[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to analyze the screened miRNAs related to the chemosensitivity for the TPF regimen of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma by miRNA array, and provide a set of miRNAs that may be useful for the development of novel diagnostic markers and more effective therapeutic strategies from the screened miRNAs.METHODSA total number of 21 patients who underwent TPF induction chemotherapy for primary hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were recruited for miRNA array analysis. 12 patients are sensitive to chemotherapy, and 9 patients are not. Moreover, the selected putative regulated miRNAs were also validated by RT-PCR in another 24 patients (14 patients are sensitive to chemotherapy, and others are not).RESULTSThere were 24 miRNA significantly differencial to the sensitivity to chemotherapy, and 6 miRNAs were up-regulated in the TPF group while 18 miRNA were down-regulated (P<0.05). To identify typical miRNA, mirfocus 3.0 database selected four miRNAs hsa-miR-211-3p, hsa-miR-4253, hsa-miR-4443, and hsa-miR-193b-3p, which were significant down-regulated in TPF-sensitive group. QRT-PCR further validated that only three miRNA (hsa-miR-4253、hsa-miR-4443、hsa-miR-193b-3p) were under-expressed in TPF-sensitive group of another 24 tissue samples (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONMiRNA hsa-miR-193b-3p, hsa-miR-4253, hsa-miR-4443 were identified in TPF-sensitive tissues by microarrays, and further validated by RT-PCR. These down-regulated miRNAs may act as novel biomarkers to classify TPF sensitivity of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients and will contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of the chemosensitivity in the disease.

Abstract?AIM: To investigate mechanism of bradykinin ( BK) on inflammations of retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE) cells.?METHODS: ARPE -19 cells were cultured in vitro, stimulated by 100nM BK for 24h. Cell morphology changes were observed by microscope, and BK receptor localization was detected through cell immunofluorescence. Changes of Ca2+in BK and BR antagonist stimuli were detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy.The expressions of COX-1, COX-2, eNOS and iNOS protein in control group and BK group were detected by Western Blot.?RESULTS: After the stimulation of BK, there was no significant changes of ARPE-19 cells in morphology.Kinin B1 receptors ( B1R ) and B2 receptors ( B2R ) could be detected in ARPE-19 cells.Compared with control group, Ca2+concentrations significantly increased in BK group; in B1R antagonist group and B2R antagonist group Ca2+concentrations increased less than BK group; B1R and B2R antagonist group showed no obvious changes in Ca2+concentrations.Compared with control group, COX-2 and iNOS protein concentrations were significantly increased in BK group (P<0.001).?CONCLUSION:BK induces the increasing expression of COX-2 and iNOS in the cultured ARPE cells through binding with either B1R or B2R.

BACKGROUNDAngiotensin type 1 receptor (AT 1 R) antagonists are extensively used for blood pressure control in elderly patients with hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of AT 1 R antagonist valsartan on platelet aggregation and the occurrence of cardio-cerebral thrombotic events in elderly patients with hypertension.

METHODSTwo-hundred and ten patients with hypertension and aged > 60 years were randomized to valsartan (n = 140) or amlodipine (n = 70) on admission. The primary endpoint was platelet aggregation rate (PAR) induced by arachidonic acid at discharge, and the secondary endpoint was the rate of thrombotic events including brain infarction and myocardial infarction during follow-up. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang II, 100 nmol/L) with or without pretreatment of valsartan (100 nmol/L), and relative expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2 ) and both p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) activities were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed by GraphPad Prism 5.0 software (GraphPad Software, Inc., California, USA).

RESULTSPAR was lower after treatment with valsartan (11.49 ± 0.69% vs. 18.71 ± 2.47%, P < 0.001), associated with more reduced plasma levels of COX-2 (76.94 ± 7.07 U/L vs. 116.4 ± 15.89 U/L, P < 0.001) and TXB 2 (1667 ± 56.50 pg/ml vs. 2207 ± 180.20 pg/ml) (all P < 0.001). Plasma COX-2 and TXB 2 levels correlated significantly with PAR in overall patients (r = 0.109, P < 0.001). During follow-up (median, 18 months), there was a significantly lower thrombotic event rate in patients treated with valsartan (14.3% vs. 32.8%, P = 0.002). Relative expression of COX-2 and secretion of TXB 2 with concordant phosphorylation of p38MAPK and NF-kB were increased in HAECs when stimulated by Ang II (100 nmol/L) but were significantly decreased by valsartan pretreatment (100 nmol/L).

