Prognostic value of osteopontin splice variant-c expression in breast cancers: a meta-analysis

Objectives. Osteopontin (OPN) is overexpressed in breast cancers, while its clinical and prognostic significance remained unclear. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of OPN, especially its splice variants, in breast cancers. Methods. Data were extracted from eligible studies concerning the OPN and OPN-c expression in breast cancer patients and were used to calculate the association between OPN/OPN-c and survival. Two reviewer teams independently screened the literatures according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria based on quality evaluation. Following the processes of data extraction, assessment, and transformation, meta-analysis was carried out via RevMan 5.3 software. Results. A total of ten studies involving 1,567 patients were included. The results demonstrated that high level OPN indicated a poor outcome in the OS (HR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.23–4.00, and ; random-effects model) with heterogeneity (%) of breast cancer patients. High level OPN-c appeared to be more significantly associated with poor survival (HR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.51–3.04, and ; fixed-effects model) with undetected heterogeneity (%). Conclusions. Our analyses indicated that both OPN and OPN-c could be considered as prognostic markers for breast cancers. The high level of OPN-c was suggested to be more reliably associated with poor survival in breast cancer patients

Human osteopontin: potential clinical applications in cancer (Review)

Human osteopontin (OPN) is a glycosylated phosphoprotein which is expressed in a variety of tissues in the body. In recent years, accumulating evidence has indicated that the aberrant expression of OPN is closely associated with tumourigensis, progression and most prominently with metastasis in several tumour types. In this review, we present the current knowledge on the expression profiles of OPN and its main splice variants in human cancers, as well as the potential implications in patient outcome. We also discuss its putative clinical application as a cancer biomarker and as a therapeutic target

The cellular distribution of Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 1 is determined by the PDZ-I domain and regulates the malignant progression of breast cancer

The oncogenic role of ectopic expression of Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF1) was recently suggested. Here, we show that NHERF1 was upregulated in high grades compared with low grades. Increased NHERF1 expression was correlated with poor prognosis and poor survival. NHERF1 expression was higher in the nucleus of cancer cells than in contiguous non- mammary epithelial cells. A novel mutation, namely NHERF1 Y24S, was identified in human breast cancer tissues and shown to correspond to a conserved residue in the PDZ-I domain of NHERF1. Truncation and mutation of the PDZ-I domain of NHERF1 increased the nuclear distribution of the NHERF1 protein, and this redistribution was associated with the malignant phenotype of breast cancer cells, including growth, migration, and adhesion. The present results suggest a role for NHERF1 in the progression of breast cancer mediated by the nuclear distribution of the NHERF1 protein, as determined by the truncation or key site mutation of the PDZ-I domain

A review of the spider genus Sinoalaria (Araneae, Theridiosomatidae), with the descriptions of four new species and two new combinations

The spider genus Sinoalaria Zhao & Li, 2014 is redefined and reviewed. A total of ten species are studied, including four new species: S. chi Yu & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀), S. shenhei Yu & Lin, sp. nov. (♀), S. shuidi Yu & Lin, sp. nov. (♀), S. xiaotu Yu & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀). Two new combinations are proposed: Sinoalaria nitida (Zhao & Li, 2012), comb. nov. and S. prolata (Zhao & Li, 2012), comb. nov., both transferred from Karstia Chen, 2010. The material of six known species were re-examined and photographed, including the type species, S. chengguanensis (Zhao & Li, 2012). A key is provided for all species of the genus, as well as diagnoses, illustrations, and a distribution map

Protective effects of lactic acid bacteria on gut epithelial barrier dysfunction are Toll like receptor 2 and protein kinase C dependent

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are recognized for support of host gut homeostasis but the precise mechanisms remain to be identified. LABs interact with Toll-like receptors (TLRs) which might stimulate barrier function of gut epithelial cells. We previously identified six TLR2-signalling LAB strains. As TLR2 is involved in barrier-function enhancement in gut-epithelium, the epithelial barrier-protective effect of these TLR2-signalling strains was studied by using T84 human colorectal cancer cell monolayer as an in vitro gut epithelial barrier model. The protein kinase C (PKC) dependent barrier disruptor A23187 and mitogen-activated protein kinase dependent barrier stressor deoxynivalenol were tested to determine which pathways LAB influenced. We found that exclusively the PKC dependent disruption was prevented by the selected TLR2-signalling LAB strains. This study suggests that TLR2 is a pivotal epithelial barrier modulator, and provides novel insight in the molecular mechanisms by which LAB contribute to intestinal health

Performance and Applications of Lithium Ion Capacitors

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) have a wide range of applications in the fields of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) for their both high energy density and high power density. Lithium-ion capacitors have become a potential alternative for next-generation chemical energy storage equipment owing to high energy density, high power density, and excellent cycle performance. The prelithiated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) electrode was prepared by internal short circuit (ISC) and doping to intercalate lithium into MWCNTs. SLMP and lithium metal were used as lithium resources, respectively. The prelithiated carbon nanotubes were used as anode and activated carbon electrode as cathode. The capacitors were assembled in a glove box filled with argon. The prelithiated MWCNTs electrode eliminated irreversible capacity and improved substantially electrochemical performance of lithium-ion capacitors

Flexible Porous Carbon Nanotube Films Intercalated with Active and Functional Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) has occupied the main position of portable electronic devices, and it is also playing an important role in energy storage and large energy storage. Thin film devices based on their diverse functions have great potential for wide application. Novel thin film devices need to be created for the improvement of electrochemical performance and safety of LIB. Our research focused on transparent conductive films and new flexible porous carbon nanotube films for improving and enhancing the energy/power density and cyclic performance of LIB. Meanwhile, different carbon nanotube films have their own additional advantages in strength and thermal conductivity to meet various functional requirements of LIBS

NHERF1 regulates the progression of colorectal cancer through the interplay with VEGFR2 pathway

The oncogenic role of ectopic expression of Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF1) was recently suggested in colorectal cancer, where it was implicated in playing a role in the tumor hypoxia microenvironment. Here we showed that a high level expression of NHERF1 was found in colorectal cancer tissues and that the expression of NHERF1 was positively correlated with VEGFR2 expression. The prognostic value of VEGFR2 expression in colorectal cancer relied on the expression of NHERF1. The up-regulation of NHERF1 induced by the exposure to hypoxia in colon cancer cells depended on the activation of VEGFR2 signaling. NHERF1 in turn inhibited the activation of VEGFR2 signaling which could be regulated by the interaction between NHERF1 and VEGFR2, resulting in the reduction of migration and invasion of colon cancer cells. These results suggest a dynamic interplay between NHERF1 and VEGFR2 signaling in colorectal cancer, which could explain the contribution of NHERF1 to the regulation of tumor cell responses to the hypoxia microenvironment