miR-451a suppresses the development of breast cancer via targeted inhibition of CCND2

Extensive research has indicated that miRNAs are crucial for the occurrence and progression of cancers. miR-451a, involved in breast cancer (BC), is one of the miRNAs. This study focused on the mechanism by which miR-451a regulates BC. The levels of miR-451a in BC tissues and cell lines were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Kaplan‒Meier analysis showed that this was intimately related to the patient's overall survival rate. Functional experiments revealed the negative effects of miR-451a on the abilities of BC cells to multiply (tested by Cell Counting Kit-8), migrate (tested by wound healing assay), and invade (tested by Transwell assay) and its positive effects on apoptosis (tested by flow cytometry). Western blotting indicated that the expression of tumor-related proteins was affected by miR-451a. Moreover, in vivo experiments suggested that tumor growth was clearly restrained by an miR-451a agonist in a xenograft tumor model. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that miR-451a directly targeted Cyclin D2 (CCND2), as demonstrated by the luciferase reporter assay. An opposite change in the level of CCND2 and miR-451a in BC was indicated by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, functional experiments and western blotting analysis confirmed that CCND2 accelerated BC progression, which was regulated by miR-451a. Cumulatively, research on miR-451a may be valuable for BC treatment.     

Baroreflex activation in conscious rats modulates the joint inflammatory response via sympathetic function

The baroreflex is a critical physiological mechanism controlling cardiovascular function by modulating both the sympathetic and parasympathetic activities. Here, we report that electrical activation of the baroreflex attenuates joint inflammation in experimental arthritis induced by the administration of zymosan into the femorotibial cavity. Baroreflex activation combined with lumbar sympathectomy, adrenalectomy, celiac subdiaphragmatic vagotomy or splenectomy dissected the mechanisms involved in the inflammatory modulation, highlighting the role played by sympathetic inhibition in the attenuation of joint inflammation. From the immunological standpoint, baroreflex activation attenuates neutrophil migration and the synovial levels of inflammatory cytokines including TNF, IL-1β and IL-6, but does not affect the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. The anti-inflammatory effects of the baroreflex system are not mediated by IL-10, the vagus nerve, adrenal glands or the spleen, but by the inhibition of the sympathetic drive to the knee. These results reveal a novel physiological neuronal network controlling peripheral local inflammation.     

Evodiamine-inspired dual inhibitors of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) with potent antitumor activity

A great challenge in multi-targeting drug discovery is to identify drug-like lead compounds with therapeutic advantages over single target inhibitors and drug combinations. Inspired by our previous efforts in designing antitumor evodiamine derivatives, herein selective histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) dual inhibitors were successfully identified, which showed potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor potency. Particularly, compound 30a was orally active and possessed excellent in vivo antitumor activity in the HCT116 xenograft model (TGI = 75.2%, 150 mg/kg, p.o.) without significant toxicity, which was more potent than HDAC inhibitor vorinostat, TOP inhibitor evodiamine and their combination. Taken together, this study highlights the therapeutic advantages of evodiamine-based HDAC1/TOP2 dual inhibitors and provides valuable leads for the development of novel multi-targeting antitumor agents.     

依维莫司联合全反式维甲酸逆转急性早幼粒细胞白血病细胞耐药的研究

目的探讨依维莫司联合全反式维甲酸(简称维甲酸)逆转急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)细胞株NB4-R1耐药的作用。方法应用CD11b染色流式细胞术及硝基四唑氮蓝(NBT)还原实验检测两药联合应用对细胞分化的影响, 流式细胞术检测细胞周期情况, Annexin V/PI双染色检测细胞凋亡情况, 蛋白质印迹法检测自噬相关蛋白微管结合蛋白轻链3(LC3)、Beclin 1及早幼粒白血病-维甲酸受体融合蛋白(PML-RARα)、磷酸化核糖体S6激酶(P-P70S6K)、磷酸化4E结合蛋白1(P-4E-BP1) 等表达水平。结果与维甲酸组比较, 联用组能诱导耐药细胞株NB4-R1细胞的分化, 并将细胞增殖阻止在G ₁期而对细胞凋亡无明显影响。100 nmol/L依维莫司组、1μmol/L维甲酸组、联用组、对照组NB4-R1细胞培养48 h后分化百分率分别为(2.29±0.57)%、(17.06±2.65)%、(54.47±4.91)%、(2.54±0.53)%; 处于G ₁期的细胞百分率分别为(35.20±11.97)%、(33.54±6.25)%、(53.70±8.73)%、(27.40±6.01)%; 四组细胞凋亡细胞百分率分别为(2.30±0.14)%、(2.25±0.21)%、(2.40±0.28)%、(1.95±0.07)%。与维甲酸组比较, 联用组mTOR信号通路下游的P70S6K、4E-BP1分子磷酸化水平下降, LC3-II和Beclin 1的表达上调, 且能部分降解融合蛋白PML-RARα。 结论依维莫司联合维甲酸能诱导NB4-R1细胞分化, 且能阻滞细胞周期而不致细胞凋亡, 其机制可能与依维莫司联合维甲酸抑制mTOR信号通路激活自噬作用从而降解PML-RARα蛋白有关。     

