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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been reported potentiate osteogenic differentiation, while Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), another Omega-3 fatty acid, its contribution to the osteogenic differentiation of human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs) is not entirely elucidated. The Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining and the expression of osteogenesis‑associated genes were analyzed during osteogenic induction by DPA. Then, bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase reporter assays were investigated to confirm the interactions between miR-9-5p and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). miR-9-5p mimics / inhibitor were transfected to human hBMSCs and the osteogenic assay above was also performed. Furthermore, DPA significantly promoted the phosphorylation of ERK via miR-9-5p. PD98059, a highly specific and potent ERK1/2 inhibitor, inhibited the activation of ALP and partially reversed the role of DPA during osteogenic differentiation. These data indicated that DPA promoted osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs potentially through miR-9-5p/ERK/ALP signaling pathway, providing a potentially useful therapeutic strategy for patients to improve bone loss.

Drawing on material from qualitative research with Chinese academics in a UK university and British academics in the Chinese branch campus of that university, this paper places pedagogy at the centre of geographical debates about mobility and the internationalisation of higher education. In particular, it moves beyond the usual focus on the mobility of pedagogy in schools or the teaching of international students in higher education to consider how pedagogic practices are embodied in mobile academic staff, within particular classroom and wider institutional environments. These individuals bring their prior experience of teaching and institutional cultures to a new environment where they come up against approaches and pedagogic practices which may clash with their beliefs about good teaching. This pedagogic dissonance may create feelings of frustration or insecurity, but may also provide opportunities for creativity and self-reflection. The paper focuses on three aspects of pedagogic practice: classroom interactions, language and assessment. The focus on the embodied nature of pedagogic practice extends geographical debates around academic mobility, hierarchies of knowledge, and the internationalisation of higher education.

Background The preferred salvage treatment for children with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R‐AML) remains unclear. The combination of cladribine/Ara‐C/granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor and mitoxantrone (CLAG‐M) shown promising results in adult R/R‐AML. We aim to investigate the efficacy and safety of CLAG‐M versus mitoxantrone/etoposide/cytarabine (MEC) or idarubicin/etoposide/cytarabine (IEC) in R/R‐AML children. Methods Fifty‐five R/R‐AML children were analyzed. The overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and progression‐free survival (PFS) at 3‐year were documented. Karyotype or mutations status were summarized as different risk groups. Results The ORR was achieved in 80% (16/20) and 51% (18/35) of patients after one‐cycle of CLAG‐M and MEC/IEC treatment (p, CLAG‐M regimen is a more valid option with similar adverse events as a salvage treatment for R/R‐AML in children when compared with conventional chemotherapy no matter in which risk group.

Asiatic acid can attenuate osteoporosis through suppressing adipogenic differentiation and osteoclastic differentiation. Oxidative stress enhances osteoclastic differentiation but represses osteogenic differentiation to promote osteoporosis. However, the role and mechanism of asiatic acid in osteoporosis have not been reported. Firstly, mice were fed with high-fat-diet (HFD) with or without asiatic acid for 16 weeks. Data from an automatic biochemical analyzer showed that HFD induced down-regulation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and an increase of serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). However, asiatic acid administration attenuated the decrease of HDL and increase of serum TG, TC and LDL in osteoporotic mice. Secondly, HFD induced high levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), low levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in osteoporotic mice. However, the levels of MDA, ROS, SOD and GSH-Px in osteoporotic mice were reversed by asiatic acid administration. (this section is unclear and requires revision) Asiatic acid administration reduced expression of c-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX-1), enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) in HFD-induced osteoporotic mice. (this section is unclear and requires revision) Thirdly, asiatic acid promoted calcium deposition in bone marrow cells and osteogenic differentiation in osteoporotic mice, but decreased ALP in bone marrow cells. Lastly, asiatic acid enhanced SIRT1 and nuclear FOXO1 (Nu-FOXO1) expression, while it reduced Acetyl FOXO1 (Ac-FOXO1) in osteoporotic mice. In conclusion, asiatic acid might inhibit oxidative stress and promote osteogenic differentiation through activating SIRT1/FOXO1 to attenuate HFD-induced osteoporosis in mice.

