Therapeutic efficacy of dexmedetomidine on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via downregulating lncRNA PACER.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to clarify the therapeutic mechanism of Dexmedetomidine (DEX) on the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its regulatory effect on long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) PACER. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum level of PACER in COPD patients was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The diagnostic potential of PACER in COPD was assessed by plotting ROC curves. The in vivo COPD model was generated in rats by cigarette smoking exposure. Primary rat alveolar epithelial cells were isolated, purified and cultured. After overexpression of PACER in primary rat alveolar epithelial cells, proliferative and migratory abilities were assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay, respectively. Subsequently, we detected changes in PACER expression, viability and migratory potentials in primary rat alveolar epithelial cells harvested from control rats, and those harvested from COPD rats and induced with either DEX or not. Rescue experiments were conducted to uncover the involvement of PP2A in PACER-regulated cell phenotypes. RESULTS: PACER was upregulated in serum of COPD patients, which was a potential biomarker for diagnosing COPD. Overexpression of PACER in primary rat alveolar epithelial cells enhanced proliferative and migratory abilities. Compared with primary rat alveolar epithelial cells harvested from control rats, proliferative and migratory abilities were stronger in those harvested from COPD rats and induced with either DEX or not. Notably, DEX induction decreased PACER expression, and proliferative and migratory abilities in primary rat alveolar epithelial cells harvested from COPD rats. Overexpression of PP2A could partially abolish the promotive effects of PACER on proliferative and migratory abilities in DEX-induced primary rat alveolar epithelial cells harvested from COPD rats. CONCLUSIONS: PACER drives the proliferative and migratory abilities of alveolar epithelial cells through activating PP2A. Dexmedetomidine is conducive to COPD treatment by downregulating PACER.

Values of long noncoding RNA SAMMSON in the clinicopathologic features and the prognostic implications of human gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the clinical significance of lncRNA-survival associated mitochondrial melanoma-specific oncogenic non-coding RNA (lncRNA-SAMMSON) in the development and clinicopathological parameters of gastric cancer (GC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tissue specimens were collected from GC patients who received treatment in our hospital. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) was used to determine lncRNA-SAMMSON expression. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was transfected to suppress the expression of lncRNA-SAMMSON in vitro. Pearson's χ2-test  was used to investigate the interaction of lncRNA-SAMMSON with clinicopathological parameters of GC patients. Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank analysis were used to analyze the progression-free survival time and overall time of GC patients. Furthermore, transwell assay and wound healing assay were conducted to determine the invasion and migration abilities of GC cells, respectively. RESULTS: QRT-PCR results showed that lncRNA-SAMMSON was abnormally overexpressed in GC tissues and cells (p<0.05). Pearson's χ2-test illustrated that clinical stage, distant metastasis and lymph node metastasis were closely related to lncRNA-SAMMSON expression in GC patients (p<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis represented that GC patients with high lncRNA-SAMMSON expression had significantly shorter progression-free survival time and overall survival time (p<0.05). Transwell assay and wound healing assay proved that inhibition of lncRNA-SAMMSON in GC cells dramatically reduced the invasion and migration abilities of GC cells, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA-SAMMSON played an important role in the development of GC, which might be regarded as a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of GC.

Comparison of laparoscopy and open surgery in treating severe acute pancreatitis and its relative aftercare.

This study was designed to determine the effects and compare laparoscopic intervention and open surgery in treating severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and its relative aftercare, to improve the overall treatment of SAP. Ninety patients with SAP were enrolled from the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from 2008 to 2014 and divided into a laparoscopic intervention group (25 cases) and an open surgery group (65 cases). Patients were asked for clinical symptoms, general hospital information, laboratory inspection, imageological examination, local and systemic complications, treatment and outcome. SAP patients’ relevant clinical indicators were compared between the two groups before and after the operation. Results revealed that there was no statistical significance in lesion range and main scoring indexes for reflecting the severity of the disease. For both groups statistical significance was found in blood loss (285.3±79.8 mL vs 362±91.6 mL), intensive care unit (ICU) monitoring time (9.04±6.35 d vs 12.48±8.34 d) and service time of breathing machine (9.47±6.24 d vs 12.98±8.25 d), and the laparoscopic operation group was superior to the open surgery group (p < 0.05). Besides, the laparoscopic operation group was also superior to the open surgery group in demand for main analgesics one week after the operation, as well as for recovery rate and incidence of complications (p < 0.05). Thus, it can be concluded that patients undergoing laparoscopic intervention are less likely to develop pulmonary infection and more likely to be cured in comparison with patients who receive open surgery. In addition, laparoscopic intervention results in less damage, lighter pain and fewer complications compared with open surgery.

[Research on the effect of amalgam restorations on human nervous system].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the influence of amalgam restorations on human nervous system. METHODS: WHO NCTB and neurobehavioral questionnaire were used to make an epidemiologic investigation of people with amalgam restorations,and compared them with the control groups. RESULTS: The scores of people whose teeth were filled with amalgam within 20 years were much higher than those beyond 20 years in digit span test and digit symbol test. In the latter group there were more people who thought they occurred 'memory descending' than the former. It indicated that there was some intra-relation between long-term amalgam contacting and memory descending. But in 19-29 and 30-39 age groups, the test group scored higher than the control group significantly in digit span test, and in digit symbol test the test group also had a score much higher than the control group in 30-39 age groups. This indicated that amalgam had no effect on memory. In pursuit aiming test II the error number of the test group was higher than that of the control group, and people who had amalgam restorations over 20 years occurring 'motion unflexible' were more than those within 20 years. But in the same time, in 30-39,40-49 age groups the test groups scored higher than the control groups in right number and sum number index,so we were not sure that amalgam do any harm to motor nerve. CONCLUSION: It can not be determined that amalgam restorations have any effect on human nervous system currently.