Search

Purpose This study aimed to compare cervical sagittal parameters and clinical outcomes between patients undergoing cervical laminoplasty(CL) and those undergoing lateral mass screw fixation(LMS). Methods We retrospectively studied 67 patients with multilevel ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine who underwent lateral mass screw fixation (LMS = 36) and cervical laminoplasty (CL = 31). We analyzed cervical sagittal parameters (C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (C2-7 SVA), C0-2 Cobb angle, C2-7 Cobb angle, C7 slope (C7s), T1 slope (T1s), and spino-cranial angle (SCA)) and clinical outcomes (visual analog scale [VAS], neck disability index [NDI], Japanese Orthopaedic Association [JOA] scores, recovery rate (RR), and minimum clinically significant difference [MCID]). The cervical sagittal parameters at the last follow-up were analyzed by binary logistic regression. Finally, we analyzed the correlation between the cervical sagittal parameters and each clinical outcome at the last follow-up after surgery in both groups. Results At the follow-up after posterior decompression in both groups, the mean values of C2-C7 SVA, C7s, and T1s in the LMS group were larger than those in the CL group (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with the preoperative period, C2-C7 SVA, T1s, and SCA gradually increased, and the C2-C7 Cobb angle gradually decreased after surgery (P

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that cervical sagittal alignment is strongly associated with cervical deformity, myelopathy,and cervical adjacent-segmental disease, and those cervical sagittal parameters are correlated with health-related quality of life, while less attention has been paid to cervical sagittal balance in various cervical disorders. This study aimed to compare cervical sagittal parameters between patients with nonspecific neck pain(NS-NP) and patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(CSR) and cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM). Methods: We retrospectively included 236 patients divided into three groups, NS-NP, CSR, and CSM, and collected general information and cervical sagittal parameters of such kind patients. The variation of parameters between the size of these parameters and gender differences were analyzed. Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation was applied to analyzethe association of cervical sagittal parameters of all patients between the three groups. Results: There were significant differences in age and sex among the three groups (PConclusion: This study showed that between the three groups, patients with non-specific neck pain had larger C7s, T1s, and C2-C7 Cobb angle and smaller SCA and C2-C7 SVA; and among patients with NS-NP, women had larger SCA and smaller C7s and T1s. The smaller anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the thoraxin women might be the possible explanation for this difference.

Purpose: To compare the variation characteristics of cervical sagittal position parameters and the correlation among nonspecific neck pain(NS-NP), cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), and cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Methods: We retrospectively included 236 patients divided into three groups, NS-NP, CSR and CSM, and collected general information and cervical sagittal parameters of such kind patients. The characteristics of the variation of parameters between the size of these parameters and gender differences were analyzed. Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation was applied to analyze the association of cervical sagittal parameters of all patients between the three groups. Results: There exist obvious differences in age and sex among the three groups (PConclusion: This study found that patients with CSR and CSM had higher SCA and C2-C7 SVA, and smaller C7s, T1s, and C2-C7 Cobb angles than patients with NS-NP; however, there has no obvious difference in sagittal parameters between the two types of cervical spondylosis. The SCA, C2-C7 SVA, C7s, T1s, and C2-C7 Cobb angles all had a strong correlation. Women were more common and had greater SCA than men in NS-NP patients, and women had smaller C7s and T1s than men.

Hypothyroidism causes somatic, psychosocial and affective psychosis, including depression-like behaviors. In this study, (hypothyroidism group; HP group) adult male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were induced to hypothyroidism after 5 weeks of exposure to 0.05% propylthiouracil (PTU) in potable water, control animals (CON group) were given the same amount of water. The following behavioral experiments were conducted, respectively: open-field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST). TT[Formula: see text] and TT[Formula: see text] levels were measured after the behavior tests and the expression levels of 5-HT[Formula: see text] receptor and 5-HT[Formula: see text] receptor proteins were analyzed in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The level of TT[Formula: see text] and TT[Formula: see text] in the HP group rats was much lower than that in the CON group. The hypothyroid rats also showed weight loss, much longer immobility time in tail suspension test and forced swimming test. Besides, 5 weeks of PTU administration was associated with significantly decreased expression levels of 5-HT[Formula: see text] receptor and 5-HT[Formula: see text] receptor proteins compared with control group, which were significantly negatively correlated with immobility time in FST and TST. In conclusion, our results suggest that hypothyroidism induces depressive behaviors through the influence of the serotonin system, and the decreased expression of the 5-HT[Formula: see text] receptor is an important cause of the depressive behaviors in hypothyroidism.

