Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy on the cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The treatment and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was affected by the occurrence of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT). Yiqi Buxue prescriptions were a class of traditional single or compounded formulations that have become a consensus for NSCLC. There was no clear information and or summary available for Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy for NSCLC in reducing CTR-CVT. AIM OF THE STUDY: To systematically evaluate the Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy in reducing CTR-CVT for patients with NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Search strategies were developed to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SinoMed and WanFang Data from database inception date to October 2022. The methodological quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias (ROBs) assessment tool, and the meta-analysis was analyzed using RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: A total of 9 studies were included. Compared with the adjuvant chemotherapy group, Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy group showed no statistically significant in reducing CTR-CVT (RR 0.67, 95%CI 0.11 to 3.93, P = 0.65) and in CD4+/CD8+(MR 0.32, 95%CI -0.13 to 0.77, P = 0.16). However, it significantly improved the objective response rate (ORR) (RR 1.57, 95%CI 1.32 to 1.87, P < 0.00001), disease control rate (DCR) (RR 1.25, 95%CI 1.15 to 1.35, P < 0.00001), Karnofsky performance status (KPS) improvement rate (RR 1.34, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.55, P < 0.0001), CD3+ (MR 4.17, 95%CI 3.68 to 4.66, P < 0.00001), CD4+ (MR 4.87, 95%CI 4.28 to 5.46, P < 0.00001), and CD8+ (MR 3.12, 95%CI 2.57 to 3.67, P < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: The current RCTs are hampered by small sample sizes and poor methodological quality. More rigorously designed and large sample RCTs with primary outcome of CTR-CVT are needed to investigate the effectiveness of Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy in reducing CTR-CVT for patients with NSCLC.

Identification of livestock farms with potential risk of environmental pollution by using a model for returning livestock manure to cultivated land.

Livestock farms produce a large amount of livestock manure, which, if not disposed of properly, will become an environmental pollution source. However, limited research has been conducted on identifying livestock farms with a potential risk of environmental pollution. In this study, a model for returning livestock manure to cultivated land was constructed. Livestock manure was returned to cultivated land, and the amount of surplus livestock manure nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, in livestock farms was calculated with pig manure as an example. Then, livestock farms with a potential risk of environmental pollution in Shanggan Town and part of Xiangqian Town in Fuzhou City were identified using phosphorus as an index. Results showed that the spatial distributions of nitrogen and phosphorus from pig manure in the cultivated land varied. All cultivated lands exhibited the maximum carrying capacity for phosphorus, and 1811 cultivated lands exhibited potential nitrogen carrying capacity. A total of 13,958.997 kg of phosphorus from pig manure in 144 livestock farms could not be disposed to cultivated lands. In all, 144 livestock farms with surplus phosphorus from pig manure were identified as potential environmental pollution sources. These findings can serve as a scientific basis for the utilization of livestock manure, prevention of environmental pollution caused by livestock farms, and layout planning of livestock farms.

PTPRO-related CD8+ T-cell signatures predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in patients with breast cancer.

Background: Poor immunogenicity and extensive immunosuppressive T-cell infiltration in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) have been identified as potential barriers to immunotherapy success in "immune-cold" breast cancers. Thus, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that can predict immunotherapy efficacy. Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type O (PTPRO) regulates multiple kinases and pathways and has been implied to play a regulatory role in immune cell infiltration in various cancers. Methods: ESTIMATE and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were performed to uncover the TIME landscape. The correlation analysis of PTPRO and immune infiltration was performed to characterize the immune features of PTPRO. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were applied to determine the prognostic value of various variables and construct the PTPRO-related CD8+ T-cell signatures (PTSs). The Kaplan-Meier curve and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to estimate the performance of PTS in assessing prognosis and immunotherapy response in multiple validation datasets. Results: High PTPRO expression was related to high infiltration levels of CD8+ T cells, as well as macrophages, activated dendritic cells (aDCs), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and Th1 cells. Given the critical role of CD8+ T cells in the TIME, we focused on the impact of PTPRO expression on CD8+ T-cell infiltration. The prognostic PTS was then constructed using the TCGA training dataset. Further analysis showed that the PTS exhibited favorable prognostic performance in multiple validation datasets. Of note, the PTS could accurately predict the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Conclusion: PTPRO significantly impacts CD8+ T-cell infiltration in breast cancer, suggesting a potential role of immunomodulation. PTPRO-based PTS provides a new immune cell paradigm for prognosis, which is valuable for immunotherapy decisions in cancer patients.

