Targeting deubiquitinating enzyme USP26 by microRNA-203 regulates Snail1's pro-metastatic functions in esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with poor prognosis and high mortality. The transcription factor SNAI1, encoding Snail1, is important for metastatic progression in esophageal cancer whereas the microRNA (miRNA)-203 has been shown to function as an inhibitor of metastasis in EC. The Snail1 protein is stabilized in EC partially by the deubiquitinating enzyme USP26; however, how USP26 is regulated is not completely known. METHODS: Expression of SNAI1 and USP26 messenger RNA (mRNA) and miR-203 was performed in datasets within The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus, respectively. Expression of Snail1 and USP26 protein and miR-203 was determined in the normal esophageal cell line HET-1A and EC cell lines Kyse150 and TE-1 using western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. TargetScan was used for in situ prediction of miR-203 targets and in vitro heterologous reporter assays using the wild-type and miR-203 seed mutant of the 3' Untranslated region (UTR) of USP26 were used to investigate whether USP26 is a target of miR-203. Effects of increasing miR-203 using MIR203A/5P mimic on USP26 and Snail1 in the HET-1A, Kyse150 and TE-1 cell lines were performed using western blot and cycloheximide-based protein stability analysis. Effects of modulating miR-203 in Kyse150 and TE-1 cell lines on in vitro pro-metastatic effects were analyzed by invasion assay, scratch wound-healing assay, and chemosensitivity to 5-fluoruracil (5-FU). In vivo lung metastasis assay was used to study the effect of modulating miR-203 in Kyse150 cells. RESULTS: SNAI1 mRNA and HSA/MIR203 was higher and lower, respectively, in EC patients compared to tumor-adjacent normal tissues. No changes in expression of USP26 mRNA were observed in these datasets. MIR/203 expression was downregulated whereas protein expression of both Snail1 and USP26 were higher in EC cell lines Kyse150 and TE-1 compared to normal esophageal cell line HET-1A. USP26 was predicted as a potential target of miR-203 by TargetScan Release 2.0. Reporter assays confirmed USP26 as a target of miR-203 in the EC cell lines. Transfection of EC cell lines with MIR203 mimic decreased USP26 protein expression and Snail1 protein stability indicating the ability of miR-203 to regulate Snail1 protein levels via USP26. Exogenous increase in miR-203 in the EC cell lines significantly inhibited Snail-1 mediated in vitro pro-metastatic function of invasion, wound-healing, and increased chemosensitivity to 5-FU. Finally, overexpression of miR-203 inhibited in vivo lung metastasis of Kyse150 cells, which was reversed following overexpression of USP26, indicating a direct role of miR-203-mediated regulation of USP26 in metastatic progression of EC. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulatively, these results establish an important mechanism by which decrease in miR-203 expression potentiates metastatic progression in EC via USP26-mediated stabilization of Snail1. Hence, miR-203 can serve as a biomarker of metastasis in EC and is a potential target for therapeutic intervention in EC.

Total Arterial Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A 10-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Arterial grafts had better mid-term and long-term patency than saphenous vein grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We summarized our experience with total arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and assessed the early clinical results, surgical complications, and follow-up. METHODS: From January 2007 to May 2017, 508 coronary artery disease patients undergoing total arterial OPCAB were enrolled. Clinical features, approaches, outcomes of surgical treatments, and follow-up data of these patients were studied retrospectively. A total of 122 patients underwent single left internal mammary artery (IMA)-left anterior descending artery grafts, whereas the other 386 patients underwent multiple vessel grafts. RESULTS: The average distal anastomosis was 2.34 ± 0.97 (range: 1-4). All the patients were discharged from hospital except one died. A total of 457 (90.32%) patients were followed up. In the 4-, 7-, and 10-year follow-up groups, the rate of death from any cause was 1.19%, 6.47%, and 10.67%; rate of cardiac death was 0.60%, 2.88%, and 3.33%; rate of repeat revascularization was 0.00%, 3.60%, and 8.67%; rate of ischemic symptoms was 1.79%, 7.91%, and 11.33%; and incidence of stroke was 2.38%, 4.32%, and 6.67%, respectively. Poor medication adherence was observed in 9.38% of the follow-up population. CONCLUSIONS: Total arterial OPCAB with bilateral IMA, radial artery, and right gastroepiploic artery grafting yielded satisfactory early and midterm outcomes in this patient group, without a significant increase in early mortality or morbidity. Moreover, the long-term outcomes are also positive.

