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Growing evidence has revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in the development of cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we mainly focused on the expression of circ_0056618 and potential functions of circ_0056618 in CRC patients.RT-PCR was performed to detect circ_0056618 and miR-206 expressions in CRC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between circ_0056618 and miR-206. Kaplan-Meier method was conducted to analyze the overall survival (OS) for CRC patients. Moreover, CCK-8 assay was used to measure cell proliferation ability and transwell assay was performed to detect cell migration ability. Besides, tube formation assay was performed to measure cell angiogenesis capacity. Western blot (WB) was performed to measure protein levels of tissues samples and CRC cell lines. Notably, the Luciferase reporter assay was performed to prove the binding sites in circ_0056618 with miR-206, miR-206 with CXCR4 and VEGF-A.We found that circ_0056618 was elevated in CRC tumor tissues and CRC cell lines, which was related to poor diagnosis for CRC patients. MiR-206 was reduced in CRC tissues, which was negatively related with circ_0056618. Protein levels of CXCR4 and VEGF-A were elevated in CRC tumor tissues, which were negatively related with miR-206. Circ_0056618 inhibition inhibited proliferation, angiogenesis and migration of HT29 cells, and repressed protein levels of Cyclin D1, VEGF-A and N-cadherin and increased E-cadherin. Notably, Luciferase reporter assay indicated that circ_0056618 could sponge with miR-206, which could directly target at CXCR4 and VEGF-A. Finally, we proved a pathway that circ_0056618 promoted cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis through sponging with miR-206 and removing the repressing effects of miR-206, thereby upregulating CXCR4 and VEGF-A in CRC.Above all, this study revealed that circ_0056618 was increased in CRC tissues, which was related with the poor OS of CRC patients. We found that circ_0056618 could promote cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis through sponging with miR-206 and upregulating CXCR4 and VEGF-A in CRC, which might provide a novel potential therapeutic target for treating CRC.

The aim is to determine the efficacy and specific mechanism of microRNA-543-5p (miR-543-5p) on spinal cord injury (SCI).The model of spinal cord injury was established in 6-week-old rats. Firstly, quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the changes of miR-543-5p in the spinal cord of rats in each group after spinal cord injury. Next, we observed the alterations in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) RNA level after injection of miR-543-5p. In addition, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression of the inflammatory cytokines, and we used Western blotting to detect the protein associated with nerve regeneration at the protein levels. Finally, the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) rating scale was utilized to measure the recovery of hindlimbs function in rats.After spinal cord injury, the RNA expression of miR-543-5p in the rat spinal cord was decreased, and the RNA level of NF-κB was found to be decreased after the artificial injection of miR-543-5p. In the inflammatory expression, we found that the expression of various inflammatory mediators was also downregulated. However, the expression of nerve regeneration related factors was significantly upregulated, and it was observed that the evaluated score of the miR-543-5p group was higher than that of the SCI group within 1 month.MiR-543-5p inhibited NF-κB pathway and reduced the inflammatory factors, and ameliorated nerve regeneration, which ultimately promoted hindlimbs locomotor function.

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical application of remifentanil in local anesthesia for resection of tumors in functional brain area.Twenty-four patients were randomly divided into two groups: control group and remifentanil group. In remifentanil group remifentanil was infused intravenously with micro pump in 0.05-0.1 µg·kg-1·min-1. The hemodynamic changes and complications during operation were monitored.The satisfactory degree for surgical procedure was evaluated. The surgery of two groups could be completed in a conscious state. Mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) in remifentanil group during opening or closing skull or intra- cranial period were significantly lower than control group (p0.05). There were no conspicuous complications in two groups such as respiratory depression, nausea, vomitting and dysphoria. Satisfaction rate of remifentanyl group was significantly higher than control group (p0.05).Awake brain tumor surgery could be completed in rational use of remifentanil on the base of good local anesthesia, and hemodynamics were stable and the patients were well tolerated.

