Objective:To discuss the effect of curcumin on the proliferation,migration,and invasion of the human prostate cancer C4-2 and LNCaP cells,and to clarify its possible mechanism.Methods:The lentiviral transfection system was used to transfect the C4-2 and LNCaP cells,regarded as shCD147-C4-2 group and shCD147-LNCaP group.RNA interference technology was used to prepare the CD147-silenced cells;the cells transfected with an empty vector were regarded as negative control and divided into shNC-C4-2 group(shNC-C4-2 cells)and shNC-LNCaP group(shNC-LNCaP cells).The C4-2 and LNCaP cells at logarithmic growth phase,as well as shCD147-C4-2 and shCD147-LNCaP cells,were treated with 20 μmol·L-1 curcumin.The morphology of the cells in various groups was observed under microscope at 0 and 24 h of treatment;MTT method was used to detect the proliferation activities of the cells in various groups;cell scratch assay was used to detect the migration rates of the cells in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis,invasion,and migration-related proteins in the cells in various groups.Results:Compared with C4-2 group,the expression of CD147 protein in the cells in shCD147-C4-2 group was significantly decreased after CD147 gene silenting.Compared with LNCaP group,the expression level of CD147 protein in the cells in shCD147-LNCaP group was significantly decreased after CD147 gene silenting.Compared with 0 h of treatment,some cells in C4-2 and LNCaP groups after 24 h of treatment with 20 μmol·L-1 curcumin,showed apoptosis signs with the presence of typical apoptotic bodies.The apoptotic phenomena in shCD147-C4-2 and shCD147-LNCaP groups was reduced.The MTT assay results showed that compared with C4-2+0 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the proliferation activities of the cells in C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,C4-2+40 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,C4-2+60 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,and C4-2+80 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were decreased(P<0.01).Compared with LNCaP+0 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the proliferation activity of the cells in LNCaP+20 μ mol·L-1 curcumin group,LNCaP+40 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,LNCaP+60 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,and LNCaP+80 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were decreased(P<0.01).Compared with shNC-C4-2 group,the proliferation activity of the cells in shNC-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was decreased(P<0.01).Compared with shNC-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the proliferation activity of the cells in shCD147-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was increased(P<0.01).Compared with shNC-LNCaP group,the proliferation activity of the cells in shNC-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was decreased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the proliferation activity of the cells in shCD147-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was significantly increased(P<0.01).The cell scratch healing assay results showed that compared with C4-2 group,the migration rates of the cells in C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group and C4-2+40 μmol·L-1 curcumin group after 24 h of treatment were decreased(P<0.01);compared with LNCaP group,the migration rates of the cells in LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group and LNCaP+40 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were increased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-C4-2 group,the migration rate of the cells in shNC-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was decreased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the migration rate of the cells in shCD147-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with shNC-LNCaP group,the migration rate of the cells in shNC-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was decreased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the garation rate of the cells in shCD147-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was significantly increased(P<0.05).The Western blotting results showed that compared with C4-2 group,the expression levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),cleaved Caspase-3,and poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1(PARP1)proteins in the cells in C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group and C4-2+40 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with LNCaP group,the expression levels of Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,and PARP1 proteins in the cells in LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group and LNCaP+40 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein in the cells in LNCaP+40 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was decreased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-C4-2 group,the expression levels of Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,and PARP1 proteins in the cells in shNC-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased(P<0.05);compared with shNC-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the expression levels of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 proteins in the cells in shCD147-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-LNCaP group,the expression levels of Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,and PARP1 proteins in the cells in shNC-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased(P<0.05);compared with shNC-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the expression levels of Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,and PARP1 proteins in the cells in shCD147-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with C4-2 group,the expression levels of E-cadherin protein in the cells in C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group and C4-2+40 μ mol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with LNCaP group,the expression levels of E-cadherin protein in the cells in LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group and LNCaP+40 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins in the cells in LNCaP+40 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-C4-2 group,the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins in the cells in shNC-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the expression level of E-cadherin protein in the cells in shCD147-C4-2+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-LNCaP group,the expression level of E-cadherin protein in the cells in shNC-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with shNC-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group,the expression level of E-cadherin protein in the cells in shCD147-LNCaP+20 μmol·L-1 curcumin group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the expression level of N-cadherin was significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:Curcumin inhibits the proliferation,migration,and invasion of the prostate cancer cells in vitro and induces the apoptosis;silencing the CD147 gene partially reduces its inhibitory effect and its ability to induce the apoptosis.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of superior cervical ganglion block (SCGB) on cardiac function and nucleotide like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway in a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R).Methods:Sixty healthy SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, aged 2-3 months, were divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (sham group), myocardial I/R group (IR group), myocardial I/R + normal saline group (IR+ NS group), and myocardial I/R + SCGB group (IR+ SCGB group). Myocardial I/R model was developed by ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery for 45 min followed by restoration of blood flow in anesthetized aninals. IR+ SCGB group received SCGB (0.25% ropivacaine 0.1 ml) at 10 min before reperfusion once a day for 2 consecutive weeks, while 0.9% sodium chloride was given instead of ropivacaine in IR+ NS group. Blood samples were collected at 24 h and 14 days of reperfusion for determination of serum concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), troponin T (TnT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-1β by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Echocardiography was performed before ischemia and at 14 days of reperfusion, and left ventricular short axis shortening rate (FS), ejection fraction (EF), and cardiac output (CO) were measured. The rats were sacrificed at 14 days of reperfusion and the hearts were taken for determination of the contents of norepinephrine (NE) in myocardial tissues in the infarction area (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), percentage of myocardial fibrosis area (by Masson staining), M1 macrophage marker CD68 + cell count in the infarction area (by immunohistochemical method), and expression of NLRP3 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in myocardial tissues (by Western blot). Results:Compared with Sham group, the serum concentrations of TnT, TNF-α, IL-18 and IL-1β, percentage of myocardial fibrosis area, and NE levels in serum and myocardial tissues were significantly increased, the expression of NLRP3 and GSDMD in myocardial tissues was up-regulated, CD68 + cell count was increased, and EF, CO and FS were decreased in IR group ( P<0.05). Compared with IR group, the serum concentrations of TnT, TNF-α, IL-18 and IL-1β, percentage of myocardial fibrosis area, and NE levels in serum and myocardial tissues were significantly decreased, the expression of NLRP3 and GSDMD in myocardial tissues was down-regulated, CD68 + cell count was decreased, and EF, CO and FS were increased in IR+ SCGB group ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in IR+ NS group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:SCGB can improve the cardiac function in a rat model of myocardial I/R, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the digit ratio of men who have sex with men (MSM), and the relationship between digit ratio and the partner types of MSM.

