[The therapeutic effect of HSV1-hGM-CSF combined with doxorubicin on the mouse breast cancer model]

Objective: To evaluate the oncolytic effect of herpes simplex virus type 1 which carried recombined human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (HSV1-hGM-CSF) on the mouse breast cancer cell line 4T1 and compare the anticancer effects of HSV1-hGM-CSF, doxorubicin alone or combination on the breast cancer in mice. Methods: We investigated the cytotoxic effect on 4T1 cells in vitro, the cell growth, cell apoptosis and cell cycle of 4T1 cells treated with oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF at different MOIs (0, 0.5, 1 and 2) and doxorubicin at different concentrations (0, 2, 4 and 8 μg/ml). The effects of oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF and doxorubicin on the tumor growth, survival time and their side effects on the mouse breast cancer model were observed. Results: Both oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF and doxorubicin significantly inhibited the proliferation of 4T1 cells in vitro. Doxorubicin induced the G(2)/M phase arrest of 4T1 cells, while the cytotoxicity of oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF was no cell cycle-dependent.At day 16 after treatment with doxorubicin and HSV1-hGM-CSF, the tumor volume of 4T1 tumor bearing mice were (144.40±27.68)mm(3,) (216.80±57.18)mm(3,) (246.10±21.90)mm(3,) (327.50±44.24)mm(3,) (213.30±32.31)mm(3) and (495.80±75.87)mm(3) in the groups of doxorubicin combined with high dose HSV1-hGM-CSF, doxorubicin combined with low dose HSV1-hGM-CSF, doxorubicin alone, high dose HSV1-hGM-CSF alone, low dose HSV1-hGM-CSF alone and control, respectively.Compared with the control group, both doxorubicin and HSV1-hGM-CSF treatment exhibited significant reduction of primary tumor volume in vivo (P<0.001). The median survival times were 48, 50, 40, 42, 43 and 37 days in the six groups mentioned above, respectively. The median survival period of doxorubicin alone, high dose HSV1-hGM-CSF alone and low dose HSV1-hGM-CSF alone were significantly longer than that of control (P<0.05). Conclusion: Synergistic effect of sequential treatment with doxorubicin and oncolytic HSV1-hGM-CSF is observed in 4T1 mouse breast cancer.

Value of CNRIP1 promoter methylation in colorectal cancer screening and prognosis assessment and its influence on the activity of cancer cells

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of CNRIP1 promoter methylation on the proliferative, invasive and migration potential of colorectal cancer cells, including its potential use for the early detection and prognostic assessment of colorectal cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) was used to detect the methylation status of the CNRIP1 promoter region in peripheral blood samples drawn from patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, benign colorectal adenoma, and matched healthy controls. Putative CpG methylation sites were then pyrosequenced. We subsequently suppressed CNRIP1 methylation within colon cancer cells via treatment with 5-azacytidine and overexpressed colon cancer cells by transfection with a CNRIP1-overexpression pcDNA3.0 plasmid. Thereafter, the CNRIP1 methylation status and mRNA and protein expressions levels were determined. Finally, the proliferative, invasive and migration abilities of cell lines were determined with the CCK-8 and Transwell cell assays.

RESULTS

There were differences in the methylation status at loci 2216, 2226, 2231, 2245, and 2254 within the promoter region of CNRIP1 between patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenoma, and healthy volunteers. The methylation status of CpG sequence 2245 significantly correlated with tumor diameter, invasion depth, TNM stage, grade, and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). The proliferative, invasive and migration abilities of colon cancer cells treated with 5-azaC or transfected with a CNRIP1-overexpression plasmid were significantly impaired relative to negative controls (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The methylation status at locus 2245 within the CNRIP1 promoter region has potential value for the early detection and prognostic evaluation of colorectal cancers. Demethylation of the CNRIP1 promoter or overexpression of CNRIP1 can reduce the proliferative and migration abilities of colon cancer cells.

[Application of degree of complexity in heart rate variability analysis during orthostatic (correction of orthosatic) standing]

Objective. To introduce the degree of complexity in characterizing heart rate variability (HRV), and to discuss the changes in complexity of the cardiovascular system during orthostatic standing posture. Method. ECG of 8 subjects were recorded during supine and orthostatic standing postures. Degree of complexity was used to analyze the HRV. Result. Compared to supine before orthostatic standing posture, R-R intervals and its standard deviation at 0-5 min, 5-10 min, 10-15 min and 15-20 min during orthostatic standing posture were decreased significantly; the degree of complexity of HRV at 0-5 min and 15-20 min during orthostatic standing posture were decreased significantly; the approximate entropy of 0-5 min and 15-20 min were decreased significantly. Conclusion. The results showed that HRV and complexity of cardiovascular system was decreased during orthostatic standing. It was feasible that the degree of complexity can be used to analyze HRV.

