Thyroid cancer prognostic biomarker ARL4A and its relationship with immune infiltration.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer (THCA) is a prevalent form of cancer with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The small GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor-like 4A (ARL4A) is integral to various cellular processes, including cytoskeletal restructuring, vesicular transport, cell migration, and neuronal development. However, the role of ARL4A as a clinical predictor, particularly its relation to immune cell infiltration in THCA, remains unclear. METHODS: A combination of experimental studies and analysis of online databases was employed to investigate ARL4A expression in THCA. Clinical and pathological data from THCA patients were compiled for a comprehensive subgroup analysis. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods were utilized to evaluate the prognostic significance of ARL4A in THCA patients. Finally, the "Cancer Genome Atlas" was analyzed to explore the correlation between immune cell infiltration, ARL4A expression, and their joint impact on prognosis. RESULTS: ARL4A exhibited low expression in THCA. An elevated ARL4A was associated with poor prognosis. Moreover, the expression of ARL4A was correlated with the age, gender, and pathological stage of THCA patients. Finally, ARL4A expression was found to be negatively correlated with immune cell infiltration and influenced the prognosis of patients through changes in the immune environment. CONCLUSION: ARL4A may serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of THCA, impacting the prognosis of patients through the modulation of the immune microenvironment.

Comprehensive analysis of prognostic value and immunotherapy prospect of brain cytoplasmic RNA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The expression of brain cytoplasmic RNA1 (BCYRN1) is linked to the clinicopathology and prognosis of several types of cancers, among which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent types of cancer worldwide. AIM: To explore the prognostic value and immunotherapeutic potential of BCYRN1 in HCC by bioinformatics and meta-analysis. METHODS: Information was obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. First, the correlation between BCYRN1 expression and prognosis and clinicopathologic characteristics of HCC patients was explored. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between BCYRN1 and HCC prognosis. Secondly, potential functions and pathways were explored by means of enrichment analysis of differentially-expressed genes. The relationships between BCYRN1 expression and tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint, drug sensitivity and immunotherapy effect were also investigated. Finally, three major databases were searched and used to conduct a meta-analysis on the relationship between BCYRN1 expression and patient prognosis. RESULTS: BCYRN1 expression was significantly higher in HCC compared to normal tissues and was linked to a poor prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics. Enrichment analysis showed that BCYRN1 regulates the extracellular matrix and transmission of signaling molecules, participates in the metabolism of nutrients, such as proteins, and participates in tumor-related pathways. BCYRN1 expression was linked to the tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, drug sensitivity and the efficacy of immunotherapy. Furthermore, the meta-analysis in this study showed that BCYRN1 overexpression was related to a worse outcome in HCC patients. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of BCYRN1 relates to poor prognosis and may be a potential prognostic factor and immunotherapeutic target in HCC.

ctDNA as a prognostic biomarker in resectable CLM: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is synthesized by tumor cells, including metastatic tumors, and circulates in the bloodstream. Evidence suggests that ctDNA is a potential predictive and prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC), but its predictive efficacy in detecting CRC liver metastasis (CLM) remains unclear. Additionally, its utility in the clinical setting needs further investigation. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the utility of ctDNA as a biomarker for predicting the prognosis of CLM and investigate the relationship between CLM and ctDNA positivity. A literature search was performed in electronic databases to identify relevant studies published up to March 19, 2022. We retrieved data on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) for both ctDNA-positive and ctDNA-negative colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) patients from the selected articles. Hazard ratios (HRs) were also calculated for these survival outcomes analysis was also performed. The stability of the combined meta-analysis was verified by sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation. Ten trials were included, and 615 patients were evaluated. In patients with CLM, pooled HRs revealed a substantial link between ctDNA positivity and RFS/DFS. Subgroup analysis revealed that ctDNA had a prospective detection value. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation indicated stable results. Although the results on pooled HR for OS suggested that ctDNA-positive patients had a shorter survival time, their pooled HRs had a relatively evident heterogeneity, and sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation indicated that pooled HRs were extremely unstable. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ctDNA appears to be a prognostic biomarker for resectable CLM patients.

