OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficiency of blockage of constitutively activated STAT3 signaling by small interfering RNA (siRNA), and to explore the inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells (EC9706 and Eca109).

METHODSEC9706 and Eca109 were transfected with chemical synthesized STAT3 siRNA (100 nmol/L). RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect STAT3 mRNA and protein expression, including phosphorylated-STAT3 (p-STAT3) before and after the transfection respectively. The changes of DNA-binding activity and cell proliferation were evaluated by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay and MTT, respectively. Stages of cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSExpression levels of STAT3 mRNA and STAT3, p-STAT3 proteins were progressively inhibited by STAT3 siRNA at various time points after transfection. STAT3-DNA-binding activity was suppressed after transfection evidenced by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay. The cell cycle was arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase along with a significant inhibition of cell proliferation after STAT3 siRNA treatment.

CONCLUSIONSTAT3 siRNA specifically and efficiently blocks the constitutively activated STAT3 signaling pathway in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells, resulting in cell cycle arrest and proliferation inhibition.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and its target gene products including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Bcl-2 in two human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines for understanding whether STAT3 signaling transduction pathway was constitutively activated in ESCC cell lines.

METHODSWestern blotting was used to determine the protein levels of STAT3, p-STAT3 (activated STAT3), VEGF and Bcl-2 in two ESCC cell lines (EC9706 and Eca109). Nuclear proteins from the ESCC cell lines were extracted to evaluate the DNA-binding activity by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay (EMSA). RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA of STAT3, VEGF and Bcl-2.

RESULTSWestern blotting and RT-PCR revealed that STAT3, VEGF and Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were overexpressed in the two ESCC cell lines, which contained constitutively activated STAT3 signaling transduction pathway. The results of EMSA of the nuclear protein showed high DNA-binding activity of STAT3.

CONCLUSIONSTAT3 signaling transduction pathway is constitutively activated in human ESCC cell lines, suggesting that STAT3 may play a critical role in the carcinogenesis of the esophagus.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Acute Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Coronavirus NL63, Human ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; virology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness, safety and feasibility of endovascular angioplasty in treating long iliac artery chronic total occlusions (CTO).

METHODSThe clinical data from a consecutive series of patients with long (> 5 cm) iliac artery CTO who treated by endovascular angioplasty from January 2006 to December 2010 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 139 patients (157 limbs) with long iliac artery CTO treated by endovascular angioplasty in this study [male 93 and female 46, mean age (77 ± 10) years]. According to TASC II classification, there were 18 patients in type B, 89 patients in type C and 32 patients in type D. Recanalization of the occluded lesions was attempted with the left brachial and/or femoral access.

RESULTSThe ankle brachial index increased from 0.42 ± 0.19 before treatment to 0.81 ± 0.26 after treatment. The rate of technical success was 96.2% (151/157) and the patency rate of iliac artery was 94.1% (111/118) during the follow-up. Significant restenosis or reocclusion was found in 7 iliac lesions and there were no major interventional complications, such as iliac artery rupture, stent displacement, pseudoaneurysms, and arteriovenous fistula.

CONCLUSIONSEndovascular angioplasty is an effective, safe and feasible method in treating long iliac CTO with high patency rate. Combined left brachial and femoral access can increase the technical success rate significantly.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDThe prognostic values of the coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) score for predicting future cardiovascular events have been previously demonstrated in numerous studies. However, few studies have used the rich information available from CCTA to detect functionally significant coronary lesions. We sought to compare the prognostic values of Gai's plaque score and the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) of CCTA for predicting functionally significant coronary lesions, using fractional flow reserve (FFR) as the gold standard.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 107 visually assessed significant coronary lesions in 88 patients (mean age, 59.6 ± 10.2 years; 76.14% of males) who underwent CCTA, invasive coronary angiography, and invasive FFR measurement. An FFR <0.80 indicated hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis. Lesions were divided into two groups using an FFR cutoff value of 0.80. We compared Gai's plaque scores and CACS between the two groups and evaluated the correlations of these scores with FFR. The statistical methods included unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Spearman's correlation coefficients.

RESULTSCoronary lesions with FFR <0.80 had higher Gai's scores than those with FFR ≥0.80. Gai's score had the strongest correlation with FFR (r = -0.48, P < 0.01) and had a greater area under the curve = 0.72 (95% confidence interval: 0.61-0.82; P < 0.01) than the CACS of whole arteries and a single artery.

CONCLUSIONSBoth CACS in a single artery and Gai's plaque score demonstrated a good capacity to assess functionally significant coronary artery stenosis when compared to the gold standard FFR. However, Gai's plaque score was more predictive of FFR <0.80. Gai's score can be easily calculated in daily clinical practice and could be used when considering revascularization.

Aged ; Computed Tomography Angiography ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Calcification ; pathology

In this study, we searched multiple databases for all relevant original articles (1996-2013). To investigate blood lead levels (BLL) and possible risk factors for lead exposure among children in China A total of 388 articles met our inclusion criteria. The overall geometric mean (GM) BLL was 71 µg/L, and the prevalence of elevated BLL (EBLL, defined as BLL ⋝ 100 µg/L) was 18.48% among children. The prevalence of EBLL remained significantly higher among boys. In children less than 6 years of age, there were significantly increasing trends in both BLL and prevalence of EBLL in an age-dependent manner. The ban on leaded gasoline significantly reduced the BLL as well as EBLL prevalence; however, children whose parents had lower educational levels or were exposed to lead in the workplace had a higher EBLL prevalence. Despite its decline over time, the average BLL among children in China remains higher than the average level most recently reported in the United States. Childhood lead poisoning remains a public health problem in China.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Male ; Risk Factors