A novel approach for transforming breast cancer stem cells into endothelial cells.

Tumor vascular endothelial cells play a pivotal in the tumor microenvironment, influencing the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumor progression. The present study investigated a novel method for inducing the transformation of breast cancer stem cells into endothelial cells, providing a cellular model investigating anti-angiogenic mechanisms in vitro. The breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was used, and the expression of CD133 was initially detected using flow cytometry. CD133+ breast cancer cells were purified using immunomagnetic bead sorting technology, yielding an MCF-7CD133+ subpopulation. The proliferation ability of these cells was assessed using an MTT assay, while their microsphere formation ability was evaluated using a microsphere formation assay. Post-transformation in an optimized endothelial cell culture medium, expression of endothelial cell markers CD31 and CD105 were detected using flow cytometry. Endothelial cell tube formation assays and DiI-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein (DiI-Ac-LDL) assays were employed to analyze the endothelial cell function of the MCF-7CD133+ cells. MDM2/CEN12 gene amplification was detected through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The MCF-7 breast cancer cell line exhibited 1.7±0.3% trace cells expressing the stem cell surface marker CD133. After anti-CD133 immunomagnetic bead sorting, MCF-7CD133+ and MCF-7CD133- subpopulation cells were obtained, with CD133 expression rates of 85.6±2.8 and 0.18±0.08%, respectively. MTT assay results demonstrated that, after 7 days, the proliferation rate of MCF-7CD133+ cells was significantly higher compared with MCF-7CD133- cells. MCF-7CD133+ subpopulation cells displayed strong stem cell characteristics, growing in suspension in serum-free media and forming tumor cell spheres. In contrast, MCF-7CD133- cells failed to form microspheres. After culturing cells in endothelial cell differentiation and maintenance media, the percentage of MCF-7CD133+ cells before and after endothelial cell culture was 0.3±0.16 and 81.4±8.37% for CD31+ cells and 0.2±0.08 and 83.8±7.24% for CD105+ cells, respectively. Vascular-like structure formation and Ac-LDL phagocytosis with red fluorescence in the tube formation assays confirmed endothelial cell function in the MCF-7CD133+ cells. FISH was used to verify MDM2/CEN12 gene amplification in the induced MCF-7CD133+ cells, indicating tumor cell characteristics. The modified endothelial cell transformation medium effectively induced differentiated tumor stem cells to express vascular endothelial cell markers and exhibit endothelial functions, ideal for in vitro anti-angiogenesis research.

FDX1 inhibits thyroid cancer malignant progression by inducing cuprotosis.

Cuprotosis is a recently identified cell death form that caused by intracellular copper accumulation and regulated by FDX1. This work aimed to explore the role of cuprotosis and the pivotal regulatory gene FDX1 in thyroid cancer development. We observed that expression of FDX1 in tumor section was notably lower than that in non-tumor sections in clinical samples. Induction of cuprotosis by elesclomol (ES) significantly repressed the in vitro and in vivo growth of thyroid cancer cells, simultaneously elevated Cu level and expression of FDX1, whereas depletion of FDX1 abolished these effects. Knockdown of FDX1 decreased the lipoylation level of DLAT and DLST in thyroid cancer cells, alleviated cuprotosis-induced cell death, simultaneously upregulated the levels of PA and α-KG. These findings demonstrated that FDX1 promotes the cuprotosis of thyroid cancer cells via regulating the lipoylation of DLAT.

"Elastic stretch cavity building" system in endoscopic thyroidectomy via the axillary approach: a case series.