Background Long-chain non-coding RNA (LncRNA) plays a key role in the biological processes of tumors. LncRNA-FTX has been the invasion of tumors. However, its function and mechanism in osteosarcoma have not been studied. Methods qRT-PCR was measured the expression levels of FTX and miR-214-5p in osteosarcoma. The protein levels of SRY-related HMG box transcription factor 4 (SOX4) were detected by Western Blot. Cholecystokinin (CCK-8) assay, cell colony formation and Transwell assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI assay were analyzed the effects of FTX and miR-214-5p on cell proliferation, cell invasion and apoptosis. The relationship between FTX, miR-214-5p and SOX4 was analyzed by bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase. The tumor changes in mice were detected by vivo experiments in nude mice. Results The expression levels of FTX were increased in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines and negatively correlated with the expression levels of miR-214-5p. FTX could modulate the expression of miR-214-5p in osteosarcoma cell lines. sh-FTX inhibited the growth and metastasis of osteosarcoma. FTX could regulate the growth of osteosarcoma through miR-214-5p. The knockdown of miR-214-5p reversed the inhibitory effect of sh-FTX on osteosarcoma cell proliferation and growth in mice. Furthermore, FTX regulated the expression of SOX4 by acting as a sponge of miR-214-5p in osteosarcoma. Conclusion FTX could promote proliferation, invasion and inhibited apoptosis by regulating miR-214-5p/SOX4 axis in osteosarcoma, suggesting that FTX might be a potential target for osteosarcoma treatment.

Manipulating heat with thermal metamaterials has garnered increasing attention for enabling underlying physics and promising applications. However, the frequently adopted strategy to fabricate thermal metamaterials is using layered structures, whose design space is limited and, thus, other strategies demand further exploring. Here, we propose the holey engineering strategy as an alternative to design thermal metamaterials based on genetic algorithm optimization. The design procedures are introduced in detail, and two metadevices including the thermal cloak and thermal concentrator, are designed and verified to demonstrate the feasibility and convenience of this strategy. This work proposes a new design method for thermal metamaterials and paves an efficient way for macroscopic heat flow manipulation.

Three-dimensional scaffolds like hydrogels can be employed as cell carriers for in vitro or in vivo colonization and have become a major research topic to replace damaged tissue. In the current study, a novel composite hydrogel composed of sodium alginate (SA) and platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) varying in blending ratios, cross-linked with calcium ions, released from calcium carbonate-D-Glucono-d-lactone (CaCO3 -GDL) was successfully prepared. It was found that addition of PRP changed largely the physical properties and biological performance of the composite hydrogels, which was depending on the blending ratio. The gelation rate and swelling ratio of alginate hydrogels were significantly reduced by the addition of PRP, which produced also a more homogeneous gel structure. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) investigation confirmed the incorporation of PRP-derived proteins in the hydrogel, where a porous structure with a pore size of 200-300 μm was found. On the other hand, an increase in surface roughness was observed after the addition of PRP. The compressive mechanical strength of SA/PRP composite hydrogel was enhanced in comparison to the pure SA gel. The composite hydrogels with the highest PRP content exhibited at a maximum compressive stress of 0.26 MPa a maximum strain of 55%, while the maximum compressive strain of pure SA hydrogels was only 45% at a stress of 0.08 MPa. It was also found that the in vitro degradation of the alginate gel was accelerated by the addition of PRP. In terms of cellular responses, all gels exhibited an excellent cytocompatibility. Indeed, the composite hydrogels supported bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells proliferation and their chondrogenesis with up-regulation of chondrogenic marker genes Sox9 and Aggrecan. Overall, the present study suggests a great potential of SA/PRP composite hydrogels as cell carriers for cartilage tissue engineering.

