[circ-WHSC1 affects the growth, metastasis and radiotherapy sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by targeting miR-338-3p/ELAVL1 axis].

Objective: To study the effect of circ-WHSC1 on the growth, metastasis and radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and its molecular mechanism. Methods: Cancerous tissues and adjacent tissues were collected from 23 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression levels of circ-WHSC1, miR-338-3p, and ELAVL1 mRNA. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ELAVL1 protein. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells 5-8F and SUNE1 were divided into si-NC group, si-circ-WHSC1 group, pCD5-ciR group, circ-WHSC1 group, anti-miR-NC group, anti-miR-338-3p group, miR-NC group, miR-338-3p group, si-circ-WHSC1+ anti-miR-NC group, si-circ-WHSC1+ anti-miR-338-3p group, miR-338-3p+ pcDNA group, miR-338-3p+ ELAVL1 group. Tetramethylazolium salt colorimetric method (MTT) was used to detect cell viability. Clone formation test was used to detect cell clone formation and cell radiosensitivity. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Transwell was used to detect cell migration and invasion. Dual luciferase assay was used to detect the targeting relationship between circ-WHSC1 and miR-338-3p, miR-338-3p and ELAVL1. The SUNE1 cells stably transfected with sh-circ-WHSC1 were injected into nude mice and irradiated with radiation, and then the tumor volume and weight of mice were detected. Results: The expressions of circ-WHSC1 (1.57±0.94 vs 3.78±1.18, 1.00±0.10 vs 1.64±0.14/2.00±0.21/2.81±0.26/3.36±0.34) and ELAVL1 (1.28±0.74 vs 3.36±0.77, 1.00±0.08 vs 2.51±0.19/3.27±0.27) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and cells were increased, and the expression of miR-338-3p (3.13±0.96 vs 1.37±0.98, 1.00±0.08 vs 0.48±0.08/0.38±0.07) was decreased (P<0.05). After knockdown of circ-WHSC1, the activity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells was decreased [(100.00±8.00)% vs (51.33±8.62)%, (100.00±10.10)% vs (41.02±7.31)%], the number of clone-forming cells was decreased (101.00±8.54 vs 50.33±8.02, 114.00±14.10 vs 42.33±10.01), the rate of apoptosis was increased [(5.37±1.20)% vs (18.3±1.01)%, (6.5±1.18)% vs (22.43±1.40)%], and the numbers of migration (136.00±13.00 vs 72.33±9.50, 154.00±14.10 vs 62.67±11.50) and invasion (113.67±11.59 vs 60.67±9.07, 124.33±15.57 vs 50.33±9.01) were decreased; after different doses of radiation, the cell survival score was decreased (0.23±0.04 vs 0.06±0.01, 0.32±0.07 vs 0.05±0.02) (P<0.05). Circ-WHSC1 targeted and negatively regulated miR-338-3p. Inhibition of miR-338-3p affected the effect of knockdown of circ-WHSC1 on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. MiR-338-3p targeted and negatively regulated ELAVL1; ELAVL1 overexpression affected the effects of miR-338-3p on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. After the cells stably transfected with sh-circ-WHSC1 were injected into nude mice, the tumor volume [(884.67±95.63)mm(3) vs (487.33±76.51)mm(3)] and weight [(899.01±88.54)mg vs (558.67±75.04) mg] of the nude mice were reduced; after further irradiation, the tumor volume [(395.00±73.50)mm(3) vs 243.13±42.51)mm(3)] and weight[ (452.33±67.30)mg vs (211.09±57.51)mg] of the nude mice were reduced (P<0.05). Circ-WHSC1 regulated the expression of ELAVL1 by targeting miR-382. Conclusion: Knockdown of circ-WHSC1 can inhibit the growth and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by targeting miR-338-3p/ELAVL1 axis, and enhances the radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

[Effectiveness of eradication regimen based on the bacterial susceptibility and CYP2C19 genotype in children with refractory Helicobacter pylori infection].

