miR-124 regulates radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells by targeting PRRX1 / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of miR-124 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells and tissue specimens and analyze its association with the radiosensitivity of the cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of miR-124 in CRC cell lines and tissues were detected using qRT-PCR. The effect of miR-124 in modulating cell radiosensitivity was assessed in CRC cells with miRNA-124 overexpression and miRNA-124 knockdown, and bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter system were employed to identify the direct target of miR-124.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>s miR-124 expression was down-regulated in CRC cell lines and tissues. CRC cells over-expressing miR-124 showed an obviously enhanced radiosensitivity, whereas miR-124 knockdown resulted in a reduced radiosensitivity of the cells. Bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter system verified PRRX1 as a direct target of miR-124, which regulated the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by directly inhibiting PRRX1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>miR-124 can enhance the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by directly targeting PRRX1, which provides a target for improving the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy of CRC.</p>

Bioactive quinolizidine alkaloids from Sophora tonkinensis / 中国中药杂志

Twelve quinolizidine alkaloids were isolated from Sophora tonkinensis by means of silica gel, preparative MPLC, and preparative HPLC. On analysis of NMR spectroscopic data, their structures were established as 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dehydroquinolizidine(1), lanatine A(2), cermizines C(3), senepodines G(4), senepodines H(5), jussiaeiines A(6), jussiaeiines B(7),(+)-5α-hydroxyoxysophocarpine(8),(-)-12β-hydroxyoxysophocarpine(9),(-)-clathrotropine(10),(-)-cytisine(11), and (-)-N-methylcytisine(12), respectively. Compounds 1-7 were first isolated from Sophora L. plant. In the in vitro assays,the isolated compounds 1, 3, 6-10 exhibited potent activity against CVB3 with IC₅₀ of 6.40, 3.25, 4.66, 3.21, 0.12, 0.23 and 1.60, and with selective index values(SI=TC₅₀/IC₅₀)of 12.0, 5.6, 13.0, 15.1, 50.1, 26.2, and 23.6, respectively. Compounds 1, 3, and 7 exhibited activity against staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 29213)with MICvalues of 8.0, 3.5, 6.0 g•L⁻¹, respectively. Compounds 1, 3, 7, and 12 exhibited activity against staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 33591)with MIC values of 18.0, 7.5, 8.0, 12.0 g•L⁻¹, respectively. Compounds 2, 6, 7 exhibited activity against Escherichia coli(ATCC 25922) with MIC values of 1.0, 3.2, 0.8 g•L⁻¹.

Chemical constituents from Pteris multifida and cytotoxic activity / 中国中药杂志

The materials were extracted by 95% ethanol, and the extracting solution was isolated by kinds of chromatographic columns including polyamide, MCI, preparative MPLC, and preparative HPLC. Eight diterpenes and two sesquiterpenes were isolated from the plant. On analysis of ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic data, the structures were established as ent-3β-hydroxy-kaur-16-en-19-al (1), 4-epi-kaurenic acid (2), mitrekaurenone (3), 7β,16α,17-trihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (4), crotonkinin E (5), crotonkinin F (6), pterisolic acid A (7), pterisolic acid C (8), (2R)-pterosin P (9), and dehydropterosin B (10). Compounds 1-6 were obtained from Pteris for the first time, and compounds 7-10 were obtained from P. ensiformis for the first time. Compounds 5-8 showed moderate activity against HCT-116, HepG2 and BGC-823 cell lines, separately.

Association between single nucleotide polymorphism locus rs189037 in the promoter of ATM gene and nasopharyngeal carcinoma susceptibility in Cantonese / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the promoter of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene and the susceptibility of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Cantonese.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 176 NPC Cantonese NPC patients and 202 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. G/A genotyping of the SNP locus rs189037 in the promoter of ATM gene was performed by PCR and direct sequencing of the PCR products.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genotype frequency of heterozygote G/A was 50% (88/176) and 47.5% (96/202), and that of the homozygote variant A/A was 15.3% (27/176) and 18.3% (37/202) in NPC patients and healthy individuals, respectively. Statistics analysis revealed no evident correlations of the G/A and A/A genotypes to the clinical phenotypes of NPC in either NPC group or healthy control group (OR7equals;1.022, 95%CIequals;0.668-1.564 for G/A+A/A). Analysis after stratification by age and gender found no such correlations either.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The genotype frequencies of SNP locus rs189037 in the promoter of ATM gene are similar between NPC patients and healthy subjects, suggesting that rs189037 is not related to the genetic susceptibility of NPC in Cantonese.</p>

Design of a 3D afterloading brachytherapy simulation system based on CT images / 中国医疗器械杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To design a new afterloading brachytherapy simulation system based on CT images.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This paper mainly focuses on the anthropomorphic pelvic phantom spiled by three pipelines and the nasopharyngeal carcinoma spiled by two pipelines. Microsoft Visual C++ was used to parse CT images for some information, then to reconstruct pipelines in the body of phantom or the patient and to give the three-dimensional coordinate of dwelling points. The dose distribution displayed on CT images was processed by the dose distribution calculation methods near single afterloading source and the dose optimization methods. VTK technology was used in the 3D display in the system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to the reference points applied by doctors, the system can calculate reversely the dwelling time of dwelling points in pipelines and get satisfying dose distribution on CT images. Besides, it can reflect the 3D relationship between the dose volume and the normal tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This system overcomes some deficiencies of 2D afterloading brachytherapy simulation system based on X-ray films which are used widely in China. It supplies 3D display of dose distribution for clinical doctors. At present, the system is being tested in clinics.</p>

