Overexpression of transmembrane protein 102 implicates poor prognosis and chemoresistance in epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients

Most ovarian cancer patients experience disease recurrence and chemotherapeutic resistance, and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Identifying relevant pathways could reveal new therapeutic targets. Here we examined expression of transmembrane protein 102 (TMEM102), a biomarker of prognosis and chemoresistance, in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and assessed its role in inhibiting tumor cell apoptosis. We performed qRT-PCR to investigate the association of TMEM102 expression with clinical outcomes in 226 EOC patients. We also conducted in vitro studies to explore possible mechanisms through which TMEM102 may influence chemoresistance, including the effects of downregulating TMEM102 expression with small interfering RNA. Serous and high-grade carcinomas expressed significantly higher TMEM102 than normal ovarian tissues. TMEM102 was also overexpressed in patients with advanced-stage disease and chemoresistance. Reduction of TMEM102 expression by small interfering RNA induced ovarian cancer cell apoptosis after cytotoxic treatment. TMEM102 overexpression enhanced chemoresistance via upregulation of heat shock proteins 27, 60, and 70; and survivin, resulting in decreased cytochrome c in the mitochondria and decreased caspase 9 expression. Our results indicate that TMEM102 overexpression may promote chemoresistance via inhibition of a mitochondria-associated apoptotic pathway.     

Improving the prognostic ability of PET/CT SUVmax to identify follicular lymphoma with early treatment failure

Follicular lymphoma (FL) has a high degree of heterogeneity both clinically and molecularly. Early treatment failure (ETF), progression or relapse within 24 months of frontline immunochemotherapy is associated with a poor prognosis in FL. However, the clinical utility of ETF at diagnosis is limited. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) is a metabolic parameter for positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT); nevertheless, the relationship between SUVmax and ETF remains unclear. Thus, identifying early biomarkers that incorporate SUVmax and other clinical correlative variables could be helpful in identifying patients at high risk of ETF. A nomogram consisted of three independent variables, including SUVmax ≥ 12, beta-2 microglobulin > 3 mg/L, and Ki67 > 40%, was established to predict ETF in 127 patients with grade 1, 2, or 3a FL from the First Hospital of Jilin University (training cohort) and was validated using data from the Duke University Medical Center (validation cohort, n=95). The nomogram demonstrated prognostic accuracy in predicting ETF (sensitivity 70.8% and specificity 83.5% in the training cohort; sensitivity 84.2% and specificity 68.4% in the validation cohort). The patients were stratified into three groups: low-, intermediate-, and high-risk. In the training cohort, the corresponding 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 81.7%, 73.4%, and 34.9%, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 97.4%, 87.4%, and 62.3%, respectively. In the validation cohort, the 5-year PFS rates were 77.7%, 52.9%, and 34.8%, and the 5-year OS rates were 96.4%, 94.1%, and 73.7%, respectively. This was the first study to use a nomogram with SUVmax to predict ETF in FL to identify a subset of patients who might benefit from individualized targeted therapy.     

扶桑花抗生育成分对早孕小鼠黄体影响的定量研究

本文处用图像分析仪 ,以核浆比和数密度为指标 ,研究了不同浓度的扶桑花提取物—HR 1对早孕小鼠黄本组织学的影响。结果表明 :(1)小鼠黄体细胞的核浆比和数密度 ,随给药剂量 (0、 4、 10、 10 0、10 0 0mg/kg/d)的增加而增加 ,其中 10 0和 10 0 0mg/kg/d两组的黄体细胞核浆比和数密度明显高于对照组(p <0 .0 5) ;(2 )黄体组织学的定性观察显示 ,给药各组的黄体细胞明显退化 ,细胞缩小 ,细胞界限不清。这些结果提示 ,扶桑花提取物的抗早孕作用与妊娠黄体受损有关。     