METHODSParticipants were required from Yunnan Rainbow Sky, a community organization that specialized in HIV testing, intervention and counseling services for MSM between December 2014 and April 2015. Inclusion criteria of MSM as the following: more than 18 years old; men who have had sex with men; HIV test was negative. Exclusion criteria were as this: those who couldn't attend the research due to disability. Eventually, there were 115 MSM participated in the research. According to the nationality, we adopted 1:1 matched case-control study, and we selected 115 men as control group. According to the partner number of MSM, the MSM were divided into two groups. One group was fixed partner and another was multi-partner. We used a questionnaire to collect the demographic characteristics, knowledge about HIV/AIDS, sexual behaviors during nearly 6 months, sexual orientation, the places where looked for sex partners, sex roles, drug use, preventive services etc. Then, the physical measurements were used to measure the length from second to the fifth finger in MSM group and control group. The results were expressed as nD. The chi-square test was used to compare the demographic differences between MSM group and the control group, and the T-test was used to compare the digit ratio between two groups.

RESULTSAmong 115 MSM, there were 26% (30/115) MSM who had a fixed partner, and there were 74% (85/115) MSM who had multi-partner. The mean values of digit ratio of MSM presented a trend as 2D:3D < 2D:4D < 3D:4D < 2D:5D < 4D:5D < 3D:5D. The right 2D:4D and 2D:5D of MSM were 0.957 7 ± 0.048 1 and 1.229 8 ± 0.083 4, and the mean value was significasntly higher than control group (0.941 4 ± 0.038 0 and 1.204 1 ± 0.069 5, t values were 2.84, 2.54 and P values were 0.005, 0.012). The right 2D:4D of the fixed partner group and multi-partner group among MSM were 0.962 2 ± 0.051 0 and 0.956 1 ± 0.047 3, respectively, and the mean values were significantly higher than control group (t values were 2.98, 2.83; P values were 0.027, 0.015).

CONCLUSIONThe proportion of multi-partner MSM was higher, so MSM at a high risk of being HIV infected. Right 2D:4D could be used as a biomarker of the MSM in Kunming, but couldn't reflect the features of MSM whether he has a fixed partner or has several partners.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; Fingers ; anatomy & histology ; HIV Infections ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Risk-Taking ; Sexual Partners ; Surveys and Questionnaires