Detachable string magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy for the noninvasive diagnosis of esophageal diseases: A prospective, blind clinical study

BACKGROUND

Traditional esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), an invasive examination method, can cause discomfort and pain in patients. In contrast, magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE), a noninvasive method, is being applied for the detection of stomach and small intestinal diseases, but its application in treating esophageal diseases is not widespread.

AIM

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of detachable string MCE (ds-MCE) for the diagnosis of esophageal diseases.

METHODS

Fifty patients who had been diagnosed with esophageal diseases were prospectively recruited for this clinical study and underwent ds-MCE and conventional EGD. The primary endpoints included the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for patients with esophageal diseases. The secondary endpoints consisted of visualizing the esophageal and dentate lines, as well as the subjects' tolerance of the procedure.

RESULTS

Using EGD as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for esophageal disease detection were 85.71%, 86.21%, 81.82%, 89.29%, and 86%, respectively. ds-MCE was more comfortable and convenient than EGD was, with 80% of patients feeling that ds-MCE examination was very comfortable or comfortable and 50% of patients believing that detachable string v examination was very convenient.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that ds-MCE has the same diagnostic effects as traditional EGD for esophageal diseases and is more comfortable and convenient than EGD, providing a novel noninvasive method for treating esophageal diseases.

m6A reader YTHDF3 is associated with clinical prognosis, related RNA signatures and immunosuppression in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

YTHDF3 as a N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader participates in the development and progression of multiple cancer types, however, the prognosis, molecular biology and immune infiltration of YTHDF3 in gastric cancer (GC) have not been investigated.

METHODS

The YTHDF3 expression profile and clinicopathological parameters of stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) were downloaded from TCGA. The online websites and databases such as GEPIA2, cBioPortal, UALCAN, ImmuCellAl, xCell, TISIDB, GSCA were utilized for analysis of the association of YTHDF3 with STAD, including clinical prognosis, WGCNA and LASSO Cox regression analysis. Further functional assays such as RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), CCK-8, colony formation, EdU and Transwell assays were performed to determine the role of YTHDF3 in GC.

RESULTS

We found that YTHDF3 was upregulated in STAD tissue samples ascribed to its copy number amplification and associated with poor prognosis in patients with STAD. GO and KEGG analyses showed that YTHDF3-related differential genes were predominantly enriched in the proliferation, metabolism and immune signaling pathways. Knockdown of YTHDF3 repressed the growth and invasion of GC cells by inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling. We then identified YTHDF3-related lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs, and constructed their prognostic signatures in patients with STAD. Moreover, YTHDF3 associated with tumor immune infiltration such as CD8+ T cells, macrophages, Tregs, MHC molecules and chemokines, upregulated PD-L1 and CXCL1 and exerted a response to the immunotherapy in GC.

CONCLUSIONS

YTHDF3 upregulation indicates poor prognosis and promotes GC cell growth and invasion by activating PI3K/AKT pathway and regulating immune microenvironment. The established YTHDF3-related signatures highlight the association of YTHDF3 with the clinical prognosis and immune cell infiltration in GC.

[The mediating effect of perceived social support in the relationship between maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety]

Objective: Exploring the mediating effect of perceived social support between the maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety. Methods: Singleton pregnant women who underwent antenatal checkups in the obstetrics department of general hospital affiliated to Ningxia Medical University from July to December 2021 were enrolled in this study to investigate perceived social support, pregnancy-related anxiety and conscious personality traits. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the association between the maternal personality traits, perceived social support, and pregnancy-related anxiety, and the mediating effect of perceived social support was analyzed using Bootstrap method. Results: A total of 1 259 subjects were included in the study, of which 170 (13.50%) pregnant women felt introverted. The total score of perceived social support was (46.37±8.38), and 31.45% of pregnant women had high perceived social support. The total score of pregnancy-related anxiety was (21.48±5.53). The score of worry about fetal health was (10.09±3.24), and 368 (29.23%) of pregnant women had pregnancy-related anxiety. Maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety were negatively correlated (r=-0.076, P<0.05) and positively correlated with perceived social support during pregnancy (r= 0.127, P<0.05). Perceived social support during pregnancy and pregnancy-related anxiety were negatively correlated (r=-0.236, P<0.05). Perceived social support partially mediated the relationship between the maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety, with a relative effect value of 37.50%. Conclusion: The maternal personality traits, level of perceived social support and pregnancy-related anxiety are all related. Perceived social support could mediate the relationship between the maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety.

METTL14-mediated m6A modification of circORC5 suppresses gastric cancer progression by regulating miR-30c-2-3p/AKT1S1 axis

Background

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to act vital roles in multiple malignancies including gastric cancer (GC). However, there is little knowledge about how m6A modification of circRNAs contributes to GC progression.

Methods

The association of METTL14 expression with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with GC was assessed by Western blot, Immunohistochemistry and public datasets. In vitro and vivo function experiments were conducted to investigate the role of METTL14 in GC. Furthermore, m6A-circRNA epitranscriptomic microarray was utilized to identify METTL14-mediated m6A modification of circRNAs, which were validated by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP), RT-qPCR and rescue experiments in GC cells. The sponge of circORC5 with miR-30c-2-3p was confirmed by luciferase gene report and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. The expression, localization and prognosis of circORC5 in GC were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The effects of METTL14 and (or) circORC5 on miR-30c-2-3p-mediated AKT1S1 and EIF4B were estimated by RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses.

Results

We found that METTL14 was downregulated in GC tissue samples and its low expression acted as a prognostic factor of poor survival in patients with GC. Ectopic expression of METTL14 markedly repressed growth and invasion of GC cells in vitro and in vivo, whereas knockdown of METTL14 harbored the opposite effects. Mechanically, m6A-circRNA epitranscriptomic microarray and Me-RIP identified circORC5 as the downstream target of METTL14. Silencing of METTL14 reduced the m6A level of circORC5, but increased circORC5 expression. Moreover, circORC5 could sponge miR-30c-2-3p, and reverse METTL14-caused upregulation of miR-30c-2-3p and downregulation of AKT1S1 and EIF4B. In addition, circORC5 possessed a negative correlation with miR-30c-2-3p and indicated a poor survival in GC.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that METTL14-mediated m6A modification of circORC5 suppresses gastric cancer progression by regulating miR-30c-2-3p/AKT1S1 axis.

