LncRNA THOR attenuates cisplatin sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via enhancing cells stemness.

The roles and mechanisms of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells stemness and chemotherapeutic sensitivity are unclear. Here, Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the lncRNA THOR expression in NPC and normal adjacent tissues, adherent NPC cells and non-adherent NPC spheres, and we found that THOR was significantly increased in NPC tissues and non-adherent NPC spheres. Further in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out and identified that knockdown of THOR attenuated NPC cells stemness, characterized as the decrease of spheres formation ability, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, stemness markers expression and tumor initiation, and enhanced cisplatin sensitivity of NPC cells.

[Clinical observation of relapsing polychondritis: a report of 23 patients].

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of relapsing polychondritis (RP) for its early diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data and prognoses for 23 RP patients from April 1996 to October 2011 at Departments of Respiratory Medicine, Rheumatism and Otorhinolaryngology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University.

Results: Lesion locations included auricle (n = 19), joints (n = 17), nose (n = 14), respiratory tract (n = 10), eyes (n = 6), inner ear (n = 4), costal cartilage (n = 3) and kidney (n = 1).

[Effects of sodium butyrate on growth, apoptosis and telomerase activity in Hep-2 cells].

Objective: To study the effects of sodium butyrate (SB) on growth, apoptosis and telomerase activity in Hep-2 cells.

Methods: Growth inhibition effect of SB on Hep-2 cells was assessed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Morphological alterations were observed by electronic microscope.