AIM:Based on comparative genomic hybridization(CGH) data,to construct tree model of esophageal carcinoma and to explore mechanism of multigene involved,multistep development and multipathway progression during esophageal carcinogenesis.METHODS:Using the software developed by Desper et al,tree models of esophageal carcinoma were constructed according to the CGH data of 78 esophageal carcinoma patients.RESULTS:Tree models for esophageal carcinoma suggested that there were-4p,-9p,-18q,+7p,+8q,+17p,+17q,+20p,+20q nine nonrandom genetic events,and +7p、+8q and +20q might be important early events in esophageal carcinogenesis,indicating that there might be cancer-related genes in these chromosomal arms.CONCLUSION:Tree models based on CGH data of esophageal carcinoma imply the process of multigene involved,multistep and multipathway progression.The tree models also give the direction to search for esophageal cancer-related genes.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of eszopiclone for patients with acute insomnia and the impact of premedication with eszopiclone on sleep structure of patients with acute insomnia.Methods In an open-label,self-control trial was conducted at Changzheng Hospital Sleep Centers,and patients (n =32) with acute insomnia (12 men,20 women; mean age,36.2 years) were administered eszopiclone 3 mg for three consecutive nights.Sleep was monitored via polysomnography.The insomnia severity index (ISI),and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were used to assess the degree of insomnia and impact of drugs on cognitive function during the day.Results Eszopiclone can shorten sleep latency ( before treatment:(52.92 ± 11.71 ) min,after treatment:(28.2 ± 10.11 ) min; t =-4.376,P ＜0.01 ),prolong total sleep time(before treatment:(365.22 ±30.13) min,after treatment:(429.18 ±26.93 ) min; t =4.102,P ＜ 0.01 ),decrease wake up times( before treatment:( 5.00 ± 1.92 ) times,after treatment:( 2.73 ± 0.91 )times; t =- 4.592,P ＜ 0.01 ),improve sleep efficiency ( before treatment:72.69％ ± 6.32％,after treatment:82.67％ ± 4.16％ ; t =3.371,P ＜ 0.01 ),reduce awake time ( before treatment:( 88.51 ±17.48) min,after treatment:(65.93 ±21.l0)min; t =-4.592,P ＜0.01 ),decrease light sleep ( NREM1 period) the percentage of time ( before treatment:12.54％ ± 2.10％,after treatment:7.30％ ± 2.90％ ;t=-3.155,P ＜ 0.01 ),and increase the percentage of slow wave sleep (before treatment:8.03％ ±5.37％,after treatment:9.31％ ±5.29％; t =4.228,P ＜0.01).No effect was observed on the percentage of NERM2 period (t =0.731,P ＞0.05) and REM period (t =-0.813,P ＞0.05).Eszopiclone can improve the quality of subjective assessment of sleep ( ISI score decreased,t =- 2.551,P ＜ 0.05) and has no significant effect on cognitive function on first the morning after patients taking the medication.Conclusion Eszopiclone can positively regulate the sleep structure in patients with acute insomnia and improve subjective assessment of sleep quality.It is safe and has no significant effect on cognitive function.

OBJECTIVETo pinpoint angiogenesis- and lymphangiogenesis-related genes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSBased on the reported microarray data which identified 831 differentially expressed genes in NPC tissues and the latest genomic information, we selected 246 genes for analysis with the smallest differential expression threshold of 260. Gene function analysis and network construction was carried out based on literature mining for analysis of the signaling pathways related with angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis of NPC.

RESULTSThe 246 genes were related with such keywords as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, EB virus, metastasis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and invasion. Particularly, we found that up to 52 genes were associated with angiogenesis (P=0.00001), and 19 genes form 12 related gene pairs (P=0.0042). Twenty-one lymphangiogenesis-related genes were identified (P=0.00001), and 6 of these genes formed a gene network (P=0.0226). Eight genes, including PTGS2, participated in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, which was closely related to angiogenesis in small cell lung cancer (P=7.87E-07). Five genes, including STAT1 and CXCL10, participated in toll-like receptor signaling pathway (P=0.00176).

CONCLUSIONPTGS2 and NF-κB promote angiogenesis of NPC, and the role of toll-like receptor signaling pathway in lymphangiogenesis warrants further investigation.

Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood supply ; genetics ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphangiogenesis ; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; genetics ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the dysregulated genes among the differentially expressed genes in 41 nasopharyngeal biopsy samples and identify their protective transcriptional factors.

METHODSThe differentially expressed gene profiles were obtained by analyzing both types I and II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC_I and NPC_II, respectively) using EXCEL and Bioinformatics tools. The transcriptional factors were further studied only when (1) the difference in the binding sites of the differentially expressed genes between NPC_I and NPC_II groups was statistically significant, (2) the expressions of the transcription factors were correlated with the gene expressions in the samples, and (3) the transcription factors affected at least 40% of the expression of the related genes.

RESULTSIn NPC_I samples, 80 transcription factors were found to be up-regulated, in which RUNX3, GATA3, NR3C1, NRF1, RXRA, SMAD7, TBP, and ZBTB6 were positive factors and HLF and MTF1 were negative factors, involved in the regulation of the genes in T cell receptor signaling pathway. No eligible transcription factors were found in association with down-regulated genes in NPC_I compared to NPC_II gene expression profiles.

CONCLUSIONSThe over-expressed genes in NPC_I are mainly related to immune responses, and we found 8 positive factors and 2 negative factors that regulate the genes in T cell receptor signaling pathway. The 10 transcription factors may serve as potential therapeutic targets for NPC_I. We failed to identify any transcription factors associated with down-regulated genes in NPC_I relative to NPC_II possibly as a result of multiple factors that affect the differential gene expressions in NPC_II including the transcription factors, DNA phosphorylation and modification, chromosome variation and environmental factors.