Expression and identification of the extracellular domain of human epidermal growth factor receptor type III variant / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clone the extracellular domain (ECD) of the type III variant of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII) and construct the recombinant expression plasmid.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A DNA fragment (vIII ECD) encoding the extracellular domain of human EGFRvIII was obtained by PCR, and its T-A was cloned and sequenced. The DNA fragment was then ligated into the GST fusion expression vector to construct the recombination plasmid. After identification with restriction digestion and DNA sequencing, the recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) for expression of the recombinant protein. The target protein was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of restriction digestion and DNA sequencing confirmed the successful construction of the recombinant plasmid. SDS-PAGE showed that the fusion protein was expressed as inclusion bodies in E. coli BL21 (DE3), and the amount of the fusion protein expressed in the bacteria, after induction for 4 h, accounted for up to 15% of the total bacterial proteins. Western blotting demonstrated that the fusion protein could be recognized by the specific anti-EGFR antibody.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We have successfully constructed the recombinant expression vector of vIII ECD and induced the expression of the fusion protein, which may facilitate functional and immunological studies of EGFRvIII.</p>

Reduced irradiation target volume of mediastinal lymph node drainage in conformal radiotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer after thoracic surgery / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To decrease lung and esophageal radiation injuries by reducing irradiation target volume of mediastinal lymph mode drainage in conformal radiotherapy (CRT) for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after thoracic surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-three patients with NSCLC were randomized into groups A and B to receive 3D-CRT after thoracic surgery. Patients in group A, according to conventional therapy, received preventive nodal irradiation (PNI) of the mediastinal lymph node drainage, and those in group B, according to pathological nodal staging after operation, did not have PNI of the metastasis-free area to reduce the clinical target volume (CTV). Patients in both groups were treated with conventional fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT) at 2 Gy in each fraction, and 5 fractions each week. All patients were followed up for two years to record their 2-year survival rate, local relapse of lymph node drainage and lung and esophageal radiation injuries.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total 2-year survival rate was 58.5%in these patients and comparable between the two groups. The rates of local regional relapse and recurrence out of the CTV were 13.8% and 3.4% in group A and 16.7% and 8.3% in group B, respectively (P=1 and P=0.571). The incidence of radiation pneumonia and lung fibrosis were 6.9% and 62.1% in group A and 0% and 58.3% in group B (P=0.459 and P=0.782), and that of radiation esogphagitis and esophagus stricture rates were 27.6% and 6.9% in group A and 12.5% and 4.2% in group B, respectively (P=0.039 and P=1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Reduced CTV does not warrant decrease in the local control but may lower the incidence of acute esophageal radiation injury in postoperative patients with NSCLC.</p>

Advances in anti-tumor therapy targeted type Ⅲ variant of the epidermal growth factor receptor mutation / 国外医学(肿瘤学分册)

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in many epithelial cancers,and is commonly caused by EGFR gene amplification and gene mutations. The most frequently occurring variant,the type III mutation (EGFRvIII) ,is characterized by an inframe deletion of exons 2-7 of the coding sequence. It is expressed only in tumors and not found in normal tissues, and therefore represents an attractive therapeutic target. The tumor therapy methods targeted for EGFRvIII include immu-notherapy, ribozyme, RNA interference, etc.

Screening of peptide inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase from 12-mer random phage display peptide library / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen the peptide inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from 12-mer random phage display peptide library.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human AChE was used as the target to screen its binding peptides from 12-mer random phage display peptide library. The positive phage clones were isolated after three rounds of biopanning followed then by sequence analysis and their activity evaluation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six positive phage clones binding to human AChE were obtained, and 4 of them sharing the conservative sequence W(S/P)HY inhibited the enzyme activity of AChE.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acquisition of AChE inhibitor from phage display library provides clues for designing peptide inhibitors of AChE.</p>

Control study on effect of pricking collateral blood therapy combined with massage on mild carpal tunnel syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effect of massage alone or in combination with pricking collateral blood therapy (PCBT) on mild carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases with mild CTS were randomly assigned into two groups, the control group treated with massage therapy alone, and the treated group with PCBT at the six Jing points of the affected upper limb combined with massage, 30 cases in each group. The therapy was conducted in all patients for 3 courses. The therapeutic effect was observed and the differential value (D-value) of sensory conduction velocity (SCV) between the median and ulnar nerves of the fourth digit (D4) was detected before and after each course of therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 3 treatment courses, excellent, therapeutic effect was shown in 26 patients and good effect in 4 of the treated group, while in the control group, the effect was excellent in 8, good in 20, and improved in 2. The effect was better in the former group than that in the latter (P<0.05). Marked difference in the D-value of SCV was shown at the end of each course in both groups (P<0.05). As compared it between the two groups, significant difference was shown at the end of the 1st and 3rd course respectively (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined treatment of massage and PCBT showed better effect on mild CTS than massage therapy alone, and the onset time may positively correlated to the frequency of applying PCBT.</p>

Effect of vitamin B12 mixed solution inhalation for acute radiation-induced mucosal injury / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic effect of inhalation of vitamin B12 mixed solution in treating acute radiation-induced mucosal injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 122 patients with acute radiation-induced mucosal injury resulting from radiotherapy were divided into two equal groups and received vitamin B12 mixed solution inhalation and gentamycin sulfate mixed solution inhalation, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients receiving inhalation of vitamin B12 mixed solution showed favorable response to the treatment and the mucosal injury was alleviated as manifested by relieved pains, improved appetite and lessened body weight loss, which allowed uninterrupted administration of radiotherapy. In patients treated with inhalation of gentamycin sulfate mixed solution, by contrast, the mucosal injury was serious and in 8 patients radiotherapy had to be suspended for acute radiation-induced mucosal injury.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Vitamin B12 mixed solution inhalation can be an effective treatment for acute radiation-induced mucosal injury.</p>