Myocardial damage occurs immediately following severe burns even before significant reduction in blood volume. This phenomenon is called postburn "shock heart" ("cardiac shock"), the pathogenesis of which is unclear. This study was designed to investigate the role of antisense p38 alpha gene transfection in ameliorating hypoxia and burn serum-mediated myocardial cell injury.A model of myocardial cells cultured under hypoxia and with burn serum was established. The cells were divided into control group (group C), the group cultured under hypoxia plus burn serum (group HS), and the group treated with antisense p38 alpha gene transfection (group A-p38 alpha) and cultured under hypoxia plus burn serum. Burn serum was collected from Wistar rats with 40% TBSA III degree burns. Hypoxia was produced using a mixed gas with 1% O(2). Antisense p38 alpha gene recombinants were constructed and expression of p38 alpha kinase, and NF-kappaB subunits p50, p65 and I kappa B alpha in myocardial cells were detected by Western blot. Myocardial viability was determined by tetrazolium colorimetry (MTT). Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in cell culture supernatants was determined. Changes in TNFalpha and IL-1 beta mRNA expression were detected by RT-PCR.Activation of p38 alpha kinase, expression of NF-kappaB p50, NF-kappaB p65 and I kappa B protein, and TNFalpha and IL-1 beta were downregulated significantly following antisense p38 alpha gene transfection into myocardial cells treated with hypoxia plus burn serum. Myocardial apoptosis and LDH activity in cell culture supernatants decreased markedly and myocardial viability increased significantly in the antisense p38 alpha gene treated group.Results demonstrated that transfection of antisense p38 alpha gene diminishes myocardial cell injury mediated by hypoxia and burn serum, suggesting a new target for the prevention and treatment of myocardial damage after burn.

A case-control association study was conducted among patients with schizophrenia (DSM-III-R, n = 141) and unaffected controls (n = 177) of Caucasain and African-American ethnicity. No significant differences in the distribution of a dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) gene were noted between the two groups. This study does not support an association between schizophrenia and the NT-3 gene locus in a United States cohort.

Chronic tetani (60 Hz, 2 s, 0.4~0.6 mA) were administered to the dorsal hippocampus (DHPC) or the medial temporal lobe neocortex (MTNC) of rats, to study the role of the entorhinal cortex (EC)-hippocampal loop in temporal lobe epileptogenesis. This was repeated once a day for 7 or 10 days. Magnification of hyper-intensity was induced by tetanization of the HPC or the MTNC, as detected by contralateral T(2) weighed magnetic resonance imaging (T(2)-WI). The effects were associated with an enlarged volume of the lateral ventricle (LV), which was verified histologically. T(2)-WI hper-intensities, contralateral to the tetanized hemispheres, were observed with high frequency primary wet dog shakes (WEDS) in the DHPC-stimulated rats and with low frequency WEDS in the MTNC-stimulated rats. It seems likely that the same neural mechanisms are shared by chronic tetanization of the right HPC and the righ MTNC, involving the closed EC-HPC loop. Poor correlation between contralateral T(2)-WI hper-intensities and light primary behavioral seizures in the MTNC-stimulated rats might be attributed to a controlled information flow into or out of this loop because of potential EC gating. In addition, asymmetric T(2)-WI hyper-intensities in the LV area reflected a hemispheric dependence, contralateral to the electrogenic focus in our model of rat epilepsy.

