The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis is a new pattern of gene posttranscriptional regulation. Encoding mRNA, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), pseudogene transcript, circular RNA (circRNA), etc. can regulate gene expression by binding microRNA (miRNA). According to the research, ceRNA regulatory network participates in the maintenance of normal physiological state, occurrence and development of diseases. This paper reviewed ceRNA with the following respects: the proposal of ceRNA hypothesis, members of ceRNA regulatory network, research status, limitations and future development directions of this hypothesis. It will contribute to clarify the pathogenesis of much diseases including tumor and provide a new strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
ObjectiveTo describe the imaging and clinical features of vaccinia virus induced pneumonia by long-term follow-up.MethodsThe clinical data, imaging features and long-term follow-up of 5 patients with vaccinia virus pneumonia admitted to Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were analyzed.ResultsAll the 5 patients were male, aged between 21 and 54 years. The latent period of the disease was 2 to 5 days. All the patients had fever and pneumonia, while 3 of them had herpes. Two patients with severe pneumonia showed extensive patchy and nodular shadows in both lungs. Chest CT findings of the other three patients showed scattered small nodules in both lungs. All patients were followed up by telephone every half a year for 3 years. The prognosis of all patients was good. The patients reported in the English literature were clinically clustered, with fever, vomiting and rash as the main symptoms.ConclusionsVaccinia virus may cause different clinical symptoms through different transmission routes, and its infectivity is strong. Biological protection should be strengthened in laboratory and working environment.
To investigate cl inical outcomes of percutaneous kyphoplasty with balloon in the treatment of severe osteoporotic thoracic vertebral compression fracture (SVCF). Methods From May 2006 to July 2007, percutaneous unilateral kyphoplasty with single balloon was performed in 7 vertebras of 6 SVCF patients, with 2 injured vertebras in 2 malesand 5 in 4 females, who were from 64 to 83 years old. The injured vertebras included 1 in T5, 2 in T8, 3 in T10 and 1 in T12 and the compression rates were 60% to 75% in 5 vertebras and gt; 75% in 2 vertebras. All the injured vertebras were old fractures and caused severe back pain, but without any neurotic symptoms and signs. The visual analogue scale (VAS) ranged from 6.5 to 9.0, 7.7 on average. The posterior vertebral walls were all intact in all patients under CT scan. The balloon was inset into the vertebra through pedicle of vertebral arch by percutaneous puncture under the guidance of C-type arm X-ray unit. The balloon was then extended to restore the vertebral body which was filled with bone cement later. The average volume of cement required was 3.5 mL (2.6 to 4.4 mL). Results The pain was alleviated or completely rel ieved after the operation. The mean vertebral body height restoration was 9.7% ±1.4% on the anterior border. Two cement leakages were found on X-ray. One month after the treatment, the VAS was from 0 to 2.45, 1.32 on average, and there was significant difference compared with preoperation (P lt; 0. 05). Three months after the treatment, the VAS was from 0 to 3, 2.13 on average, and there was no significant difference compared with 1 month after the treatment (P gt; 0.05). It was not found that the injured vertebras were compressed or deformed, and no new compressed fracture was found in consecutive vertebras. Conclusion Unilateral posterior-lateral puncture kyphoplasty with single balloon can rel ieve the pain and restore part of the vertebral height effectively with better outcomes.
Objective To introduce the research of cell transplantation for treating intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods The original articles in recent years about cell transplantation for treating intervertebral disc degeneration were extensively reviewed, and retrospective and comprehensive analysis was performed. Results Transplantation of intevertebraldisc-derived cells or BMSCs by pure cell transplantation or combined with collagen scaffold into intervertebral disc couldexpress nucleus pulposus-l ike phenotype. All the cells transplanted into intervertebral disc could increase extracellular matrix synthesis and rel ieve or even inhibit further intervertebral disc degeneration. Conclusion Cell transplantation for treating intervertebral disc degeneration may be a promising approach.
