Xuzhou Medical College

About: Xuzhou Medical College is a education organization based out in Xuzhou, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Cell growth. The organization has 12721 authors who have published 7802 publications receiving 102970 citations.

Gadolinium oxide nanoparticles and aptamer-functionalized silver nanoclusters-based multimodal molecular imaging nanoprobe for optical/magnetic resonance cancer cell imaging.

Abstract: Multimodal molecular imaging has attracted more and more interest from researchers due to its combination of the strengths of each imaging modality. The development of specific and multifunctional molecular imaging probes is the key for this method. In this study, we fabricated an optical/magnetic resonance (MR) dual-modality molecular imaging nanoprobe, polyethylene glycol-coated ultrasmall gadolinium oxide (PEG-Gd2O3)/aptamer-Ag nanoclusters (NCs), for tracking cancer cells. To achieve this aim, PEG-Gd2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent and aptamer functionalized silver nanoclusters (aptamer-Ag NCs) as fluorescence reporter were first synthesized by a one-pot approach, respectively. They were then conjugated by the covalent coupling reaction between the carboxyl group on the surface of PEG-Gd2O3 NPs and amino group modified on the 5′-end of AS1411 aptamer. With a suitable ratio, the fluorescence intensity of aptamer-Ag NCs and MR signal of PEG-Gd2O3 nanoparticles c...

Downregulation of exosome-encapsulated miR-548c-5p is associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.

Abstract: The role of circulating exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) has drawn more and more attention during the past few years. Previously, we have identified several specific miRNAs in serum exosomes as potential CRC biomarkers. However, little is known about the association between exosome-encapsulated miR-548c-5p and outcomes of patients with CRC. In the current study, the expression of serum exosomal miR-548c-5p was investigated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Its correlation with CRC prognosis was estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival and log-rank tests. Cox regression analysis based on uni- and multivariate analyses was performed to estimate the relationship of exosome-encapsulated miR-548c-5p with the clinicopathological factors of patients with CRC. Reduced levels of serum exosomal miR-548c-5p were more significant in CRC patients with liver metastasis and at later TNM stage (III/IV tumor stages). Serum exosomal miR-548c-5p could inhibit the proliferation of CRC cells, while the precise molecular mechanisms warranted further elucidation. In addition, decreased levels of serum exosomal miR-548c-5p were independently associated with shorter overall survival in CRC adjusted by age, sex, tumor grade vascular infiltration, TNM stage (III/IV tumor stages) and metastasis (hazard ratio = 3.40, 95% confidence interval 1.02-11.27; P = 0.046). The downregulation of exosomal miR-548c-5p in serum predicts poor prognosis in patients with CRC. Exosomal miR-548c-5p may be a critical biomarker for CRC diagnosis and prognosis.

MiR-138 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor by Targeting EZH2 and Enhances Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis in Osteosarcoma Cells

Abstract: Chemotherapeutic insensitivity remains a major obstacle to treating osteosarcoma effectively. Recently, increasing evidence has suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in drug resistance. However, the effect of miR-138 on cisplatin chemoresistance in osteosarcoma has not been reported. We used real-time PCR to detect the expression of mature miR-138 in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration assays were used to observe changes to the osteosarcoma malignant phenotype. MiR-138 was downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines, and miR-138 overexpression negatively regulated osteosarcoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. We also verified that EZH2 is a direct target of miR-138. Furthermore, enhancing EZH2 expression reduced the inhibitory effects of miR-138 on osteosarcoma. Proliferation, apoptosis assays and caspase-3 activity assay confirmed that elevated miR-138 expression enhanced osteosarcoma cell chemosensitivity to cisplatin by targeting EZH2. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that miR-138 acts as a tumor suppressor by enhancing osteosarcoma cell chemosensitivity and supports its potential application for treating osteosarcoma in the future.

Dexmedetomidine inhibits inflammatory reaction in lung tissues of septic rats by suppressing TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Abstract: Dexmedetomidine has been reported to reduce mortality in septic rats. This study was designed to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on inflammatory reaction in lung tissues of septic rats induced by CLP. After induction of sepsis, the rats were treated with normal saline or dexmedetomidine (5, 10, or 20 μg/kg). The survival rate of septic rats in 24 h was recorded. The inflammation of lung tissues was evaluated by HE stain. The concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α in BALF and plasma were measured by ELISA. The expressions of TLR4 and MyD88 were measured by western blotting. The activation of NF-κB in rat lung tissues was assessed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. It was found that the mortality rate and pulmonary inflammation were significantly increased in septic rats. IL-6 and TNF-α levels in BALF and plasma, NF-κB activity, and TLR4/MyD88 expression in rat lung tissues were markedly enhanced after CLP. Dexmedetomidine (10 and 20 μg/kg) significantly decreased mortality and pulmonary inflammation of septic rats, as well as suppressed CLP-induced elevation of TNF-α and IL-6 and inhibited TLR4/MyD88 expression and NF-κB activation. These results suggest that dexmedetomidine may decrease mortality and inhibit inflammatory reaction in lung tissues of septic rats by suppressing TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.