MiR-143 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of myelocytic leukemia cell HL-60 via modulating ERK1.

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "MiR-143 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of myelocytic leukemia cell HL-60 via modulating ERK1, by B. Song, Y.-J. Tang, W.-G. Zhang, C.-C. Wan, Y. Chen, L.-J. Zhang, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2018; 22 (11): 3333-3341-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201806_15153-PMID: 29917183" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/15153.

[Efficacy and safety of domestic dasatinib as second-line treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia patients in the chronic phase].

Objective: To investigate the efficiency and safety of domestic tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) dasatinib (Yinishu) as second-line treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data of CML-CP patients who received domestic dasatinib as second-line treatment in the CML collaborative group hospitals of Hubei province from March 2016 to July 2018 was performed. The optimal response rate, the cumulative complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), the cumulative major molecular responses (MMR), progression free survival (PFS), event free survival (EFS) and adverse effects (AEs) of the patients were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Results: A total of 83 CML-CP patients were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up time was 23 months. The optimal response rates at 3, 6 and 12 months in 83 CML-CP patients treated with dasatinib were 77.5% (54/71), 72.6% (61/75) and 60.7% (51/69), respectively. By the end of follow-up, the cumulative CCyR and MMR rates were 65.5% (55/80) and 57.1% (48/73), respectively. The median time to achieving CCyR and MMR was 3 months. During follow-up time, the PFS rate was 94.0% (79/83) and the EFS rate was 77.4% (65/83). The most common non-hematological AEs of dasatinib were edema (32.5%), rash itching (18.1%) and fatigue (13.3%). The common hematological AEs of dasatinib were thrombocytopenia (31.3%), leukopenia (19.3%) and anemia (6.0%). Conclusion: Domestic dasatinib was effective and safe as the second-line treatment of CML-CP patients and it can be used as an option for CML-CP patients.

MiR-143 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of myelocytic leukemia cell HL-60 via modulating ERK1.

OBJECTIVE: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is widely involved in cell proliferation and invasion regulation. Enhanced expression or function of ERK1 is important for leukemia. Abnormal down-regulation of microRNA (miR)-143 is correlated with leukemia pathogenesis, indicating possible tumor-suppressing role. Bioinformatics analysis showed the existence of complementary binding sites between miR-143 and ERK1. This study aims to investigate whether the miR-143 plays a role in mediating ERK1 expression and proliferation and apoptosis of leukemia cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed targeted regulation between miR-143 and ERK1. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure and compare the peripheral miR-143 and ERK1 expression between healthy and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients to analyze the effect of miR-143 and MEK1 on survival and prognosis. Cultured HL-60 cells were treated with miR-143 mimic or small interfering RNA (siRNA)-ERK1, followed by qRT-PCR to measure miR-143 expression. Western blot quantified expression of ERK1 and p-ERK1, flow cytometry measured apoptosis, and EdU staining measured proliferation. RESULTS: MiR-143 targeted and modulated ERK1. APL patients presented lower miR-143 and higher ERK1 in peripheral blood. Those with miR-143 down-regulation displayed worse prognosis than those with high miR-143 expression (χ2 = 5.198, p = 0.039). Patients with ERK1 mRNA low-expression presented better prognosis than those a having higher expression (Log-rank test, χ2 = 5.873, p = 0.028). Transfection of miR-143 mimic or siRNA-ERK1 remarkably suppressed ERK1 and p-ERK1 expression in HL-60 cells, inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-143 down-regulation and ERK1 up-regulation are correlated with APL pathogenesis. Their expression level affected patient's prognosis. MiR-143 targeted and inhibited ERK1 expression, weakened proliferation potency of HL-60 cells, and induced apoptosis.

Relative contributions of testosterone deficiency and metabolism syndrome at the risk of reduced quality of life: A cross-sectional study among Chinese mid-aged and elderly men.

