Role and mechanism of FOXG1 in invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer / 生物工程学报

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Forkhead Box G1 (FOXG1) on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and the underlying mechanism. For this purpose, FOXG1 lentiviral interference (shRNA) plasmid and expression plasmid were constructed. Western blotting was used to analyze the expression of FOXG1 protein in five CRC cells, namely RKO, SW480, SW620, LoVo and DLD-1. The shRNA fragment of FOXG1 (shFOXG1) was designed and synthesized. Recombinant plasmids were obtained with the aid of DNA recombination technique. Double digestion and sequencing were used to identify the recombinant plasmids, and then lentivirus packaging, purification and stable transfection were carried out. Additionally, stable CRC cell lines were screened out. The changes of FOXG1 knockdown and overexpression efficiency, E-cadherin, Vimentin, Fibronectin, Snail, Twist mRNA and protein were investigated respectively by Western blotting and qRT-PCR analysis. Furthermore, the changes of cell morphology after knockdown and cell migration ability were evaluated respectively with optical microscopy, scratch test and Transwell assay. FOXG1 had the highest protein expression in RKO and the lowest in DLD-1 among the five CRC cells. Compared with those of the control group, the cell morphology in FOXG1 knockdown RKO group was changed from spindle into round or polygonal shape, cell polarization was enhanced and tight junction assembly was acclerated while cell migration distance was noticeably decreased. Moreover, the number of cells invaded and migrated through chambers was significantly reduced. Among these key factors of EMT, the expression of E-cadherin was increased while the expressions of Vimentin, Fibronectin, Snail and Twist were decreased. The opposite was the case in the overexpressed FOXG1 group. The overexpression of FOXG1 in CRC promoted the invasion and metastasis of CRC cells and played a crucial role in regulating the EMT. Thus, FOXG1 might be a novel therapeutic target in CRC treatment.

Experimental study on therapeutic effect of Dabuyin Wan on true precocious puberty in female rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the therapeutic effect of Dabuyin Wan on true precocious puberty of female rats and its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Twenty-two-day-old female SD rats were subcutaneously injected with 40 mg x kg(-1) N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid (NMA) at 14:00 and 16:00 every day; meanwhile, the rats were given Dabuyin Wan for intervention. Visual inspection was conducted for the time of vaginal opening. The first estrus was observed by yaginal smear test. Their ovaries and uterus were weighed to calculate organ coefficients. Conventional pathological slices were made to observe morphological changes in ovaries and uterus and calculate the thickness of uterine walls and the number of corpus luteums. The level of E2 in serum was detected to assess the therapeutic effect of Dabuyin Wan on NMA precocious puberty in rats. expressions of GnRH, GPR54 and Kiss-1 mRNA in hypothalamus were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR to investigate the possible mechanism of Dabuyin Wan.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Dabuyin Wan at 3.24 g x kg(-1) and 1.62 g x kg(-1) significantly decreased the organ coefficients in rats with precocious puberty (P < 0.05), decrease the number of vaginal openings in rats (P < 0.01) and the thickness of uterine walls and the number of corpus luteums (P < 0.05), and notably down-regulated expressions of GnRH, GPR54 and Kiss-1 mRNA in hypothalamus (P < 0.05), without significant impact on E2 in serum.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dabuyin Wan may inhibit GnRH synthesis and release as well as startup of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis by down-regulating Kiss-1/GPR54 mRNA expression in hypothalamus, in order to realize the therapeutic effect on true precocious puberty.</p>

Clinical application of transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap reserving partial anterior sheath (TRAM-RPAS) in the one-stage breast reconstruction for patients with breast cancer / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical application of TRAM-RPAS flap in the one-stage breast reconstruction for patients with breast cancer, and to discuss the method to reduce the incidence of abdominal hernia and abdominal bulging.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 2002 to 2004, 16 cases of breast cancer (9 cases in stage I or II and 7 in stage III) received radical resection and breast reconstruction with TRAM-RPAS flaps at the same stage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Good symmetry was achieved in 12 cases. In the other 4 cases, 3 cases had moderate breast poptosis and one case had breast hypoplasia on the unaffected side. All the flaps survived with only one case of abdominal bulging.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TRAM-RPAS flap can achieve the same result as traditional TRAM-RPAS flap in the one-stage breast reconstruction, while the incidence of abdominal complication is lower for TRAM-RPAS flap.</p>

The endoscopically assisted forehead lift using skull cortical tunnel fixation--a report of 19 cases / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of the fixation on skull and thorough mobilization of the brow area on the results of the endoscopically assisted subperiosteal forehead lift.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The operation procedure included adequate subperiosteal dissection, especially at the frontotemporal transition area; complete mobilization of the brow area and fixation of the incised scalp to the skull through a cortical tunnel without tension. 19 patients received the operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Long-term follow-up showed that all the 19 patients were satisfied with the surgical results. A transient frontal branch paresis happened in one case, which resolved in 3 months spontaneously without sequelae.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Cortical tunnel fixation well keeps the brows at a lifted position and achieves persistent rejuvenation of the forehead.</p>

The therapy with rhVEGF gene for ischemic TRAM flap in rats / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a stable ischemic TRAM flap model in rats and observe the effects of rhVEGF gene on the ischemic flap.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Materials were administrated via subcutaneous injection 5 days before the TRAM flap procedure. 32 animals were divided into four groups. The first group was treated with PcDNA3.1 VEGF; the second group with PcDNA3.1 as the negative control; the third group with normal saline as the frank control, and the fourth group with VEGF as the positive control. The material was given while the procedures were performed. The serum levels of VEGF before and after the operation were measured with ELISA kit. The flap was harvested for immunohistological evidence of VEGF protein expression. The viable area of the flap was calculated with AutoCAD software. The microvessel density(MVD) of the subcutaneous tissue of the flap was counted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average viable area of the TRAM flap in model animals was (3.61 +/- 1.06) cm2 [(16.04 +/- 4.71)%]. Comparing the mean viable area of the flap in the PcDNA3.1 VEGF group[(7.98 +/- 2.64) cm2] with that in the normal saline group [(4.13 +/- 1.77) cm2], the difference was significant(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the PcDNA3.1 VEGF group and the VEGF group[(7.31 +/- 1.22)cm2] in terms of mean viable flap area. The difference of mean MVD values between the PcDNA3.1 VEGF group and the negative control group was significant(P < 0.05), but was not significant between the gene treatment group and the positive control group. The serum level of VEGF did not increase significantly up to 9 days after the administration of PcDNA3.1 VEGF(P > 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining documented the increased deposition of VEGF protein in the plasma of endothelial cells of the flap that was injected with PcDNA3.1 VEGF.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The unilateral inferior-pedicled TRAM flap as an ischemic flap model is stable and suitable for statistic treatment. Subcutaneous injection of rhVEGF gene can express biologically active VEGF at the site, increase MVD and the viable area of the TRAM flap.</p>