Objective To investigate the effects of Ras-related protein Rab-2B(RAB2B)on the biological behaviors of pancreatic cancer cells and elucidate its underlying mechanism.Methods PANC-1 cells,which exhibit relatively high RAB2B expression,and BXPC-3 cells,which display relatively low RAB2B expression,were selected from five pancreatic cancer cell lines.RAB2B-siRNA and pcDNA3.1-RAB2B plasmids were transfected into PANC-1 and BXPC-3 cells using a cell transfection technique.The CCK-8 assay was employed to evaluate the prolif-erative capacity of pancreatic cancer cells following RAB2B intervention.Wound healing and Transwell chamber assays were utilized to assess the migratory and invasive capabilities of pancreatic cancer cells.Additionally,the mRNA and protein expression levels of RAB2B,NF-κB,and Fibronectin 1(FN1)were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot(WB),respectively.Results RAB2B mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly down-regulated in PANC-1 cells following transfection(P<0.05).CCK-8 assay results demonstrated that the proliferative capacity of PANC-1 cells was markedly reduced(P<0.05),and the wound-healing ability was substantially impaired(P<0.01)upon RAB2B knockdown.Transwell assays revealed a significant decrease in cell migration(P<0.01),while Western blot analysis indicated that the expression levels of phosphorylated p65 and FN1 were notably diminished(P<0.01).Conversely,overexpression of RAB2B reversed these aforementioned alterations.Conclusions Knockdown of RAB2B in PANC-1 cells significantly suppresses cell proliferation and migration,whereas overexpression of RAB2B in BXPC-3 cells markedly promotes these processes.This effect is likely mediated through the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the subsequent regulation of FN1 expression.

Objective To investigate the effects of Ras-related protein Rab-2B(RAB2B)on the biological behaviors of pancreatic cancer cells and elucidate its underlying mechanism.Methods PANC-1 cells,which exhibit relatively high RAB2B expression,and BXPC-3 cells,which display relatively low RAB2B expression,were selected from five pancreatic cancer cell lines.RAB2B-siRNA and pcDNA3.1-RAB2B plasmids were transfected into PANC-1 and BXPC-3 cells using a cell transfection technique.The CCK-8 assay was employed to evaluate the prolif-erative capacity of pancreatic cancer cells following RAB2B intervention.Wound healing and Transwell chamber assays were utilized to assess the migratory and invasive capabilities of pancreatic cancer cells.Additionally,the mRNA and protein expression levels of RAB2B,NF-κB,and Fibronectin 1(FN1)were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot(WB),respectively.Results RAB2B mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly down-regulated in PANC-1 cells following transfection(P<0.05).CCK-8 assay results demonstrated that the proliferative capacity of PANC-1 cells was markedly reduced(P<0.05),and the wound-healing ability was substantially impaired(P<0.01)upon RAB2B knockdown.Transwell assays revealed a significant decrease in cell migration(P<0.01),while Western blot analysis indicated that the expression levels of phosphorylated p65 and FN1 were notably diminished(P<0.01).Conversely,overexpression of RAB2B reversed these aforementioned alterations.Conclusions Knockdown of RAB2B in PANC-1 cells significantly suppresses cell proliferation and migration,whereas overexpression of RAB2B in BXPC-3 cells markedly promotes these processes.This effect is likely mediated through the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the subsequent regulation of FN1 expression.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of three-dimensional visualization technique (3DVT) combined with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in the treatment of hepatolithiasis.Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 64 patients with hepatolithiasis who were admitted to Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University from November 2015 to August 2018 were collected.There were 17 males and 47 females,aged from 30 to 82 years,with a median age of 55 years.Of the 64 patients,23 who completed preoperative assessment and planning using 3DVT,and furthermore received ERAS for perioperative management were divided into 3DVT + ERAS group,and 41 who received preoperative assessment merely under the guidance of 3DVT,combined with conventional perioperative management were divided into 3DVT + conventional group.Observation indicators:(1) preoperative CT and 3DVT assessment;(2) perioperative conditions;(3) follow-up.The follow-up was conducted by outpatient service,e-mail or telephone interview to detect the postoperative recurrence of hepatolithiasis up to March 2019.The measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean±SD,and the t test was used for comparison between groups.The measurement data with skewed distribution were expressed as M (P25,P75),and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups.The count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages,and the comparison between groups was pedormed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability.Results (1) Preoperative CT and 3DVT assessment:23 patients in the 3DVT + ERAS group underwent preoperative CT examination and 3DVT assessment,the consistency between CT results and intraoperative findings was 91.3％ (21/23),and the consistency between 3DVT results and intraoperative findings was 95.7％(22/23).Fourty-one patients in the 3DVT + conventional group underwent preoperative CT examination and 3DVT assessment,the consistency between CT results and intraoperative findings was 90.2％ (37/41),and the consistency between 3DVT results and intraoperative findings was 95.1％ (39/41).(2) Perioperative conditions:the volume of intraoperative blood loss,duration of postoperative hospital stay,postoperative total bilirubin,postoperative direct bilirubin,postoperative albumin,postoperative alanine aminotransferase,postoperative aspartate aminotransferase and postoperative hemoglobin were 50 mL (10 mL,100 mL),8 days (7 days,9 days),12 μmol/L (9 μmol/L,16 μmoL/L),6 μmol/L (4 μmoL/L,8 μmol/L),(37±4)g/L,44 U/L (18 U/L,85 U/L),32 U/L (20 U/L,65 U/L),(117±18)g/L in the 3DVT + ERAS group,and 100 mL (50 mL,300 mL),13 days (10 days,16 days),17 μmol/L (12 μmoL/L,33 μmoL/L),11 μmoL/L (7 μmoL/L,21 μmol/L),(29±6)g/L,78 U/L (43 U/L,122 U/L),121 U/L (72 U/L,176 U/L),(106±13)g/L in the 3DVT + conventional group,respectively;there were significant differences between two groups (Z =-3.084,-4.827,-2.953,-3.632,t =5.261,Z=-2.960,-4.625,t =2.773,P＜0.05).Two patients had pulmonary infection and 2 had pleural effusion in the 3DVT + ERAS group,and all the 4 patients were cured after treatment.One case of biliary fistula,4 cases of pulmonary infection and 5 cases of pleural effusion occurred in the 3DVT + conventional group,and these patients were cured by adequate abdominal drainage,antibiotic therapy and thoracocentesis,respectively.There was no perioperative death in either group.(3) Follow-up:64 patients were followed up for 6-36 months,with a median time of 23 months.During the follow-up,no recurrent hepatolithiasis in the 3DVT + ERAS group,and 1 case of recurrent hepatolithiasis was confirmed by ultrasound in the 3DVT + conventional group.No cholangiocarcinoma occurred in either group.Conclusion The combination of 3DVT and ERAS is effective,safe and feasible in the management of hepatolithiasis,which can accelerate the postoperative recovery of liver function,thus enhancing perioperative recovery and improving the prognosis of patients simultaneously.

