MiR-21 inhibitor improves locomotor function recovery by inhibiting IL-6R/JAK-STAT pathway-mediated inflammation after spinal cord injury in model of rat

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the function of miRNA-21 and interleukin-6 receptor/Janus Kinase-Signal transducer and activator of transcription (IL-6R/JAK-STAT) pathway in microglia on inflammatory responses after spinal cord injury (SCI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study first detected respectively the protein level of inflammatory factor inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) by Western blotting after transfection of miR-21 or administration of miR-21 inhibitor in activated microglia cells of rat in vitro. The quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to detect the expression of IL-6R under two different interventions. Next, we established a model of spinal cord injury in rat and inspected miR-21 and IL-6R in SCI rat by qRT-PCR. In addition, the protein levels of iNOS and TNF-α in SCI rat were detected by Western blotting. MiR-21 inhibitor was injected into the injured area of SCI rat to delve into the function of miR-21 down-expression on iNOS and TNF-α expression by Western blot as well as the RNA levels of IL-6R, JAK and STAT3 by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, the SCI rat with movement and coordination of hindlimbs was observed by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale (BBB scale) after miR-21 down-expression.

RESULTS

Compared with the microglia transfected with miR-21, the execution of inhibitor in microglia effectively relieved the expression of IL-6R and the breakout of iNOS and TNF-α. Meanwhile, the increase of miR-21 was significantly observed in SCI rat along with significant improvement of inflammatory response-related factors including iNOS and TNF-α. After that, we injected SCI rat with miR-21 inhibitor into the spinal cord injury area and found the inhibition of miR-21 decreased the protein levels of iNOS and TNF-α. Simultaneously, down-expression of miR-21 evidently declined the RNA levels of IL-6R, JAK, and STAT3 in SCI rat. Compared with the sham-operated rat, the movement and coordination of hindlimbs of the SCI group displayed dramatic dysfunction. However, miR-21 down-expression elevated the movement and coordination of hindlimbs of the SCI rat than those of the only injury group.

CONCLUSIONS

Inhibition of miR-21 can promote the recovery of spinal cord injury by down-regulating IL-6R/JAK-STAT signaling pathway and inhibiting inflammation.

Intussusception in 2 Children With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Infection

We note that intussusception was likely associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection in 2 infants in Wuhan and London. The intussusception was reduced by enemas in Wuhan; the outcome was fatal. The intussusception was not reduced by enemas in London and required surgery; the outcome was favorable.

[Predictive values of routine blood test results for iron deficiency in children]

Objective: To explore the predictive values of routine blood test results for iron deficiency (ID) screening in children. Methods: Routine blood test results and serum ferritin (SF) levels from 1 443 healthy children (862 boys, 581 girls) aged 6 months to 18 years, who were seen for well-child visits between June 2017 and May 2019 in Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, were retrospectively analyzed. ID was defined as SF<20 μg/L, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) as ID with anemia (hemoglobin(Hb)<110 g/L at 6 months-5 years of age, Hb<120 g/L at 6-18 years of age), non-anemia ID as ID without anemia, non-ID anemia as SF≥20 μg/L with anemia, and healthy control subjects as those with SF≥20 μg/L but without anemia. The blood test results including Hb, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), and the percentage of low hemoglobin density (LHD) of healthy control, non-anemia ID, non-ID anemia, and IDA groups were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) or non-parametric test, quantitative data were described as x±s or M(interquartile range), and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was applied to assess predictive values of routine blood test results and LHD for detecting IDA and ID. Results: Among 1 443 children with median age of 2.1(3.3) years, 1 061 children were in healthy control group, 292 in non-anemia ID group, 43 in non-ID anemia group and 47 in IDA group. The prevalence of ID was much higher than that of anemia (23.5% (339/1 443) vs. 6.2% (90/1 443) , χ(2)=169.76, P<0.01). Compared with control group, non-anemia ID group showed higher LHD (0.088 (0.093) vs.0.073 (0.068), P<0.01) and RDW (0.131±0.013 vs. 0.126±0.008, P<0.01), lower MCV ((80±4) vs. (83±4) fl, P<0.01) and MCHC values ((326±9) vs. (329±8) g/L, P<0.01). IDA group showed higher LHD (0.322(0.544)) and RDW (0.151±0.018), lower MCV ((73±6) fl) and MCHC values((309±14) g/L) than non-anemia ID group (all P<0.01). The area under curve (AUC) values of MCHC, LHD, RDW and MCV for detecting ID were 0.63 (95%CI: 0.60-0.67), 0.63 (95%CI:0.60-0.67), 0.67 (95%CI: 0.63-0.70) and 0.73 (95%CI: 0.69-0.76) respectively. With cutoff limits (MCV<80.2 fl, RDW>0.131 or MCHC<322 g/L), MCV, RDW and MCHC showed higher sensitivity for screening ID than hemoglobin (0.540, 0.469 and 0.336 vs. 0.139, χ(2)=121.70, 87.47, 35.56, all P<0.01). Conclusion: MCV, RDW and MCHC can be used to screen ID in primary health care settings.

