LncRNA MAFG-AS1 deregulated in breast cancer affects autophagy and progression of breast cancer by interacting with miR-3612 and FKBP4 invitro.

PURPOSE: We aimed to explore the function and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) pathway of MAFG-AS1 in breast cancer. METHODS: qRT-PCR assay identified the expression of MAFG-AS1, miR-3612 and FKBP4. We used Western blot analysis to test the autophagy related protein levels in breast cancer cells. Functional assays such as Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay, BrdU proliferation assay, Caspase-3 activity detection were used to identify the function of MAFG-AS1, miR-3612 and FKBP4 in breast cancer cells. Mechanism assays were used to verify the interacting relationship among MAFG-AS1, miR-3612 and FKBP4, including RNA pull down assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: MAFG-AS1 and FKBP4 were both up-regulated in breast cancer tissues. MAFG-AS1 could function as an oncogene in breast cancer to activate cell proliferation, and inhibit cell apoptosis and autophagy. Meanwhile, MAFG-AS1 could sponge miR-3612 to elevate the expression of FKBP4. Besides, FKBP4 could activate the cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis and autophagy, which could relieve the inhibitory effect of miR-3612 on breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION: MAFG-AS1 could activate breast cancer progression via modulating miR-3612/FKBP4 axis in vitro.

The role of PPM1D in cancer and advances in studies of its inhibitors.

A greater understanding of factors causing cancer initiation, progression and evolution is of paramount importance. Among them, the serine/threonine phosphatase PPM1D, also referred to as wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) or protein phosphatase 2C delta (PP2Cδ), is emerging as an important oncoprotein due to its negative regulation on a number of crucial cancer suppressor pathways. Initially identified as a p53-regulated gene, PPM1D has been afterwards found amplified and more recently mutated in many human cancers such as breast cancer. The latest progress in this field further reveals that selective inhibition of PPM1D to delay tumor onset or reduce tumor burden represents a promising anti-cancer strategy. Here, we review the advances in the studies of the PPM1D activity and its relevance to various cancers, and recent progress in development of PPM1D inhibitors and discuss their potential application in cancer therapy. Consecutive research on PPM1D and its relationship with cancer is essential, as it ultimately contributes to the etiology and treatment of cancer.

Effect of gastric bypass combined with ileal transportation on type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic progressive disease, which manifests as an endocrine disorder. Among the different methods of surgery available to treat patients with T2DM, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) and ileal transposition (IT) are the most commonly performed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of RYGBP combined with IT on rats with T2DM. A total of 8 healthy male rats were used as a control group and 40 GK rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: A diabetes mellitus (DM) group, a sham operative group (SO), a RYGBP group, an IT group and a RYGBP+IT group. The results demonstrated that fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and gastric inhibitory polypeptide levels in all treatment groups were significantly lower than those of the SO and DM groups. Furthermore, levels TC and TG in the RYGBP+IT group were significantly lower than in the RYGBP and IT groups. Levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase mRNA and IRS-2 protein in all treatment groups were also significantly lower than those of the SO group; and they were significantly lower in the RYGBP+IT group compared with the RYGBP and IT groups. The expression of phosphorylated Akt in the treatment groups was significantly higher than the SO group and was significantly higher in the RYGBP+IT group compared with the RYGBP and IT groups. These results indicate that RYGBP and IT surgical treatment can induce T2DM remission by mediating the expression of insulin-related factors to reverse insulin resistance. The current study also indicated that the effect of RYGBP combined with IT may be developed as a novel first-line method of treating T2DM.

[Impact of land use types on soil macropores in the loess region].

Soil hydraulic conductivity and macropores are important parameters for determining the proportion of precipitation infiltration, simulating soil water and solution transport and establishing the hydrologic model. To investigate the effect of land use types on macropores in soils, soil hydraulic properties, macroporosity and macropore connectivity under different land use types (locust forestland, grassland, farmland and apple forestland) in the loess region were measured by Hood infiltrometer and water retention curve. The results showed that the average hydraulic conductivities under locust forestland, grassland, farmland and apple forestland were 58.60 x 10(-6), 54.90 x 10(-6), 35.30 x10(-6), 23.40 x 10(-6) m x s(-1), respectively. The differences among land use types were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The effective macropores per unit area, macroporosity and macropore connectivity were highest in locust forestland and grassland, followed by farmland and apple forestland. As a consequence of vegetation restoration, macropores which developed by plant roots and animal activity had significantly improved the soil infiltration capability. Restoring woods and grasses should persist in the loess region.

Bioequivalence evaluation of two D-limonene capsule formulations in healthy Chinese volunteers.

A randomized, three-period crossover study was conducted in 24 healthy Chinese male volunteers to compare the bioavailability of two brands of D-limonene (0.3 ml) capsules, and determine the plasma concentration of endogenous D-limonene in food-controlled non-treated humans. The three kinds of treatments were administration of the reference formulation, administration of the test, and non-administration. The plasma samples were analyzed by a validated GC-MS method after liquid-liquid extraction. The pharmacokinetic parameters AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), Cmax, tmax, and t1/2 were determined from the concentration-time profiles for both formulations and were compared statistically to evaluate bioequivalence between the two brands. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not show any significant difference between the two formulations and 90% confidence intervals fell within an acceptable range for bioequivalence. Besides, for the food-controlled non-treated volunteers, their plasma concentrations of D-limonene were detectable and kept relatively steady (2.94 +/- 1.38 ng/ml) within the sample collection period. Based on the statistical analysis, it was concluded that the two D-limonene capsule formulations were bioequivalent.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of d-limonene in human plasma.

d-Limonene shows carminative and cholagogue effects and is used in treatment of gallstone, cholecystitis and angiocholitis. A simple method was developed to determine the concentration of d-limonene in human plasma. d-Limonene and internal standard (naphthalane, C(10)H(18)) were extracted with n-hexane and then injected to GC-MS. Calibration curves were linear (r=0.9990, n=6) in the range of 2-500 ng/ml for d-limonene in human plasma. Limit of detection and quantification were 0.5 and 2 ng/ml, respectively. This rapid and specific method was applied to the clinical pharmacokinetic investigation of d-limonene.