Scutellarin alleviates tensile stress-induced proliferation and migration of venous smooth muscle cells via mediating the p38 MAPK pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal proliferation and migration of biomechanical force-induced venous smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a major cause to limit the efficacy of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for coronary heart disease (CHD). Scutellarin is the main active ingredient of Erigeron Breviscapus, and has broad-spectrum pharmacological effects. Therefore, the present study was proposed to investigate the effect of Scutellarin on VSMCs under tensile stress. METHODS: After interfering with VSMCs at different tensile stresses, the optimal tensile stress was screened. In a tensile stress environment, 100 µM Scutellarin and Hesperetin (p38 MAPK pathway activator) was used to treatment with VSMCs. CCK-8, EDU, Wound healing, flow cytometry and western blotting assays were used to detect cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Caspase3, Bcl2 and Bax). RESULTS: Tensile stress with 10% significantly enhanced the activity, wound-healing ratio, and EDU+ cells of VSMCs, and decreased their apoptosis ratio. Moreover, it upregulated Bcl2 expression, and downregulated cleaved-Caspase3 and Bax expression of VSMCs. Hence, 10% tensile stress was selected to creates a tensile stress environment for VSMCs. Interestingly, 100 µM Scutellarin alleviated the effect of 10% tensile stress on the phenotype of VSMCs. Notably, 10% tensile stress increased the phosphorylation level of p38 MAPK (Thr180 +Tyr182) in VSMCs, which was restricted by Scutellarin. Further, Hesperetin restored the effect of Scutellarin on the phenotype of VSMCs. CONCLUSION: Scutellarin alleviates tension stress-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs via suppressing p38 MAPK pathway. Scutellarin may be used as an adjunctive strategy for future GABG treatment in CHD patients.

Runt-Related Transcription Factor 1 Regulates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury via NF-κB Signaling.

Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1), a transcription factor expressed in multiple organs, plays important roles in embryonic development and hematopoiesis. Although RUNX1 is highly expressed in pulmonary tissues, its roles in lung function and homeostasis are unknown. We sought to assess the role of RUNX1 in lung development and inflammation after LPS challenge. Expression of RUNX1 was assessed in the developing and postnatal lung. RUNX1 was conditionally deleted in pulmonary epithelial cells. Pulmonary maturation was evaluated in the developing and postnatal lung, and lung inflammation was investigated in adult mice after LPS challenge. Interactions between RUNX1 and inflammatory signaling via NF-κB-IkB kinase ß were assessed in vitro. RUNX1 was expressed in both mesenchymal and epithelial compartments of the developing and postnatal lung. The RUNX1 gene was efficiently deleted from respiratory epithelial cells producing Runx1∆/∆ mice. Although lung maturation was delayed, Runx1∆/∆ mice survived postnatally and subsequent growth and maturation of the lung proceeded normally. Increased respiratory distress, inflammation, and proinflammatory cytokines were observed in the Runx1-deleted mice after pulmonary LPS exposure. RUNX1 deletion was associated with the activation of NF-κB in respiratory epithelial cells. RUNX1 was required for the suppression of NF-κB signaling pathway via inhibition of IkB kinase ß in in vitro studies. RUNX1 plays a critical role in the lung inflammation after LPS-induced injury.

A New Quantitative Method for Evaluating Dry Powder Inhalation Efficiency in Asthma Patients.

PURPOSE: Many methods have been developed to evaluate dry powder inhalation techniques and their efficiency for disease control in asthma patients. However, it is difficult to apply these methods to clinical practice and research. In this study, we introduce a simple new method that can be applied to dry powder inhalation techniques to evaluate their efficiency in clinical practice. METHODS: Twenty volunteers were recruited to evaluate the reliability of this new method. One hundred one asthma patients who met the inclusion criteria participated in this study. A dark cloth covered the outlet of the inhaler during dry powder inhalation. The image formed by the inhalation process was evaluated using analysis software and converted into integrated optical density (IOD). Inhalation techniques were scored before and after inhalation technique training, and asthma control was evaluated using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) before inhalation technique training. RESULTS: The relative standard deviation of IOD ranged from 3.8% to 7.8%. In patients with or without inhaler prior use, both the IOD and inhalation technique scores improved significantly after inhalation technique training (p < 0.05). Inhalation technique scores were positively correlated with IOD before (r = 0.80, p < 0.001) and after inhalation technique training (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). In patients with prior inhaler experience, ACQ results were negatively correlated with inhalation technique scores (r = -0.44; p < 0.05) and IOD (r = -0.52; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results from this study demonstrated that this quantitative method is equivalent to traditional methods for dry powder inhalation evaluation. This study also indicated that training significantly improved the inhalation technique and efficiency in asthma patients with or without prior inhaler use.