CONCLUSIONSAT 1 R antagonist valsartan decreases platelet activity by attenuating COX-2/TXA 2 expression through p38MAPK and NF-kB pathways and reduces the occurrence of cardio-cerebral thrombotic events in elderly patients with hypertension.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Male ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Thrombosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; Thromboxane B2 ; blood ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan

Objective To investigate the mechanism of klotho reversing the resistance of breast cancer to paclitaxel in MCF-7/PTX cells.Methods The Klotho expression in MCF-7 and MCF-7/PTX cells was detected by Western blot.The effects of Klotho on paclitaxel resistance in MCF-7/PTX cells was measured by MTT assay.The effects of Klotho and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) on proliferation and expression of Beclin1 in MCF-7/PTX cells were detected by MTT and Western blot assay,respectively.Results The expression of Klotho in MCF-7/PTX cells was decreased compared with MCF-7 cells.Klotho could sensitize MCF-7/PTX cells to paclitaxel.The expression of Beclin1 in MCF-7/PTX cells was higher than that in MCF-7 cells.Klotho and 3-MA could decrease the expression of Beclin1 in MCF-7/PTX cells,and the effects of Klotho on paclitaxel resistance in MCF-7/PTX cells was similar to that of 3-MA.Conclusion Paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer cells is related to expression of the Klotho which can reverse the resistance of breast cancer to paclitaxel by inhibiting autophagy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate quinalizarin-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells in vitro and explore the molecular mechanisms.

METHODSMTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxic effects of quinalizarin on human gastric cancer AGS, MKN-28 and MKN-45 cells. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and flow cytometry were used to assess quinalizarin-induced apoptosis in AGS cells and its effect on intracellular ROS levels; the expression levels of apoptotic proteins in the cells were determined with Western blotting.

RESULTSQuinalizarin dose-dependently reduced the cell viabilities of the 3 gastric cancer cells (P<0.05). The ICvalues of quinalizarin in AGS, MKN-28 and MKN-45 cells were 7.07 µmol/L, 22.55 µmol/L and 14.18 µmol/L, respectively. Quinalizarin time-dependently induced apoptosis of AGS cells and potentiated the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Pretreatment with NAC, a scavenger of ROS, inhibited quinalizarin-induced apoptosis (P<0.001). Western blotting results showed that quinalizarin also up-regulated the expression levels of the apoptotic proteins including p-p38, p-JNK, Bad, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP-1 (P<0.05), and down-regulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins p-Akt, p-ERK, and Bcl-2 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONQuinalizarin inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells in vitro through regulating intracellular ROS levels via the MAPK and Akt signaling pathways.

Objective To analyze the colonic transit time in patients with different severities of constipation.Methods From June, 2015 to September, 2017, 73 male patients with supraconal spinal cord injury were grouped as mild constipation group (n = 25) and severe constipation group (n = 48). They were measured the transit time of entire colorectum, ascending colon (including the right colic flexure), transverse colon, descending colon (including the left colic flexure) and rectosigmoid with Abrahamsson method.Results The transit time of entire colorectum, transverse colon, descending colon increased in the severe constipation group compared with that of the mild constipation group (P ＜ 0.05). For each group, the transit time of rectosigmoid was the longest among colon segments (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The colonic transit time of SCI male patients with various constipation is different in colon segments. Accurate interventions are needed to target colon segments.

