Objective To observe the effect of sinomenine (SIN) on the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX2),alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor(α7nAChR) and adenosine receptor(A2A) in A549 cells,and to explore the relative mechanism for cell proliferation.Methods The effect of SIN and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) on the proliferation of A549 cells was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.The effect of SIN and NNK on the migration of A549 cells was detected by cell wound scratch assay.The effect of SIN and NNK on COX2 expression in A549 cells was determined by Western blotting method.The effect of SIN and NNK on the expression of α7nAChR and A2A mRNA and protein was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting method.Results NNK increased the proliferation and migration of A549 cells,while SIN inhibited the proliferation and migration of A549 cells.COX2 expression level was increased in NNK group but was decreased in SIN group.The expression levels of α7nAChR and A2A were up-regulated in NNK group but were down-regulated in SIN group.Conclusion SIN plays a role in inhibiting the proliferation and migration of A549 cells by suppressing COX2 expression.SIN has an inhibitory effect on the expression of α7nAChR and A2A.

Objective To explore the effect of β-element on the oadiosensitivity of transplanted tumor, and its relationship with the expression of survivin. Methods The transplanted mice model was established through the cell suspension inoculation. The mice with transplanted tumor size of 0. 8-1.0 cm3 were randomly divided into 8 groups as blank control, 25, 45 and 100 mg/kg group, irradiation group,25 mg/kg + irradiation group, 45 mg/kg + irradiation group, 100 mg/kg + irradiation group. The tumor size was measured every other day until tumor size was double, and the growth curve was obtained. The average tumor growth inhibition rate of β-element and tumor size were attained at 2,4,6 and 8 d after β-element injection. The expression of survivin was detected with immunohistochemistry. Results The nude mice model was successfully established and the growth curves were obtained according to the tumor size.Between 2 and 8 d after β-elemene injection, the variation tendency of the average tumor growth inhibition rate was consistent with the size in β-elemene treatment groups. The antitumor effect of β-elemene was in a dose-dependent manner. The values of radiosensitivity enhancement factor were 0. 84,1.24,2.04 for 25,45 and 100 mg/kg group, respectively ,and the optimal dose was 45 mg/kg. β-element had little effect on the expression of survivin, and the expression of survivin significantly enhanced in irradiation group and decreased in β-element + irradiation groups. Conclusions β-elemene could enhance the tumor radiosensitivity through inhibitiong the expression of survivin.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of 1.9 μm thulium laser with transurethral resection of bladder tumor(TURBT) for the treatment of superficial bladder cancer.Methods We reviewed 53 patients with superficial bladder cancer,who were divided into 1.9 μm laser (n =25) and TURBT groups (n =28) from January 2013 to December 2015.The operation time,blood loss volume in operation,catheter indwelling time,hospital stay time,and complications,cumulative recurrence rate were compared between the two groups.Results Compared to TURBT group,1.9 μm laser group showed significantly lower rate of blood loss volume in operation (21.6 ± 4.6) min,catheter indwelling time (22.4 ± 6.4) h,hospital stay time (2.2 ± 0.7) d,less complications (12％)and recurrence(16％) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions 1.9 μm thulium laser is safe and effective for the treatment of patients with superficial bladder cancer.The approach has less complications than TURBT.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, with its high-throughput capacity and low cost, has developed rapidly in recent years and become an important analytical tool for many genomics researchers. New opportunities in the research domain of the forensic studies emerge by harnessing the power of NGS technology, which can be applied to simultaneously analyzing multi-ple loci of forensic interest in different genetic contexts, such as autosomes, mitochondrial and sex chromosomes. Furthermore, NGS technology can also have potential applications in many other aspects of research. These include DNA database construction, ancestry and phenotypic inference, monozygotic twin studies, body fluid and species identification, and forensic animal, plant and microbiological analyses. Here we review the application of NGS technology in the field of forensic science with the aim of providing a reference for future forensics studies and practice.

Gliomas are one of the most common types of brain cancers. Numerous efforts have been devoted to studying the mechanisms of glioma genesis and identifying biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. To help further investigations, we present a comprehensive database named GliomaDB. GliomaDB includes 21,086 samples from 4303 patients and integrates genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, clinical, and gene-drug association data regarding glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and low-grade glioma (LGG) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (MSK-IMPACT), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and PharmGKB. GliomaDB offers a user-friendly interface for two main types of functionalities. The first comprises queries of (i) somatic mutations, (ii) gene expression, (iii) microRNA (miRNA) expression, and (iv) DNA methylation. In addition, queries can be executed at the gene, region, and base level. Second, GliomaDB allows users to perform survival analysis, coexpression network visualization, multi-omics data visualization, and targeted drug recommendations based on personalized variations. GliomaDB bridges the gap between glioma genomics big data and the delivery of integrated information for end users, thus enabling both researchers and clinicians to effectively use publicly available data and empowering the progression of precision medicine in glioma. GliomaDB is freely accessible at http://bigd.big.ac.cn/gliomaDB.

