

Treatment and prognosis of primary ocular adnexal extranodal marginal zone mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: a report from a single center / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: This study aimed to see how different initial treatment regimens affected the long-term prognosis of patients with extranodal marginal zone mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma confining to the ocular adnexal (OAML) . Methods: Between April 2008 and April 2019, 109 patients with initial mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue confining to ocular adnexal were evaluated and followed-up, and the prognosis of various initial treatment regimens were examined. Results: A total of 36 patients underwent complete surgical resection of the lesions, and 73 patients had residual lesions after surgery, of which 37 patients chose watchful waiting, and 36 patients chose treatment. The treatment regimen included local radiotherapy and systemic treatment (chemotherapy, immunochemotherapy, the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, etc.) , and no serious toxic and side effects were observed in patients receiving systemic treatment. The median follow-up time was 61 (10-142) months. The 5-year and 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) of monocular involvement patients were 78.2% and 76.0% . The 5-year and 10-year PFS rates of patients with binocular involvement were 64.4% and 23.5%. There was significant diference in PFS between patients with monocular and binocular involvement (P=0.010) . Patients who received additional treatment had higher PFS than those patients in the watchful waiting group (P=0.046) . The 5-year PFS was 71.4% and 90.1% among patients in the watchful waiting group and those who received additional treatment, whereas the 10-year PFS was 63.5% and 75.1% , respectively. Patients with OAML were still a risk of disease progression after 5 years. Conclusions: Patients with binocular involvement OAML at the start of the disease had a poor prognosis, but treatment could reduce the risk of recurrence/progression. Systemic therapy is one of the first-line treatment options for patients with OAML, who require long-term monitoring.

Curcumin's prevention of inflammation-driven early gastric cancer and its molecular mechanism / 中草药·英文版

Worldwide, gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths and the fifth most common malignant tumor. Gastric cancer is believed to be caused by a variety of factors, such as genetics, epigenetics, and environmental influences. Among the pathogenic factors, inflammation has been considered as one of the main risk factors for gastric cancer. There are currently limited ways to prevent gastric cancer. Although the combined application of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the risk, it has great side effects and can easily cause gastric perforation or gastric bleeding. Therefore, an alternative plan is urgently needed. Curcumin is the yellow pigment in the rhizome of the plant turmeric. Current studies have found that curcumin has a protective effect on gastric mucosal damage caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gastric mucosal damage in rats, and gastric mucosal damage caused by stress bleeding and Helicobacter pylori infection. Curcumin shows significant anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities by regulating DNA methylation, histone modification, nuclear factor erythrocyte 2 related factor 2 and other related signal pathways. In this article, the latest evidence of curcumin for epigenetic changes in gastric cancer and its potential contribution to gastric cancer were discussed.

Tumor-derived neomorphic mutations in ASXL1 impairs the BAP1-ASXL1-FOXK1/K2 transcription network

Additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1) interacts with BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) deubiquitinase to oppose the polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1)-mediated histone H2A ubiquitylation. Germline BAP1 mutations are found in a spectrum of human malignancies, while ASXL1 mutations recurrently occur in myeloid neoplasm and are associated with poor prognosis. Nearly all ASXL1 mutations are heterozygous frameshift or nonsense mutations in the middle or to a less extent the C-terminal region, resulting in the production of C-terminally truncated mutant ASXL1 proteins. How ASXL1 regulates specific target genes and how the C-terminal truncation of ASXL1 promotes leukemogenesis are unclear. Here, we report that ASXL1 interacts with forkhead transcription factors FOXK1 and FOXK2 to regulate a subset of FOXK1/K2 target genes. We show that the C-terminally truncated mutant ASXL1 proteins are expressed at much higher levels than the wild-type protein in ASXL1 heterozygous leukemia cells, and lose the ability to interact with FOXK1/K2. Specific deletion of the mutant allele eliminates the expression of C-terminally truncated ASXL1 and increases the association of wild-type ASXL1 with BAP1, thereby restoring the expression of BAP1-ASXL1-FOXK1/K2 target genes, particularly those involved in glucose metabolism, oxygen sensing, and JAK-STAT3 signaling pathways. In addition to FOXK1/K2, we also identify other DNA-binding transcription regulators including transcription factors (TFs) which interact with wild-type ASXL1, but not C-terminally truncated mutant. Our results suggest that ASXL1 mutations result in neomorphic alleles that contribute to leukemogenesis at least in part through dominantly inhibiting the wild-type ASXL1 from interacting with BAP1 and thereby impairing the function of ASXL1-BAP1-TF in regulating target genes and leukemia cell growth.

