Effect of the VR-guided grasping task on the brain functional network.

Virtual reality (VR) technology has been demonstrated to be effective in rehabilitation training with the assistance of VR games, but its impact on brain functional networks remains unclear. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy imaging to examine the brain hemodynamic signals from 18 healthy participants during rest and grasping tasks with and without VR game intervention. We calculated and compared the graph theory-based topological properties of the brain networks using phase locking values (PLV). The results revealed significant differences in the brain network properties when VR games were introduced compared to the resting state. Specifically, for the VR-guided grasping task, the modularity of the brain network was significantly higher than the resting state, and the average clustering coefficient of the motor cortex was significantly lower compared to that of the resting state and the simple grasping task. Correlation analyses showed that a higher clustering coefficient, local efficiency, and modularity were associated with better game performance during VR game participation. This study demonstrates that a VR game task intervention can better modulate the brain functional network compared to simple grasping movements and may be more beneficial for the recovery of grasping abilities in post-stroke patients with hand paralysis.

Acid- and reduction-sensitive micelles for improving the drug delivery efficacy for pancreatic cancer therapy.

One of the major challenges in anticancer therapy is the poor penetration of anticancer drugs into tumors, especially in solid tumors, resulting in decreased therapeutic efficacy in vivo. To solve some of these problems, in this study, a dual-responsive polymeric micellar system has been developed. This system exhibits an ultrasensitive response to the change of pH value from the extracellular environment to the intracellular environment, resulting in micellar swelling in cancer cells via the proton sponge effect. Moreover, once the swelled micelles escape from the lysosomes in cancer cells, the disulfide linkages are ruptured by GSH in the cytoplasm, leading to the rapid release of the encapsulated drugs into the cellular nuclei. The antitumor activity in pancreatic tumor-bearing mice reveals that this dual-responsive drug delivery system possesses a long blood circulation time and can significantly promote cell internalization and intracellular drug release, achieving a high anticancer efficacy with fewer side effects for normal tissues.

Bisphenol A Increases the Migration and Invasion of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells via Oestrogen-related Receptor Gamma.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by great metastasis and invasion capability. Our study revealed that nanomolar bisphenol A (BPA), one of the most ubiquitous endocrine disruptors, can increase wound closure and invasion of both MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells. BPA treatment can increase protein and mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9, while had no effect on the expression of vimentin (Vim) and fibronectin (FN) in TNBC cells. The expression of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPER), which has been suggested to mediate rapid oestrogenic signals, was not varied in BPA-treated MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells. Its inhibitor G15 also had no effect on BPA-induced MMPs expression and cell invasion. Interestingly, BPA treatment can significantly increase the mRNA and protein expressions of oestrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ), but not ERRα or ERRß, in both MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells. The knock-down of ERRγ can markedly attenuate BPA-induced expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in TNBC cells. BPA treatment can activate both ERK1/2 and Akt in TNBC cells. Both inhibitors of ERK1/2 (PD98059) and Akt (LY294002) can attenuate BPA-induced ERRγ expression and cell invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Collectively, our data revealed that BPA can increase the expression of MMPs and in vitro motility of TNBC cells via ERRγ. Both activation of ERK1/2 and Akt participated in this process. Our study suggests that more attention should be paid to the roles of xenoestrogens such as BPA in the development and progression of TNBC.

[Effect of Aloe emodin on invasion and metastasis of high metastatic breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Aloe emodin (AE) on the invasive and metastatic abilities of human high metastatic breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. METHODS: MTT assay was used to evaluate the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells after treated with AE for 6 h and 24 h. The adhesive potential of MDA-MB-231 cells to FN and LN was tested by cell-matrix adhesion assay. The effect of AE on invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells was measured by Transwell chamber assay. Scratch wound healing assay was applied to determine the effect on migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. The effect of AE on MDA-MB-231 lung metastasis was determined on an experimental metastatic model. RESULTS: 80 micromol/L AE significantly inhibited the invasion, adhesion to FN, LN of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro, the inhibitory rates were (52.98 +/- 5.46)%, (34.99 +/- 2.63)%, (28.73 +/- 7.00)%, respectively. After 24 h treatment, AE significantly inhibited the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. The number and volume of lung metastatic nodules formed by MDA-MB-231 cells after 80 micromol/L AE 24 h treatment were decreased compared with control group. CONCLUSION: AE can suppress the metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells. Their mechanisms may be related to the inhibition of the capabilities of invasion and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells.