MicroRNA-29a suppresses the growth, migration, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells by targeting carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6

AbstractCarcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) is an important regulator of cell adhesion, invasion, and metastasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional roles of CEACAM6 in lung adenocarcinoma and to identify miRNAs that inhibit the growth, migration, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells by targeting CEACAM6. CEACAM6 expression is associated with poor prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma, and CEACAM6 has important functional roles in controlling the growth, migration, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, miR-29a can suppress the growth, migration, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells by targeting CEACAM6. Therefore, miR-29a/CEACAM6 axis represents a potential therapeutic target for treatment of lung adenocarcinoma

A Study of ICU Nursing Core Skill Design for Nursing Practice Education and Nursing Students’ Performance Competency

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental information for the establishment of ICU Nursing Core Skill for nursing students of Cheju Halla University, South Korea by clarifying contemporary nursing skills/activities used in an ICU. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a Nursing Activities Questionnaire that included 99 questions in a 4-Likert scale. Data were collected from 111 nurses working in ICUs within 6 different hospitals in Jeju and 168 3rd year students who were enrolled in the ICU core skills course with a response rate of 78.87%. The Important Index was calculated from the urgency multiplied by four and added frequency of nursing activities (The Important Index = the urgency×4 + frequency). The data was analysed with SPSS 20.0 program using descriptive statistics for frequency, urgency, importance and performance competency of nursing activities. Results: Fifty nursing activities that had ranked upper 25 % of the Important Index score among 99 nursing activities were examined. When 14 ICU Nursing Skills used at the Cheju Halla University were matched with 50 nursing activities identified by the ICU RNs, upper 25% of the Importance Index score, 9 items were found to be consistent. Conclusions: This research showed the frequency of relevant nursing interventions ranked within an Importance Index, and the focus of performance competency elements of nursing activities in ICU of hospitals in Jeju Island. Based on the results of this study, there is need to correct and revise ICU Core Skill elements within programs at Cheju Halla University. Future study is suggested to examine and evaluate the ability of nursing students who perform nursing activities shown as relevant and critical on the Importance Index in this study

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Methanol Extract of Moutan Cortex in LPS-Activated Raw264.7 Cells

Moutan Cortex (MCE) has been used in traditional medicine to remove heat from the blood, promote blood circulation and alleviate blood stasis. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of MCE on regulatory mechanisms of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) involved in immunological activity of Raw264.7 cells. Cells were pretreated with methanolic extracts of MCE, and further cultured for an appropriate time after lipopolyssacharide (LPS) addition. During the entire experimental period, 0.1 and 0.3 mg ml−1 of MCE had no cytotoxicity. In these concentrations, MCE inhibited the production of NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and phosphorylated inhibitor of κBα (p-IκBα), and the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). MCE also reduced the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the Raw264.7 cells that were activated by LPS. These results demonstrate that MCE has anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression by suppressing the phosphorylation of I-κBα and the activation of NF-κB

A Case of Pseudo-Duane's Retraction Syndrome With Old Medial Orbital Wall Fracture

We report a case of pseudo-Duane's retraction syndrome with entrapment of the medial rectus muscle in an old medial orbital wall fracture presenting identical clinical symptoms as Duane's retraction syndrome. A 15-year-old boy presented with persistent limited right eye movement since a young age. Examination showed marked limited abduction, mildly limited adduction, and globe retraction accompanied by narrowing of the palpebral fissure during attempted adduction in the right eye. He showed a right esotropia of 16 prism diopters and his head turned slightly to the right. A slight enophthalmos was noted in his right eye. A computed tomography scan demonstrated entrapment of the medial rectus muscle and surrounding tissues in an old medial orbital wall fracture. A forced duction test revealed a marked restriction of abduction in the right eye. A 5 mm recession of the right medial rectus muscle was performed. Postoperatively, the patient's head turn and esotropia in the primary position were successfully corrected, but there was still some limitations to his ocular movement. The importance of several tests such as the forced duction test and an imaging study should be emphasized in making a diagnosis for limitation of eye movement

The Effect of Differential Modulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor on Growth and intracellular Calcium Ion Concentration in Normal Human Oral Keratinocytes

The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction between the agents [N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), arachidonic acid (AA), and Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor (NOS-I)] and cultured normal human oral keratinocytes (NHOK) in order to elucidate the mechanisms by which epithelial growth and regeneration are regulated. We also examined whether AA and NOS-I could protect NHOK from glutamate cytotoxicity and the change of intracellular calcium ion concentration. NHOK were obtained from gingival tissue of 20 individuals aged 20 to 29, and third passage (P3) cells were used for this study. Cell viability was measured by the MTT assay and DNA synthesis by the BrdU assay. The microscopic features of NHOK were observed and changes in intracellular calcium ion concentration were measured. NMDA and NNA induced an initial increase in cell number. Low concentration of AA induced an increase in cell number while high concentrations of AA induced a decrease in cell number. The decrease in cell number induced by NMDA at the seventh day was abolished by the addition of low concentrations of AA or NOS inhibitors. Low concentrations of AA or NMDA with high concentrations of AA significantly increased the DNA synthesis rate at four hours. NMDA and AA both induced an increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration, and AA enhanced NMDA-induced intracellular calcium ion in a concentration-dependent manner. NMDA-induced NHOK death was associated with intracellular calcium ion change and the promotion of cell differentiation. Low concentrations of AA protected NHOK cells from NMDA-induced death.

The biological significance of non-enzymatic reaction of menadione with plasma thiols: enhancement of menadione-induced cytotoxicity to platelets by the presence of blood plasma

AbstractTo test the hypothesis that the non-enzymatic reaction of quinones with thiols in plasma can generate reactive oxygens (ROS), thereby leading to potentiated cellular toxicity, we have studied the effect of a representative quinone compound, menadione, on plasma isolated from rats. The experimental results are as follows: (1) menadione generated ROS via non-enzymatic reaction with protein thiols in plasma; (2) the presence of plasma increased menadione-induced cytotoxicity to platelets; (3) pretreatment of plasma with a thiol-depleting agent significantly suppressed menadione-induced ROS and cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the non-enzymatic reaction of menadione with plasma thiols could be an important process in quinone-induced cellular toxicity