LINC01605 regulates proliferation, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells via targeting miR-3960/SOX11.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the expression level of long intergenic non-coding ribonucleic acid 1605 (LINC01605) in colorectal cancer (CRC), and to explore the effects of the LINC01605/microRNA (miR)-3960/sex-determining region Y-box 11 (SOX11) regulatory axis on the biological behaviors of CRC cells and the molecular mechanism therein. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tissue specimens were collected from 38 patients with CRC, and the relative expression level of LINC01605 in the CRC tissues and CRC cells was measured using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Then, the effects of LINC01605 on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis of CRC cells were observed via in vitro assays [cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay]. Besides, the possible miRNAs binding to LINC01605 were predicted by the bioinformatics method, and they were screened and verified using qRT-PCR and Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay. Finally, the downstream target genes of miR-3960 were predicted by means of bioinformatics, and they were also screened and confirmed via qRT-PCR and Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS: According to the results of qRT-PCR, the expression of LINC01605 was up-regulated in 31 out of 38 cases of CRC tissue specimens, and its expression in CRC cells was higher than that in normal colorectal cells. The results of in vitro assays revealed that the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of CRC cells were weakened, with an increased apoptosis rate after interference with LINC01605 expression. Based on the results of qRT-PCR and Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay, miR-3960 was the target of LINC01605, while SOX11 was the target of miR-3960. Moreover, the expression of miR-3960 rose, but that of SOX11 declined after interference with LINC01605 expression. It was found through Western blotting that the protein expression of SOX11 was lowered after interference with LINC01605 expression. CONCLUSIONS: LINC01605 has an up-regulated expression in CRC, and accelerates the proliferation, migration and metastasis of CRC cells by the miR-3960/SOX11 regulatory axis.

Unstable Non-isthmic Spondylolisthesis Following Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy Assisted Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression: A Case Report

@#Lumbar decompressive laminectomy is a standard treatment for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, but in some cases, can lead to iatrogenic spondylolysis and delayed segmental instability. Iatrogenic spondylolysis occurs in most cases in pars interarticularis, but rare cases have also been reported, pediculolysis in pedicle and laminolysis in lamina. Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) is known to have a low risk of developing these iatrogenic spondylolyses, and unilateral biportal endoscopy is the MIS that has been drawing attention. We present a case of a 72-year-old female who was diagnosed with L4-5 unstable non-isthmic spondylolisthesis and severe right central disc extrusion 10 weeks after UBE assisted unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) at the consecutive segments of L3-4 and L4-5. Pre-operative imaging studies revealed severe central stenosis without spondylolisthesis at L3-L4 and L4- L5 along with L4-L5 facet tropism. She was managed by anterior lumbar interbody fusion and cement augmented pedicle screw fixation, which resulted in the complete resolution of her clinical and neurologic symptoms.

Effect of Changes in Body Mass Index on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: A higher body mass index (BMI) before kidney transplantation (KT) is associated with increased mortality and allograft loss in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, the effect of changes in BMI after KT on these outcomes remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of baseline BMI and changes in BMI on clinical outcomes in KTRs. METHODS: A total of 869 KTRs were enrolled from a multicenter observational cohort study from 2012 to 2015. Patients were divided into low and high BMI groups before KT based on a BMI cutoff point of 23 kg/m2. Differences in acute rejection and cardiovascular disease (CVD) between the 2 groups were analyzed. In addition, clinical outcomes across the 4 BMI groups divided by BMI change 1 year after KT were compared. Associations between BMI change and laboratory findings were also evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with a higher BMI before KT showed significantly increased CVD after KT (P = .027) compared with patients with a lower BMI. However, among the KTRs with a higher baseline BMI, only persistently higher BMI was associated with increased CVD during the follow-up period (P = .003). Patients with persistently higher BMI had significantly decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increased hemoglobin, triglyceride, and hemoglobin A1c levels. Baseline BMI and post-transplantation change in BMI were not related to acute rejection in KTRs. CONCLUSIONS: BMI in the 1st year after KT as well as baseline BMI were associated with CVD in KTRs. More careful monitoring of obese KTRs who do not undergo a reduction in BMI after KT is required.