Ageing affects the proliferation and mineralization of rat dental pulp stem cells under inflammatory conditions

AIM

To comparatively evaluate changes in the proliferation and mineralization abilities of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) from juvenile and adult rats in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory microenvironment to provide a theoretical basis for the age-related differences observed in DPSCs during repair of inflammatory injuries.

METHODOLOGY

DPSCs were isolated from juvenile (JDPSCs) and adult rats (ADPSCs), and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining was used to compare senescence between JDPSCs and ADPSCs. Effects of LPS on JDPSCs and ADPSCs proliferation were investigated by cell counting kit-8 assays and flow cytometry. Alizarin red staining, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assay were used to examine the effects of LPS on mineralization-related genes and proteins in JDPSCs and ADPSCs. Immunohistochemistry was used to compare interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and osteocalcin (OCN) expression in the pulpitis model. Unpaired Student's t-tests and one-way anova were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

DPSCs were isolated from juvenile and adult rat dental pulp tissues. At low concentrations (0.1-1 μg mL^-1 ), LPS significantly promoted the proliferation of JDPSCs (P < 0.01) and ADPSCs (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), with the effect being stronger in JDPSCs than in ADPSCs. In addition, mineralized nodules and the expression of mineralization-related genes (OCN, DSPP, ALP, BSP) increased significantly after stimulation with LPS (0.5 μg mL^-1 ) in JDPSCs and ADPSCs (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and JDPSCs displayed a more obvious increase than ADPSCs. Western blots revealed OCN and ALP expression levels in JDPSCs treated with LPS were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05); meanwhile, ALP expression in ADPSCs increased slightly but significantly (P < 0.05), and OCN expression was not affected. Finally, IL-1β expression was significantly higher (P < 0.05) and OCN expression was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the inflamed dental pulp of adult rats than in juvenile rats.

CONCLUSIONS

A certain degree of inflammatory stimulation promoted the proliferation and mineralization of DPSCs; however, this effect declined with age. The DPSCs of adult donors in an inflammatory microenvironment have a weaker repair ability than that of juvenile donors, who are better candidates for tissues damage repair.

First Detection of Photons with Energy beyond 100 TeV from an Astrophysical Source

We report on the highest energy photons from the Crab Nebula observed by the Tibet air shower array with the underground water-Cherenkov-type muon detector array. Based on the criterion of a muon number measured in an air shower, we successfully suppress 99.92% of the cosmic-ray background events with energies E>100  TeV. As a result, we observed 24 photonlike events with E>100  TeV against 5.5 background events, which corresponds to a 5.6σ statistical significance. This is the first detection of photons with E>100  TeV from an astrophysical source.

miR-30a-5p modulates traits of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) via forkhead box protein G1 (FOXG1)

miRNA has shown its potential in the regulation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, the mechanism of such an effect was not quite clear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether miR-30a-5p participated in the regulation of cutaneous SCC (cSCC) and the possible mechanism involved. 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) and cell cycle were measured using flow cytometry. The formation of cell colony was tested by colony formation assay. The capacities of migration and invasion were tested by wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay, respectively. The target of miR-30a-5p was predicted by bioinformatics and identified by luciferase assay. Western blot was used for the determination of proteins and qPCR was for mRNA levels. miR-30a-5p expression was lowered in SCL-1 and A431 cells, and its upregulation suppressed EdU positive cells, colony numbers, migration, invasion and Bcl-2 expression, and elevated Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved Caspase-3 expressions, arresting cell cycle in G1 phase. Moreover, forkhead box protein G1 (FOXG1) was proved to be the target of miR-30a-5p, and FOXG1 overexpression partially offsets the decreased colony numbers, migration and invasion rates due to miR-30a-5p overexpression in SCL-1 and A431 cells. miR-30a-5p showed a regulatory role on the expression of FOXG1 and further modulated the progressing of cSCC cells, which could be a novel pathway intervening the development of cSCC.