Objective To evaluate the in vitro effects of photodynamic therapy alone or in combination with antifungal agents on the apoptosis of planktonic and biofilm cells of Exophiala dermatitidis (E.dermatitidis).Methods The planktonic suspensions of E.dermatitidis were prepared,and the biofilms of E.dermatitidis were prepared via a modified 96-well plate-based methods.Planktonic and biofilm cells of E.dermatitidis were separately divided into several groups:antifungal agent groups treated with antifungal agents alone,photodynamic therapy group receiving photodynamic therapy alone,combination groups receiving photodynamic therapy followed by the treatment with antifungal agents,and blank control group receiving no treatment.These antifungal agents included amphotericin B,posaconazole,voriconazole and itraconazole.The concentrations of these antifungal agents were all 1 mg/L,and the treatment with antifungal agents lasted 2 hours.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to detect the apoptosis of planktonic and biofilm cells of E.dermatitidis in all the groups.Results The antifungal agents and photodynamic therapy both affected the apoptosis of planktonic (both P ＜ 0.001) and biofilm cells (beth P ＜ 0.05) of E.dermatitidis.The apoptosis rates of E.dermatitidis planktonic cells in the control group,amphotericin B group,posaconazole group,voriconazole group and itraconazole group were 11.67％ ± 0.21％,13.30％ ± 1.78％,14.30％ ± 3.61％,14.51％ ± 1.91％and 36.17％ ± 4.00％ respectively.The apoptosis rate of E.dermatitidis planktonic cells was significantly higher in the itraconazole group than in the control group (P ＜ 0.05),but no significant differences were observed between the other 3 antifungal agent groups and control group (all P ＞ 0.05).The photodynamic therapy group also showed a significantly higher apoptosis rate of E.dermatitidis planktonic cells (41.37％ ±7.80％) compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.05).After the treatment with photodynamic therapy combined with amphotericin B,posaconazole,voriconazole or itraconazole,the apoptosis rates of E.dermatitidis planktonic cells were 29.23％ ± 6.71％,37.23％ ± 10.86％,43.57％ ± 6.42％ and 69.87％ ± 3.53％ respectively.Moreover,the photodynamic therapy + voriconazole group and photodynamic therapy + itraconazole group both showed significantly higher apoptosis rates compared with the voriconazole group and itraconazole group respectively (both P ＜ 0.05).The apoptosis rate of E.dermatitidis biofilm cells was significantly higher in the photodynamic therapy group than in the control group (32.00％ ± 0.43％ vs.25.30％ ± 1.31％,P ＜ 0.05),as well as in the photodynamic therapy + amphotericin B than in the amphotericin B group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Photodynamic therapy combined with antifungal agents can markedly promote the apoptosis of planktonic and biofilm cells of E.dermatitidis.

