Silencing of HOXB9 suppresses cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells

The Homeobox B9 (HOXB9) is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor that participates in the progression of various malignancies. Nevertheless, the functional role of HOXB9 in prostate cancer cells is largelyunknown. Hence, we aimed to address the effect of HOXB9 on the progression of prostate cancer cells. Smallinterfering RNA (siRNA) against HOXB9 was used to downregulate HOXB9 expression in PC3 and DU145cells. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of HOXB9 and other related proteins. Cellproliferation was tested by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated byflow cytometry. Angiogenesis was examined using tube formation assays The Transwell assays were carriedout to assess the migratory and invasive capacities of cells. Here, we found that HOXB9 knockdown significantly reduced cell proliferation via inducing cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. This treatment also reducedangiogenesis, migration and invasion abilities of PC3 and DU145 cells in vitro. We also found that HOXB9knockdown inhibits the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells. In conclusion,our findings revealed that HOXB9 promotes prostate cancer progression and might be a novel and effectivetherapeutic target for human prostate cancer.

Application of ARIMA model and BP neural network model in prediction of tuberculosis incidence in Gansu Province / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To investigate the predictive effect of autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and back propagation neural network (BPNN)in the prediction of tuberculosis incidence in Gansu Province, and to select appropriate models to predict the incidence. Methods Based on the data of tuberculosis in Gansu Province from 1997 to 2017, the ARIMA time series model and BP neural network model were established to predict the incidence from 2018 to 2019, and the prediction accuracy and modeling effect of the two models were compared. Results For the incidence of tuberculosis in Gansu Province in 2018 and 2019, the ARIMA model predicted results were 55.1075, 54.5373, MSE=92.24, MAE=7.5313, MAPE=9.26%; BP neural network model predicted results were 62.0132, 73.4460, MSE= 9.6575, MAE = 1.1449, MAPE = 1.68%. Conclusions The BP neural network model has a better predictive effect on the incidence of tuberculosis in Gansu Province, and it shows that the incidence of tuberculosis in Gansu Province will increase slightly from 2018 to 2019.

Current Situation of TCM Human Resources Distribution and Equity Research in China / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To discuss existing problems in talent team construction; To provide evidence for the government to enact proper strategies based on the analysis of the current situation of TCM practitioners (assistants) distribution in China from quantity, quality and distribution equity. Methods The research is studied through conducting a descriptive analysis of TCM practitioners (assistants) from quantity, education, job titles, ages, and other basic conditions and changes. Gini coefficient was used to evaluate the distribution of TCM practitioners (assistants). Results The quantity of TCM practitioners (assistants) increased by 53.7% from 2010 to 2015. Concerning the quality of personnel, the ratio of the personnel with bachelors degree or above increased from 38.6% to 44.2%, and a slight increase was observed with the personnel with senior title. In terms of age structure, the proportion of the age of TCM practitioners (assistants) under 25 years old, 35 to 59 years old decreased, and the proportion of the age of TCM practitioners (assistants) above 60 years old, 25 to 34 years old increased. From the perspective of equity, there is a difference between the provincial-level administration of human resources distribution. The Gini coefficient as per population distribution was around 0.1, which indicated good equity. From the geographical area configuration, the Gini coefficient was approximately 0.58, which showed high level of disparity. Conclusion There are problems of insufficient quantity, low quality and distribution disparity among regions in TCM practitioners (assistant) in China.

Silencing of HMGA2 promotes apoptosis and inhibits migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells.

The high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) has been demonstrated as an architectural transcription factor that is associated with pathogenesis of many malignant cancers; however, its role in prostate cancer cells remains largely unknown. To explore whether HMGA2 participates in the development and progression of prostate cancer, small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted on human HMGA2 was transfected to suppress the HMGA2 expression in prostate cancer PC3 and DU145 cells, and then the cellular biology changes after decreased the expression of HMGA2 was examined. Our results showed that knockdown of HMGA2 markedly inhibited cell proliferation; this reduced cell proliferation was due to the promotion of cell apoptosis as the Bcl-xl was decreased, whereas Bax was up-regulated. In addition, we found that HMGA2 knockdown resulted in reduction of cell migration and invasion, as well as repressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and affected the occurrence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in both cell types. We further found that decreased HMGA2 expression inhibited the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signalling pathway in cancer cells. In conclusion, our data indicated that HMGA2 was associated with apoptosis, migration and invasion of prostate cancer, which might be a promising therapeutic target for prostate cancer.