葡萄籽原花青素对牙龈上皮细胞炎症介质表达的影响

研究葡萄籽原花青素（GSPs）预处理对脂多糖（LPS）诱导的人牙龈上皮细胞（HGECs）炎症介质表达的影响。     

马鞭草抗早孕作用的动物实验研究

给早孕小鼠灌服马鞭草提取液,光镜观察细胞生长情况,细胞的变化及微血管分布情况。观察其对早孕小鼠子宫、胎盘、胎仔的影响,并作形态描述。实验表明:马鞭草能明显抑制胚胎生长使其固缩死亡,胚胎重量0 .129 ±0 .075 g ,与空白对照组比较有显著差异( P< 0 .05) ;胎仔长0 .32 ±0 .14 cm ,与空白对照组比较有极显著差异( P< 0 .01) ,与米非司酮组比较无显著差异( P> 0 .05) 。光镜显示:胎盘滋养层细胞退变凋亡,可见核固缩,染色质向细胞核膜下集聚。光镜下采用NYD 1000 型图像分析Q 系统测定胎盘组织微血管分布面积,明显小于空白对照组( P< 0 .01) ,与米非司酮组比较无显著差异( P> 0 .05) 。结果表明马鞭草的抗早孕可能与其抗孕酮作用有关。     

缺失值估计的专用软件SOLAS简介

在某些研究场合,如问卷调查、现场调查以及平衡设计的实验等,缺失数据的产生较为普遍,常会严重影响统计分析的效率甚至导致分析结果错误。因而,缺失数据的估计非常重要。本研究主要介绍缺失值替代的专用软件SOLA S独到的缺失值估计功能。1软件简介SOLA S是美国S tatistica l So     

Disulfiram-loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles for treating inflammatory diseases

Sepsis is a dysregulated immune response to infection and potentially leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction, which is often seen in serious Covid-19 patients. Disulfiram (DSF), an old drug that has been used to treat alcohol addiction for decades, has recently been identified as a potent inhibitor of the gasdermin D (GSDMD)-induced pore formation that causes pyroptosis and inflammatory cytokine release. Therefore, DSF represents a promising therapeutic for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein with potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities that acts by neutralizing circulating endotoxins and activating cellular responses. In addition, LF has been well exploited as a drug nanocarrier and targeting ligands. In this study, we developed a DSF-LF nanoparticulate system (DSF-LF NP) for combining the immunosuppressive activities of both DSF and LF. DSF-LF NPs could effectively block pyroptosis and inflammatory cytokine release from macrophages. Treatment with DSF-LF NPs showed remarkable therapeutic effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis. In addition, this therapeutic strategy was also applied to treat ulcerative colitis (UC), and substantial treatment efficacy was achieved in a murine colitis model. The underlying mode of action of these DSF-LF-NPs may contribute to efficiently suppressing macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses and ameliorating the complications caused by sepsis and UC. As macrophage pyroptosis plays a pivotal role in inflammation, this safe and effective biomimetic nanomedicine may offer a versatile therapeutic strategy for treating various inflammatory diseases by repurposing DSF.     

Predictive Factors for a Successful Treatment Outcome in Patients with Different Voiding Dysfunction Subtypes Who Received Urethral Sphincter Botulinum Injection

Voiding dysfunction is a common but bothersome problem in both men and women. Urethral sphincter botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections could serve as an option in refractory cases. This study analyzed the efficacy and outcome predictors of the injections in patients with functional, non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction. Patients who received urethral sphincter BoNT-A injection for refractory voiding dysfunction due to detrusor underactivity (DU) or urethral sphincter dysfunction were retrospectively reviewed. A successful outcome was defined as a marked improvement as reported in the global response assessment. The study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of urethral sphincter BoNT-A injections and measured the changes in urodynamic parameters after the procedure in the patients. A total of 181 patients including 138 women and 43 men were included. The overall success rate was 64%. A lower success rate was noted in patients with DU compared to those with urethral sphincter dysfunction in both genders. In the multivariable analysis, recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) and bladder voiding efficiency (BVE) were positive predictors for a successful outcome, while DU was a negative predictor. Urethral sphincter BoNT-A injection is an effective treatment for refractory non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction. Baseline BVE and history of recurrent UTI positively predict a successful outcome. DU is a negative outcome predictor.     

Effect of rifampin and itraconazole on the pharmacokinetics of zanubrutinib (a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor) in Asian and non-Asian healthy subjects

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology - Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111) is a potent Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor with promising clinical activity in B-cell malignancies. Zanubrutinib was shown...