Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main cellular components of the tumor microenvironment and promote cancer progression by modifying the extracellular matrix (ECM). The tumor-associated ECM is characterized by collagen crosslinking catalyzed by lysyl oxidase (LOX). Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) mediate cell-cell communication. However, the interactions between sEVs and the ECM remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that sEVs released from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)-derived CAFs induce collagen crosslinking, thereby promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). CAF sEVs preferably bound to the ECM rather than being taken up by fibroblasts and induced collagen crosslinking, and a LOX inhibitor or blocking antibody suppressed this effect. Active LOX (αLOX), but not the LOX precursor, was enriched in CAF sEVs and interacted with periostin, fibronectin, and bone morphogenetic protein-1 on the surface of sEVs. CAF sEV-associated integrin α2β1 mediated the binding of CAF sEVs to collagen I, and blocking integrin α2β1 inhibited collagen crosslinking by interfering with CAF sEV binding to collagen I. CAF sEV-induced collagen crosslinking promoted the EMT of OSCC through FAK/paxillin/YAP pathway. Taken together, these findings reveal a novel role of CAF sEVs in tumor ECM remodeling, suggesting a critical mechanism for CAF-induced EMT of cancer cells.
Humans ; Paxillin/metabolism* ; Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Integrin alpha2beta1/metabolism* ; Mouth Neoplasms/pathology* ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Fibroblasts ; Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Tumor Microenvironment

Objective:To analyze the prognosis and influencing factors of different radiotherapy modes in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to explore the best benefit population with radiotherapy boost under different prognostic scores.Methods:634 patients with brain metastasis from NSCLC admitted to the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from 2013 to 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. According to different radiotherapy modes, they were divided into three groups: no radiotherapy group ( n=330), whole-brain radiotherapy group (WBRT)( n=127) and whole-brain radiotherapy combined with boost group (WBRT+ boost)( n=177). The intracranial progression-free survival (iPFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. The multivariate prognostic factors were analyzed by the Cox models. Results:The median iPFS and OS of all patients were 6.9 months and 9.0 months, respectively. In the no radiotherapy, WBRT and WBRT+ boost groups, the 1-year iPFS was 15.1%, 16.3% and 40.2%( P=0.002), and the 1-year OS was 33.7%, 38.2% and 48.1%( P<0.001), respectively. Multivariate survival analysis demonstrated that different radiotherapy modes were the independent factors affecting iPFS and OS. Subgroup analysis revealed that for patients with 1-3 brain metastases, the 1-year OS and iPFS in the WBRT+ boost group were better than those of WBRT alone ( P=0.026, P=0.044) when GPA score was 2.5-4.0; the 1-year OS and iPFSin the WBRT+ boost group were better than those of WBRT alone ( P=0.036, P=0.049) when there was no targeted therapy; for patients with ≥4 brain metastases, the 1-year iPFS in the WBRT+ boost group was better than that of WBRT alone ( P=0.019, P=0.012) when GPA score was 2.5-4.0 and there was no targeted therapy. When the GPA score was 0-2 or there was targeted therapy, the 1-year OS and iPFS in the WBRT+ boost group were better than those of WBRT alone, but the difference was not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Radiotherapy can significantly improve the iPFS and OS of NSCLC patients with brain metastases. When the number of brain metastases is 1-3, GPA score is 2.5-4.0 or no targeted therapy, boost may improve the iPFS and OS; when the number of brain metastases is more than 4, GPA score is 2.5-4.0 or no targeted therapy, boost may only bring iPFS benefit; when GPA score is 0-2 or targeted therapy, boost may not benefit significantly.