Circulating miR-199a-3p in plasma and its potential diagnostic and prognostic value in glioma.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the possibility of using plasma miR-199a-3p as a biomarker for glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma miR-199a-3p expression glioma patients and normal healthy controls were quantified by Quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Then, the associations of serum miR-199a-3p level with clinicopathological factors or survival of glioma patients were further evaluated. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to validate the diagnostic value of miR-199a-3p. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were finally performed to analyze the independent factors for overall survival. RESULTS: The qRT-PCR results showed that the miR-199a-3p expression was significantly downregulated in glioma tissues compared with the adjacent non-tumor tissues (p<0.01). Furthermore, plasma miR-199a-3p level was significantly lower in glioma patients when compared with healthy controls (p<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that plasma miR-199a-3p was a useful marker for discriminating cases from healthy controls, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.8466 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.772 to 0.9211, p<0.001). Moreover, miR-199a-3p expression was associated with various clinicopathological parameters, including WHO grade (p=0.001) and KPS score (p=0.008). We found that glioma patients with low miR-199a-3p expression level had distinctly shorter overall survival than patients with high miR-199a-3p expression level (p=0.0067). Univariate and multivariate analysis suggested that miR-199a-3p expression was an independent predictor of poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that the circulating miR-199a-3p could be used as a promising novel biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of glioma.

Evidence for miR-17-92 and miR-134 gene cluster regulation of ovarian cancer drug resistance.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian cancer treatments are often impeded by drug resistance. It has been proposed that microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns may play a role in drug resistance among ovarian cancers. The present study investigated the relationship between resistance to the cancer drug paclitaxel and miRNA expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the expression patterns of miRNA genes in paclitaxel-sensitive (SKOV3) and paclitaxel-resistant (SKOV3-TR30) cell lines. RESULTS: Expression of the miR-134 gene cluster was found to be significantly lower in the paclitaxel-resistant cell line than in the paclitaxel-sensitive cell line, while the expression of the miR-17-92 gene cluster was significantly higher in the paclitaxel-resistant cells. An analysis of miRNA target gene protein expression revealed that several targets of miR-17-92 were significantly altered between the two cell types. CONCLUSIONS: The higher expression of miR-17-92 and lower expression of mi-134 and the associated alterations of target gene expression may be associated with the drug-resistant nature of some ovarian cancers.

Increasing the interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery in esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis of published studies.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify whether a longer interval between the end of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and surgery is associated with better outcomes in esophageal cancer. nCRT followed by surgery is the most common approach for patients with resectable esophageal cancer. Operations are performed within 2-8 weeks after nCRT; however, the optimal interval between nCRT and surgery for esophageal cancer is unknown. We performed a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Clinical Trials database for studies published between January 2000 and December 2014. Eligible studies were prospective or retrospective studies of esophageal cancer that assessed the effects of intervals longer or shorter than 7-8 weeks between the end of nCRT and surgery. The primary end-points were the overall survival (OS) and pathologic complete response (pCR). Secondary end-points were anastomotic leak, R0 resection, and postoperative mortality rate. A meta-analysis was performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) using fixed-effect and random-effect models, with Review Manager 5.2. The five studies that met the eligibility requirements included 1,016 patients: 520 in the shorter interval group (≤7-8 weeks) and 496 in the longer interval group (>7-8 weeks). The results of our meta-analysis indicate that a longer interval between nCRT and surgery may be disadvantageous for 2-year OS (OR = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.80, P = 0.010) and R0 resection rate (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.14-2.22, P = 0.009). The pCR, anastomotic leak rate, and postoperative morbidity were similar in the two groups. A longer interval (more than the standard 7-8 weeks) from the end of preoperative nCRT to surgery did not increase the rate of pCR in esophageal cancer, and the different intervals had similar effects on anastomotic leak rate and postoperative mortality rates. However, the longer interval between nCRT and surgery may be disadvantageous for long-term OS. These results should be validated prospectively in a randomized trial.

Effects of laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy compared with abdominal hysterectomy on immune function.

