MicroRNA-34a/EGFR axis plays pivotal roles in lung tumorigenesis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are vital in the regulation of tumor progression and invasion. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been linked to the development of various types of human cancers, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the effect of miRNA-34a (miR-34a), a key regulator of tumor suppression, on the tumorigenesis of NSCLC has not been fully elaborated. Herein, we reveal that miR-34a is significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, suggesting that miR-34a might function as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer. We also confirmed that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a direct target of miR-34a, and our data reveal that siRNA knockdown of EGFR can inhibit cell proliferation, promote apoptosis and arrest cell-cycle progression. In addition, EGFR can reverse the suppressive function of miR-34a overexpression on proliferation and cell apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that miR-34a suppress tumor growth, both in the A549 xenograft model, as well as in the metastatic tumors in nude mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that miR-34a inhibits NSCLC tumor growth and metastasis through targeting EGFR.

[An analysis of 181 cases with blood stream infection caused by Streptococcus agalactiae in children from 2011 to 2015: a multi-center retrospective study].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of blood stream infection caused by Streptococcus agalactiae in children and the drug-resistance of the isolates. METHOD: All cases with Streptococcus agalactiae growth in blood or cerebrospinal fluid cultures from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 were enrolled by checking the laboratory information system (LIS) from 7 Class 3 Grade A hospitals (4 in Zhejiang, 2 in Shanghai and 1 in Chongqing). Clinical data were collected for analysis. χ(2) test, t test and non parametric test were used in the study. RESULT: One hundred and eighty-one pediatric cases of blood stream infection caused by Streptococcus agalactiae were included in current study. Eighty-six cases (47.5%) were male, and with age range from one day to 9 years (media 13 days). Thirty cases (16.6%) were premature infants and 127 cases (70.2%) were born via vaginal delivery. Seventy-one cases (39.2%) had early onset (<7 d) infections, and 106 cases (58.6%) had late onset (7-89 d) infections. Seventy-eight cases (43.1%) were complicated with purulent meningitis. Incidences of vaginal delivery(81.7%(58/71) vs. 62.3%(66/106)), shortness of breath moaning (43.7%(31/71) vs. 15.1%(16/106)) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (25.4%(18/71) vs. 3.8%(4/106)) were higher in the early onset infection group compared with the late onset group(P all<0.05). However, the number of cases who had fever(25.4%(18/71)vs.85.8%(91/106)) and complicated with purulent meningitis (29.6%(21/71) vs. 53.8%(57/106)) in early onset infections group was less than that in the late onset group(P both<0.05). The blood cultures of most patients (87.8%) were performed before the use of antibiotics. Drug-resistant tests showed that the sensitive rates to penicillin G, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were 98.9%, 99.0% and 99.0% respectively. All strains were sensitive to vancomucine. The rates of resistance to clindamycin and erythromycin were 68.0% and 34.0%, respectively. Only 39 cases (22.0%) were treated with single antibiotics of either penicillins or cephalosporins, 80 cases (45.2%) were treated with antibiotics containing ß lactamase inhibitor, 61 cases (34.5%) were treated with either meropenem or cefoperazone-sulbactam. One hundred and fifty-four cases were cured, while 19 died (including 13 complicated with purulent meningitis) and 8 lost to follow up after giving up of treatment. CONCLUSION: The incidence and mortality of blood stream infection caused by Streptococcus agalactiae complicated with purulent meningitis are high in children. Penicillin is the first choice in treatment. Antibiotics should be selected accorrding to the drug-resistance test.

3,9-Bis(dicyanomethylene)-2,4,8,10-tetrathiaspiro[5.5]undecane.

The title compound, 2,2'-(2,4,8,10-tetrathiaspiro[5.5]undecane-3,9-diylidene)bis(propanedinitrile), C(13)H(8)N(4)S(4), has been designed and synthesized for use as a potential new organic molecular electronic material. The spiro-annulated structure has twofold symmetry and is formed by two equal push-pull ethylene units, with the cycloalkylthio groups as electron donors and the cyano groups as electron acceptors. The intermolecular S.N non-bonded separation within a layer in the lattice is 3.296 (6) A, indicating a strong intermolecular interaction between the cyano groups and the S atoms, while the S atoms in two neighbouring molecules have a shortest S.S contact of 3.449 (3) A. In addition, attractive C-H.N and C-H.S interactions bridge adjacent molecules either within a layer or between layers. In short, these four types of intermolecular interactions combine to form an extended three-dimensional network in the lattice, resulting in a highly ordered array of molecular packing.