Systematic identification of lncRNAs and circRNAs-associated ceRNA networks in human lumbar disc degeneration

Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is a common cause of low back and neck pain. The molecular mechanisms underlying LDD, however, are unclear. Noncoding RNAs have been reported to participate in human diseases. We investigated a series of public datasets (GSE67566, GSE56081 and GSE63492) and identified 568 mRNAs, 55 microRNAs (miRNAs), 765 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 586 circular RNAs (circRNAs) that were expressed differently in LDD than in normal discs. We constructed lncRNAs and circRNAs regulated competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) networks in LDD. Four lncRNAs, DANCR, CASK-AS1, SCARNA2, and LINC00638), and three circRNAs, hsa_circ_0005139, hsa_circ_0037858, and hsa_circ_0087890, were identified as key regulators of LDD progression. We found that hsa-miR-486-5p regulated the crosstalk among circRNA hsa_circ_0000189, lncRNA DANCR and 6 mRNAs, PYCR2, TOB1, ARHGAP5, RBPJ, CD247, SLC34A1. Gene ontology (GO) analysis demonstrated that these differently expressed lncRNAs and circRNAs were involved in cellular component organization or biogenesis, gene expression and negative regulation of metabolic processes. Our findings provide useful information for exploring new mechanisms for LDD and candidates for therapeutic targets.

Multidisciplinary care of breast cancer patients: a scoping review of multidisciplinary styles, processes, and outcomes

Background

Clinical practice guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care that brings together all relevant disciplines to discuss optimal disease management. However, the literature is characterized by heterogeneous definitions and few reviews about the processes and outcomes of multidisciplinary care. The objective of this scoping review was to identify and classify the definitions and characteristics of multidisciplinary care, as well as outcomes and interventions for patients with breast cancer.

Methods

A systematic search for quantitative and qualitative studies about multidisciplinary care for patients with breast cancer was conducted for January 2001 to December 2017 in the following electronic databases: medline, embase, PsycInfo, and cinahl. Two reviewers independently applied our eligibility criteria at level 1 (title/abstract) and level 2 (full-text) screening. Data were extracted and synthesized descriptively.

Results

The search yielded 9537 unique results, of which 191 were included in the final analysis. Two main types of multidisciplinary care were identified: conferences and clinics. Most studies focused on outcomes of multidisciplinary care that could be variously grouped at the patient, provider, and system levels. Research into processes tended to focus on processes that facilitate implementation: team-working, meeting logistics, infrastructure, quality audit, and barriers and facilitators.

Summary

Approaches to multidisciplinary care using conferences and clinics are well described. However, studies vary by design, clinical context, patient population, and study outcome. The heterogeneity of the literature, including the patient populations studied, warrants further specification of multidisciplinary care practice and systematic reviews of the processes or contexts that make the implementation and operation of multidisciplinary care effective.

The cosmic ray energy spectrum measured with the new Tibet hybrid experiment

We have upgraded the new Tibet ASgamma experiment in China since 2014 to measure the chemical composition of cosmic rays around the knee. This hybrid experiment consist of an air-shower-core detector array (YAC-II) to detect high energy electromagnetic component, the Tibet air-shower array (Tibet-III) and a large underground water-Cherenkov muon-detector array (MD). We have carried out a detailed air-shower Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to study the performance of the hybrid detectors by using CORSIKA (version 7.5000), which includes EPOS-LHC, QGSJETII-04, SIBYLL2.1 and SIBYLL2.3 hadronic interaction models. The preliminary results of the interaction model checking above 50 TeV energy region are reported in this paper, and the primary proton and helium spectra in the energy range 50 TeV to 1015 eV was derived from YAC-I data and is smoothly connected with direct observation data at lower energies and also with our previously reported works at higher energies within statistical errors. The knee of the (P+He) spectra is located around 400 TeV. The interaction model dependence in deriving the primary (P+He) spectra is found to be small (less than 25% in absolute intensity, 10% in position of the knee), and the composition model dependence is less than 10% in absolute intensity.