Background: Patients undergoing conventional endoscopic thyroidectomy via the axillary approach, which is commonly used clinically, suffered from a range of postoperative complications. This study aimed to prevent postoperative complications and evaluate patients' satisfaction with cosmetic outcomes in endoscopic thyroidectomy via the axillary with the use of "Elastic Stretch Cavity Building" System. Methods: In this retrospective case series study, the clinical data of patients who were admitted to the Thyroid Surgery Department of Ningbo Medical Centre Lihuili Hospital between December 2020 and December 2021 for endoscopic thyroidectomy via the axillary approach under the "Elastic Stretch Cavity Building" System. Results: A total of 67 patients were included, all surgeries were successfully completed. The operation time was 75.61 ± 13.67 minutes; the postoperative drainage volume was 109.97 ± 37.54 ml; the average postoperative hospital stay was 4 (2-6) days. There was no skin ecchymosis, effusion or infection, hypocalcemia, convulsions, upper extremity dyskinesia, and temporary hoarseness after the surgery. The patients were satisfied with the cosmetic effects, and the cosmetic score was 4 (3-4). Conclusion: The "Elastic Stretch Cavity Building" System in endoscopic thyroid surgery via the axillary approach might reduce the risks of complications and achieve satisfactory results with the cosmetic outcomes.

"Elastic Stretch Cavity Building" System in Endoscopic Thyroidectomy of Giant Thyroid Tumors.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with large thyroid tumors underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy using the "elastic stretch cavity builder" system. Methods: This retrospective case series study included thyroid tumor patients admitted to the Ningbo Medical Center Li Hui li Hospital between September 2017 and November 2021. The self-developed "elastic stretch cavity builder" was used to elastically lift the anterior cervical flap, combined with low-pressure (3 mmHg) high-flow CO2 inflation, and create a working cavity for endoscopic thyroidectomy. Results: This study included 13 patients for analysis. The endoscopic thyroidectomy duration was 92-170 min (mean, 123 ± 24min). The maximum transverse plane diameter of the glands was 5.0-6.2 cm (mean, 5.3 ± 0.3 cm). The maximum sagittal plane diameter was 6.8-10.0 cm (mean, 7.6 ± 0.9 cm). After the "elastic stretch cavity builder" lifted the cervical flap, the height of the subcutaneous region was increased by 1.3 ± 0.2cm without affecting cervical activity. There was no residual scar in the anterior cervical skin puncture hole. All patients were satisfied with the cosmetic with the cosmetic satisfaction score was 3.4 ± 0.5. Conclusion: The novel mixed cavity building model established by the "elastic stretch cavity builder" might provide the surgeon with additional longitudinal cervical operating space while improving the stability of the space and saving human effort.

Synthesis and Physical Properties of Non-Crystalline Nylon 6 Containing Dimer Acid.

In this study, a long carbon chain dimer acid is introduced into a nylon 6 structure and is copolymerized with different structural amines to produce amorphous nylon 6 by 4,4'-methylenebis(2-methylcyclohexylamine) (MMCA) in different copolymerization ratios. The effect of different structures and copolymerization ratios on the properties of nylon 6 is determined, along with the thermal properties, crystallinity, water absorption, dynamic mechanical properties, and optical properties. It is found that the melting point and the thermal cracking temperature Td10 of nylon 6 are respectively between 176 °C and 213 °C and 378 °C to 405 °C. The effect of introducing a bicyclohexane group containing a methyl side chain is greater than that of a meta-benzene ring, so COMM (synthesized by Caprolactam (C), dimer oleic acid (OA), and 4,4'-Methylenebis(2-methylcyclohexylamine) (MMCA)) has the lowest melting point, enthalpy, and crystallinity. As the copolymerization ratio increases, its thermal properties decrease. 10% is the lowest crystallinity. The amine structure containing a bicycloalkyl group has lower water absorption and a 10% copolymerization ratio gives the lowest water absorption. It contains the bicycloalkyl group, COM (synthesized by Caprolactam (C), dimer oleic acid (OA) and 4,4'-Methylenebis(cyclohexylamine) (MCA)), which has the highest loss modulus. The lowest loss modulus is noted for a copolymerization ratio of 7% and the value of tan δ increases as the copolymerization ratio increases. The introduction of nylon 6 with the bicycloalkyl groups, COMM and COM, significantly increases transparency. As the copolymerization ratio increases, the transparency increases and the haze decreases. The best optical properties are achieved for 10% copolymerization.