Lycium barbarum polysaccharides attenuate kidney injury in septic rats by regulating Keap1-Nrf2/ARE pathway.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) are derived from Wolfberry and have antioxidant activities. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of LBP for kidney injury in a rat model of sepsis. Male rats were divided randomly to control group (Con), LPS group (LPS), ulinastatin group (ULI), low dose LBP group (LBP-1), middle dose LBP group (LBP-2) and high dose LBP group (LBP-3). After intraperitoneal injection of LPS (5 mg/kg) to make sepsis model (LPS group), 10,000 U/kg ulinastatin were given in ULI group, and 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg LBP was given in LBP-1, -2, -3 group, respectively. Serum IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and NF-κB levels were measured by ELISA. Nrf2, Keap1, NF-κB, HO-1 and NQO1 expression levels were detected by PCR and Western blot analysis. We found that LBP decreased the levels of NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokines while attenuated kidney injury. In addition, LBP regulated Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway in the kidney. In conclusion, LBP attenuates inflammation injury in the kidney via possible regulation of Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling.

Information feedback of 18F-FDG PET/CT computer imaging combined with tumor markers on recurrence and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer.

To investigate the diagnostic value or information feedback of tumor markers combined with 18F-FDG PET/CT computer imaging on recurrence and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: From January 2013 to December 2017, 95 NSCLC patients undergoing systemic 18F-FDG PET/CT computer imaging examination at the PET/CT computer imaging center of Mudanjiang Medical University had been enrolled. Typically, the interval between the completion of treatment and PET/CT computer imaging examination should be at least three months. Besides, all patients had undergone serum CEA monitoring before and after 18F-FDG PET/CT computer imaging, and 70 of them had received CYFRA21-1 test at the same time. Tumor markers were examined with PET/CT at intervals of less than one week, and all the feedback results were compared with clinical follow-up results or final pathology. Additionally, all the enrolled patients were followed up for 6-12 months. RESULTS: The sensitivity, accuracy, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 18F-FDGPET/CT information feedback in evaluating recurrence or metastasis after NSCLC treatment were superior to those of common tumor markers, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Those of 18F-FDG PET/CT computer imaging combined with tumor marker examination for the recurrence and/or metastasis after NSCLC treatment were remarkably higher than those of either individual examination, and the accuracy difference of information feedback had significant statistical significance (P<0.05). Clearly, the diagnosis using tumor markers was correlated with that by 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging, and the correlation coefficient was r=0.63. Moreover, serum CEA was grouped at different levels, and the positive rate and accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT computer imaging diagnosis were increased with the increase in CEA level. 8 patients had received 18F-FDG PET/CT dual-phase examination, among them, 4 were diagnosed with recurrence or metastasis after MSCLC treatment, and all of them had been detected.

The nucleosome binding protein 1 promotes the growth of gastric cancer cells.

Nucleosome binding protein 1 (NSBP1) is identified as a new member of HMGN family and is abnormally overexpressed in a variety of tumors. However, it remains unclear whether NSBP1 is overexpressed and promotes gastric cancer. In this study we employed RNAi mediated knockdown of NSBP1 to investigate potential oncogenic role of NSBP1 in gastric cancer. In BGC823 and SGC7901 gastric cancer cell lines, we showed that NSBP1 knockdown decreased cell proliferation while increased apoptosis in vitro. Western blot analysis showed that NSBP1 knockdown decreased the levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 while increased the levels of pro-apoptotic protein Bax. In addition, NSBP1 knockdown inhibited the growth and increased the apoptosis of SGC7901 cells xenografted in nude mice. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence that NSBP1 enhances the proliferation while inhibits the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells, and this is related to the regulation of the expression of apoptosis related proteins by NSBP1. These data suggest that NSBP1 plays oncogenic role in gastric cancer.

Polymorphisms of ERBB2 and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis of 26 studies involving 35,088 subjects.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several epidemiologic studies have investigated the relationship between the polymorphisms of ERBB2 gene and breast cancer risk. However, the results are inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the association between ERBB2 Ile655Val and Ala1170Pro polymorphisms and the susceptibility to breast cancer. METHODS: Twenty-six studies including 15,940 cases and 19,148 controls were analyzed in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Overall, allele contrast (Val vs. Ile) of ERBB2 655 polymorphism produced significant results in worldwide populations (OR = 1.123, 95%CI = 1.01-1.249) and in Caucasian populations (OR = 1.149, 95%CI = 1.002-1.318). In addition, the Val/Val genotype of ERBB2 655 polymorphism was associated with an increase risk of breast cancer in African (Val/Val vs. Ile/Ile OR = 16.031 95%CI = 2.019-127.267; Val/Val vs. Ile/Val + Ile/Ile OR = 16.445 95%CI = 2.059-131.351), but not in Caucasian or Asian individuals. CONCLUSIONS: ERBB2 655 Val allele would be a risk factor for breast cancer, especially in Caucasian populations. In addition, the Val/Val genotype was a risk factor for breast cancer in African individuals. ERBB2 Ala1170Pro was not associated with breast cancer susceptibility.

Composition and characteristics of distinct macrophage subpopulations in the mouse thymus.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the composition, morphology, characteristics, distribution and function of distinct macrophage subpopulations in the mouse thymus. Apoptosis of mouse thymocytes was induced by glucocorticoids and three monoclonal antibodies against Mac-2, F4/80 and ED1 were used for immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemical analysis. The morphology of thymic macrophages was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Four subpopulations of mouse thymic macrophages were identified. Dendritic macrophages were identified using anti-Mac-2 and anti-F4/80 antibodies, and were demonstrated to be distributed in the entire thymus. Phagocytes were also observed. In addition, plate-shaped macrophages, identified using the anti-F4/80 antibody, were distributed under the thymic cortex capsule. Small oval macrophages, identified using the anti-Mac-2 antibody, were distributed in the thymic medulla and corticomedullary region (CMR), while phagocytes were not observed in these types of cell. ED1+ thymic macrophages with irregular forms were distributed in the CMR. All of the four subpopulations of mouse thymic macrophages described above exhibited acid phosphate activity. This study indicated the existence of macrophage subpopulations with different shapes, distribution and functions in the mouse thymus.