Voluntary ambulation using voluntary upper limb muscle activity and Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) in a patient with complete paraplegia due to chronic spinal cord injury: A case report

Context: We sought to describe our experience with the Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) for active knee extension and voluntary ambulation with remaining muscle activity in a patient with complete paraplegia after spinal cord injury.

Findings: A 30-year-old man with complete paraplegia used the HAL® for 1 month (10 sessions) using his remaining muscle activity, including hip flexor and upper limb activity. Electromyography was used to evaluate muscle activity of the gluteus maximus, tensor fascia lata, quadriceps femoris, and hamstring muscles in synchronization with the Vicon motion capture system. A HAL® session included a knee extension session with the hip flexor and voluntary gait with upper limb activity. After using the HAL® for one month, the patient’s manual muscle hip flexor scores improved from 1/5 to 2/5 for the right and from 2/5 to 3/5 for the left knee, and from 0/5 to 1/5 for the extension of both knees.

Conclusion/clinical relevance: Knee extension sessions with HAL®, and hip flexor and upper-limb-triggered HAL® ambulation seem a safe and feasible option in a patient with complete paraplegia due to spinal cord injury.     

A cross-sectional examination of sociodemographic factors associated with meeting physical activity recommendations in overweight and obese US adults

ObjectiveObesity has reached epidemic proportions in the US. Physical activity is an important component of obesity reduction, but little is known about contemporary exercise levels among overweight/obese American adults. In this study, we compared current physical activity levels in overweight and obese US adults to those of normal weight individuals as well as ascertained which sociodemographic factors influence the meeting of physical activity recommendations in these three groups.MethodsWe used national data from 2015 and 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys (n = 726,075). Bivariate analyses were conducted to determine unadjusted physical activity levels in normal weight, overweight, and obese adults. We fit multinomial logistic models to identify associations between sociodemographic factors and meeting physical activity recommendations in our study population.ResultsAround 45% of overweight and 57% of obese adults failed to meet physical activity guidelines compared to 41% of normal weight adults. Age, sex, and race were significantly associated with physical activity levels for both overweight and obese adults. In overweight and obese individuals, associations between sociodemographic factors and physical activity were more similar between the two comparisons of insufficiently active (IA) versus active (A)/highly active (HA) and A versus HA but quite different to those in the inactive (IN) versus IA/A/HA comparison.ConclusionsFuture physical activity interventions should be aimed at increasing the number of overweight and obese US adults who meet physical activity guidelines as well as targeted towards specific sociodemographic groups within the overweight/obese population with low exercise levels.     

Physical activity and atrial fibrillation: Data from wearable fitness trackers

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Narrowing the focus: Therapeutic cell surface targets for refractory triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined as a type of breast cancer with lack of expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor 2 protein. In comparison to other types of breast cancer, TNBC characterizes for its aggressive behavior, more prone to early recurrence and a disease with poor response to molecular target therapy. Although TNBC is identified in only 25%-30% of American breast cancer cases annually, these tumors continue to be a therapeutic challenge for clinicians for several reasons: Tumor heterogeneity, limited and toxic systemic therapy options, and often resistance to current standard therapy, characterized by progressive disease on treatment, residual tumor after cytotoxic chemotherapy, and early recurrence after complete surgical excision. Cell-surface targeted therapies have been successful for breast cancer in general, however there are currently no approved cell-surface targeted therapies specifically indicated for TNBC. Recently, several cell-surface targets have been identified as candidates for treatment of TNBC and associated targeted therapies are in development. The purpose of this work is to review the current clinical challenges posed by TNBC, the therapeutic approaches currently in use, and provide an overview of developing cell surface targeting approaches to improve outcomes for treatment resistant TNBC.