Effects of different starch sources on Bacillus spp. in intestinal tract and expression of intestinal development related genes of weanling piglets.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different starch sources on Bacillus spp. in intestinal tract and expression of intestinal development related genes of weanling piglets. Twenty-eight PIC male piglets were divided into four homogeneous groups according to initial body weight (similar birth and parity, weaned at 21 ± 1.5 days). Diets for the four treatments consisted of corn starch, wheat starch, tapioca starch and pea starch with the determined ratio for amylose to amylopectin of 0.21, 0.24, 0.12 and 0.52 respectively. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to: (1) detect genomic DNA of Bacillus and to quantify the number of Bacillus in the intestinal tract chyme of piglets with the primers and probe which designed based on the 16S rRNA sequences of maximum species of Bacillus on GenBank; (2) measure the mRNA level of glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2), insulin-like growth factors 1 (IGF-1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Results showed that the number of Baciilus and the percentage based on all bacteria in the whole intestinal content of piglets fed pea starch was highest in all groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant differance on copy numbers for all bacteria and Bacillus in the whole intestinal tract of piglets between the corn starch group and wheat starch group (P > 0.05). In addition, the expression level of GLP-2, IGF-1 mRNA in jejunum and ileum of pea starch treatment (the high amylose/amylopectin ratio) were increased while the tapioca starch decreased their mRNA level significantly compared to other three treatments (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference for the mRNA level of EGF in each group. The present study revealed that high amylose/amylopectin ratio of starches significantly enhanced the numbers of Bacillus in all segments of intestine and the mRNA level of intestinal development related genes.

[Change of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and big endothelin in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the change in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) and big endothelin (big ET) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to evaluate their value in predicting postoperative mortality and complication. METHODS: Forty-seven patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting under on-pump (CCABG) and 43 patients undergoing off-pump bypass (OPCAB) were included for study. The levels of Nt-proBNP and big ET were determined before and 24 hours after operation in all patients. RESULTS: (1)There were no differences between two groups. The serum levels of Nt-proBNP and big ET increased significantly 24 hours after operation. Compared with those before operation, Nt-proBNP [(1 083.5 +/- 717.9) pmol/L] in CCABG group was increased [(1 579.2 +/- 719.7)pmol/L, t = -4.30, P<0.01], big ET was increased from (1.10 +/- 1.82 ) pmol/L to (1.68 +/- 1.73)pmol/L(t = -5.35, P<0.01) 24 hours after operation; Nt-proBNP [(999.6 +/- 843.6) pmol/L] in OPCAB group was increased [(1 460.8+/-830.0) pmol/L, t = -4.20, P<0.01], big ET was increased from (1.35 +/- 1.65) pmol/L to (1.73 +/- 1.50) pmol/L (t = -2.46, P=0.018) 24 hours after operation. (2)The level of Nt-proBNP before operation was showed to be negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = -0.43, P<0.001). (3)By univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis, the association of clinical variable with postoperative complication was assessed. Multivariable predictors, including the level of LVEF (OR = 1.045, 95%CI:0.999-1.092, P = 0.050) and Nt-proBNP 24 hours after operation (OR = 0.990, 95%CI:0.999-1.000, P = 0.014), were significantly associated with a higher postoperative mortality, lower cardiac output, and higher incidence of myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) for Nt-proBNP 24 hours after operation was valid for the prediction of postoperative complication, and the area under the curve was 0.698 (95% CI:0.585-0.811, P<0.003), sensitivity and specificity were 88.9% and 57.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Significant increase in Nt-proBNP and ET is found after CABG. BNP and LVEF are showed to be risk factors for postoperative complications in patients undergoing CABG.

[Changes of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha of right atrial appendages in patients with rheumatic valvular disease complicated with chronic atrial fibrillation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether atrial expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) of right atrial appendages are altered in patients with rheumatic valvular disease during chronic atrial fibrillation. METHODS: A total of 48 patients with rheumatic heart disease were included. 27 patients had no history of atrial fibrillation, 21 patients had atrial fibrillation. Atrial tissue was obtained from the right atrial appendage during open heart surgery. The protein expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha was detected by immunohistochemistry method. The fibrosis of right atrial appendage was detected by Masson staining. RESULTS: The fibrosis of right atrial appendage was significantly increased in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. The protein expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were significantly increased in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: The protein expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were significantly increased in patients with rheumatic valvular disease during chronic atrial fibrillation. Inflammation may be one of the mechanisms for the development and persistence of atrial fibrillation.