MiR-139 targets CXCR4 and inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of laryngeal squamous carcinoma cells.

Our previous studies have showed that chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) was over-expressed in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). However, the mechanism underlying aberrant CXCR4 expression remains unclear. To investigate the roles played by miRNAs in CXCR4 over-expression in LSCC, putative miR-139 was predicted through computational algorithms, including TargetScan, PicTar and miRBase, and luciferase reporter assay was explored to confirm that whether CXCR4 was directly regulated by miR-139. Then, quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization methods were employed to detect the expression of miR-139 and CXCR4 in primary LSCC tissues, normal adjacent mucosal tissues and metastatic lesions derived from 40 LSCC patients in the Second Hospital, Xi'An JiaoTong University. Finally, gain- and loss-of-function assays were adopted to explore the effects of miR-139 and CXCR4 on proliferation, invasion and metastasis of the human LSCC cell line Hep-2 in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that miR-139 dampened CXCR4 expression, and CXCR4 was directly targeted by miR-139. Additionally, the expression of miR-139 was reduced in alignment with the progression of primary to metastatic LSCC. Moreover, an inverse correlation was observed between miR-139 and CXCR4 protein levels in LSCC specimens. Functional analyses demonstrated that ectopic expression of miR-139 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and metastasis of Hep-2 cells in vitro and in vivo. Similar to the observations seen in restoring miR-139 expression, dampening of CXCR4 expression inhibited cell growth, migration and invasion, whereas miR-139 over-expression reversed the pro-metastatic effect of CXCR4. Taken together, we conclude that miR-139 targets CXCR4 and inhibits proliferation and metastasis of LSCC.

Role of pepsin and pepsinogen: linking laryngopharyngeal reflux with otitis media with effusion in children.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To analyze the relationship between laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) represented by pepsin and pepsinogen, and pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case-control study. METHODS: Children with OME who required adenoidectomy and tympanostomy/tympanostomy tubes placement were enrolled in OME group, whereas children with adenoid hypertrophy (AH) who required adenoidectomy and individuals who required cochlear implantation (CI) were enrolled in AH and CI groups, respectively. Pepsinogen mRNA and protein levels were assessed by real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry in adenoid specimens from the OME and AH groups. Pepsin and pepsinogen concentrations were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in middle ear fluid and plasma from the OME and CI groups. RESULTS: The levels of pepsinogen protein expressed in cytoplasm of epithelial cells and clearance under epithelial cells in adenoid specimens from the OME group were significantly higher than those in the AH group. Furthermore, the concentrations of pepsin and pepsinogen in the OME group were 51.93±11.58 ng/mL and 728±342.6 ng/mL, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the CI group (P<.001). In addition, the concentrations of pepsin in dry ears were significantly lower than those in serous and mucus ears in the OME group (F=22.77, P<.001).Finally, the concentration of pepsinogen in middle ear effusion was positively correlated with the expression intensity of pepsinogen protein in cytoplasm of epithelial cells (r=0.73, P<.05) in the OME group. CONCLUSIONS: Pepsin and pepsinogen in middle ear effusion are probably caused by LPR and may be involved in the pathogenesis of OME. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3b.

Hemi-portocaval shunt: a simple salvage maneuver for small-for-size graft during living donor liver transplantation: a case report.

Since the fast expansion of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) over last few decades, small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) has emerged as a tough problem. Herein the first case of LDLT combined hemi-portocaval shunt in the mainland of China was reported. Portal venous over perfusion was well modulated and the recipient recovered uneventfully. LDLT combined hemi-portocaval shunt was a feasible procedure for preventing SFSS in LDLT.

Laparoscopic fenestration vs open fenestration in patients with congenital hepatic cysts: a meta-analysis.

AIM: To determine whether the outcomes of laparoscopic fenestration (LF) were superior to open fenestration (OF) for congenital liver cysts. METHODS: Comparative studies published between January 1991 and May 2010 on Medline (Ovid), Emsco, PubMed, Science Direct; Cochrane Reviews; CNKI; Chinese Biomedical Database, VIP and other electronic databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective case-control studies on the management of congenital hepatic cysts were collected according to the pre-determined eligibility criteria to establish a literature database. Retrieval was ended in May 2010. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software (Cochrane library). RESULTS: Nine retrospective case-control studies involving 657 patients, comparing LF with OF were included for the final pooled analysis. The meta-analysis results showed less operative time [mean difference (MD): -28.76, 95% CI: -31.03 to 26.49, P < 0.00001]; shorter hospital stay (MD: -3.35, 95% CI: -4.46 to -2.24, P < 0.00001); less intraoperative blood loss (MD: -40.18, 95% CI: -52.54 to -27.82, P < 0.00001); earlier return to regular diet (MD: -29.19, 95% CI: -30.65 to -27.72, P < 0.00001) and activities after operation (MD: -21.85, 95% CI: -31.18 to -12.51, P < 0.0001) in LF group; there was no significant difference between the two groups in postoperative complications (odds ratio: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.41 to 2.38, P = 0.98) and cysts recurrence rates. CONCLUSION: The short-term outcomes of LF for patients with congenital hepatic cysts were superior to open approach, but its long-term outcomes should be verified by further RCTs and extended follow-up.

Preparation of galactosylated chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles and application as a gene carrier for targeting SMMC7721 cells.

Nanoparticles composed of galactosylated chitosan (GC) and tripolyphosphate (TPP) were prepared and their application as potential gene carriers for targeting SMMC7721 cells was investigated. The results showed that at certain pH (5.5-6.2) of GC solutions, small and stable nanoparticles were obtained at an optimal weight ratio of 5:1 (GC/TPP). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed formation of spherical particles. The optimal pH of cell culture environment for transfection was from 6.4 to 6.7, which was the same pH as the polymer complex formation of GC/TPP solutions. The charge ratio of GC/TPP to DNA (N/P) at 10:1, 20:1 and 30:1 were checked for transfection and under optimized conditions, the GC/TPP-DNA nanoparticles successfully transfected 6.8% of the SMMC7721 cells as represented by overexpression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), which showed a much more higher efficiency when compared to 0.6% of GC/DNA transfection under the same conditions. The presented results indicate that the GC/TPP nanoparticles might be very attractive to be used as a gene delivery carrier for hepatocyte targeting, thus warranting further in vivo or clinical investigations.

An appraisal of anatomical and limited hepatectomy for regional hepatolithiasis.

AIM: Determination of first line treatment with limited hepatectomy or Anatomical hepatectomy provides better clinical outcome. METHODS: Immediate and long-term outcomes of 106 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for RH at our institution from January 2001 to February 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical end-points included time to recovery of hepatic function, residual stones, infection of the liver remnant, bile leakage, recurrent stones, morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: LH was performed in 59 patients and AH in 47 patients as first-line treatment. The time of hepatic function recovery was not statistically different between the two groups (P > .05). However, Patients in AH group suffered from less residual stones (P < .05), less infection of the raw surface of liver remnant (P < .05), and less bile leakage (P < .05), with a median follow-up of 40.3 +/- 0.8 months (range 3-48), and AH group suffered a less recurrent stone rate (P < .05). No difference in morbidity, and mortality rates between the two groups. CONCLUSION: AH is a safe and effective treatment for RH, with a fair rate of surgical complications, it should be considered as first-line treatment of RH.