ABSTRACT.Although new chemotherapeutic drugs have been applied constantly, their efficacy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still not satisfactory. In recent years, epidemiological investigations have shown that lung cancer may be induced by chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection, since stable high titers of Cpn antibodies, especially IgA, are a hallmark of chronic infections. Azithromycin is commonly used for the treatment of Cpn infections; however, there are only few reports regarding the application of azithromycin (A) combined with paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP) for advanced NSCLC. Considering that patients with NSCLC have a higher rate of Cpn infection, we proposed to employ azithromycin for Cpn infection in chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of azithromycin on chemotherapy for NSCLC. A total of 86 patients with stage III-IV NSCLC were randomly divided into TP and ATP groups; the characteristics of patients in the two groups showed no significant differences. The TP group was treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin, and the ATP group was treated with Azithromycin, paclitaxel and cisplatin in lung cancer azithromycin combined with TP for at least 4 weeks, followed by evaluation and comparison of efficacy, side effects and patients' quality of life before and after chemotherapy between the two groups. Testing for Cpn infection revealed a significant difference in the case number before and after therapy in the ATP group (P < 0.01) compared with the TP group (P > 0.05), and a statistical difference was observed (P < 0.01) between the ATP and TP groups after treatment. The changes in quality of life of patients after two different chemotherapy regimens were statistically significant (P < 0.05), but there was a significant difference in only cognitive function after treatment. The changes in symptom scores of patients after the two different chemotherapy regimens were statistically significant (P < 0.05), but there was a significant difference in only shortness of breath and cough after treatment. Kaplan-Meier estimate was utilized to describe the survival function of patients in the two groups. The median survival time was 12.0 months for the TP group and 13.0 months for the ATP group. One-year survival rates of the TP and ATP groups were 45.0 and 75.0%, respectively, which were significantly different (P < 0.05). Our study of azithromycin+paclitaxe l+cisplatin on stage III-IV NSCLC patients achieved favorable results in terms of side effects and overall survival.

The prognosis for prostate cancer patients with distant metastasis is poor, with an average survival rate of 24‑48 months. The exact mechanisms underlying prostate cancer metastasis remain to be elucidated, despite previous research efforts. The present study aimed to reveal the regulatory roles of miR‑138 via Wnt/β‑catenin pathway in prostate cancer cell migration and invasion. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the mRNA and protein expression levels and transwell assay was conducted to determine cell invasion and migration. A luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the target association between miR‑138 and β‑catenin. The present study identified microRNA (miR)‑138 as an invasion and migration regulator in prostate cancer. miR‑138 was downregulated in aggressive prostate cancer cell lines. Furthermore, followingmiR‑138 overexpression, prostate cancer cells exhibited impaired invasive and migratory abilities. E‑cadherin was upregulated and vimentin was downregulated. In addition, it was demonstrated that miR‑138 negatively regulated the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway activation in prostate cancer. The pathway was then activated via β‑catenin overexpression and this reversed the effects of miR‑138. The results suggest that miR‑138 downregulation may contribute to prostate cancer progression and metastasis. The findings provide a novel molecular therapeutic target in the treatment of prostate cancer metastasis.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) refers to coronary atherosclerosis, which causes vascular stenosis or obstruction. Because of its high mortality and disability rate, it seriously endangers human life (Lee et al., 2018; Zannad et al., 2018). A large number of clinical research data show that the risk factors are associated with CHD development, including blood pressure (BP), lipid disorders, abnormal

Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of current research is to elucidate the role and mechanism of circ_0011946 in the functional behaviors of OSCC cells. Methods Circ_0011946, microRNA (miR)-216a-5p, B cell lymphoma-2-like 2 protein (BCL2L2) abundances were exposed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or western blot. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were detected by MTT, colony formation assay, transwell, wound-healing and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Target correlation was tested by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. An in vivo xenograft experiment was employed to investigate the function of circ_0011946 on tumor growth in vivo. Results Circ_0011946 and BCL2L2 levels were increased, while miR-216a-5p level was decreased in OSCC tissues and cells. Circ_0011946 knockdown impeded proliferation, migration, and invasion, but promoted apoptosis in OSCC cells. Circ_0011946 functioned as a sponge for miR-216a-5p, and BCL2L2 was targeted by miR-216a-5p. Besides, miR-216a-5p or BCL2L2 knockdown partly attenuated the inhibitory influences of circ_0011946 silence or miR-216a-5p overexpression on OSCC cell progression. Furthermore, circ_0011946 post-transcriptionally regulated BCL2L2 through sponging miR-216a-5p. Moreover, circ_0011946 knockdown constrained OSCC tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion Circ_0011946 silence repressed OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, but promoted apoptosis through the regulation of the miR-216a-5p/BCL2L2 axis.

To observe the clinical effect of tashinone IIA combined with endocrine therapy in treating advanced-stage prostate cancer. 96 cases of advanced-stage prostate cancer were divided into observation group (44 cases received treatment) and control group (46 cases received treatment). Control group was given leuprolide acetate 3.75 mg hypodermic injection per month, combined with bicalutamide 50 mg per os per day for a 6-month treatment course. Observation group was given tashinone IIA injection 60 mg intravenously per day. They were treated for 2 weeks and paused for 2 weeks as one treatment course for six courses in total. After treating for 6 months, the general therapeutic effect, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), free prostate-specific antigen (f-PSA), hemoglobin (Hb), the quality of life questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30), traditional Chinese medicine symptom information score, international prostate symptom score (I-PSS), and adverse effect rate were observed. The effective rate of observation group and control group was 52.3 and 28.3 %, respectively (P < 0.05). PSA, f-PSA, and Hb in two groups had no statistical difference before treatment. PSA and f-PSA in both groups obviously decreased compared to those before treatment, and they were lower in observation group than in control group (P < 0.01). Hb in observation group was higher than before treatment, whereas Hb in control group was lower than before treatment (P < 0.01). Life quality, motive score, the traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, and I-PSS in observation group were significantly better those that in control group after treatment (P < 0.01). Laboratory tests such as hemogram, and liver and kidney function had no obvious change, and adverse effect rate had no statistical difference. Routine endocrine treatment combined with tashinone IIA can enhance the clinical effects on treating advanced-stage prostate cancer and improve the clinical symptom score.