Spatial layout planning of intensive pig farms in the suburb: a case study of Nanyu, China.

A large number of livestock and poultry breeding were distributed in the suburbs, brought a strong environmental pressure to the cities. The issue of whether livestock and poultry breeding could be carried out in the suburbs was a key controversy in the present. To address this question, this study constructed an index system of suitability evaluation of spatial layout of intensive pig farms, calculated the average surface temperature from June to September, and obtained potential intensive pig farms in Nanyu Town. Combing above results and area index results of cultivated land spatial matched with intensive pig farm, spatial relation between cultivated land and potential intensive pig farm was built, the optimum potential intensive pig farm in Nanyu Town was determined, and its carrying capacity was calculated. Results showed that livestock and poultry breeding could be carried out in the suburbs. A total of 3403 and 3253 pieces of cultivated lands occupying 52.01% and 49.67% of the total cultivated lands had a spatial relation between potential intensive pig farms taking N and P as indices, respectively. Moreover, 14 and 15 potential intensive pig farms taking N and P as indices, respectively, in Nanyu Town were determined as optimum potential intensive pig farms. Results also indicated that most of the optimum potential intensive pig farms were suitable for constructing small- and medium-sized pig farms. Results would provide scientific basis for the planning of spatial arrangement of livestock and poultry breeding and the suburb environmental pollution control.

Spatial-temporal distribution of biogas production from agricultural waste per capita in rural China and its correlation with ground temperature.

Biogas production from agricultural waste has played a key role in recent years in reducing the environmental pollution risk of agricultural waste and alleviating energy shortage in rural China. However, few studies have focused on the effect of ground temperature on biogas production from agricultural waste from a quantitative point of view and the solution to increasing the temperature of biogas digesters in the cold season to improve biogas production from agricultural waste in rural areas at a provincial scale. Here, we calculated the spatial-temporal distribution of biogas production from agricultural waste per capita in rural China from 2001 to 2016 and agricultural waste per capita in rural China in 2016. Furthermore, we analyzed the correlation between biogas production from agricultural waste per capita in rural China and ground temperature. Finally, we proposed a solution to increase the temperature of biogas digesters in rural China in the cold season after analyzing its energy utilization. Results showed that the biogas production from agricultural waste per capita in rural China was correlated with the average and maximum ground temperature in January, February, March, November, and December from 2001 to 2016. The results also indicated that the suggested heating mode of biogas production from agricultural waste in rural China differed greatly among provinces. The provinces with high agricultural waste per capita in rural areas and low averaged biogas production from agricultural waste per capita are Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, and Xinjiang, which needed the suggested heating mode of biogas production from agricultural waste for increasing the temperature of biogas digesters in rural China in the cold season. Our findings provide a reference for biogas production from agricultural waste, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and the spatial layout of energy utilization in rural China.

Spatial layout planning of the pig northward movement based on GIS.

This study aimed to optimise the layout of pig breeding in the south water network area and guide the transfer of pig production capacity to the areas with large environmental capacity and the main maize-producing areas. Combining with the alarm value of equivalent pig manure load on cultivated land, the comprehensive advantage index of maize and GIS (Geographic Information System), this study analysed the spatial layout planning of the pig northward movement in China. Results showed that the alarm value of equivalent pig manure load on cultivated land in other parts of the study area exceeded 0.40, except in Jilin, Heilongjiang and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The highest alarm value of equivalent pig manure load on cultivated land value of 1.96 was observed in Fujian Province, followed by Jiangxi (1.09) and Hubei (0.42). A total of 573.996 million excess pig equivalents were present in the study area. In the provinces with potential pig equivalent, Jilin, Heilongjiang and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region can carry the potential pig equivalent of 306.270 million. The priority target areas of the pig northward movement were Jilin, Heilongjiang and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region according to the comprehensive advantage index of maize. Combining with the spatial analysis method of GIS, the scheme of the pig northward movement was obtained. According to the spatial layout planning of the pig northward movement, Jilin and Heilongjiang carried 15.339 and 135.36 million pig equivalents, respectively, thereby reaching the maximum number of pig equivalents they can carry, whereas the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region can carry 80.086 million pig equivalents. The results can provide a scientific basis for the spatial layout planning of pig breeding and environmental pollution protection in China.

