Periostin mediates epithelial-mesenchymal transition through the MAPK/ERK pathway in hepatoblastoma

Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyze the prognostic factors in patients with hepatoblastoma(HB) in our single center and to evaluate periostin(POSTN) expression in HB and its association with clinicopathological variables. In addition, the underlying mechanism of how POSTN promotes HB progression was discussed.Methods: POSTN expression was investigated in HB tumors by immunohistochemistry(IHC), immunofluorescence(IF) and Western blot(WB). The association among POSTN expression, clinicopathological features and overall survival(OS) was also evaluated. The migration and adhesion ability of HB cells were measured using chemotaxis and cell-matrix adhesion assays,respectively. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-associated markers and activation of the ERK pathway were detected by WB.Results: HB patients had poor prognosis which displayed lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion, POSTN and vimentin expression. POSTN expression was also associated with lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, overexpressed POSTN promoted migration and the adhesive ability of HB cells in vitro. In addition, we demonstrated that POSTN activated the MAPK/ERK pathway, upregulated the expression of Snail and decreased the expression of OVOL2. Finally, POSTN promoted the expression of EMT-associated markers.Conclusions: POSTN might modulate EMT via the ERK signaling pathway, thereby promoting cellular migration and invasion.Our study also suggests that POSTN may serve as a therapeutic biomarker in HB patients.

The correlation between ultrasonographic findings and the Lysholm scores in knee osteoarthritis

Objective:To analyze the correlation between ultrasonographic findings and Lysholm scores in knee osteoarthritis.Methods:This cross-sectional observational study included 77 cases of knee osteoarthritis examined from February to December in 2015.There were 66 females and 11 males,with an average age of 57.39 (6.41) years,single or bilateral knee pain and limitation of mobility,and an average course of disease of 13.60 (3.00) months.Multiple regression equations were applied in a linear regression analysis to assess the correlation between ultrasound findings and Lysholm scores.Results:The ultrasonographic findings of joint effusion,synovial hypertrophy,protrusion of the medial meniscus (MMP),and inflammation of subpatellar fat pad were significantly correlated with the Lysholm scores (all P <.05).In contrast,there was no association between the ultrasonographic findings of Baker's cyst or patellar ligament lesion and the Lysholm scores (both P >.05).Conclusion:Musculoskeletal ultrasound can better detect the pathological changes of soft tissue in the knee,mainly including synovial hypertrophy,joint effusion,and MMP in comparison with those by plain radiology.After statistical analysis,it is indicated that ultrasonographic findings of synovial hypertrophy was possibly associated with joint locking,joint effusion with supporting,MMP with squatting,and inflammation of subpatellar fat pad with squatting and locking.

金钯不对称纳米结构合成及其表面增强拉曼光谱

金钯双金属纳米结构由于独特的光学-催化协同耦合性质而受到广泛关注,在太阳能转化存储、多相催化、光电器件、生物成像、医学诊疗等领域展现出重要的应用价值.但具有协同性质的金钯纳米材料的合成制备仍然面临巨大挑战.本研究发展了溶液和固体表面上制备金钯纳米结构的两种方式.在金纳米棒种子溶液中,通过调控铜离子的浓度,制备了具有不对称钯分布的金钯凹角长方体和哑铃型纳米结构.研究揭示铜离子可以竞争吸附到金纳米棒表面,调控钯沉积到金棒表面的界面能,诱导钯在金棒表面的成核生长逐渐由外延生长向不连续分散生长模型转换,最终实现了金钯不对称纳米结构的制备.在固体表面介导的合成中,以固体表面支持的自组装金八面体单层为种子,通过控制生长溶液中的钯含量,制备了一系列不同钯负载量的金钯纳米结构.实验揭示由于固体表面的位阻效应,钯优先在背离固体基底的金八面体表面上成核生长,因此制备的金钯纳米结构具有不对称性.通过不同钯负载量下金钯纳米结构表面增强拉曼光谱(surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, SERS)的研究,获得了具有最优SERS性能的金钯异质组装基底结构,并实现了该基底催化对硝基苯硫酚加氢反应过程的原位SERS监测.预期本研究发展的金钯不对称纳米结构合成方法将在多相催化等领域发挥重要作用.