Up-Regulation of RFC3 Promotes Triple Negative Breast Cancer Metastasis and is Associated With Poor Prognosis Via EMT

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was regarded as the most aggressive and mortal subtype of breast cancer (BC) since the molecular subtype system has been established. Abundant studies have revealed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) played a pivotal role during breast cancer metastasis and progression, especially in TNBC. Herein, we showed that inhibition the expression of replication factor C subunit 3 (RFC3) significantly attenuated TNBC metastasis and progression, which was associated with EMT signal pathway. In TNBC cells, knockdown of RFC3 can down-regulate mesenchymal markers and up-regulate epithelial markers, significantly attenuated cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Additionally, silencing RFC3 expression can decrease nude mice tumor volume, weight and relieve lung metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that overexpression of RFC3 in TNBC showed increased metastasis, progression and poor prognosis. We confirmed all of these results by immunohistochemistry analysis in 127 human TNBC tissues and found that RFC3 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis in TNBC. Taken all these findings into consideration, we can conclude that up-regulation of RFC3 promotes TNBC progression through EMT signal pathway. Therefore, RFC3 could be an independent prognostic factor and therapeutic target for TNBC.     

Induction Chemotherapy Has No Prognostic Value in Patients with Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in the IMRT Era

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) over CCRT alone in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and chronic hepatitis B infection in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 249 patients with stage T1-2 N2-3 or T3-4 N1-3 NPC and chronic hepatitis B infection treated with IMRT were retrospectively reviewed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to balance covariates; 140 patients were propensity-matched (1:1 basis). Survival outcomes in the IC + CCRT and CCRT groups were compared using the Kaplan–Meier method, log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: No significant survival differences were observed between IC + CCRT and CCRT (5-year overall survival, 88.3% vs. 82.2%; P = .484; disease-free survival, 73.9% vs. 75.2%; P = .643; distant metastasis-free survival, 84.1% vs. 85.1%; P = .781; and locoregional failure-free survival, 87.9% vs. 85.1%; P = .834). After adjusting for known prognostic factors in multivariate analysis, IC was not an independent prognostic factor for any outcome (all P > .05); subgroup analysis based on T category (T1-2/T3-4), N category (N0-1/N2-3), and overall stage (III/IV) confirmed these results. The incidence of hepatic function damage in the IC + CCRT and CCRT groups was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: IC + CCRT leads to comparable survival outcomes and hepatic function damage compared to CCRT alone in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC with chronic hepatitis B infection in the IMRT era. Further investigations are warranted.     

A model for tool-use traditions in primates: implications for the coevolution of culture and cognition

Inspired by the demonstration that tool-use variants among wild chimpanzees and orangutans qualify as traditions (or cultures), we developed a formal model to predict the incidence of these acquired specializations among wild primates and to examine the evolution of their underlying abilities. We assumed that the acquisition of the skill by an individual in a social unit is crucially controlled by three main factors, namely probability of innovation, probability of socially biased learning, and the prevailing social conditions (sociability, or number of potential experts at close proximity). The model reconfirms the restriction of customary tool use in wild primates to the most intelligent radiation, great apes; the greater incidence of tool use in more sociable populations of orangutans and chimpanzees; and tendencies toward tool manufacture among the most sociable monkeys. However, it also indicates that sociable gregariousness is far more likely to produce the maintenance of invented skills in a population than solitary life, where the mother is the only accessible expert. We therefore used the model to explore the evolution of the three key parameters. The most likely evolutionary scenario is that where complex skills contribute to fitness, sociability and/or the capacity for socially biased learning increase, whereas innovative abilities (i.e., intelligence) follow indirectly. We suggest that the evolution of high intelligence will often be a byproduct of selection on abilities for socially biased learning that are needed to acquire important skills, and hence that high intelligence should be most common in sociable rather than solitary organisms. Evidence for increased sociability during hominin evolution is consistent with this new hypothesis.     

