Treatment of Kümmell's disease with sequential infusion of bone cement: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is an effective method for the treatment of neurologically intact Kümmell's disease, but bone cement leakage during surgery is a problem that deserves attention. AIM: To reduce bone cement leakage and evaluate the effect of the sequential infusion of bone cement during PVP for the treatment of stage I or II Kümmell's disease. METHODS: Patients with Kümmell's disease treated in our hospital from September 2015 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided into two groups: Traditional single infusion and sequential infusion (SI). The visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were evaluated and compared, and duration of operation, bone cement content and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were included in this study; there were 24 in the traditional single infusion group and 21 in the SI group. The VAS and ODI were significantly different for both groups when compared pre- and postoperatively, whereas the differences between 1 wk postoperatively and at the final follow-up were not statistically. When the VAS and ODI of the two groups were compared, there were no significant differences at any time point. The leakage rate of bone cement was significantly lower in the SI group (14.3%, 3 of 21) than that in the traditional single infusion group (41.7%, 10 of 24). CONCLUSION: SI in unipedicular PVP is a safe and effective procedure for neurologically intact Kümmell's disease, and this technique could decrease the incidence of bone cement leakage.

LncRNA NEAT1/miR-185-5p/IGF2 axis regulates the invasion and migration of colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) are important in the growth and metastasis of colon cancer. The objective of this study was to describe the potential role of lncRNA NEAT1 in the progression of colon cancer. METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for detecting NEAT1, miR-185-5p, and IGF2 in colon cancer cells and tissues. The potential diagnostic value of NEAT1 in colon cancer was analyzed with the receiver operating characteristic curve. Kaplan-Meier method was applied for evaluating the association between NEAT1 expression and the overall survival of osteosarcoma patients, whereas Transwell assay was introduced to examine the potential invasion and migration of colon cancer cells. In addition, the binding of NEAT1/IGF2 to miR-185-5p was confirmed by RNA pull-down and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation assays and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Finally, rescue experiments were conducted to confirm the role of NEAT1/miR-185-5p/IGF2 axis in colon cancer. RESULTS: Colon cancer patients with low NEAT1 expression presented with longer overall survival than those with high expression. The migration and invasion of colon cancer cells were considerably promoted by overexpressed NEAT1. Both NEAT1 and IGF2 bound to miR-185-5p. CONCLUSION: NEAT1 upregulate IGF2 expression through absorbing miR-185-5p to enhances the migration and invasion of colon cancer cells.

Stimulation of osteogenic differentiation in bone marrow stromal cells via Wnt/ß-catenin pathway by Qili Jiegu-containing serum.

A capsule of Qili Jiegu, a traditional Chinese medicine with numerous biological activities, may exert a protective eff ;ect against postmenopausal bone loss. However, it remains unclear whether Qili Jiegu-containing serum regulates the osteogenic diff ;erentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in vitro. In this study, BMSCs were treated with medium and Qili Jiegu-containing serum over a 14-day period. We found that Qili Jiegu-containing serum promoted the BMSC proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, as well as stimulated the expression of osteogenic markers and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-related genes, i.e., runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteocalcin (OCN), ß-catenin and Wnt4a, in BMSCs. Finally, we found that Qili Jiegu-containing serum activated the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. An addition of Dickkopf-related protein-1 (an inhibitor of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway) to the Qili Jiegu-containing serum could decrease the stimulatory osteogenic effect of Qili Jiegu-containing serum on BMSCs. Therefore, Qili Jiegu-containing serum could promote the osteogenic diff ;erentiation of BMSCs, and the potential mechanism may involve regulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

A dose-response meta-analysis reveals an association between vitamin B12 and colorectal cancer risk.

OBJECTIVE: The current meta-analysis evaluated the association between vitamin B12 intake and blood vitamin B12 level and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. DESIGN: The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched. A dose-response analysis was performed with generalized least squares regression, with the relative risk (RR) and 95 % CI as effect values. SETTING: The meta-analysis included seventeen studies. SUBJECTS: A total of 10 601 patients. RESULTS: The non-linear dose-response relationship between total vitamin B12 intake and CRC risk was insignificant (P=0·690), but the relationship between dietary vitamin B12 intake and CRC risk was significant (P<0·001). Every 4·5 µg/d increment in total and dietary vitamin B12 intake was inversely associated with CRC risk (total intake: RR=0·963; 95 % CI 0·928, 0·999; dietary intake: RR=0·914; 95 % CI 0·856, 0·977). The inverse association between vitamin B12 intake and CRC risk was also significant when vitamin B12 intake was over a dosage threshold, enhancing the non-linear relationship. The non-linear dose-response relationship between blood vitamin B12 level and CRC risk was insignificant (P=0·219). There was an insignificant association between every 150 pmol/l increment in blood vitamin B12 level and CRC risk (RR=1·023; 95 % CI 0·881, 1·187). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis indicates that evidence supports the use of vitamin B12 for cancer prevention, especially among populations with high-dose vitamin B12 intake, and that the association between CRC risk and total vitamin B12 intake is stronger than between CRC risk and dietary vitamin B12 intake only.

Clinicopathologic and Prognostic Value of Serum Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 in Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The clinical value of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 in gastric cancer is controversial. We evaluated the clinicopathologic and prognostic value of CA 19-9 in gastric cancer. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase databases. Odds ratios (ORs), risk ratios (RR), hazard ratios (HRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as effect measures. RESULTS: Thirty-eight studies were included. Results showed that there were significant differences in the incidence of high CA 19-9 levels between stages III/IV and I/II groups (OR = 3.36; 95% CI = 2.34-4.84), the pT3/T4 and pT1/T2 groups (OR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.60-3.59), the lymph node-positive and node-negative groups (OR = 2.91; 95% CI = 2.21-3.84), the metastasis-positive and metastasis-negative groups (OR = 2.76; 95% CI = 1.12-6.82), and vessel invasion-positive and invasion-negative groups (OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.11-2.48). Moreover, CA 19-9 was significantly associated with poor overall survival (HR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.56-2.15), disease-free survival (HR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.16-2.95), and disease-specific survival (HR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.10-1.60) in gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis showed that CA 19-9 indicates clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis.

[Construction and package of a recombinant adenoviral vector to inhibit miR-21 expression and its effects on HepG2 cells in vitro].

AIM: To construct the recombinant adenoviral vector which can efficiently inhibit mature miR-21 expression and explore its effects and the underlying mechanisms on hepatoma cell line HepG2. METHODS: Based on miRNA-sponge technology, we synthesized 8 duplicated fragments, fully complementary with the miR-21 sequence and cloned them into a shuttle vector pAdTrack-CMV. The constructed plasmid was sequenced and linearized for homologous recombination with pAdEasy-1 vector in BJ5183 bacteria, then transfected into 293A cells. The recombinant adenovirus was used to challenge HepG2 cells. Mature miR-21 level was detected by real-time PCR. Apoptosis and proliferation of the HepG2 cells were detected by Hochest 33258 staining, Western blotting and MTT assay. RESULTS: The restriction enzyme digestion, DNA sequencing and detection of GFP expression demonstrated that recombinant adenoviral vector was constructed successfully. The recombinant adenovirus inhibited the expression of miR-21 in HepG2 cells, and also depressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells and promoted the apoptosis. CONCLUSION: The recombinant adenoviral vector we successfully constructed could efficiently reduce the expression of miR-21 in HepG2 cells and depress the proliferation of HepG2 cells.

LIGHT sensitizes IFN-gamma-mediated apoptosis of HT-29 human carcinoma cells through both death receptor and mitochondria pathways.

LIGHT [homologous to lymphotoxins, shows inducible expression, and competes with herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D for herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM/TR2)] is a new member of TNF superfamily. The HT-29 colon cancer cell line is the most sensitive to LIGHT-induced, IFNg-mediated apoptosis among the cell lines we have examined so far. Besides downregulation of Bcl-XL, upregulation of Bak, and activation of both PARP [poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase] and DFF45 (DNA fragmentation factor), LIGHT-induced, IFNg-mediated apoptosis of HT-29 cells involves extensive caspase activation. Caspase-8 and caspase-9 activation, as shown by their cleavages appeared as early as 24 h after treatment, whereas caspase-3 and caspase-7 activation, as shown by their cleavages occurred after 72 h of LIGHT treatment. Caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK (benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone) and a broad range caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp fluoromethylketone) were able to block LIGHT-induced, IFNg-mediated apoptosis of HT-29 cells. The activity of caspase-3, which is one of the major executioner caspases, was found to be inhibited by both Z-DEVD-MFK and Z-VAD-FMK. These results suggest that LIGHT-induced, IFNg-mediated apoptosis of HT-29 cells is caspase-dependent, and LIGHT signaling is mediated through both death receptor and mitochondria pathways.