[Effects of running armored car on dynamic posture equilibrium]

Objective. To study the effects of training in running armored car on dynamic posture equilibrium. Method. Dynamic posture was tested pre- and post running armored car in 56 healthy men. Result. Compared to pre-training, certain equilibrium scores of sensory organization test condition 1 (P<0.05), 2 (P< 0.001), and 3 (P< 0.001) decreased significantly, while those of condition 4 (P<0.001) and 6 (P< 0.001) increased significantly. The static proprioception score (SOT2/SOT1 x 100) (P< 0.01) decreased significantly, while visual sensory score (SOT4/SOT1 x 100, P <0.01) and dynamic proprioception (SOT (4+5+6)/SOT(1+2+3) x 100, P<0.001) increased significantly post-training. The motor strategy scores of sensory organization test condition 2 (P<0.01) and 3 (P<0.001) significantly decreased. Conclusion. The results demonstrated that training in a running armored car influenced postural equilibrium and sensory organization.

[Approximate entropy and its application in heart rate variability analysis]

Objective. To introduce approximate entropy in the analysis of heart rate variability, and to discuss the changes of the complexity of cardiovascular system during orthostatic standing posture. Method. ECG of 8 subjects were recorded during supine and orthostatic standing postures. Approximate entropy was used to analyze HRV. Result. Compared to supine before orthostatic standing posture, R-R intervals at 0-5 min, 5-10 min, 10-15 min and 15-20 min during orthostatic standing posture were decreased significantly, while approximate entropy at 0-5 min and 15-20 min decreased significantly. It showed that the complexity of cardiovascular system was decreased and the modulation of cardiovascular system changed. Conclusion. It is feasible that approximate entropy be used for heart rate variability analysis.

[c-fos expression in rat's vestibular nucleus under eccentric rotational stimulation]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the c-fos expression in rat's vestibular nucleus under eccentric rotational stimulation and the effects of anti-motion sickness drug (PAPM) on this expression.

METHOD

19 SD rats were divided into three groups: A, B and C. A received as control. B was stimulated by eccentric rotation for 60 minutes. C received injection of PAPM through cavun abdominis 45 min before eccentric rotation. Immunohistochemical method and computerized image analysis were used to map locations of c-fos protein appeared in four vestibular nucleus and to count the masculine cells.

RESULT

c-fos protein appeared in four vestibular nucleus areas after stimulation, and PAPM had no influence on this expression.

CONCLUSION

It suggests that c-fos expression in vestibular nucleus is one of the important way in which vestibular nervous system reacts to outside stimulation and this expression has no direct relationship with the generation and development of motion sickness.

[Effects of motion sickness evoked by parallel swing stimulation on posture equilibrium]

Objective. To study the effects of motion sickness on posture equilibrium. Method. Dynamic posture was tested pre- and following motion sickness evoked by parallel swing. 17 healthy men were divided into motion sickness sensitive group (12) and motion sickness insensitive groups (5) according to their endurance times and the severeness of symptom. Result. The composite equilibrium score significantly decreased post-swing in all subjects. The composite equilibrium score, certain other equilibrium scores (SOT4, SOT5 and SOT6), the strategy scores (STRAT4 and STRAT6) and the sensory score (SEN3 and SEN5) significantly decreased in the sensitive group, but unchanged in the insensitive group post-swing. The equilibrium score (SOT2), and the sensory score (SEN1) pre-swing, the strategy score (STRAT3) of insensitive group is significantly higher than the sensitive group. Conclusion. Motion sickness can influence postural equilibrium. Postural instability and instability of strategy are related to the sensitiveness to motion sickness.

[Comparison between motion sickness induced by reversed vision and that by parallel swing]

OBJECTIVE

To make clear the characteristics of motion sickness induced by reversed vision and to see whether it can be used in motion sickness experiments.

METHODS

10 healthy young men experienced walking tests wearing up-down or left-right reversing prisms, and parallel swing test on different days with intervals of 5-7d. Ataxia and motion sickness symptoms induced by walking wearing reversing prisms and those by parallel swing were observed. The reversed vision tolerance index (RVTI) and linear acceleration tolerance index (LATI) were calculated by an empirical formula.

RESULTS

Both types of reversing prisms can induce obvious ataxia and motion sickness symptoms. The ataxia is correlative (P<0.05) with the susceptibility to motion sickness. In comparison with symptoms of swing motion sickness, the symptoms of reversed vision motion sickness are not too serious and appear slowly. There are correlativities (P< 0.01) between the susceptibility to motion sickness induced by up-down and left-right reversing prisms. The susceptibilities to motion sickness induced by reversing prisms are not correlative completely with that by swing.

CONCLUSION

Reversed vision test is simple and easy and can be used for simulating space motion sickness or training of adaptation to sensory conflict on the ground.

[Recording and analysis of EGG and its application in space medicine]

To demonstrate the use of EGG in space medicine, especially in motion sickness, biological basis, recording, analysis of EGG used in space medicine, especially in motion sickness studies, were introduced. Several parameters of EGG were related to nausea in motion sickness. It is suggested that EGG can be used in studying nausea symptoms of motion sickness.