TRIM44, a crucial target of miR-410, functions as a potential oncogene in osteosarcoma

Purpose

Mounting evidence highlights the essential role of TRIM44 in tumor initiation and malignant progression in several cancers; however, the function of TRIM44 in osteosarcoma (OS) remains unknown. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of TRIM44 and reveal its regulation by deregulated miRNAs in OS.

Materials and methods

The expression profiles of TRIM44 were examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR. The biological functions of TRIM44 were investigated through siRNA-mediated knockdown experiments. The regulation of TRIM44 by miR-410 was confirmed by Western blotting, dual luciferase reporter assays, and rescue experiments.

Results

TRIM44 was upregulated in OS tissues and cell lines, and its overexpression was positively correlated with TNM stage, metastasis, and recurrence. Knockdown of TRIM44 in OS cells suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. In addition, we identified TRIM44 as a novel target gene of miR-410 and miR-410 was remarkably downregulated in OS. Moreover, overexpression of miR-410 suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of OS cells by directly targeting TRIM44 expression. Furthermore, reintroduction of TRIM44 partially reversed miR-410-induced inhibitory effects on OS cells.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings indicate that the miR-410/TRIM44 link is critical in the control of OS progression.

CUL4A promotes cell invasion in gastric cancer by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway

Cullin 4A (CUL4A) overexpression has been reported to be involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of many malignant tumors. However, the role of CUL4A in the progression of gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. In this study, we explored whether and how CUL4A regulates proinflammatory signaling to promote GC cell invasion. Our results showed that knockdown of CUL4A inhibited GC cell migration and invasion induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. We also found that both CUL4A and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) protein expressions were enhanced by LPS stimulation in HGC27 GC cell lines. Furthermore, knockdown of CUL4A decreased the protein expression of NF-κB and mRNA expression of the downstream genes of the NF-κB pathway, such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, MMP9, and interleukin-8. Our immunohistochemistry analysis on 50 GC tissue samples also revealed that CUL4A positively correlated with NF-κB expression. Taken together, our findings suggest that CUL4A may promote GC cell invasion by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway and could be considered as a potential therapeutic target in patients with GC.

MiR-128b is down-regulated in gastric cancer and negatively regulates tumour cell viability by targeting PDK1/Akt/NF-κB axis

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most prevalent type of cancer worldwide, which is usually caused by the interaction between environmental and genetic factors, or epigenetic aspects. Referring to the non-coding RNAs, miR-128b has been reported to be associated with many tumour cases, and exerts distinct functions in different types of cancers. However, the function of miR-128b in GC onset and progression largely remains unknown. In the present study, we found that miR-128b expression was down-regulated in tissues from 18 GC patients and 3 carcinoma cell lines. In turn, over-expression of miR-128b suppressed GC cell proliferation, invasion and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, miR-128b was predicted to bind the 3'UTR of PDK1 gene using bioinformatic target-screening tools. Accordingly, ectopic expression of miR-128b inhibited the PDK1 expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, and furthermore, the expression of gene tailed by the 3'UTR of PDK1 gene was significantly decreased in a dualluciferase reporter assay, suggesting that PDK1 was a direct target of miR-128b in GC cells. In the conditon of miR- 128b over-expression, we also observed spontaneous inactivation of the Akt/NF-κB signalling, implying PDK1 was a potential regulator of this pathway. In conclusion, our study shed some novel light on miR-128b-PDK1/Akt/NF-κB axis on GC progression.

[Selective bladder preservation in muscle-invasive bladder cancer by transurethral resection combined with intravesical instillation therapy: analysis of clinical effect in the elderly]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the therapeutic effect and quality of life in elderly patients of muscle-invasive bladder cancer by transurethral resection combined with intravesical instillation therapy.

METHODS

From January 2005 to January 2015, 136 cases were diagnosed with T2 bladder cancer by transurethralplasmakinetic therapy or transurethral laser therapy. The data of 136 cases were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

In transurethralplasmakinetic therapy group, the overall survival rate was 73.3%, the cancer-specific survival rate was 85.6%, the average survival time were 65 months. In transurethral laser therapy group, the overall survival rate was 73.9%, the cancer-specific survivalrate was 87.2%, the average survival time were 70 months. Two methods also can improve the patient's quality of life.

