ECRG2 enhances the anti-cancer effects of cisplatin in cisplatin-resistant esophageal cancer cells via upregulation of p53 and downregulation of PNCA

AIM To explore the anti-tumor effects of esophageal cancerrelated gene 2(ECRG2) in combination with cisplatin(DDP) in DDP-resistant esophageal cancer cells(EC9706/DDP).METHODS A drug-resistant cell model was established, with EC9706/DDP cells being treated with ECRG2 and/or DDP. Cell viability was examined by MTT assay. The rate of cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The mR NA expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), metallothionein(MT), and p53 were determined by RT-PCR and PCNA, while MT and p53 protein expression levels were determined by western blotting.RESULTS The anti-proliferative effect of ECRG2 in combination with DDP was superior when compared to ECRG2 or DDP alone. The inhibition rate for the combination reached its peak(51.33%) at 96 h. The early apoptotic rates of the control, ECRG2 alone, DDP alone, and ECRG2 plus DDP groups were 5.71% ± 0.27%, 12.68% ± 0.61%, 14.15% ± 0.87%, and 27.96% ±0.36%, respectively. Although all treatment groups were significantly different from the control group(P < 0.05), the combination treatment of ECRG2 plus DDP performed significantly better when compared to either ECRG2 or DDP alone(P < 0.05). The combination of ECRG2 and DDP significantly upregulated p53 m RNA and protein levels and downregulated PCNA m RNA and protein levels compared to ECRG2 or DDP alone(P < 0.05). However, no changes were seen in the expression of MT mR NA or protein.CONCLUSION ECRG2 in combination with DDP can inhibit viability and induce apoptosis in esophageal cancer DDP-resistant cells, possibly via upregulation of p53 expression and downregulation of PCNA expression. These findings suggest that the combination of ECRG2 and DDP may be a promising strategy for the clinical treatment of esophageal cancers that are resistant to DDP.

Combined Effects of Blood Pressure and Aldosterone on Cardiac Left Ventricular Mass Index—Ethnic Differences between Kazakh, Uygur and Han Subjects

Previous Background: Hemodynamic factors, like blood pressure, have been established to be major determinants of cardiac left ventricular structure. However, several factors other than blood pressure to influence cardiac mass have been implicated. When we did medical survey, cardiac left ventricular mass index (LVMI) of one ethnic group that had higher blood pressure was found to be smaller than that of the other ethnic groups with a lower blood pressure. Such contradicted data from the present study were analyzed combining blood pressure, LVMI and chemical parameters obtained from blood and urine. Methods: In a medical survey conducted in Xinjiang, China, 279 people (65 - 70 years old) from three ethnic groups (Kazakh, Uygur and Han) from two separated regions provided blood and urine samples and underwent echocardiography and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure obtained from ABPM and urinary sodium excretion values were significantly higher in Kazakh than that in Uygur and Han. However, LVMI in Kazakh was lower than that in other 2 groups. Plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were significantly lowest in Kazakh. The values of LVMI in all ethnic groups were positively related to both blood pressure and PAC. An inverse correlation was identified between PAC and urinary sodium excretion value. Conclusion: Although higher blood pressure in Kazakh subjects, their LVMI was lower than those of Uygur and Han, whose blood pressure was lower than that in Kazakh. These results suggest that blood pressure is not always a determinant for LVMI value. There is a possibility that relatively lower PAC resulted from higher sodium intake suppressed the rise in LVMI caused by higher blood pressure in Kazakh.

Threshold Parameter for the Control of Unemployment in the Society: Mathematical Model and Analysis

Unemployment is one of the major vices in our contemporal society, which weigh greatly on the economy of such nation. It is also, a fact that knowing ones enemy before battle gives 50 per cent chance of victory;thus, this research aimed at providing understanding about dynamics of unemployment with consideration for retirement and possible control criterion. And the objectives are;formulation of mathematical model using the concept of deterministic model and mathematical epidemiology;then, model analysis. The model analysis includes, a numerical semi-analytical scheme for investigating validity of analytical solutions. The result of the analysis were that: 1) the model was mathematically well-pose and biologically meaningful 2) two equilibria points exist, and 3) a threshold for recruitment from the pool of unemployment, assuring victory in the fight against unemployment was also, obtained. The threshold is required to be well managed in order to win the battle against the socio-vice (unemployment) in the contemporary society. In addition, variational iterative method (VIM) is the numerical semi-analytic scheme employed to solve the model;thus, the approximate solution gave a practical meaningful interpretation supporting the analytical results and proof of verdict of assumptions of the model. The article concluded with three points;everyone has roles to play to curtail the socio-menace, beseech government and policy makers to look kindly, and create policy(ies) to sustain population growth, and the retiree should also, plan live after service, because over dependence on pension scheme could be died before death because of corruption in the scheme.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of 1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(4-substituted acyl piperazin-1-yl)-2-propanols