中国生物医药产业技术创新战略联盟发展思路与对策

现代生物医药技术的迅猛发展正在改变着人们的生活。作为一种新的战略管理模式,战略联盟已逐步成为推进生物医药技术产业转化的重要手段。西方主要发达国家在产学研的优势互补模式和结合机制等方面都取得了显著的效果,并极大地推动了生物技术产业的快速发展。近年来,中国开始重视战略联盟的发展模式,然而在生物医药领域中国的技术创新战略联盟依然处于起步阶段,有关的机制和体制尚需健全。本文首先介绍了发达国家发展战略联盟的先进经验,并通过剖析美国的成功模式对当前中国生物医药产业技术创新战略联盟的现状和不足进行解读,提出发展思路与对策。     

医学微生物学实验教学中培养学生创新能力的探索

为培养医学本科生的创新能力,提高实验课教学质量,调动学生学习的积极性和主动性,我们在实验课教学中围绕“培养学生创新思维”这一主题,进行了改进医学微生物学实验课教学方法的探索,引导学生积极思考,增强了学生分析问题、解决问题的能力,提升了医学微生物学实验课的教学效果。     

微生物药物学课程教学的改革与实践

微生物药物学是针对生命科学相关专业所开设的一门主干选修课。在生物技术高速发展的今天,如何有效建立合理的微生物药物学课程教学体系是教学工作者值得深思的课题。本文从微生物药物学教学内容及教学理念方面入手,简要阐述了作者对微生物药物学课程教学改革和实践所进行的一些有益的尝试和探索。     

将微生物学课程构建成创新型人才培养的平台

微生物学是当代生命科学中一门重要的基础必修课。介绍了南开大学微生物学课程组在教学实践中,坚持以教学内容改革为核心,优化教学方法为手段,通过课内外交流、多媒体和教学网站等现代化教学形式实现教学中心的转移,充分体现现代化教学理念,发挥学生的主体作用。建立了适应现代教学理念的教学体系,使微生物学课程成为既培养具有雄厚的基础理论知识又具有创新性思维的人才培养平台。     

生物工程综合实验的“珠链式”教学模式改革与创新

构建生物工程综合实验的“珠链式”教学模式,对课程进行教学改革与实践。从优化实验教学内容,改进实验教学手段和考核方式,增加综合性,设计性实验项目,科研反哺教学和全面开放实验室入手,打破生物工程主干课程界线,形成以实验项目为“珠子”,在实验室中模拟实际的工艺流程进行生物产品的生产与开发。“链”是以产酶的微生物为起点,把基因工程模块、酶工程模块、发酵工程模块的各“珠子”串成一个有序的生物工程上、中、下游的“链式”知识体系。课程改革有助于学生全面掌握课程技能,提高学生应用能力、创新能力、就业竞争力。     

Experimental assessment of problem solving by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Milvago chimango </Emphasis>(Aves: Falconiformes)

We report a preliminary assessment of problem solving as an estimate of behavioural innovation and learning ability of a generalist and abundant raptor, Milvago chimango, under controlled conditions in aviaries. Experimental tests consisted in presentation of a Plexiglas box with four lids leading to isolated pieces of meat. We recorded time to first contact with the box and time from this first contact to gaining access to the pieces of meat. We recorded the number of attempts to open the box and reach the first portion of meat, and the total number of lids opened by each individual during five successive daily sessions. We found that individuals of M. chimango quickly approached and made contact with the Plexiglas box, and responded successfully to the novel feeding problem of reaching the food inside. In our study, performance of individuals was enhanced after solution of the novel task for the first time, as indicated by the progressively reduced time taken to access the food. Further, some individuals gained access to an increasing number of sections of the Plexiglas box during subsequent sessions, suggesting significant learning ability. Our results indicated M. chimango has a remarkable ability to obtain food in a novel situation, an observation that agrees with anecdotal reports of opening of receptacles to obtain food in urban environments. The results support the idea of behavioural plasticity in this species.     

Review on the worldwide regulatory framework for biosimilars focusing on the Mexican case as an emerging market in Latin America

The global biopharmaceutical market is worth over $100 billion USD. Nearly 90% of these products will lose their patent in the next ten years, leading to the commercialization of their subsequent versions, known as ‘biosimilars’. Biosimilars are much more complex molecules than chemically synthesized generics in terms of size, structure, stability, microheterogeneity, manufacture, etc. Therefore, a specific regulatory framework is needed in order to demonstrate their comparability with innovative products, as well as their quality, safety and efficacy. The EU published the first regulatory pathway in 2005 and has approved 14 biosimilars. Mexico has recently developed a clear regulatory pathway for these products. Their legal basis was established in Article 222 Bis of General Law of Health in 2009, clear specifications in the Regulation for Health Goods in 2011, and further requirements in the Mexican Official Norm NOM-EM-001-SSA1-2012. The aim of this review is to summarize the regulatory pathways for biosimilars in the world with a special focus on Mexican experience, so as contribute to the development of regulations in other countries.