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of eradication therapy based on Helicobacter pylori (Hp) susceptibility and CYP2C19 genotype in children with refractory Hp infection. Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, 156 children with Hp refractory to amoxicillin+clarithromycin+omeprazole triple regimen in Baoding Children's Hospital from December 2017 to May 2018 were enrolled. Ninety-two of them underwent Hp culture and CYP2C19 detection. Seventy-five cases with positive Hp culture were defined as culture successful group and were treated according to Hp susceptibility and CYP2C19 genotype. Seventeen cases with negative Hp culture were defined as culture failed group and were treated only based on the results of CYP2C19 genotype. Sixty-four children who did not have Hp culture and CYP2C19 gene testing were defined as the empirical eradication therapy group and were treated with quadruple regimen (amoxicillin+metronidazole+omeprazole+bismuth). Bacterial resistance, CYP2C19 polymorphism and therapeutic effectiveness between the three groups were compared using chi-square test. Results: Among the 75 positive Hp culture results, 72 (96%) were resistant to clarithromycin, 3 (4%) were resistant to metronidazole, 5 (7%) were resistant to levofloxacin, 5 (7%) were resistant to rifampicin, 1 (1%) was resistant to tetracycline, and none was resistant to amoxicillin and furazolidone. The CYP2C19 polymorphism in 92 patients showed that 43 (47%) were extensive metabolizer (EM), 9 (10%) were poor metabolizer (PM), and 40 (43%) were intermediate metabolizer (IM). In terms of the effectiveness, eradication rate in the culture successful group,culture failed group and empirical eradication therapy group were 99% (74/75), 88% (15/17) and 72% (46/64), respectively (χ(2)=21.325, P<0.05). The eradication rate in the culture successful group was significantly higher than that in empirical eradication therapy group (χ(2)=21.005, P<0.05), while there was no difference between empirical eradication therapy group and culture failed group (χ(2)=1.154, P=0.283). Conclusion: Eradication regimen based on bacterial susceptibility and CYP2C19 genotype should be considered in children with refractory Hp infection.

[Analysis of results of ultrasound examination of thyroid nodules in nuclear power workers].

Objective: To investigate the detection of thyroid nodules and related risk factors in nuclear power workers, and to provide scientific evidence for thyroid protection of nuclear power workers. Methods: In December 2018, select 295 workers of a nuclear power production enterprise and 238 administrative staff of it, and select 250 staff members of a thermal power generation enterprise 70 kilometers away from the nuclear power station to conduct thyroid ultrasound examination and questionnaire survey for single factor. Analysis and further multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to study the risk factors of thyroid nodules in the population. Results: Women and smoking history were independent risk factors for the increased incidence of thyroid nodules in the study population; three shifts work pattern was an independent risk factor for the increased prevalence of thyroid nodules in nuclear power workers (P<0.05) , and other factors such as the history of nuclear exposure had no significant correlation with thyroid nodules (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Nuclear exposure has little effect on the prevalence of thyroid nodules in nuclear power workers.

Association between interleukin-17 genetic polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility: an updated meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the genetic polymorphisms of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: Relevant case-control studies published up to July 2017 were searched. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to estimate the association. RESULTS: Eleven articles involving 4961 TB patients and 5435 healthy controls were selected. Four polymorphic sites were identified: IL-17A rs22275913, rs3748067 and rs3819024; and IL-17F rs763780. We found that the rs2275913 polymorphism was associated with reduced TB risk in Caucasians under the allelic model (A vs. G, OR 0.69, 95%CI 0.49-0.96; P = 0.03), heterogeneous model (AG vs. GG, OR 0.67, 95%CI 0.47-0.93; P = 0.02) and domain model (AA+AG vs. GG, OR 0.64, 95%CI 0.44-0.93; P = 0.02); rs3748067 was associated with increased TB risk in Asians under the homogeneous model (TT vs. CC, OR 1.36, 95%CI 1.03-1.79; P = 0.03) and recessive model (TT vs. CT+CC, OR 1.35, 95%CI 1.02-1.78; P = 0.03). Other genetic variants were not associated with TB risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the TT genotype of IL-17A rs3748067 might be a risk factor for TB in Asians; the A allele, as well as the AG and AA+AG genotypes of the rs2275913 polymorphism, might be protective against TB in Caucasians. Future studies with a large sample size are needed.