Objective: To study the effect of fluconzole derivatives from a side chain containing 4-substituted acyl piperazin-1-yl on antifungal activity. Methods: Fourteen title compounds were synthesized and confirmed by the elementary analysis, 1HNMR and IR spectra. Five deep fungal strains and 3 shallow fungal strains were chosen as the experimental strains.Minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) of all title compounds were determined by the method recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) using RPMI 1640 test medium. Results: Among the 14 title compounds, 12 were first reported. The results of preliminary antifungal test showed that all the title compounds exhibited potent antifungal activities to a certain extent. The activity of 4 compounds were more than 4 times as high as that of fluconazole and equal to that of ketoconazole against Candida albicans in vitro(MIC 80 value≤0.125 μg/ml). Conclusion: Introduction of a side chain containing 4-substituted acyl piperazin-1-yl into the main part of fluconazole has important influence on antifungal activities of title compounds.

miRNA-155 Modulates the Malignant Biological Characteristics of NK/T-Cell Lymphoma Cells by Targeting FOXO3a Gene

This study investigated the effects of miRNA-155 on malignant biological characteristics of NK/T-cell lymphoma cell lines and the possible mechanism. The expression of miRNA-155 was detected in lymphoma cell lines from different sources （SNK-6, YTS, Jurkat and DOHH2） by real-time PCR. Lentiviral vectors （pLL3.7） that could overexpress or downexpress miRNA-155 were constructed. Recombinant lentiviral particles were prepared and purified, and their titers determined. The expression of miRNA-155 in the infected SNK-6 cells and the cell proliferation were detected by PCR and CCK-8, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis of infected SNK-6 cells. The target of miRNA155 was predicted from Targetscan website. The effect of miRNA155 on FOXO3a expression was examined by Western blotting. The results showed that among the human NK/T-cell lymphoma cell lines SNK-6, YTS, Jurkat and DOHH2, the expression of miRNA-155 was highest in SNK-6. The infection efficiency of the recombinant lentivirns in SNK-6 was more than 70% at multiplicity of infection （MOI） of 100. The expression of miRNA-155 was significantly increased in SNK-6 cells infected by lentivirus vectors with high expression of miRNA-155 （4 times higher than the control group）, and profoundly decreased in those infected with lentivirnses with low expression of miRNA-155. The proliferation of letivirns-infected SNK-6 cells was decreased as the expression of miRNA-155 reduced. The apoptosis rate was increased with the reduction in the expression of miRNA-155. FOXO3a was found to be a possible target of miRNA155, as suggested by Targetscan website. Western blotting showed that the expression of FOXO3a was significantly elevated in SNK-6 cells with miRNA-155 inhibition. It was concluded that reduction in miRNA-155 expression can inhibit the proliferation of SNK-6 lymphoma cells and promote their apoptosis, which may be associated with regulation of FOXO3a gene.

External fixation is more suitable for intra-articular fractures of the distal radius in elderly patients

The purpose of this study was to compare the functional outcomes, psychological impact, and complication rates associated with external fixation and volar or dorsal plating in relation to the functional parameters following treatment of intra-articular fractures of the distal radius （IFDR） in patients older than 65 years. We hypothesized that using volar or dorsal plating would improve functional outcomes, but that it would be associated with more complications and equivalent functional outcomes when compared with the external fixation group. A total of 123 consecutive patients suffering from IFDR were recruited into the study. The patients were measured for clinical, radiological, and psychosocial functioning outcomes and were followed up after I week and 3, 6 and 12 months. After 3 months, the plating group had better pronation （P = 0.001）, supination, （P = 0.047） and extension （P = 0.043） scores. These differences were somewhat attenuated by 6 months and disappeared at I year. The plating group had a greater occurrence of wound infection （P = 0.043）, tendonitis, （P = 0.024） and additional surgery compared with the external fixation group. The only TNO-AZL Adult Quality of Life scores in the plating group that were lower than those in the external fixation group were in the ＂gross motor＂ category （walking upstairs, bending over, walking 500 yards; P = 0.023）. Internal fixation was more advantageous than external fixation in the early rehabilitation period; after I year the outcomes were similar. The plating group showed significantly higher levels of wound infection and tendonitis and had a greater need for additional surgeries.