To explore the change of motor cognitive function in pituitary tumor rats after operation.

To study the changes of motor and cognitive function of pituitary tumor rats after the operation. Methods: The experiment was divided into three groups: control group, model group and operation group (30 animals for each group). Female Fischer344 rats were selected. Model group rats were subcutaneously embedded with 10 mg estrogen sustained-release pump to induce a pituitary tumor model, and control group rats were subcutaneously embedded with a normal saline sustained-release pump as control. The operation group was successfully treated by microsurgery after the model was established. The quantitative expressions of PTTG, FGF-2 and VEGF were detected by Western blot. Morris test was used to detect the spatial learning and memory ability of rats. Western blot results showed that compared with the model group, the expression of the operation group was decreased, but still higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The water maze test results showed that the incubation period of searching the safe island in the model group was significantly longer than that in the control group on the 8th and 9th day after the injury, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The incubation period of searching the safe island on the 8th and 9th day after injury in the operation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group. Through the detection of behavioral-related experimental and protein, the motor memory of rats after pituitary tumor surgery can be improved to some extent.

Association of Dietary and Supplement Intake of Antioxidants with Risk of Dementia: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies.

BACKGROUND: Dementia is a neuropsychiatric disorder with cognitive decline due to multiple factors. With the arrival of the aging population, the incidence of dementia has gradually increased. There is still no effective treatment for dementia, and therefore, the prevention of dementia has become crucial. Oxidative stress is considered to be one of the pathogenesis of dementia; therefore, antioxidant therapy and prevention of dementia have been gradually proposed. OBJECTIVE: Our meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association of antioxidants with risk of dementia. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles on antioxidants associated with dementia risk, and those containing cohort studies with high-dose versus low-dose controls were included in our meta-analysis. The resulting risk ratios (RR) and hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals were statistically analyzed using Stata12.0 free software. RESULTS: A total of 17 articles were included in this meta-analysis. Of 98,264 participants, 7,425 had dementia after 3-23 years of follow-up. The results of the meta-analysis showed a trend towards a lower incidence of dementia with high intake of antioxidants (RR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.77-1.19 I2 = 54.6%), but this was not statistically significant. High antioxidant intake significantly reduced the incidence of Alzheimer 's disease (RR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.79-0.92 I2 = 45.5%), and we additionally carried out subgroup analyses by nutrient type, diet or supplement, region, and study quality score. CONCLUSION: Dietary intake of antioxidants or supplements reduces both the risk of dementia and the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

A pan-cancer analysis of the prognostic value of long non-coding RNA LINC00662 in human cancers.

Background: Numerous studies have revealed that the long non-coding RNA LINC00662 is irregularly expressed in various cancers, as well as is correlated with cancer development and progression. Nevertheless, the clinical value of LINC00662 remains controversial. Hence, we explored the correlation of LINC00662 with cancer prognosis through meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis. Methods: From the beginning through 12 March 2022, we searched for correlational studies on Web of Science, Embase, PubMed and The Cochrane Library. We used pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to determine the significance of studies on survival outcomes and clinicopathological aspects in human cancers. Additionally, the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database was employed to confirm our findings. Results: Our meta-analysis of 14 studies comprising a total of 960 cancer patients revealed that LINC00662 overexpression was correlated with poor overall survival (HR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.49-2.45, p < 0.001) in cancer patients and relapse-free survival (HR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.19-3.76, p = 0.010) in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The correlation between LINC00662 and OS was further supported by the results of subgroup analyses according to cancer type, follow-up time, HR availability, and NOS score. In addition, LINC00662 overexpression predicted advanced tumor stage (OR = 4.23, 95% CI 2.50-7.17, p < 0.001), larger tumor size (OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.11-1.99, p = 0.008), earlier lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.25-4.59, p = 0.008), and earlier distant metastasis (OR = 4.78, 95% CI 2.57-8.88, p < 0.001). However, there were no statistically significant differences in age (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.90-1.51, p = 0.246), gender (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.79-1.53, p = 0.578), or differentiation grade (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 0.71-3.33, p = 0.280). Conclusion: LINC00662 expression upregulation is associated with poor prognosis and advanced clinicopathological features in patients with multiple tumors. LINC00662 may serve as a biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with tumors.

