Mitochondrial A adenosine receptor as a mechanism for the protective effects of AAR agonists on chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.

Alterations in mitochondrial function are the linchpin in numerous disease states including in the development of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CIPN), a major dose-limiting toxicity of widely used chemotherapeutic cytotoxins. In CIPN, mitochondrial dysfunction is characterized by deficits in mitochondrial bioenergetics (e.g.

Icotinib as Adjuvant Treatment for Stage II-IIIA Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients with EGFR Mutation (ICWIP Study): Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial.

The efficacy and possible role of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in treating early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer have yet to be established. Therefore, we aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of icotinib in completely resected EGFR-mutant stage II-IIIA lung adenocarcinoma patients who underwent standard chemotherapy. This is a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicentre, Phase III trial.

Dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism contributes to bortezomib-induced neuropathic pain.

The development of chemotherapy-induced painful peripheral neuropathy is a major dose-limiting side effect of many chemotherapeutics, including bortezomib, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. We now report that bortezomib causes the dysregulation of de novo sphingolipid metabolism in the spinal cord dorsal horn to increase the levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor 1 (S1PR1) ligands, S1P and dihydro-S1P. Accordingly, genetic and pharmacological disruption of S1PR1 with multiple S1PR1 antagonists, including FTY720, blocked and reversed neuropathic pain.

KRAS and BRAF mutations in serum exosomes from patients with colorectal cancer in a Chinese population.

The efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor- targeted therapy is significantly associated with Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) and B-raf serine/threonine kinase proto-oncogene (BRAF) mutation in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), for which the standard gene testing is currently performed using tumor tissue DNA. The aim of the present study was to compare the presence of KRAS and BRAF mutations in the serum exosome and primary tumor tissue from patients with CRC. Genomic DNA were extracted from the tumor tissues of 35 patients with histologically-confirmed CRC and exosomal mRNA were obtained from peripheral blood, which were collected from the corresponding patients prior to surgery.

Prognostic significance of latent membrane protein 1 expression in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A meta-analysis.

Background: The prognostic value of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) has been evaluated in several studies. However, the conclusions remain controversial.

Methods: We searched relevant literatures from Embase, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure Platform databases and performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic significance of LMP1 expression in NHL.

Effectiveness of circulating tumor DNA for detection of KRAS gene mutations in colorectal cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be identified in the peripheral blood of patients and harbors the genomic alterations found in tumor tissues, which provides a noninvasive approach for detection of gene mutations. We conducted this meta-analysis to investigate whether ctDNA can be used for monitoring KRAS gene mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for the included eligible studies in English, and data were extracted for statistical analysis according to the numbers of true-positive (TP), true-negative (TN), false-positive (FP) and false-negative (FN) cases.

Discovery of potent human lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) inhibitors with antiproliferative activity against lung cancer cells: virtual screening and biological evaluation.

Human lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) plays a crucial role in the promotion of glycolysis in invasive tumor cells, and recently, it has been considered as a vital therapeutic target in the field of oncology. Herein, by combining docking-based virtual screening with biochemical evaluation, we report the discovery of a potent LDHA inhibitor with antiproliferative activity. The enzymatic assay suggested that the identified compound has a good inhibitory activity (IC = 0.

Psychological distress and cancer pain: Results from a controlled cross-sectional survey in China.

We evaluated the pain associated with cancer and its impact on pain management, anxiety, and depression in Chinese patients using a controlled cross-sectional study. One hundred and twenty-six cancer outpatients were evaluated from January 2012 to June 2014; 64 reported pain and 62 did not. Patients with cancer eligible for this study were older than 18 years and able to effectively communicate with medical personnel.

The effects of pioglitazone on biochemical markers of bone turnover in the patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aim. To investigate whether pioglitazone had detrimental effects on biochemical markers of bone turnover in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods.

Topical combinations aimed at treating microvascular dysfunction reduce allodynia in rat models of CRPS-I and neuropathic pain.