Modern physical training concepts and approachs into public physical education in colleges and universities / 中国学校卫生

Abstract@#Public physical education teaching has adopted modern concepts and approachs of physical training to highlight the importance and effectiveness of physical education in colleges and universities in China. These courses have placed an emphasis on the need to attend to the structural integrity of the human body, optimizing the basic action mode and the efficient transmission of the power chain in motion. From the perspective of curriculum education, it is helpful to update ideas surrounding the public physical education curriculum in colleges and universities to enrich the content of public physical education courses provided by these institutions and to improve the scientific nature of training, while also enhancing the physical fitness of college students and promoting lifelong sports consciousness. However, there is insufficient explanation and implementation of modern physical training concepts and approachs into the teaching and process of public sports in colleges and universities. It will be beneficial to improve its top level design, increase policy support, provide better facilities, strengthen the construction of teachers, actively organize enjoyable physical fitness competitions, enrich the teaching content system and clear on the positioning of college physical education, in order to promote the fundamental tasks of school based physical education and the value of school sports. This is also important to ensure a renewal of the concept of the public physical education curriculum in our country, and encourage reform of the curriculum content, teaching mode and teaching methods, while also highlighting the essential function of physical training.

Comparison of the Curative Efficacy of Elderly Patients with High-Risk MDS and MDS-Transformed AML between Decitabine Combined with Low-Dose CEG Regimen and Decitabine Combined with Low-Dose CAG Regimen / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the efficacy of decitabine combined with low-dose CEG regimen (DCEG) and decitabine combined with low-dose CAG regimen (DCAG) in the treatment of elderly patients with MDS and MDS-transformed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).@*METHODS@#A prospective study was conducted in 7 medical centers, 45 patients with MDS (≥ 60 years old) and MDS-transformed AML from October 2016 to January 2019 were enrolled, with the median age of 68.5 years old. The risk stratification of patients was poor or very poor, according to IPSS-R score. The treament results of decitabine combined with CEG and decitabine combined with CAG were compared.@*RESULTS@#The comparison of the two regiem showed that the DCEG regimen had advantages on total effective rate (ORR, 86.4% vs 47.8%, respectively), overall survival time (OS) (10.0 months vs 6.0 months, respectively) and progression-free survival time (PFS) (9.0 months vs 3.0 months, respectively). About 50% of MDS patients treated by DCEG regimen achieved PR or CR, with a median OS of 31 months. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with PR or CR after induction therapy and DCEG regimen had longer survival time (31months). The incidence of bone marrow suppression, infection and treatment-related mortality rate were similar between the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Decitabine combined with CEG regimen could improve the survival of patients with high-risk MDS and MDS-transformed AML. The conclusion of the reaserch needs to be validated by a larger prospective randomized clinical trial.

Association of HLA-G 3′UTR gene polymorphism with the risk of unexplained spontaneous recurrent abortion / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphism and haplotype of human leucocyte antigen G 3′untranslated region gene, which possibly could be predictive roles in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients.Methods:Case-control method was used in this study. 70 cases of pregnant women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and 54 cases of prenatal examination women whose peripheral blood and serum were collected in Wenzhou Hospital of Chinese Traditional Medicine were recorded from June 2017 to July 2018. Blood gene DNA was extracted by centrifuge column and was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Sanger sequencing method was used for genotyping. The genotypes frequency, linkage imbalance analysis and haplotypes construction of SNPs were analyzed by SHEsis online software and Phase software. Serum soluble HLA-G concentration was detected by ELISA.Results:There were eight SNPs, including 14bp ins/del,+3003C/T,+3010G/C,+3027A/C,+3035C/T,+3142C/G,+3187A/G and+3196C/G, were detected in both the URSA group and the control group. Results showed that the distribution differences of+3010G/C,+3142C/G and+3187A/G between the two groups were statistically significant (χ 2=8.514, P=0.004; χ 2=0.552, P=0.021; χ 2=8.183, P=0.005) .The C allele at the+3010G/C site and the G allele at the +3142C/G site might be risk factors for URSA ( OR=2.131, 95 %CI=1.278-3.552, χ 2=8.514, P=0.004; OR=1.813, 95 %CI=1.091-3.013, χ 2=0.552, P=0.021) ;the G allele at +3187A/G site might be a protective factor for URSA ( OR=0.476, 95 %CI=0.285-0.794, χ 2=8.183, P=0.005) .Haplotype analysis revealed that UTR-1 (DTGCCCGC) might be a protective factor for URSA ( OR=0.497, 95 %CI=0.295-0.837,χ 2=6.987, P=0.008), while UTR-3 (DTCCCGAC) might be a risk factor for URSA ( OR=1.732, 95 %CI=1.009-2.974, χ 2=3.998, P=0.045).The frequency of UTR-1/UTR-1 homozygous in URSA patients was lower than that in normal patients obviously( OR=0.381, 95 %CI=0.165-0.879, χ 2=5.292, P=0.024), which might be a protective factor for pregnancy. No association was found between serum soluble HLA-G and HLA-G 3′UTR gene haplotypes in URSA ( t=1.578, P=0.119) . Conclusions:HLA-G 3′UTR gene polymorphism and haplotypes are correlated with URSA. The study lays a foundation for future research and provides a basis for clinical individualized medicine.