This study evaluated the effects of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and abdominal hysterectomy (AH) on the immune system. Between May 2007 and July 2008, 84 women with uterine myoma were randomized in a double-blind manner to undergo LAVH (n = 42) or AH (n = 42). Plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), C-reactive protein (CRP), T-lymphocyte CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) subpopulations, and natural killer (NK) cells were measured 24 h before and 24 h and 72 h after surgery. The IL-6, TNF-alpha and CRP levels in both groups increased significantly after surgery compared with pre-operative levels, and were significantly lower in the LAVH versus the AH group. Post-operative CD3(+) and CD8(+) T-cell counts in the AH group decreased significantly compared with pre-operative levels, whereas in the LAVH group they decreased but not to a statistically significant degree. Post-operative CD4(+) T-cell counts in the AH group also decreased significantly at 24 h after surgery, but were significantly increased at 72 h. In conclusion, LAVH does not significantly affect immune function compared with AH, suggesting the preservation of post-operative immunity, however further clinical studies are necessary.

Spironolactone ameliorates renal injury and connective tissue growth factor expression in type II diabetic rats.

Administration of spironolactone provides a beneficial effect in various animal models of renal injury. In this study, we investigated whether spironolactone prevents the progression of diabetic nephropathy through reduction of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) synthesis in type II diabetic rats. In addition, we evaluated the effect of aldosterone and spironolactone on CTGF and collagen production in cultured cells. Renal functional and morphologic changes were examined in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats with or without spironolactone treatment (20 mg/kg/day) for 8 months, as well as in non-diabetic age-matched Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats. Spironolactone treatment did not induce any significant differences in body weight, kidney/body weight ratio, serum creatinine concentration, blood glucose levels, or systolic blood pressure. However, urinary protein and albumin excretion were significantly decreased in the spironolactone treatment group, which was associated with amelioration of glomerulosclerosis. In addition, renal CTGF, collagen synthesis demonstrated marked decreases in the spironolactone treatment group. In cultured MC and PTC, aldosterone induced significant increases in CTGF gene expression and protein synthesis associated with increased collagen synthesis, which was abolished by prior treatment with spironolactone. However, aldosterone treatment did not induce transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 overproduction, and inhibition of TGF-beta1 by neutralization of TGF-beta1 protein did not significantly prevent aldosterone-induced CTGF production. These results suggest that the antifibrotic effects of spironolactone may be mediated by CTGF through a TGF-beta1-independent pathway in this animal model of diabetic nephropathy.

Fhit-deficient normal and cancer cells are mitomycin C and UVC resistant.

To identify functions of the fragile tumour suppressor gene, FHIT, matched pairs of Fhit-negative and -positive human cancer cell clones, and normal cell lines established from Fhit -/- and +/+ mice, were stressed and examined for differences in cell cycle kinetics and survival. A larger fraction of Fhit-negative human cancer cells and murine kidney cells survived treatment with mitomycin C or UVC light compared to matched Fhit-positive cells; approximately 10-fold more colonies of Fhit-deficient cells survived high UVC doses in clonigenic assays. The human cancer cells were synchronised in G1, released into S and treated with UVC or mitomycin C. At 18 h post mitomycin C treatment approximately 6-fold more Fhit-positive than -negative cells had died, and 18 h post UVC treatment 3.5-fold more Fhit-positive cells were dead. Similar results were obtained for the murine -/- cells. After low UVC doses, the rate of DNA synthesis in -/- cells decreased more rapidly and steeply than in +/+ cells, although the Atr-Chk1 pathway appeared intact in both cell types. UVC surviving Fhit -/- cells appear transformed and exhibit >5-fold increased mutation frequency. This increased mutation burden could explain the susceptibility of Fhit-deficient cells in vivo to malignant transformation.

In/InCl(3)-Mediated cross-coupling reactions of methyl vinyl ketone with benzaldehyde in aqueous media

Various beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones were successfully prepared by cross-coupling reactions of methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) with benzaldehydes mediated by In/InCl(3) in aqueous media.

Magnetic breakdown at high fields: semiclassical and quantum treatments

The effects of finite temperature and noninteracting spins on magnetic breakdown (MB) in a quasi-two-dimensional organic conductor have been determined by computing the field-dependent free energy using a realistic crystal structure with no adjustable parameters. The de Haas-van Alphen oscillation spectra, including the MB phenomena, are thereby obtained microscopically. Within the range of computed magnetic field, from 170 to 1400 T, we find remarkable agreement between the predictions of the semiclassical and quantum treatment. We also find that the Zeeman effect leads to splitting of a frequency corresponding to the fundamental orbit.