Possible role of the dentate gyrus (DG) and the hippocampus (HPC) in temporal lobe epileptogensis was investigated in an electrogenic model of rat epilepsy. Chronic tetani (60 Hz, 0.4-0.6 mA. 2 s) were administered once daily for 7 days to the right dorsal hippocampus (DHPC) or the right DG. Animal behavior was observed and depth electro-graphic seizures and T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance images (T(2)-WI) were measured. Results indicated that the frequency of primary wet dog shakes (WEDS) in the DG-stimulated rats was much lower than that in the DHPC-stimulated rats (P0.05). The mean maximal wave-amplitude in DG electrographs was also much lower than that in HPC electrographs (P0.05). The oscillations proportion of DHPC electrographs increased after DHPC-tetanization (from 2/9 up to 7/9 rats). T(2)-WI hyperintensity in the lateral ventricle area was detected only in the DHPC-tetanized rats, not in the DG-tetanized rats (P0.05). These results suggest that the DG acts as a filtering site in the entorhinal cortex-HPC neuronal circuitry and its dysfunction causes damage to the HPC and the generation of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Repeated tetanus (60 Hz, 0.4-0.6 mA, 2 s) were delivered into the right and the left dorsal hippocampus (HPC), or into the right and the left medial temporal neocortex (MTNC) respectively to establish chronic temporal lobe epilepsy model in rats. The possible role of the HPC-Entorhinal cortex (EC)-MTNC-Neocortex neural pathway in epileptogenesis was discussed based on observing the abnormalities in behavior and in EEG or depth electrographes and in T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (T2-MRI).1. Occurrence of primary, secondary WEDS and kindling effects were higher in the right dorsal HPC experimental group than those in other three experimental groups (P0.005, P0.001). T2-MRI signal hyperintensity was remarkable in lateral ventricles close to the HPC (P0.05), but not in the EC or in the MTNC. 2. These T2-MRI intensity increases were related to behavioral abnormalities in some MTNC-stimulated rats. 3. Asymmetric behavioral abnormalities and T2-MRI changes were observed in the left and the right DHPC-stimulated groups.HPC may be an "origin" for epileptogenesis and EC may play a "gating" role in it.

Colcemid (COM) was tested for induction of meiotic delay and aneuploidies in meiotic metaphase II (MMII) of male(101/E 1 XC 3 H/E 1)F 1 mice post single intraperitoneum (i.p.) injection. The dose of 1 mg/kg of COM was used and sampled at 2, 6, 10, 14 and 18 h after COM treatment. The number of MMII and MMI were the highest at 2 and 6 h repectively, and decreased rapidly with lengthening of COM treatment and reached the lowest at 14 h; then increased. However, the ratio of MMII to MMI was always significantly higher than in solvent control at every sample interval. Under our experimental conditions, COM did not show aneugenicity in male mouse germ cells. The possible mechanisms by which COM caused meiotic delay and reasons that COM did not induce aneuploidy in MMII were discussed.

Patients with schizophrenia (DSM IV, n = 149) and controls (n = 180) participated in a case-control association study in which a trinucleotide repeat polymorphism of pancreatic phospholipase A2 group 1B (PLA2G1B) was examined. Both African-American and Caucasian populations were included in this USA sample. There were no significant case-control differences, therefore his study does not support an association between schizophrenia and a PLA2G1B polymorphism on chromosome 12. © 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

The polymorphics of two pericentric (GT)n sequences on the long arm of human chromosome 21 have been analyzed after PCR amplification, PAGE and Ag-staining for the first time in 50 Chinese Han people, and were used to detect meiotic origin of the extra chromosome 21 in Down syndromes. Six and 5 alleles were found in Chinese Han people for D21S215 and D21S120, respectively, with observed heterozygosities of 0.68 and polymorphic information content PIC, 0.67 and 0.65. For 17 Down syndromes whose parental origin of the extra chromosome 21 were known, meiotic origin of the extra chromosome 21 were determined in 16 cases, with 7 and 4 maternal meiosis I and II nondisjunction, 2 and 3 paternal meiosis I and II, respectively. The possible biological significance of the study on origin of the extra chromosome 21 has been discussed.