CONCLUSION

For the aged with invasive bladder cancer (T2), we could try the transurethral resection combined with intravesical instillation therapy.

Effects of AFP gene silencing on Survivin mRNA expression inhibition in HepG2 cells

We investigated the effects of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene silencing on Survivin expression in HepG2 cells. Small interfering RNA technology was used to downregulate AFP expression in HepG2 cells. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure AFP concentration in the supernatant before and after transfection. An MTT assay was used to detect cell proliferation activity before and after transfection. We performed flow cytometric analysis to detect the cell apoptosis rate, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to detect Survivin mRNA levels before and after transfection. Forty-eight hours after transfection, AFP concentration in the supernatant of the experimental group significantly decreased, hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth was inhibited by 43.1%, and the apoptosis rate increased by 24.3%. Survivin mRNA expression was reduced by 78.0% in HepG2 cells. These indicators in the control group and in the blank group did not change significantly. Silencing of AFP expression in HepG2 cells can effectively inhibit the growth of hepatoma cells and promote apoptosis, which may be useful for reducing intracellular Survivin mRNA levels.

Generalized approach to modifying optical vortices with suppressed sidelobes using Bessel-like functions

We propose a generalized approach to producing optical vortices with suppressed sidelobes using a variable Bessel-like function added to the conventional spiral phase plate. Experimental verifications are implemented by a phase-only spatial light modulator. It is demonstrated that the method is valid for optical vortex beams with arbitrary topological charges and without changing the primary ring size as a unique property among the existing techniques.

Interface modification of the InGaN/GaN quantum wells: the strain pre-relief effect

Interface modification by inserting an ultrathin low-temperature GaN layer prior to the growth of high-temperature GaN barriers followed by an annealing process was employed to improve the properties of the InGaN/GaN quantum wells. By detailed studies and comparisons of the surface morphology, photoluminescence and the surface compositions of the InGaN/GaN quantum wells at different growth stages with and without the interface modification, we find that with the interface modification the surface morphology was significantly improved with better smoothness, and smaller and shallower pits of lower density compared with that without interface modification; further, the indium aggregation and phase separation were suppressed. The physical phenomena are attributed to the 'strain pre-relief effect' by the formation of quasi-dots (approximately 20 nm in diameter) prior to temperature ramping and growth of high-temperature GaN barriers. Furthermore, the ultrathin low-temperature GaN layers have a good protection property as confirmed by PL and XPS measurements.

An InGaN/GaN single quantum well improved by surface modification of GaN films

Surface modification of GaN films by in situ droplet homoepitaxy of thin GaN layers was employed for improvement of the surface/interface qualities characterized by atomic smoothness, low defect density and surface chemistry being close to stoichiometry. We find that, with surface modification of the GaN films the surface morphology of the subsequently grown InGaN/GaN single quantum well (SQW) was improved with less density of surface pits and indium-rich inclusions. The improvement in surface smoothness and InGaN/GaN surface/interface qualities is desirable for the growth of high-quality multiple QWs (MQWs) structures and fabrication of high-performance and reliable LEDs. PL results show that with surface modification the QW luminescence was significantly enhanced by more than 50% than that without surface modification.

A miniaturized liquid core waveguide-capillary electrophoresis system with flow injection sample introduction and fluorometric detection using light-emitting diodes

