Knockdown of long non-coding RNA ANRIL inhibits tumorigenesis in human gastric cancer cells via microRNA-99a-mediated down-regulation of BMI1

Long non-coding RNA antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) has been reported to promote tumorigenesis via regulating microRNA (miR)-99a in gastric cancer cells. However, the role of each component involved in it is still not well understood. This study aimed to verify the role of ANRIL in gastric cancer as well as the underlying mechanisms. ANRIL levels in clinical gastric cancer tissues and cell lines were tested by qPCR. Effects of ANRIL silence on cell viability, migration and invasion, apoptosis, and miR-99a expression in MKN-45 and SGC-7901 cells were measured using CCK-8, Transwell assay, flow cytometry, and qPCR assays, respectively. Then, effects of miR-99a inhibition on ANRIL-silenced cells were evaluated. B-lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 (BMI1) expression, after abnormal expression of ANRIL and miR-99a, was determined. Finally, expression of key proteins in the apoptotic, Notch, and mTOR pathways was assessed. ANRIL level was elevated in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of ANRIL suppressed cell viability, migration, and invasion, and increased apoptosis through up-regulating miR-99a. Furthermore, ANRIL silence down-regulated BMI1 via up-regulating miR-99a. BMI1 silence down-regulated Bcl-2 and key kinases in the Notch and mTOR pathways and up-regulated p16 and cleaved caspases. We verified the tumor suppressive effects of ANRIL knockdown in gastric cancer cells via crosstalk with miR-99a. Together, we provided a novel regulatory mechanism for ANRIL in gastric cancer, in which ANRIL silence down-regulated BMI1 via miR-99a, along with activation of the apoptotic pathway and inhibition of the Notch and mTOR pathways.

Efficacy of totally thoracoscopic surgery in repair of ventricular septal defect / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To analyze the clinical efficacy of totally thoracoscopic surgery and conventional thoracotomy in repair of ventricular septal defect (VSD). Methods    We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 50 VSD patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2015 to January 2017. According to the surgical pattern, they were divided into two groups: a totally thoracoscopic surgery group (21 patients, 13 males, 8 females, aged 38.36±10.02 years), and a thoracotomy group (29 patients, 18 males, 11 females, aged 42.36±13.02 years). The operation time, hospital stay, ventilator-assisted time and thoracic drainage were compared between the two groups. Results    There was no death in two groups. In the thoracoscopic group the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and the aortic clamping time were longer than those of the thoracotomy group (P<0.05), but postoperative drainage, patients with postoperative use of blood products and postoperative hospital stay were less (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in operation time, postoperative ventilator-assisted time or duration of ICU stay. Conclusion     Compared with the conventional thoracotomy, totally thoracoscopic VSD repair with less trauma, quicker recovery and less blood use, is safe and reliable and can be used as a preferred surgical intervention.

Individualized anticoagulation versus empirical anticoagulation therapy after cardiac valve replacement in Uygur patients: A randomized controlled trial / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate whether the individualized anticoagulation therapy based on CYP2C9 and VKORC1 gene is superior to empirical anticoagulation therapy after artificial heart valve replacement surgery in Uygur patients. Methods    From December 2012 to December 2015, 210 Uygur patients who underwent artificial heart valve replacement surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were randomly assigned to a genetic anticoagulation therapy group (group A, n=106, 41 females and 65 males, aged 44.7±10.02 years) or an empirical anticoagulation therapy group (group B, n=104, 47 females and 57 males, aged 45.62±10.01 years) according to the random number table. CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotypes were tested in the group A and then wafarin of administration in anticoagulation therapy was recommended. Patients in the group B were treated with conventional anticoagulation. Patients in both groups were followed up for 1 month and coagulation function was regularly tested. Results    The percentage of patients with INR values of 1.8-2.5 after 4 weeks warfarin anticoagulation treatment in the group A was higher than that in the group B (47.1% vs. 32.7%, P=0.038). The rate of INR≥3.0 in the warfarin anticoagulation therapy period in the group A was lower than that in the group B (21.6% vs. 26.5%, P=0.411). The time to reach the standard INR value and the time to get maintenance dose were shorter in the group A compared with the group B (8.80±3.07 d vs.   9.26±2.09 d, P=0.031; 14.25±4.55 d vs. 15.33±1.85 d, P=0.032). Bleeding occured in one patient in the group A and three patients in the group B (P=0.293). Embolic events occured in three patients in the group A and five patients in the group B (P=0.436). Conclusion    Compared with the empirical anticoagulation, the genetic anticoagulation based on wafarin dosing model can spend less time and make more patients to reach the standard INR value. However there is no significant difference between the two groups in the ratio of INR≥3.0, bleeding and embolic events in the warfarin anticoagulation therapy.

Population biology of the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides from Goe-san lake, Korea.

The population biology of Micropterus salmoides were examined in Goe-san Lake from March 2010 to February 2011. The development of ovary and testis was separated into 5 stages by the criteria. The ratio of females to males increased with total length. Females were sampled in slightly larger size and greater number. Mean size and age was greater for females (255 mm total length and 2.03 years, respectively) than males (227 mm and 2.44 years, respectively). Growth was described by 3 parameter von Bertalanffy model by otoliths as Lt = 459.01(1-exp [-0.126(t+0.416)]). The spawning season of M. salmoides was from April to June, with a peak in May by the gonadosomatic indices and the monthly proportions of female and male gonad stages. Ripe females were collected during the spawning period. Mean fecundity was 27656±1424 oocytes every female. Fecundity was positively correlated with total length, and it was described by mean fecundity 202.4 Total length – 38188. Higher fecundity well indicated that the largemouth bass has a flexible spawning strategy and has acclimatized well to Goe-san Lake.