Proteomic Profiling of Small Extracellular Vesicles Isolated from the Plasma of Vietnamese Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Reveals Some Potential Biomarkers

Background: Considering the poor prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the objective of this study was to examine the potential of plasma-derived vesicles as a source of lung cancer-specific proteins. Extracellular vesicle (EV) cargos are specific to the source cells, hence they have the potential of being a source of cancer-specific proteins.  Methods: The proteins differently expressed in cancer were determined and derived from EVs isolated from the plasma of NSCLC patients at the National Lung Hospital. To this end, purification was done using gel filtration chromatography and ultracentrifugation. In addition, nano liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was used for analyzing. Results: Fifty-seven EV-derived proteins related to NSCLC were highlighted in this research. Some of them have not been addressed before, such as EEF1A1 (elongation factor 1-α1), KPNB1 (Importin subunit beta 1), SRC (proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase) and ACTC1 (actin, alpha cardiac muscle 1). This list was further confirmed through a comparison with ExoCarta and Vesiclepedia. Conclusion: This study is the first work to show the involvement of several novel proteins of small EV (EEF1A1, KPNB1, SRC, and ACTC1) in the progression of NSCLC. The results suggested that they could serve as novel biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer in the future.     

葛根素联合复方樟柳碱注射液对眼底病患者的治疗效果及对血液流变学指标的影响

目的研究葛根素联合复方樟柳碱注射液对眼底病患者的治疗效果及对血液流变学指标的影响。方法选择2013年4月至2014年4月在绵阳市第三人民医院眼科进行眼底病治疗的患者100例,并按入院顺序抽签随机分为观察组和对照组,各50例。对照组进行葛根素常规治疗(葛根素注射液0.4 g加入生理盐水250 m L中静脉滴注,每日1次,1个疗程14 d,1个疗程后停药3 d,再进行下一疗程),观察组在此基础上联合复方樟柳碱注射液进行治疗(采用复方樟柳碱2 m L在患者颞浅动脉旁行皮下注射,每日1次,1个疗程14 d,完成1个疗程后停药3 d,再换肾俞穴进行注射,1个疗程后停药3 d,再进行第一个疗程的用药)。3个疗程后,比较两组患者治疗前后血液流变学的变化、术后复发率和不良反应情况及患者的治疗效果。结果治疗后,观察组全血黏度为(4.82±0.41)m Pa·s明显低于对照组的(5.56±0.39)m Pa·s,红细胞聚集指数(3.80±0.41)明显低于对照组(4.77±0.55),纤维蛋白原(4.20±0.24)g/L明显低于对照组(5.25±0.43)g/L,差异均有统计学意义(t=9.247,9.998,15.077,P<0.01);观察组患者治疗后复发率为2.0%(1/50),不良反应的总发生率为4.0%(2/50),分别低于对照组14.0%(7/50)和18.0%(9/50)(P<0.01);观察组患者的总有效率为98.0%(49/50),显著高于对照组的82.0%(41/50)(P<0.05)。结论葛根素和复方樟柳碱注射液联合治疗眼底病患者,可改善患者血液流变学,并提高临床治疗效果。     

高乳酸血症-卒中样发作综合征型线粒体脑肌病一家系两代四例报告

线粒体脑肌病属于罕见性母系遗传病，本文回顾性分析了1家4例高乳酸血症-卒中样发作综合征（MELAS）型线粒体脑肌病患者，其主要表现为卒中样发作、头痛、癫痫、高乳酸血症、肌肉不耐受疲劳、高级智能下降、听力下降和身材矮小等，结合特征性影像学变化、基因检测及肌肉活检明确诊断，并结合文献对只有女儿能将其线粒体DNA（mt-DNA）传递给下一代的母系遗传MELAS型线粒体脑肌病临床特点进行了总结分析，旨在帮助临床认识此病，进一步提高MELAS型线粒体脑肌病的临床诊断率。     

Protein kinase Cδ mediates trimethyltin-induced neurotoxicity in mice in vivo via inhibition of glutathione defense mechanism

We investigated whether protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in trimethyltin (TMT)-induced neurotoxicity. TMT treatment (2.8 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased PKCδ expression out of PKC isozymes (i.e., α, βI, βII, δ, and ?) in the hippocampus of wild-type (WT) mice. Consistently, treatment with TMT resulted in significant increases in cleaved PKCδ expression. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition (PKCδ knockout or rottlerin) was less susceptible to TMT-induced seizures than WT mice. TMT treatment increased glutathione oxidation, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and levels of reactive oxygen species. These effects were more pronounced in the WT mice than in PKCδ knockout mice. In addition, the ability of TMT to induce nuclear translocation of Nrf2, Nrf2 DNA-binding activity, and upregulation of γ-glutamylcysteine ligase was significantly increased in the PKCδ knockout mice and rottlerin (10 or 20 mg/kg, p.o. × 6)-treated WT mice. Furthermore, neuronal degeneration (as shown by nuclear chromatin clumping and TUNEL staining) in WT mice was most pronounced 2 days after TMT. At the same time, TMT-induced inhibition of phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling was evident, thereby decreasing phospho-Bad, expression of Bcl-xL and Bcl-2, and the interaction between phospho-Bad and 14-3-3 protein, and increasing Bax expression and caspase-3 cleavage were observed. Rottlerin or PKCδ knockout significantly protected these changes in anti- and pro-apoptotic factors. Importantly, treatment of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (0.8 or 1.6 µg, i.c.v.) 4 h before TMT counteracted protective effects (i.e., Nrf-2-dependent glutathione induction and pro-survival phenomenon) of rottlerin. Therefore, our results suggest that down-regulation of PKCδ and up-regulations of Nrf2-dependent glutathione defense mechanism and PI3K/Akt signaling are critical for attenuating TMT neurotoxicity.     

Surgical Complications and Long-Term Outcome of Different Biliary Reconstructions in Liver Transplantation for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis—Choledochoduodenostomy versus Choledochojejunostomy

Choledochojejunostomy (CJS) is commonly used for biliary reconstruction in liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We alternatively performed choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) and side-to-side choledochodocholedochstomy in a large cohort of patients. Fifty-one patients with PSC, transplanted between 1988 and 2000, were analyzed retrospectively. Biliary reconstruction was CDS in 25 (49%), CJS in 20 (39%) and CC in 6 transplantations (12%). Biliary leaks occurred in the early follow-up (< or =41 days) only in CDS patients (20%). However, in the late follow-up (>4 months), stricturing of anastomosis was found once in CDS (4%) and CJS (5%). Later (>9 months), intrahepatic bile duct strictures were diagnosed in four CDS (16%), one CJS (5%) and one CC (17%) patient(s). In 48% of CDS (12/25), 60% of CJS (12/20) and 17% of CC (1/6) at least one incidence of cholangitis was observed. Overall, biliary complication rates were significantly higher in CDS (40%) than CJS (10%) and CC (17%); of those none in CC and 12% in CDS were anastomosis-related. Graft/patient survival showed no significant differences among groups. Based on our results we consider CJS the standard method for biliary reconstruction in PSC; however, in selected cases where CJS is difficult to accomplish because of previous surgery or for retransplantation, CDS may present an alternative technique.