Objective: To analyze the differentially expressed genes related to the chemosensitivity with the TPF regimen for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to measure potential functional targeting genes expressions. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with primary hypopharyngeal cancer who underwent induction chemotherapy with TPF from January 2013 to December 2017 in Beijing Tongren Hospital were enrolled for microarray analysis, including 28 males and 1 female, aged from 43 to 73 years old. Among them, 16 patients were sensitive to chemotherapy while 13 patients were non-sensitive. Illumina Human HT-12 Bead Chip was applied to analyze the gene expressions and online bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes. Reverse transcription and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to measure the mRNA expression of potential functional genes of TPF induction chemotherapy in 43 samples, 29 from original patients and 14 from additional patients. Graphpad prism 7.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 1 381 significantly differentially expressed genes were screened out. By GO analysis, up-regulated genes included sequestering in extracellular matrix, chemokine receptor binding and potassium channel regulator activity; down-regulated genes included regulation of angiogenesis, calcium ion binding and natural killer cell activation involved in immune response. With KEGG database analysis, down-regulated pathways included ECM-receptor interaction and peroxisome and up-regulated pathways included Glutathione metabolism and PPAR signaling pathway. The expressions of CD44 and IL-6R were significantly different and appeared biologically significant. CD44 was significantly upregulated in insensitive tissues (0.54±0.06) compared with sensitive tissues (0.33±0.04)(P<0.01). IL-6R was significantly downregulated in insensitive tissues (0.44±0.03) compared with sensitive tissues. (0.68±0.03) (P<0.01). Conclusion CD44 and IL-6R may be potentially functional genes of TPF induction chemotherapy in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Diabetes-induced cardiac fibrosis is one of the main mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy. As a common histone methyltransferase, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been implicated in fibrosis progression in multiple organs. However, the mechanism of EZH2 in diabetic myocardial fibrosis has not been clarified. Methods: In the current study, rat and mouse diabetic model were established, the left ventricular function of rat and mouse were evaluated by echocardiography and the fibrosis of rat ventricle was evaluated by Masson staining. Primary rat ventricular fibroblasts were cultured and stimulated with high glucose (HG) in vitro. The expression of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) trimethylation, EZH2, and myocardial fibrosis proteins were assayed. Results: In STZ-induced diabetic ventricular tissues and HG-induced primary ventricular fibroblasts in vitro, H3K27 trimethylation was increased and the phosphorylation of EZH2 was reduced. Inhibition of EZH2 with GSK126 suppressed the activation, differentiation, and migration of cardiac fibroblasts as well as the overexpression of the fibrotic proteins induced by HG. Mechanical study demonstrated that HG reduced phosphorylation of EZH2 on Thr311 by inactivating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which transcriptionally inhibited peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) expression to promote the fibroblasts activation and differentiation. Conclusion Our data revealed an AMPK/EZH2/PPAR-γ signal pathway is involved in HG-induced cardiac fibrosis.

Background: Diabetes-induced cardiac fibrosis is one of the main mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy. As a common histone methyltransferase, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been implicated in fibrosis progression in multiple organs. However, the mechanism of EZH2 in diabetic myocardial fibrosis has not been clarified. Methods: In the current study, rat and mouse diabetic model were established, the left ventricular function of rat and mouse were evaluated by echocardiography and the fibrosis of rat ventricle was evaluated by Masson staining. Primary rat ventricular fibroblasts were cultured and stimulated with high glucose (HG) in vitro. The expression of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) trimethylation, EZH2, and myocardial fibrosis proteins were assayed. Results: In STZ-induced diabetic ventricular tissues and HG-induced primary ventricular fibroblasts in vitro, H3K27 trimethylation was increased and the phosphorylation of EZH2 was reduced. Inhibition of EZH2 with GSK126 suppressed the activation, differentiation, and migration of cardiac fibroblasts as well as the overexpression of the fibrotic proteins induced by HG. Mechanical study demonstrated that HG reduced phosphorylation of EZH2 on Thr311 by inactivating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which transcriptionally inhibited peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) expression to promote the fibroblasts activation and differentiation. Conclusion Our data revealed an AMPK/EZH2/PPAR-γ signal pathway is involved in HG-induced cardiac fibrosis.

Background: Diabetes-induced cardiac fibrosis is one of the main mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy. As a common histone methyltransferase, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been implicated in fibrosis progression in multiple organs. However, the mechanism of EZH2 in diabetic myocardial fibrosis has not been clarified. Methods: In the current study, rat and mouse diabetic model were established, the left ventricular function of rat and mouse were evaluated by echocardiography and the fibrosis of rat ventricle was evaluated by Masson staining. Primary rat ventricular fibroblasts were cultured and stimulated with high glucose (HG) in vitro. The expression of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) trimethylation, EZH2, and myocardial fibrosis proteins were assayed. Results: In STZ-induced diabetic ventricular tissues and HG-induced primary ventricular fibroblasts in vitro, H3K27 trimethylation was increased and the phosphorylation of EZH2 was reduced. Inhibition of EZH2 with GSK126 suppressed the activation, differentiation, and migration of cardiac fibroblasts as well as the overexpression of the fibrotic proteins induced by HG. Mechanical study demonstrated that HG reduced phosphorylation of EZH2 on Thr311 by inactivating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which transcriptionally inhibited peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) expression to promote the fibroblasts activation and differentiation. Conclusion Our data revealed an AMPK/EZH2/PPAR-γ signal pathway is involved in HG-induced cardiac fibrosis.