Objective:To analyze the prognosis and influencing factors of patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with different doses of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT).Methods:A total of 244 NSCLC patients with brain metastases who underwent WBRT in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from 2013 to 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. According to different doses of WBRT (EQD 2Gy), they were divided into the 30-39 Gy group ( n= 104) and ≥40 Gy group ( n= 140). The intracranial progression-free survival (iPFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared betweentwo groups. According to the number of brain metastases, GPA score, KPS score, chemotherapy and targeted therapy, the prognosis of different doses of WBRT was further analyzed. Results:The median iPFS and OS of all patients were 6.9 months and 11.8 months, respectively. Univariate survival analysis: the 1-year iPFS and 1-year OS between two groups were 22.5% and 25.4%( P=0.430) and 41.1% and 46.4%( P=0.068), respectively. Multivariate survival analysis: different doses of WBRT were not associated with the improvement of iPFS and OS; independent factors influencing iPFS included local boost, gender, number of brain metastases, chemotherapy and targeted therapy; independent factors influencing OS included gender, number of brain metastases, chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Subgroup analysis: in patients with KPS≥90, the 1-year iPFS and OS of patients with WBRT ≥ 40 Gy were seemingly better than those of their counterparts with 30-39 Gy, but the difference was statistically significant only in OS ( P=0.047), the difference was not statistically significant in iPFS ( P=0.068); in patients with chemotherapy, the 1-year iPFS and OS of patients with WBRT≥40 Gy were better than those of their counterparts with 30-39 Gy ( P=0.017, P=0.012); in patients with targeted therapy, the 1-year iPFS and OS in the WBRT≥40 Gy group were better than those in the 30-39 Gy group ( P=0.012, P=0.045). Conclusions:The 30-39 Gy may be the appropriate dose of WBRT for NSCLC patients with brain metastases. WBRT≥40 Gy does not bring more benefits. WBRT≥40 Gy may benefit NSCLC patients with brain metastases with high KPS score or active systemic therapy.

Objective:To explore the blood pressure levels and the influencing factors of hypertension among Hainan centenarians, and provide basic data for the further blood pressure related studies of the centenarian population.Methods:The baseline data were from China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study (CHCCS). This cross-sectional data, based on the community population, was a complete sample study of centenarians, including questionnaire survey, physical examination and physiological index detection. A total of 1 002 centenarians were recruited to describe the blood pressure level. According to the guidelines for the prevention and treatment of hypertension in Chinese adults in 2018, the prevalence of hypertension was analyzed.Results:The median levels of systolic blood pressure, diastolic pressure and pulse pressure were 152.0, 76.0 and 76.5 mmHg, respectively. Blood pressure level was higher in females than in males. The prevalence of hypertension was 71.9%, mainly in isolated systolic hypertension with the prevalence of 60.1%. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the risk of hypertension in women was higher than that in men ( OR=1.624, 95% CI: 1.155-2.283), and the risk of hypertension in the northern ( OR=0.625, 95% CI: 0.434-0.901) and central areas ( OR=0.586, 95% CI: 0.346-0.993) was lower than that of the Eastern. Conclusion:The prevalence of hypertension, mainly in isolated systolic hypertension, showing gender and regional distribution differences.

Objective To find the effects of varus degree on the early metabolic changes of the lateral compartment cartilage in knees with medial unicompartmental osteoarthritis by detecting glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in varus knees.Methods From June 2016 to December 2017,twenty middle-aged volunteers without osteoarthritis or coronal deformities were recruited as the control group.Sixty patients diagnosed as medial unicompartmental osteoarthritis were recruited as the osteoarthritis group.The patients were further divided into four groups according to the degrees of varus angle,namely 2°-5° varus group,5°-10° varus group,10°-15° varus group and ＞15° varus group with 15 patients in each group.Delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) was performed in all participants.The dGEMRIC indices (T1Gd) representing GAG content were calculated in the weight-bearing femoral cartilage (wbFC),the posterior non-weight-bearing femoral cartilage (pFC),the lateral femoral cartilage (FC,wbFC+pFC) and the tibial cartilage (TC) in the lateral compartment by using Matlab 7.1 and MRIMapper software.Results T1Gd of wbFC,pFC,FC and TC were 400.3±51.5 ms,393.6±57.9 ms,397.5±52.3 ms and 448.6±62.5 ms in the control group,391.8±41.5 ms,407.2±43.8 ms,400.1±37.8 ms and 461.3±41.6 ms in 2°-5° varus group and 386.9±57.1 ms,401.3±73.5 ms,397.7±59.6 ms and 438.9±42.8 ms in 5°-10° varus group.There was no significant difference among the above three groups in T1Gd in any of the analyzed cartilage regions (P＞0.05).In 10°-15° varus group,T1Gd of wbFC,pFC,FC and TC were 380.1±45.5 ms,385.5±76.6 ms,384.0±53.5 ms and 400.2±43.8 ms,respectively.Although T1Gd of wbFC,pFC and FC in 10°-15° varus group were similar with that in the control group,2°-5° varus group and 5°-10° varus (P＞0.05),T1Gd of TC in 10°-15° varus group decreased significantly (P＜0.05).In addition,T1Gd of wbFC,pFC,FC and TC in ＞15° varus groupwere 327.7±54.3 ms,340.1±33.0 ms,334.9±36.0 ms and 363.6±48.6 ms,respectively.T1Gd of all regions of interest in ＞15° varus group were significantly lower than that informer four groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion In medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis,there is a relationship between varus degree and GAG content of the lateral compartment cartilage.If varus angle ≤10°,the GAG content of the lateral compartment cartilage was similar with the similar aged subjects without osteoarthritis.If varus angle ＞ 10°,GAG content of the lateral compartment decreases significantly.

