TNFRSF1B +676 T>G polymorphism predicts survival of non-Small cell lung cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The dysregulation of gene expression in the TNF-TNFR superfamily has been involved in various human cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Furthermore, functional polymorphisms in <it>TNF-α </it>and <it>TNFRSF1B </it>genes that alter gene expression are likely to be associated with risk and clinical outcomes of cancers. However, few reported studies have investigated the association between potentially functional SNPs in both <it>TNF-α </it>and <it>TNFRSF1B </it>and prognosis of NSCLC patients treated with chemoradiotherapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We genotyped five potentially functional polymorphisms of <it>TNF-α </it>and <it>TNFRSF1B </it>genes [<it>TNF-α </it>-308 G>A (rs1800629) and -1031 T>C (rs1799964); <it>TNFRSF1B </it>+676 T>G (rs1061622), -1709A>T(rs652625) and +1663A>G (rs1061624)] in 225 NSCLC patients treated with chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate associations between these variants and NSCLC overall survival (OS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that the <it>TNFRSF1B </it>+676 GG genotype was associated with a significantly better OS of NSCLC (GG <it>vs. </it>TT: adjusted HR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.15-0.94; GG <it>vs. </it>GT/TT: adjusted HR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.14-0.88). Further stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the <it>TNFRSF1B </it>+676 GG was an independent prognosis predictor in this NSCLC cohort (GG <it>vs. </it>GT/TT: HR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.14-0.85), in the presence of node status (N_2-3<it>vs. </it>N_0-1: HR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.09-2.35) and tumor stage (T_3-4<it>vs. </it>T_0-2: HR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.08-2.03).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although the exact biological function for this SNP remains to be explored, our findings suggest a possible role of <it>TNFRSF1B </it>+676 T>G (rs1061622) in the prognosis of NSCLC. Further large and functional studies are needed to confirm our findings.</p

Exponential stability criteria for feedback controlled complex dynamical networks with time delay.

Abstract: Time delays commonly exist in the real world, so it is necessary to study the control of such systems with time delay. In this work, we control complex dynamical networks with time delay onto their homogeneous stationary state by applying local feedback injections to a small fraction of nodes. Both asymptotical stability and exponential stability criteria are derived by Lyapunov&apos;s direct method. The efficiency of the derived results was illustrated by simulation study

Control a state-dependent dynamic graph to a pre-specified structure

summary:Recent years have witnessed an increasing interest in coordinated control of distributed dynamic systems. In order to steer a distributed dynamic system to a desired state, it often becomes necessary to have a prior control over the graph which represents the coupling among interacting agents. In this paper, a simple but compelling model of distributed dynamical systems operating over a dynamic graph is considered. The structure of the graph is assumed to be relied on the underling system's states. Then by following a proper protocol, the state-dependent dynamic graph is driven to a pre-specified structure. The main results are derived via Lasalle's Invariant Principle and numerical examples that find very good agreements with the analytical results are also included

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth Is Inhibited by Euphorbia helioscopia L. Extract in Nude Mice Xenografts

Euphorbia helioscopia L. is a traditional Chinese medicine; recently research found that its ethyl acetate extract (EAE) plays an important role on tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis in vitro. But the effect of EAE for tumor cells in vivo has not been reported. To explore the inhibitory effect of EAE and molecular mechanism on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) SMMC-7721 cells in vivo, we utilized the nude mouse xenograft model of HCC. Treated with EAE (50, 100, and 200 μg/mL), the volume of xenograft was measured during the entire process of EAE treatment. In EAE treatment group, the volume of xenograft was significantly reduced compared with the control group (P<0.05) and the protein expressions of CyclinD1, bcl-2, and MMP-9 were reduced, while those of bax, caspase-3, and nm23-H1 were increased. A significant change trend with increasing EAE concentrations has presented, compared with controls. Moreover, the ultrastructural morphology of xenografts showed significant changes, including nuclear pyknosis and chromatin condensation, We found that EAE could effectively inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis, and inhibit tumor invasion and metastasis in vivo; it is suggested that EAE is a potential candidate for as a new anticancer agent

Skin-like hydrogels: design strategy and mechanism, properties, and sensing applications

Human skin is soft, stretchable, elastic, has a strong ability to heal when injured, and can sense various stimuli. Therefore, the development of materials that can simulate skin characteristics has high research value. Hydrogel is a three-dimensional network material with high water content, which has a high potential for the development of skin-like materials. However, traditional hydrogels are often fragile and have poor sensing ability, which are greatly different from the same properties of skin. Skin-like hydrogel can effectively solve the above problems of traditional hydrogels due to its mechanical tunability, excellent stimulation detection ability and other properties. It is a potential skin-like material. Thus, this study first reviews the design strategy and mechanism of skin-like hydrogels, that is, how to develop qualified skin-like hydrogels, including toughening, stimulation perception and transmission, self-healing and biocompatibility. Secondly, in order to be more suitable for practical application, this study also introduces the methods of introducing adhesion, self-power, and freezing resistance to the skin-like hydrogel. Besides, considering the important enlightening significance of skin in sensing, this study introduces the application of skin-like hydrogels in the field of sensing (namely mechanical sensing, temperature sensing, biochemical sensing). Finally, this study reviews the difficulties and deficiencies in the current research process of skin-like hydrogel and looks forward to its future development

LncRNA BCAR4 promotes migration, invasion, and chemo-resistance by inhibiting miR-644a in breast cancer

Abstract Background Metastasis and drug resistance of breast cancer have become a barrier to treating patients successfully. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known as vital players in cancer development and progression.  Methods The RT-qPCR were used to detect the gene expression. Colony formation assay, would healing assay, and transwell assay were performed to investigate oncogenic functions of cells. CCK8 assay was used to detect the cell viability. Western blot was applied to detect the protein level. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the relationship between molecules. Mouse orthotopic xenograft tumor models were established to evaluate the effects of BCAR4 on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.  Results LncRNA BCAR4 was significantly increased in breast cancer patients’ tissues and plasma and upregulated in breast cancer cell lines. BCAR4 upregulation was correlated with the TNM stages and decreased after surgical removal of breast tumors. Silencing of BCAR4 suppressed breast cancer cell colony formation, migration, invasion, and xenograft tumor growth and promoted chemo-sensitivity. Mechanistically, BCAR4 facilitates breast cancer migration and invasion via the miR-644a-CCR7 axis of the MAPK pathway. BCAR4 promotes ABCB1 expression indirectly by binding to and down-regulating miR-644a to induce chemo-resistance in breast cancer. Conclusions Our findings provide insights into the oncogenic role of BCAR4 and implicate BCAR4 as a potential diagnostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic agent to suppress metastasis and inhibit chemo-resistance of breast cancer