[Research progress of polyetheretherketone and its composites in the field of dental implant].

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a polymer material composed of aromatic rings connected by ether and ketone groups. It has advantages of excellent biocompatibility, stable chemical properties, and appropriate elasticity modulus. Since PEEK are increasingly used in dentistry in recent years, the properties, modification methods, and research advances of them in oral implantology were discussed in this review.

CircRNA_069718 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in triple-negative breast cancer by activating Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in tumorigenesis. In the present study, we aimed to explore the potential regulatory mechanism of circRNA_069718 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: CircRNA_069718 expression levels in TNBC tissues and cell lines were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). In vitro function assays were used to determine the functional roles of circRNA_069718 in TNBC and were explored by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometric analysis. QRT-PCR and Western blot were used to explore the effects of circRNA_0023642 on the expression of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-related genes. RESULTS: We found that circRNA_069718 expression was significantly increased in TNBC tissues and cell lines. High circRNA_069718 expression was significantly correlated with advanced TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor overall survival of TNBC patients. Functionally, we showed that circRNA_069718 inhibition significantly reduced TNBC cells proliferation and invasion ability in vitro. Mechanically, we found that circRNA_069718 inhibition reduced the expression levels of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-related genes (ß-catenin, c-myc, and cyclin D1). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that circRNA_069718 promoted TNBC progression via Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and could serve as a novel therapeutic target for TNBC treatment.

MicroRNA-363-3p/p21(Cip1/Waf1) axis is regulated by HIF-2α in mediating stemness of melanoma cells.

Melanoma is a malignant tumor. The acquisition of stemness of melanoma cells aggravates the malignant transformation, which can be regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs, miR). MiR-363-3p is a key tumor-related miRNA, but its role in stemness and melanoma cells is still unknown. Presently, miR-363-3p, induced by hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-2α, played a positive role in the stemness of melanoma cells. The levels of miR-363-3p and HIF-2α were upregulated in melanoma cell lines. Overexpression of HIF-2α significantly increased the levels of miR-363-3p. However, both HIF-2α knockdown and miR-363-3p inhibition inhibited the levels of the stemness markers (CD133, CD271, Jarid1B, and Nanog). Furthermore, the levels of miR-363-3p and HIF-2α were upregulated in fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS)-sorted CD271high/+ cells. Whereas miR-363-3p depletion reduced the proportion and the spheroidization of the CD271high/+ cells, decreased the levels of CD133, CD271, Jarid1B and Nanog with restrained proliferative activity of CD271high/+ cells. Additionally, miR-363-3p was confirmed a key downstream of HIF-2α. Intriguingly, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A [CDKN1A, p21(Cip1/Waf1)], a key inhibitor of S-phase DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression, was confirmed a target gene of miR-363-3p by luciferase reporter gene assay. The protein levels of CD133, CD271, Jarid1B and Nanog were upregulated with enhanced proliferative activity of CD271high/+ cells by inhibition of p21 in melanoma cells. In conclusion, miR-363-3p is induced by HIF-2α to promote the stemness of melanoma cells via inhibiting p21. The present study provides novel insights that HIF-2α/miR-363-3p/p21 signaling may be a potential target of research and therapy of melanoma.

[Potential demand on cancer screening service in urban populations in China: a cross-sectional survey].

Objective: To understand the acceptance and personal demand for cancer screening service among the urban residents who had never been involved in any national level cancer screening programs in China and identify the key factors influencing the sustainability of cancer screening. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among the local people aged 40-69 years selected through convenience sampling in 16 provinces of China to collect the general information about their demands for the screening service and others. Results: A total of 16 394 qualified questionnaires were completed. The average age of the people surveyed was (53.8±8.0) years, and men accounted for 44.6%. Without concerning the cost, 4 831 people (29.5%) had no demands for cancer screening services, the reasons are as follow: they would like to go to see doctors only when they were ill (61.8%); they had already received similar medical examinations (36.8%) and they would like to receive cancer screening directly without pre-health risk assessment (33.0%). Among the people surveyed, 10 795 (65.8%) had demands for cancer screening services, but they had choice on the screening settings, 43.7% wanted to receive the service in a general hospitals, while 36.5% would like to go to cancer-specialized hospitals. As for the level of medical institutes providing cancer screening service, 61.4% of the people surveyed would choose a higher level one, while 36.4% would choose an ordinary one. On screening procedures, 61.5% of the people surveyed would accept the mode of "clinical examination after questionnaire-assessment" . Conclusion: Most people surveyed had demands for cancer screening services and they would like to receive the screening services in higher level medical institutes. It is suggested to spread cancer screening know ledge, and strengthen the capability building of screening in grass root medical institutes to attract more people to receive cancer screening.

