Identification of men with low-risk biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer as candidates for active surveillance

Background

A combined clinical cell-cycle risk (CCR) score that incorporates prognostic molecular and clinical information has been recently developed and validated to improve prostate cancer mortality (PCM) risk stratification over clinical features alone. As clinical features are currently used to select men for active surveillance (AS), we developed and validated a CCR score threshold to improve the identification of men with low-risk disease who are appropriate for AS.

Public entrance accessibility: Psychometric approach to the development of a new assessment instrument

BackgroundThe accessibility of public facilities for all is an issue increasingly gaining focus in policy debates, especially regarding the ageing population.ObjectiveThis paper describes a psychometric approach to the development of a new instrument for assessing the accessibility of public entrances.MethodsItems to include were selected by means of literature review and classified according to a typology of person-environment fit that uses the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as theoretical framework. Content validity was assessed by a scientific panel approach and construct validity by using simulation techniques and correlation analysis with a related construct. Reliability was evaluated by inter-rater agreement analysis, where 15 strategically selected public entrances were assessed by five rater pairs.ResultsContent validity was assessed as high (3.6 on a scale from 1 to 4) and correlation indicating convergent validity between instrument scores and a related construct was moderate (r_s = 0.60, p < 0.001). Inter-rater reliability was acceptable to good (kappa 0.42, overall agreement 81%). After an iterative process including review of validity and reliability results, the resulting assessment instrument consisted of 56 items in 7 sections.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated good content validity and acceptable to good inter-rater reliability. Though initial results were promising, user involvement and further testing of construct validity is needed. The goal of the new instrument is a feasible tool for planning, evaluation and accomplishment of policies intended to make public entrances accessible for all. The extent to which the instrument succeeds remains to be tested by practical use.     

携带人miR302和EGFP基因慢病毒表达载体构建

目的构建携带人miR302和增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）基因的慢病毒表达载体pFUM3GW。方法NheⅠ和NotⅠ双酶切pmiR302ApE以释放miR302,接着补平酶切位点而获连接用miR302;BamHⅠ酶切携带EGFP的慢病毒载体pFUGW,接着补平酶切产物,并去磷酸化而获连接用载体片段,最后使用DNA连接试剂盒（TaKaRa）中的SolutionI将其与连接用miR302连接,连接产物转化,次日挑选单菌落,PCR筛选正向阳性克隆,随后将选定的含有阳性克隆的单菌落摇菌,提取质粒并行酶切鉴定及对插入的miR302测序。所构建载体命名为pFUM3GW。获pFUM3GW后,按Invitrogen公司推荐的标准程序进行慢病毒包装和确认慢病毒是否成功生产;携带miR302和EGFP基因的慢病毒感染鼻咽癌细胞株C666-1、CNE1和5-8F以建立相应病毒感染体系。结果PCR、酶切和测序证实成功构建了pFUM3GW,按标准程序生产的携带miR302和EGFP基因的慢病毒上清高效率感染小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞（MEFs）及鼻咽癌细胞株C666-1、CNE1和5-8F。结论成功构建携带人miR302和EGFP基因的慢病毒表达载体pFUM3GW,为相关后续研究打下了良好基础。     

反义miRNA-221/222上调p27kip1抑制胶质瘤细胞生长的体外研究

目的 探讨敲低miRNA-221/222表达上调p27kip1抑制U251人脑胶质瘤细胞株生长的效果及机制.方法 脂质体共转染反义miRNA-221/222下调U251人脑胶质瘤细胞株miRNA-221、miRNA-222的表达.使用Northern blot方法 鉴定转染后U251细胞miRNA-221、miRNA-222表达水平下调;MTT法评价反义miRNA-221/222抑制U251细胞生长效果;流式细胞术检测转染后U251细胞周期分布;Western blot分析p27kip1蛋白的表达变化.结果 Northern blot显示反义miRNA-221/222共转染组使miRNA-221、miRNA-222的表达水平明显下降.反义miRNA-221转染组仅使miRNA-221的表达水平明显下降,反义miRNA-222转染组仅使miRNA-222的表达水平明显下降.转染无意序列组及对照组的miRNA-221、miRNA-222表达水平没有改变.MTT结果 显示反义miRNA-221/222共转染组肿瘤细胞生长速度小于对照组、转染无意序列组、转染反义miRNA-221组、转染反义miRNA-222组.流式细胞术检测可见反义miRNA-221/222共转染组细胞周期存在G0/G1期阻滞且明显高于其他各组.Western blot显示反义miRNA-221/222共转染组的p27kip1蛋白表达明显上调.结论 反义miRNA-221/222通过上调p27kip1蛋白表达来抑制胶质瘤细胞U251的生长.     

靶向miR-221 siRNA表达载体的构建及有效靶序列的筛选和表达

目的 构建靶向miR-221的siRNA表达载体,同时筛选出一条抑制效率最好的靶序列,为研究RNAi在哺乳动物细胞内抑制靶基因表达奠定基础.方法 根据siRNA靶点设计的原则运用相关软件设计靶序列并合成其表达框,连接入siRNA表达质粒pGCSIL-GFP,同时构建miR-221表达载体pEGFP-miR-221,共同转染293T细胞,Western blot检测转染后293T细胞中Flag蛋白表达,间接反映各靶序列抑制效率,最后将筛选出的抑制效率最好的质粒转染U87胶质瘤细胞,应用细胞增殖曲线及流式细胞仪检测其对U87细胞生长的影响.结果 重组质粒经测序鉴定证明各转录模板完整、正确插入到相应质粒中,并筛选出1号靶序列对miR-221抑制率最高,该组Flag蛋白的表达量仅为对照组的34.3%,同时该序列能有效抑制U87胶质瘤细胞的生长并诱导细胞凋亡,凋亡率达21.89%.结论 成功构建了靶向miR-221的siRNA 表达载体,并筛选出一个抑制效率最好的序列,在体外实验中该序列能有效抑制U87细胞的生长.     

Exosome-delivered miR-221/222 exacerbates tumor liver metastasis by targeting SPINT1 in colorectal cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the progression of many cancers through largely unelucidated mechanisms. The results of our present study identified a gene cluster, miR-221/222, that is constitutively upregulated in serum exosome samples of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) with liver metastasis (LM); this upregulation predicts a poor overall survival rate. Using an in vitro cell coculture model, we demonstrated that CRC exosomes harboring miR-221/222 activate liver hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by suppressing SPINT1 expression. Importantly, miR-221/222 plays a key role in forming a favorable premetastatic niche (PMN) that leads to the aggressive nature of CRC, which was further shown through in vivo studies. Overall, our results show that exosomal miR-221/222 promotes CRC progression and may serve as a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target for CRC with LM.