Testosterone deficiency and metabolism syndrome (MetS) are universal among ageing males, and they have been suggested responsible for poorer quality of life (QoL). We aimed to evaluate the relative contributions of reproductive hormones and components of MetS at the risk of reduced QoL among Chinese mid-aged and elderly men. A cross-sectional study recruited 2,364 males aged 40-79 years, and 2,165 was included for analysis eventually. The Chinese version of ageing male symptoms scale, 36-item Short Form and Beck Depression Inventory were applied to assess QoL. Bivariate correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the relative contributions of reproductive hormones and components of MetS at the risk of reduced QoL. Testosterone deficiency and MetS contributed to poorer QoL, of which higher fasting blood glucose made the primary contribution, lower total testosterone mainly contributed to poorer physical functioning.

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase by bovine milk proteins.

Different proteins have been isolated from bovine milk including lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, glycolactin, angiogenin-1, lactogenin, alpha-lactalbumin, lactoglobulin and casein. These proteins have been assayed for inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase, enzymes crucial to the HIV-1 life cycle. It was found that different milk proteins inhibited the three aforementioned HIV enzymes to different extents. Lactoferrin strongly inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase but only slightly inhibited HIV-1 protease and integrase. On the other hand, alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin and casein inhibited HIV-1 protease and integrase to an appreciable extent but did not inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Glycolactin and angiogenin-1 suppressed the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by a moderate extent but more powerfully inhibited HIV-1 protease and integrase. In comparison with the other milk proteins glycolactin was a strong inhibitor of HIV-1 protease and integrase and a moderate inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Lactogenin was a strong inhibitor of HIV-1 integrase, a moderate inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and a weak inhibitor of HIV-1 protease.

Use of PCR with universal primers and restriction endonuclease digestions for detection and identification of common bacterial pathogens in cerebrospinal fluid.

We have designed a universal PCR capable of amplifying a portion of the 16S rRNA gene of eubacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Legionella pneumophila, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Proteus mirabilis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis. The sizes of the amplified products from various bacteria were the same (996 bp), but the restriction patterns of most PCR products generated by HaeIII digestion were different. PCR products from S. aureus and S. epidermidis could not be digested by HaeIII but yielded different patterns when they were digested with MnlI. PCR products from S. pneumoniae, E. faecium, and E. faecalis yielded the same HaeIII digestion pattern but could be differentiated by AluI digestion. PCR products from E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. marcescens, and E. cloacae also had the same HaeIII digestion pattern but had different patterns when digested with DdeI or BstBI. This universal PCR could detect as few as 10 E. coli or 250 S. aureus organisms. Compared with culture, the sensitivity of this universal PCR for detection and identification of bacteria directly from 150 cerebrospinal fluids was 92.3%. These results suggest that this universal PCR coupled with restriction enzyme analysis can be used to detect and identify bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens.

Isolation of a trypsin inhibitor with deletion of N-terminal pentapeptide from the seeds of Momordica cochinchinensis, the Chinese drug mubiezhi.

A trypsin inhibitor, MCCTI-1, with a molecular weight of 3479 Da as determined by mass spectrometry, was isolated from Momordica cochinchinensis seeds with a procedure involving extraction with 5% acetic acid, ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sepharose and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The sequence of its first 13 N-terminal amino acid residues was ILKKCRRDSDCPG which was about 85% identical with the sequence of trypsin inhibitor MCTI-1 from Momordica charantia Linn. When compared with the sequences of most other squash family trypsin inhibitors, the sequence of MCCTI-1 was characterized by the deletion of a pentapeptide from the N-terminus. Trypsin inhibitors also existed in seeds of some hitherto uninvestigated Cucurbitaceae species.

Ureaplasma urealyticum infection and apoptosis of spermatogenic cells.

AIM: To study the relationship between Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection and apoptosis of human spermatogenic cells. METHODS: Spermatogenic cells were observed under light microscope with Wright-Giemsa staining and by means of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP)-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. RESULTS: Apoptotic rate of UU-infected males (15.5% +/- 6.8%) was significantly higher than that of controls (5.2% +/- 2.3%). CONCLUSION: Apoptosis of spermatogenic cells can be caused by UU infection, which provides further evidence for UU-induced male infertility.

Removal of polyphenolic compounds from aqueous plant extracts using polyamide minicolumns.

An improved method for the removal of polyphenolic compounds from aqueous extracts of plants is presented. The method removes > 99% polyphenolic compounds from 5 mg of extract. The method is simple, robust and reproducible. We examined the removal of polyphenolics from 5 different aqueous extracts of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Inhibition of glycohydrolase enzymes by aqueous extracts of Chinese medicinal herbs in a microplate format.