The Analysis of an SIRS Epidemic Model with Discrete Delay on Scale-Free Network

A new epidemic SIRS model with discrete delay on scale-free network is presented. We give the formula of the basic reproductive number for the model and prove that the disease dies out when the basic reproductive number is less than unity, while the disease is uniformly persistent when the basic reproductive number is more than unity. Numerical simulations are given to demonstrate the main results.

Sectoral Features of the Tenir-Too Mountains

For the first time, the separating issues of the Tenir-Too mountains into sectors in contrast to the accepted schemes of physical geography as a province and sub-province were discussed. Since the term province is more acceptable in political science than in physical geography, the main factors in the process of sector formation were determined. The purpose of this article is not only to describe the high altitudes of the Tenir-Too mountains, but theoretically substantiate their formation, ecological and genetic features, and distribution patterns. Until today the Tenir-Too mountain area is not divided into sectors and subsectors with significant changes to the stencil scheme, which has been used to date in the physical geographical zoning. Research methods in this work are based on the recent study materials collected from meteorological stations of Tenir-Too region. Hypsometric and topographic maps were used to identify high altitude ranges, and climatic factors were separated by zones. Plant species and genus divisions were identified. In some areas of the Tenir-Too the range of altitudes along the routes was studied.

The Role of the Tenir-Too Relief Steps in the Formation of High-Altitude Belts

The article discusses regularity of the formation of high-altitude zones on the mountain territories of Tenir-Too and their relationship with geomorphological complexes and the relief steps. The main purpose was to classify geomorpho-logical complexes and to concretize their morphological characteristics. The belt structure consisting of two mixed rows is analyzed. Excess, elevated, medium-moistened, semi-moistened, semi-arid, and arid types of altitudinal belts were proposed.

Optimization Diagnosis of Breast Cancer Vertebral Metastases

The article is describing results after analysis of research conducted in Osh Interregional Oncology Center under the Ministry of Health in the Kyrgyz Republic. X-ray computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging analyses were made for optimization diagnosis determination in patients with breast cancer vertebral metastases. According to the obtained data, the frequency of vertebral metastases in breast cancer was observed as well as the timing of their detection depending on the detection of the primary tumor. In addition, the necessity for early screening of vertebral metastases was explained.

Using the internet search data to investigate symptom characteristics of COVID-19: A big data study

Objective:Analyzing the symptom characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19)to improve control and prevention.Methods:Using the Baidu Index Platform(http://index.baidu.com)and the website of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention as data resources to obtain the search volume(SV)of keywords for symptoms associated with COVID-19 from January 1 to February 20 in each year from 2017 to 2020 and the epidemic data in Hubei province and the other top 9 impacted provinces in China.Data of 2020 were compared with those of the previous three years.Data of Hubei province were compared with those of the other 9 provinces.The differences and characteristics of the SV of COVID-19-related symptoms,and the correlations between the SV of COVID-19 and the number of newly confirmed/suspected cases were analyzed.The lag ef-fects were discussed.Results:Comparing the SV from January 1,2020 to February 20,2020 with those for the same period of the previous three years,Hubei’s SV for cough,fever,diarrhea,chest tightness,dys-pnea,and other symptoms were significantly increased.The total SV of lower respiratory symptoms was significantly higher than that of upper respiratory symptoms(P<0.001).The SV of COVID-19 in Hubei province was significantly correlated with the number of newly confirmed/suspected cases(rconfirmed Z 0.723,rsuspected Z 0.863,both p<0.001).The results of the distributed lag model suggested that the patients who searched relevant symptoms on the Internet may begin to see doctors in 2e3 days later and be confirmed in 3e4 days later.Conclusion:The total SV of lower respiratory symptoms was higher than that of upper respira-tory symptoms,and the SV of diarrhea also increased significantly.It warned us to pay atten-tion to not only the symptoms of the lower respiratory tract but also the gastrointestinal symptoms,especially diarrhea in patients with COVID-19.Internet search behavior had a pos-itive correlation with the number of newly confirmed/suspected cases,suggesting that big data has an important role in the early warning of infectious diseases.