The application of enhanced recovery after surgery in minimally invasive gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for patients with gastric cancer undergoing minimally invasive surgery (MIS). METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, VIP, WanFang, and CBM for relevant RCTs from the database inception until December 2021, for studies that compared the ERAS and traditional care (TC) in MIS for gastric cancer. RESULTS: A total of 25 RCTs comprising 2809 patients were included in this study. When compared with the traditional care TC group, the ERAS group had a shorter postoperative hospital stay [MD = -1.88,95%CI (-2.22, -1.55), P < 0.00001] and an earlier time at first postoperative flatus [MD = -18.12,95%CI (-21.45,-14.80), P < 0.00001] along with lower medical costs [SMD = -0.64, 95% CI (-0.85, -0.43), P < 0.00001] and an overall reduction in postoperative complication rates [RR = 0.55, 95% CI (0.44, 0.69), P < 0.00001]. However, the difference in the readmission rates    was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: ERAS can shorten the postoperative hospital stay, hasten the first postoperative flatus and reduce medical costs and overall postoperative complication rate without increasing readmission rates. Therefore, the ERAS protocol is preferable for gastric cancer patients undergoing MIS.

Dietary Vitamin A Intake and Circulating Vitamin A Concentrations and the Risk of Three Common Cancers in Women: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: According to relevant clinical research, dietary and circulating antioxidants vitamin A are connected with the risk of breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer in women. However, there was inconsistency between the findings. We completed this meta-analysis at the right moment to address this contradiction of the problem. Methods: Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched using the proposed search strategy and filtered using the inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as the NOS quality score. As of May 2022, low intake or low concentration was used as a control, and odds ratio (OR) or relative risk (RR) and ninety-five percent confidence intervals (95% CI) were extracted for high intake. Stata 12.0 was used to process the data. Results: Our meta-analysis included a total of 49 studies, 29 on breast cancer, 10 on ovarian cancer, and 10 on cervical cancer. There were 38 case-control studies included, with 25,363 cases and 42,281 controls; there were 11 cohort studies included, 1,334,176 individuals were followed up, and finally 9496 obtained cancer. The pooled OR value results were as follows: diet or supplements (OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.76-0.90, I 2 = 56.1%) and serum or plasma (OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.86-1.09, I 2 = 29.5%). Subgroup analyses were performed according to cancer type, diet or supplements, serum or plasma, study type, and geographic regions. Conclusions: In North American and Asian populations, high dietary consumption of vitamin A or supplements decreases the incidence of three cancers in women, with breast and ovarian cancers being more significant. However, high circulating vitamin A concentrations were not significantly connected with the risk of the three malignancies.

LncRNA DUXAP8 as a prognostic biomarker for various cancers: A meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Dual homeoboxes A pseudogene 8 (DUXAP8) is a newly discovered long noncoding RNA that has been shown to function as an oncogene in a variety of human malignant cancers. By integrating available data, this meta-analysis sought to determine the relationship between clinical prognosis and DUXAP8 expression levels in diverse malignancies. Materials and methods: A systematic search was performed to identify eligible studies from several electronic databases from their inception to 25 October 2021. Pooled odds ratios and hazard ratios with 95% CI were used to estimate the association between DUXAP8 expression and survival. For survival analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method and COX analysis were used. Furthermore, we utilized Spearman's correlation analysis to explore the correlation between DUXAP8 and tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), the related genes of mismatch repair (MMR), DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), and immune checkpoint biomarkers. Results: Our findings indicated that overexpression of DUXAP8 was related to poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.63, 95% CI, 1.49-1.77, p < 0.001). In addition, elevated DUXAP8 expression was closely related to poor OS in several cancers in the TCGA database. Moreover, DUXAP8 expression has been associated with TMB, MSI, and MMR in a variety of malignancies. Conclusion: This study revealed that DUXAP8 might serve as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for cancer. It can be used to improve cancer diagnosis, discover potential treatment targets, and improve prognosis.