Increased Plasma miRNA-30a as a Biomarker for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND MicroRNA (miRNA) is a small, non-coding RNA molecule which plays a role in the carcinogenesis and progression of cancers. Abnormal expression of miRNA in plasma has been found in some patients with malignant tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was conducted to investigate the expression of miRNA-30a in plasma of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The plasma miRNA-30a in 87 patients with NSCLC, 20 patients with benign lung diseases, and 76 healthy subjects were measured by real-time PCR. The diagnostic value of miRNA-30a in NSCLC was evaluated via the ROC curve method. RESULTS Plasma miRNA-30a level was significantly higher in the NSCLC group compared with benign control and healthy control groups (P<0.01). No statistically significant difference was found in the expression level of miRNA-30a among various clinical pathologic features in NSCLC. ROC curve analysis showed that the specificity and sensitivity cut-off points were at 61.0% and 84.3% for NSCLC. The specificity and sensitivity values were 54.9% and 94.4%, respectively, in the analysis based on in-patients only. CONCLUSIONS All these results suggest that plasma miRNA-30a measurement may be a novel and noninvasive method for NSCLC preliminary screening and differential diagnosis.

MiR-940 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth and correlates with prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the leading causes of cancer-related death in China. Deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) contributes to HCC development by influencing cell growth, apoptosis, migration or invasion. It has been proved that miR-940 plays important roles in various cancers. Here we investigated the role of miR-940 in HCC. We found that miR-940 was remarkably decreased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Importantly, lower miR-940 expression in HCC tissues significantly correlated with the reduced patient's survival rate. Overexpression of miR-940 inhibited HCC cell line growth and induced cell apoptosis, and vice versa. Estrogen-related receptor gamma (ESRRG) was targeted by miR-940, and suppression of ESRRG inhibited HCC cell lines growth and induced cell apoptosis. In conclusion, we found that a lower level of miR-940 in HCC promoted cellular proliferation via ESRRG, which may lead to the short survival period of HCC patients.

Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma initially diagnosed as squamous metaplasia: A case report and literature review.

A mass was detected in the middle lobe of the right lung of a 58-year-old female. The patient did not present any symptoms and was a nonsmoker. Diagnostic evaluation revealed squamous metaplasia in the middle lobe of the right lung. During surgery, a tumor was identified, which was diagnosed as a lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC). LELCs have been mainly reported in the Asian population and are associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBVs), while they are not associated with smoking. Squamous metaplasia, which is the basis of squamous cell carcinoma, differs from LELC in the therapeutic methods used and the prognostic evaluation. Squamous metaplasia requires regular follow-up in out-patient clinics, while pulmonary LELC is treated by surgery and chemotherapy. Therefore, distinguishing between LELCs and other nonmalignant or premalignant conditions is essential.

Cavernous hemangioma of thymus misdiagnosed as thymoma: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Cavernous hemangioma in the thymus is a rare presentation in mediastinal hemangiomas. The diagnosis is difficult to make promptly because both invasive and noninvasive examinations usually fail to distinguish it from other tumors of the mediastinum. Their clinical presentations depends on their size and their involvement with adjacent mediastinal structures. CASE PRESENTATION: We treated a 52-year-old man with thymic cavernous hemangioma that was incidentally detected by chest radiography during a routine health check, and had been misdiagnosed as thymoma before the operation. The tumor was completely resected by thymectomy via video-assisted thoracic surgery. The pathological tissue was diagnosed as a cavernous hemangioma, and no phlebolith was observed in the center. CONCLUSIONS: We reported this case of thymic cavernous hemangioma for its extremely rare occurrence in the thymus. The preoperative diagnosis remains a challenge both clinically and radiologically. It is still difficult to distinguish this tumor from other tumors in the thymus. Furthermore, biopsies might not result in a definitive diagnosis. Finally, surgical resection provides material for histopathologic diagnosis. To facilitate the preoperative diagnosis of such a rare tumor, more cases will need to be reported.

Rare solitary neoplasm of the costa in an adult: a case report.

Regional solitary plasmacytoma of the costa is a rare disease and is characterized by only one or two isolated bone lesions. We report the case of a solitary plasmacytoma of the bone of the right chest wall in an adult. The patient underwent complete enbloc resection of the chest wall including ribs, muscle and parietal pleura. The patient is asymptomatic without any recurrence after two months of follow-up.

Increased circulating obestatin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Some peptides, which regulate the metabolic balance, are thought to play important roles in nutritional disorders and systemic inflammation in COPD. Treatment of rats with obestatin decreased body-weight gain. Obestatin was also found to be correlated with inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. The aims of this study were to investigate the level of circulating obestatin in COPD and to analyze the relationship among obestatin and nutritional status, and systemic inflammation. METHODS: 32 COPD patients with BMI less than 20 kg/m2 and 22 normal controls were included. Body composition was estimated using "foot-to-foot" BIA technology. Circulating obestatin was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pulmonary function, TNF-α and C reactive protein were also measured. RESULTS: The level of circulating obestatin was higher in COPD with underweight than that in normal control (5562.75 ± 3435.43 pg/ml in COPD, 3663.90 ± 2313.95 pg/ml in controls, p = 0.028). BMI, Waist circumference, hip circumference, bodyFAT and FAT% in COPD group were lower than those in normal control. Positive correlation was found among circulating C reactive protein, TNF-α and obestatin. There was no significant correlation among BMI, pulmonary function and obestatin. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that circulating obestatin is higher in underweight COPD patients, and positively correlated to systemic inflammation, but not to nutritional status.