Melatonin induces apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells through HDAC4 nuclear import mediated by CaMKII inactivation

Melatonin induces apoptosis in many different cancer cell lines, including colorectal cancer. However, the precise mechanisms involved remain largely unresolved. In this study, we provide evidence to reveal a new mechanism by which melatonin induces apoptosis of colorectal cancer LoVo cells. Melatonin at pharmacological concentrations significantly suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner. The observed apoptosis was accompanied by the melatonin‐induced dephosphorylation and nuclear import of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4). Pretreatment with a HDAC4‐specific siRNA effectively attenuated the melatonin‐induced apoptosis, indicating that nuclear localization of HDAC4 is required for melatonin‐induced apoptosis. Moreover, constitutively active Ca²⁺/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II alpha (CaMKIIα) abrogated the melatonin‐induced HDAC4 nuclear import and apoptosis of LoVo cells. Furthermore, melatonin decreased H3 acetylation on bcl‐2 promoter, leading to a reduction of bcl‐2 expression, whereas constitutively active CaMKIIα(T286D) or HDAC4‐specific siRNA abrogated the effect of melatonin. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence that melatonin‐induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer LoVo cells largely depends on the nuclear import of HDAC4 and subsequent H3 deacetylation via the inactivation of CaMKIIα.     

Knowledge and Usage of Emergency Contraceptives Among University Students in Ghana

Contraceptive use is an important strategy for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and avoidance of induced abortion. Of all the contraception methods, emergency contraceptive (EC) offers the last chance to achieve this. However, few studies have documented the use of EC among young people in Ghana. This study explored knowledge and usage of EC as well as the factors associated with it among University of Cape Coast students. Data were obtained on the knowledge and usage of ECs among University of Cape Coast students in 2013. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between students’ socio-demographic characteristics and EC knowledge and use. More male students (72 %) than females (59 %) were sexually active. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents had ever heard of EC and 36 % had ever used EC. Although males were more likely to be sexually active, females were more likely to have knowledge of EC use compared to males. The study underscores the need to increase awareness regarding EC among University students in order to offer them the opportunity that EC provides if other forms of contraceptives are missed.     

Esophageal Calibration with Soft Orogasrtric Tube During Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication may Reduce Postoperative Transient Dysphagia

Gastroesophageal reflux is the most common benign disorder of the esophagus and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has become the standard surgical treatment for its treatment. In our area, where the use of bougie calibration is debatable, postoperative dysphagia is encountered often after this surgery although it is usually not permanent. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using a soft silicone tube 39 F in diameter for esophageal calibration during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication on the incidence of postoperative dysphagia. We divided cases scheduled to undergo laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication between January 2009 and November 2010 into two groups, each consisting 25 patients. Esophageal calibration with a 39 F silicone orogastric tube was used for the first group while there was no operative calibration in the second group. The surgical duration was recorded; the presence and severity of the postoperative dysphagia was calculated by using a dysphagia severity scoring system during the 1-year postoperative follow-up. The dysphagia severity scores were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2 on the postoperative second day and at the end of the first week and first month. We did not find a significant difference at the end of the 6-month and first year. There was also no significant difference regarding surgery duration. The use of a soft orogastric tube 39 F in diameter for esophagus calibration during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative transient dysphagia without affecting the duration of surgery. Although dysphagia gradually resolves in the majority of patients, a safe and easy calibration method for its prevention is worth developing, and we believe that the use of our method in larger series could be beneficial.     

Association of genetic variants at MYP10 and MYP15 with high myopia in a Han Chinese population

Background: Previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) has revealed the association between MYP10 at 8p23 and MYP15 at 10q21.1 and high myopia (HM) in a French population. This study is managed to discover the connection between some single nucleotide polymorphism (located at MYP10 and MYP15) and Han Chinese HM.

Methods and Results: This case-control association study contained 1673 samples, including 869 ophthalmic patients and 804 controls. Twelve tag SNPs have been selected from the MYP10 and MYP15 loci and genotyped by SNaPshot method. Among 12 SNPs, rs4840437 and rs6989782 in TNKS gene were found significant association with HM. Carriers of rs4840437G allele and rs4840437GG genotype created a low risk of high myopia (P = .036, OR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.71–0.93; P = .016, OR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.56–0.96; respectively). Carriers of rs6989782T allele and rs6989782TT+CT genotype also had a decreased risk of high myopia (P = .048, OR = 0.82, 95%CI = 0.71–0.94; P = .006, OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.59–0.92; respectively). Other 10 SNPs displaced nonsignificant association with HM. Additionally, the risk haplotype AC and the protective haplotype GT, generated by two SNPs in TNKS, were considerably more likely to be association with HM (for AC, P = .002 and OR = 1.26; for GT, P = .027 and OR = 0.84).

Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that some heritable variants in the TNKS gene are associated with HM in the Han population. The possible functions of TNKS in the development and pathogenesis of hereditary high myopia still require further researches to identify.     

聪耳通窍汤联合耳针对老年神经性耳鸣近远期疗效观察

目的探讨聪耳通窍汤联合耳针治疗老年神经性耳鸣患者的近远期疗效。方法选取耳鼻喉科门诊收治的老年神经性耳鸣患者136例,按随机数字表法分组,对照组68例予以耳针治疗,研究组68例在对照组基础上予以聪耳通窍汤治疗。检测比较两组间近、远期临床疗效、甲襞微循环指标、血液流变学指标以及不良反应发生率。结果治疗后,对照组总有效率为67.64%(46/68)低于研究组总有效率83.82%(57/68),具有统计学意义(P<0.05);随访6个月后,对照组总有效率64.71%(44/68)低于研究组总有效率89.71%(61/68),具有统计学意义(P<0.05);与对照组比较,研究组治疗后甲襞微循环襻周积分、管襻积分、流态积分及总积分较低,治疗后血浆黏度、高切全血黏度、低切全血黏度及红细胞压积较低,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗中出现的不良反应为恶心、腹胀、针刺部位疼痛,两组间不良反应发生率无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论聪耳通窍汤联合耳针治疗老年神经性耳鸣患者的近远期疗效均较好,能明显改善患者微循环状态及血液流变学指标,减轻内耳循环障碍,具有较高安全性。