肝特异性miR-122调控肝脏疾病的研究进展

miRNA-122(miR-122)是肝特异性微小RNA,在肝脏的生理功能和疾病方面都有重要的作用。阐述了miR-122与脂肪性肝炎的相关性及可能机制,探讨了miR-122表达水平的改变参与调控HCV和HBV感染的作用及机制,并归纳了miR-122在肝细胞癌(HCC)的发生发展中的作用。认为miR-122在肝脏中的诸多功能可为未来研发治疗肝脏疾病的药物提供新的靶点及新的治疗策略。     

酶标仪室内质量控制

目的 建立一种简单的酶标仪室内质量控制方法。方法 使用0.0125g/L的甲基橙溶液作为质控物，用x^--s质控图法对酶标仪进行质控。结果 通过质控图和通道间差比较可及时发现仪器的测定误差，不受免疫检验过程中其它试验步骤的影响。结论 该方法操作简单、试剂容易获得，可以在各级实验室推广使用。     

经胸壁入路微型腹腔镜甲状腺切除术并发症防治体会

目的探讨经胸入路微型腹腔镜甲状腺切除术并发症的预防和处理。方法对应用经胸入路微型腹腔镜甲状腺切除术的病人可能出现和已经出现的并发症进行预防和处理。结果经胸入路微型腹腔镜甲状腺切除术共33例，术中大出血、中转开放1例，头晕、呕吐2例，吞咽疼痛3例，一过性声音嘶哑1例，胸前皮肤红肿、淤斑1例。切口过度瘢痕增生1例，术中、后均无死亡病例。结论熟悉甲状腺的解剖结构，熟练细致的腹腔镜操作技术，显露喉返神经，良好的麻醉方式，是预防和减少各种并发症发生的有效途径。     

Three‐Dimensional Study of the Facial Canal Using Microcomputed Tomography for Improved Anatomical Comprehension

The aims of this study were to determine the various dimensions of the normal facial canal and to identify the spatial relationships between the facial canal and its adjacent structures using microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) imaging and three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction. The petrous parts of 54 temporal bones were scanned using micro‐CT with a slice thickness of 35 μm. The serial micro‐CT images were used to reconstruct 3D volumes of the facial canal and the bony labyrinth with the aid of computer software. These volumes were used to measure 31 dimensions of the facial canal and its spatial relationships with adjacent structures. The length of the meatal segment, the tympanic segment, and the mastoid segment were significantly larger in males than in females (p < 0.05). The narrowest portions of the facial canal were immediately lateral to the meatal foramen in the labyrinthine segment and the midpoint of the tympanic segment. The distance between the origin of the canal for the chorda tympani nerve and midpoint of the stylomastoid foramen was 35.3% of the length of the mastoid segment, and the angle between the tympanic segment and the lateral semicircular canal was 16.3°. The angle between the mastoid segment and the canal for the chorda tympani nerve could be classified into two groups: <180° and >180°. These findings represent supplemental data for improving the detailed understanding of the facial canal anatomy. Anat Rec, 297:1808–1816, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Distinct Patterns of Genetic Variations in Potential Functional Elements in Long Noncoding RNAs

Non‐protein‐coding RNAs have increasingly been shown to be an important class of regulatory RNAs having significant roles in regulation of gene expression. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) gene family presently constitutes a large number of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) loci almost equaling the number of protein‐coding genes. Nevertheless, the biological roles and mechanisms of the majority of lncRNAs are poorly understood, with exceptions of a very few well‐studied candidates. The availability of genome‐scale variation datasets, and increasing number of variant loci from genome‐wide association studies falling in lncRNA loci have motivated us to understand the patterns of genomic variations in lncRNA loci, their potential functional correlates, and selection in populations. In the present study, we have performed a comprehensive analysis of genomic variations in lncRNA loci. We analyzed for patterns and distributions of genomic variations with respect to potential functional domains in lncRNAs. The analysis reveals a distinct distribution of variations in subclasses of long ncRNAs and in potential functional domains of lncRNAs. We further examined signals of selections and allele frequencies of these prioritized set of lncRNAs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and comprehensive large‐scale analysis of genetic variations in long ncRNAs.     

长链非编码RNA在消化系统肿瘤中的研究进展

长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）是一系列广泛转录自人及其他哺乳动物基因组的长度超过200 nt的核苷酸片段,通常没有蛋白编码功能,一度被认为是基因组的转录“噪音”。近年来一些 lncRNA 被发现具有多种生物学功能,成为分子生物学领域研究的热点。已经在多种肿瘤中发现有lncRNA的异常表达,并且异常表达的 lncRNA 和肿瘤的复发、转移及预后有关。本文中将探讨近期发现的与消化系统肿瘤相关的lncRNA,部分着重于具有促癌作用的lncRNA,以期为消化系统肿瘤的诊断、预后及分子治疗提供线索。     

Preparation of differently sized injectable collagen micro-scaffolds

Collagen scaffolds have been widely used as biomaterials for tissue engineering. In general, application of scaffolds requires surgery. In this study, we describe a new and simple technique to prepare porous micro-scaffolds from type I collagen fibrils which can be injected, thus preventing surgery. The size of the micro-scaffolds could be easily controlled using sieves with varying cut-offs. EDC-NHS crosslinking was essential to stabilize the collagen micro-scaffolds. Micro-scaffolds were highly porous and could be injected through small diameter needles (18-21 gauge). Collagen micro-scaffolds may be used as injectables for the local delivery of effector molecules and/or cells, thus creating specific niches to enhance local tissue regeneration.     

Chebulagic acid,a COX–LOX dual inhibitor isolated from the fruits of Terminalia chebula Retz., induces apoptosis in COLO-205 cell line

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Terminalia chebula has an esteemed origin in Indian mythology; its fruits are used to treat many diseases such as digestive, diabetes, colic pain, chronic cough, sore throat, asthma, etc.

Aim of the study

The water or ethanolic extracts of the fruits were reported to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and radio-protector properties. The present study is to isolate and identify the compounds that inhibit COX and 5-LOX, the key enzymes involved in inflammation and carcinogenesis.

Materials and methods

The ethanolic extract of the fruits was fractionated by RP-HPLC and fractions were tested for enzyme inhibition activity against COX and 5-LOX. One of the fractionated compounds showed potent dual inhibition against COX and 5-LOX. It was identified as chebulagic acid by LC–MS, NMR and IR analyses. The chebulagic acid was also tested for anti-proliferative activity.

Results

Chebulagic acid showed potent COX–LOX dual inhibition activity with IC₅₀ values of 15 ± 0.288, 0.92 ± 0.011 and 2.1 ± 0.057 μM for COX-1, COX-2 and 5-LOX respectively. It also showed anti-proliferative activity against HCT-15, COLO-205, MDA-MB-231, DU-145 and K562 cell lines. Further mechanistic studies on COLO-205 cells revealed induction of apoptosis by chebulagic acid.

Conclusions

Chebulagic acid, a COX-2 and 5-LOX dual inhibitor isolated from the fruits of Terminalia chebula, induces apoptosis in COLO-205 cells.