IL-17 Induces MPTP opening through ERK2 and P53 signaling pathway in human platelets / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) plays a critical role in platelet activation. However, the potential trigger of the MPTP opening in platelet activation remains unknown. Inflammation is the crucial trigger of platelet activation. In this study, we aimed to explore whether and how the important inflammatory cytokine IL-17 is associated with MPTP opening in platelets activation by using MPTP inhibitor cyclosporine-A (CsA). The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was detected to reflect MPTP opening levels. And the platelet aggregation, activation, and the primary signaling pathway were also tested. The results showed that the MPTP opening levels were increased and Δψm reduced in platelets administrated with IL-17. Moreover, the levels of aggregation, CD62P, PAC-1, P53 and the phosphorylation of ERK2 were enhanced along with the MPTP opening in platelets pre-stimulated with IL-17. However, CsA attenuated these effects triggered by IL-17. It was suggested that IL-17 could induce MPTP opening through ERK2 and P53 signaling pathway in platelet activation and aggregation.

Clinical analysis for the application of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of patients with a retroperitoneal space-occupying lesion

To report our experience and to evaluate the application of endoscopic ultrasonography [EUS] in the qualitative diagnosis of retroperitoneal space-occupying lesions. Twenty-six patients with retroperitoneal space-occupying lesions confirmed by CT or MRI were studied. All the patients underwent endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration [EUS-FNA] at the Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Hubei Province, China from August 2009 to August 2011. Different parameters were evaluated, such as complications of EUS-FNA, the ratio of definite pathological diagnosis, and the pathologic types of all the specimens. Of the 26 patients, 24 had definite pathological diagnosis; the ratio of histodiagnosis was 92.3%. There were no complications such as hemorrhage, infection, or injury to the abdominal viscera in the process of EUS-FNA. Eight patients had benign tumors, with a ratio of 33.3%, and 16 patients had malignant tumors, with a ratio of 66.7%. Two patients had no definite pathological diagnosis because of the shortness of tissue sample. Eight patients did not undergo operation due to the diagnosis of benign tumors. The EUS-FNA has the advantage of lower complications, and higher diagnostic ratio, which is valuable in the qualitative diagnosis of retroperitoneal space-occupying lesions

Analysis of potential risk factor of plague in Wanzhou section of the There Gorges Reservoir area / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To find out the potential risk factor of plague in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control of plague. Methods Rodents were captured by rat traps/cages at night and identified into species in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area from 2001 to 2009. Flea was counted and serum antibodies against plague F1 of rats, cats and dogs were detected by indirect hemagglutination (IHA). Plague surveillances were performed in human beings and rats. Results The rodents captured belonged to 9 species, 2 families, 2 orders and 1 classes. The average indoor rodent density was 1.16% (961/82 558), and was 1.12% (1345/119 671) outdoors. Rattus norvegicus was the dominant species,accounting for 50.37%. The proportion of R. Flavipectus was 3.80% in 2004, 4.50% in 2008 and 10.12% in 2009,showing an increasing trend year by year. There were three kinds of mice infected fleas in Wanzhou, which including Xenopsylla cheopis, Leptopsylla segnis and Ctenocephalides felis. The average rate of flea infected mice was 1.18%(82/6959) and the total flea index was 0.036. No F1 antibody against plague was detected in 6959 dogs and 160 cats serum samples. Conclusions No plague is found in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area. But R.Flavipectus, Xenopsylla cheopis and Leptopsylla segnis are dominant species in Wanzhou section, and the proportion of which shows an increasing trends year by year. There is a potential risk of plague outbreaks in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area.