Association of vitamin E intake in diet and supplements with risk of dementia: A meta-analysis.

Background: Dementia is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease that can lead to disability and death in humans, but there is still no effective prevention and treatment. Due to the neuroprotective effects of vitamin E, a large number of researchers have explored whether vitamin E can reduce the risk of dementia. Some researchers believe that vitamin E can reduce the risk of dementia, while others hold the opposite conclusion. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between them. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles on the connection of dietary and supplementation vitamin E with dementia risk from inception through April 2022 using the main keywords "dementia," "Alzheimer's disease," "vitamin E," and "tocopherol," and used a random-utility model for pooled effect sizes. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were derived using lower and higher doses as contrasts. Obtained data were shown and assessed using Stata12.0 free software. Results: We included 15 articles in sum. Among them, there were nine articles containing AD. By comparing the highest intake with the lowest intake, Combined ORs for high intake were as follows: dementia (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.70-0.88 I 2 = 35.0%), Alzheimer's disease (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.94 I 2 = 36.9%). Subgroup analyses were also performed by study type, diet and supplementation, and NOS score. Conclusions: High vitamin E intake from diet and supplements significantly reduces the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Clinicopathological Significance and Prognostic Values of Long Noncoding RNA BCYRN1 in Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis and Bioinformatics Analysis.

Background: Although combination therapies have substantially improved the clinical outcomes of cancer patients, the prognosis and early diagnosis remain unsatisfactory. As a result, it is critical to look for novel indicators linked to cancer. Despite a number of recent studies indicating that the lncRNA brain cytoplasmic RNA1(BCYRN1) may be a potential predictive biomarker in cancer patients, BCYRN1's prognostic value is still being debated. Methods: We utilized PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to search for studies related to BCYRN1 until October 2021. Valid data were extracted after determining the articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and forest plots were made using Stata software. We used hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals to evaluate the relationship between abnormal BCYRN1 expression and patient prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics. Results: Meta-analysis revealed that increased BCYRN1 expression was associated with both overall tumor survival (OS; HR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.51-2.25, p < 0.0001) and disease-free survival (DFS; HR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.20-2.26, p=0.002). Furthermore, a strong association was discovered between increased BCYRN1 expression and tumor invasion depth (OR = 2.11, 95% CI 1.49-2.99, p=0.000), clinical stage (OR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.18-5.37, p=0.017), and distant tumor metastasis (OR = 4.19, 95% CI 1.45-12.05, p=0.008). Conclusions: We found that high BCYRN1 expression was associated with poor survival prognosis and aggressive clinicopathological characteristics in various cancers, indicating that it is a potential prognostic indicator as well as a therapeutic target. Further research is needed on pan-cancer cohorts to determine the clinical relevance of BCYRN1 in distinct cancer types.

