Identification of miRNAs as prognostic factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: The prognostic value of microRNAs for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still not be well identified. Methods: The microRNA expression profiles of 119 paired ESCC tissue samples and para-carcinoma tissues from GEO database under accession number of GSE43732. A mutation information based feature selection method was applied to identify the discriminative microRNAs between paired ESCC tissues and para-carcinoma tissues. Results: In para-carcinoma tissues, patients had better survival with higher has-miR-410 (log-rank p = 0.0123), has-miR-411-5p (log-rank p = 0.0152), has-miR-193b-5p (log-rank p = 0.0188) and has-miR-4486 (log-rank p = 0.0307) expression levels. When compared with para-carcinoma tissues, there has more correlations between miRNA expression levels and survival in tumor tissues. We identified 20 potential miRNAs associated with prognosis. Besides, a heatmap was draw to explore miRNA expression levels in tumor tissues and survival. Conclusions: The present study identified 24 miRNAs in 119 paired ESCC tissue samples and para-carcinoma tissues, including 4 miRNAs in para-carcinoma tissues and 20 in tumor tissues, respectively. The dysregulation of these miRNAs were associated with different outcomes. We thought this study could provide novel noninvasive early biomarkers for ESCC patients.

Overexpression of violaxanthin de-epoxidase gene alleviates photoinhibition of PSII and PSI in tomato during high light and chilling stress.

A tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) violaxanthin de-epoxidase gene (LeVDE) was isolated. The deduced amino acid sequence of LeVDE showed high identities with violaxanthin de-epoxidase in other plant species. RNA gel blot analysis showed that the mRNA accumulation of LeVDE in the wild-type (WT) was regulated by diurnal rhythm and temperature. RNA and protein gel blot analyses confirmed that the sense LeVDE was transferred into the tomato genome and overexpressed under the control of 35S-CaMV. The ratio of (A+Z)/(V+A+Z) and the values of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were higher in transgenic plants than those in WT under high light and chilling stress (4 degrees C). The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) decreased markedly in WT compared to transgenic lines under high light stress. The maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry of PSII (Fv/Fm) in transgenic plants decreased more slowly during stresses and recovered faster than that in WT under optimal conditions. The oxidizable P700 in transgenic plants was higher than that in WT under chilling stress. These results suggest that overexpression of LeVDE increased the function of the xanthophyll cycle and alleviated photoinhibition of PSII and PSI in tomato during high light and chilling stress with low irradiance.

Overexpression of sweet pepper glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase gene enhanced thermotolerance of photosynthetic apparatus in transgenic tobacco.

In order to investigate the relationship between the lipid composition in thylakoid membrane and thermostability of photosynthetic apparatus, tobacco transformed with sweet pepper sense glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) gene were used to analyze the lipid composition in thylakoid membrane, the net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under high temperature stress. The results showed that the saturated extent of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol in thylakoid membrane of transgenic tobacco T(1) lines increased generally. Particularly, the saturated extent in MGDG increased obviously by 16.2% and 12.0% in T(1)-2 and T(1)-1, respectively. With stress temperature elevating, the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm), actual photochemical efficiency of PSII in the light (Phi(PSII)) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of the two lines and wild type tobacco plants decreased gradually, but those parameters decreased much less in transgenic plants. Even though the recovery process appeared differently in the donor and acceptor side of PSII in transgenic tobacco compared with wild-type plants, the entire capability of PSII recovered faster in transgenic tobacco, which was shown in the parameters of PI, Fv/Fm and Phi(PSII), as a result, the recovery of Pn was accelerated. Conclusively, we proposed that the increase in saturated extent of thylakoid membrane lipids in transgenic plants enhanced the stability of photosynthetic apparatus under high temperature stress.

[Treatment effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty combined with interventional chemotherapy on vertebral metastases].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Vertebral metastasis is a common manifestation of patients with advanced cancer without effective treatment. This study was to explore treatment value and efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) combined with interventional chemotherapy on vertebral metastases. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with vertebral metastases (42 men, 33 women; aged 31-76 years) were divided into 2 groups: 39 were treated by PVP combined with chemotherapy (VPCC group), and 36 were treated by PVP alone (VP group). All procedures were guided by CT scan. The results and complications were evaluated by pain questionnaire and routine follow-up. RESULTS: Response rate was significantly higher in VPCC group than in VP group (93.0% vs. 74.4%, P < 0.05); complete response rates of VPCC group and VP group were 25.6% and 10.3%. Common complication of VPCC was transient aggravation of pain. CONCLUSIONS: PVP may release the pain, and consolidate the vertebrae of patients with vertebral metastases. Its short-term effect may be enhanced by adding drugs into bone cement.

[Effect of preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy on apoptosis and p53 expression of gastric cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Regional chemotherapy is charactized by a high drug concentration in tumor tissues and slight side-effects. Some significant histopathological changes were observed in the patients with gastric carcinoma treated by selective intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy before operation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy on apoptosis and p53 expression in human gastric cancer and its clinical significance. METHODS: The apoptosis was examined by terminal uridine deoxynucleotide nick end labeling (TUNEL) and the expression of p53 was detected with immunohistochemistry in 33 patients with gastric carcinoma pre- and post-chemotherapy respectively. RESULTS: Apoptosis index(AI) was significantly higher in the post-chemotherapeutic patients than in the pre-chemotherapeutic ones (19.29 +/- 6.48 versus 9.24 +/- 5.03, P < 0.01). In contrast, the positive expression rate of p53 was significantly lower, in the post-chemotherapeutic patients, than in the pre-chemotherapeutic ones(30.30% versus 54.55%, P < 0.05). In the post-chemotherapeutic patients, the droped group of p53 expression were strongly associated with a better clinical response(P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy could enhance the apoptosis of gastric cancer cell, decrease the level of p53 expression and keep the patients for a longer survival.