Combination of hip geometry mechanics and fracture risk assessment tool to predict fracture risk in middle-aged and elderly women / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Hip geometric mechanics indicates a mechanical study of hip structure (cortical thickness) based on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry images, which is a better compensation for the deviation of bone density. The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) can combine fracture probability with multiple clinical risk factors and bone density of the femoral neck to predict the probability of hip fracture within 10 years and the probability of major osteoporotic fractures (spine, forearm, hip or shoulder fracture). OBJECTIVE: To analyze the hip geometry mechanics and the correlation between the FRAX@ tool and fractures in middle-aged and elderly women, and to explore the clinical significance of the combination method to predict the risk of fragility fracture in middle-aged and elderly women. METHODS: A retrospective study of 1 089 middle-aged female subjects was conducted. According to the questionnaire, there were 225 cases of fractures and 864 cases of non-fractures. Bone mineral density was measured using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and hip geometrical parameters were analyzed using HSA software: cross-sectional area (CSA), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI), cross-sectional modulus (Z), cortical bone thickness (Cort) and the buckling ratio (BR) value. The FRAX@ tool was used to calculate the fracture rate at the main site and hip fracture rate over the next 10 years. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Fujian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The age of the fracture group was significantly higher than that of the non-fracture group. The hip geometrical parameters of the two groups were compared: lumbar vertebra bone density, femoral neck bone density, CSA, CSMI, Cort, Z were significantly higher in the non-fracture group than the fracture group, while BR was lower in the non-fracture group than the fracture group. Logistic regression analysis of hip geometry mechanics indicated that Cort was a possible protective factor for fracture (odds ratio=0.000, 95% confidence interval: 0.000-0.000). FRAX calculation and analysis of different age groups indicated that the fracture rate at the main site and hip fracture rate of the fracture group were significantly higher than those of the non-fracture group in the next 10 years. In conclude, there is a significant correlation between hip geometric mechanics and fracture. The Cort of the femoral neck is a possible protective factor for fracture, and FRAX@ has a clinical guiding value for predicting fracture. The combination of the two can better predict osteoporotic fracture.

Korean translation and validation of the Workplace Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (PERMA)-Profiler

BACKGROUND: No tool is available for the multidimensional measurement of workplace well-being among Korean workers. In this study, the Workplace Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (PERMA)-Profiler, a multidimensional workplace well-being measure, was translated into Korean, and its validity and reliability were assessed. METHODS: The Workplace PERMA-Profiler, including the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment domains, was translated according to international guidelines. The questionnaires included the Workplace PERMA-Profiler, Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form, and Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form. A total of 316 Korean workers completed a web-based survey with adequate response. Cronbach's alpha values were calculated to assess scale reliability, and correlational and confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess validity. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha values for the Korean Workplace PERMA-Profiler ranged from 0.70 to 0.95. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the 5-factor model had a marginally acceptable fit [χ²(80) = 383.04, comparative fit index = 0.909, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.881, root mean square error of approximation = 0.110, and standardized root mean square residual = 0.054]. The 5-factor PERMA domains were correlated positively with work engagement and mental well-being in life, and negatively with burnout, occupational stressors, and stress responses. These results showed that the Workplace PERMA-Profiler has good convergent and divergent validity. CONCLUSIONS: The Korean version of the Workplace PERMA-Profiler had good reliability and validity. It might be used as an indicator or evaluation tool for positive mental health interventions in the workplace.