Dihydroartemisinin Suppresses the Tumorigenesis and Cycle Progression of Colorectal Cancer by Targeting CDK1/CCNB1/PLK1 Signaling

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a well-known antimalarial drug, has been widely investigated for its antitumor effects in multiple malignancies. However, its effects and regulatory mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) are still unproved. In this study, in vitro experiments including CCK8, EdU, Transwell, and flow cytometry analyses and an in vivo tumorigenesis model were conducted to assess the effects of DHA on the bio-behaviors of CRC cells. Additionally, RNA-seq combined with gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses was used to obtain the targets of DHA, and these were verified by molecular docking, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting. As a result, we found that DHA significantly suppressed the proliferation, DNA synthesis, and invasive capabilities and induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HCT116, DLD1, and RKO cells in vitro and in vivo. Further analyses indicated that the targets of DHA were predominantly enriched in cell cycle-associated pathways, including CDK1, CCNB1, and PLK1; and DHA could bind with the CDK1/CCNB1 complex and inhibit the activation of CDK1/CCNB1/PLK1 signaling. Moreover, cucurbitacin E, a specific inhibitor of the CDK1/CCNB1 axis, enhanced the inhibitory effects of DHA on DNA synthesis and colony formation in HCT116 and DLD1 cells. In short, DHA could suppress the tumorigenesis and cycle progression of CRC cells by targeting CDK1/CCNB1/PLK1 signaling.

CircPTK2 inhibits the tumorigenesis and metastasis of gastric cancer by sponging miR-134-5p and activating CELF2/PTEN signaling

BACKGROUND

CircRNAs are a new subset of noncoding RNAs formed by covalent closed loops and play crucial roles in the regulation of cancer gene expression. However, the roles and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in gastric cancer (GC) remain indistinct. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of hsa_circ_0006421 (circPTK2) in GC.

METHODS

The differential expression of circRNAs between GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were identified by a circRNA expression profiling. Associations of circPTK2 or miR-134-5p expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of GC patients were analyzed by chi-square of Fisher's exact tests and Kaplan-Meier analysis. CCK8, colony formation, EdU assays and animal models were performed to assess the effects of circPTK2 on proliferation and invasion of GC cells. CircPTK2-specific probes were used to purify the RNA pulled down from the circPTK2, and enrichment of circPTK2 and miR-134-5p was detected by qRT-PCR. The effects of circPTK2 on miR-134-5p expression and CELF2/PTEN signaling were examined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting analysis.

RESULTS

Low expression of circPTK2 and high expression of miR-134-5p were related to the poor survival, and high expression of miR-134-5p was related to the tumor recurrence in GC patients. Overexpressing circPTK2 suppressed the proliferation, colony formation, DNA synthesis and cell invasion as well as xenograft tumor growth and lung metastasis in vitro and in vivo, whereas silencing circPTK2 had the opposite effects. Moreover, circPTK2 was negatively correlated and co-localized with miR-134-5p in the cytoplasm of GC tissue cells. circPTK2 bound to and sponged miR-134-5p in GC cells, and miR-134-5p facilitated cell growth and invasion but attenuated circPTK2 induced tumor suppressive effects and CELF2/PTEN signaling activation in GC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

circPTK2 functions as a tumor suppressor in GC by sponging miR-134-5p and activating the CELF2/PTEN axis.

Network pharmacology-based identification of the antitumor effects of taraxasterol in gastric cancer

Taraxasterol (TAX), a pentacyclic triterpene, has been reported to exhibit potent antitumor activity. However, the effects and molecular mechanisms of TAX in gastric cancer (GC) remain undocumented. A network pharmacology approach was applied to identify the collective targets of TAX and GC. Nude mice were subcutaneously injected with MKN-28 cells to establish GC subcutaneous xenograft model, which were treated with TAX for 16 days. Tumor volume was then examined every other day. The pathological scoring was assessed by using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and the expression levels of Ki-67 and the target genes of TAX were confirmed by immunohistochemistry analysis. Five collective targets of TAX and GC were identified, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF), fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1). Further investigations showed that, TAX administration repressed xenograft tumor growth and decreased Ki-67 levels, followed by the downregulation of EGFR and AKT1 expression in xenograft tumor tissues as compared with the untreated group. Our findings demonstrated that TAX inhibited the growth of GC by inhibition of EGFR/AKT1 signaling and might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for treatment of GC.

The Detective Value of Magnetically Controlled Robotic Capsule Endoscopy in Patients With Suspected Small Intestinal Disease

Objective: To explore the detective value of magnetically controlled robotic capsule endoscopy (MCRCE) in patients with suspected small intestinal disease.

Patients and Methods: In total, 1,802 patients with suspected small intestinal disease and negative gastroenteroscopy from Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital were examined with MCRCE, and the data were collected for further analysis.

Results: Among the 1,802 patients who were examined with MCRCE, 974 were diagnosed with small intestinal disease, reaching a positive detection rate of 54.1%. The five most common conditions that were detected include non-specific enteritis in 722 cases (40.1%), small intestinal ulcers in 87 cases (4.8%), abnormal small bowel evacuation in 45 cases (2.5%), small intestinal bleeding in 33 cases (1.8%), and small intestinal yellow spots in 31 cases (1.7%). The running time of the capsules in the small intestine ranged from 85–437 min, with an average of 210.24 ± 89.08 min. No complications, such as intestinal obstruction or capsule retention, were observed in all patients.

Conclusion: MCRCE is a safe and non-invasive endoscopic examination with a highly accurate detection rate for small intestinal diseases.

The m6A Reader YTHDF1 Facilitates the Tumorigenesis and Metastasis of Gastric Cancer via USP14 Translation in an m6A-Dependent Manner

Objectives

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA methylation is implicated in the progression of multiple cancers via influencing mRNA modification. YTHDF1 can act as an oncogene in gastric cancer (GC), while the biological mechanisms via which YTHDF1 regulates gastric tumorigenesis through m⁶A modification remain largely unknown.