A novel miniaturized capillary electrophoresis (CE) system is described where a Teflon AF-coated silica capillary serves both as the separation channel and as a transversely illuminated liquid core waveguide. This device uniquely uses flow injection (FI)-based split-flow sample introduction through a falling-drop interface. An H-channel structure fixed on a microscope glass slide utilizes a horizontal separation capillary with tubular sidearms on each end that serve as inlet and outlet flow-through electrode reservoirs. The inlet reservoir also functions as a falling-drop interface for coupling to the FI system. A blue LED is used as excitation source. A large-core optical fiber takes the emitted fluorescence to an inexpensive PMT with two layers of green plastic used for optical filtering. No focusing arrangement is needed. Continuous FI introduction of a series of 30-microL samples containing a mixture of of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled amino acids allowed a throughput rate up to 144 samples/ h, with approximately 2% carryover and good precision (3.2% RSD). Baseline separation was achieved for FITC-labeled arginine, phenylalanine, glycine, and FITC in sodium tetraborate buffer (pH 9.5) with plate heights of 5.4-5.5 microm and plate numbers of 2.34 x 10(4)-2.37 x 10(4) under electrical field strengths of 214 V/cm for injection and 500 V/cm for separation (14-cm capillary, 48-microm i.d.). Detection limits (S/N = 3) were 1.3 microM for arginine and 1.9 microM for phenylalanine and glycine.

Development of a low-cost microfluidic capillary-electrophoresis system coupled with flow-injection and sequential-injection sample introduction (review)

Microfabrication techniques used for the production of MEMS (micro electro-mechanical systems) have been successfully used to produce highly efficient microfluidic capillary electrophoresis chip systems. A limitation of this approach are the difficulties associated with the creation of the micrometer-sized structures in glass or other substrates, which currently involve specialized and expensive lithographic and etching processes. A further limitation is that hitherto most microfluidic chips are not designed for continuous introduction of a series of different samples, which limits the overall throughput of such systems. This article reviews the development of a microfluidic system for rapid CE separations, produced at a low cost of less than a dollar each, using equipment and materials readily available in the ordinary laboratory. Applications of the system, after coupling to flow-injection and/or sequential-injection sample introduction, for the determination of FITC-labeled amino acids by laser-induced fluorescence, trace metals by chemiluminescence, carbohydrates by amperometry, and inorganic and organic anions by indirect UV absorbance are exemplified to illustrate the performance and versatility of the microfluidic system.

Capillary electrophoresis system with flow injection sample introduction and chemiluminescence detection on a chip platform

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) system with chemiluminescence (CL) detection was combined with flow injection (FI) sample introduction on a chip platform. A falling-drop interface was applied to perform FI split-flow sample introduction while achieving electrical isolation from the CE high voltage. A tubular reservoir at the capillary outlet served as both the CL reaction and detection cell for the luminol-peroxide-metallic ion chemiluminescent reaction, with the luminol included in the separation buffer and CL reagent H2O2 continuously introduced into the outlet reservoir. An optical fiber was positioned within the outlet reservoir directly opposite, and 300 microns away from, the capillary outlet for collecting and transferring the generated CL to the PMT. The peak height signals and the separation efficiency were almost independent of the reagent flow-rate, making the system a robust one. The performance of the system was illustrated by the separation of Co(II) and Cu(II), achieving baseline separation in 60 s. Detection limits (3 sigma) were 1.25 x 10(-8) and 2.3 x 10(-6) mol dm-3 for Co(II) and Cu(II), respectively. Peak height precision was 1.9% RSD (n = 9) at the 10(-7) mol dm-3 Co level.

Unusual hepatitis B surface antigen variation in a child immunised against hepatitis B

Perinatal transmission of and infection with hepatitis B (HBV) in early childhood are observed in a small proportion of the offspring of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers who are vaccinated against HBV immediately after giving birth. The children may be infected by wild-type HBV or by variants with amino acid substitutions in the "a" determinant of HBsAg, particularly at position 145 and, rarely, at positions 120, 126, 129, 131, 141, and 144. Four hundred and forty-six newborn infants of HBsAg-positive mothers in the northeastern part of the Czech Republic received combined active and passive immunisation against HBV. Only one child became an HBsAg carrier. This followed a mild, acute HBV illness in the beginning of the second year of his life. HBV DNA encoding the "a" determinant and surrounding region of HBsAg was sequenced after amplification from the plasma of the child and his mother. The child was infected with variants of HBsAg with substitutions at residues 137 and 139. The virus of the mother had changes at residues 120 and 121. HBV from both child and mother had an unusual substitution at residue 118 and seemed to be of the ayw subdeterminant.