There is considerable controversy regarding a putative association between schizophrenia and a biallelic BalI polymorphism in the first exon of the dopamine D3 receptor gene (DRD3), although meta-analyses of published data suggest an association. If such an association exists, it may be detectable at markers physically close to DRD3. Accordingly, we conducted a case-control association study using D3S1310, a short tandem repeat polymorphism located approximately 700 kb telomeric to DRD3 on chromosome 3q13.3. The subjects were Swedish patients with schizophrenia (DSM III-R criteria, n = 110) and screened adult controls (n = 83). A trend for a negative association with the 141 bp allele was detected (chi2 = 7.6, d.f. = 1, P = 0.006; odds ratio 0.46, 95% confidence intervals 0.26, 0.81). However, following corrections for multiple comparisons using subgroups (n = 15) the difference was not significant. Also, due to the risk for population stratification in case-control association studies the results must be treated as tentative. If replicated the results may lend further support for the proposition of an association between schizophrenia and DRD3 or a gene in close proximity to DRD3 on chromosome 3q.

Studies of brain anatomy and premorbid functioning indicate that schizophrenia may be of neurodevelopmental origin. In the neurotrophic factor neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) gene, the A3/147-bp allele in a dinucleotide repeat polymorphism located in the promoter region was found to be associated with schizophrenia in a Japanese study. Another NT-3 polymorphism (Glu63Gly) indicated an association with schizophrenic patients with a putative neurodevelopmental form of the disease. We examined Swedish schizophrenic patients (n = 109) and control subjects (n = 78) for the same two NT-3 polymorphisms, as well as a third silent exonic polymorphism (at Pro55). No significant difference was found between the two groups. However, in a meta-analysis including the present and previous studies of Caucasian subjects, the A3/147-bp allele frequency was found to be significantly higher in the schizophrenic patients. In the present study, carriers of the A3/147 bp allele tended to have an earlier age of onset and to display more extrapyramidal symptoms. In the silent exonic polymorphism (at Pro55), female schizophrenic patients had higher adenine and lower guanine allele frequencies than control female subjects. Together with previous studies, the results provide some support for an association between the NT-3 gene and certain forms of schizophrenia. This warrants further investigation of NT-3 and other neurotrophic factors with additional polymorphisms and larger patient samples.

Using a case-control design, an association of schizophrenia with the dopamine D3 receptor gene (D3RG) locus was investigated. Initial analysis of pooled results from published studies revealed a significant excess of individuals homozygous for either allele among the patients. The association was next tested in two cohorts ascertained independently at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and at Houston, Texas. The Pittsburgh sample was comprised of patients with schizophrenia (DSM-III-R) (n = 130). The controls belonged to two groups: adults screened for the absence of substance abuse or major psychiatric illness (n = 128), and neonates (n = 160). Multivariate analysis suggested an association with allele 1 of the biallelic D3RG polymorphism in comparison with the adult, but not the neonatal, controls. The association was most marked among Caucasian patients with a family history of schizophrenia (odds ratio 13.69, confidence intervals 1.80, 104.30). Survival analysis suggested an earlier age of onset among male patients homozygous for allele 2. The Houston cohort included Caucasian patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM-III-R criteria, n = 50), and normal controls matched for gender (n = 51). In this group, no significant associations were noted among all the patients or among subgroups of patients based on family history or age of onset. Possible reasons for the discordant results are discussed.

Lung cancer has been one of the leading malignancies in China. Since 1989 it has ranked first among common malignancies in the male population, and second in females. In 1975, a multimodality treatment study group for lung cancer was organized in our institute. The group has since expanded to 15 institutions in the Beijing and Tianjin area during the past four years. The present communication is based on our experiences and data, and tries to explain the treatment strategy of our study group.

From Sep. 1989 to Dec. 1992, 122 evaluable patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy in our hospital were analysed. There were 95 men and 27 women. The age ranged from 20 to 70 years. All were proven by pathology or cytology. They all did not receive previous treatment and had a measurable mass. Of them, 83 patients had limited disease (LD) and 39 extensive disease (ED). Using CE-CAP alternating chemotherapy, 48 LD and 27 ED were given two cycles, 35 LD and 12 ED four cycles. In this series, remission time was not evaluated because all patients received radiotherapy shortly after chemotherapy. Of 122 patients, 10 patients (8.2%) achieved CR, 89 (72.9%) PR, 18 (14.7%) S and 5 (4%) P. The total response rate was 81.1% (99/122), which is higher than that of COMVP and PE-CAV regimens. The response rates were 80.0% and 82.9% in two and four cycle groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups. The main toxicity observed was nausea, vomiting and bone marrow suppression, but were tolerated by the patients. In conclusion, CE-CAP regimen can be recommended as the treatment of choice in SCLC.