Association of Retinol and Carotenoids Content in Diet and Serum With Risk for Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is linked to serum and dietary retinol and carotenoids, according to clinical and epidemiological research. However, the findings are not consistent. As a result, we did this meta-analysis to determine the link between them. Methods: From 2000 through 2022, the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases, as well as pertinent article references, were searched and filtered based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and literature quality ratings. High and low intake were used as controls, and OR (odds ratio) or RR (relative risk) and 95% confidence interval were extracted. The extracted data were plotted and analyzed using Stata12.0 software. Results: A total of 22 relevant studies were included, including 18 studies related to diet and 4 studies related to serum. For high and low intake or concentration controls, the pooled OR was as follows: ß-carotene (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.78-1.03), α-carotene (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.72-1.03), lycopene (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.81-1.07), lutein/zeaxanthin (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.87-1.07), ß-cryptoxanthin (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.48-1.01), total carotenoids (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.81-1.15), retinol (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.89-1.10), serum carotenoids (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58-0.93), serum retinol (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.26-1.49). Subgroup analysis was performed according to tumor type, study type and sex. Conclusion: Total carotenoid intake and Lutein/Zeaxanthin intake were not associated with CRC risk. High ß-carotene, α-carotene, lycopene, and ß-cryptoxanthin all tended to reduce CRC risk. Serum carotenoid concentrations were significantly inversely associated with CRC risk.

FOXP4-AS1 May be a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Human Cancers: A Meta-Analysis and Bioinformatics Analysis.

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Early diagnosis can significantly lower cancer-related mortality. Studies have shown that the lncRNA Forkhead box P4 antisense RNA 1 (FOXP4-AS1) is aberrantly expressed in various solid tumors. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation of FOXP4-AS1 with the prognosis of cancer patients and determine the clinical value of FOXP4-AS1 as a potential diagnostic marker. Methods: Correlational studies from the Web of Science, Embase, OVID, Cochrane and PubMed databases were screened (up to April 1, 2021). Meta-analysis was performed using Stata SE12.0 software. Results: Eleven original studies with 1,332 patients who were diagnosed with a solid cancer (nasopharyngeal carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, osteosarcoma, mantle cell lymphoma, prostate cancer, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma) were included in the meta-analysis. High expression of FOXP4-AS1 was correlated with poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.29-2.44, P < 0.001) and shorter disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.01-2.72, P = 0.044). Subgroup analysis based on sample size, follow-up time and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score revealed significant differences between FOXP4-AS1 levels and OS (P < 0.05). However, the expression level of FOXP4-AS1 was not significantly correlated with the OS of gastric cancer patients (P = 0.381). High expression of FOXP4-AS1 was predictive of a larger tumor size (OR = 3.82, 95% CI 2.3-6.3, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Overexpression of FOXP4-AS1 correlates with poor prognosis of cancer patients, and is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42021245267.

Development and validation of prognostic model based on the analysis of autophagy-related genes in colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Autophagy, a process of self-digestion, is closely related to multiple biological processes of colon cancer. This study aimed to construct and evaluate prognostic signature of autophagy-related genes (ARGs) to predict overall survival (OS) in colon cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, a total of 234 ARGs were downloaded via The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Based on the TCGA dataset, differentially expressed ARGs were identified in colon cancer. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to screen prognostic ARGs to construct the prognostic model. The feasibility of the prognostic model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and Kaplan-Meier curves. A prognostic model integrating the gene signature with clinical parameters was established with a nomogram. RESULTS: We developed an autophagy risk signature based on the 6 ARGs (ULK3, ATG101, MAP1LC3C, TSC1, DAPK1, and SERPINA1). The risk score was positively correlated with poor outcome and could independently predict prognosis. Furthermore, the autophagy-related signature could effectively reflect the levels of immune cell type fractions and indicate an immunosuppressive microenvironment. CONCLUSION: We innovatively identified and validated 6 autophagy-related gene signature that can independently predict prognosis and reflect overall immune response intensity in the colon cancer microenvironment.