Discovery of flat seismic reflections in the mantle beneath the young Juan de Fuca Plate.

Crustal properties of young oceanic lithosphere have been examined extensively, but the nature of the mantle lithosphere underneath remains elusive. Using a novel wide-angle seismic imaging technique, here we show the presence of two sub-horizontal reflections at ∼11 and ∼14.5 km below the seafloor over the 0.51-2.67 Ma old Juan de Fuca Plate. We find that the observed reflectors originate from 300-600-m-thick layers, with an ∼7-8% drop in P-wave velocity. They could be explained either by the presence of partially molten sills or frozen gabbroic sills. If partially molten, the shallower sill would define the base of a thin lithosphere with the constant thickness (11 km), requiring the presence of a mantle thermal anomaly extending up to 2.67 Ma. In contrast, if these reflections were frozen melt sills, they would imply the presence of thick young oceanic lithosphere (20-25 km), and extremely heterogeneous upper mantle.

[Spatial variability and agglomeration of soil salinity in Minjiang estuary wetland, Southeast China]. / 闽江河口湿地土壤盐分的空间分异与集聚特征.

Understanding the spatial variability and agglomeration of soil salinity is of great significance for the sustainable development of estuarine wetland. Landsat 8 OLI remote sensing image, digital elevation mode and soil surface samples of Minjiang estuary wetland of Fuzhou were used as the data sources. The correlation analysis and principal component analysis were combined to select significant environmental variables and to reduce their dimensions. We analyzed the spatial variability of soil salinity with support vector regression ordinary kriging model (SVROK) and regression kri-ging model (RK), and quantified spatial agglomeration of soil salinity by the spatial autocorrelation analysis. The results showed that three principal components (PCs) extracted by the principal component analysis could explain at least 85% of the total variance in the original dataset and reflected the comprehensive information of vegetation cover, soil properties and topography. Both soil salinity and its residuals were affected by structural factors and random factors. The SVROK model based on principal component (PCs) as input variables can more accurately reflect the spatial variability of soil salinity, with a trend of "higher in the north and lower in the south". The Moran's I of soil salinity was more than 0.5, with significant positive spatial autocorrelation and a higher spatial aggregation degree, displaying the spatial agglomeration characteristics of "high value agglomeration, high value widespread, high value surrounded by low value".

One immunoassay probe makes SERS and fluorescence two readout signals: Rapid imaging and determination of intracellular glutathione levels.

In this paper, one probe (TPPA-VCh) with fluorescence and Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) two readout signals, which has high sensitivity and specificity to glutathione in both vitro and cell image applications, is designed and synthesized. Furthermore, the quenched emissions and intensified SERS signals is obtained by loading TPPA-VCh on the surfaces of gold nanoparticles.

Alterations to the microbiota-colon-brain axis in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice compared to diet-resistant mice.