Methods

GEO and TCGA cohorts were analyzed for differentially expressed m⁶A modification components in GC clinical specimens and their association with clinical prognosis. Transwell and flow cytometry assays as well as subcutaneous xenograft and lung metastasis models were used to evaluate the phenotype of YTHDF1 in GC. Intersection of RNA/MeRIP-seq, luciferase assay, RIP-PCR, RNA pull-down and MeRIP-PCR was used to identify YTHDF1- modified USP14 and its m⁶A levels in GC cells.

Results

High-expressed YTHDF1 was found in GC tissues and was related to poor prognosis, acting as an independent prognostic factor of poor survival in GC patients. YTHDF1 deficiency inhibited cell proliferation and invasion (in vitro), and gastric tumorigenesis and lung metastasis (in vivo) and also induced cell apoptosis. Intersection assays revealed that YTHDF1 promoted USP14 protein translation in an m⁶A-dependent manner. USP14 upregulation was positively correlated with YTHDF1 expression and indicated a poor prognosis in GC.

Conclusion

Our data suggested that m⁶A reader YTHDF1 facilitated tumorigenesis and metastasis of GC by promoting USP14 protein translation in an m⁶A-dependent manner and might provide a potential target for GC treatment.

Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the tumorigenesis and invasion of gastric cancer by regulating STAT1/KDR/MMP9 and P53/BCL2L1/CASP3/7 pathways

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), an effective antimalarial drug, has been widely investigated as an anti-tumor agent. Although previous studies have indicated the potential therapeutic effects of DHA on multiple malignancies, its detailed molecular mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC) are still undocumented. In the present study, we applied network pharmacology and bioinformatics (gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses) to obtain the collective targets of DHA and GC and analyzed their involvement in constructing a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The top 10% hub targets in this network were identified, and TCGA database was utilized for the single gene analysis of their correlation with the prognosis of GC. CCK8, EdU, Transwell, and flow cytometry analyses were conducted, and subcutaneous xenograft tumor models were constructed to assess the effects of DHA on the tumorigenesis and invasion of GC. Furthermore, the targets of DHA were verified by molecular docking, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blot analyses in GC cells. The results indicated that the common targets of DHA and GC were enriched in multiple cancer-related pathways including KDR, STAT1 and apoptosis signaling pathways, where the core genes included KDR, MMP9, STAT1, TP53, CASP3/7 and BCL2L1. The lowered expression of KDR and increased expression of TP53 and CASP7 harbored a favorable survival for patients with GC patients. CASP7 showed a positive correlation with CASP3 but a negative correlation with KDR and could be regarded as an independent protective factor for overall survival in GC. Moreover, DHA treatment induced cell apoptosis and suppressed the cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, cycle progression and invasive capabilities both in vitro and in vivo. DHA also upregulated p53, CASP3, and cleaved-CASP3 and downregulated BCL2L1, MMP9, KDR, p-KDR, STAT1 and p-STAT1 in GC cell lines. In conclusion, DHA could suppress the tumorigenesis and invasion of GC by regulating STAT1/KDR/MMP9 and p53/BCL2L1/CASP3/7 pathways. Our findings might provide a novel approach for the treatment of GC.

Novel insights into the interplay between m6A modification and noncoding RNAs in cancer

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is one of the most common RNA modifications in eukaryotes, mainly in messenger RNA (mRNA). Increasing evidence shows that m⁶A methylation modification acts an essential role in various physiological and pathological bioprocesses. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs, are known to participate in regulating cell differentiation, angiogenesis, immune response, inflammatory response and carcinogenesis. m⁶A regulators, such as METTL3, ALKBH5 and IGF2BP1 have been reported to execute a m⁶A-dependent modification of ncRNAs involved in carcinogenesis. Meanwhile, ncRNAs can target or modulate m⁶A regulators to influence cancer development. In this review, we provide an insight into the interplay between m⁶A modification and ncRNAs in cancer.

Rewiring of Microbiota Networks in Erosive Inflammation of the Stomach and Small Bowel

The development of non-invasive, inexpensive, and effective early diagnosis tests for gastric and small-bowel lesions is an urgent requirement. The introduction of magnetically guided capsule endoscopy (MGCE) has aided examination of the small bowel for diagnoses. However, the distribution of the fecal microbiome in abnormal erosions of the stomach and small bowel remains unclear. Herein, alternations in the fecal microbiome in three groups [normal, small-bowel inflammation, and chronic gastritis (CG)] were analyzed by metagenomics and our well-developed method [individual-specific edge-network analysis (iENA)]. In addition to the dominant microbiota identified by the conventional differential analysis, iENA could recognize novel network biomarkers of microbiome communities, such as the genus Bacteroide in CG and small-bowel inflammation. Combined with differential network analysis, the network-hub microbiota within rewired microbiota networks revealed high-ranked iENA microbiota markers, which were disease specific and had particular pathogenic functions. Our findings illuminate the components of the fecal microbiome and the importance of specific bacteria in CG and small-bowel erosions, and could be employed to develop preventive and non-invasive therapeutic strategies.

Mild changes in the mucosal microbiome during terminal ileum inflammation

Patients with inflammation in the terminal ileum have high morbidity. In genetically susceptible hosts, chronic intestinal inflammation targeting the resident intestinal microbiota develops, but the microbial signature of the terminal ileum is poorly studied. To improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying the high prevalence of terminal ileum inflammation, we used 16S rRNA sequencing to analyse the mucosa-associated microbiota of the terminal ileum under intestinal homeostasis and inflammation conditions. Mucosal biopsy is the most commonly used sampling technique for assessing microbial communities associated with the intestinal mucosa. Thirty patients (15 with terminal ileum inflammation and 15 controls) underwent colonoscopy and biopsies were taken from the terminal ileum. Diagnosis depended on a combination of endoscopic and histological factors. To determine the composition and diversity of the microbiota, the 16S rRNA was analysed, and a variety of bioinformatics analyses were performed. Among the patients, composition analysis showed that the most abundant phyla identified in the terminal ileum samples were Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. At the phylum level, the relative proportion of Bacteroidetes was lower in patients with inflammation than in control patients. In addition, there was an increase in the abundance of the phyla Proteobacteria and Lentisphaerae in patients with inflammation. The abundances of the dominant microbes in the terminal ileum were not significantly different between patients in an inflammatory state and controls. These results confirm that partial dysbiosis of the intestinal mucosa-associated microbiota composition is associated with terminal ileum inflammation.

Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the growth and invasion of gastric cancer cells by regulating cyclin D1-CDK4-Rb signaling

BACKGROUND

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a semisynthetic derivative of artemisinin, has a broad range of biological properties, including antitumor activity. However, the mechanisms by which DHA affects the tumorigenesis of gastric carcinoma (GC) are poorly understood.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The targets of DHA were identified by network pharmacology, and the association of CDK4 with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with GC was analyzed by using TCGA data. CCK8, Transwell and flow cytometric analyses, as well as a tumor xenograft model, were used to assess the effects of DHA on the growth and migration of GC cells. qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses were used to determine the effects of DHA on the cyclin D1-CDK4-Rb signaling pathway.

RESULTS

We identified 13 DHA targets and measured their expression of whichCDK4 expression levels were substantially higher in GC tissues than those in adjacent normal tissues, and high CDK4 expression acted as an independent prognostic factor of poor survival in patients with GC. DHA suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo and induced G1 phase cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner by regulating cyclin D1-CDK4-Rb signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

DHA inhibits the tumorigenesis and invasion of GC by regulating cyclin D1-CDK4-Rb signaling and may provide therapeutic strategies for the treatment of GC.

The long non-coding RNA SNHG12 promotes gastric cancer by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway

Long non-coding RNAs contribute to the development of human cancers. We compared the long non-coding RNA levels in gastric cancer (GC) and para-cancerous tissues in the Gene Expression Omnibus, and found that small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) was upregulated in GC tissues. Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed that SNHG12 is overexpressed in GC tissues. We then used data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to assess the association of SNHG12 expression with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of GC patients and found that higher SNHG12 expression was associated with a greater tumor invasion depth and poorer survival. In vitro, silencing SNHG12 suppressed GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Overexpressing SNHG12 had the opposite effects. In xenografted mice, knocking down SNHG12 reduced GC tumor growth. Taken together, cancer pathway microarray and bioinformatics analyses, RNA pulldown assays, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry revealed that SNHG12 induces GC tumorigenesis by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway. SNHG12 may thus be a useful marker for predicting poor survival in GC patients.

Macrophages-derived p38α promotes the experimental severe acute pancreatitis by regulating inflammation and autophagy

BACKGROUND

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a common threat to human health. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which p38α in macrophages contributes to SAP. We used conditional knockout of p38α in macrophages and p38 MAPK inhibitors to understand the effects of p38α in macrophages on caerulein-induced inflammatory responses in SAP mice models.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Wild-type (WT) mice were randomly divided into three groups: a control group, SAP group, and SAP + p38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) group, and mice with a conditional knockout (KO) of p38α in macrophages were included in a KO + SAP group. We evaluated pancreatic pathology and ultra-structure by hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy. The pulmonary wet-to-dry weight ratio was calculated. The serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were determined by ELISA. The mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17, IL-18, MIF, and MCP-1 in pancreatic tissues were tested by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis. The protein expression of p38, caspase-1, ULK1, LC3B and p62 in pancreatic tissues was examined by Western blotting.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the severity of SAP as well as the expression of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17, IL-18 and MCP-1 were higher in the SAP group than those in the control group, but were lower in the SAP + SB203580 and KO + SAP groups as compared with the SAP group. The protein expression of p38, caspase-1, LC3B and p62 was increased in the SAP group than that in the control group, but this result was reversed in the SAP + SB203580 and KO + SAP groups as compared with the SAP group. In addition, the ULK1 level was significantly lower in the SAP group than that in the control group, but was increased in the SAP + SB203580 and KO + SAP groups as compared with the SAP group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated that, macrophage derived p38α promoted the experimental severe acute pancreatitis by regulating inflammation and autophagy.

The role of m6A RNA methylation in human cancer

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is identified as the most common, abundant and conserved internal transcriptional modification, especially within eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs). M⁶A modification is installed by the m⁶A methyltransferases (METTL3/14, WTAP, RBM15/15B and KIAA1429, termed as "writers"), reverted by the demethylases (FTO and ALKBH5, termed as "erasers") and recognized by m⁶A binding proteins (YTHDF1/2/3, IGF2BP1 and HNRNPA2B1, termed as "readers"). Acumulating evidence shows that, m⁶A RNA methylation has an outsize effect on RNA production/metabolism and participates in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases including cancers. Until now, the molecular mechanisms underlying m⁶A RNA methylation in various tumors have not been comprehensively clarified. In this review, we mainly summarize the recent advances in biological function of m⁶A modifications in human cancer and discuss the potential therapeutic strategies.

Upregulation of PD-L1 predicts poor prognosis and is associated with miR-191-5p dysregulation in colon adenocarcinoma

Targeting of the programmed cell-death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) signal pathway is a promising treatment strategy in several cancers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of PD-L1 in patients with colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). A total of 240 patients who were diagnosed with COAD from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-sequencing data and another cohort for pair-matched COAD samples (n = 40) in tissue microarray (TMA) were enrolled in this study. The correlation of PD-L1 or miR-191-5p expression with clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with COAD was further analyzed using TCGA data and TMA. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate the association of PD-L1 or miR-191-5p expression with overall survival (OS) and tumor recurrence in patients with COAD. The microRNAs (miRNAs) that target PD-L1 gene were identified by bioinformatics and Spearman correlation analysis. We found that PD-L1 expression was increased in COAD tissues and was correlated with poor survival and tumor recurrence in patients with COAD. The increased expression of PD-L1 was attributed to the dysregulation of miR-191-5p expression rather than its genetic or epigenetic alterations. Moreover, the expression of miR-191-5p presented the negative correlation with PD-L1 expression and acted as an independent prognostic factor of OS in patients with COAD. Therefore, PD-L1 may predict poor prognosis and is negatively associated with miR-191-5p expression in patients with COAD.

Function and therapeutic advances of chemokine and its receptor in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a spectrum of hepatic pathology, ranging from simple accumulation of fat in its most benign form, steatohepatitis, to cirrhosis in its most advanced form. The prevalence of NAFLD is 20-30% in adults, and 10-20% of patients with NAFLD progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which is predicted to be the leading cause of liver transplantation over the next 10 years. Therefore, it is essential to explore effective diagnostic and treatment strategies for NAFLD patients. Chemokines are a family of small and highly conserved proteins (molecular weight ranging from 8 to 12 kDa) involved in regulating the migration and activities of hepatocytes, Kupffer cells (KCs), hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), endothelial cells and circulating immune cells. Accumulating data show that chemokine and its receptor act vital roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Herein, we summarize the involvement of the chemokine and its receptor in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and explore the novel pharmacotherapeutic avenues for patients with NAFLD.