Carcinoma ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo screen differentially expressed genes and identify potential signaling pathway in Asian people with breast cancer.

METHODSFive gene microarray datasets of Asian people with breast cancer, GSE6367, GSE9309, GSE15852, GSE33447 and GSE45255, were downloaded from GEO. Microarrays with 318 breast cancer and 60 normal breast tissues were used for analysis of differentially expressed genes and pathway. 32 pairs of breast cancer patients' specimens were used to validate the differentially expressed genes by real-time PCR.

RESULTSAnalysis of the large sample of microarray data identified 436 differentially expressed genes in breast cancer tissues, while 259 of these genes were up-regulated and the other 177 down-regulated. Pathway analysis showed that metabolism-related signaling pathway may be involved in the development of breast cancer in Asian people. The expressions of KRT19, ADIPOQ, CFD, RBP4, LPL, ABCA8 and CD36 genes were confirmed by real-time PCR.

CONCLUSIONThis study shows differential gene expression profile and potential signaling pathway in Asian people with breast cancer. CD36 gene may be closely related to the Asian breast cancer. ABCA8 gene may be a new disease gene in Asian breast cancer.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; Transcriptome

BACKGROUND: miRNA-136-5 p plays a crucial regulatory role in pathological changes, inflammatory response and regeneration after spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of miRNA-136-5 p on the expression of cytokines in serum and NF-κB protein in spinal cord in rats with spinal cord injury and to explore the molecular mechanism. METHODS: Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats, of SPF grade were provided by Laboratory Animal Center of Guangxi Medical University. The lentiviral vector system was prepared and transfected into spinal cord injured rats. Thirty-six rat models of spinal cord injury were established by modified Allen's method. Basso Beattie Bresnahan scores were performed. Rats were randomly divided into normal control, modeling (LV-ctrl plus spinal cord injury), overexpression (spinal cord injury plus LV-miRNA-136-5 p), and inhibition (spinal cord injury plus LV-sponge) groups (n=9/group). Seven days before surgery and the day of surgery, the overexpression and inhibition groups were continuously injected with the lentivirus suspension into the injured area, and the normal control and modeling groups were injected with the same amount of normal saline. Three rats were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 7 days, and blood and spinal cord tissues were taken. The levels of interleukin-1β, interleukion-6 and interferon-α in rat serum were determined by ELISA. The expression of NF-κB protein was detected by western blot assay and double immunofluorescence. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) There was no significant difference in preoperative Basso Beattie Bresnahan scores (P＞ 0.05). In the modeling group, the rats showed prone walking, vary degrees of urinary retention, and spinal shock, with complete loss of function of both hind limbs and muscle strength of 0. (2) Compared with the normal control group, the levels of inflammatory factors in the other groups were increased significantly (P ＜ 0.05). The expression levels of inflammatory factors were highest in the overexpression group, followed by modeling group, and lowest in the inhibition group. (3) Results of western blot assay and double immunofluorescence showed that the expression level of NF-κB protein in the modeling, overexpression and inhibition groups was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P ＜ 0.05), and the level was highest in the overexpression group. (4) In summary, miRNA-136-5 p can affect inflammatory factors and NF-κB in rats with acute spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Change of microenvironment after acute spinal cord injury is the main factor causing secondary injury, so it is of great significance to investigate the changes of microenvironment after acute spinal cord injury for clinical diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression levels and clinical significance of interleukin-6, brain derived neurotrophic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4 in peripheral blood within 48 hours after acute spinal cord injury. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with acute spinal cord injury admitted at the Department of Spinal Osteopathia, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from October 2016 to June 2018 were enrolled, and were divided into two groups according to American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale: complete spinal cord injury (n=11) and incomplete spinal cord injury (n=18). Thirteen patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head were selected as controls. The expression levels of interleukin-6, brain derived neurotrophic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4 in peripheral blood of 42 patients were determined by ELISA and compared. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The ELISA results showed that the expression levels of interleukin-6, brain derived neurotrophic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4 in peripheral blood in the spinal cord injury group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05). The expression levels of all above cytokines in the complete spinal cord injury group were significantly higher than those in the incomplete spinal cord injury group (P ＜ 0.05). In summary, increased expression of interleukin-6, brain derived neurotrophic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, neurotrophin-3, neurotrophin-4 after acute spinal cord injury indicates that it may participate in the important pathophysiological process after acute spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of exosomes derived from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells on lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis of NPC. METHODS: Exosomes from NP69 cells and EBV-positive HK1 (HK1-EBV) cells were obtained by ultracentrifugation and identified by Western blotting and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Dio dye phagocytosis test was performed to observe exosome uptake by lymphatic endothelial cells. Lymphatic endothelial cells were treated with exosomes from nasopharyngeal epithelium (NP69), HK1-EBV, and C666-1 cells or exosome-free supernatant of HK1-EBV and C666-1 cells, and tube formation and migration of the cells were observed. In a nude mouse model of popliteal lymph node metastasis of NPC, the effects of normal saline, NP69 cell-derived exosomes, HK1-EBV cell-derived exosomes, exosome-free supernatant of HK1-EBV cells, and HK1-EBV exosome-free supernatant protein on lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis of the tumor were observed. RESULTS: The exosomes obtained by ultracentrifugation contained abundant exosome-specific proteins and showed a normal size range. The exosomes from NPC cells and NP69 cells could be taken up by lymphatic endothelial cells. Compared with the blank control and exosomes form NP69 cells, exosomes derived from HK1-EBV and C666-1 cells significantly promoted tube formation and migration of lymphatic endothelial cells ( CONCLUSIONS Exosomes from EBV-positive NPC cells can significantly promote lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis of NPC.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endothelial Cells ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Exosomes ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms