Icaritin (ICT) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb proved to be neuroprotective and exerts promoting effects on cardiac differentiation. However, its role in cardioprotection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ICT treatment on MI/R injury and the underlying mechanisms. Rats were subjected to 30 min of myocardial ischemic insult followed by 3 h of reperfusion. ICT (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 10 min before reperfusion. ICT treatment at the dose of 10 and 30 mg/kg improved cardiac function and limited infarct size following MI/R. Meanwhile, ICT reduced plasma creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in I/R heart tissue. Moreover, ICT treatment not only inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α production and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 level in myocardium but also reduced the increase in the generation of superoxide content and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and simultaneously increased the anti-oxidant capability in I/R hearts. Furthermore, ICT treatment increased Akt phosphorylation and inhibited PTEN expression in I/R hearts. PI3K inhibitor wortmannin inhibited ICT-enhanced Akt phosphorylation, and blunted ICT-mediated anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects and cardioprotection. Our study indicated for the first time that ICT reduces inflammation and oxidative stress and protects against MI/R injury in rats, which might be via a PI3K-Akt-dependent mechanism.

Effect of miR-216a-3p on lung cancer hasn’t been investigated. Here, we explored its effects on lung cancer. MiR-216a-3p expression in lung cancer tissues and cells was detected by RT-qPCR. The target gene of miR-216a-3p was predicted by bioinformatics and confirmed by luciferase-reporter assay. After transfection, cell viability, migration, invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis were detected by MTT, scratch, transwell, colony formation, and flow cytometry. The expressions of COPB2 and apoptosis-related factors were detected by RT-qPCR or western blot. MiR-216a-3p was low-expressed and COPB2 was high-expressed in lung cancer tissues and cells. MiR-216a-3p targeted COPB2 and regulated its expression. MiR-216a-3p inhibited lung cancer cell viability, migration, invasion, and proliferation, while promoted apoptosis. Effect of miR-216a-3p on lung cancer was reversed by COPB2. MiR-216a-3p regulated proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells via targeting COPB2.

IntroductionThis study aimed to develop a practical nomogram to predict prognosis in patients who are undergoing sublobar resection for stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) databases were used to construct the nomogram.MethodsData from patients undergoing sublobar resection for stage IA NSCLC diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 were extracted from the SEER database. Factors that may predict the outcome were identified using the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional-hazards model. A nomogram was constructed to predict the 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) rates of these patients. The predictive accuracy of the nomogram was measured using the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve.ResultsA total of 4,866 patients were selected for this study. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, eight independent prognostic factors associated with OS were identified, including sex (P<0.001), age (P<0.001), race (P=0.043), marital status (P=0.009), pathology (P=0.004), differentiation (P<0.001), tumor size (P<0.001), and surgery (P=0.001), and five independent prognostic factors associated with LCSS were also identified, including sex (P<0.001), age (P<0.001), differentiation (P<0.001), tumor size (P<0.001), and surgery (P=0.011). A nomogram was established based on these results and validated using the internal bootstrap resampling method. The C-index of the established nomogram for OS and LCSS was 0.649 (95% CI: 0.635–0.663) and 0.640 (95% CI: 0.622–0.658), respectively. The calibration curves for probability of 3-, and 5-year OS and LCSS rates demonstrated good agreement between the nomogram prediction and actual observation.ConclusionThis innovative nomogram delivered a relatively accurate individual prognostic prediction for patients undergoing sublobar resection for stage IA NSCLC.

PurposeRisk stratification of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is crucial to select the appropriate treatments, but available models for patients with complete resection are unsatisfactory. The purpose of this study was to determine a prediction model based on clinical information, routine physical and blood tests, and molecular markers.Patients and MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent surgical resection for lung cancer between 2009 to 2013. Potential prognostic factors were used to build a full prediction model based on a multivariable Cox regression analysis. A nomogram was constructed. The risk stratification cutoffs for clinical use were determined based on the model.ResultsA total of 368 NSCLC patients with R0 resection were included. The final multivariable model indicated that low diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (HR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.18–2.34), high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (HR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.04–1.95), histology type of squamous cell carcinoma and others (squamous cell carcinoma vs adenocarcinoma, HR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.01–1.96; others vs adenocarcinoma, HR=2.36, 95% CI: 1.15–4.84; P trend=0.001), N>0 status (HR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.42–2.70), high serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels (HR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.13–2.27), and postoperative chemotherapy (HR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.33–0.87) were independently associated with poor OS. The patients were classified into four risk groups according to the nomogram, and the OS was different among the four groups (P<0.05).ConclusionA nomogram was successfully constructed based on a multivariable analysis, and the nomogram can discriminate the OS of patients with NSCLC based on risk categories, but external validation is still necessary.

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