Evolutionary game analysis of indoor radon mitigation with local government involvement.

Radon is the second leading risk factor for lung cancer after smoking. As a public policy, radon mitigation not only involves radon control technology or its cost-benefit analysis, but also includes the decision-making process of local governments. In this study, the evolutionary game theory was used to analyse the interaction between local governments and residents based on the subsidy of the central government. Considering the practical data in China, factors influencing the behaviour of local governments and residents were discussed using numerical simulations. The results indicated that radon mitigation is a fully government-promoted action; thus, its implementation largely depends on the subsidy of the central government and the share of radon control costs borne by the local government. The financial burden for both local governments and residents is a more important determinant than long-term health effects. The relatively poor local economic situation could limit the implementation of radon control. There would be a public policy paradox wherein cities or regions with higher radon risk would have lower willingness for radon control, mainly due to the significantly higher costs of radon control. This work provides reference data for decision-making to implement radon control and is expected to offer some suggestions for local governments.

Hsa_circ_0001535 Regulates Colorectal Cancer Progression via the miR-433-3p/RBPJ Axis.

A large number of studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are of great significance in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of circ_0001535 in CRC. The expressions of circ_0001535, miR-433-3p and recombination signal-binding protein Jκ (RBPJ) mRNA and protein in CRC tissues and cells were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or western blot. The effect of circ_0001535 on cell proliferation was detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. The effects of circ_0001535 on migration, invasion, angiogenesis and apoptosis were investigated by wound healing assay, transwell assay, tube formation assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The interactions between miR-433-3p and circ_0001535 or RBPJ were studied using dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Xenograft tumor assay was performed to verify the role of circ_0001535 in tumor growth in vivo. The results showed that circ_0001535 and RBPJ mRNA expression levels were up-regulated and miR-433-3p was down-regulated in CRC tissues and cells. Circ_0001535 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis as well as promoted apoptosis in CRC cells. After analysis, it was found that circ_0001535 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to inhibit miR-433-3p and then up-regulate RBPJ in CRC cells. In addition, in vivo experiment had shown that circ_0001535 knockdown inhibited tumor growth by up-regulating miR-433-3p and inhibiting RBPJ expression. The circ_0001535/miR-433-3p/ RBPJ axis plays a catalytic role in the progression of CRC, which may provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of CRC.

Genetic Variants of the MIF Gene and Susceptibility of Rectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Rectal cancer (RC) has been documented to be a highly invasive malignant neoplasm worldwide. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in cell-mediated immunity, immunoregulation, inflammation. In vitro and in vivo studies have identified that MIF was involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of RC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case-control study evaluated associations of genetic variants of the MIF gene and serum level of MIF with susceptibility of RC. RESULTS: We found MIF level was associated with an increased risk of RC (OR for per unit: 1.38, 95% CI:1.32-1.44; P < 0.001). Both MIF rs2012133 (OR = 1.30; 95% CIs = 1.08-1.58; P = 0.007) and rs755622 (OR = 1.45; 95% CIs = 1.15-1.82; P = 0.002) were significantly associated with increased risk of RC. Besides, we also found MIF rs5844572 was significantly associated with increased susceptibility of RC, with OR for per CATT repeat of 1.28 (95% CIs: 1.16-1.41; P < 0.001). Further, we found all three variants of the MIF gene, rs5844572, rs2012133 and rs755622, could increase serum level of MIF. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that MIF plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of RC and could be used as a biomarker for early detection and prediction of RC.

Preoperative assessment of complicated appendicitis through stress reaction and clinical manifestations.

