Effect of electroacupuncture on the mRNA and protein expression of Rho-A and Rho-associated kinase Ⅱ in spinal cord injury rats

Electroacupuncture is beneficial for the recovery of spinal cord injury, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The Rho/Rho-associated kinase（ROCK） signaling pathway regulates the actin cytoskeleton by controlling the adhesive and migratory behaviors of cells that could inhibit neurite regrowth after neural injury and consequently hinder the recovery from spinal cord injury. Therefore, we hypothesized electroacupuncture could affect the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway to promote the recovery of spinal cord injury. In our experiments, the spinal cord injury in adult Sprague-Dawley rats was caused by an impact device. Those rats were subjected to electroacupuncture at Yaoyangguan（GV3）, Dazhui（GV14）, Zusanli（ST36） and Ciliao（BL32） and/or monosialoganglioside treatment. Behavioral scores revealed that the hindlimb motor functions improved with those treatments. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, fluorescence in situ hybridization and western blot assay showed that electroacupuncture suppressed the m RNA and protein expression of Rho-A and Rho-associated kinase Ⅱ（ROCKⅡ） of injured spinal cord. Although monosialoganglioside promoted the recovery of hindlimb motor function, monosialoganglioside did not affect the expression of Rho-A and ROCKⅡ. However, electroacupuncture combined with monosialoganglioside did not further improve the motor function or suppress the expression of Rho-A and ROCKⅡ. Our data suggested that the electroacupuncture could specifically inhibit the activation of the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway thus partially contributing to the repair of injured spinal cord. Monosialoganglioside could promote the motor function but did not suppress expression of Rho A and ROCKⅡ. There was no synergistic effect of electroacupuncture combined with monosialoganglioside.

Relationship between serum HER2 extracellular domain levels, tissue HER2 expression, and clinico-pathological parameters in early stage breast cancer

Background Measurement of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 （HER2） protein in the serum of metastatic breast cancer patients has previously been reported, but there are no consistent data to support the clinical utility of serum HER2 extracellular domain for patients with early stage breast cancer. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum extracellular domain levels and tissue HER2 expression, and analyzed their relationship with clinico-pathological parameters in patients with early stage disease. Methods A prospective study was conducted on 232 breast cancer patients with stage I-III prior to treatment. Preoperative serum samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Tissue HER2 status was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization assays. Results The median serum extracellular domain concentration was 6.8 ng/ml. The best diagnostic cut-off value was 7.4 ng/ml, with 62.9% sensitivity and 85.3% specificity. High serum extracellular domain levels were reported in 89 patients （38.3%）, and HER2-positive expression was observed in 77 patients （33.2%）. Multivariate analysis showed that elevated serum extracellular domain correlated with postmenopausal status （P 〈0.001）, high histological grade （P 〈0.001）, negativity of both estrogen （P=0.012） and progesterone receptors （P 〈0.001）, and high levels of carcinoembryonic antigen 153 （P=-0.048）. Conclusions We recommend that 7.4 ng/ml should be used as the cut-off value when evaluating serum extracellular domain levels in early stage of breast cancer. Patients with high serum extracellular domain levels have a certain clinico- pathological characteristics, may provide a basis for clinical practice.