[Willingness of potential service suppliers to provide cancer screening in urban China].

Objective: Based on the investment for potential suppliers of cancer screening services, we assessed the reasons that affecting their participation motivation related to the long-term sustainability of cancer screening in China. Methods: Hospitals that had never been involved in any national level cancer screening project were selected by using the convenient sampling method within the 16 project cities of Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC) with 1 or 2 hospitals for each city. All the managers from the institutional/department level and professional staff working and providing screening services in these hospitals, were interviewed by paper-based questionnaire. SAS 9.4 was used for logical verification and data analysis. Results: A total of 31 hospitals (18 hospitals at the third level and, 13 hospitals at the second level) and 2 201 staff (508 hospital and clinic unit managers, 1 693 professional staff) completed the interview. All the hospitals guaranteed their potential capacity in service providing. 92.5% hospital managers showed strong willingness in providing cancer screening services, while 68.3% of them declared that the project fund-raising function was the responsibility of the government. For professional staff, their prospect gains from providing screening service would include development on professional skills (72.4%) and material rewards (46.8%). Their main worries would include extra work for CanSPUC might interfere their routine work (42.1%) plus inadequate compensation (41.8%). Medians of the prospect compensation for extra work ran between 20 to 90 Chinese Yuan per screening item respectively. For all the screening items, workers from the third-level hospitals expected their compensation to be twice as much of those working at the second level hospitals. Conclusion: Professional capacity building and feasible material incentive seemed to be the two key factors that influenced the sustainability and development of the programs.

[Cancer screening service utilization and willingness-to-pay of urban populations in China: a cross-sectional survey from potential service demander's perspective].

Objective: To explore the sustainability of cancer screening strategy from potential demander's perspective in Chinese country, we conducted a study on the use of cancer screening services and willingness-to-pay among the urban community residents. All the participants of this study had not been on the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC) or any other national level cancer screening projects. Methods: Target communities and populations were selected from the 16 project provinces in China which were on the program between 2014 and 2015, by using the multi-center cross-sectional convenience sampling method. Chi-square was used to compare the rates on the utilization of service and willingness-to-pay across the different subgroups. Logistic progression was conducted to examine factors that associated with the service utilization and willingness-to-pay. Results: A total of 16 394 participants were included in this study. Among them, 12.1% (1 984/16 394) had ever been on a cancer screening program. Populations with following characteristics as: being elderly (60-69 years, OR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.13-1.43), female (male, OR= 0.56, 95%CI: 0.50-0.62), having had higher education (high school/specialized secondary school, OR= 1.51, 95%CI: 1.35-1.70; college or over, OR=2.10, 95%CI: 1.36-3.25), working for public (OR=2.85, 95% CI: 2.26-3.59), enterprises or self-employed agencies (OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.06-1.64), having higher income (60 000-150 000 Chinese Yuan, OR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.39-1.73; ≥150 000 Chinese Yuan, OR=2.57, 95% CI: 2.09-3.15), under basic medical insurance programs for urban employees/for government servants'(OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-1.32), on basic medical insurance set for urban residents'/on commercial medical insurance programs etc. (OR=1.01, 95%CI: 0.84-1.22), were in favor of the services. When neglecting the fee for charge, 65.8% (10 795/16 394) of the participants said that they could accept the cancer screening program, particularly in those who had already been on the screening program (P<0.05). 61.2% (10 038/16 392) of all the participants showed the willingness-topay for a long-term packaging screening services, particularly in those who were relatively younger (60-69 years, OR=0.80, 95%CI: 0.74-0.87), working for public (OR=1.76, 95%CI: 1.56-1.98) or enterprise sectors or self-employed households (OR=1.32, 95%CI: 1.18-1.47), having higher income (60 000-150 000 Chinese Yuan, OR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.40-1.63; ≥150 000 Chinese Yuan,OR= 1.95, 95% CI: 1.60-2.38), utilized screening services (OR=2.18, 95% CI: 1.94-2.46). Conclusions: The rate of using the cancer screening services should be improved. Factors including age, gender, education, occupation, income and insurance appeared as major factors related to the use of cancer screening services. Willingness-to-pay seemed relatively high, but the amount of payment they could afford was limited. Factors including age, occupation, income and insurance appeared as major factors to the willingness-to-pay.

