Nasopharyngeal carcinoma derived exosomes regulate the proliferation and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by mediating the miR-99a-5p BAZ2A axis

Abstract Objectives Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor of nasopharyngeal mucosal epithelium in clinical practice. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the main treatment methods at present, but the therapeutic effect is still unsatisfactory. Studies have shown that exosomes and microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the development of cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of NPC derived exosomes on NPC and their molecular mechanisms. Methods Serum was collected from healthy subjects, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infected patients and NPC patients (n = 9 group) and exosomes were extracted separately. High-throughput sequencing of exosomes was performed to screen differentially expressed miRNAs. The function of the screened miRNA was identified by treating NPC cells with exosomes. The target gene of miRNA was identified using the dual-luciferase assay. Real-Time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the levels of miR-99a-5p and Bromodomain Adjacent Tozinc finger domain protein 2A (BAZ2A). Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, and wound healing assay were utilized to detect cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis, and migration ability. The protein levels were evaluated by Western blot. Results MiR-99a-5p was identified as the most significant differentially expressed miRNA in exosomes (p< 0.05). The proliferation and migration of NPC cells were extremely facilitated by exosomes, accompanied by the suppressed apoptosis, upregulated BAZ2A, Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP1), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA), and downregulation of Interleukin (IL)-1β and Nuclear Transcription Factor-κB (NF-κB) (p< 0.05). BAZ2A was a target gene of miR-99a-5p. Furthermore, the regulatory effect of exosomes on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis was significantly abolished by overexpression of miR-99a-5p or downregulation of BAZ2A (p< 0.05). Conclusion NPC derived exosomes facilitated the proliferation and migration of NPC through regulating the miR-99a-5p/BAZ2A axis.

Food Intake, Dietary Quality and Nutritional Status of Female Adolescent in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia

@#Introduction: Poor nutritional status of female adolescents does not only have an impact on themselves but also have an impact on the next generation. Food intake and dietary quality are important to support nutritional status during adolescence. This study aims to determine the relationship between food intake and dietary quality with nutritional status of female adolescent in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia. Methods: This research was an observational study using a cross-sectional design. The subjects of this study were female adolescents aged 12-18 years with a total sample of 222 people. Data of food intake and dietary quality were measured using recall method, while nutritional status data were calculated using BMI for Age Z scores (BAZ). A linear regression model was used to predict the relationship of food intake and dietary quality to the nutritional status of female adolescents. Results: The average BAZ was 0.1±1.0, with an average dietary quality of 34.6±6.6%. The average energy intake was 1507.9±472.3 kcal, protein 32.4±11.0 g, carbohydrates 258.6±84.4 g, fat 44.9±19.9 g and fiber 3.88±2.7 g. Food intake (energy, protein, and fiber) and dietary quality were related to nutritional status (BAZ) in female adolescents (p<0.05). Conclusion: The balance of food intake and dietary quality is important to maintain the nutritional status of female adolescent properly. Nutritional interventions are needed to support female adolescent entering pregnancy with good nutritional status.

Sociodemographic and Psychological Factors as Predictors of Body Mass Index-for-Age (BAZ) among Adolescents in Sibu, Malaysia

@#Introduction: Understanding childhood obesity becomes vital as a tremendous increase in the prevalence of overweight/obesity among children and adolescents was observed. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the associations between sociodemographic and psychological characteristics with body-mass-index-for-age (BAZ) among adolescents in Sibu, Sarawak. Methods: A total of 375 students (32.0% males and 68.0% females; 15-17 years old) at four randomly selected public secondary schools were recruited. A questionnaire on sociodemographic and psychological characteristics (self-efficacy for physical activity, weight management, and nutrition, body discrepancy score, and sociocultural pressure to be thin) were used to gather information. Body weight and height were also assessed. Results: Around 18.6% respondents were found to be overweight/obese while nearly 5.0% were categorized as thin. In multiple linear regression, three significant predictors, namely body discrepancy score, being Iban (Reference: Chinese) and sociocultural pressure to be thin explained 45.1% of the variance in BMI-for-age z-score. Conclusion: Future interventions on adolescent body weight management should consider incorporating sociodemographic and psychological factors such as the development of positive body image, uniqueness in cultural value, and management of perceived sociocultural pressures to increase their effectiveness

Mechanism of BAZ1A regulating radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective: To investigate the effect of siRNA silencing BAZ1A on radiosensitization of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Methods :A549 cells were randomly divided into transfection reagent control (Ctrl) group, negative control siRNA (siNC) group, and siBAZ1A group. The expression of BAZ1A protein was evaluated by Western blot. The clone formation assay was applied to investigate the survival fraction (SF) of the A549 cells treated with different radiation doses (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10Gy), and one-hit multi-target model was applied to analyze the radiation dose survival curve. MTS assay, scratch assay, and flow cytometry were utilized to determine the relative survival, cell migration abilities, and apoptosis, respectively. Results: The expression level of BAZ1A protein in A549 cells was inhibited by BAZ1A-siRNA transfection. X-ray radiation inhibited the colony formation capacity of A549 cells, and the SF of siBAZ1A group was lower than that of the other two groups with radiation (P<0.05). Compared with those of Ctrl group, the sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) of siNC and siBAZ1A groups was 1.06 and 2.24. Moreover, with the transfection of BAZ1A-siRNA, the relative survival rate and cell migration ability were decreased after X-ray radiation. Besides, the apoptosis rate was higher in siBAZ1A group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Silencing the expression of BAZ1A by siRNA can efficiently improve the sensitization of radiotherapy for A549 cells.

A community based study to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic factors influencing undernutrition among children aged 6 to 14 years in a rural area of Coimbatore

Background: Globally, malnutrition among school age children is a major public health concern. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of under nutrition (thinness and stunting) among children aged 6 to 14 years in a rural area of Coimbatore district; to determine the socio-demographic factors influencing under nutrition (thinness and stunting) among these children.Methods: A community based- cross sectional study was conducted from December 2015 to July 2016 in the field practice area of PSG Rural Health Training Center Vedapatti. Out of the 14 villages in this area, five villages (clusters) were selected by cluster sampling. Data was collected from 702 children aged 6 to 14 years in these five villages using a structured questionnaire. Z score was used to calculate nutritional status. Thinness is defined as the BMI for age (BAZ) <-2SD.Stunting is defined as the Height-for-age (HAZ) <-2SD.The association of Thinness with socio-demographic factors were studied by univariate analysis. The association of Stunting with socio-demographic factors were studied by univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis.Results: The prevalence of Thinness was 15.5% (95%CI: 12.82% to 18.18%) and that of stunting was 18.8% (95%CI: 15.91% to 21.69%). In univariate analysis there was no statistically significant association between thinness and socio-demographic factors. Stunting showed statistically significant association with educational status (illiteracy) of mothers and working mothers in logistic regression analysis.Conclusions: The current study revealed that undernutrition as indicated by thinness and stunting was prevalent to some extent among these children. Stunting was significantly higher among those children whose mothers were illiterate and working. Health education and encouraging working mothers will help to solve this.