Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP+ ) colon cancer, and the significance of CIMP status in the diagnosis and prognosis prediction in defective mismatch repair (dMMR) colon cancer.Methods:The keywords "colorectal cancer" "patient" and "CpG Island Methylator Phenotype" were used to search the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the GSE39582 was obtained, which included the clinical data of 585 patients with colorectal cancer and the sequencing data of the whole transcriptome of the tumor tissues. After excluding 72 cases with missing CIMP values, 513 cases were included for further analysis, including 278 males and 235 females, with a mean age of (67±13) years. According to the CIMP status, they were divided into CIMP+ group ( n=93) and CIMP-group ( n=420), then compare the differences in clinical characteristics, the Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted to compare the overall survival and disease-free survival; 71 dMMR cases were divided into CIMP+ group ( n=43) and CIMP-group ( n=28), and the K-M curves were plotted to analyze the differences in overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS). Comparisons between groups were performed by t-test, χ2 test or Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test, and the difference in survival curves was tested by Long-rank test. Results:Patients in the CIMP+ group were significantly older than those in the CIMP-group [(70.84±12.60) years vs (66.21±13.08) years, t=3.18, P=0.002]. Right colon tumors originating from the CIMP+ molecular pathway were 9.3 times more likely to be CIMP+ than those of the left colon cancers ( OR=9.3, 95% CI: 5.2-17.9). BRAF mutant colon cancer originating from CIMP+ was 215.2 times more common than BRAF wild-type colon cancer originating with CIMP+ ( OR=215.2, 95% CI: 53.2-1906.7); and patients with dMMR colon cancer originated 12.8 times more common than patients with pMMR ( OR=12.8, 95% CI: 7.0-23.9). The difference between the CIMP+ and CIMP-groups was not statistically significant in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival ( P=0.590, 0.220). In the dMMR colon cancer subgroup, CIMP status did not correlate with patients′ overall survival and disease-free survival ( P>0.05). Conclusions:CIMP+ colon cancer patients were mostly of advanced age, with tumors originating from the right colon, mostly combined with BRAF gene mutations, and manifested as mismatch repair-deficient colon cancers. CIMP status had no correlation with TNM stage and survival of colon cancers patients. There was no significant difference in the survival between dMMR colon cancers caused by CIMP+ and those caused by MMR gene mutations.

Objective This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Naoxinqing on non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet through network pharmacology,molecular docking and in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods ApoE-/-mice were given a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the NAFLD model,followed by a 12-week Naoxinqing administration. To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Naoxinqing on NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet,biochemical and histopathological experiments were performed,including assessment of blood lipids,liver function,serum inflammatory factors,as well as Hematoxylin and eosin (HE),Oil red O,and Sirius red staining of liver. Subsequently,network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were employed to predict the key targets of Naoxinqing. Finally,the mechanism of Naoxinqing was validated by Western Blot in HepG2 cells and liver tissue. Results The results of serum biochemistry and liver tissue pathology showed that Naoxinqing can significantly improve high-fat diet-induced hepatic lipid accumulation,hepatocellular injury,and inflammation. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis results suggested that Naoxinqing may affect lipid metabolism through the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) pathway. Finally,in vitro cell experiment confirmed that the main mechanism of Naoxinqing is to activative the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway,upregulate the expression of downstream carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1A),promote fatty acid oxidation,and ultimately improve NAFLD. Conclusion This study demonstrated that Naoxinqing improved NAFLD by promoting fatty acid oxidation through the activation of the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway.

Brain abundant membrane attached signal protein 1(BASP1)was first discovered in the rat brain and is primarily enriched in brain,heart,mouth,skin,stomach,kidneys and many other human organs.The BASP1 protein is evolutionarily conserved.It participates in cellular biological processes such as cell signaling,cell migration,apoptosis,and gene transcription as an inherently disordered protein(IDP),and is involved in a series of pathophysiological processes such as neural development,kidney development,and germ cell formation.BASP1 plays a very important func-tion in glucose,lipid metabolism diseases and tumor diseases,and is considered to be a potential disease treatment target and molecular diagnostic marker.

Mitochondria are the"power generators"in eukaryotic cells,therefore playing vital roles for basically all cellular activities.Not only supplying energy,mitochondria are also actively regulating important cellular processes,such as apoptosis,differentiation,and proliferation.But mitochondria are not"perpetual motion machines".In fact,mito-chondria are one of the most sensitive organelles to various pathological conditions.Dysfunction of mitochondria can cause many human diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,diabetes,ischemic heart disease,etc.It is well known that changes in mitochondrial morphology affect the mitochondrial function,and vice versa.Under pathological conditions,mitochondria undergo various morphological changes.Research studies that characterized abnormal mitochondrial mor-phology have enabled us to understand the mitochondrial involvement in the pathogenesis of certain human diseases.This review mainly summarizes the research progress on mitochondrial morphological changes in human diseases,aiming to pro-vide a theoretical overview.