[Study on the relationship between ultrasonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma and central cervical lymph node metastasis].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between ultrasonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma and central cervical lymph node metastasis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 486 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC), pathologically confirmed after surgery in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital. All patients were divided into central cervical lymph node metastasis group and non-metastasis group. No lateral cervical lymph node metastasis was found in preoperative ultrasonography and postoperative pathology. The characteristics of the ultrasound was observed and analyzed. Results: 297 out of 486 patients with papillary thyroid carcinomahad central metastasis, and the other 189 cases did not. Take pathology results as a standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy rate of preoperative ultrasound diagnosis in PTC patients with central cervical lymph node metastasis were 35.3%, 88.6%, 83.2%, 47.4%, 56.6%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that multi-focus, taller-than-wide, diameter>1 cm, located in the lower pole, ill-defined margin, hypoechogenicity, micro-calcification, capsule invasion more than 1/4 perimeter of papillary thyroid carcinoma were significantly associated with central cervical lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that diameter>1 cm, micro-calcification, capsule invasion more than 1/4 perimeter of papillary thyroid carcinoma became independent risk factors of central cervical neck lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative description of ultrasonographical features has important value to assess central cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. More information could be provided for clinical treatment. When the papillary thyroid carcinoma presented as diameter>1 cm, micro-calcification, and capsule invasion more than 1/4 perimeter of, there will be a greater risk of central cervical lymph node metastasis, and we shall suggest prophylactic central lymph cervical node dissection.

[Anterior corneal high-order aberrations in eyes with senile cataract in a Chinese population].

Objective: To investigate the distribution of anterior corneal high-order aberrations (HOAs) in Chinese eyes with cataract and their correlations with age and axial length for the choice of aspheric intraocular lens. Methods: Retrospective study. Six hundred twenty-five Chinese patients with cataract[male: 260, female: 365, age: (71.2±8.0) years] were categorized into 4 groups in accordance with their axial lengths. Anterior corneal HOAs in the central 6- mm zone was measured with an iTrace wavefront analyzer. The correlations between axial length, age and total HOAs, spherical aberration, trefoil aberration, and coma aberration were analyzed using Spearman analysis. The differences in total HOAs, spherical aberration, trefoil aberration, and coma aberration among 4 groups were assessed using the Krusal-Wallis H test. Results: Anterior corneal HOAs showed the nonnormal distribution. The median of corneal total HOAs was 0.666 µm (range 0.246 to 4.115 µm). Medians of coma aberration, spherical aberration and trefoil aberration were 0.313 µm (range 0.015 to 1.879 µm), 0.275 µm (range 0.005 to 1.797 µm) and 0.341 µm (range 0.019 to 2.319 µm), respectively. A significant negative correlation was found between axial length and total HOAs, coma aberration, spherical aberration, trefoil aberration (r=-0.230, -0.235, -0.143, -0.153, P<0.05). But no correlation was found between age and them (r=0.056, 0.045, 0.065, 0.022, P>0.05). Differences in total HOAs, coma aberration, spherical aberration, trefoil aberration were found among various axial groups (H=21.953, 20.665, 15.368, 16.881, P<0.05). Conclusions: Anterior corneal HOAs varied greatly among the majority of the patients. A significant negative correlation was found between axial length and anterior corneal HOAs, but no correlation was found between age and them. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 828-834).

[Accuracy of CT colonography for the detection of colorectal neoplasm: a subgroup Meta-analysis].