Objective To investigate the effect of early screening and intervention on congenital hypothyroid-ism.Methods Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH),three thyroid stimulating hormone (T3 )and thyroid hormone (T4 )were screened in 72h after birth,and thyroid ultrasound examination.All the patients were treated with the treat-ment of the left -to -thyroid hormone,0 -6 months medication dose 25 -50g/d,6 -12months medication dose 50 -100g/d,1 -3months medication dose 75 -100g/d.Serum TSH was reviewed every three months in the age of 1 years, 2 -3 years old every six months to review the serum TSH.Results The mean value of TSH in children with congeni-tal hypothyroidism was (68.7 ±15.3)mU /L.The mean value of T4 was (42.4 ±13.1)nmol/L.100 cases of chil-dren,including 38 cases of primary congenital hypothyroidism,transient congenital hypothyroidism in 62 cases.Ultra-sound examination showed primary congenital hypothyroidism were developmental abnormalities,and abnormal absence of a total of 18 cases (47.4%),Abnormal blood flow in 15 cases (39.5%);No abnormalities were found in the ultrasound examination of the transient congenital hypothyroidism.Before treatment,TSH in children with congenital hypothyroidism was significantly higher than that in the control group[(68.7 ±15.3)mU /L vs (4.6 ±1.1)mU /L], T4 was significantly lower than the control group[(42.4 ±13.1)nmol/L vs (124.4 ±45.5)nmol/L],the differences
were statistically significant (t =22.867,16.058,all P <0.05);After treatment,the TSH of the children was signifi-cantly decreased[(5.3 ±1.1)mU /L vs (68.7 ±15.3)mU /L],and the T4 was significantly increased[(114.5 ± 35.4)nmol/L vs (42.4 ±13.1)nmol/L],compared with before treatment,the differences were statistically significant (t =41.331,19.101,all P <0.05 ),but compared with the control group,there were no significant differences between TSH and T4 (all P >0.05).After 1 -3 years follow -up observation,children with Gesell development scale test showed that children with adaptability,large movements,fine movements,language and social skills to reach the normal level.Conclusion Early screening and treatment of the patients with congenital hypothyroidism is beneficial to the rehabilitation of the patients with congenital hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE:To study the protective effects of Baimai ointment on sciatic nerve injury in rabbit. METHODS:The rabbit sciatic nerve injury model was induced by forceps operation. 180 rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups,with 30 rab-bits in each group (10 rabbits of 7,14,28 d),including sham operation group (blank matrix of Baimai ointment for external use),model group(same as sham operation group),positive group [ig Mecobalamine tablet solution 1.25×10-4 g/(kg·d)] and Bai-mai low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups [Baimai ointment 0.33,0.67 and 1.34 g/(kg·d)for external use],once a day, for consecutive 7,14 and 28 d. Gait instrument was used to test the foot-touch-land force of rabbit;pathology examination was conducted for sciatic nerve resection;immunohistochemistry was used to detect the levels of NOS and NMDA in nerve tissue. RE-SULTS:Baimai ointment can significantly relieve sciatic nerve injury,edema and inflammatory reaction;7,14 and 28 d after med-ication,compared with model group,foot-touch-land force decreased significantly in rabbits with sciatic nerve injury (P<0.01);14,28 d after medication,foot-touch-land force of rabbits increased significantly in positive group,Baimai ointment groups,while the levels of NOS and NMDA decreased in nervous tissue(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Baimai ointment can protect sciatic nerve with function injury in rabbits.

