OBJECTIVES: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is characterized by complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis. In recent years, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor initiation and progression has attracted increasing attention. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), which is aberrantly expressed in various tumors, may be closely related to the EMT process. This study aims to examine the expression and correlation of EZH2 and EMT markers in ESCC cells and tissues, evaluate the effects of EZH2 knockdown on ESCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and explore how EZH2 contributes to the malignant biological behavior of ESCC. METHODS: Bioinformatics analyses were used to assess EZH2 expression levels in ESCC. Small interfering RNA was used to knock down EZH2 in ESCC cell lines EC109 and EC9706. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, and Transwell assays. Protein and mRNA expression levels of EZH2, E-cadherin (E-cad), and vimentin (Vim) were detected by Western blotting and real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), respectively. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed on 70 ESCC tissue samples and 40 paired adjacent normal tissues collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University between 2010 and 2016 to assess the expression of EZH2, E-cad, and Vim, and to analyze their associations with clinicopathological feature and patient prognosis. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis showed that EZH2 was highly expressed in ESCC (P<0.001), and high EZH2 expression was associated with worse prognosis (P<0.001). CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays demonstrated that EZH2 knockdown significantly suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration of ESCC cells (P<0.001). In addition, Vim expression was significantly reduced, while E-cad expression was significantly increased at both protein and mRNA levels in EZH2-silenced cells (all P<0.05). IHC staining analysis revealed higher expression of EZH2 and Vim and lower expression of E-cad in ESCC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that low expression of EZH2 and Vim and high expression of E-cad were associated with longer survival (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS EZH2 promotes malignant biological behavior in ESCC by mediating EMT. Elevated EZH2 expression is associated with poor prognosis in ESCC patients.
Humans ; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein/physiology* ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/pathology* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cadherins/genetics* ; Vimentin/genetics* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Objective:To investigate the effects and regulation mechanism of lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) derived from Mycoplasma pneumoniae( Mp) on the expression of quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) in human monocyte cell line THP-1 cells, and to know the effect of NQO-1 to interleukin 8 secretion in LAMPs stimulated cells, so as to better understand the regulation mechanism upon Mp infection. Methods:Mp were cultivated and the precipitate was collected to extract LAMPs. The cytotoxicity of LAMPs to THP-1 cells was analyzed by using CCK8 test. THP-1 cells were cultured in vitro with different concentrations of LAMPs for different times, and the expression of NQO-1 protein was detected by Western blot. Nrf2 siRNA was used to investigate the role of Nrf2 in NQO-1 expression in LAMPs induced cells, and NQO-1 inhibitor Diminutol was performed to test whether they blocked interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion when treated with LAMPs in THP-1 cells. Results:LAMPs extracted from Mp had no cytotoxicity to THP-1 cells. The expression of NQO-1 protein in LAMPs-stimulated THP-1 cells showed a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The production of NQO-1 protein reached peaks when treated with 5.0 μg/ml or 7.5 μg/ml of LAMPs for 12 h. Silencing of Nrf2 by siRNA significantly decreased NQO-1 production, and blocking NQO-1 by Dim increased the level of IL-8 in LAMPs-stimulated cells. Conclusions:LAMPs derived from Mp induced the expression of NQO-1 protein in THP-1 cells via Nrf2, and NQO-1 can inhibit IL-8 secretion in LAMPs stimulated monocytes.

Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibacterial agent used in infections caused by gram-positive cocci such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, penicillin-resistant pneumococcus and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus. Lactic acidosis is one of the adverse reactions of linezolid. The risk factors of lactic acidosis caused by linezolid are long-term exposure, liver dysfunction, renal dysfunction, mitochondrial DNA A2706G polymorphism, combined use of drugs affecting mitochondrial function, etc. The symptoms of lactic acidosis caused by linezolid are nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, shortness of breath, tachycardia, and hypotension, etc., which can be identified early by close monitoring of laboratory indicators such as blood lactic acid, pH, and blood drug concentration. The mechanism of lactic acidosis induced by linezolid may be related to mitochondrial toxicity. The lactic acidosis of linezolid can be caused by reducing drug dose, stopping drug or even in vitro renal replacement therapy, and strengthening symptomatic support therapy if necessary. This review is intended to provide ideas for the clinical prevention and treatment of lactate acidosis caused by linezolid.