This study assessed the severity of the disease through the preoperative clinical manifestations and inflammatory reaction indicators of acute appendicitis, and established a score table to predict complicated appendicitis (CA).The clinical data of 238 patients with acute appendicitis in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed, which included 18 patients with acute simple appendicitis (7.6%), 170 patients with acute purulent appendicitis (72.0%), and 48 patients with acute gangrene and perforation (20.3%). The clinical manifestations and inflammatory reaction indicators were analyzed by univariate logistic regression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to screen out the independent risk factors of CA. The ß coefficients of independent risk factors entering the multivariate model were assigned by rounding, and the total score was the sum of values of all factors. Finally, verification and analysis were performed for the predictive model, and the operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve was drawn. Then, the area under the curve (AUC) was compared with the THRIVE scale, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow method was used to evaluate whether the model fitted well.The multivariate logistic regression analysis of independent risk factors was performed, and the values were rounded to the variable assignment based on the ß coefficient values. The plotted ROC and AUC was calculated as 0.857 (P < .001). Using the Hosmer-Lemeshow method, the X-value was 12.430, suggesting that the prediction model fitted well.The scoring system can quickly determine whether this is a CA, allowing for an earlier and correct diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the scoring system was convenient, economical, and affordable. Moreover, it is easy to popularized and promote.

miR­329­3p regulates neural stem cell proliferation by targeting E2F1.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are a class of self­renewing and undifferentiated progenitor cells that retain the ability to differentiate to neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that serve crucial roles in regulating a number of cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Our previous GeneChip data indicated that the expression of miR­329­3p was increased in neurons compared with NSCs. However, whether miRNA­329­3p participates in regulating NSC function remains to be elucidated. In the present study, it was identified that the expression of miR­329­3p was upregulated in NSCs during neuronal differentiation, whereas expression of transcription factor E2F1 (E2F1), a putative target gene of miR­329­3p, was downregulated. Using luciferase reporter assays, it was confirmed that miR­329­3p regulated E2F1 expression. As differentiation has been demonstrated to limit the proliferative capacity of NSCs, the effects of miR­329­3p and E2F1 modulation on NSC proliferation were examined. Forced overexpression of miR­329­3p or RNA­mediated silencing of E2F1 inhibited NSC proliferation, and overexpression of miR­329­3p also inhibited E2F1 expression. Notably, ectopic expression of E2F1 reversed the inhibition of NSC proliferation induced by miR­329­3p overexpression. These results indicated that miR­329­3p may serve crucial roles in regulating the proliferation of NSCs, at least in part via inhibition of E2F1 expression. These data improve the understanding of the microRNA­mRNA regulatory network that controls NSC proliferation.

Lymph node ratio is an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer after curative resection (R0) regardless of the examined number of lymph nodes.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of the ratio between metastatic and examined lymph nodes (N ratio) in gastric cancer patients with <15 examined lymph nodes after curative resection. METHODS: A retrospective study of 710 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy (R0) for gastric cancer from January 1980 to December 2000 was analyzed statistically to identify the N ratio. Patients with <15 examined lymph nodes (group 1, n=327) and those with ≥15 examined lymph nodes (group 2, n=383) were analyzed separately. N ratio categories were identified as follows: N ratio 0, 0%; N ratio 1, 1% to 9%; N ratio 2, 10% to 25%; and N ratio 3, >25%. All the enrolled categories were evaluated by the best cutoff approach. RESULTS: The univariate analysis showed that age, tumor site, tumor size, surgery, T categories, number of metastatic nodes, and N ratio significantly affected prognosis in groups 1 and 2. By multivariate analysis, the N ratio (but not the TNM N category) classification was retained as an independent prognostic factor in groups 1 and 2 compared with the N category system. However, patients with N1 disease in group 1 obtained a better postoperative prognosis than those with N1 disease in group 2 according to the N stage classification (P=0.003). When the N ratio classification was applied, no significant differences were found for N ratios 0, 1, 2, or 3 between the 2 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The metastatic lymph node ratio is an independent prognostic factor regardless of the examined number of lymph nodes. In predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer, the staging system based on the metastatic lymph node ratio is more reliable than the system based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes regardless of the examined number of lymph nodes. This can help improve the TNM staging classification of gastric cancer and reduce the International Union Against Cancer N categories of stage migration.