Unusual hepatitis B surface antigen variation in a child immunised against hepatitis B

Perinatal transmission of and infection with hepatitis B (HBV) in early childhood are observed in a small proportion of the offspring of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers who are vaccinated against HBV immediately after giving birth. The children may be infected by wild-type HBV or by variants with amino acid substitutions in the "a" determinant of HBsAg, particularly at position 145 and, rarely, at positions 120, 126, 129, 131, 141, and 144. Four hundred and forty-six newborn infants of HBsAg-positive mothers in the northeastern part of the Czech Republic received combined active and passive immunisation against HBV. Only one child became an HBsAg carrier. This followed a mild, acute HBV illness in the beginning of the second year of his life. HBV DNA encoding the "a" determinant and surrounding region of HBsAg was sequenced after amplification from the plasma of the child and his mother. The child was infected with variants of HBsAg with substitutions at residues 137 and 139. The virus of the mother had changes at residues 120 and 121. HBV from both child and mother had an unusual substitution at residue 118 and seemed to be of the ayw subdeterminant.

Algebraic Description of Anharmonic Stretching Vibrations

A U(2) algebraic model is presented to describe stretching vibrations of XYn (n = 2, 3, and 4) systems, where anharmonic interactions between the bond modes are considered. This model in a limit corresponds to an anharmonically coupled local-mode model. As an example, the model for a molecule XY4 is applied to recently observed spectra of methane in both gas and liquid phases, and the results obtained are in good agreement with the experiments. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

HBV core promoter mutations prevail in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma from Guangxi, China

The development of primary liver cancer frequently is associated with persistent HBV infection, and tumours may arise in individuals who are anti-HBe positive. However, it is unclear whether viruses with an HBeAg-negative phenotype are associated with tumour development or are selected, during seroconversion, after chromosomal integration of wild-type viral DNA. In order to investigate the temporal evolution of the HBV genome in such individuals, the polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify HBV DNA from tumour tissue and serum of 14 patients from Guangxi, China with hepatocellular carcinoma. Comparison of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the precore and proximal core region of HBV from the two sites in each patient produced evidence of divergence following integration in the tumour, but in most cases, HBeAg-negativity could not be explained by precore mutations. Sequences from the core promoter region were therefore examined and mutations were found in the majority, which are believed to upregulate transcription of the core (and pregenomic) RNA but to downregulate precore mRNA. To determine whether this finding merely reflected sequence variation among geographical isolates of HBV, the same region of HBV DNA from asymptomatic controls was sequenced and these mutations were found to be rare. We hypothesise that HBV with the core promoter mutations replicates at higher levels than the wild type, with the consequence that more integrations occur into the hepatocyte chromosomes during the early stages of infection. These hepatocytes may expand clonally and be targets for further mutagenic events leading to tumour development.

A flow injection microdialysis sampling chemiluminescence system for in vivo on-line monitoring of glucose in intravenous and subcutaneous tissue fluid microdialysates

A novel flow injection on-line microdialysis system for in vivo monitoring of glucose in subcutaneous tissue fluid and blood is described. An implantable loop-type microdialysis probe was used for subcutaneous sampling, and a flow-through microdialyzer was used for intravenous sampling by pumping of the blood from the tested rabbit through the microdialyzer located outside the living system at a flow rate of 10 microL/min. The perfusion rate of the dialysate was 20 microL/min. The glucose in the dialysate was detected on-line with a flow injection chemiluminescence system after passing through an immobilized glucose oxidase reactor. The calibration of the detector system (including reactor) and monitoring of baseline drifts were performed simultaneously to improve the reliability of the monitoring process. The dialysate sample volume was 20 microL, and the sample throughout was 28 h-1. The variation of glucose level in subcutaneous tissue fluid and blood of the rabbits was monitored after the administration of glucose or insulin to demonstrate the favorable resolution and reliability of the system for in vivo on-line monitoring.