Background: The liver is one of the major organ involved in drug metabolism. Cytochrome P450s are predominantly involved in drug metabolism. A wide range of CYPs have been reported in the liver which have been involved in its normal as well as in diseased conditions. Doxorubicin, one of the most potent chemotherapeutic drugs, although highly efficacious, also has adverse side effects, with its targets being liver and cardiac tissue. Objective: The study aims to evaluate the reversal potentials of berberine on Doxorubicin induced cyp conversion. Methodology: In the present study, the interplay between anti-oxidants, cytochrome and inflammatory markers in DOX induced liver toxicity and its possible reversal by berberine was ascertained. Results: DOX administration significantly elevated serum as well as tissue stress, which was reverted by berberine treatment. A similar response was observed in tissue inflammatory mediators as well as in serum cytokine levels. Most profound reduction in the cytochrome expression was found in Cyp 2B1, 2B2, and 2E1. However, 2C1, 2C6, and 3A1 although showed a decline, but it did not revert the expression back to control levels. Conclusion: It could be concluded that berberine may be an efficient anti-oxidant and immune modulator. It possesses low to moderate cytochrome modulatory potentials.

Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system, and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for the largest proportion of cases with TC. Although histology is considered the gold standard in the diagnosis of PTC, the sensitivity and specificity of this method is low. Therefore, developing novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for PTC is essential. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) and their target RNAs play critical roles in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Thus, the characteristic miRNA and mRNA expression profiles may function as diagnostic biomarkers for tumors, making it possible to predict the tumor stage and the prognosis of patients. In the present study, we detected miRNAs and mRNAs which can function as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of PTC. The sensitivity of the diagnostic tests was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between mRNAs and miRNAs, and cancer types. We found that the area under the curve (AUC) values of 8 miRNAs (miR-106a, miR-15a, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-20a, miR-20b, miR-30d and miR-30e) and 8 mRNAs [axis inhibition protein 2 (AXIN2), integrin, alpha 3 (antigen CD49C, alpha 3 subunit of VLA-3 receptor) (ITGA3), tumor protein p53 inducible nuclear protein (TP53INP)1, TP53INP2, B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), FOS and K(lysine) acetyltransferase 2B (KAT2B)] were >0.90. The combination of miR-15a and AXIN2 significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, our data indicate that the differential expression of miRNAs combined with that of their target mRNAs may serve as a powerful biomarker for distinguishing PTC from benign tissues.

The incidence of thyroid cancer has recently experienced a rapid increase in China, and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for nearly 80% of human thyroid cancers. In the present study, the differential expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes were identified in order to analyze the potential roles of miRNAs as biomarkers and in papillary thyroid carcinogenesis. One hundred and twenty-six PTC samples were collected from patients at the China-Japan Union Hospital, China, and the gene/miRNA expression profiles were examined with Illumina BeadChips and verified by real‑time RT-PCR. Gene Ontology (GO) categories were determined, and pathway analysis was carried out using KEGG. miRNA target genes were predicted by implementing three computational analysis programs: TargetScanS, DIANA-microT and PicTar. Two hundred and forty-eight miRNAs and 3,631 genes were found to be significantly deregulated (gene, P