Using a case-control design, a reported association of schizophrenia with homozygosity at the dopamine D3 receptor gene locus was investigated in a group of patients (n = 53), with schizophrenia (DSM-III-R), and psychiatrically normal controls (n = 61), matched for ethnicity and area of residence. No significant differences in the distribution of alleles or genotypes between the two groups could be deteched. However, among patients with a family history of schizophrenia, as compared to controls without such family history, an association with allele 1 at this locus was noted (Odds ratio 12.4, C.I. 1.61, 96.35). © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A total of 720 human intestinal helminthic infections were divided into 4 groups and treated with albendazole 400mg/d x 3d, 400mg/d x 5d, pyrantel 1,500mg/d x 3d, or 1,500mg/d x 5d. Half a month after treatment, the negative rates of hookworm egg were 98.6, 98.6, 86.2 and 93.5%, those of ascaris egg were 96.5, 98.2, 92.9 and 96.3%, and those of whipworm egg were 86.4, 89.0, 68.9 and 67.0% respectively. Reduction rate of hookworm egg reached more than 98% in all the 4 groups. Six months after treatment, however, the positive rates of all the 4 groups rose again in varying degrees. The predominant species of hookworm infections was Necator americanus before the treatment and Ancylostoma duodenale after the treatment. It was demonstrated that the recurrence of hookworm infection resulted from A. duodenale infections, while a single dose of 400mg albendazole per day for 3 or 5 days showed good effect in controlling the recurrence of hookworm infections in a certain area.

To see whether the effects of acupuncture on the nuclear volume of neurosecretory cells in the rat supraoptic nucleus (SON) are circadian stage-dependent, 48 male Wistar rats were divided into eight equal groups and standardized in LD12:12 at 21.5 degrees C with food and water ad libitum. At each of four time points [0, 6, 12, and 18 hours after lights on (HALO)], one group (A) was treated by electric acupuncture at a place equivalent to the human "Yongquan" point; another group (C) was left untreated as a control without acupuncture. The nuclear volumes of neurosecretory cells were calculated after the nuclei were measured with a micrometer under a microscope. Circadian variation in nuclear volume was observed for both A and C groups and showed macroscopically two peaks, one at 18 HALO and another at 6 HALO, and a nadir at the time of lights on (0 HALO). The effects of acupuncture appear to differ at various time points. A circadian change in the ratio of the data from the A and C groups at each time point was observed only in the left SON and peaked at 0 HALO. An asymmetry between the left and right SONs characterized their changes and responses to acupuncture. An analysis of variance established a time effect (P less than 0.001) and an interaction between laterality and treatment (P less than 0.037). The results documenting a circadian change of nuclear volume of the SON neurosecretory cells and a laterality-dependent response to acupuncture point to cephalic mechanisms of "Ziwu Liuzhu" chronotherapy by acupuncture and moxibustion.

Peripheral erythrocyte rosette-forming cells (ERFC), Tγ cell and Tμ cell counts were studied in 141 children with different types of viral hepatitis and in 65 healthy children as control. The results showed variations not only in total number of ERFC, but also in Tγ cells and Tμ cells in different types of viral hepatitis. It was also found that determination of Tγ cell percentage may be of value in diagnosing the condition of the diseases, and determination of Tγ cell and Tγ/Tμ ratio may be of value in estimating the prognosis. The possible mechanism of variations in ERFC, Tγ cells and Tμ cells is discussed.