A novel drug delivery device simulating the cardiovascular bloodfl ow pattern was introduced. The device was used to simulate the in vivo drug release in the drug-eluting stents. The results regarding the drug release rate were subject to the pattern from in vivo measurement. Therefore, the device was validated as a measurement method for in vivo drug release rate.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of the external method of tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation on endometrial morphology of rats with kidney deficiency and blood stasis model. A total of 50 normal healthy unmated female SD rats of proestrus were selected with vaginal smear. Rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, high dose group and low dose group with the prescription of tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation and theWu-Zi (WZ) group. Except the blank group, intragastric administration of hydroxyurea was given to other group to establish the kidney deficiency model. Meanwhile, clyster of distilled water was given to the blank group and the model group. And clyster of high dose and low dose prescription of tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation was given to the high dose and low dose group, respectively. The intragastric administrations ofWu-Zi Yan-Zong(WZYZ) pills were given to theWu-Zi (WZ) group. On the 4th day of pregnancy, 10% of the macromolecule dextran was quickly injected to the caudal vein to induce blood stasis model 1 hour after the last medication administration. The uterus tissue section was observed by HE dyeing. The results showed that the thickness of covering epithelium of endometrium in the model group was lower than the blank group (P < 0.05). There were significant differences on the thickness of covering epithelium of endometrium in the high dose group and low dose group with the prescription of tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation, the WZ group and the model group (P < 0.01). The sum of gland number and gland area as well as the maximum diameter / minimum diameter of the model group was significantly lower than that of the blank group (P< 0.05, orP < 0.01). The shape factor was the closest to “1”, which had significant difference compared with the blank group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the sum of gland number and glandular lumen of the high dose and low dose group were increased at different levels (P < 0.05, orP < 0.01). The sum of gland number, glandular lumen area, shape factor, and maximum diameter / minimum diameter of WZ group had significant difference compared with the model group (P < 0.05, orP < 0.01). The sum of interstitial cells’ nucleus area, integral optical density of interstitial cells’ nucleus and number of interstitial blood vessels in the high dose and low dose group were significantly higher compared to the model group (P < 0.05, orP < 0.01). The sum of interstitial cells’ nucleus area and the integral optical density of interstitial cells’ nucleus in the WZ group were obviously higher than the model group (P < 0.01). It was concluded that the external method of tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation can effectively improve the endometrial morphology of kidney-deficiency and blood-stasis rat model, promote the synchronous development of endometrial gland and stroma, in order to play a role to improve the endometrial receptivity.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the impact of water transfer project from the Yangtze River to the Huaihe River on schistosomiasis transmission, and to evaluate the risk of the disease input to the potential endemic area in Anhui Province, namely the Chaohu Lake region.

METHODSFrom 2008 to 2012, 1 fixed and 3 mobile surveillance sites in the Chaohu Lake area were selected, and the schistosomiasis infection situation of 615 local residents in the fix surveillance site was investigated in autumn of 2008 and 2012, while the schistosomiasis infection situation of 1603 mobile population in the 3 mobile surveillance sites were investigated in autumn of 2008 to 2012. All people were screened by indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), and the positive ones were then examined by sedimentation method. 303 local livestock and livestock from schistosomiasis endemic areas were examined by stool hatching method in autumn of 2008 to 2012. From 2008 to 2012, the distribution of Oncomelania snails was investigated in risk areas and suspicious areas, and the snail spreading pattern was conducted through salvaging floaters in rivers connected with the Yangtze River. In addition, the Oncomelania snails were raised in the cages on the beaches of the Chaohu Lake, a control area, from 2007 to 2010, and their survival and reproduction capacity was observed.

RESULTSIn 2008 and 2012, 301 and 314 local residents were detected by IHA, but there were no positive found. From 2008 to 2012, a total of 1603 mobile population were examined by IHA, and the positive rate of antibody was 3.1% (49/1603); 75 individuals were examined by sedimentation method, and the positive rate was 36.00% (27/75). A total of 303 livestock were examined by stool hatching method, but no one showed positive. A total of 1630 km(2) in risk areas and 3551 km(2) in suspicious areas were surveyed, but there were no Oncomelania snails found. A total of 457.6 kg floating debris were investigated, and 11 Oncomelania snails were found. From 2007 to 2010, the survival rate of Oncomelania snails in two trail areas in the Chaohu Lake and in the control area was 88% (86/98), 51% (45/89), 30% (25/71), 24% (20/84) and 92% (85/92), 54% (50/92), 23% (12/52), 17% (13/79) and 96% (85/89), 52% (44/85), 26% (18/69), 18% (14/76), respectively, there were no statistical significance between the trial areas and the control area (χ1(2) = 3.78, P > 0.01; χ2(2) = 0.27, P > 0.01; χ3(2) = 2.51, P > 0.01; χ4(2) = 1.50, P > 0.01), and filial generation snails were found in each observation area from 2008 to 2010, the number was 156-312.