Presence of multiple abnormal immunologic markers is an independent prognostic factor of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma / 医学前沿

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and contribute to poor prognosis of patients. However, the association between immunologic markers and clinical outcome has rarely been investigated. This study aims to analyze the prognostic value of pretreatment immunologic markers in newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We retrospectively reviewed the data on 502 patients with DLBCL treated in our institution from January 2013 to March 2018. Survival functions were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model. The 3-year progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 70.2% and 80.9%, respectively, and the complete remission (CR) rate was 78.1%. Among the patients, those with multiple ( ⩾ 3) abnormal immunologic markers had significantly shorter 3-year PFS (52.7% vs. 77.3%, P 60 years for OS (P = 0.014). In conclusion, the immunologic status was closely related to lymphoma progression, and this study provides new insights into the risk stratification of patients with DLBCL.

G0/G1 Switch 2 Induces Cell Survival and Metastasis through Integrin-Mediated Signal Transduction in Human Invasive Breast Cancer Cells

Human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, is highly invasive and aggressive, compared to less invasive cell line, MCF-7. To explore the genes that might influence the malignancy of MDA-MB-231, DNA microarray analysis was performed. The results showed that G0/G1 switch 2 (G0S2) was one of the most highly expressed genes among the genes upregulated in MDA-MB-231. Although G0S2 acts as a direct inhibitor of adipose triglyceride lipase, action of G0S2 in cancer progression is not yet understood. To investigate whether G0S2 affects invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells, G0S2 expression was inhibited using siRNA, which led to decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Consequently, G0S2 inhibition inactivated integrin-regulated FAK-Src signaling, which promoted Hippo signaling and inactivated ERK1/2 signaling. In addition, G0S2 downregulation decreased β-catenin expression, while E-cadherin expression was increased. It was demonstrated for the first time that G0S2 mediates the Hippo pathway and induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Taken together, our results suggest that G0S2 is a major factor contributing to cell survival and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells.

Management of toxicities associated with pegaspargase in treatment of patients with lymphoid malignancy: experience from 443 cases in a single center / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To summarize the adverse effects of pegaspargase in the treatment of lymphoid malignancies and management experience.@*Methods@#Clinical data of patients who received chemotherapy including pegaspargase in the Department of Hematology of Beijing Tongren hospital during August 2011 to December 2015 were retrospective analyzed, and the adverse effects of pegaspargase and the management experience was summarized.@*Results@#A total of 129 patients with 443 times of pegaspargase used during this period. The common adverse reactions included allergic reactions in 2 cases (1.6%), acute pancreatitis in 19 (14.7%) including 6 acute symptomatic pancreatitis and 13 chemical pancreatitis with elevated pancreatin, hypertriglyceridemia in 15 cases(11.6%), hyperglycemia in 85 (65.9%), hypoglycemia in 7 (5.4%), elevated aminotransferase in 25 (19.4%), hyperbilirubinemia in 21 (15.5%), hypoalbuminemia in 62 (48.1%), prolonged APTT in 61 (47.3%), prolonged PT in 22 (17.1%), prolonged TT in 15 (11.6%), hypofibrinogen in 75 (58.1%), thrombus in 11 (8.5%) and bleeding in 3 (2.3%). The above adverse reactions were improved by symptomatic treatment of anti allergy, inhibition of secretion of pancreatic juice, lipid lowering, hypoglycemic, liver preservation, supplementation of plasma and hemostasis, respectively. Some serious adverse reactions affected the application of pegaspargase, even lead to discontinuation of the aspartate.@*Conclusion@#Though adverse effects associated with pegaspargase are extensive, most patients can successfully complete the chemotherapy containing the pegaspargase with close monitoring and timely treatment.

A Fast Analytical Approach for Determination of 16 Kinds of Mycotoxins in Vegetable Oils Using Stable Isotope Dilution and Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry / 分析化学

A fast, simple and cost-effective UPLC-MS / MS method was established for determination of 16 kinds of mycotoxins in vegetable oils with stable isotope dilution technique. Samples were extracted by acetonitrile-water-acetic acid 84: 15: 1(V/ V) and then diluted using water without any further clean-up steps. The mycotoxins were fully separated on a pentafluorophenyl column. Matrix effects were efficiently compensated by the [ 13 C]-labelled internal standards. The mean recoveries at three different concentration levels ranged from 74. 2％ to 105. 6％ , with RSD varied from 0. 3％ to 13. 9％ . Finally, the method was applied to analyze several kinds of vegetable oil samples. The method was simple, rapid, high sensitive and suitable for the determination of mycotoxins in vegetable oils.