(H. Lév.) Rehder is a rare, endangered, and therefore, protected tree species native to China. However, there are serious limitations to the effective protection of the species, including a low seed germination-rate and difficult storage due to a high seed oil-content. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of ultra-dry seed storage and its effects on seedling growth. We used the silica gel method to prepare ultra-dry seeds with different moisture contents to find an optimal moisture content range (2.54%–4.77%). Ultra-dry treatment improved storability of . Furthermore, seeds with a moisture content of 4.77% stored at room temperature, and seeds with a moisture content of 3.97% stored at 4 °C yielded the best results. Priming with an appropriate concentration of polyethylene glycol had a certain repairing effect on ultra-dry stored seeds and improved seed vigor, with a two-day priming treatment with 20% polyethylene glycol having the best effect. Finally, compared with sand storage at 4 °C, ultra-dry storage promoted seedling growth and root development; furthermore, it alleviated storage damage to seeds, promoted soluble sugar and soluble protein accumulation, and increased seedling nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium uptake. Therefore, ultra-dry storage can be effectively used to preserve seeds. Specifically, low-temperature storage of ultra-dry seeds with a moisture content of 3.97% enhanced seed vigor, and seedling growth and development.Handeliodendron bodinieriH. bodinieri seedsH. bodinieriH. bodinieriH. bodinieri

Background Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal cancer in female genital tumors. New disease markers and novel therapeutic strategies are urgent to identify considering the current status of treatment. Receptor tyrosine kinases family plays critical roles in embryo development and disease progression. However, ambivalent research conclusions of ROR2 make its role in tumor confused and the underlying mechanism is far from being understood. In this study, we sought to clarify the effects of ROR2 on high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) cells and reveal the mechanism. Methods Immunohistochemistry assay and western-blot assay were used to detect proteins expression. ROR2 overexpression adenovirus and Lentivirus were used to create ROR2 overexpression model in vitro and in vivo, respectively. MTT assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay were used to measure the proliferation, invasion and migration ability of cancer cells. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect cell apoptosis rate. Whole transcriptome analysis was used to explore the differentially expressed genes between ROR2 overexpression group and negative control group. SiRNA targeted IRE1α was used to knockdown IRE1α. Kira6 was used to inhibit phosphorylation of IRE1α. Results Expression of ROR2 was significantly lower in HGSOC tissues compared to normal fallopian tube epithelium or ovarian surface epithelium tissues. In HGSOC cohort, patients with advanced stages or positive lymph nodes were prone to express lower ROR2. Overexpression of ROR2 could repress the proliferation of HGSOC cells and induce cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing analysis indicated that ROR2 overexpression could induce unfold protein response. The results were also confirmed by upregulation of BIP and phosphorylated IRE1α. Furthermore, pro-death factors like CHOP, phosphorylated JNK and phosphorylated c-Jun were also upregulated. IRE1α knockdown or Kira6 treatment could reverse the apoptosis induced by ROR2 overexpression. Finally, tumor xenograft experiment showed ROR2 overexpression could significantly repress the growth rate and volume of transplanted tumors. Conclusions Taken together, ROR2 downregulation was associated with HGSOC development and progression. ROR2 overexpression could repress cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in HGSOC cells. And the underlying mechanism might be the activation of IRE1α/JNK/CHOP pathway induced by ROR2.

Liquiritin is a major flavonoid in Radix Glycyrrhizae and it has been reported to possess various pharmacological activities. In the present work, a strategy based on an ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (UHPLC-FT-ICR MS) method was proposed to systematically characterize the in vivo metabolites of liquiritin for the first time. After oral administration of liquiritin to rats in a single dose of 120 mg kg−1, the rat plasma, urine, feces and bile samples were collected and used to discover metabolites. As a result, besides the parent drug, a total of 76 metabolites (6 phase I and 70 phase II metabolites) of liquiritin were detected and tentatively identified. It was indicated that the metabolic pathways of liquiritin in rats included oxidation, reduction, deglycosylation, isomerization, methylation, glucuronidation and sulfation. In summary, the results could provide valuable information regarding the metabolism of liquiritin in rats, which could contribute to a better understanding of its action mechanism.

Objectives Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has various driver mechanisms, including ROS1 rearrangement with different fusion patterns. There is a need to identify and evaluate new ROS1 fusions and the response to targeted therapy. Materials and methods A targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel was used to analyze DNA extracted from tumor tissue and blood samples from an NSCLC patient. Results were validated using Sanger sequencing. Results We found a novel ROS1 rearrangement form, namely a WNK1–ROS1 fusion. The transmembrane and kinase domains of ROS1 remained intact in this fusion. No EGFR, MET, KRAS, ALK, ROS1 or other NSCLC driver mutations were detected in the patient. The patient achieved a partial response after treatment with crizotinib. When disease progressed, ROS1 G2032R mutation—a classical mechanism of crizotinib resistance—was detected in the DNA sample extracted from the patient’s plasma sample. Conclusion We identified a novel WNK1–ROS1 fusion that was sensitive to crizotinib and developed an ROS1 G2032R mutation when the disease progressed. The WNK1–ROS1 rearrangement appeared to be a novel driver of the lung cancer.

