Utility of the 3‐Vessel and 3‐Vessel and Trachea Views in Prenatal Diagnosis of a Pulmonary Artery Sling

A pulmonary artery (PA) sling is a very rare congenital cardiovascular anomaly, and only a few studies have reported PA slings in fetuses. The relationship of the PA, aorta, ductus arteriosus, and trachea can be evaluated in the 3‐vessel and 3‐vessel and trachea views during fetal echocardiography. A PA sling can be detected by abnormal positioning of the left PA in relation to the trachea when sweeping from the 3‐vessel view cranially to the 3‐vessel and trachea view. Here we report 3 cases of fetal PA slings and their follow‐ups. Two cases were confirmed by postnatal echocardiography, and the other case was confirmed by a cardiovascular cast after pregnancy termination. We emphasize that the 3‐vessel and 3‐vessel and trachea views are of crucial importance in the prenatal diagnosis of a PA sling.     

CDC25B and CDC25C overexpression in nonmelanoma skin cancer suppresses cell death

Non‐melanoma skin cancer frequently results from chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. UV‐induced DNA damage activates cell cycle arrest checkpoints through degradation of the cyclin‐dependent kinase activators, the cell division cycle 25 (CDC25) phosphatases. We previously reported increased CDC25A in nonmelanoma skin cancer, but CDC25B and CDC25C had not been previously examined. Consequently, we hypothesized that increased expression of CDC25B and CDC25C increases tumor cell proliferation and skin tumor growth. We found that CDC25B and CDC25C were increased in mouse and human skin cancers. CDC25B was primarily cytoplasmic in skin and skin tumors and was significantly increased in the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), while CDC25C was mostly nuclear in the skin, with an increased cytoplasmic signal in the premalignant and malignant tumors. Surprisingly, forced expression of CDC25B or CDC25C in cultured SCC cells did not affect proliferation, but instead suppressed apoptosis, while CDC25C silencing increased apoptosis without impacting proliferation. Targeting CDC25C to the nucleus via mutation of its nuclear export sequence, however, increased proliferation in SCC cells. Overexpression of CDC25C in the nuclear compartment did not hinder the ability of CDC25C to suppress apoptosis, neither did mutation of sites necessary for its interaction with 14‐3‐3 proteins. Analysis of apoptotic signaling pathways revealed that CDC25C increased activating phosphorylation of Akt on Ser⁴⁷³, increased inhibitory phosphorylation of proapoptotic BAD on Ser¹³⁶, and increased the survival protein Survivin. Silencing of CDC25C significantly reduced Survivin levels. Taken together, these data suggest that increased expression of CDC25B or CDC25C are mechanisms by which skin cancers evade apoptotic cell death.     

Survival and Outcomes of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients Stratified by Transplant Status 2007-2018: Retrospective Analysis from the Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database

BackgroundConsiderable progress has been made in therapeutic options for multiple myeloma (MM). Understanding the current landscape of MM treatment options and associated outcomes in the real world is important in providing key insights into clinical and knowledge gaps which could be targeted for further optimization.MethodsThe Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database (CMRG-DB) is a prospectively maintained disease-specific database with >7000 patients. The objective of this study was to describe the trends in the treatment landscape and outcomes including early mortality, time to next treatment, and overall survival (OS) in each line of treatment stratified by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) receipt among newly-diagnosed MM patients in Canada between 2007 and 2018.ResultsA total of 5154 patients were identified among which 3030 patients (58.8%) received an upfront ASCT and 2124 (41.2%) did not. At diagnosis, the median age was 64 years and 58.6% were males. Bortezomib and lenalidomide were most frequently used (>50%) in first and second-line treatment respectively among both the ASCT and non-ASCT cohort. The median OS was 122.0 months (95% Cl 115.0-135.0 months) and 54.3 months (95% CI 50.8-58.8 months) for the ASCT and non-ASCT cohort respectively with an incremental decrease in OS in each subsequent line of treatment.ConclusionWe present the largest study to date in the Canadian landscape showing the characteristics, therapy usage, and outcomes among MM patients. This information will be critical in benchmarking current outcomes and provide key insight into areas of unmet needs and gaps for improvement of MM patients nationally.     

Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Tetralogy of Fallot: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BackgroundAlthough there are robust data about the pathophysiology and prognostic implications of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in patients with acquired heart disease, similar prognostic data about LV systolic dysfunction are sparse in the tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) population. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of all studies that assessed the relationship between LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiovascular adverse events (CAEs) defined as death, aborted sudden death, or sustained ventricular tachycardia.MethodsWe used random-effects models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsOf the 1,809 citations, 7 studies with 2,854 patients (age 28 ± 4 years) were included. During 5.6 ± 3.4 years' follow-up, there were 82 deaths, 17 aborted sudden cardiac deaths, and 56 sustained ventricular tachycardia events. Overall, CAEs occurred in 5.1% (144 patients). As a continuous variable, LVEF was a predictor of CAE (HR 1.29, 95% CI, 1.09-1.53, P = 0.001) per 5% decrease in LVEF. Similarly, LVEF < 40% was also a predictor of CAE (HR 3.22, 95% CI, 2.16-4.80, P < 0.001).ConclusionsLV systolic dysfunction was an independent predictor of CAE, and we observed a 30% increase in the risk of CAE for every 5% decrease in LVEF, and a 3-fold increase in the risk of CAE in patients with LVEF <40% compared with other patients. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating LV systolic function in clinical risk stratification of patients with TOF and the need to explore new treatment options to address this problem.     

Profilin 1, negatively regulated by microRNA-19a-3p,serves as a tumor suppressor in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Profilin 1 (PFN1) is a critical actin-regulatory protein; however, its functional role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains to be further elucidated. In the present study, we observed that the expression levels of PFN1 were significantly decreased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Low PFN1 expression was significantly correlated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and poor prognosis of HCC patients. Further in vitro experiments demonstrated that overexpression of PFN1 remarkably inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of HCC cells. Moreover, we also found that PFN1 was a direct target gene of miR-19a-3p, and in HCC tissues, and there was a significantly inverse correlation between PFN1 mRNA and miR-19a-3p expression. Collectively, our results showed that PFN1 functions as a tumor suppressor in HCC, and might serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC patients.     

3D打印制备不同重量比例的n-HA/PLA/PVA复合膜性能比较

目的:通过3D打印的方法制备的不同重量比例的纳米羟基磷灰石/聚乳酸/聚乙烯醇(n-HA/PLA/PVA)复合膜,并对其相关性能检测。方法:采用3D打印技术制备不同重量比例的n-HA/PLA/PVA复合膜,分别为PLA/PVA复合膜、15%n-HA/PLA/PVA复合膜、50%n-HA/PLA/PVA复合膜、75%n-HA/PLA/PVA复合膜。扫描电镜下观察各组膜形态,对其力学性能、细胞毒性及动物实验相应指标进行检测。结果:扫描电镜下观察,n-HA/PLA/PVA复合膜呈现三维网状结构,各材料间相互结合,孔隙分布不均,大小不一。随着n-HA质量浓度的提高,电镜下见各材料间孔隙逐渐减小,形成结构均匀的复合膜。力学性能及吸水率检测中,随着nHA含量的增加,n-HA/PLA/PVA复合膜的拉伸强度及吸水率呈下降趋势;细胞毒性检测,不同比例复合膜的细胞增殖率无明显差别,无细胞毒性。动物实验测量牙周菌斑指数及龈沟出血指数未发现不同比例n-HA/PLA/PVA复合膜有统计学差异。结论:3D打印不同比例的n-HA/PLA/PVA复合膜具有良好的物理性能和细胞生物相容性,n-HA比例更高的复合膜可能具有更好的物理性能及良好的生物相容性。     

SMYD3 promotes implant metastasis of ovarian cancer via H3K4 trimethylation of integrin promoters