CCR7 regulates ANO6 to promote migration of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells via the ERK signaling pathway

The increase in migratory ability of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells is a key event in the development of metastasis to the lymph nodes and distant organs. Although the C-C motif chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and its ligand, C-C motif chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21), have been revealed to serve an important role in tumor migration, their precise roles and potential underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. The present study revealed that overexpression of CCR7 significantly promoted BxPC-3 cell migration, accompanied by the induction of anoctamin 6 (ANO6) expression, indicating that ANO6 is a downstream target of CCR7 signaling. Furthermore, the level of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was significantly increased in CCR7-overexpressing BxPC-3 cells, indicating that ERK may be a potential mediator of CCR7-regulated ANO6 expression in BxPC-3 cells. To characterize the receptor-mediated pathway, a specific ERK inhibitor, U0126, was used, which reduced BxPC-3 cell migration and the expression of ANO6. In summary, the results of the present study demonstrate that CCR7 promoted BxPC-3 cell migration by regulating ANO6 expression perhaps via activation of the ERK signaling pathway.

Epidemiological analysis of upper gastrointestinal diseases in people of China's ethnic minorities in Menghai County

AIM

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of upper gastrointestinal diseases in people of China's ethnic minorities in Menghai County.

METHODS

The clinical data for 21020 patients who underwent gastroscopy at Menghai People's Hospital from September 2001 to September 2016 were analyzed retrospectively, including age, ethnic group, and the detection of upper gastrointestinal diseases.

RESULTS

In 21020 patients, the ratio of men to women was 1:1.1 and their age ranged from 9 to 85 years old, including 7858 Han people, 6831 Dai people, 3227 Hani people, 1904 Pulang people, 1016 Lahu people, 73 Yi people, and 111 people of other ethnic minorities. By yearly statistics, the number of cases who underwent gastroscopy began to rise year by year since 2011. By monthly statistics, the number of cases who underwent gastroscopy was significantly higher in May to September than in the other months each year. Non-atrophic gastritis was most common, followed by erosive gastritis, bile reflux, duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, duodenitis, gastric retention, reflux esophagitis, gastric cancer, esophageal varices, gastric polyps, gastric cardia tear, and duodenal polyps. There was no difference in the monthly detection rate of season-related upper gastrointestinal diseases. There was no difference in the incidence of upper gastrointestinal diseases among all ethnic groups, but it was higher than that in Shanghai.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of non-atrophic gastritis is highest among upper gastrointestinal diseases in people of ethnic minorities in Menghai County. The incidence of upper gastrointestinal diseases is not significantly different among all ethnic groups, but higher than that in Shanghai.

miR-363 promotes proliferation and chemo-resistance of human gastric cancer via targeting of FBW7 ubiquitin ligase expression

Dysregulation of microRNA expression is involved in several pathological activities associated with gastric cancer progression and chemo-resistance. However, the role and molecular mechanisms of miR-363 in the progression and chemo-resistance of gastric cancer remain enigmatic. In this study, we validated that miR-363 expression was higher in gastric cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. Multivariate analysis identifies high levels of miR-363 expression as an independent predictor for postoperative recurrence and lower overall survival. Increased miR-363 expression promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and chemo-resistance through directly targeting the tumor suppressor F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBW7). Clinically, our data reveal that overexpression of miR-363 correlates with the poor survival outcomes in patients with gastric cancer, and docetaxel + cisplatin + 5-FU (DCF) regimen response is impaired in patients with miR-363 overexpression. These data suggest that miR-363 may be a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer and serve as a biomarker for predicting response to DCF regimen treatment.

Loss of large tumor suppressor 1 promotes growth and metastasis of gastric cancer cells through upregulation of the YAP signaling

Accumulating evidence shows that large tumor suppressor 1 (LATS1) as a novel resident governor of cellular homeostasis is implicated in multiple tumorigenic properties including cell growth, apoptosis and metastasis. However, the contribution of LATS1 to gastric carcinoma (GC) remains unclear. The correlation of LATS1 expression with clinicopathologic characteristics, GC prognosis and recurrence was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Univariate and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Functional experiments were performed to investigate biological behaviors of GC cells and underlying molecular mechanisms. Tumor growth and metastasis was assessed in vivo using orthotopic implantation GC models in severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice. Consequently, decreased LATS1 expression was significantly associated with the lymph node metastasis, poor prognosis and recurrence. Ectopic expression of LATS1 decreased GC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and inhibited tumor growth and liver metastasis in vivo, but depletion of LATS1 expression restored the invasive phenotype. Further observation indicated that YAP pathway was required for LATS1-induced inhibition of cell growth and invasion, and LATS1 restrained nuclear transfer of YAP, downregulated YAP, PCNA, CTGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, Bcl-2 and CyclinD1 expression and upregulated p-YAP and Bax expression. Our findings suggest that LATS1 is a potential candidate tumor suppressor and inhibits the growth and metastasis of GC cells via downregulation of the YAP signaling.

[Clinical features and advanced progress of secondary BPPV]

BPPV is a disease provoked by abrupt head movements, results in short paroxysmal vertigo or nystagmus. These patients often can accurately describe the dizziness happened when they head move suddenly, especially when looking upward, turning over in bed, lying down, or bending over. BPPV is divided into idiopathic BPPV and secondary BPPV, in most cases. The underlying cause cannot be determined, which is called idiopathic; however, in 30% patients, BPPV may be attributed to a specific cause and is termed secondary BPPV. We reviewed the pathogenesis, mechanisms, clinical features, treatment and the latest progress of secondary BPPV.

Sanguinarine inhibits growth and invasion of gastric cancer cells via regulation of the DUSP4/ERK pathway

Sanguinarine, a bioactive benzophenanthridine alkaloid extracted from plants of the Papaveraceae family, has shown antitumour effects in multiple cancer cells. But the therapeutic effects and regulatory mechanisms of sanguinatine in gastric cancer (GC) remain elusive. This study was aimed to investigate the correlation of dual‐specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) expression with clinicopathologic features and overall survival in patients with GC and explore the effects of sanguinarine on tumour growth and invasion in GC cells (SGC‐7901 and HGC‐27) and underlying molecular mechanisms. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that decreased DUSP4 expression was associated with the sex, tumour size, depth of invasion and distant metastasis in patients with GC. Functional experiments including CCK‐8, Transwell and flow cytometry analysis indicated that sanguinarine or DUSP4 overexpression inhibited GC cell viability and invasive potential, and induced cell apoptosis and cycle arrest in S phase, but DUSP4 knockdown attenuated the antitumour activity of sanguinarine. Further observation demonstrated that sanguinarine up‐regulated the expression of DUSP4 and Bcl‐2‐associated X protein (Bax), but down‐regulated phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (p‐ERK), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP‐2) and B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2) expression. Taken together, our findings indicate that sanguinarine inhibits growth and invasion of GC cells through regulation of the DUSP4/ERK pathway, suggesting that sanguinarine may have potential for use in GC treatment.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of Sophora alopecuroides L

Sophora alopecuroides L., known as ku dou zi in China, has a long history as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of bacillary dysentery, enteritis, hepatitis, and other diseases, and exerts a critical role in anti-tumor. It contains abundant of alkaloids such as oxymatrine, matrine, and total alkaloids, which have been developed in China as anti-disease drugs related with inhibition of the angiogenesis-associated factors, anti-inflammatory response, and regulation of JNK, p38 MAP kinase, and NF-κB signal pathways and so on. The purpose of this review is to take comprehensive summary of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of Sophora alopecuroides L. so as to provide opportunities for further study and clinical application.

LncRNAs and cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of non-coding RNAs composed of >200 nucleotides. Recent studies have revealed that lncRNAs exert an important role in the development and progression of cancer. In this review, the involvement of the most extensively investigated lncRNAs in cancers of the digestive, respiratory, reproductive, urinary and central nervous systems are discussed. LncRNAs function via molecular and biochemical mechanisms that include cis- and trans-regulation of gene expression, epigenetic modulation in the nucleus and post-transcriptional control in the cytoplasm. Although the detailed biological functions and molecular mechanisms of the majority of lncRNAs remain to be elucidated, this review aims to provide a novel insight into the diagnosis and treatment of cancer using lncRNAs.

Computed tomography findings of hepatic veno-occlusive disease caused by Sedum aizoon with histopathological correlation

This study investigated the value of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) caused by Sedum aizoon (SA). The clinical manifestations, treatment results, imaging findings, and histological findings of the liver were analyzed in 39 patients with HVOD caused by SA. Hepatomegaly, liver dysfunction, abdominal effusion, and geographic density changes on liver CT scans were found in all 39 patients. The pathological findings of histological liver examination included swelling and point-like necrosis of liver cells, significant expansion and congestion of the sinuses, endothelial swelling, and wall thickening with incomplete lumen occlusion of small liver vessels. CT geographic density changes were confirmed by histological examination of the liver in 18 patients. Sixteen patients with small amounts of ascites that started within 4 weeks of treatment recovered completely or significantly improved after symptomatic and supportive treatment. However, only 43.75% of the patients with larger amounts of ascites improved following symptomatic and supportive treatment. In conclusion, liver CT examination is a valuable, safe, and noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of HVOD caused by SA. In selected cases, liver CT examination may replace liver biopsy and histological analysis.

MicroRNA-203 suppresses gastric cancer growth by targeting PIBF1/Akt signaling

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proved involved in many tumorigenic behaviors including tumor growth. But, the clinical significance and functions of miRNA-203 in gastric cancer (GC) remain elusive.

Results

Decreased expression of miRNA-203 was correlated with tumor size, poor prognosis and recurrence in GC patients. Overexpression of miR-203 or knockdown of its target progesterone immunomodulatory binding factor 1 (PIBF1) inhibited GC growth in vitro and in vivo, while miR-203 knockdown promoted GC proliferation. In addition, PIBF1 overexpression attenuated the inhibitory effects of miR-203 on GC growth and enhanced that effect on p-Akt expression.

Conclusions

MiR-203 as a tumor biomarker suppresses GC growth through targeting the PIBF1/Akt signaling, suggesting that it may have the important therapeutic potential for the treatment of GC.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-016-0323-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

siRNA targeting YAP gene inhibits gastric carcinoma growth and tumor metastasis in SCID mice

Yes-associated protein (YAP) is constitutively activated in numerous types of cancer, including gastric carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of YAP silencing on proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis and angiogenesis in a gastric orthotopic implantation cancer model of severe combined immunodeficiency mice. Small-hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the YAP gene was employed to inhibit YAP expression. SGC7901 cells transfected with YAP shRNA demonstrated significantly decreased gastric cancer growth and metastasis in the orthotopic implantation mouse model. Silencing of YAP additionally promoted tumor cell apoptosis, and inhibited tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Notably, YAP shRNA also downregulated the expression of TEA domain family member 1, cyclinD1, vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-2. The results of the present study suggested that YAP may have a significant role in the proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis of gastric cancer. RNA interference-mediated silencing of YAP may provide an opportunity to develop a novel treatment strategy for gastric cancer.

Eriocalyxin B blocks human SW1116 colon cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle progression and angiogenesis via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Eriocalyxin B, a natural ent-kaurene diterpene compound, has been shown to prevent carcinogenesis and tumor development. However, little is known regarding the mechanism underlying the antitumor activity of Eriocalyxin B in human colon cancer. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of Eriocalyxin B in SW1116 cells, and to verify the hypothesis that the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway may serve as a therapeutic target in human colon cancer treatment. Cell proliferation was measured with a Cell Counting kit‑8 assay, and the cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were measured by Transwell analysis. In addition, western blot analysis was performed to detect the protein expression levels in SW1116 cells treated with various concentrations of Eriocalyxin B. The results demonstrated that 1 µmol/l Eriocalyxin B was effective at inhibiting JAK2 and STAT3 phosphorylation, followed by the downregulation of JAK2 and STAT3 downstream target expression, which resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis. Eriocalyxin B also suppressed the expression of proliferation‑associated protein (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and angiogenesis‑associated proteins (vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2), as well as that of migration- and invasion‑associated proteins (matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9). These results suggested that Eriocalyxin B may suppress JAK2/STAT3 signaling, and thus act as a therapeutic or preventive agent in the treatment of human colon cancer.