Obesity is underpinned by both genetic and environmental factors, including a high-saturated-fat diet. Some mice develop diet-induced obesity (DIO), but others remain diet resistant (DR) despite intake of the same high-saturated-fat diet, a phenomenon that mimics characteristics of the human obese phenotype. Microbiota-colon-brain axis regulation is important for energy metabolism and cognition. Using DIO and DR mouse models, this study aimed to examine gut microbiota, colonic inflammation and cognitive function to elucidate the role of microbiota-gut-brain regulation in DIO. C57Bl6/J mice fed a chronic saturated-palmitic-acid diet for 22 weeks showed significant body weight gain differences, with the top one third gaining 48% heavier body weight than the lower one third. There was significant reduction in gut microbiota richness and diversity in DIO mice but not in DR mice. At the phylum level, DIO mice had increased abundance of Firmicutes and Antinobacteria, and decreased abundance of Bacterioides and Proteobacteria in gut microbiota. DIO mice exhibited reduced tight junction proteins, increased plasma endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and increased inflammation in the colon and liver. Recognition memory and spatial memory were impaired in DIO mice, associated with decreased Bacteroidetes. Further examination showed that hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor was significantly decreased in DIO mice (vs. DR). Conversely, DR mice showed no changes in the above parameters measured. Therefore, gut microbiota, colon inflammation and circulating LPS may play a major role in the development of the obese phenotype and cognitive decline associated with a chronic high-saturated-palmitic-acid diet.

Two aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active reaction-type probes: for real-time detecting and imaging of superoxide anions.

Fluorescent probes are powerful tools for investigating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living organisms. The overproduced "primary" ROS of superoxide anions (O2˙-) cause a chain of oxidative damage. In order to monitor O2˙- level fluctuations in living cells, we synthesized two reaction-type probes of TPA-DHP-1,2,3 and TPA-PPA-1,2,3, which were composed of an electron-rich triphenylamine (TPA) and the very active functional groups of dihydropyridine (DHP) and pyridinium (PPA). Intriguingly, DHP and PPA were able to carry out easy proton abstractions and nucleophilic reactions in the presence of O2˙-, resulting in the corresponding products with sharp wavelength shifts, and elevated fluorescence intensities. Therefore, undesirable background fluorescence interference can be reduced during the monitoring and imaging process. Meanwhile, the developed dual-channel monitoring strategy not only provides observations of the O2˙- level fluctuations, but could also be employed to image the dynamic accumulation process of probes in the different cell organelles. Therefore, the design could provide a simple, accurate and universal platform for biological applications in future research work.

The excretory-secretory products of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces stimulated IL-10 production in B cells via TLR-2 signaling.

BACKGROUND: Excretory-secretory products released by Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces (EgPSC-ESPs) are well-known to regulate T cell responses. However, their direct influence on the differentiation of B cell subsets remains largely elusive. This study investigated the effects of EgPSC-ESPs on the differentiation of IL-10-producing B cells (B10), and explored the possible role of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) signaling in this process. RESULTS: In comparison to phosphate buffered saline (PBS), B cells exposed to the excretory-secretory products (ESPs) generated higher percentages of B10 cells, with higher expression of IL-10 mRNA, and larger amount of IL-10 production, which were in a dose dependent way. The mRNA and protein expression of TLR-2 in the ESPs-stimulated B cells were significantly higher than those in PBS, which was consistent to the results in B cells isolated from EgPSC infected mice. Moreover, TLR-2-/- B cells in response to ESPs stimulation expressed lower levels of IL-10 mRNA and produced undetectable IL-10 in comparison to those in normal B cells. In addition, Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten/AKT/Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PTEN/AKT/PI3K) pathway was activated in ESPs-treated B cells, which was also dependent on TLR-2 signaling. Pam3CSK4, the agonist of TLR-2, could mock the effects of ESPs on the expression of PTEN, AKT and PI3K. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study revealed that TLR-2 signaling was required for B10 induction mediated by EgPSC-ESPs, which might be an immunomodulatory target against the parasite infection.

Positively Charged Hyperbranched Polymers with Tunable Fluorescence and Cell Imaging Application.

Fluorescence-tunable materials are becoming increasingly attractive because of their potential applications in optics, electronics, and biomedical technology. Herein, a multicolor molecular pixel system is realized using a simple copolymerization method. Bleeding of two complementary colors from blue and yellow fluorescence segments reproduced serious multicolor fluorescence materials. Interestingly, the emission colors of the polymers can be fine-tuned in the solid state, solution phase, and in hydrogel state. More importantly, the positive fluorescent polymers exhibited cell-membrane permeable ability and were found to accumulate on the cell nucleus, exhibiting remarkable selectivity to give bright fluorescence. The DNA/RNA selectivity experiments in vitro and in vivo verified that [tris(4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)amine]-[1,8-dibromooctane] has prominent selectivity to DNA over RNA inside cells.