[Practice of parenting and related factors on children aged 0-5 in the urban areas of China]

Objective: To characterize the relations between the practice of parenting and associated factors on children (0-5 years old) in urban areas of China, in order to provide evidence for promoting the early development of children and to provide positive guidance and service programs on parenting. Methods: A total of 4 515 parents from 15 cities (14 provinces) were surveyed with a self-administered questionnaire. Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS) was used, including parameters as: consistency and coercive parenting, positive encouragement, parent-child relationship and parental emotion adjustment, family relationship and parental teamwork aspects, etc. Both single factor analysis and multiple linear regression were used to examine the associations between parenting practice, individual, parental and family factors. Results: The mean score of PAFAS was 21.00 (15.00-28.00), associated with factors as children's age, only-child family, premature delivery, father's education level, confidence on parenting, problems regarding the parental mood, annual family income, family structure and behavior on seeking professional help, etc. Results showed that there were big differences on the practice of parenting in China and influenced by variety of factors. Conclusions: The general situation of parenting was well, in the urban areas of China. The practice of parenting was associated with a series of individual, parental and family factors. Programs on improving the parenting skills and promoting the early development of children, should be highlighted.

Abstract GS5-05: Resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer mediated by a reversible drug-tolerant state

Approximately 50% of patients with localized triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) have substantial residual cancer burden following treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), resulting in distant metastasis and death for most of these patients. While genomic and phenotypic intra-tumor heterogeneity are pervasive features of TNBCs at the time of diagnosis, the functional contributions of heterogeneous tumor cell populations to chemoresistance have not been elucidated.

To investigate tumor evolution accompanying NACT, we employed orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of treatment-naïve TNBC, which retain intra-tumor heterogeneity characteristic of human TNBC. We discovered that some PDX models initially exhibited partial sensitivity to standard front-line NACT (Adriamycin plus Cytoxan, AC). Following AC, residual tumors were resistant to chemotherapy but repopulated tumors with chemo-sensitive cells if left untreated, indicating that tumor cells possessed inherent plasticity. To identify the tumor cell subpopulation(s) conferring chemoresistance, we conducted barcode-mediated clonal tracking in three independent PDX models by introducing a high-complexity pooled lentiviral barcode library into PDX tumor cells which were then orthotopically engrafted into recipient mice. Strikingly, residual tumors maintained the same heterogeneous clonal architecture as naïve tumors. Concordantly, whole-exome sequencing revealed conservation of genomic subclonal architecture throughout treatment. These results were corroborated by genomic sequencing of serial biopsies pre- and post-AC obtained directly from TNBC patients enrolled on an ongoing clinical trial at MD Anderson (ARTEMIS; NCT02276443). Together, these studies revealed that genomically distinct pre-treatment subclones were equally capable of surviving AC to reconstitute tumors after treatment.

To identify functional addictions of residual tumor cells, we conducted histologic and transcriptomic profiling. Residual tumors following AC-treatment exhibited extensive fibrotic desmoplasia and tumor cell pleomorphism in both PDX models and in serial biopsies obtained from TNBC patients enrolled on the ARTEMIS trial. Strikingly, these AC-induced features were reverted upon regrowth of residual tumors in PDXs and in patients' tumors. Similarly, residual tumors exhibited unique transcriptomic features, many of which are also de-regulated in cohorts of human TNBCs undergoing chemotherapy treatment. These features were nearly completely reverted after tumors regrew, suggesting that the residual tumor state may be a unique and transient therapeutic window. Gene set enrichment analyses revealed that residual tumors had increased activation of oxidative phosphorylation and decreased glycolytic signaling. Pharmacologic targeting of oxidative phosphorylation with a small-molecule inhibitor of mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I (IACS-010759) significantly delayed the regrowth of AC-treated residual tumors in three independent PDX models. Collectively, these studies reveal that a reversible phenotypic state can confer chemoresistance in the absence of genomic selection and that the residual tumor state is a novel therapeutic window for chemo-refractory TNBC.

Citation Format: Echeverria GV, Ge Z, Seth S, Jeter-Jones SL, Zhang X, Zhou X, Cai S, Tu Y, McCoy A, Peoples M, Lau R, Shao J, Sun Y, Bristow C, Carugo A, Ma X, Harris A, Wu Y, Moulder S, Symmans WF, Marszalek JR, Heffernan TP, Chang JT, Piwnica-Worms H. Resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer mediated by a reversible drug-tolerant state [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr GS5-05.

Abstract P3-07-03: Withdrawn

This abstract was withdrawn by the authors.

Citation Format: Rinkenbaugh AL, Sinha VC, Zhang X, Shao J, Piwnica-Worms H. Withdrawn [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-03.