Handeliodendron bodinieri has unisexual flowers with aborted stamens in female trees, which can be used to study unisexual flower development in tree species. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of stamen abortion underlying sex differentiation, the stage of stamen abortion was determined by semi-thin sections, results showed that stamen abortion occurred in stage 6 during anther development. In addition, differentially expressed transcripts regulating stamen abortion were identified by comparing the transcriptome of female flowers and male flowers with RNA-seq technique. The results showed that 14 genes related to anther development and meiosis such as HbGPAT, HbAMS, HbLAP5, HbLAP3, and HbTES were down-regulated, and HbML5 was up-regulated. Therefore, this information will provide a theoretical foundation for the conservation, breeding, scientific research, and application of Handeliodendron bodinieri.

Transnational education is growing apace in recent years, with international branch campuses (IBCs) becoming an increasingly prominent feature in Asia’s higher education landscape. This paper examines a Sino-British IBC in China as an inroad for illuminating the mobilities such set-ups entrain as a migration infrastructure tied to transnational work and workplace. Using Bourdieu’s concepts of field, capital and habitus, we interrogate the processes of ‘branch-making’ in relations to the IBC in question, teasing out its strategies in recruitment, and, as part of its social and material environment, opposing circumstances that motivate the re-mobilisation of academic migrants. The paper argues for a need to consider not just interventions of the state or individuals’ personal decisions in comprehending skilled migration, but also how the workplace possesses the power to shape movement and generate mobilities.

In severe aplastic anemia (SAA), predictive markers of response to immunosuppressive therapy (IST) of porcine antilymphocyte globulin (pALG) have not been well defined. We investigated whether clinical and laboratory findings before treatment could predict response in a pediatric cohort. In this study, we included 70 newly diagnosed SAA children and treated them with pALG. The response rate was documented during follow-up. The log-rank test compared response rates between the potential predictive factors. The response rate was 57.1% at 24 months follow-up. In log-rank test, mild disease severity was the most significant predictive marker of better response (P

Accumulating evidence suggests that neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in cardiovascular center contribute to the pathological processes underlying hypertension. Microglia activation triggers the inflammation and oxidative stress. Melatonin is a documented potent anti-inflammatory regent and antioxidant, the underlying roles of melatonin in regulating microglia activation via mitochondria remain unclear. In present study, we investigated the protective role of melatonin in decreasing M1 phenotype switching via attenuating mitochondrial oxidative damage in dependence on uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) pathway in microglia. Prorenin (20 nmol/L; 24 hr) was used to induce inflammation in cultured microglia. Mitochondrial morphology was detected by transmission electron microscope. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by using DCFH-DA fluorescence imaging and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ΔΨm) was evaluated by JC-1 staining. The indicator of the redox status as the ratio of the amount of total NADP+ to total NADPH, and the expression of 6 subunits of NADPH oxidase is measured. The pro-inflammatory cytokines releasing was measured by qPCR. UCP2 and activated AMPKα (p-AMPKα) expression were examined by immunoblot. Melatonin (100 μM) markedly alleviated the M1 microglia phenotype shifting and abnormal mitochondria morphology. Melatonin attenuated prorenin-induced ΔΨm increasing and ROS overproduction. Melatonin decreased the redox ratio (NADP+/NADPH) and the p47phox and gp91phox subunits of NADPH oxidase expression in prorenin-treated microglia. These effects were reversed in the presence of UCP2 siRNA. Our results suggested that the protective effect of melatonin against prorenin-induced M1 phenotype switching via attenuating mitochondrial oxidative damage depending on UCP2 upregulation in prorenin-treated microglia.

