Abnormal expression of FAK and paxillin correlates with oral cancer invasion and metastasis.

Globally, the tenth most common cancer is the oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the treatment strategy for improving of OSCC patients survival rate still remains a challenging one. Aberrant regulation of cell to extracellular matrix protein interactions leads to progression of human cancers. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its downstream target paxillin have been implicated in cancer growth, migration, invasion and metastasis of different cancers. However, the clinical significance of FAK and paxillin in OSCC is not well characterized so far. In the present work, we showed that relative mRNA and protein expressions of FAK and paxillin are significantly higher in side population (SP) cells of OSCC cell line SCC-55. Concomitantly, the matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) level is also significantly elevated in SP cells. The enhanced expression of paxillin is strongly correlated with increased chemoresistance, proliferation rate, migration and invasion potential of SP cells. In addition, inhibition of paxillin expression by RNAi makes SP cells more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, our results suggest that paxillin over expression might play a significant role in cancer progression, invasion and chemoresistance of OSCC.

Diagnosis of Compressed Nerve Root in Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients by Surface Electromyography.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a logistic regression model using surface electromyography (SEMG) parameters for diagnosing the compressed nerve root at L5 or S1 level in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: This study recruited 24 patients with L5 nerve root compression and 23 patients with S1 nerve root compression caused by LDH from May 2014 to May 2016. SEMG signals from the bilateral tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius were measured. The root mean square (RMS), the RMS peak time, the mean power frequency (MPF), and the median frequency (MF) were analyzed. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values were calculated separately. The areas under the curve (AUC) of the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the kappa value were used to evaluate the accuracy of the SEMG diagnostic model. RESULTS: The accuracy of the SEMG model ranged from 85.71% to 100%, with an average of 93.57%. The sensitivity, specificity, AUC, and kappa value of the logistic regression model were 0.98 ± 0.05, 0.92 ± 0.09, 0.95 ± 0.04 (P = 0.006), and 0.87 ± 0.11, respectively (P = 0.001). The final diagnostic model was: P=1-11+ey; y = 10.76 - (5.95 × TA_RMS Ratio) - (0.38 × TA_RMS Peak Time Ratio) - (5.44 × 44 × LG_RMS Peak Time Ratio). L5 nerve root compression is diagnosed when P < 0.5 and S1 nerve root compression when P ≥ 0.5. CONCLUSIONS: The logistic regression model developed in this study showed high diagnostic accuracy in detecting the compressed nerve root (L5 and S1 ) in these patients with LDH.

[Mechanism of chloroquine in promoting sensitivity of chemotherapeutics in oral squamous cell carcinoma CAL-27 cell line to cisplatin].

PURPOSE: To study the role and mechanism of autophagy in chemotherapy of oral squamous cell carcinoma, and provide theoretical evidence to improve chemotherapeutic efficacy of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. METHODS: The cell survival rate changes induced by cisplatin (DDP) and chloroquine (CQ) in CAL-27 cells were assayed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method(MTT). The LC3-II expression level was detected by laser scanning confocal microscope; The apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometry. SPSS17.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: MTT results showed that compared with the control group, the cell survival rate reduced with the increasing time of DDP and CQ treatment; The optimal concentration of CAL-27 cells was 5 mg/L after treatment with CQ. IC50 of the CAL-27 cells was 5 mg/L after treatment with DDP; MTT results showed that the cell survival rate of CQ+DDP group was significantly lower than control group, CQ group and DDP group (P<0.05). With the action of CQ and DDP to CAL-27 cells for 48 hours, immunofluorescence results showed that the average fluorescence intensity of DDP group was significantly higher than the other 3 groups (P<0.05), while it was significantly lower in CQ group than the other 3 groups (P<0.05). With the action of CQ and DDP to CAL-27 cells for 48 hours, flow cytometry results showed that the cell apoptosis rate of DDP group and CQ+DDP group were significantly higher than control group and CQ group. The cell apoptosis rate of CQ+DDP group was significantly higher than DDP group (P<0.05). With the action of CQ and DDP to CAL-27 cells for 48 hours, cells in G1 phase of DDP group and CQ+DDP group increased, indicating G1 phase blockage. The cell count in G1 phase of CQ+DDP group was significantly higher than DDP group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of autophagy can enhance the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of DDP in CAL-27 cells. Autophagy in CAL-27 cells is an important mechanism for chemotherapy resistance of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Autophagy inhibitor may have significant potential to be a novel chemotherapeutic sensitizer for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

[Value of three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in the diagnosis of mesenteric arteriosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical value of three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (3D-CE-MRA) in the diagnosis of mesenteric arteriosclerosis. METHODS: 3D-CE-MRA of the mesenteric arteries was performed in 21 patients with 23 healthy subjects as the control. After 3D image reconstruction and maxi intense projection, and the abnormalities of the mesenteric arteries were observed and analyzed. The diameter and number of the arterial branches were compared between the patients and the control subjects. RESULTS: All the 21 patients suffered arteriosclerosis in the arteries other than the mesenteric arteries. On 3D-CE-MRA, mesenteric arteriosclerosis was characterized by thinning of the arterial trunk, luminal stenosis, irregular arterial margins and homo- or heterogeneous thickening of vascular walls. Multiple filling defects were found in the mesenteric artery lumens with reduced second order branches, which showed rigid lining with dashed line appearance or disappeared in some cases. The inferior mesenteric arteries were seen in only 2 patients. The diameters of superior and inferior mesenteric arteries were 3.8-/+0.32 mm and 1.20-/+0.12 mm in the patients, significantly smaller than those of in the control subjects (6.51-/+1.01 mm and 2.90-/+0.90 mm, respectively, P<0.01). The number of the mesenteric artery branch of the patients was also significantly reduced as compared with that in the control subjects (P<0.05). In som cases, the intestinal enhancement was attenuated with the intestinal contraction, dilatation and lowering of the intestinal tension. CONCLUSION: 3D-CE-MRA can clearly display mesenteric arteriosclerosis and secondary intestinal changes, and provides a useful means for the diagnosis and assisting the therapy of mesenteric arteriosclerosis.