Sinomenine Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Human Lung Cancer Cell through Downregulating Expression of miR-21 and MMPs.

Sinomenine is an alkaloid derived from Sinomenium acutum. Recent studies have found that sinomenine can inhibit various cancers by inhibiting the proliferation, migration and invasion of tumors and inducing apoptosis. This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of sinomenine on inhibiting the migration and invasion of human lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. The results demonstrate that viabilities of A549 and H1299 cells were inhibited by sinomenine in a dose-dependent manner. When treated with sub-toxic doses of sinomenine, cell migration and invasion are markedly suppressed. Sinomenine decreases the mRNA level of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and the extracellular inducer of matrix metalloproteinase (EMMPRIN/CD147), but elevates the expression of reversion-inducing cysteine-rich proteins with kazal motifs (RECK) and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2. In addition, sinomenine significantly increases the expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin but concomitantly decreases the expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin, suggesting that it suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, sinomenine downregulates oncogenic microRNA-21 (miR-21), which has been known to target RECK. The downregulation of miR-21 decreases cell invasion, while the upregulation of miR-21 increases cell invasion. Furthermore, the downregulation of miR-21 stimulates the expression of RECK, TIMP-1/-2, and E-cadherin, but reduces the expression of MMP-2/-9, EMMPRIN/CD147, and vimentin. Taken together, the results reveal that the inhibition of A549 cell invasion by sinomenine may, at least in part, be through the downregulating expression of MMPs and miR-21. These findings demonstrate an attractive therapeutic potential for sinomenine in lung cancer anti-metastatic therapy.

The potential effect of a vibrotactile glove rehabilitation system on motor recovery in chronic post-stroke hemiparesis.

BACKGROUND: Poor fine motor skills are common among chronic stroke patients. Conventional rehabilitation programs only emphasize intensive and repeated exercises that do not motivate patients to continue rehabilitation. Using a vibrotactile glove rehabilitation system with a human-computer interaction interface can therefore resolve this issue. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the potential benefits of this vibrotactile glove rehabilitation system for chronic stroke patients who have already reached the recovery plateau. METHODS: Two interesting computer games were designed to coordinate with the vibrotactile gloves in patient training. The training sessions lasted for about 30 minutes twice a week for five consecutive weeks. We compared finger ROM, grip strength, pinch strength, NHPT, and MHQ results before and after the intervention and surveyed subject satisfaction afterwards. RESULTS: The subjects showed slight improvements in muscle strength and hand after five weeks. The patients reported progress, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. In the satisfaction questionnaire, the subjects gave positive ratings. CONCLUSIONS: This vibrotactile glove rehabilitation system has the potential to help chronic stroke patients who have reached their recovery plateau to make progress and is clinically quite effective in increasing their motivation.

Oxidant-dependent chemoselectivity in the gold-catalyzed oxidative cyclizations of 3,4,6,6-tetrasubstituted 3,5-dien-1-ynes.

A distinct chemoselectivity in the gold-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 3,5-dien-1-ynes was observed when 3,5-dichloropyridine N-oxide replaced 8-methylquinoline N-oxide as the oxidant; the resulting cyclopentadienyl aldehydes were obtained in good yields. The altered chemoselectivity is attributed to a prior enyne cyclization in the presence of 3,5-dichloropyridine N-oxides. The use of N-iminopyridium ylide enables a similar iminocyclization reaction to give cyclopentadienyl imines efficiently. Our experimental data support a prior gold-catalyzed cyclization of 3,5-dien-1-ynes to form gold carbene, followed by the oxidation with N-oxide.

Shape modification of the Boston brace using a finite-element method with topology optimization.

STUDY DESIGN: Using a finite-element (FE) method to reshape the Boston brace, and evaluating the correction effect of the modified Boston brace in terms of Cobb angle. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to reduce the weight of the Boston brace using a FE method with topology optimization. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The Boston brace is widely used to correct an abnormal spinal curve in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. However, patients wearing the brace usually complain about discomfort caused by its bulkiness. METHODS: An FE model of a traditional Boston brace was constructed using the software ANSYS 9.0. The loading condition was taken from an X-sensor measuring contact pressures between torso and brace. Topology optimization was conducted to modify the Boston brace. Three patients wearing a traditional brace and then the modified brace were examined in terms of Cobb angle. RESULTS: For the patient with King Type III scoliosis, this modified brace was able to offer the same correction effect as the traditional brace, but the modified brace was lighter by about 12.4%, with the potential to be up to 18% lighter. CONCLUSION: Based on the traditional Boston brace, this FE model, combined with topology optimization, can effectively estimate redundant material distribution and accordingly custom-design a lighter brace without any loss of its corrective effect.