Aim To investigate the role of TGF-β3 in the anti-proliferation effect of ursolic acid(UA)in co-lon cancer cells and the possible molecular mechanism underlying this effect.Methods We introduced crys-tal violet staining,flow cytometry and Western blot as-say to determine the effect of UA on proliferation and apoptosis in HCT1 1 6 cells.The levels of TGF-β3, Smad2 /3 and β-catenin in HCT1 1 6 cell were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot.Finally,TGF-β3 inhibi-tor and recombinant adenovirus,and luciferase reporter assay were used to analyze the possible mechanism through which TGF-β3 mediated the anti-cancer effect of UA in HCT1 1 6 cells.Results UA inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis apparently in HCT1 1 6 cells.UA down-regulated TGF-β3 both in mRNA and in protein level.Meanwhile,UA decreased the phosphorylation of Smad2 /3 concentration depend-ently,although no significant effect was found on the total protein level of Smad2 /3 in HCT1 1 6 cells.Over-expression of TGF-β3 attenuated the inhibitory effect of UA on the proliferation of HCT1 1 6 cells,while the TGF-β3 inhibitor potentiated this effect. UA sup-pressed the transconduction of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in HCT1 1 6 cells through decreasing the level of β-catenin.Exogenous expression of TGF-β3 increased the level of β-catenin and partly reversed the UA-in-duced decrease of β-catenin.However,TGF-β3 inhib-itor potentiated the inhibitory effect of UA on β-catenin in HCT1 1 6 cells.Conclusion The anti-proliferation activity of UA in colon cancer may be partly mediated through down-regulating TGF-β3 to suppress Wnt/β-catenin signaling at least.

Aim To investigate the relationship be-tween the anti-proliferation effect of resveratrol ( Res ) and p38 MAPK in colon cancer cells .Methods Crys-tal violet staining , Western blot and flow cytometry were employed to analyze the effect of Res on the pro-liferation in LoVo cells.Western blot assay was used to detect the effect of Res on the apoptosis of LoVo cells and the phosphorylation of p 38 MAPK.Crystal violet staining and Western blot assay were used to analyze whether p38 MAPK was involved in the Res-induced proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in LoVo cells .Re-sults Res inhibited the proliferation , arrested cell cy-cle at S phase , and increased the protein level of PC-NA in LoVo cells apparently .Res increased the level of Bad in LoVo cells, but decreased the level of Bcl-2. Although Res exerted no substantial effects on total lev-el of p38 MAPK, it markedly increased the phospho-rylation level of p38 MAPK in LoVo cells.p38 MAPK inhibitor promoted the proliferation , and decreased the anti-proliferation effect of Res on LoVo cells .Moreo-ver , the effects of Res on the level of Bcl-2 and Bad were both reduced by the p 38 MAPK inhibitor .Con-clusions Res can inhibit the proliferation of LoVo cells, which may be partly mediated by promoting the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.

Aim To study the anti-proliferation effect of resveratrol (Res)and the role of Res-induced bone morphorgenetic protein 9 (BMP9 )in this process in colon cancer cells.Methods Crystal violet staining and flow cytomtry were introduced to assay the anti-proliferation effect of Res in LoVo cells.The effect of Res on apoptosis in LoVo cells was also detected with flow cytometry.Then,RT-PCR and Western blot assay were employed to unveil the effect of Res on the ex-pression of BMP9 .The effect of BMP9 on the anti-pro-liferation of Res in LoVo cells was analyzed with crystal violet staining and flow cytometry too.Finally,the effect of Res on the expression of ALK2 and ALK3 was assayed with RT-PCR,and the inhibitor of ALK2 and ALK3 was used to figure out the possible mechanism of BMP9 on Res-induced proliferation inhibition in LoVo cells.Results Res apparently inhibited the prolifera-tion,arrested the cell cycle at S phase in LoVo and in-creased the percentage of apopotic cells in LoVo cells. Res increased the expression of mRNA and protein of BMP9 concentration dependently. Exogenous ex-pressed-BMP9 enhanced the anti-proliferation and ap-optosis inducing effects of Res in LoVo cells, but BMP9 knockdown decreased these effects of Res.Al-though Res had no apparent effect on increasing the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8,it increased the ex-pression of ALK2 and ALK3 .Inhibition of ALK2 and ALK3 decreased the anti-proliferation effect of Res partly in LoVo cells.Conclusion Res is potent to in-hibit the proliferation of LoVo cells,Which may be mediated by up-regulating the expression of BMP9 and its receptor at least.