Unlabelled: Growing evidence indicates that various chronic pain syndromes exhibit tissue abnormalities caused by microvasculature dysfunction in the blood vessels of skin, muscle, or nerve. We tested whether topical combinations aimed at improving microvascular function would relieve allodynia in animal models of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) and neuropathic pain. We hypothesized that topical administration of either α(2)-adrenergic (α(2)A) receptor agonists or nitric oxide (NO) donors combined with either phosphodiesterase (PDE) or phosphatidic acid (PA) inhibitors would effectively reduce allodynia in these animal models of chronic pain.

Reversal of multidrug resistance in renal cell carcinoma by short hairpin RNA targeting MDR1 gene.

Background: Over-expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), encoded by the MDR1 gene, confers multidrug resistance (MDR) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and is a major reason for unsuccessful chemotherapy. This study aimed to determine the effct of RNA interference (RNAi) on the reversal of MDR in human RCC.

Methods: We designed and selected one short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting MDR1 gene, which is stably expressed from integrated plasmid and transfected by lentivirus fluid in human RCC A498 cell.

Differential expression of Rab27A/B correlates with clinical outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the association of Rab27A and Rab27B expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, and Western blotting to detect Rab27A and Rab27B mRNA and protein expression in 5 human HCC lines and the immortalized hepatic HL-7702 cell line. We further examined 148 primary HCC samples matched with adjacent normal tissue and 80 non-HCC specimens by immunohistochemistry to evaluate the correlation of Rab27A and Rab27B expression with clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Evaluation of DNA repair gene XRCC1 polymorphism in prediction and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma risk.

We conducted a case-control study in China to clarify the association between XRCC1-Arg399Gln polymorphism and HCC risk. A total of 150 cases and 158 controls were selected from the the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from May 2008 to May 2010. XRCC1-Arg399Gln polymorphism was based upon duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with the confronting-two-pair primer (PCR-CTPP) method.

Up-regulation of visfatin expression in subjects with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism is partially relevant to a nonlinear regulation mechanism between visfatin and tri-iodothyronine with various concentrations.

Background: Visfatin, a visceral fat-derived adipocytokine, plays a significant physiological function in lipid metabolism. However, the precise function of visfatin and its regulation by thyroid hormones are still unknown. This study observed the plasma visfatin concentrations in subjects with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism in vivo, and investigated the possible regulation mechanism between visfatin and tri-iodothyronine (T3) in vitro as a further interpretation.

[Histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 treatment alters immune molecule content and categories in hepatocarcinoma exosomes].

Objective: To investigate the effects of the histone deacetylase inhibitor, MS-275, on the immune molecule content and categories in hepatocarcinoma exosomes.

Methods: Exosomes were isolated from the human hepatocarcinoma cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3b, and purified by a combination technique of ultrafiltration centrifugation and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. The expressions of heat shock protein (HSP)70, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I, HLA-DR, cluster of differentiation (CD) 80 and NY-ESO-1 on exosomes were analyzed with immunoelectron microscopy and Western blotting before and after MS-275 treatment.

Effects of mitochondrial poisons on the neuropathic pain produced by the chemotherapeutic agents, paclitaxel and oxaliplatin.

The dose-limiting side effect of taxane, platinum-complex, and other kinds of anticancer drugs is a chronic, distal, bilaterally symmetrical, sensory peripheral neuropathy that is often accompanied by neuropathic pain. Work with animal models of these conditions suggests that the neuropathy is a consequence of toxic effects on mitochondria in primary afferent sensory neurons. If this is true, then additional mitochondrial insult ought to make the neuropathic pain worse.

Functional deficits in peripheral nerve mitochondria in rats with paclitaxel- and oxaliplatin-evoked painful peripheral neuropathy.

Cancer chemotherapeutics like paclitaxel and oxaliplatin produce a dose-limiting chronic sensory peripheral neuropathy that is often accompanied by neuropathic pain. The cause of the neuropathy and pain is unknown. In animal models, paclitaxel-evoked and oxaliplatin-evoked painful peripheral neuropathies are accompanied by an increase in the incidence of swollen and vacuolated mitochondria in peripheral nerve axons.

