Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine最新文献

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer, a subtype of which is papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Tenascin C (TNC) is associated with the proliferation and metastasis of medullary thyroid cancer cells. Accordingly, this work was attempted to explore the role of TNC in quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The pathological data of PTMC patients were recorded and analyzed. A transplant tumor mouse model was established using TPC-1 cells. The tumor volume and weight were documented, and the cells in the tumor tissues were isolated and cultured. The expressions of E-cadherin, Vimentin, and TNC in the tumor tissues, TPC-1 cells, and tumor cells were determined using qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The viability, invasion, and migration of thyroid cells, PTC cells, and mouse tumor cells were further examined. TNC was upregulated in the serum of PTMC patients and PTC cells. PTMC patients with a higher level (≥ median) of TNC had more obvious lymph node metastasis and more severe tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage. TNC overexpression increased the viability, invasion, migration and Vimentin expression, while decreasing E-cadherin level in thyroid cells and PTC cells. TNC silencing reduced the tumor volume and weight, upregulated E-cadherin level in tumors, and also inhibited the viability, invasion, and migration of tumor cells. This work found that TNC enhances the development of PTC and serves as a promising diagnostic biomarker in PTMC.

This article aimed to study the molecular mechanism of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and find new targets for the treatment of DR. IL1RN and hsa-miR-485-3p were screened the key molecules using bioinformatics means. Western blot or RT-qPCR results showed a high expression of hsa-miR-485-3p and a low IL1RN expression in high glucose (HG)-treated human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) and DR patients. The dual luciferase reporter assay verified the targeting relationship of hsa-miR-485-3p to IL1RN, and up-regulating hsa-miR-485-3p hindered IL1RN expression. The Annexin-V/PI and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) assay displayed that HG induced HREC apoptosis and broke the tight connection function between cells. These effects of HG on HRECs were exacerbated by hsa-miR-485-3p upregulation and were attenuated by IL1RN overexpression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and binary logistic regression analysis showed that hsa-miR-485-3p was a risk for progression to DR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while IL1RN was a potential protective factor. In a word, hsa-miR-485-3p was involved in the development of DR by regulating IL1RN, and they have certain diagnostic value, indicating that they may be novel biomarkers of DR.

The purpose of this retrospective study is to investigate the feasibility of measurement of aortic annular size using a respiratory and non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in comparison to those of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in an unselected, consecutive cohort of patients evaluated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Of 295 consecutive patients (mean age 83.0 ± 4.5 years) with severe aortic stenosis, 68 underwent pre-TAVR CTA and a non-contrast balanced steady-state free precession MRA at 1.5 T. This study evaluated potential discrepancies in preoperative assessments of TAVR device size selection determined by CTA and MRA, and compared with paravalvular aortic valve regurgitation (PAR). The aortic annulus area (AAA) and perimeter (AAP) measured with systolic MRA showed a higher correlation to systolic CTA than those measured with diastolic MRA: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% concordance index (CI) of measured AAA between systolic CTA vs. systolic and diastolic MRA, 0.891 (CI 0.830-0.932) and 0.833 (CI 0.742-0.893), respectively; ICC with 95% CI of measured AVP between systolic CTA vs. systolic and diastolic MRA, 0.892 (CI 0.831-0.932) and 0.841 (CI 0.754-0.899). Of the 68 patients, 52 assigned the same device size, 2 assigned an oversized device, and 14 assigned undersized devices when sizing was based on systolic MRA as compared to systolic CTA. Virtual MRA-sizing assigned under-sizing for 14 patients, 9 of whom presented PAR grade 1 by CTA-sizing. This under-sizing could potentially increase the severity of PAR postoperatively, with the possibility of escalating PAR to grade 2 or above.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of remote symptom monitoring (RSM) combined with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. A total of 134 lung cancer patients were recruited and randomly assigned to either the RSM + PMR group (n = 67) or the control group (n = 67). Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0), after the first chemotherapy cycle (T1), and after the second cycle (T2). Outcomes included pain [Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)], sleep quality [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)], anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], and health-related quality of life (HRQoL, EORTC QLQ-C30). The RSM + PMR group demonstrated significant improvements compared to the control group in reducing pain, enhancing sleep quality, lower anxiety and depression scores at T1 and T2. In terms of HRQoL, the RSM + PMR group showed significant reductions in fatigue, pain, and nausea/vomiting, along with improvements in physical function, role functioning, and social functioning at T1. These positive effects persisted and even strengthened by T2, with further significant improvements in fatigue, pain, dyspnea, and nausea/vomiting. Additionally, the RSM + PMR group reported better global health status at both T1 and T2. By the end of the study (T2), patient satisfaction with the RSM + PMR intervention was significantly higher than in the control group. The RSM + PMR intervention effectively improved pain, sleep, anxiety, depression, and HRQoL in lung cancer patients during chemotherapy, offering a valuable strategy for symptom management.