Objective:To explore the expression of circ-KEL in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the effect and mechanism of circ-KEL on leukemic cells.Methods:The expression of circ-KEL was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in bone marrow mononuclear cells collected from 116 patients with AML and 40 healthy donors. The correlation of circ-KEL expression with the clinical characteristics of patients with AML was further systematically analyzed. The modulations among circ-KEL, miR-335-5p, and LRG1 were predicted through bioinformatics analysis and validated by dual luciferase assay. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected using CCK8 and flow cytometry.Results:The expression of circ-KEL was significantly elevated in patients with AML compared with the healthy controls (Relative expression level, -Δct, AML: -7.117±1.831; control: -8.669±1.771, P<0.001) . Moreover, patients with high circ-KEL expression have significantly worse overall survival. The level of circ-KEL in patients with AML was downregulated after chemo-treatment. In addition, circ-KEL could serve as the sponge of miR-335-5p and regulate LRG1. Bioinformatics analysis showed that miR-335-5p correlates with good prognosis and was negatively associated with LRG1. LRG1 could promote cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis. Our results also exhibited the higher expression of LRG1 in patients with AML. Moreover, circ-KEL exerted functional effects via sponging miR-335-5p and regulating LRG1. Conclusion:circ-KEL expresses highly in patients with AML and correlates with poor prognosis, suggesting its important role in the genesis and progress of AML.

Objective: To explore the relationship among sexual assault experience,interpersonal trust and psychosexual health in middle school girls,and to provide a reference for psychological counseling for the diagnosis of sexually assaulted individuals. Methods: A sample of 499 middle school girls from 5 middle schools in Shaoguan city of Hunan Province were assessed with the Sexual Assault Questionnaire, Interpersonal Trust Scale and Adolescent Psychosexual Health Scale. Results: The rate of sexual assault was 36.87% while the non-contact sexual assault was 34.87%, and the rate of sexual touching was 8.82% whlie the rate of rape was 1.20%. There were negative correlations among sexual assault experience, sexual values, sexual adaptation and psychosexual health(r=-0.21,-0.10,-0.13,P<0.01).The interpersonal trust modified the relationship between sexual assault experience and sexual awareness, sexual values, sexual adaptation, psychosexual health (95%CI=-0.05--0.01,-0.05--0.01,-0.04-0.00,-0.04--0.02,P<0.05). Conclusion Interpersonal trust plays a moderating role in the association between sexual assault experience and psychosexual health.The adverse effects of sexual assault on psychosexual health might be relieved through improving interpersonal trust among middle school girls.

Hearing impairment (HI) affects 1/1000 children and over 2% of the aged population. We have previously reported that mutations in the gene encoding gap junction protein connexin-31 (C×31) are associated with HI. The pathological mechanism of the disease mutations remains unknown. Here, we show that expression of C×31 in the mouse inner ear is developmentally regulated with a high level in adult inner hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons that are critical for the hearing process. In transfected cells, wild type C×31 protein (C×31wt) forms functional gap junction at cell-cell-contacts. In contrast, two HI-associated C×31 mutants, C×31R180X and C×31E183K resided primarily in the ER and Golgi-like intracellular punctate structures, respectively, and failed to mediate lucifer yellow transfer. Expression of C×31 mutants but not C×31wt leads to upregulation of and increased association with the ER chaperone BiP indicating ER stress induction. Together, the HI-associated C×31 mutants are impaired in trafficking, promote ER stress, and hence lose the ability to assemble functional gap junctions. The study reveals a potential pathological mechanism of HI-associated C×31 mutations.
Animals ; Connexins ; genetics ; Ear, Inner ; metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; physiology ; Gap Junctions ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Golgi Apparatus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mutation ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Protein Transport ; genetics ; Stress, Physiological