[Advanced dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans treated with imatinib mesylate].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, side effects and toxicity of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).

Methods: Twenty-four cases of advanced DFSP diagnosed by pathology and treated in our hospital from Nov. 2004 to Oct.

Effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine on immune-associated proteins in exosomes from hepatoma.

Aim: To study the effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) on heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), human leucocyte antigen-I (HLA-I) and NY-ESO-1 proteins in exosomes produced by hepatoma cells, HepG2 and Hep3B.

Methods: Exosomes derived from HepG(2) and Hep3B cells treated with or without 5-aza-CdR were isolated and purified by ultrafiltration centrifugation and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. The number of exosomes was counted under electron microscope.

[Recent research advances on function of CD4+T lymphocytes].

Cellular immunity is an important component of human immune system and plays a crucial role in the fight against tumor cell or invasive pathogens. Researches on cell-based immunotherapy have long been focused on eliciting tumor-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) because of their potent killing activity and their ability to reject transplanted organs. However, the resulting treatments have been surprisingly poor at inducing complete tumor rejection, in both the experimental models and clinical trials.

[Effects of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine on the amount of exosomes and secreted immuno-associated proteins by hepatoma cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of 5-Aza-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) on the amount of exosomes and immuno-associated proteins produced in hepatoma HepG2 and Hep3B cells.

Methods: Exosomes derived from HepG2 and Hep3B cells with or without treatment by 5-Aza-CdR were isolated and purified by combination of ultrafiltration centrifugation and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. The number of exosomes was counted under the electron microscope.

Olesoxime (cholest-4-en-3-one, oxime): analgesic and neuroprotective effects in a rat model of painful peripheral neuropathy produced by the chemotherapeutic agent, paclitaxel.

Olesoxime is a small cholesterol-like molecule that was discovered in a screening program aimed at finding treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other diseases where motor neurons degenerate. In addition to its neuroprotective and pro-regenerative effects on motor neurons in vitro and in vivo, it has been shown to have analgesic effects in rat models of painful peripheral neuropathy due to vincristine and diabetes. We used a rat model of painful peripheral neuropathy produced by the chemotherapeutic agent, paclitaxel, to determine whether olesoxime could reverse established neuropathic pain.

[Effect of Fluorouracil-inducible GM-CSF gene therapy regulated by Egr-1 promoter on chemotherapeutic hematopoietic damage of tumor-bearing mice].

Objective: In order to explore the regulating effects of Egr-1 promoter sequences in transcriptional targeting by 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) on the expression of hematopoietic growth factor genes.

Methods: The human GM-CSF cDNA and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) cDNA were linked together with IRES and then inserted into the expression vector pCIneo under control of the Egr-1 promoter (Egr-EG). The vector was transferred into human bone marrow stromal cell line HFCL by lipofectin(TM).

[Thyrocytes contribute to their own demise: the role of interleukin-18 in Hashimoto's thyroiditis].

Objective: To investigate the IL-18 expression in the thyroid tissues of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and its cellular localization and the effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the interleukin- (IL)-18 expression in thyrocytes.

Methods: RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the IL-18 expression and its cellular localization in the thyroid tissues biopsy specimens of 6 HT patients with normal thyroid function, 6 normal thyroid specimens resected from patients with pharyngeal carcinoma, and 16 specimens of thyroid tissues adjacent to the thyroid adenoma obtained during operation. Thyrocytes were isolated, cultured, and exposed to IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), or IFN-gamma for 48 h.

Cutaneous tactile allodynia associated with microvascular dysfunction in muscle.

Background: Cutaneous tactile allodynia, or painful hypersensitivity to mechanical stimulation of the skin, is typically associated with neuropathic pain, although also present in chronic pain patients who do not have evidence of nerve injury. We examine whether deep tissue microvascular dysfunction, a feature common in chronic non-neuropathic pain, contributes to allodynia.

Results: Persistent cutaneous allodynia is produced in rats following a hind paw ischemia-reperfusion injury that induces microvascular dysfunction, including arterial vasospasms and capillary slow flow/no-reflow, in muscle.