The discovery of a conjugate system of faults in the Wharton Basin intraplate deformation zone.

The deformation at well-defined, narrow plate boundaries depends on the relative plate motion, but how the deformation takes place within a distributed plate boundary zone remains a conundrum. This was confirmed by the seismological analyses of the 2012 great Wharton Basin earthquakes [moment magnitude (Mw) 8.6], which suggested the rupture of several faults at high angles to one another. Using high-resolution bathymetry and seismic reflection data, we report the discovery of new N294°E-striking shear zones, oblique to the plate fabric. These shear zones are expressed by sets of normal faults striking at N335°E, defining the direction of the principal compressional stress in the region. Also, we have imaged left-lateral strike-slip faults along reactivated N7°E-oriented oceanic fracture zones. The shear zones and the reactivated fracture zones form a conjugate system of faults, which accommodate present-day intraplate deformation in the Wharton Basin.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active fluorescent probes with multiple binding sites toward ATP sensing and live cell imaging.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active compounds are attractive fluorescent materials for applications in chemical and biological sensing. The AIE effect of such materials amplifies changes in the fluorescence signal due to the physical state transformation from aggregation to disaggregation, which can be employed for detecting various analytes with high sensitivity. In particular, specific bio-active analyte recognition is not only very interesting but also challenging. In this paper, we report a set of novel AIE-active fluorescent probes containing pyridiniums and boric acid groups (TPA-PP, TPA-PPA-1, TPA-PPA-2, TPA-PPA-3), which has been developed for adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) recognition. These probes with two types of interaction modes and multiple connection sites toward ATP molecules are able to selectively discriminate ATP among other bioactive anions with a significant enhancement in fluorescence emission. In particular, in the application of cell imaging, as the number of positive charges and boric acid group increased further, the probes could penetrate into cells, and then enter into the nucleus very specifically. These results clearly demonstrate that the newly developed sensors are suitable for specific tracing of different cell organelles with a height visualization and retention ability. Therefore, all of them are confirmed as promising alternatives for live cell imaging in the future.

Seismic evidence of a two-layer lithospheric deformation in the Indian Ocean.

Intra-plate deformation and associated earthquakes are enigmatic features on the Earth. The Wharton Basin in the Indian Ocean is one of the most active intra-plate deformation zones, confirmed by the occurrence of the 2012 great earthquakes (Mw≥8.2). These earthquakes seem to have ruptured the whole lithosphere, but how this deformation is distributed at depth remains unknown. Here we present seismic reflection images that show faults down to 45 km depth. The amplitude of these reflections in the mantle first decreases with depth down to 25 km and then remains constant down to 45 km. The number of faults imaged along the profile and the number of earthquakes as a function of depth show a similar pattern, suggesting that the lithospheric mantle deformation can be divided into two layers: a highly fractured fluid-filled serpentinized upper layer and a pristine brittle lithospheric mantle where great earthquakes initiate and large stress drops occur.

Determination of amantadine and rimantadine using a sensitive fluorescent probe.

Amantadine hydrochloride (AMA) and rimantadine hydrochloride (RIM) are non-fluorescent in aqueous solutions. This property makes their determination through direct fluorescent method difficult. The competing reactions and the supramolecular interaction mechanisms between the two drugs and coptisine (COP) as they fight for occupancy of the cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) cavity, were studied using spectrofluorimetry, (1)H NMR, and molecular modeling calculations. Based on the significant quenching of the supramolecular complex fluorescence intensity, a fluorescent probe method of high sensitivity and selectivity was developed to determine AMA or RIM in their pharmaceutical dosage forms and in urine samples with good precision and accuracy. The linear range of the method was from 0.0040 to 1.0 µg mL(-1) with a detection limit ranging from 0.0012 to 0.0013 µg mL(-1). This shows that the proposed method has promising potential for therapeutic monitoring and pharmacokinetics and for clinical application.

Inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by phytoestrogen genistein through a potential downregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 activity.

In the current study, we investigated the effects of genistein on adipogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) cultures and its potential signaling pathway. The terminal adipogenic differentiation was assessed by western-blotting analysis of adipogenic-specific proteins such as PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha, and aP2 and the formation of adipocytes. Treatment of mouse BMSC cultures with adipogenic cocktail resulted in sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), which are members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, at the early phase of adipogenesis (from days 3 to 9). Inhibition of ERK1/2 activation by PD98059, a specific MEK inhibitor, reversed the induced adipogenic differentiation. Genistein dose-dependently decreased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in mouse BMSC cultures. Genistein incubation for the entire culture period, as well as that applied during the early phase of the culture period, significantly inhibited the adipogenic differentiation of mouse BMSC cultures. While genistein was incubated at the late stage (after day 9), no inhibitory effect on adipogenic differentiation was observed. BMSC cultures treated with genistein in the presence of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), an activator of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, expressed normal levels of ERK1/2 activity, and, in so doing, are capable of undergoing adipogenesis. Our results suggest that activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway during the early phase of adipogenesis (from days 3 to 9) is essential to adipogenic differentiation of BMSC cultures, and that genistein inhibits the adipogenic differentiation through a potential downregulation of ERK1/2 activity at this early phase of adipogenesis.

Genistein stimulates osteoblastic differentiation via p38 MAPK-Cbfa1 pathway in bone marrow culture.

AIM: To test the hypothesis that genistein stimulates the osteoblastic differentiation through the p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)-core-binding factor 1 (Cbfa1) pathway. METHODS: The activation of p38 MAPK was detected by Western blotting. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposition were assessed for osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) cultures. The expression of Cbfa1 was analyzed at both the mRNA and protein levels. The activity of Cbfa1 was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Bone sialoprotein (BSP), ALP, osteocalcin (OC), and osteopontin (OPN) gene transcription were also evaluated by either RT-PCR or Northern blotting. RESULTS: Genistein (0.01-1 micromol/L) dose dependently led to the rapid and sustained activation of the p38 MAPK pathway in mouse BMSC cultures. Treatment with genistein (1 micromol/L) resulted in increased ALP activity and calcium deposition of BMSC cultures as a function of time. Genistein also enhanced Cbfa1 DNA binding activity and promoted the expressions of Cbfa1 itself as well as several Cbfa1-regulated genes, including ALP, BSP, OC, and OPN. Concurrent treatment with p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) diminished the genistein-induced osteoblastic maturation and p38 MAPK-Cbfa1 activation in mouse BMSC cultures. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that genistein could stimulate the osteoblastic differentiation of BMSC cultures through the p38 MAPK-Cbfa1 pathway.

[Expression of PTEN gene in human glioma cell lines U251 and SHG-44 and its effect on cell proliferation].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Mutation or deletion of PTEN gene is related to a variety of tumors. PTEN gene abnormality is closely related to the tumorigenesis of glioma. This study aimed to investigate the expression of PTEN gene in human glioma cell lines U251 and SHG-44, and explore its effect on cell proliferation. METHODS: The expression of PTEN gene in U251 and SHG-44 cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector containing wild-type PTEN gene was transfected into U251 and SHG-44 cells by cation polymex. The stably transfected cells were selected by G418 and amplified. Cell morphology was observed under microscope. The effect of PTEN gene on cell proliferation was assessed. The expression of PTEN protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Point mutation and deletion of PTEN mRNA were observed respectively in U251 and SHG-44 cells. The proliferation rates of U251 and SHG-44 cells were inhibited by 39.1% and 27.8% of control at 7 days after transfection. The expression of PTEN and GFAP were both increased. The stably transfected U251 cells differentiated toward astrocytes, but SHG-44 cells had no obvious morphologic changes. CONCLUSION: Restoring expression of wild-type PTEN could induce differentiation of glioma cells differently.