Echinococcosis is a zoonotic and parasitic disease caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. The most common forms of the disease are cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus mutilocularis, respectively, and posing a serious health challenge and economic burden to human society. The most adapted treatment is surgical excision plus chemotherapy, although which mostly is effective, the traumatic damage from the invasive procedure and the adverse effects of the prolonged chemotherapy are profound. Conventional preventions include controlling the source of infection, improving the sanitation in livestock slaughter, strengthening surveillance, and increasing public health education. However, the outcome is limited by the complicity of the geographical nature, cultural background, and unique lifestyle. Vaccination is the most safe and cost-effective way to control infectious diseases. The partial success of recombinant Eg95 as a veterinary vaccine had established a theoretical foundation for the development of a human echinococcosis vaccine, which will shed a light on the prevention, control, and eventual elimination of the human infection. There are promising vaccine candidates in the research and development pipelines in the form of parasite tissue extract proteins, recombinant proteins, nucleic acids, synthetic antigenic epitopes, and vector vaccines. These candidates have shown potential to induce protective humoral and cellular immune responses that block the invasion, eradicate the worm at an early stage, or prevent the onset of infection. We reviewed the progress in the vaccine development and discussed the challenges and solutions in the research and development to facilitate the licensure of a vaccine against human echinococcosis.
Objective
To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of human pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (hPTTG1) small interfering RNA (siRNA) on apoptosis of ovarian cancer cell line A2780.
Methods
hPTTG1 siRNA was transfected into A2780 with lipofectamine (the hPTTG1 siRNA group), and the normal group and the negative control group were set up. Detections were conducted 48 hours after transfection: the interfering efficiency of hPTTG1 mRNA was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction, the expression of survivin gene and survivin protein was examined by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, cell apoptosis was detected by DNA fragmentation gel electrophoresis and propidium iodide staining kit, and the activity of caspase-3 was assayed by caspases colorimetric assay kit.
Results
The expression of hPTTG1 mRNA was expressly inhibited after hPTTG1 siRNA transfection. DNA ladder was observed in the hPTTG1 siRNA group. The apoptotic rate of hPTTG1 siRNA transfection in the hPTTG1 siRNA group was (17.53±2.17)%, higher than those in the normal group and the negative control group [(8.97±1.56)% and (9.64±1.31)%, respectively], with statistically significant differences between them (P<0.05). The expression levels of survivin mRNA and survivin protein were down-regulated. The activity of caspase-3 was raised.
Conclusions
siRNA targeting hPTTG1 could induce apoptosis of A2780 by inhibition of survivin expression and activation of caspase-3. It may be a potential target for gene therapy of ovarian cancer.
Objective To research the biological feature of intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) by observing cell morphous, phenotype and ultramicrostructure. Methods The NPCs from 2-week-old healthy rabbit werecultured in DMEM/F12 medium with 15% FBS. The cell biological features were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope, l ight microscope, electron microscope, cell vital ity assay, cell growth curve and cells staining after harvest and during the periods of culturing the primary, the 1st passage and 2nd passage. Results The results of inverted phase contrast microscope showed that the primary passage adhered at 5 days, grew exponentially at 6-8 days, and were subcultured after covering the bottom at 17 days. The phenotype of the NPCs changed from polygon to long fusiform with passage increased; the vital ity assay showed that there was about 95%-97%, 98%-100%, 100% and 75%-80% NPCs survived just after isolation from intervertebral disc, during the period of culturing the primary, the 1st passage and the 2nd passage, respectively. The toluidine blue staining of the NPCs was bly positive, and HE staining showed clear cell nucleus and cytoplasm. The I collagen immunohistochemical staining showed negative results in the 1st passage, but II collagen immunohistochemical staining and safranin O staining showed positive results. However, the I collagen immunohistochemical staining showed positive result in the 2nd passage, and II collagen immunohistochemical staining and safranin O staining showed weakly positive results. The cell growth curve showed the same as the growth course of cell cultured in vitro. The results of TEM showed that there were many glycogen particles and less chondriosomes in the primary passage. With the increased passage, the glycogen particles decreased and the chondriosomes increased, and cell organ became swell. Conclusion This study clarifies the biological feature of NPCs in vitro, providing the experimental basis for the seed cell research of the nuclues pulposus tissue.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic criteria and therapeutic method of the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. METHODS: Among 5 cases, there were 2 males and 3 females aged from 11 days to 73 years. Vasography was carried out in all five patients and MRA was performed in one patients. RESULTS: After operation, the symptoms improved in 4 cases: the portine-like erythemas on their limbs got unclear; the focuses diminished obviously; the circumferences of the suffered limbs shrank and the ulcer healed. For following-up period was not long enough, the long term therapeatic result was still uncertain. CONCLUSION: Once the diagnosis of the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome was made, operation should be performed as early as possible. If the surgical time is selected in prepuberty, optimal result can be expected.