CONCLUSIONThe imported infectious sources of schistosomiasis have been found in the Chaohu Lake region, the possibility of imported exogenous Oncomelania snails spreading into the Lake and surviving and reproducing there is high. The risk of schistosomiasis input to the potential endemic area in Anhui Province is predicted to be high.

Animals ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Lakes ; parasitology ; Risk Assessment ; Rivers ; parasitology ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Snails ; parasitology

Two kinds of Cu-containing intrauterine contraceptive device (Cu-IUD) has been evaluated through the study on the release of copper ion and corrosion of copper surface in artificially formulated fluid. The result showed that the copper ions were released profusely from the stainless steel stents Cu-IUD in the first week of soak (25-12 microg/d), and then it became slowly and steady. The release of the copper ions from the titanium nickel shape memory alloy stents Cu-IUD were always slowly and steady in two months (0.5-5 microg/d). It obviously shows that the corrosion on copper surface of stainless steel stents Cu-IUD were more serious than titanium nickel shape memory alloy stents Cu-IUD by using 200 times microscope testing before and after soaking in formulated fluid.
Copper ; chemistry ; Corrosion ; Intrauterine Devices ; Ions ; chemistry ; Stents

The finite element method was used for simulating the mechanical performance and fatigue safety of three different structures of Nitinol stent. According to the actual situation, after proposing reasonable assumptions and simplification, the geometry model and finite element model establishment, material mode selection and boundary condition setting are completed. The strain and fatigue life of different stent edges wide (omega) or strut angle (theta) are computed. The result can provide a valuable reference for the optimal design of stent.
Alloys ; Finite Element Analysis ; Prosthesis Design ; Stents

Objective To understand the variation rules of schistosomiasis endemic situation before and after schistosomia-sis transmission controlled or interrupted,so as to provide the evidence for the consolidation of control achievements. Meth-ods In Anhui Province,3 counties reaching the criteria of schistosomiasis transmission controlled or interrupted were selected and their historical endemic data were collected and analyzed statistically from 10 years before the schistosomiasis transmission controlled to 2008. Results In Tianchang City,the Oncomelania hupensis snail area was 3.54 hm2 in a part of the lake marsh-land in the year reaching the criteria of transmission controlled(1998),and no snails were found in the year of transmission in-terrupted(2008). No stool-test-positive resident was detected except there were 58 acute schistosomiasis cases in 1993,and the sero-test-positive rate of local residents remained at low levels(0-1.55%). In Taihu County,the snail area was 0.84 hm2 account-ing for 0.06%of its historical accumulative snail areas in the year of transmission controlled(1971),and no snails were found three years before the transmission interrupted (1983). However,the schistosomiasis endemic rebounded 12 years later (1995),there was an outbreak of acute schistosome infections(73 cases),and the snail area increased again to 133.7 hm2 ac-counting for 2.91%of historical accumulative snail areas. After that,the snail area kept on rising and the infection rates of resi-dents and bovine remained higher than 1%. In Guangde County,the snail area was 32.4 hm2 accounting for 1.90%of its histori-cal accumulative snail areas in the year of transmission controlled(1995). After that,the snail area increased progressively, and the schistosomiasis endemic rebounded and there were acute schistosome infections 5 years later. The Spearman tests showed that the sero-test-positive rate(Tianchang City)and the stool-test-positive rates of residents and bovine(Taihu County)had positive correlations with the snail areas(r=0.582,0.401,0.596,all P<0.05). Conclusion The snail status is a key for the consolidation of schistosomiasis transmission controlled and interrupted. Therefore,a valid surveillance system of snail situa-tion should be established as quickly as possible.

The finite element method was used for simulating the mechanical performance and fatigue safety of three different structures of Nitinol stent. According to the actual situation, after proposing reasonable assumptions and simplification, the geometry model and finite element model establishment, material mode selection and boundary condition setting are completed. The strain and fatigue life of different stent edges wide (ω) or strut angle (q) are computed. The result can provide a valuable reference for the optimal design of stent.