Oxymatrine and cancer therapy

Oxymatrine is a kind of alkaloid extracted from traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait. It has been proved to exert various biological activities such as anti-angiogenesis, proliferation-inhibiting, apoptosis-promoting, analgesic-strengthening, and anti-metastasis. The biological activities are related with inhibition of angiogenesis-associated factors, regulation of related signaling pathway and protein expression, synergistic effects with chemotherapy drug, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of voltage-activated K+ channel. In this review, we summarize the recent investigations of oxymatrine in cancer therapy so as to provide references for further study and clinical therapy.

Link of obesity and gastrointestinal cancer: crossroad of inflammation and oxidative stress

Obesity incidence has reached pandemic levels, and is accompanied by high incidence and poor prognosis of various types of cancers including gastrointestinal ones. Underlying mechanisms include elevated levels of insulin, IGF-I, and altered adipokine concentration, mainly towards leptin and adiponectin levels. However, it is not yet thoroughly understood. It is now widely known that obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, characteristic of altered immune cell infiltration in adipose tissue, and changed inflammatory cytokines and chemokines: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), IL-6, and the chemoattractant monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and others, all together eventually promoting caner pathogenesis. Moreover, accumulating reports have shown that excess adipose tissue in obese individuals resulted in elevated levels of systematic oxidative stress, another way of promoting cancer development and progression. In general, altered immunological milieu and oxidative stress in obesity are important determinants for tumorigenesis.

Viability assessment of magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy severity

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate regional cerebral metabolic changes in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) patients using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in 3T scanner.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study comprised 30 cirrhotic patients with MHE, 29 cirrhotic patients without MHE and 30 healthy volunteers. Single-voxel proton MRS data in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and basal ganglia were acquired using a 3-T scanner. The concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), mI (myo-inositol), glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln) and creatine (Cr) were obtained by LC-model software. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the differences between the three groups.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in Glu for the cirrhotic patients, particularly the MHE patients. There was an elevation of Gln in the cirrhotic patients, but not in all cirrhotic patients or controls. There was a significant decrease in mI for the cirrhotic patients, but no significant difference between the two cirrhosis groups. There was no significant difference in NAA between the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

MRS using a 3-T MR scanner could detect cerebral metabolic changes in cirrhotic patients with MHE. Glu levels were elevated in cirrhotic patients with MHE; Glu levels could be used as a sensitive indicator to evaluate the severity of MHE in patients with cirrhosis.

Magnetism-Driven Ferroelectricity in Double Perovskite Y₂NiMnO₆

We report the discovery of multiferroic behavior in double perovskite Y2NiMnO6. X-ray diffraction shows that the material has a centrosymmetric crystal structure of space group P2(1)/n with Ni(2+)/Mn(4+) ordering. This result is further confirmed by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with atomic resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. The appearance of ferroelectric polarization coincides with the magnetic phase transition (∼67 K), which indicates that the ferroelectricity is driven by magnetism, and this is further confirmed by its strong magnetoelectric (ME) effect. We proposed the origin of the ferroelectricity is associated with the combination of Ni(2+)/Mn(4+) charge ordering and the ↑↑↓↓ spin ordering. When compared with other known magnetic multiferroics, Y2NiMnO6 displays several attractive multiferroic properties, including high polarization (∼145 μC/m(2)), a high multiferroic transition temperature (∼67 K), and strong ME coupling (∼21%).

Clinical significance of hmgb1 expression in human gastric cancer

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) has been proved to be implicated in a variety of cell physiological and pathological behaviors including immune response, inflammation and cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that HMGB1 plays a critical role in the development and progression of multiple malignancies. However, the clinical significance and prognosis of HMGB1 expression in some cancers remain controversial. The present study aimed to investigate whether overexpression of HMGB1 is an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer. The correlation of HMGB1 expression with clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis was assessed by immunohistochemical assay through tissue microarray procedure in 50 primary gastric cancer cases. Our results indicated that the positive expression of HMGB1 was significantly increased in the nucleus of gastric cancer tissues compared with the adjacent non-cancerous tissues (ANCT) (64.0&#x0025; vs 44.0&#x0025;, P=0.025), but was not linked to the clinicopathologic features, including the TNM stage (P=0.533) and metastatic lymph node (P=0.771), in patients with gastric cancer. Kapalan-Meier and log-rank analysis demonstrated that overexpression of HMGB1 did not exert significant impact on the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer (P=0.805). Furthermore, Cox regression analysis showed that high HMGB1 protein expression did not represent an independent risk factor for patients with gastric cancer (P=0.677). Taken together, our findings suggest that high expression of HMGB1 is not correlated with the clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric cancer, and cannot serve as an independent prognostic biomarker for patients with gastric cancer.

Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway decreases hypoxia inducible factor-1α expression and increases therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in human hypoxic gastric cancer cells

The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway plays an important role in cell proliferation, transformation, apoptosis, tumor growth and angiogenesis. Paclitaxel is commonly used to treat multiple human malignancies; however, the underlying mechanisms of paclitaxel in gastric cancer (GC) have not been fully investigated. In the present study, specimens from 45 GC and 36 chronic gastritis patients were collected, and the correlations of PI3K, phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression with the clinicopathological characteristics of GC were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The human SGC-7901 GC cells under hypoxic conditions were pretreated with the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002 (40 μM), and paclitaxel (0.1 μM). The expression levels of PI3K, p-Akt and HIF-1α were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Cell proliferative activity and apoptosis were evaluated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry. As a result, the rates of positive expression of PI3K, p-Akt and HIF-1α were significantly higher in GC compared with chronic gastritis patients (each P<0.01), and were positively associated with the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging, lymph node metastases, lymphatic infiltration and vascular infiltration (each P<0.01), but inversely correlated with tumor differentiation (P<0.01) in patients with GC. Under hypoxic conditions, the combined inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway with paclitaxel markedly reduced the proliferative activity and induced cell apoptosis in GC cells compared with the single treatment of PI3K inhibitor or paclitaxel (each P<0.01), and was accompanied by a decreased expression of HIF-1α. Overall, our findings indicate that the increased expression of the PI3K/Akt/HIF-1α pathway was closely correlated with tumor differentiation, TNM staging, lymph node metastases and lymphatic and vascular infiltration. The inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in GC cells under hypoxic conditions, suggesting that the PI3K/Akt/HIF-1α pathway may act as an important therapeutic target for paclitaxel treatment of GC.