To investigate the mechanisms by which berberine (BBR) improves macrophage efferocytosis dysfunction and alleviates inflammation induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), a macrophage efferocytosis dysfunction model was established by inducing RAW264.7 cells with ox-LDL. This model was employed to assess the enhancing efferocytosis and anti-inflammatory effects of BBR in vitro. Flow cytometry was used to detect the efferocytosis function of RAW264.7 cells, while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured inflammatory factor levels. Reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were utilized to assess mRNA and protein expression levels of the PPARγ/LXRα axis and efferocytosis-related molecules. Results showed that efferocytosis significantly increased in RAW264.7 cells following protective intervention with BBR, evidenced by markedly higher expression of efferocytosis-related molecules GAS6, MerTK, and ABCA1 compared to the ox-LDL group. Additionally, BBR reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhanced the release of pro-resolving mediators, and mitigated inflammation. BBR enhanced efferocytosis by upregulating the expression of PPARγ/LXRα proteins and mRNA. In the presence of the PPARγ inhibitor (GW9662) and the LXRα inhibitor (GSK2033), levels of GAS6, MerTK, and ABCA1, as well as the expression levels of PPARγ/LXRα proteins and mRNA, were significantly lower compared to the BBR group. Furthermore, the inhibition of efferocytosis and production of anti-inflammatory cytokines were markedly weaker in the BBR+GW9662 and BBR+GSK2033 groups. These findings suggest that BBR exerts effects through the PPARγ/LXRα pathway, enhancing efferocytosis, regulating macrophage phenotype, inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production, promoting pro-resolving mediators release, and demonstrating anti-atherosclerosis effects.

When patients express emotional concerns, empathic responses from medical staff reduce their psychological distress. The NURSE program was developed in Japan to facilitate the emotional expression of patients. The NURSE program consists of five communication skills: (1) naming, (2) understanding, (3) respecting, (4) supporting, and (5) exploring. However, this program has no evaluation tool. Therefore, we developed a five-item scale based on the "NURSE" communication skills program and confirmed its validity. We conducted a cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire survey using the test-retest method in December 2022. The potential participants were aged ≥ 20 who had been hospitalized for one week or more within the past year and registered with an Internet research company. For concurrent validity, we collected data using the Japanese version of the Feeling Heard and Understood Scale (FHU) and Clinician & Group Survey Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG-CHAPS). A total of 608 patients participated in the study. There were 306 (50.3%) male participants, with a mean age of 57.0 ± 16.8 years. The mean ± SD of the total score was 12.2 ± 4.3, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.95. The overall intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.54. Spearman's correlation coefficients for this scale and the FHU and for this scale and CG-CHAPS were 0.66 and 0.68, respectively (p < 0.0001). This study developed a scale to evaluate the communication skills of nurses, based on the NURSE program, to facilitate emotional expression and demonstrated sufficient validity and moderate reliability.