Test of the hadronic interaction models SIBYLL2.3, EPOS-LHC and QGSJETII- 04 with Tibet EAS core data

A hybrid experiment has been started by the ASγ experiment at Yangbajing (4300m a.s.l.) in Tibet since May 2009, that consists of a high-energy air-shower-core array (YAC-I) and a high-density air-shower array (Tibet-III). In this paper, we report our results to check the hadronic interaction models SIBYLL2.3, SIBYLL2.1, EPOS-LHC and QGSJETII-04 in the multi-tens TeV energy region using YAC-I+Tibet-III experimental data from May 2009 through January 2010. The effective live time is calculated as 106.05 days. The results show that the description of transverse momentum, inelastic cross-section and inelasticity for the 4 hadronic interaction models is consistent with YAC-I experimental data within 15% systematic errors range in the forward region below 100 TeV. Among them, the EPOS-LHC model is the best hadronic interaction model. Furthermore, we find that the H4a composition model is the best one below the 100 TeV energy region.

On the Solar Cycle Variation of the Solar Diurnal Anisotropy of Multi-TeV Cosmic-ray Intensity Observed with the Tibet Air Shower Array

We analyze the temporal variation of the solar diurnal anisotropy of the multi-TeV cosmic-ray intensity observed with the Tibet air shower array from 2000 to 2009, covering the maximum and minimum of the 23rd solar cycle. We comfirm that a remarkable additional anisotropy component is superposed on the Compton-Getting anisotropy at 4.0 TeV, while its amplitude decreases at higher energy regions. In constrast to the additional anisotropy reported by the Matsushiro experiment at 0.6 TeV, we find the residual component measured by Tibet at multi-TeV energies is consistent with being stable, with a fairly constant amplitude of 0.041% ± 0.003% and a phase at around 07.17 ± 00.16 local solar time at 4.0 TeV. This suggests the additional anisotropy observed by the Tibet experiment could result from mechanisms unrelated to solar activities.

A Novel Thermoresponsive Gel as a Potential Delivery System for Lipoxin

The objective of this study was to evaluate a novel thermoresponsive polyisocyanopeptide (PIC)–based hydrogel as an injectable carrier for local drug delivery for periodontal applications. Three formulations of PIC gels, 0.2%, 0.5%, and 1% w/w, were prepared. As controls, commercially available poloxamer 407 (P407) gels of 20% and 26% w/w were used. Lipoxin A₄ (LXA₄), a proresolving drug, was suspended into the gel solutions. The systems were evaluated regarding dynamic mechanical properties, injectability and stability, release and bioactivity of LXA₄, and cytocompatibility. Results showed that the gelation temperatures of PIC and P407 gels were around 13°C to 23°C. PIC gels were less viscous and mechanically weaker than P407 gels due to the low polymer concentrations. However, PIC gels kept gel integrity for at least 2 wk when incubated with phosphate-buffered saline, whereas P407 gels were disintegrated totally within 1 wk. LXA₄ was chemically stable in both neutral and alkaline medium for over 1 mo. The release of LXA₄ from either 1% PIC or 26% P407 gels depicted an initial burst release followed by a sustained release for around 4 d. The extent of burst release was negatively correlated to the polymer concentration. LXA₄ remained bioactive after release from PIC gels. No cytotoxicity was observed for 1% PIC gel. However, 26% P407 inhibited periodontal ligament cell and gingival epithelial cell growth. In conclusion, the thermoresponsive PIC gel is a potential candidate for periodontal drug delivery.

[Simultaneous determination of trichloroethylene and trichloroethanol in blood by liquid-liquid extraction-gas chromatography]

Objective: To establish a method for determing the trichloroethylene(TCE)and trichloroethanol(TCOH)in blood samples by liquid-liquid extraction-gas chromatography with electron capture detector. Methods: With this method,ether was used as extraction solvent and trichloromethane was used as an internal standard. The whole blood sample was extracted with ether, and dehydrated by anhydrous sodium sulfate. Then the analytes were separated on HP-5 capillary column(30m×0.32mm×0.15μm)and detected byECD.The retention time was for qualitative analysis and the internal standard was for quantitation. Results: The standard curves of TCE and TCOH showed significant linearity between 95.5μg/L-7640.0μg/L(r=0.9997)and 19.0μg/L-1520.0μg/L(r=0.9992). The average recovery was 95.5%-103.6%.The intra-day and inter-day precisions(RSD)were 2.5%-6.8%(n=6)and 1.6%-4.3%(n=6) respectively. The detect limit of TCE and TCOH were 2.10 μg/L and 0.56μg/L(S/N=3)respectively.The blood can be kept 7 days at-20℃ refrigerator without significantly loss. Conclusion: This method is proved to be simple,practical and highly sensitive. It can satisfy the request for the determination of blood samples of humans exposed to TCE.