Objective To study the effect and mechanism of berberine (BBR) on the lung metastasis of mouse breast cancer via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods CCK-8 and Transwell migration assays were utilized to investigate the proliferation and migration properties of breast cancer 4T1 cells after BBR treatment.Mouse 4T1-Luc cells were injected into mice under the fourth mammary fat pad, and the mice were then randomly divided into the control and BBR groups.The mice in the BBR group received daily intraperitoneal injections of BBR working solution and those in the control group were continuously intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of the solvent used to dissolve BBR powder.Tumor metastasis in the lungs of living mice was detected by using an in vivo imaging system.After 42 days of administration, lung metastasis was measured via microscopy and HE staining.Western blot analysis was used to examine the effects of BBR on the expression of EMT-related proteins (Vimentin and Snail) as well as the activation of the Akt and ERK signaling pathways. Results BBR significantly promoted 4T1 cell migration (P < 0.05).In vivo experiments showed that the number of lung metastases in the BBR group had significantly increased compared with that in control group (P < 0.05) as observed under microcopy and histological staining.Compared with the control group, BBR upregulated the expression levels of Vimentin and Snail as well as the phosphorylated levels of p-Akt and p-ERK (P < 0.05). Conclusion BBR may promote EMT and lung metastasis of breast cancer 4T1 cells by activating the expression of proteins in the p-Akt and p-ERK pathways.

BACKGROUNDThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) increased recently and there was still not a screening index to predict MetS. The aim of this study was to estimate whether brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a novel marker for systemic arterial stiffness, could predict MetS in Chinese community population.

METHODSA total of 2 191 participants were recruited and underwent medical examination including 1 455 men and 756 women from June 2011 to January 2012. MetS was diagnosed according to the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Multiple Logistic regressions were conducted to explore the risk factors of MetS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to estimate the ideal diagnostic cutoff point of baPWV to predict MetS.

RESULTSThe mean age was (45.35±8.27) years old. In multiple Logistic regression analysis, the gender, baPWV and smoking status were risk factors to MetS after adjusting age, gender, baPWV, walk time and sleeping time. The prevalence of MetS was 17.48% in 30-year age population in Shanghai. There were significant differences (χ(2) = 96.46, P < 0.05) between male and female participants on MetS prevalence. According to the ROC analyses, the ideal cutoff point of baPWV was 1 358.50 cm/s (AUC = 60.20%) to predict MetS among male group and 1 350.00 cm/s (AUC = 70.90%) among female group.

CONCLUSIONBaPWV may be considered as a screening marker to predict MetS in community Chinese population and the diagnostic value of 1 350.00 cm/s was more significant for the female group.

Adult ; Ankle Brachial Index ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve