With the application of multi-level template, the incidence of cortex perforation in severe and rigid scoliosis decreased and this technology is, therefore, potentially applicable in clinical practice.

Growing evidence has demonstrated that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is involved in the radiation response to breast cancer. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Therefore, we investigated if HER2 overexpression is associated with radiosensitivity of breast cancer. We constructed breast cancer cell lines differing in HER2 expression by transducing HER2 cDNA or short hairpin RNA against HER2. We then assessed the radiosensitivity and investigated the potential mechanism by using cell proliferation assay, cell adhesion assays, anoikis assays, colony formation assays, and western blotting analyses. We found that HER2 introduction in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (low HER2 expression) and MDA-MB-231 (HER2 is not expressed) promoted cell proliferation and invasion and enhanced cell adhesion and resistance to anoikis. Moreover, HER2 reduced radiosensitivity in these two cells compared with the corresponding control. The opposite results were observed when HER2 was silenced in breast cancer cell lines ZR-7530 and SK-BR-3 (both cells with high expression of HER2) using HER2 shRNA. In addition, animal experiment results showed HER2 could enhance the radioresistance of xenograft tumors. Further studies showed HER2 promoted the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (Fak) and thereby up-regulated the expression of proteins associated with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition such as Claudin-1, ZO-1, and ZEB-1. The inhibition of Fak activity using the Fak inhibitor (PF-562281) restored the radiosensitivity in HER2-overexpressing cells. In conclusion, HER2 reduces the radiosensitivity of breast cancer by activating Fak in vitro and in vivo. Fak might be a potential target for the radiosensitization of HER2-overexpressed breast cancer.

To investigate the clinical efficacy of combining digital subtraction angiography-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and 125 I seeds implantation for the treatment of spinal osteoplastic metastasis. A combination of PVP and 125 I implantation was conducted for 50 patients with spinal osteoplastic metastasis, while the other 50 patients who received regular radiation therapy were used as a comparison. Visual analogue pain scale (VAS) and score of life quality (EORTCQLQ-30) were determined for all the patients. Surgery was successful in 89 spinal segments of vertebral body in 50 patients. Each segment of vertebral body was injected with 1-5 mL (2.8 mL for thoracic and 3.1 mL for lumbar vertebral body on average) of bone cement. Postoperative X-ray and CT examination showed that all the patients in the PVP group achieved spinal stability. During the follow-up examination from 6 months to 5 years, 49 patients (98.0%) had significantly relieved back pain, and only 1 case (2.0%) had no obvious improvement. Postoperative VAS score and Karnofsky performance score (KPS) were significantly different from the preoperative scores ( p < 0.05); and compared to the regular treatment group, PVP combined 125 I seeds showed much better clinical efficacy ( p < 0.05). PVP is a minimally invasive treatment with easy operation and less complications. PVP can effectively relieve the pain, stabilize the spine, improve the life quality, and reduce the occurrence of paraplegia in patients with spinal osteoplastic metastasis. Utilization of 125 I seeds with PVP can enhance the clinical efficacy.

ObjectiveTo examine the role of microRNA (miR)-205 in proliferation, migration and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).MethodsThe human NPC cell line CNE2 was transfected with miR-205 mimic, anti-miR-205 inhibitor or scrambled oligonucleotide (control). Cell proliferation was assessed via MTT assay. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by transwell migration and Matrigel® invasion assay, respectively. Radiation induced apoptosis was quantified via Caspase-Glo3/7 assay. Apoptotic proteins and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins were semiquantified by Western blot analysis.ResultsOverexpression of miR-205 increased the proliferation, migration and invasion of CNE2 cells, and decreased radiation-induced apoptosis compared with control cells. MiR-205 overexpression downregulated E-cadherin and upregulated Snail expression via downregulation of PTEN and upregulation of AKT.ConclusionMiR-205 plays vital roles in tumourigenesis and tumour progression in NPC, and may be a potential treatment target.