A microplate assay, for use with a variety of glycohydrolase enzymes, was developed to aid the screening of Chinese medicinal herb extracts for the presence of potential anti-viral and anti-lymphoma compounds. The microplate assay method described offers greater convenience, speed and reproducibility over existing methods. The enzymes tested were alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase and beta-glucuronidase. The assay can be easily adapted for use with other glycohydrolase enzymes. Of the 12 herb extracts examined four did not inhibit any of the enzymes (< 50% inhibition), one inhibited alpha-glucosidase only (> 50% inhibition), six inhibited beta-glucuronidase only, and one inhibited both alpha-glucosidase and beta-glucuronidase. None of the extracts were capable of inhibiting beta-glucosidase to any significant extent.

A comparison of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 inhibition by partially purified aqueous extracts of Chinese medicinal herbs.

A multiple screening approach to detect compounds inhibitory to various aspects of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) life-cycle has been applied to aqueous extracts of 19 herbs traditionally used in Chinese medicine as anti-viral agents. The extracts were tested for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 in a series of in vitro assays. The extracts were tested for inhibition of the interaction between HIV-1 gp120 and immobilized CD4 receptor, inhibition of recombinant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and for inhibition of three glycohydrolase enzymes that contribute to viral protein glycosylation. Six of the herb extracts (30%) were potent inhibitors of the interaction between HIV-1 gp120 and the CD4 receptor (ID50 5.6 - 79.4 microg/ml), two extracts (10%) contained potent reverse transcriptase inhibitors (ID50 16.9 - 26.0 microg/ml) and 14 extracts (75%) were able to inhibit at least one of the glycohydrolase enzymes.

Multivariate risks among extremely premature infants.

This study was designed to identify risk factors for mortality and morbidity of extremely premature infants born in the surfactant era. The study cohort included 194 infants born at < 29 weeks' gestation at one regional tertiary center between 1983 and 1986. Forty-one infants died. Blinded neurodevelopmental assessments were performed on 149 of 153 (97%) survivors at a mean age of 52 months. Thirty-one (21%) survivors had major impairments: 15 had mental retardation, 8 had multiple impairments, 7 had cerebral palsy, and 1 was blind. Logistic regression analysis identifies five significant risk factors for mortality: grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage, birth weight < 800 gm, 5-minute Apgar score < or = 3, male sex, and absence of surfactant therapy. Significant risk factors for any major impairment included sepsis (relative risks [RR] = 6.4), male sex (RR = 3.1), and nonwhite race (RR = 2.8). Hydrocephalus requiring shunting was a significant risk factor for cerebral palsy (RR = 16.4) and neonatal retardation (RR = 16.0). Nonwhite race (RR = 7.3), sepsis (RR = 6.8), and male sex (RR = 3.7) also were significant risk factors for mental retardation. Confirmation of these risk factors should facilitate development of targeted interventions for optimizing long-term outcome.

A versiconal hemiacetal acetate converting enzyme in aflatoxin biosynthesis.

Conversion of the aflatoxin biosynthetic intermediate versiconal hemiacetal acetate (VHA) in a cell free extract of Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 15517 is investigated. The enzymatic reaction is monitored by a method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The major product of the enzymatic reaction is a water soluble compound not chloroform-extractable at pH 7.5. The product becomes chloroform extractable upon acidification of the reaction medium and is separated and quantitated by reversed-phase HPLC. It is tentatively identified as 'versiconal hemiacetal alcohol,' which is converted to versicolorin C (VC) upon acid treatment.

Preconcentration of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead in drinking water on the polyacrylic ester resin, XAD-7.

The conditions (e.g. pH, resin, particle size, foreign ions) affecting the uptake of Cd(II), Cr(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solution by the SM-7 (also called XAD-7) resin, were studied. Based on these studies, a two-column method was developed to overcome the effect of complexation by humic substances. The method was successfully tested with the NBS multielement water standard, SRM 1643a, and was subsequently applied to enrich Cd(II), Cr(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II) in 15 drinking water samples from Hamilton, Ontario. The metals were determined using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The results for the drinking water samples showed that leaching of copper and lead occurred from the distribution system.