miR-21 targets and inhibits tumor suppressor gene PTEN to promote prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasion:An experimental study

Objective: To study whether miR-21 targets and inhibits tumor suppressor gene PTEN can promote prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Methods: Prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 were cultured and divided into negative control group (NC group), miR-21 group, pcDNA3.1 group, miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group and miR-21+PTEN group that were transfected with different miR and plasmid, respectively. After 12 h and 24 h of transfection, the cell viability and invasive cell number were determined; after 24 h of transfection, Bcl-2, Survivin, MMP2, MMP9, PTEN, PI3K, and AKT expression in cells were determined. Results: After 12 h and 24 h of transfection, OD value and invasive cell number of miR-21 group were significantly higher than those of NC group; after 24 h of transfection, Bcl-2, Survivin, MMP2, MMP9, PI3K and AKT expression levels were significantly higher than those of NC group while PTEN expression level was significantly lower than that of NC group; after 12 h and 24 h of transfection, OD value and invasive cell number of miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group were significantly higher than those of pcDNA3.1 group, and the OD value and invasive cell number of 1niR-21+PTEN group were significantly lower than those of miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group; after 24 h of transfection, Bcl-2, Survivin, MMP2 and MMP9 content of miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group were significantly higher than those of pcDNA3.1 group, and Bcl-2, Survivin, MMP2 and MMP9 content of miR-21+PTEN group were significantly lower than those of miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group. Conclusions: miR-21 can target and inhibit tumor suppressor gene PTEN expression to promote prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasion.

Matrine inhibits bladder cancer cell growth and invasion in vitro through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway:An experimental study

Objective:To study the inhibitory effect of matrine on bladder cancer cell growth and invasion in vitro through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Methods:Human T24 bladder cancer cell lines were cultured and treated with different doses of matrine(0.25 mg/mL,0.5 mg/mL and 1.0 mg/mL) as well as 20 μmol/L PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 24 h,and the cell proliferation activity,the number of invasive cells as well as the expression of p-PI3K,p-AKT,proliferation genes and invasion genes were determined. Results:Different doses of matrine could decrease the cell viability value,the number of invasive cells as well as the expression of p-PI3K,p-AKT,MMP2 and MMP9,and increase the expression of p16,p21 and p27 in dose-dependent manner; p16,p21 and p27 expression in cells of 20 μmol/L LY29002 group were significantly higher than those of 0 μmol/L LY29002 group while MMP2 and MMP9 expression were significantly lower than those of 0 μmol/L LY29002 group(P<0.05). Conclusions:Matrine can inhibit bladder cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and regulate the expression of cell cycle-inhibiting molecules and invasion-related genes through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Effects of substrate temperature and deposition time on the morphology and corrosion resistance of FeCoCrNiMo0.3 high-entropy alloy coating fabricated by magnetron sputtering

The effects of substrate temperature and deposition time on the morphology and corrosion resistance of FeCoCrNiMo0.3 coating fabricated by magnetron sputtering were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical tests.The FeCoCrNiMo0.3 coating was mainly composed of the face-centered cubic phase.High substrate temperature promoted the densification of the coating,and the pitting resistance and protective ability of the coating in 3.5wt%NaCl solution was thus improved.When the deposition time was prolonged at 500℃,the thickness of the coating remarkably increased.Meanwhile,the pitting resistance improved as the deposition time increased from 1 to 3 h;however,further improvement could not be obtained for the coating sputtered for 5 h.Overall,the pitting resistance of the FeCoCrNiMo0.3 coating sputtered at 500℃for 3 h exceeds those of most of the reported high-entropy alloy coatings.

Two case reports of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas

Primary adrenal myelolipoma is a rare, non-functioning adrenal benign tumor that is composed of mature adipose tissue and a variable amount of haemopoietic elements. Clinically, it is difficult to get diagnosed with adrenal myelolipoma because the patient usually doesn't have obvious symptoms and signs in early stage. In the present study, two cases of primary bilateral adrenal myelolipomas are reported. Clinical presentation, imaging diagnostic features, histopathological changes and surgical treatments of the two patients are discussed. Preoperative diagnostic imaging examinations(B-mode ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging sans) assisted getting a prediction diagnosis of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas. A two-stage surgery was used to successfully excise bilateral adrenal myelolipomas in the two patients. Conventional open adrenalectomy was applied to remove the adrenal myelolipomas greater than 6 cm, and laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed to excise the adrenal tumors smaller than 6 cm. Bilateral adrenal myelolipomas of the two patients were finally confirmed by postoperative histopathological examinations. Understanding clinical, imaging diagnostic and histopathological features of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas will facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Surgical removal of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas is safe, curative and beneficial.The two-stage surgery appears to be the best treatment option for the patients with bilateral adrenal myelolipomas because it achieves optimal treatment effectiveness with minimized sequelae.

Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Hepatoid carcinoma(HC)is an extremely rare neoplasm that is morphologicallysimilar to hepatocellular carcinoma.HC has been described in various organs;however,HC of the pancreas is extremely rare.To our knowledge,only 38 caseshave been reported.We present a case of HC of the pancreas in a 36-year-oldmale patient.CASE SUMMARY A 36-year-old cachexic man with no significant past medical history wastransferred to our hospital with a history of painless jaundice,elevated bloodglucose and significant weight loss.Lab tests showed elevated serumtransaminases,bilirubin and alpha-fetoprotein levels.Magnetic resonanceimaging of the upper abdomen showed a diffusely enlarged pancreas,appearing“sausage-shaped”.Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showedupstream ductal dilation secondary to stricture of the main pancreatic duct andthe common bile duct,which were not visible.Immunohistochemistry ofbiopsied tissue from a percutaneous pancreatic biopsy showed tumor cellpositivity for HepPar1,polyclonal carcinoembryonic antigen and CK19,suggestive of HC of the pancreas.The characteristics of 39 patients with HC ofthe pancreas were reviewed.CONCLUSION HC of the pancreas is more prevalent in males,and patients have a median age of57 years.It is most commonly asymptomatic or presents as abdominal back pain,and the pancreatic tail is the most common location.At the time of diagnosis,liver metastasis is often present.

Sunitinib inhibits renal cancer cell growth and invasion in vitro through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway: an experimental study

Objective:To study the effect of sunitinib on renal cancer cell growth and invasion in vitro as well as Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Methods: Renal cancer cell lines ACHN were cultured and processed with different doses of sunitinib (1 μmol/L, 2 μmol/L, 4 μmol/L and 8 μmol/L), and sunitinib-free processing condition was used as negative control. 24 h after processing, the mRNA expression levels of apoptosis genes, invasion genes and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in cells were detected.Results: 24 h after treatment, NPRL2, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 mRNA expression in 1 μmol/L, 2 μmol/L, 4 μmol/L and 8 μmol/L sunitinib groups were significantly higher than those in negative control group while MMP2, MMP9, Vimentin, N-cadherin, Wnt andβ-catenin mRNA expression were significantly lower than those in negative control group;the higher the dose of sunitinib, the higher the NPRL2, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 mRNA expression while the lower the MMP2, MMP9, Vimentin, N-cadherin, Wnt andβ-catenin mRNA expression in cells.Conclusion: Sunitinib can inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in renal cancer cells to increase the expression of apoptosis genes, inhibit the expression of invasion genes and thereby inhibit the cell growth and invasion.