Both pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines generated by chondrocytes play essential roles in the process of Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA). Bornyl acetate is the main volatile constituent in numerous conifer oils and some Chinese traditional herbs, which has displayed an anti-inflammatory effect before. In this study, we found that bornyl acetate elevates the expression of IL-11 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Interestingly, our results indicated that IL-1b-mediated up-regulation of IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, and MMP-13 was significantly compromised by IL-11 co-treatment on mRNA levels and protein levels. The antagonistic effects of bornyl acetate on IL-1b induced targets MMP-1 and MMP-13 were diminished by IL-11 knockdown. Mechanistically, our results indicated that bornyl acetate significantly elevates the expression of AP-1 component c-fos, which may influence gross AP-1 activity and initial the transcription of IL-11. Indeed, expression of IL-11 was reversed upon c-fos knockdown. Our results suggest the therapeutic potentials of bornyl acetate in patients with OA. V C 2014 IUBMB Life, 66(12): [854][855][856][857][858][859] 2014

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Background:Studies have reported that patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a high incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is an effective management of ONFH. However, little data exist regarding the use of THA for the HIV patients with ONFH in China. This study reviewed the outcomes of HIV-positive patients who underwent THA for ONFH, compared with HIV-negative individuals.Methods:The patients who underwent THA for ONFH from September 2012 to September 2014 in Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively studied. Twenty-eight HIV-positive patients and 35 HIV-negative patients underwent 48 THAs and 45 THAs with cementless components, respectively. Medical records and follow-up data were reviewed. Harris Hip Score (HHS) was applied to evaluate the pain and function of the hips before and after THA. Complications such as wound healing, surgical site infection, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, mortality, and complications from the prosthesis were reviewed. The operation time, blood loss, and hospital stay were compared between the two groups.Results:The mean follow-up period was 19.5 ± 5.8 months (ranging from 6 to 30 months). The mean age of the HIV-positive patients with osteonecrosis at the time of surgery was 35 years old, which was significantly lower than that of the HIV-negative group (42 years old) (P < 0.05). The HIV-positive patients underwent surgery a mean of 2.5 years after their original symptoms, which was significantly shorter than the HIV-negatives’ (mean 4 years) (P < 0.05). Among HIV-positive patients, the prevalence of being male and rate of bilateral procedures were significantly higher than those in the HIV-negative group (P < 0.05). The operation time in HIV-positive patients was significantly longer than that in HIV-negative patients (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in blood loss or hospital stay between the two groups (P > 0.05). The HHSs of two groups significantly improved after THAs (P < 0.05), without significant difference between two groups. No wound complication, sepsis, mortality, prosthesis complication, and occupational exposure occurred, except for two cases of heterotopic ossification and one case of humeral head necrosis.Conclusions:ONFH is more likely to occur bilaterally in younger HIV-positive males. The development of osteonecrosis seems faster in HIV-positive patients than in HIV-negative patients. This should be cautionary for asymptomatic HIV-positive patients with low viral RNA level and in the primary HIV stage. Despite longer operation times in the HIV-positive patients than in the HIV-negative patients, THA is still a safe and efficient approach to treat ONFH in HIV-positive patients. The incidence of complications is much lower than previously reported. However, the long-term follow-up is needed.

The Abscopal effect is a rare phenomenon observed in the treatment of metastatic cancer, where localized irradiation causes a response in non-irradiated tumor sites. Due to the recent success of immunotherapies, the Abscopal effect of radiation therapy has received renewed clinical interest. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the Abscopal effect and radiotherapy treatment of patients with esophageal carcinoma. The present study reports the case of a 65-year-old male patient, who presented with esophageal carcinoma and lymph node metastasis. A transthoracic esophagectomy with left cervical, mediastinal and abdominal lymphadenectomies was performed. A total of 4 cycles of chemotherapy and maintenance therapy with Pembrolizumab was performed until September 2016. Metastases in the left retroperitoneal lymph node in addition to extensive metastases to the pelvic lymph node were observed. The patient received Cyberknife radiotherapy with a dose of 42 Gy in 6 daily fractions targeted at the left retroperitoneal lymph node. Two months after radiation therapy, a positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan revealed complete regression of all lymph node metastases. There is increasing clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of the Abscopal effect, which may be initiated by high-dose radiation. Further research is required to make the Abscopal effect clinically relevant, however it may have potential as a treatment option.