Objective To evaluate the clinical reliability and feasibility of computerized endoscopic balloon manometry in vitro and in vivo, in measurement of pressure of esophageal varices. Methods Computerized endoscopic balloon manometry was used to measure the pressure of variceal model with different diameter (3 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm) and intraluminal pressures (ranging from 8 to 36 mm Hg), and the findings were compared with actual pressures. The technique was also applied in 23 patients with liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices, and its correlation with hepatic venous pressure gradient and other factors related with varices bleeding. Results The study in vitro showed that the measured intraluminal pressure was correlated significantly with the actual value ( r ≥ 0. 993, P ＜ 0. 001 ) without obvious measurement bias(95% CI = -0.13 cm H2O to 0. 33 cm H2O). The measurement in 23 patients were success with little variation coefficient (r≥0. 998) between repeated procedures. Regression analysis showed a good correlation between variceal pressure and hepatic venous pressure gradient (r=0. 858, P ＜ 0. 001 ). A higher variceal pressure was strongly associated with presence of previous bleeding episodes, vascular diameter and presence of red color signs, but did not correlate with the parameter of Child-Pugh classification ( t = 0. 31, P =0. 76). Conclusion Computerized endoscopic balloon manometry is reliable and feasible to examine esophageal variceal pressure, and is very likely to be a valuable clinical index for variceal bleeding.

Non-invasive manometry of esophageal varices is a cynosure of researchers. This paper develops a method based on computer vision. Experiments results reveal that correct pressure value can be got quickly.
Aged ; Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Automatic Data Processing ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; instrumentation ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Venous Pressure

Publicly-accessible resources have promoted the advance of scientific discovery. The era of genomics and big data has brought the need for collaboration and data sharing in order to make effective use of this new knowledge. Here, we describe the web resources for cancer genomics research and rate them on the basis of the diversity of cancer types, sample size, omics data com-prehensiveness, and user experience. The resources reviewed include data repository and analysis tools;and we hope such introduction will promote the awareness and facilitate the usage of these resources in the cancer research community.

Objective:To evaluate the retinal differentiation ability of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from various somatic cell sources.Methods:The hiPSCs lines BC1- green fluorescent protein (GFP) and Gibco obtained by blood cell reprogramming and the hiPSCs line UE017 obtained by urine cell reprogramming were used to induce retinal differentiation.The morphogenesis and development of retina were recorded with an optical microscope, and the expression of specific molecular markers of various cell subclasses in the retina was detected by immunofluorescence, and the efficiency of retinal differentiation of different cell lines was analyzed and compared.Results:All three hiPSC lines derived from blood and urine cells were able to be induced into three-dimensional (3D) retinal organoids, including neuroretina and retinal pigment epithelial cells.Retinal organoids simulated the development process of retina in vivo and gradually differentiated into all cell subtypes of retina, including retinal ganglion cells, photoreceptor cells, amacrine cells, horizontal cells, bipolar cells, Müller cells, and even formed lamellar structures.However, in terms of the efficiency of acquiring retinal organoids, the hiPSCs derived from blood were more efficient than those derived from urine. Conclusions:hiPSCs from both blood and urine somatic cells can differentiate into 3D retinal organoids, including all subtypes of retinal cells.The differentiation efficiency among lines is different.

Objective:To establish a fluorescent reporter human induced pluripotent stem cell line (hiPSCs) for monitoring the expression of visual system homeobox 2 ( VSX2). Methods:VSX2_small guide RNA (sgRNA) was inserted into vector PX459 to construct knockout plasmid, and the P2A-eGFP knock-in donor plasmid was conducted at the same time.The two plasmids were transfected into BC1-hiPSCs.Single cell clones were generated after treatment of puromycin.Correct insertion was confirmed by PCR and Sanger sequencing.The isogenicity of the parental and the reporter hiPSCs was confirmed by STR analysis and karyotyping.Pluripotency capacity of the reporter hiPSCs was analysed by reverse trascription PCR and immunofluorescence.Three-germ-layer formation experiment was carried out to analyse the multi-lineage differentiation ability of the reporter hiPSCs.The reporter hiPSCs were further differentiated to obtain three-dimension (3D) retinal organoids, and immunofluorescence was used to identify the co-localization of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and VSX2.Results:A VSX2 eGFP reporter hiPSC clone was successfully obtained by CRISPR/Cas9 technology, which was consistent with the parental hiPSCs (BC1-hiPSCs) in morphology, without any chromosomal aberrations or cell line cross-contamination.Reverse transcription PCR assay and immunofluorescence showed obvious positive expressions of iPSCs markers in BC1- VSX2 eGFP-iPSCs, including NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, DNMT3B and GDF3 mRNA as well as NANOG, OCT4, SSEA4 and TRA-1-60 protein.The α-fetoprotein (AFP), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and neuronal class Ⅲ β-tubulin (TUJ1) were expressed in endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm, respeetively, derived from BC1- VSX2 eGFP-iPSCs, and eGFP and VSX2 were co-stained in the neural retinal layer of 3D retinal organoids derived from BC1- VSX2 eGFP-iPSCs by immunofluorescence. Conclusions:VSX2 fluorescent reporter hiPSCs is successfully generated, which can monitor the temporal and spatial expression changes of VSX2 protein in real time, providing a powerful tool for evaluation of retina development mechanism and cell therapy.