Knockdown of HMGB1 inhibits growth and invasion of gastric cancer cells through the NF-κB pathway in vitro and in vivo

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as a novel inflammatory molecule has been shown to be involved in a variety of cell physiological and pathological behaviors including immune response, inflammation and cancer. Evidence suggests that HMGB1 plays a critical role in the development and progression of multiple malignancies. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for the HMGB1-mediated growth and invasion of gastric cancer have not yet been elucidated. The present study investigated the expression of HMGB1 in gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) and the mechanisms by which it contributes to tumor growth and invasion. The correlation between HMGB1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of GAC patients was assessed by immunohistochemical assay through tissue microarray procedures. The RNA and protein expressions of HMGB1 and downstream factors were detected by quantitative PCR and western blot assays; cell proliferation and invasion were determined by MTT, wound-healing and 3D-Matregel assays, subcutaneous SGC-7901 tumor models were established to verify tumor growth in vivo. We demonstrated that, the expression of HMGB1 was significantly increased in the nucleus of GAC tissues compared with that in adjacent non-cancer tissues (88.6 vs.70.5%, P<0.001), and correlated with the metastatic lymph node of GAC (P=0.018). Furthermore, knockdown of HMGB1 by shRNA inhibited cell proliferative activities and invasive potential, and downregulated the expression of NF-κB p65, PCNA and MMP-9 in GAC cells (SGC-7901 and AGS). The tumor volumes in SGC7901 subcutaneous nude mouse models treated with Lv-shHMGB1 was significantly smaller than those of the nonsense sequence group. Taken together, these findings suggest that increased expression of HMGB1 is associated with tumor metastasis of GAC, and knockdown of HMGB1 suppresses growth and invasion of GAC cells through the NF-κB pathway in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that HMGB1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for GAC.

The Jahn-Teller effect in the electron momentum spectroscopy of ammonia

The 1e and 3a(1) bands of the ammonia molecule have been studied using the high-resolution electron momentum spectroscopy at impact energies of 1200 and 600 eV. Several slices of 1e and 3a(1) bands in the different binding energy ranges were selected, and their electron-momentum distributions were carefully compared. The discernable difference among the distributions of the selected slices of the 1e band shows that the Jahn-Teller effect indeed influences the electron momentum distribution of the 1e orbital of ammonia.

RNA interference mediated YAP gene silencing inhibits invasion and metastasis of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the effects of yes-associated protein (YAP) silencing on invasion, migration, anchorage-independent growth and angiogenesis in the human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901.

METHODOLOGY

SGC-7901 cells were transfected with a shRNA lentivirus vector targeting YAP gene. After puromycin selection of stable YAP-silenced SGC-7901 cell lines, the expression of YAP mRNA and protein were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. A transwell invasion assay, wound healing assay and colony formation assay were used to analyze the invasion, migration and anchorage-independent growth effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on YAP expression. The angiogenic cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), were measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting.

RESULTS

The results of the qRT-PCR and western blotting showed an obvious inhibition of YAP mRNA and protein expression in the YAP-shRNA group. Moreover, the inhibition of YAP expression clearly impeded SGC-7901 cell migration, invasion and anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, VEGF and FGF-2 were also downregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

YAP gene targeting by RNAi can inhibit the migration, invasion, anchorage-independent growth and angiogenesis ability of SGC-7901 cells. YAP may be a potential target for the treatment of human gastric cancer.

Lentiviral vector-mediated siRNA knockdown of the YAP gene inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in the SGC7901 gastric cancer cell line

Gastric carcinoma is among the most prevalent malignancies, and a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The Hippo pathway defines a novel signaling pathway regulating cell proliferation. The key factor in this kinase cascade is the transcriptional co-activator yes-associated protein (YAP), which is constitutively activated in various types of cancer, including gastric carcinoma. To determine the effect on SGC7901 gastric cancer cells after inhibition of the YAP expression, we used lentivirus-derived small hairpin RNA (shRNA) against YAP. The YAP-specific shRNA significantly suppressed YAP expression at the mRNA and protein levels, reduced cancer cell proliferation and promoted cancer cell apoptosis. It was also found that YAP knockdown significantly increased the G0/G1 cell population and reduced expression levels of a number of genes crucial to cell proliferation and apoptosis, including Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), survivin and cyclin D1. Thus, our data suggested that knockdown of YAP expression plays a significant role in gastric cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. Therefore, the YAP gene serves as a potential therapeutic target in gastric cancers.

High level of ezrin expression in colorectal cancer tissues is closely related to tumor malignancy

AIM: To investigate the ezrin expression in normal colorectal mucosa and colorectal cancer tissues, and study the correlation between ezrin expression in colorectal cancer tissues and tumor invasion and metastasis.

METHODS: Eighty paraffin-embedded cancer tissue samples were selected from primary colorectal adenocarcinoma. Twenty-eight patients had well-differentiated, 22 had moderately differentiated and 30 had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Forty-five patients and 35 patients had lymph node metastasis. Forty-five patients were of Dukes A to B stage, and 35 were of C to D stage. Another 22 paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of normal colorectal epithelium (> 5 cm away from the edge of the tumor) were selected as the control group. All patients with colorectal cancer were treated surgically and diagnosed histologically, without preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The immunohistochemistry was used to detect the ezrin expression in paraffin-embedded normal colorectal mucosa tissues and colorectal cancer tissue samples.

RESULTS: Ezrin expression in colorectal cancer was significantly higher than in normal colorectal mucosa (75.00% vs 9.09%, P < 0.01), and there was a close relationship between ezrin expression and the degree of tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis and Dukes stage (88.46% vs 50.00%, P < 0.01; 94.28% vs 51.11%, P < 0.01; 94.28% vs 51.11%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Ezrin expression is obviously higher in colorectal cancer tissues than in normal colorectal mucosa tissues, and the high level of ezrin expression is closely related to the colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis process.