YE Jin's Experience for the Treatment of Short Stature in Children / 浙江中医药大学学报

[Objective]To explore Professor YE Jin's experiences for the treatment of short stature in children. [Methods] From the etiology and pathogenesis, TCM syndrome typing, feature medication to analyse the academic perspective and clinical experience of Professor YE Jin in the treatment of short stature, and list 1 proven case. This case focuses on the patient having an inadequate natural endowment and a poor diet, so we can discriminate he is in deficiency of spleen and kidney and give him a treatment to invigorate spleen and nourish kidney.[Results]Short stature in children is a common disease in pediatrics, with a complex etiology constitution. It has influence on children 's physical and mental development. Professor YE Jin thinks its treatment should adhere to the principle of clear etiology, for etiological treatment; explore pathogenesis, treatment based on syndrome differentiation;based on therapeutia principle and method to constitute prescription, then chooses TCM materials flexibly. Also she thinks its main pathogenesis is deficiency of spleen and kidney, which ought to be spleen invigorating and kidney nourishing therapy to make the children have an ideal height. [Conclusion]Professor YE Jin has unique clinical experience for short stature treatment based on spleen-insufficiency constitution related theory, with significant effect.

Open reduction and external fixation with two parallel Kirschner wires for treatment of Gartland type Ⅲ fractures in children / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To compare the clinical effects on Gartland type Ⅲ fractures in children by open reduction and external fixation with two parallel Kirschner wires and closed reduction.Methods From February 2013 to October 2016,84 children with Gartland type Ⅲ supracondylar fracture of humerus were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group,each with a total of 42 cases.The control group received closed reduction treatment,and the observation group received open and external fixation with two parallel Kirschner wires.The two groups were compared on intraoperative blood loss,incision length,operating time,decreased degrees of carrying angle,reduced flexion-extension at the fractured side and the rates for good and excellent clinical effects.Results The observation group behaved significantly better than the control group in intraoperative blood loss,incision length and operating time (P＜0.05).The rates for good and excellent effects was 90.47％ in the observation group and 73.81％ in the control group,and there was obvious difference between the values in the two groups (P＜0.05).The observation group had the decreased degree of carrying angle statistically lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05),while the reduced flexion-extension at the fractured side was not significantly different from that in the control group (P＞0.05).Conclusion Open reduction and external fixation with two parallel Kirschner wires and closed reduction both gain their advantages when used to treat Gartland type llⅢ fractures in children,the former has high clinical effect,significantly recovered elbow joint function and low incidence rate for cubitus varus,and the latter has slight invasion,small incision while relatively low clinical effect and high incidence rate for cubitus varus.

YE Jin's Experience for the Treatment of Short Stature in Children / 浙江中医药大学学报

[Objective]To explore Professor YE Jin's experiences for the treatment of short stature in children. [Methods] From the etiology and pathogenesis, TCM syndrome typing, feature medication to analyse the academic perspective and clinical experience of Professor YE Jin in the treatment of short stature, and list 1 proven case. This case focuses on the patient having an inadequate natural endowment and a poor diet, so we can discriminate he is in deficiency of spleen and kidney and give him a treatment to invigorate spleen and nourish kidney.[Results]Short stature in children is a common disease in pediatrics, with a complex etiology constitution. It has influence on children 's physical and mental development. Professor YE Jin thinks its treatment should adhere to the principle of clear etiology, for etiological treatment; explore pathogenesis, treatment based on syndrome differentiation;based on therapeutia principle and method to constitute prescription, then chooses TCM materials flexibly. Also she thinks its main pathogenesis is deficiency of spleen and kidney, which ought to be spleen invigorating and kidney nourishing therapy to make the children have an ideal height. [Conclusion]Professor YE Jin has unique clinical experience for short stature treatment based on spleen-insufficiency constitution related theory, with significant effect.

Auranofin Suppresses Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2 Expression through Annexin A5 Induction in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Auranofin has been developed as antirheumatic drugs, which is currently under clinical development for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Previous report showed that auranofin induced apoptosis by enhancement of annexin A5 expression in PC-3 cells. To understand the role of annexin A5 in auranofin-mediated apoptosis, we performed microarray data analysis to study annexin A5-controlled gene expression in annexin A5 knockdown PC-3 cells. Of differentially expressed genes, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-2 was increased by annexin A5 siRNA confirmed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Treatment with auranofin decreased PAI-2 and increased annexin A5 expression as well as promoting apoptosis. Furthermore, auranofin-induced apoptosis was recovered by annexin A5 siRNA but it was promoted by PAI-2 siRNA. Interestingly, knockdown of annexin A5 rescued PAI-2 expression suppressed by auranofin. Taken together, our study suggests that induction of annexin A5 by auranofin may enhance apoptosis through suppression of PAI-2 expression in PC-3 cells.