A rapid and sensitive UHPLC-FT-ICR MS/MS method was developed for the first time to analyze the extract of Rhodiola crenulata and the constituents absorbed into rat blood and brain after oral administration. Under the optimized conditions, a total of 64 chemical constituents were identified or tentatively characterized in vitro in 30min, and also 24 and 9 chemical constituents were detected in rat plasma and brain respectively, by comparing the retention time, accurate mass and/or MS/MS data of blank and dosed sample. The results indicated that the developed UHPLC-FT-ICR MS/MS method was suitable for detection and identifying the chemical constituents in Rhodiola crenulata extract, rat plasma and rat brain, and it could be used as a powerful and reliable analytical strategy for rapid identification of chemical constituents in vitro and in vivo for other traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCMs). Furthermore, the detected chemical constituents in rat brain could be speculated to be the pharmacodynamic substances of Rhodiola crenulata for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and it could also provide useful chemical information for further mass spectrometry imaging and bioactive substances research on Rhodiola crenulata.

Nitidine chloride (NC) exhibits anti-tumor properties in various types of tumor. However, to the best of our knowledge there is no previous evidence of NC involvement in the apoptosis or proliferation of ovarian cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of NC on the viability and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells and the synergistic effect NC and doxorubicin (DOX) may have on ovarian cancer cells. The viability and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells were examined using a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and 3H-thymidine incorporation assay. The apoptotic rate of ovarian cancer cells was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis‑associated proteins and Akt serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt) were determined by western blot analysis following NC treatment. The inhibitory effect of NC on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells was demonstrated in a time and dose‑dependent manner. The pro-apoptotic effect of NC on ovarian cancer cells was also observed. It was determined that NC significantly downregulated the protein expression levels of B‑cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and upregulated the expression of Bcl‑2‑associated X protein, p53, caspase‑3 and ‑9. NC suppressed Akt phosphorylation. Additionally, the present study demonstrated that the effect of NC on the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells was Akt‑dependent by using the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway inhibitor, LY294002. NC exhibited a synergistic inhibitory effect on the viability of ovarian cancer cells when combined with DOX. The current study demonstrated that NC inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells via the Akt signaling pathway and highlighted its potential clinical application for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

In the present study, a comprehensive strategy based on UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS and serum pharmacochemistry was developed to reveal the bioactive constituents of Zhi-Zi-Da-Huang decoction (ZZDHD) against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats after oral administration. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Shim-pack XR-ODS C18 column (75 mm × 3.0 mm, 2.2 μm) using a gradient elution program with the detection performed on a Bruker Solarix 7.0 T mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source in both positive and negative modes. By comparing the UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS fingerprints of blank serum and drug-dosed serum, and investigating the hepatoprotective effect of drug-dosed serum on BRL-3A cells from injury and then determining the relationship between the chemical components and pharmacological activities, a total of 18 compounds in rat serum were finally found to be the most potential bioactive components in ZZDHD, including 9 iridoid glycosides, 5 monoterpenoids, and 4 flavanones. Moreover, the ability of the UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS method and the UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS method for the discovery of bioactive compounds of TCMs was discussed. It could be concluded that the developed method is suitable for identifying and characterizing the bioactive components of ZZDHD. Furthermore, more precise data were obtained for further studying the relationship between the bioactive constituents and pharmacological activities of ZZDHD.

Background Osteoporosis (OP) is a prevalent metabolic bone disease characterized by bone loss and structural deterioration, which increases the risk of fracture especially in older people. Recent research has shown that gut microbes play an important role in OP. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-derived metabolite, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases, including Alzheimer's and cerebrovascular disease. This study aimed to examine the effect of TMAO in OP. Methods In this study, we firstly investigated the relationship between TMAO and OP. Serum samples were collected from patients with OP (n=10), and healthy participants (n=10), and the TMAO level in the serum was detected by ELISA assay. Then, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were treated with TMAO, and we observed its effect on adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation, cell proliferation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) release, and inflammatory cytokine[interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)] levels. Finally, we illustrated the underlying mechanism through which TMAO influenced BMSCs functions. Results Compared to the healthy group, highly significant TMAO levels were observed in the serum of the OP patients. When studied in vitro, TMAO treatment significantly promoted BMSCs adipogenesis and attenuated osteogenesis, increased ROS release and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α production, and inhibited cell proliferation. Furthermore, we found that activation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway was necessary for TMAO to induce pro-inflammatory cytokine production, ROS release, and adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs. Conclusions Elevated TMAO levels have a strong negative correlation with the degree of bone mineral density (BMD) in OP. TMAO regulates BMSCs cell function by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway, which affects the balance of bone metabolism, leading to acceleration of bone loss and further progression of OP.