Detachment of cancer cells from the primary tumor and formation of spheroids in ascites is required for implantation metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), but the underlying mechanism of this process has not been thoroughly elucidated. To mimic this process, ovarian cancer cells were grown in 3D and 2D culture. Hey and OVCA433 spheroids exhibited decreased cell proliferation and enhanced adhesion and invasion. SMYD3 expression was elevated in ovarian carcinoma spheroids in association with increased H3K4 methylation. Depletion of SMYD3 by transient siRNA, stable shRNA knockdown and the SMYD3 inhibitor BCI-121 all decreased spheroid invasion and adhesion. Gene expression arrays revealed downregulation of integrin family members. Inhibition assays confirmed that invasion and adhesion of spheroids are mediated by ITGB6 and ITGAM. SMYD3-deficient cells regained the ability to invade and adhere after forced overexpression of SMYD3, ITGB6 and ITGAM. However, this biological ability was not restored by forced overexpression of SMYD3 in ITGB6- and/or ITGAM-deficient cancer cells. SMYD3 and H3K4me3 binding at the ITGB6 and ITGAM promoters was increased in spheroids compared to that in monolayer cells, and the binding was decreased when SMYD3 expression was inhibited, consistent with the expression changes in integrins. SMYD3 expression and integrin-mediated adhesion were also activated in an intraperitoneal xenograft model and in EOC patient spheroids. In vivo, SMYD3 knockdown inhibited tumor metastasis and reduced ascites volume in both the intraperitoneal xenograft model and a PDX model. Overall, our results suggest that the SMYD3-H3K4me3-integrin pathway plays a crucial role in ovarian cancer metastasis to the peritoneal surface.     

丹参二萜醌类活性成分通过PKCδ/PKD1μ信号通路抗胰腺癌的作用研究

摘要 目的 验证丹参二萜醌类活性成分对胰腺癌和多发性骨髓瘤的抑制效应，阐明其诱导胰腺癌和多发性骨髓瘤凋亡的作用机制。方法 胰腺癌细胞AsPC-1、BxPC-3用含10% gibco胎牛血清的RPMI1640培养液培养，按隐丹参酮组（30μM）、丹参新酮组（15μM）、去氢丹参新酮组（15μM）分别加药处理。cell-counting-kit-8（CCK8）法检测细胞存活率；AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡；Western Blot检测相关PKC同工酶磷酸化水平；对AsPC-1和BxPC-3细胞进行siRNA转染，Western Blot检测相关PKC同工酶磷酸化水平。结果 隐丹参酮组AsPC-1、BxPC-3细胞存活率分别为40.1%±5.0%、36.2%±5.4%；丹参新酮组AsPC-1、BxPC-3细胞存活率分别为52.1%±5.1%、47.2%±5.7%；去氢丹参新组AsPC-1、BxPC-3细胞存活率分别为46.1%±5.0%、42.2%±5.4%(P<0.01)。流式细胞术结果显示：AsPC-1组内空白对照组、隐丹参酮组、丹参新酮组、去氢丹参新酮组细胞的凋亡率分别为4.71%、30.10%、52.26%、42.30%；BxPC-3组内空白对照组、隐丹参酮组、丹参新酮组、去氢丹参新酮组细胞的凋亡率分别为5.10%、30.66%、33.76%、51.76%（P<0.01）。Western Blot检测显示隐丹参酮组、丹参新酮组、去氢丹参新酮组较空白对照组，胰腺癌AsPC-1、BxPC-3细胞p-PKD/PKCμ ser916、p-PKCδ thr505、p-PKD/PKCμ ser744/748的水平降低。Western Blot检测显示，siRNA沉默胰腺癌AsPC-1、BxPC-3细胞PKCδ，胰腺癌AsPC-1、BxPC-3细胞PKD/PKCμ ser744/748的磷酸化水平下调。结论 隐丹参酮、丹参新酮、去氢丹参新酮通过抑制PKCδthr505的磷酸化水平，继而PKD1μser744/748磷酸化水平下调，从而显著促进胰腺癌AsPC-1和BxPC-3细胞凋亡发生。