Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most severe types of malignant cancer of the head and neck as it is difficult to treat. Ezrin is highly expressed in numerous types of cancer. However, the role of Ezrin in NPC has not been fully investigated and further studies are required in order to uncover its therapeutic potential in the treatment of NPC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of Ezrin in human NPC and to evaluate the effect of knockdown of Ezrin using small interfering (si)-RNA on NPC cell migration and invasion. The expression levels of Ezrin were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. Following transfection of Ezrin-siRNA into NPC cells, cell invasion and migration were analyzed and the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2 and MMP9 were determined. The results revealed that the expression of Ezrin was markedly increased in human NPC tissue samples compared with normal adjacent nasopharyngeal tissue samples. Ezrin was also highly expressed in the NPC cell lines 6–10B and C6661 when compared with the normal nasopharyngeal cell line NP69. Transfection of NPC cell lines with siRNA targeting Ezrin significantly inhibited NPC cell migration and invasion, and downregulated the mRNA expression level of MMP2; however, no effect was observed on MMP9 mRNA expression. At the same time, knockdown of Ezrin significantly decreased the expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt), which downregulated the mRNA expression of MMP2. In conclusion, the results revealed that knockdown of Ezrin suppressed NPC migration and invasion by reducing the mRNA expression of MMP2 via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These results highlight the important role of Ezrin in NPC cell migration and invasion. In addition, they indicate that silencing of Ezrin may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat human NPC.
A 47-year-old Chinese man who had repeated left nasal congestion, the hyposmia and occasional bleeding in the snivel more than 10 years, presented to our hospital for the persistent left nasal congestion during the past 6 months. The patient denied the history of definite diagnosis or special treatment.Nasal endoscopic examination revealed a neoplasm in the left nasal cavity. The root of the neoplasm was located on the posterior wall of the left nasal septum with the superior margin to the top of the nose and the inferior margin to nasal basis. The surface of the neoplasm was smooth and light yellow without leakage or ulceration. Coronal computed tomography (CT) imaging of sinuses disclosed that the homogenous neoplasm occupied the left nasal cavity and the left maxillary sinus, pushing the nasal septum deviated to right. There was no calcification or bone destruction detected (Figure 1).At the fifth day after admission, endoscopic excision was performed under the general anesthesia. Intraoperative application of adrenaline (4 mg in 40 mL of saline) was conducted to thoroughly reduce mucosa secretion. Under the guidance of
Objective. To evaluate the different pharmacokinetic parameters of the DCE-MRI method on diagnosing and staging of rabbits’ liver fibrosis. Methods. We had performed DCE-MRI for rabbits that had been divided into the experiment group and the control group. Then, rabbits’ images were transferred to a work station to get three parameters such as Ktrans, Kep, and Ve, which had been measured to calculate. After data were analyzed, ROC analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of Ktrans, Kep, and Ve to judge liver fibrosis. Results. The distribution of the different liver fibrosis group was as follows: F1, n = 8; F2, n = 9; F3, n = 6; F4, n = 5. No fibrosis was deemed as F0, n = 6. Kep is statistically significant P < 0.05 for F0 and mild liver fibrosis stage, and the Kep shows AUC of 0.814. Three parameters are statistically significant for F0 and advanced liver fibrosis stage (Ktrans and Kep, P < 0.01 ; Ve, P < 0.05 ), and the Ktrans shows AUC of 0.924; the Kep shows AUC of 0.909; the Ve shows AUC of 0.848; Ktrans and Kep are statistically significant for mild and advanced liver fibrosis stages (Ktrans, P < 0.01 ; Kep, P < 0.05 ), and the Ktrans shows AUC of 0.840; the Kep shows AUC of 0.765. Both Ktrans and Kep are negatively correlated with the liver fibrosis stage. Ve is positively correlated with the liver fibrosis stage. Conclusion. Ktrans is shown to be the best DCE parameter to distinguish the fibrotic liver from the normal liver and mild and advanced fibrosis. On the contrary, Kep is moderate and Ve is worst. And Kep is a good DCE parameter to differentiate mild fibrosis from the normal liver.
To build a biomechanical numerical model of the nasopharynx, construct an accurate computerized numerical description of its specific anatomical structures, analyze the distribution of air flow field, starting with the anatomical structure of the pharyngeal recess, correlate its anatomical characteristics with the occurrence and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma from the perspective of biomechanics. In this study, the nasal and nasopharyngeal cavities of healthy male adult, with the pharyngeal recess in an open state, were scanned by CT to obtain DICOM imaging data. Then, they were imported into Mimics 20.0 to build a model which was recorded in binary STL format. Each file was imported into Geomagic studio 12.0 to construct a 3D model saved in an IGES format. Then, it was imported into ANSYS Workbench for numerical simulation of air flow field. The authors found that: Above all, the causes and pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma can be identified from the perspective of biomechanics through the construction of a 3D model and analysis of the characteristics of air flow field. With more in-depth research, it is expected that a more solid scientific foundation will be created for related quantitative analysis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.