Relationship between autoregressive model coefficients of EMG and its potentials of jaw closing muscles at rest position and clenching.

At rest position and varied clenching levels at intercuspal position, autoregressive (AR) models of myoelectrical activities of both masseter and anterior temporal muscles of 11 healthy subjects with intact natural dentitions were established. The relationship between the AR model coefficients of surface EMGs and their potentials was analyzed by multiple linear regression. It was found that the fourth order coefficient of AR had the greatest effect on the EMG potential levels and their relationship was positive in all recorded muscles. The results indicate the AR coefficients may become a characteristic parameter to describe myoelectrical activity of jaw closing muscles.

Pancreatic phospholipase A2 in proximal tubules of rat kidney in experimental acute pancreatitis and after intravenous injection of the enzyme.

Kinetics and distribution of i.v. human pancreatic phospholipase A2 (h-PLA2) were determined in intact and nephrectomized rats, and tissue localization of rat pancreatic PLA2 (r-PLA2) was studied by immunohistochemistry in experimental acute pancreatitis. The concentration of h-PLA2 and the catalytic activity of phospholipase A2 in plasma decreased exponentially in intact and nephrectomized animals after the injection. The initial 15-min half-life was considerably longer in nephrectomized animals, and higher h-PLA2 concentrations and PLA2 catalytic activities were found in plasma. h-PLA2 was localized in endocytotic vesicles and apical cytoplasmic vacuoles in proximal tubule cells of the kidney. The intensity of the immunoreaction decreased considerably between 15 and 50 min in these cells. No signs of tubular damage were seen by light microscopy. Neither immunoreactive h-PLA2 nor PLA2 catalytic activity was found in urine. r-PLA2 was observed in proximal tubule cells 15 min after an injection of sodium taurocholate (necrotizing pancreatitis group) or saline (edematous pancreatitis group) into the pancreatic duct. Signs of tubular damage were present in necrotizing pancreatitis, but tubular morphology was normal in the animals with edematous pancreatitis. We conclude that the proximal tubule cells of the kidney participate in the metabolism of circulating pancreatic PLA2, and considerably higher PLA2 levels persist in plasma in nephrectomized animals. Endogenous pancreatic PLA2 is detected in kidneys in acute pancreatitis.

Correlations between an autoregressive model coefficient of the electromyogram of human jaw-closing muscles and maximum clenching time at the intercuspal position.

During maximum clenching in the intercuspal position, surface electromyograms of both masseters and both anterior temporales in seven healthy subjects with intact natural dentitions were sampled to generate a four-order, autoregressive model of the myoelectrical signal. The correlation coefficients and the linear regression between the model coefficients and the clenching time were calculated. The first-order autoregressive coefficient had the greatest negative correlation on average. In this model the first-order coefficient relates to muscular fatigue and the slope of the regressive equation relates to the length of time the isometric contraction can be maintained.

A microcomputer system for collecting and processing physiological information about the masticatory system.

A software system has been written for IBM PC, XT, AT and compatible computers to be used for data collection, analysis and display. The system supports the sampling and processing of data for jaw movement tracks, myoelectrical activities of masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and occlusal sounds and bite force, etc. The package includes the following functions: calculating displacement, velocity, curvature, and curvature center of jaw movement trace, analyzing myoelectrical signals in amplitude integration, root mean square and power spectrum, processing TMJ sounds and occlusal sounds and bite force, analysing jaw movement traces and myoelectrical activities during mastication simultaneously, determining the maxillomandibular relations, etc. The program also provides versatile formatting capability for video, printing and plotting of data, and graph creation. The most of the above programs have flexibility and adaptability to other physiological signal processes.

Sotos syndrome with a balanced reciprocal translocation t(2;12)(q33.3;q15).

A balanced reciprocal translocation, 46,XY, t(2;12), was detected in a male infant who had the characteristic features of Sotos syndrome. His father's karyotype was normal, but his mother and an older brother had the same chromosomal abnormality without a history or clinical features of Sotos syndrome.