Objective: To assess the accuracy of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) for detection of colorectal neoplasm. Methods: Publications prior to January 2016 from the Medline, Embase, CNKI, WANFANG, and VIP literature databases were systematically reviewed. A QUADAS checklist was used to assess the quality of the studies. According to the sizes of tumor (≥6 mm or ≥10 mm), diagnostic test accuracy indexes (area under the curve, sensitivity and specific) were pooled and stratified. Spearman correlation and curve of summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) were applied to comprehensively assess the threshold effect. A bi-variate mixed-effects model was used for testing the overall merging value and heterogeneity. Results: A total of 19 articles (n=11 540) were included in the analysis. A total of 18 studies were from Europe and Unite States, with 1 from Asia. Numbers of studies regarding information on general population, high-risk groups and clinical symptoms were 9, 5 and 5, respectively. In 19 articles, data on the accuracy of CTC diagnosis (≥6 mm group) was recorded, with another 17 on the group ≥10 mm. Area under the SROC curve in the ≥6 mm group was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.92-0.94). It was estimated that the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.73-0.86) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.92) respectively. In area under the SROC curve, the pooled sensitivity and specificity in ≥10 mm group were 0.87(95%CI:0.80-0.92), 0.97(95%CI:0.95-0.98), respectively. Results from the subgroup showed that the sensitivity of with or without the fecal tagging groups were 0.84 and 0.67 in the ≥6 mm group, 0.92 and 0.76 in the ≥10 mm group. It was also found that in the experienced or less experienced readers, rates of sensitivity were 0.83 and 0.75 in the ≥6 mm group, 0.91 and 0.79 in the ≥10 mm group. Conclusions: CTC had high diagnostic efficiency for colorectal neoplasm, especially in the ≥10 mm group. Fecal tagging and experience of the reasers can improve the diagnostic sensitivity.

Overexpression of microRNA-365 inhibits breast cancer cell growth and chemo-resistance through GALNT4.

OBJECTIVE: A role of microRNA-365 (miR-365) in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer remains undetermined. In the current study, we addressed this question. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined the levels of miR-365 in breast cancer tissue, compared to the paired adjacent non-tumor breast tissue from the patients. We also examined the effects of miR-365 modification on the breast cancer growth and sensitivity to Fluorouracil, as well as the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: The miR-365 levels in breast cancer tissue were significantly lower than those in control normal breast tissues. Transfection with the miR-365 mimic decreased the breast cancer cell growth and increased their sensitivity to Fluorouracil, while transfection with the antisense of miR-365 (as-miR-365) increased breast cancer cell growth and decreased their sensitivity to Fluorouracil. Bioinformatics analyses showed that GALNT4 was a potential target gene of miR-365. The luciferase activities assay and Western blot verified that miR-365 targeted GALNT4 mRNA to modulate its protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that downregulation of miR-365 may facilitate carcinogenesis of breast cancer cells via GALNT4, and thus miR-365 appears to be a promising target for breast cancer therapy.

Edge-state-dependent tunneling of dipole-exchange spin waves in submicrometer magnetic strips with an air gap.

We have investigated the tunneling of dipole-exchange spin waves across an air gap in submicrometer-sized permalloy magnetic strips by means of micromagnetic simulations. The magnetizations beside the gap could form three distinct end-domain states with various strengths of dipolar coupling. Spin-wave tunneling through the gap at individual end-domain states is studied. It is found that the tunneling behavior is strongly dependent on these domain states. Nonmonotonic decay of transmission of spin waves with the increase of the gap width is observed. The underlying mechanism for these behaviors is proposed. The tunneling characteristics of the dipole-exchange spin waves differ essentially from those of the magnetostatic ones reported previously.

Exposure to lead and mercury in young larvae induces more severe deficits in neuronal survival and synaptic function than in adult nematodes.

In the present study, we investigated the possibly neurotoxic effects of metal (Pb and Hg) exposure at different developmental stages on neuronal loss in the GABAergic nervous system and synaptic functions in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Our data suggest that neuronal survival in GABAergic neurons and cholinergic transmission were relatively stable during development in nematodes. Moreover, neurodegeneration, as shown by the neuronal loss and dorsal/ventral cord gaps, was more severely induced by Pb and Hg exposure at the L1 through L3 larval stages than at the L4 larval and young-adult stages. Similarly, pre- and postsynaptic functions were more severely impaired by Pb and Hg exposure at the L1 through L3 larval stages than at the L4 larval and young-adult stages. Furthermore, both aldicarb and levamisole resistance were significantly correlated with neuronal loss, dorsal cord gap, and ventral cord gap in Pb- and Hg-exposed nematodes, suggesting that neuronal survival was noticeably correlated with synaptic function in metal-exposed nematodes during development. Therefore, younger (L1-L3) larvae show more sensitivity to neurotoxicity of neuronal survival and synaptic function than L4 larvae and young adult nematodes.