Expression profile of polyunsaturated fatty acids in colorectal cancer

AIM:To investigate the relationship between the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFAs)andtumor-associated factors for predicting the outcome of colorectal carcinoma(CRC)in Chinese patients.METHODS:Fresh-frozen malignant and normal tissues from 82 Chinese patients with CRC were analyzed for PUFA composition using gas-liquid chromatography.The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),prostaglandin E2 and platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the levels of VEGF,p53 and Ki-67 were measured by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:In malignant tissue,compared with normal tissue,the levels of totalω-6 PUFAs(24.64%±3.41%vs 26.77%±3.37%,P=0.00)and linoleic acid(LA)(15.46%±3.51%vs 18.30%±2.83%,P<0.01)were lower,whereas the levels of totalω-3 PUFAs(1.58%±0.74%vs 1.35%±0.60%,P<0.01)and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid(DGLA)(1.32%±0.69%vs 0.85%±0.29%,P<0.01)were significantly higher.The ratios of arachidonic acid(AA)/LA(0.53±0.22 vs0.42±0.19,P<0.01)and AA/totalω-6 PUFAs(0.31±0.09 vs 0.27±0.10,P<0.01)were also significantly higher in malignant tissue.The levels of PDGF(353.10±148.85 pg/m L vs 286.09±104.91 pg/m L,P<0.01),COX-2(125.21±70.29 ng/m L vs 67.06±42.22 ng/m L,P<0.01)and VEGF(357.11±128.76 pg/m L vs211.38±99.47 pg/m L,P<0.01)were also higher in malignant tissue compared to normal tissue.COX-2was inversely correlated with LA(R=-0.3244,P<0.05)and positively correlated with AA/totalω-6 PUFAs(R=0.3083,P<0.05)and AA/LA(R=0.3001,P<0.05).The tissue level of LA was highest in poorly differentiated tumors(19.9%±6.3%,P<0.05),while the ratio of AA/ω-3 PUFAs was lowest in these tumors(10.8±2.6,P<0.05).In VEGF-positive tumors,the level of LA was higher(16.2%±3.7%vs 13.9%±2.7%,P<0.01),while the AA/ω-3PUFA,AA/ω-6 PUFA,and AA/LA ratios were lower than in VEGF-negativetumors(5.0±1.8 vs 6.7±3.3,0.30±0.09 vs 0.34±0.09,0.50±0.21 vs 0.61±0.21,P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The metabolism of PUFAs may playan important role in the evolution of inflammationdriven tumorigenesis in CRC and may be considered apotential marker for prognosis.

Effects of febuxostat on atrial remodeling in a rabbit model of atrial fibrillation induced by rapid atrial pacing

Background Febuxostat,a novel nonpurine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase(XO),may be used in the prevention and management of atrial fibrillation(AF).The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of febuxostat on atrial remodeling in a rabbit model of AF induced by rapid atrial pacing(RAP)and the mechanisms by which it acts.Methods Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into four groups:sham-operated group(Group S),RAP group(Group P),RAP with 5 mg/kg per day febuxostat group(Group LFP),and RAP with 10 mg/kg per day febuxostat group(Group HFP).All rabbits except those in Group S were subjected to RAP at 600 beats/min for four weeks.The effects of febuxostat on atrial electrical and structural remodeling,markers of inflammation and oxidative stress,and signaling pathways involved in the left atrium were examined.Results Shortened atrial effective refractory period(AERP),increased AF inducibility,decreased mRNA levels of Cav1.2 and Kv4.3,and left atrial enlargement and dysfunction were observed in Group P,and these changes were suppressed in the groups treated with febuxostat.Prominent atrial fibrosis was observed in Group P,as were increased levels of TGF-β1,Collagen I,andα-SMA and decreased levels of Smad7 and eNOS.Treatment with febuxostat attenuated these differences.Changes in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers induced by RAP were consistent with the protective effects of febuxostat.Conclusions This study is the first to find that febuxostat can inhibit atrial electrical and structural remodeling of AF by suppressing XO and inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Developments in auxiliary examination of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), which is caused by prion scrapie protein, is a rare, chronic, transmissible and fatal disease. Clinical manifestations of CJD include rapidly progressive dementia, cerebellar ataxia, visual disturbance, as well as pyramidal and extrapyramidal tract signs. Four subtypes of CJD have been reported, including sporadic, familial or genetic, iatrogenic and variant. Given the infectiousness and high mortality of the disease, it is imperative that earlier and more accurate diagnostic methods are developed. In the past years, 14-3-3 protein testing and periodic sharp wave complexes in electroencephalogram have been widely used in CJD clinical diagnosis;and the abnormal hyper-intensity in diffusion weighted imaging has also been used. Recently, there has been a focus on the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography. New findings of potential biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid and decreases in diffusion tensor imaging measures have emerged as having an association with CJD. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has also drawn attention as an emerging method for diagnosis. In this review, the progress in auxiliary examinations of CJD is discussed and the potential, future diagnostic methods are introduced.

Clinical and Genetic Features of Familial Cold Urticaria： A Report of Three Families

To the Editor：Cold urticaria （CU） accounts for 1-3% of all urticaria cases.Affected patients develop a rash and/or angioedema after physical exposure to cold agents such as cold water,air,or food.CU can be classified as an acquired or familial disorder.Familial CU （FCU） was first described in 1940.Three familial cold syndromes exist：familial delayed CU,familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome （FCAS）,and familial atypical CU （FACU）.[1] Here,we report three Chinese pedigrees of FCU with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern [Figure 1a].