Extracellular ATP promotes angiogenesis and adhesion of TNBC cells to endothelial cells via upregulation of CTGF

Our previous works have indicated that extracellular ATP is an important prometastasis factor. However, the molecular mechanism involved needs to be further studied. We demonstrated that extracellular ATP treatment could upregulate the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in both triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and endothelial cells (ECs). Extracellular ATP stimulated the migration of TNBC cells and ECs, and angiogenesis of ECs via the P2Y2––YAP‐CTGF axis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) stimulated TNBC cell adhesion to ECs and transmigration through the EC layer via CTGF by upregulation of integrin β1 on TNBC cells and VCAM‐1 on ECs. Both apyrase (ATP‐diphosphohydrolase) and CTGF shRNA treatments could inhibit the metastasis of inoculated tumors to lung and liver in a mouse model, and these treated tumors had fewer blood vessels. Collectively, our data indicated that extracellular ATP promotes tumor angiogenesis and the interactions between TNBC cells and ECs through upregulation of CTGF, thereby stimulating TNBC metastasis. The pleiotropic effects of ATP in angiogenesis and cell adhesion suggest that extracellular ATP or CTGF could be an effective target for TNBC therapy.     

“Pincer movement”: Reversing cisplatin resistance based on simultaneous glutathione depletion and glutathione S-transferases inhibition by redox-responsive degradable organosilica hybrid nanoparticles

The therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin has been restricted by drug resistance of cancers. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) detoxification of cisplatin under the catalysis of glutathione S-transferases (GST) plays important roles in the development of cisplatin resistance. Herein, a strategy of “pincer movement” based on simultaneous GSH depletion and GST inhibition is proposed to enhance cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Specifically, a redox-responsive nanomedicine based on disulfide-bridged degradable organosilica hybrid nanoparticles is developed and loaded with cisplatin and ethacrynic acid (EA), a GST inhibitor. Responding to high level of intracellular GSH, the hybrid nanoparticles can be gradually degraded due to the break of disulfide bonds, which further promotes drug release. Meanwhile, the disulfide-mediated GSH depletion and EA-induced GST inhibition cooperatively prevent cellular detoxification of cisplatin and reverse drug resistance. Moreover, the nanomedicine is integrated into microneedles for intralesional drug delivery against cisplatin-resistant melanoma. The in vivo results show that the nanomedicine-loaded microneedles can achieve significant GSH depletion, GST inhibition, and consequent tumor growth suppression. Overall, this research provides a promising strategy for the construction of new-type nanomedicines to overcome cisplatin resistance, which extends the biomedical application of organosilica hybrid nanomaterials and enables more efficient chemotherapy against drug-resistant cancers.KEY WORDS: Cancer therapy, Cisplatin, Drug resistance, Glutathione depletion, Glutathione S-transferases, Disulfide bonds, Organosilica hybrid nanoparticles, Ethacrynic acid     

Retraction: In situ Raman investigation of the phase transition of NaVO2F2 under variable temperature conditions

Retraction of ‘In situ Raman investigation of the phase transition of NaVO₂F₂ under variable temperature conditions’ by Sa Zhang et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 23550–23556, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA02827H.

We, the named authors, hereby wholly retract this RSC Advances article due to issues with the equipment used during the research and the resulting errors due to an unstable temperature control system.A Raman spectrometer was used for the testing outlined in this research, utilising coupled variable temperatures to investigate the phase transition of NaVO₂F₂. The temperature change was controlled by a THMS600 high and low-temperature sample stand. After the publication of this research, the unstable temperature was found to be caused by the system of the THMS600 sample stage, which lead to the temperature error in the analysis of phase transformation during the heating process. This has led to errors in the analysis, and therefore the conclusions of this paper are not supported. The authors also regret that the funding information was incorrectly shown in the original article.Signed: Sa Zhang, Yan Li, Liuqing Huang, Liuying Huang and Xuetao Luo, 23rd June 2022.Retraction endorsed by Laura Fisher, Executive Editor, RSC Advances.     

近五年针刺治疗慢性疼痛机制研究进展

针刺镇痛在临床上被广泛应用。针刺的神经传导通路与机体痛觉传导通路基本相似,对周围神经和中枢神经均有一定的影响,因此推断这可能是针刺缓解疼痛的一种调节机制。本文总结了近五年针刺治疗各种疼痛疾病的机制研究,从传导通路上分析得知针刺能激发神经元活性,改善周围神经的病理变化,增加神经元之间突触传递,修复受损的周围神经以缓解疼痛。此外,应用针刺或加用电针治疗痛症,能改善大脑内与疼痛相关各功能区之间的联系,对镇痛起到一定的中枢调控作用。在研究中还发现针刺能减少病变区炎性反应和细胞凋亡,增加细胞自噬和血管调节因子的表达。这些反应之间常存在一定的相互作用,共同缓解机体疼痛症状。然而,临床中针刺手法及辅助方法众多,治疗选取的相关穴位各异,根据疾病定位定性后选择最优组合方式是今后总结经验的重要目标。     

Avian IRF1 and IRF7 Play Overlapping and Distinct Roles in Regulating IFN-Dependent and -Independent Antiviral Responses to Duck Tembusu Virus Infection