Cell death is one of the most important endpoints of radiosensitivity. The tumor suppressor p53 participates not only in regulation of apoptosis, but also in autophagy mechanism. In this study, H1299-P53 (with wild-type p53) and H1299-175H (with mutant 175H) were used, and the effects of p53 on radiosensitivity were analyzed.Cell models with different p53 status were established by gene engineering, and cell viability was examined by colony formation assay, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 3-Methyladenine, and Z-VAD were used to block autophagy and apoptosis, respectively. Western blot was used to detect protein expression; monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining was used to analyze autophagy rate; DAPI/Propidium Iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry were used to assess apoptosis and necrosis.In parental H1299, H1299-P53, and H1299-175H cells, radiosensitivity exhibited different by colony formation and CCK-8 assay (D0: 1.764 Gy, 1.407 Gy and 1.695 Gy; Dq: 2.977 Gy, 1.199 Gy and 2.312 Gy in turn). The radiosensitization of p53 was associated with the increase of MDM2 and P21 expression. The ionizing radiation (IR)-induced apoptosis was significant in H1299-P53 compared with in H1299 and H199-175H (p0.05) by flow cytometry, and the expression of cleaved-caspase3 was increased in H1299-P53 cells. While the IR-induced autophagy was significant in H1299 cells (p0.01) and decreased in H1299-P53 and H1299-175H cells (p0.01) by MDC staining, the expression of MAPLC3II and Beclin-1 increased in H1299, but not in H1299-p53 and H199-175H cells. The IR-induced cell survival was significantly increased by Z-VAD-FMK and decreased by 3MA in H1299-P53 cells; IR- induced autophagy was significantly increased by Z-VAD-FMK in H1299-P53 cells (p0.01), but not changed in H1299 cells.p53 could regulate radiosensitivity by inhibiting autophagy and activating apoptosis; autophagy provides a prosurvival mechanism, and p53 potently abrogated the IR-induced autophagy, while mutant 175H shown no effect on radiosensitivity, suggesting that individual treatment strategies should be based on p53 status in patients.

Purpose Autophagy has attracted attentions as a novel mechanism for tumor development. In this study Human ovarian carcinoma cell line SKOV3 and multidrug-resistant phenotype SKVCR cells were used and the roles of autophagy in radiation-induced cell death were analyzed. Methods and materials Cell viability was examined by colony formation and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 3MA and ZVAD were used to block autophagy and apoptosis, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect mRNA level and Western blot was used to detect protein expression, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and flow cytometery were used for autophagy, apoptosis and cell cycle dynamics, respectively. Results (1) The radiosensitivity exhibited differently in SKOV3 and SKVCR cells (SKOV3: D0=3.37, SKVCR: D0= 4.18); compared with SKOV3 the constitutive expression of MAPLC3 in SKVCR was higher, but no change of Caspase-3 and cleaved Caspase-3. (2) The ionizing radiation (IR)- induced apoptosis and autophagy were significant in both cells (P Conclusion IR-induced autophagy provides a self-protective mechanism against radiotherapy in SKVCR cells, the use of autophagy inhibitor, 3MA, increases the killing effects of radiation by inhibiting autophagy and radiation- induced S phase delay, also by the increase of apoptosis, which suggests a better therapeutic strategy in drug- resistant SKVCR ovarian cancer cells.

Dan Cong,1 Mengzi He,2 Silin Chen,2 Xiaoli Liu,1 Xiaodong Liu,2 Hui Sun11Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Surgical Translational Medicine, Department of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, People’s Republic of China–Japan Union Hospital, 2Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of ChinaAbstract: In the present study, we analyzed microRNA (miRNA) and gene expression profiles using 499 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) samples and 58 normal thyroid tissues obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. A pivotal regulatory network of 18 miRNA and 16 targets was identified. Upregulated miRNAs (miR-222, miR-221, miR-146b, miR-181a/b/d, miR-34a, and miR-424) and downregulated miRNAs (miR-9-1, miR-138, miR-363, miR-20b, miR-195, and miR-152) were identified. Among them, the upregulation of miR-424 and downregulation of miR-363, miR-195, and miR-152 were not previously identified. The genes CCNE2 (also known as cyclin E2), E2F1, RARA, CCND1 (cyclin D1), RUNX1, ITGA2, MET, CDKN1A (p21), and COL4A1 were overexpressed, and AXIN2, TRAF6, BCL2, RARB, HSP90B1, FGF7, and PDGFRA were downregulated. Among them, CCNE2, COL4A1, TRAF6, and HSP90B1 were newly identified. Based on receiver operating characteristic curves, several miRNAs (miR-222, miR-221, and miR-34a) and genes (CCND1 and MET) were ideal diagnostic indicators, with sensitivities and specificities greater than 90%. The combination of inversely expressed miRNAs and targets improved diagnostic accuracy. In a clinical feature analysis, several miRNAs (miR-34a, miR-424, miR-20b, and miR-152) and genes (CCNE2, COL4A1, TRAF6, and HSP90B1) were associated with aggressive clinical features, which have not previously been reported. Our study not only identified a pivotal miRNA regulatory network associated with PTC but also provided evidence that miRNAs and target genes can be used as biomarkers in PTC diagnosis and clinical risk evaluation.Keywords: thyroid carcinoma, miR-34a, miR-424, miR-20b, miR-152