MURAMYL DIPEPTIDE CAUSES MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION AND INTESTINAL INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE RESPONSES IN RATS.

Introduction: Intestinal flora and the translocation of its products, such as muramyl dipeptide (MDP), are common causes of sepsis. MDP is a common activator of the intracellular pattern recognition receptor NOD2, and MDP translocation can cause inflammatory damage to the small intestine and systemic inflammatory responses in rats. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of MDP on the intestinal mucosa and distant organs during sepsis and the role of the NOD2/AMPK/LC3 pathway in MDP-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the intestinal epithelium.

Survival Outcomes of Ewing Sarcoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma by High- versus Low-Volume Cancer Centres in British Columbia, Canada.

Due to the rarity and complexity of treatment for Ewing sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, studies demonstrate improved patient outcomes when managed by a multidisciplinary team at high-volume centres (HVCs). Our study explores the difference in outcomes of Ewing sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma patients based on the centre of initial consultation in British Columbia, Canada. This retrospective study assessed adults diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2020 undergoing curative intent therapy in one of five cancer centres across the province.

Risk of recurrence and pregnancy outcomes in young women with breast cancer who do and do not undergo fertility preservation.

Purpose: To assess the impact of fertility preservation (FP) requiring ovarian stimulation on breast cancer outcomes and pregnancy after breast cancer.

Methods: Women aged ≤ 40 years diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer between 2007 and 2018 and referred for FP consultation prior to systemic therapy were identified from a British Columbia fertility center database. The primary endpoint was invasive breast cancer-free survival (iBCFS) and secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and achievement of pregnancy.

Impact of GGCX polymorphisms on warfarin dose requirements in atrial fibrillation patients.

Background/aim: Warfarin is a common anticoagulant with large interindividual differences and a narrow therapeutic range. The polymorphisms of gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) are important genetic factors for warfarin dose requirements. Materials and methods: Polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing methods were used to detect the GGCX rs699664 genotype in 215 atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with warfarin administration.

Anterior mediastinum invasion by multiple myeloma: A case report.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM) that secretes monoclonal paraproteins in the blood serum and urine. Bone marrow MM cells can invade and damage the functions of other tissues and organs, such as the lungs, spleen, liver, pancreas, kidneys and lymph nodes. However, the invasion of MM cells primarily located in the BM to the anterior mediastinum at the site of the thymus is an extremely rare event.

DNA damage-induced NF-κB activation in human glioblastoma cells promotes miR-181b expression and cell proliferation.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive form of brain cancer. After surgery, radiotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for GBM patients. Unfortunately, the vast majority of GBM patients fail responding to radiotherapy because GBM cells remain highly resistant to radiation.

[Clinical research of safflower injection on hibernating myocardial revascularization].

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death. Safflower attracts great attention owing to its anti-ischemia/reperfusion injury effect. Ninety-three patients with CAD were included and randomized into safflower treatment group, PCI group and control group.

β-Elemene inhibits proliferation through crosstalk between glia maturation factor β and extracellular signal‑regulated kinase 1/2 and impairs drug resistance to temozolomide in glioblastoma cells.

β-elemene, a plant-derived drug extracted from Curcuma wenyujin, has demonstrated marked antiproliferative effects on glioblastoma, while toxicity remains low. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the antitumor activity of β-elemene remain to be elucidated. Previously, it was identified that the glia maturation factor β (GMFβ)/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPK) 3/6/p38 pathway participates in the antiproliferative activity of β-elemene on glioblastoma.

Microsurgical treatment for parasagittal meningioma in the central gyrus region.

The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of microsurgery treatment for parasagittal meningioma in the central gyrus region. A microsurgical technique was used to treat 26 patients with large parasagittal meningioma in the central gyrus region. The Rolandic and draining veins and the peritumoral normal brain tissue were retained, and the associated sagittal sinus was appropriately protected.

Β-elemene inhibits Hsp90/Raf-1 molecular complex inducing apoptosis of glioblastoma cells.

β-Elemene, an active component of herb medicine Curcuma wenyujin, has been shown to antagonize glioblastoma cells by inducing apoptosis. However, how β-elemene induces apoptosis of these cells remains unclear. In this study, we report that β-elemene disrupted the formation of the Hsp90/Raf-1 complex, a key step in maintaining the conformation stability of Raf-1, and caused deactivation of Raf-1 and inhibition of the ERK pathway, thereby leading to apoptosis of glioblastoma cells.

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization contributes to elemene emulsion-induced apoptosis in A549 cells.

Elemene is a broad-spectrum antitumor agent. In the present study, lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) was detected after short elemene emulsion--exposure (12 h) that preceded a decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA damage (24 h) in A549 cells. At later time points (36 h) elemene emulsion caused the appearance of A549 cells with apoptotic features, including apoptotic morphology, phosphatidylserine exposure, and caspase-3 activation.

Anti-tumor effect of beta-elemene in glioblastoma cells depends on p38 MAPK activation.

beta-Elemene, a natural plant drug extracted from Curcuma wenyujin, has been used as an antitumor drug for different tumors, including glioblastoma. However, the mechanism of its anti-tumor effect is largely unknown. Here we report that anti-proliferation of glioblastoma cells induced by beta-elemene was dependent on p38 MAPK activation.

[Effect of p38 MAPK on elemene-induced cell cycle arrest in C6 glioblastoma cells].

Objective: To observe the effect of elemene on cell cycle of rat C6 glioblastoma cells.

Methods: Cell cycle analysis and expression of p38 in C6 glioblastoma cells under elemene treatment were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. Flow cytometry and MTT assay were used to examine cell cycle and cell proliferation while C6 glioblastoma cells were pretreated with p38 inhibitor and DN-p38 plasmids.

[Influence of elemene on the expression of Bcl-2 family genes in rat C6 glioma cells].

Objective: To observe the effects of elemene on the induction of apoptosis in rat C6 glioma cells and its influence on expression of Bcl-2 family genes.

Methods: Rat C6 glioma cells were cultured. Elemene of the concentrations of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 microg/ml were added for 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours respectively.