A high-quality genome of taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott), one of the world's oldest crops.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.), Schott), from the Araceae family, is one of the oldest crops with important edible, medicinal, nutritional and economic value. Taro is a highly polymorphic species including diverse genotypes adapted to a broad range of environments, but the taro genome has rarely been investigated. Here, a high-quality chromosome-level genome of C. esculenta was assembled using data sequenced by Illumina, PacBio and Nanopore platforms. The assembled genome size was 2,405 Mb with a contig N50 of 400.0 kb and a scaffold N50 of 159.4 Mb. In total, 2,311 Mb (96.09%) of the contig sequences was anchored onto 14 chromosomes to form pseudomolecules, and 2,126 Mb (88.43%) was annotated as repetitive sequences. Of the 28,695 predicted protein-coding genes, 26,215 genes (91.4%) could be functionally annotated. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis using 769 genes, C. esculenta and Spirodela polyrhiza were placed on one branch of the tree that diverged approximately 73.23 million years ago. The synteny analyses showed that there have been two whole-genome duplication events in C. esculenta separated by a relatively short gap. According to comparative genome analysis, a larger number (1,189) of distinct gene families and long terminal repeats were enriched in C. esculenta. Our high-quality taro genome will provide valuable resources for further genetic, ecological and evolutionary analyses of taro or other species in the Araceae.

Mechanism of microRNA-431-5p-EPB41L1 interaction in glioblastoma multiforme cells.

INTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a kind of malignant brain tumor prevalent in adults, with the characteristics well adapted to poorly immunogenic and hypoxic conditions. Effective treatment of GBM is impeded due to the high proliferation, migration and invasion of GBM cells. GBM cells migrate by degrading the extracellular matrix, so it is difficult to have GBM cells eradicated completely by surgery. This study aims to confirm that miR-431-5p could influence the proliferation, invasion and migration of human glioblastoma multiforme cells by targeting EPB41L1 (erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The expression levels of miR-431-5p and EPB41L1 were detected in GBM cells and tissues using qRT-PCR. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay and western blot were applied to confirm the targeting relationship between miR-431-5p and EPB41L1. GBM cell line U87 was used in MTT, flow cytometry, Transwell, and wound healing assays to determine cell proliferation, migration and invasion. RESULTS: MiR-431-5p was overexpressed in GBM tissues while EPB41L1 was under-expressed. The results of dual luciferase reporter gene assay and western blot demonstrated that miR-431-5p could target EPB41L1 and suppress its expression. Down-regulating the expression of miR-431-5p or up-regulating the expression of EPB41L1 could inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration but promote the apoptosis of GBM cells. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-431-5p facilitated the progression of GBM by inhibiting EPB41L1 expression.

Genetic variants and increased risk of meningioma: an updated meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Various genetic variants have been reported to be linked to an increased risk of meningioma. However, no confirmed conclusion has been obtained. The purpose of the study was to investigate potential meningioma-associated gene polymorphisms, based on published evidence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An updated meta-analysis was performed in September 2016. After electronic database searching and study screening, we selected eligible case-control studies and extracted data for meta-analysis, using Mantel-Haenszel statistics. P-values, pooled odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: We finally selected eight genes with ten polymorphisms: MLLT10 rs12770228, CASP8 rs1045485, XRCC1 rs1799782, rs25487, MTHFR rs1801133, rs1801131, MTRR rs1801394, MTR rs1805087, GSTM1 null/present, and GSTT1 null/present. Results of meta-analyses showed that there was increased meningioma risk in case groups under all models of MLLT10 rs12770228 (all OR >1, P<0.001), compared with control groups. Similar results were observed under the allele, homozygote, dominant, and recessive models of MTRR rs1801394 (all OR >1, P<0.05), and the heterozygote and dominant models of MTHFR rs1801131 in the Caucasian population (all OR >1, P<0.05). However, no significantly increased meningioma risks were observed for CASP8 rs1045485, XRCC1 rs25487, rs1799782, MTHFR rs1801133, MTR rs1805087, or GSTM1/GSTT1 null mutations. CONCLUSION: Our updated meta-analysis provided statistical evidence for the role of MLLT10 rs12770228, MTRR rs1801394, and MTHFR rs1801131 in increased susceptibility to meningioma.

[Compensation effect of cotton growth and development after soil salt content reduction at bud stage].