Background The combination of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been suggested to be safe and effective for adult acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). As of 2010, the role of cytarabine (Ara-C) in APL was controversial. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy and safety of ATRA and ATO in paediatric APL patients. Also, we assessed whether Ara-C could be omitted in ATO and ATRA- based trials in children. Methods We performed a randomized controlled trial in paediatric APL patients (≤14 years of age) in our hospital from May 2010 to December 2016. All of the patients were assigned to receive ATRA plus ATO for induction followed by one course of idarubicin (IDA) and ATO (28 days). The patients were then randomly assigned to receive two courses of daunorubicin (DNR, no- Ara-C group) or DNR + Ara-C (Ara-C group). All of the patients were followed with maintenance therapy with oral ATRA, 6-mercaptopurine, and methotrexate for 1.5 years. Results Among the 66 patients, 43 were male and 23 were female. All of the patients achieved complete remission (CR) with the exception of one who gave up the treatment. During induction therapy, all toxicity events were reversed after appropriate management. Thirty patients in the Ara-C group underwent 57 courses of treatment, and 35 patients in the no-Ara-C group underwent 73 courses of treatment. No significant differences in age, genders, white blood cell counts, haemoglobin levels, and platelet counts were found between the Ara-C and no-Ara-c groups. Greater myelosuppression and sepsis were observed in the Ara-C group during the consolidation courses. No patient died at consolidation, and only one patient relapsed. No differences were found in event-free survival, disease-free survival and overall survival between the two groups. Additionally, our analysis of the arsenic levels in the plasma, urine, hair and nails of the patients indicated that no significant accumulation of arsenic occurred after ATO was discontinued for 12 months. Conclusions Overall, ATO and ATRA are safe and effective for paediatric APL patients and Ara-C could be omitted when ATO is used for two courses. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01191541, retrospectively registered on 18 August 2010).

Childhood acquired aplastic anemia (AA), characterized by failure of hematopoiesis, is rare and potentially life-threatening. Since mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) enhance hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) engraftment, cotransplantation of MSCs and HSCs could be a potential strategy to treat AA patients. In the present study, the transplantation of autologous perinatal stem cells was conducted in three children with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). There was no severe side effect happened during cell transplantation, although fever was observed during the period of pancytopenia in the patients. All patients showed significant improvement within 1 month and complete recovery of hematopoiesis within 3 months after cell transplantation. Among the three patients, two patients receiving cotransplantation of cord blood HSCs and umbilical cord MSCs (UC-MSCs) achieved a long-term stable recovery of hematopoiesis, even after cyclosporine withdrawal. By contrast, the patient treated only by cord blood HSC transplantation (HSCT) showed an unstable blood cell accounts and became cyclosporine-dependent. All three patients achieved complete response (CR) at year 1 after transplantation. Therefore, autologous perinatal HSCs and MSCs might provide another opportunity for the patients who have stored autologous perinatal stem cells.

Ampelopsin has displayed anticancer activity in several types of cancers. However, no evidence has been reported for the direct effect of ampelopsin on ovarian cancer cell migration and invasion, and the underling mechanisms have not yet been clearly established. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of ampelopsin on the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer. Proliferation and viability of the ovarian cancer cells were detected by MTT assay. Migration and invasion of the cells were detected, respectively, by scratch wound healing assay and Transwell assay. The expression levels of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were detected at the protein level after stimulation with ampelopsin. Then, the expression levels of NF-κB and p-IκBα were detected with western blot analysis. Meanwhile, an inhibitor of NF-κB was used to investigate the effect of ampelopsin. Finally, the expression of Snail was also detected. Proliferation, migration and invasion of the A2780 cells were all inhibited following the application of ampelopsin. Ampelopsin upregulated E-cadherin and downregulated N-cadherin and vimentin in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Ampelopsin also exerted its ability to suppress the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB pathway. Administration of the inhibitor BAY11-7082 confirmed the roles of NF-κB in the expression of EMT markers and its transcription factor. These results demonstrated that ampelopsin inhibited EMT and reduced the invasion of ovarian cancer cells via the NF-κB/Snail pathway.