BACKGROUND:Shear stress can directly mediate the expression of endothelial cells, especially some cytokine genes whose codes are related to angiogenesis. Otherwise, flow shear stress of blood plays an importantly biological role in regulating vascular structure and function.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of laminar flow shear stress on the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and the expression of protooncogene c-myc in human cerebral arteriovenous malformation.DESIGN: Randomized controlled study.SETTING: Department of Neurosurgery, Shenyang General Hospital of Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Neuromedical Institute, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from November 2006 to February 2007. Fresh samples of human cerebral arteriovenous malformation were derived from 20 patients who were of grade Spetzler Ⅱ -Ⅲ and received resection of human cerebral arteriovenous malformation in the Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA in 2006. All cases were diagnosed with whole-brain angiography before operation. The main reagents and equipments were detailed as follows: M199 culture media (Gilbco BRL), quality fetal bovine serum (HyClone), endothelial cell growth supplement (ECGS; Sigma, USA), CO2 incubator (Forma Scientific, USA), flow cytometry analysis of cell cycle kit (BD Company), flow cytometer (FACS Calibur, BD Company), rat-anti-human c-myc monoclonal antibody (Santa Cruz Company, USA), and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit (Promega).METHODS: Tissue explants adherent method was used to culture vascular endothelial cells of human cerebral arteriovenous malformation, and then the cells were classified into 4 groups based on degree of shear stress, including control group, low shear stress group, moderate shear stress group and high shear stress group. Cultured endothelial cells of human cerebral arteriovenous malformation were put in a parallel plate flow chamber. In addition, cells in the low,moderate and high shear stress groups were stressed by low, moderate and high shear stress for 8 hours, respectively.However, shear stress in the control group was 0 Pa. Flow cytometry was used to measure proliferation index, and the expression of c-myc protein and c-myc mRNA were determined by immnocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Expressions of c-myc protein and c-myc mRNA and proliferation index in endothelial cells under various degrees of shear stress.RESULTS: ① Proliferation index: Proliferation index was higher in the moderate and high shear stress groups than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05, 0.01). ② Expression of c-myc protein: Immuneposjtjve expression of c-myc protein was gradually increased with the increase of shear stress and there were significant differences in the three shear stress groups as compared with control group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). ③ Expression of c-myc mRNA: Proliferation index of endothelial cells was higher in the low and moderate shear stress groups than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Flow shear stress can induce expression of c-myc and activate expression of c-myc gene based on gene transcription so as to promote the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in human cerebral arteriovenous malformation

BACKGROUND:Antisense gene therapy offers immense promise for the management of human cerebral arteriovenous malformation through inhibiting expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenesis in endothelial cells.OBJECTIVE: To observe the inhibitory effect of vascular endothelial growth factor-antisense oligonucleotide (VEGF-ASODN) on the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in human cerebral arteriovenous malformation.DESIGN: Observational contrast study.SETTING: Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Neuromedical Institute, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from August to December 2006. A total of 18 patients with human cerebral arteriovenous malformation were selected from Department of Neurosurgery, Shenyang General Hospital of Military Area Command of Chinese PLA. There were 12 males and 6 females and their mean age was 40 years. Cerebral arteriovenous malformation was classified based on Spetzler grade: grade Ⅱ (n =10) and grade Ⅲ (n=8). All cases were diagnosed with whole cerebral angiography before operation and they provided the confirmed consent. Main reagents were detailed as follows: endothelial cell growth supplements (ECGS, Sigma, USA), 391 DNA automatic synthetic device (Shanghai Shenggong Liyong Company, PE, USA), anaerobic incubator (DY-1, Zhejiang), human vascular endothelial growth factor enzyme-linked kit (TBD Company, Beijing), 96E enzyme-labeling device (ERMA, INC), cell cycle analytical reagent kit (BD Company), and flow cytometer (FACS Calibur, BD Company).METHODS: ①Experimental procedure: Tissue explants adherent method was used to culture vascular endothelial cells from human cerebral arteriovenous malformation. The third generated cells were used and randomly divided into antisense group, sense group and control group with four bottles of cells in each group. Sense and antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides of artificial vascular endothelial growth factor selected from the antisense group and the sense group were covered with positive liposomes, and then they were used to transfected vascular endothelial cells cultured from human cerebral arteriovenous malformation; however, cells in the control group were not dealt with any treatments. Cells in the three groups were incubated in anaerobic incubator (including 0.95 volume fraction of N2 and 0.05 volume fraction of CO2) at 37 ℃ for 2, 4 and 8 hours, respectively. ② Experimental evaluation: Cell cycles were measured, protein content of vascular endothelial growth factor was measured, and mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was also detected.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Expression of mRNA and protein of vascular endothelial growth factor and proliferation exponent at different times of hypoxia.RESULTS: ①mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor: At 2, 4 and 8 hours after hypoxia, mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was higher than that before hypoxia in the control group (P ＜ 0.05);however, mRNA expression was lower in the antisense group than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05). ② Protein content of vascular endothelial growth factor: At 2, 4 and 8 hours after hypoxia, protein content of vascular endothelial growth factor was higher than that before hypoxia in the control group (P ＜ 0.05); however, protein content was lower in the antisense group than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05). ③ Proliferation exponent: At 4 and 8 hours after hypoxia,proliferation exponent of endothelial cells cultured from human cerebral arteriovenous malformation was higher than that before hypoxia in the control group (P ＜ 0.05); however, proliferation exponent was lower in the antisense group than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Hypoxia may induce gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in endothelial cells at the transcriptional level. Antisense vascular endothelial growth factor can obviously inhibit gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor cultured from human cerebral arteriovenous malformation and proliferation under hypoxic conditions.

This paper presents a novel tactile feedback device in biofeedback. With apparent motion of tactual sense applied, the device gives the patient the ability to perform biofeedback in tactile and visual ways, and thus makes the patient more relaxed than other cases. With various types of feedbacks, the device can be satisfying and effective.