Association between supervisors' behavior and wage workers' job stress in Korea: analysis of the fourth Korean working conditions survey

BACKGROUND: In modern society, many workers are stressed. Supervisors' support or behavior can affect the emotional or psychological part of the worker. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of supervisor's behavior on worker's stress. METHODS: The study included 19,272 subjects following the assignment of weighted values to workers other than soldiers using data from the Fourth Korean Working Condition Survey. Supervisors' behavior was measured using 5 items: “supervisor feedback regarding work,”“respectful attitude,”“good conflict-resolution ability,”“good work-related planning and organizational ability,” and the encouragement of participation in important decision making. Job stress was measured using 1 item: “I experience stress at work.” Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of supervisors' behavioral, general, occupational, and psychosocial characteristics on job stress in workers. Organizational characteristics associated with supervisors' behavior were also analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed that supervisors' provision of feedback regarding work increased workers' job stress (OR = 1.329, 95% CI = 1.203 ~ 1.468). When a supervisor respect workers (OR = 0.812, 95% CI = 0.722 ~ 0.913) or good at planning and organizing works (OR = 0.816, 95% CI: 0.732 ~ 0.910), workers' job stress decreased. In particular, the two types of supervisor behaviors, other than feedback regarding work, were high in private-sector organizations employing less than 300 employees. CONCLUSION: Supervisors' behavior influenced job stress levels in workers. Therefore, it is necessary to increase education regarding the effects of supervisors' behavior on job stress, which should initially be provided in private-sector organizations with up to 300 employees.

Induction of Integrin Signaling by Steroid Sulfatase in Human Cervical Cancer Cells

Steroid sulfatase (STS) is an enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of aryl and alkyl sulfates. STS plays a pivotal role in the regulation of estrogens and androgens that promote the growth of hormone-dependent tumors, such as those of breast or prostate cancer. However, the molecular function of STS in tumor growth is still not clear. To elucidate the role of STS in cancer cell proliferation, we investigated whether STS is able to regulate the integrin signaling pathway. We found that overexpression of STS in HeLa cells increases the protein and mRNA levels of integrin β1 and fibronectin, a ligand of integrin α5β1. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), one of the main metabolites of STS, also increases mRNA and protein expression of integrin β1 and fibronectin. Further, STS expression and DHEA treatment enhanced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at the Tyr 925 residue. Moreover, increased phosphorylation of ERK at Thr 202 and Tyr 204 residues by STS indicates that STS activates the MAPK/ERK pathway. In conclusion, these results suggest that STS expression and DHEA treatment may enhance MAPK/ERK signaling through up-regulation of integrin β1 and activation of FAK.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with the Use of Eye Care Services in South Korea: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2012

PURPOSE: To estimate the factors and prevalence of eye care service utilization in the South Korean population. METHODS: This cross-sectional, population-based study included data from 22,550 Koreans aged ≥5 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2010 to 2012. For people aged 5 to 11 years (young children), information was based on self-reports of contact with eye care service in the past year; for people aged ≥12 years (older population), the information was based on the self-reported lifetime contact with eye care service. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of the complex sample survey data were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of eye care service use in young children during the past year was 61.1% (95% confidence interval, 58.1%–64.1%), while that in the older population during their lifetime was 73.5%. Subjects aged 7 to 11 years were more likely to have had an eye examination in the past year than subjects aged 5 to 6 years (odds ratio, 3.83; 95% confidence interval, 2.37–6.19). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that higher monthly household income, being a National Health Insurance holder, and having private health insurance were related to more frequent use of eye care services in young children. For the older population and women, those living in an urban area and those with a best-corrected visual acuity less than 20 / 40 in the worse-seeing eye were more likely to have had an eye examination during their lifetime. Low education level was associated with low lifetime use of eye care services in the older population. CONCLUSIONS: There are sociodemographic disparities with use of eye care services in South Korea. This population-based study provides information that is useful for determining different intervention programs based on sociodemographic disparities to promote eye care service utilization in South Korea.