Avian interferon regulatory factors 1 and 7 (IRF1 and IRF7) play important roles in the host’s innate immunity against viral infection. Our previous study revealed that duck tembusu virus (DTMUV) infection of chicken fibroblasts (DF1) and duck embryo fibroblasts (DEFs) induced the expression of a variety of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), including VIPERIN, IFIT5, CMPK2, IRF1, and IRF7. IRF1 was further shown to play a significant role in regulating the up-expression of VIPERIN, IFIT5, and CMPK2 and inhibiting DTMUV replication. In this study, we confirm, through overexpression and knockout approaches, that both IRF1 and IRF7 inhibit DTMUV replication, mainly via regulation of type I IFN expression, as well as the induction of IRF1, VIPERIN, IFIT5, CMPK2, and MX1. In addition, IRF1 directly promoted the expression of VIPERIN and CMPK2 in an IFN-independent manner when IRF7 and type I IFN signaling were undermined. We also found that non-structural protein 2B (NS2B) of DTMUV was able to inhibit the induction of IFN-β mRNA triggered by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection or poly(I:C) treatment, revealing a strategy employed by DTMUV to evade host’s immunosurveillance. This study demonstrates that avian IRF7 and IRF1 play distinct roles in the regulation of type I IFN response during DTMUV infection.     

三七总皂甙对实验性脑缺血脑血流及血脑屏障的影响作用

目的 观察三七总皂甙对脑缺血后再灌流期间血脑屏障及脑血流的影响。方法 利用大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌流和全脑缺血再灌流损伤两种实验模型。结果 与相应对照组比较，不论是全脑缺血还是局灶性脑缺血1h后再灌注3d，应用三七总皂甙的各组动物及水肿明显减轻，血脑屏障通透性改善，大脑局部血流量显著增加。结论 三七总皂甙对脑缺血后脑水肿、血脑屏障、大脑局部血流量具有保护作用。     

Decoupling location specificity from perceptual learning of orientation discrimination

Perceptual learning of orientation discrimination is reported to be precisely specific to the trained retinal location. This specificity is often taken as evidence for localizing the site of orientation learning to retinotopic cortical areas V1/V2. However, the extant physiological evidence for training improved orientation turning in V1/V2 neurons is controversial and weak. Here we demonstrate substantial transfer of orientation learning across retinal locations, either from the fovea to the periphery or amongst peripheral locations. Most importantly, we found that a brief pretest at a peripheral location before foveal training enabled complete transfer of learning, so that additional practice at that peripheral location resulted in no further improvement. These results indicate that location specificity in orientation learning depends on the particular training procedures, and is not necessarily a genuine property of orientation learning. We suggest that non-retinotopic high brain areas may be responsible for orientation learning, consistent with the extant neurophysiological data.     

胆道发育不良患儿的临床病理特点回顾

目的 探讨胆道发育不良患儿的临床表现、病理特点、诊断、治疗及预后,提高对该病的认识.方法 回顾性分析天津市儿童医院外科2010年6月至2016年11月收治的5例胆道发育不良患儿的发病情况、治疗过程,并通过复习国内外文献对胆道发育不良的疾病特点进行总结.结果 5例胆道发育不良患儿均因生后不久出现皮肤、巩膜黄染,内科治疗病情无改善入外科治疗;肝功能检查见胆红素水平升高,以直接胆红素升高为主,伴肝酶不同程度增高;超声检查示胆囊干瘪未充盈或胆囊腔狭小,胆总管显示不清.5例患儿行手术探查,术中造影显示肝内、外胆道通畅,管腔纤细;病理检查见部分汇管区中小叶间胆管缺失,小叶间胆管/汇管区＜0.5,诊断为胆道发育不良,予留置胆囊引流管,术后抗炎、补液、保肝及对症治疗.经2个月～6年门诊随访,5例患儿均存活至今,其中3例黄疸清除,1例皮肤仍黄染并伴有瘙痒,1例未退黄.结论 术前检查提示梗阻性黄疸患儿,术中造影提示胆道纤细,结合病理检查证实小叶间胆管/汇管区比例＜0.5,可以明确胆道发育不良的诊断.     

Safety and efficacy of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (SCT200) as second-line therapy in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: The mainstay treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) involves chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, alternative therapies are required for patients who are refractory or intolerant to existing therapies.Methods: In this single-arm, multicenter, open-label phase Ib study, 30 patients received an intravenous infusion of SCT200, an antiepidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) monoclonal antibody, 6.0 mg/kg once a week for 6 weeks, followed by 8.0 mg/kg once every 2 weeks u...     

近红外光谱法快速测定山银花中四种有机酸

目的：建立近红外光谱（Near-Infrared Spectroscopy,NIR）快速检测山银花提取过程中四种有机酸含量的方法。方法：采集山银花NIR图谱,以高效液相色谱法为参考方法测定绿原酸、异绿原酸A、异绿原酸B和异绿原酸C的含量。采用偏最小二乘法（Partial Least square,PLS）建立定量校正模型。结果：校正模型中绿原酸、异绿原酸A、异绿原酸B和异绿原酸C的相关系数R分别为0.997 6、0.997 0、0.979 2、0.998 9,内部交叉验证均方根误差（RMSECV）分别为0.039 4、0.014 4、0.007 3、0.007 8;预测结果中上述成分对应的相关系数分别为0.892 0、0.827 9、0.878 4、0.995 1,预测均方根误差（RMSEP）分别为0.045 0、0.013 5、0.007 8、0.008 0,相对预测 偏差（RSEP）分别为0.351 0%、0.018 0%、0.040 0%、0.005 7%。结论：所建近红外检测方法快速、准确,可用于山 银花四种有机酸的快速检测。