Antitumor Activity of Small Activating RNAs Induced PAWR Gene Activation in Human Bladder Cancer Cells

Small double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) have been proved to effectively up-regulate the expression of particular genes by targeting their promoters. These small dsRNAs were also termed small activating RNAs (saRNAs). We previously reported that several small double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) targeting the PRKC apoptosis WT1 regulator (PAWR) promoter can up-regulate PAWR gene expression effectively in human cancer cells. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antitumor potential of PAWR gene induction by these saRNAs in bladder cancer. Promisingly, we found that up-regulation of PAWR by saRNA inhibited the growth of bladder cancer cells by inducing cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest which was related to inhibition of anti‑apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and inactivation of the NF-κB and Akt pathways. The activation of the caspase cascade and the regulation of cell cycle related proteins also supported the efficacy of the treatment. Moreover, our study also showed that these saRNAs cooperated with cisplatin in the inhibition of bladder cancer cells. Overall, these data suggest that activation of PAWR by saRNA may have a therapeutic benefit for bladder cancer.     

Nanomaterials‐Based Surface Protein Imprinted Polymers: Synthesis and Medical Applications

Proteins are an essential part of organisms and play a very important role in life activities. Molecular imprinting technology (MIT) can prepare functional materials with specific identification abilities. In recent years, various molecularly imprinted materials have been widely used in the fields of solid‐phase extraction, bionic sensing, and on‐line analysis. Due to the limit of the properties of protein macromolecules, the development of MIT for protein molecules is relatively slow. With the continuous deepening on the research of nanomaterials and surface molecular imprinting technology, a large numbers of interesting and successful strategies appear on imprinted protein. Some surface protein imprinting materials with excellent properties and unique functions are applied in proteomics, biological imaging, medical diagnosis, and other fields, showing great potential application value. This paper summarizes the latest preparation and analysis strategies of surface protein imprinting based on nanomaterials, introduces medical application of protein imprinting materials in sample separation and purification, proteomics, biomedical and other aspects in recent years, and looks forward to the development opportunities and challenges in protein imprinting field.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of TRAF2 and TRAF5 gene in ankylosing spondylitis: a case–control study

Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Objective To investigate the role of eight locus polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and TRAF5 gene and their...     

Induced regulatory T cells suppress Tc1 cells through TGF-β signaling to ameliorate STZ-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing pancreatic β cells. In addition to well-established pathogenic effector T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) have also been shown to be defective in T1D. Thus, an increasing number of therapeutic approaches are being developed to target Tregs. However, the role and mechanisms of TGF-β-induced Tregs (iTregs) in T1D remain poorly understood. Here, using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced preclinical T1D mouse model, we found that iTregs could ameliorate the development of T1D and preserve β cell function. The preventive effect was associated with the inhibition of type 1 cytotoxic T (Tc1) cell function and rebalancing the Treg/Tc1 cell ratio in recipients. Furthermore, we showed that the underlying mechanisms were due to the TGF-β-mediated combinatorial actions of mTOR and TCF1. In addition to the preventive role, the therapeutic effects of iTregs on the established STZ-T1D and nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse models were tested, which revealed improved β cell function. Our findings therefore provide key new insights into the basic mechanisms involved in the therapeutic role of iTregs in T1D.     

Effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation on cognitive and motor functions in poststroke patients

The aim of the study was to explore the effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation on cognitive and motor functions in poststroke patients. All patients were divided into Group A and Group B based on different interventions (Group A: acupuncture + conventional rehabilitation, Group B: conventional rehabilitation alone). Acupuncture was conducted once a day, five times a week for 8 weeks, and rehabilitation (including physical therapy and occupational therapy) was conducted for 2 hr per session, once a day, five times a week for 8 weeks. Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) were used to assess the motor and cognitive functions at baseline and the end of 8 weeks. After the intervention, FMA and MMSE scores were improved significantly in the two groups (p <.05), compared with the scores prior to intervention. After 8 weeks of intervention, a statistically significant difference in the FMA and MMSE scores was observed between the Group A and the Group B. The results suggested that the combined intervention is more effective than the conventional rehabilitation alone in improving cognitive and motor functions in poststroke patients.     

Potential role of imaging for assessing acute pancreatitis-induced acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of acute pancreatitis (AP) that is associated with increased mortality. Conventional assessment of AKI is based on changes in serum creatinine concentration and urinary output. However, these examinations have limited accuracy and sensitivity for the diagnosis of early-stage AKI. This review summarizes current evidence on the use of advanced imaging approaches and artificial intelligence (AI) for the early prediction and diagnosis of AKI in patients with AP. CT scores, CT post-processing technology, Doppler ultrasound, and AI technology provide increasingly valuable information for the diagnosis of AP-induced AKI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also has potential for the evaluation of AP-induced AKI. For the accurate diagnosis of early-stage AP-induced AKI, more studies are needed that use these new techniques and that use AI in combination with advanced imaging technologies.     

基于三维预测剂量的自调节调强放疗自动计划方法

目的 开发一种基于预测剂量的自调节调强放射治疗自动计划方法,以增强自动计划的鲁棒性。方法 利用3D U-Res-Net_B网络预测出三维剂量分布后,在直接子野优化的每次迭代中先基于上次迭代结果计算当前剂量,再联合预测剂量计算目标剂量,然后以此为目标进行优化。完成所有迭代或满足循环退出条件后,得到最终的治疗计划。在30例直肠癌病例上进行测试,验证算法的效果。结果 临床计划治疗靶区的V_100%均值和标准差为（95.03±0.91）%,自动计划为（94.67±1.96）%,接近临床值（P>0.05）,而预测值为（92.90±2.13）%,与临床计划的差异具有统计学意义（t=29.0,P<0.05）;自动计划在小肠V₃₅、膀胱V₄₀、股骨头的V₂₀~V₄₀等多项指标上低于预测值和临床值,且差异具有统计学意义（t=4.5~118.0,P<0.05）,在其他危及器官的指标上与临床值的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 本方法增强了自动计划的鲁棒性,提高了其应对复杂情况的能力。     

水中总α放射性测量的制源厚度及效率校准研究

目的 研究制源厚度及效率校准对水中总α放射性测量结果的影响。方法 分别采用²⁴¹Am和天然铀标准溶液加入水样制备样品源、²⁴¹Am标准物质粉末直接铺样制备标准源,研究质量厚度与探测效率的关系、质量厚度对样品源净计数率的影响、有效厚度的测定以及有效厚度法和厚源法对同一水样测量结果的影响。结果 在水样中分别加入²⁴¹Am和天然铀标准溶液测得水样的有效厚度均与经验值4 mg/cm²基本一致;水样的α计数率在质量厚度为2A~5A mg/cm²时近似处于线性增长趋势,>10A mg/cm²时计数率基本平稳不再增加（A为样品盘面积,cm²）;分别采用有效厚度法和厚源法测量同一水样的总α放射性,铺样在质量厚度为10A mg/cm²时,两种方法的结果最一致。结论 在分析水样总α放射性时,为减少因样品源质量厚度不同引起的总α计数率偏差、因标准源质量厚度不同所致的探测效率偏差,铺样厚度均选择为10A mg/cm²较为合理。