Randomised controlled trial: sequential vs. standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in Chinese children-a multicentre, open-labelled study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have showed that 10-day sequential treatment regimen achieved higher Helicobacter pylori eradication rate than standard triple therapies. AIM: To compare a 10-day sequential therapy and standard triple therapy in Chinese children with H. pylori infection. METHODS: A prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial was conducted in four tertiary medical centres in China. Children with H. pylori gastritis were randomly assigned to a 10-day sequential therapy consisting of omeprazole and amoxicillin for 5 days followed by omeprazole, clarithromycin and metronidazole for the remaining 5 days, or 7-day or 10-day standard triple therapy comprising of omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin. H. pylori eradication was assessed by H. pylori stool antigen test. RESULTS: A total of 360 patients were included. The eradication rate achieved with the 10-day sequential therapy was significantly higher than either the 7-day or 10-day standard triple treatment, either by the intention-to-treat analysis (81.4% vs. 61.9% or 67.7%, P < 0.05) or per-protocol analysis (89.7% vs. 70.8% or 77.8%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 10-day sequential regimen was significantly more effective than standard 7-day or 10-day triple regimens in eradicating H. pylori infection in Chinese children.

Origins of domestic dog in southern East Asia is supported by analysis of Y-chromosome DNA.

Global mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data indicates that the dog originates from domestication of wolf in Asia South of Yangtze River (ASY), with minor genetic contributions from dog-wolf hybridisation elsewhere. Archaeological data and autosomal single nucleotide polymorphism data have instead suggested that dogs originate from Europe and/or South West Asia but, because these datasets lack data from ASY, evidence pointing to ASY may have been overlooked. Analyses of additional markers for global datasets, including ASY, are therefore necessary to test if mtDNA phylogeography reflects the actual dog history and not merely stochastic events or selection. Here, we analyse 14,437 bp of Y-chromosome DNA sequence in 151 dogs sampled worldwide. We found 28 haplotypes distributed in five haplogroups. Two haplogroups were universally shared and included three haplotypes carried by 46% of all dogs, but two other haplogroups were primarily restricted to East Asia. Highest genetic diversity and virtually complete phylogenetic coverage was found within ASY. The 151 dogs were estimated to originate from 13-24 wolf founders, but there was no indication of post-domestication dog-wolf hybridisations. Thus, Y-chromosome and mtDNA data give strikingly similar pictures of dog phylogeography, most importantly that roughly 50% of the gene pools are shared universally but only ASY has nearly the full range of genetic diversity, such that the gene pools in all other regions may derive from ASY. This corroborates that ASY was the principal, and possibly sole region of wolf domestication, that a large number of wolves were domesticated, and that subsequent dog-wolf hybridisation contributed modestly to the dog gene pool.

A neurophysiological study among Chinese CS2-exposed workers.

A neurophysiological study was carried out to examine peripheral neurotoxicity of extremely low levels of CS2, that is, less than 2 ppm (TWA-8hr) among Chinese viscose rayon workers. From the subjects who participated in a 1981 cross-sectional medical survey, 70 male workers exposed to CS2 and age-matched unexposed workers were randomly selected for the present neurophysiological examination. The conduction velocities of motor, sensory and slower motor fibres of the right ulnar nerve were measured using the same methods as those in the study by Seppäläinen (1974). Skin temperature was measured at the middle of the volar surface of the right forearm with a Thermistor thermometer. According to an earlier occupational hygiene survey in the plant, current personal exposures determined by a passive dosimeter method were very low; the average of daily exposure of 7 jobs studied was 1.45 ppm (range 0.2-5.0). Past and current area sampling data also suggested that occupational hygiene conditions regarding CS2 exposure in the plant had been extremely good for the previous 6 years. The present neurophysiological study clearly showed that significant reduction in the conduction velocities of motor and slower motor fibres of the ulnar nerve was detected as a consequence of chronic exposure to low levels of CS2. In the previous cross-sectional medical survey, no retinopathy was found among Chinese workers exposed to CS2 at this level. These results suggested that an effect of CS2 on the peripheral nerve would appear earlier than that on the retina.