Objective To investigate the effect of phenylephrine on the morphology and the expression level of Nampt mRNA in the irradiated osteoblasts of the rats,and to clarify the possible protective effects of phenylephrine on this injury.Methods The osteoblasts cultured by conventional tissue were randomly divided into control group, phenylephrine group,simple irradiation group,and phenylephrine+irradiation group.The cells in phenylephrine group were treated with 100 mmol· L-1 phenylephrine 30 min before irradiation.The cells in simple irradiation group were irradiated with 8 Gy X-ray.The osteoblasts were observed by microscope and were collected at the time points of 8,16,32 and 64 h after irradiation.The Nampt mRNA expression level in osteoblasts was examined by RT-PCR.Results There was no obviously morphological and number changes of osteoblasts in phenylephrine group compared with control group.The osteoblasts in simple irradiation group were atrophied,especially at 8 h;the number of osteoblasts in simple irradiation group was 0.82,0.37,0.24 and 0.21 times as control group respectively at 8,16,32 and 64 h. Atrophy of osteoblasts was alleviated in phenylephrine+irradiation group;at 8, 16,32 and 64 h,the number of osteoblasts was 0.91,0.83,0.72 and 0.75 times as control group,and was 1.09,2.24,3.00 and 3.60 times as simple irradiation group. The expression level of Nampt mRNA in the osteoblasts in simple irradiation group was reduced compared with control group (P < 0.01) at 8, 16, 32 and 64 h.There were significant differernces of the expression levels of Nampt mRNA in the osteoblasts between phenylephrine+irradiation group and control group (P < 0.01),and there were significant differernces between phenylephrine + irradiation group and simple irradiation group (P < 0.01 ) at the different time points. Conclusion Phenylephrine could reduce the atrophy of osteoblasts in the rats induced by irradiation and up-regulate the expression level of Nampt mRNA.Its protective effect on irradiated injury may be related to the up-regulation of the expression level of Nampt mRNA.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of blood pressure and S-100B, neuron specific enolase (NSE) protein in hypertensive dogs with high fat diet after catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation. METHODS: Twelve Beagles were divided into an interventional group (n=6) and a sham-operation group (n=6). After baseline measurements, the Beagles were fed with lard oil for 3 months. After 3 months, the interventional group had renal sympathetic denervation by percutaneous catheter based radiofrequency ablation and the control group had renal angiography. The blood pressure, plasma S-100B, and NSE before the operation and 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after the operation were measured. RESULTS: The dogs had significantly higher levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MBP) compared to its baselines (P<0.05). The SBP, DBP and MBP in the interventional group were significantly lower than those in the control group 1 month and 3 months after the operation (P<0.05). Three months after the operation, renal angiography in all dogs revealed no sign of renal artery stenosis. Plasma S-100B and NSE expression in the interventional group were higher than those in the control group 3 days, 1 week and 2 weeks after the operation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Renal sympathetic denervation can significantly reduce the SBP, DBP and MBP in hypertensive dogs. The plasma S-100B and NSE may be used as indicators for assessment of renal nerve injury after renal sympathetic denervation.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Catheter Ablation ; Dogs ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; Kidney ; innervation ; surgery ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; metabolism ; Sympathectomy

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and sequence character of the entire mitochondrial genome in five subjects with mitochondrial 12SrRNA T1095C mutation, and to analyze its relationship with the military noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). METHOD: Three hundreds and four soldiers exposed to military noise were selected in Yunan and Beijing, including susceptible (experimental) and tolerance (control) groups. Mitochondrial 12SrRNA T1095C mutation were found in 5 subjects. Then the complete nucleotide sequence of five subjects were sequenced and its clinical character were analyzed. RESULT: m12SrRNA T1095C mutation were identified in 5 subjects of experimental group,and none were found in control group. There was significant difference between them (P < 0.05). All five soldiers had the history of military noise exposure and showed sensorineural deafness of different degrees. Sequence analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes showed the distinct sets of mtDNA polymorphism besides T1095C mutation in five subjects. CONCLUSION The T1095C mutation in hearing loss subjects with various genetic background and history of military noise exposure, is involved in the pathogenesis of hearing impairment. It indicates that the T1095C mutation do relate well with military noise induced-hearing loss.
Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Mutation ; Young Adult