To elucidate the dynamic characteristics of cotton growth and development after soil salt content reduction (SD) at bud stage and its effect on yield formation, a pot experiment was conducted in which soil salt content was declined from 5 per thousand level to 2 per thousand level at cotton bud stage. The results showed that the plant height, biomass, total fruit branch and fruit node number, boll number, boll mass of cotton plants increased after soil salt content reduction at bud stage. The distribution proportions of biomass in root and boll decreased after soil salt content reduction, however, the distribution proportions of biomass in leaf, main stem and fruit branch were on the rise. The growth rate of cotton plant increased after soil salt content reduction. Plant dry matter accumulation rate of SD cotton exceeded CK cotton at 22 days after soil salt content reduction. The response of different organs of cotton plant were different to soil salt content reduction, the plant height was the earliest, followed by the fruit branch and fruit node formation, and the bud and boll were the latest, which indicated that the compensation effect of cotton growth and development after soil salt content reduction at bud stage firstly appeared on the formation and growth of new leaf, fruit branch and fruit node, and on this basis, gradually brought out yield compensation.

Cloning and expression analysis of novel Aux/IAA family genes in Gossypium hirsutum.

Members of the Aux/IAA gene family encode proteins that mediate the responses of auxin-regulated gene expression and regulate various aspects of plant morphological development. Here, we provide the first identification and characterization of nine cDNAs encoding the complete open reading frame (ORF) of the Aux/IAA family in cotton. These were designated GhAux1 to GhAux9 (Gossypiumhirsutum Aux/IAA). The proteins encoded by these nine genes had either whole or partially conserved domains of the Aux/IAA superfamily, with sequence identity ranging from 14% to 69%. A pair of homeologs exists for each Aux/IAA in G. hirsutum acc. TM-1 with high identity both in ORF sequences and amino acid level. Tissue- and organ-specific analysis showed that transcripts of GhAux1, GhAux2, and GhAux3 were abundant in vegetative organs, whereas GhAux4, GhAux5, GhAux6, and GhAux7 were preferentially expressed in ovules on the day of anthesis. GhAux8 and GhIAA16 (previously reported) were also preferentially expressed during fiber developmental stages, especially GhAux8 in fiber early elongation stages, and GhIAA16 in fiber initiation and secondary cell wall thickening stage. GhAux9 was specifically expressed in developing fibers. During the fiber initiation stage, except for GhAux3 and GhAux6, the expression of the other eight GhAuxs in various lintless-fuzzless and linted-fuzzless mutants demonstrated that they were significantly up-regulated compared with linted-fuzzy TM-1.

Structure, expression differentiation and evolution of duplicated fiber developmental genes in Gossypium barbadense and G. hirsutum.

BACKGROUND: Both Gossypium hirsutum and G. barbadense probably originated from a common ancestor, but they have very different agronomic and fiber quality characters. Here we selected 17 fiber development-related genes to study their structures, tree topologies, chromosomal location and expression patterns to better understand the interspecific divergence of fiber development genes in the two cultivated tetraploid species. RESULTS: The sequence and structure of 70.59% genes were conserved with the same exon length and numbers in different species, while 29.41% genes showed diversity. There were 15 genes showing independent evolution between the A- and D-subgenomes after polyploid formation, while two evolved via different degrees of colonization. Chromosomal location showed that 22 duplicate genes were located in which at least one fiber quality QTL was detected. The molecular evolutionary rates suggested that the D-subgenome of the allotetraploid underwent rapid evolutionary differentiation, and selection had acted at the tetraploid level. Expression profiles at fiber initiation and early elongation showed that the transcripts levels of most genes were higher in Hai7124 than in TM-1. During the primary-secondary transition period, expression of most genes peaked earlier in TM-1 than in Hai7124. Homeolog expression profile showed that A-subgenome, or the combination of A- and D-subgenomes, played critical roles in fiber quality divergence of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense. However, the expression of D-subgenome alone also played an important role. CONCLUSION: Integrating analysis of the structure and expression to fiber development genes, suggests selective breeding for certain desirable fiber qualities played an important role in divergence of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense.