Characterization of ferroptosis signature to evaluate the predict prognosis and immunotherapy in glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of brain cancer with poor survival outcomes and unsatisfactory response to current therapeutic strategies. Recent studies have demonstrated that ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) are linked with the occurrence and development of GBM and may become promising biological indicators in GBM therapy. METHODS: We systematically assessed the relationship between FRGs expression profiles and prognosis in glioma patients based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) datasets to establish a risk score model according to the gene signature of multiple survival-associated DEGs. Further, the differences between the tumor microenvironment score, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint expression levels, and drug sensitivity in the high- and low-risk group are analyzed through a variety of algorithms in R software. RESULTS: GBM patients were divided into two subgroups (high- and low-risk) according to the established risk score model. Patients in the high-risk group showed significantly reduced overall survival compared with those in the low-risk group. Also, we found that the high-risk group showed higher ImmuneScore and StromalScore, while different subgroups have significant differences in immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint expression levels, and drug sensitivity. In summary, we developed and validated an FRGs risk model, which served as an independent prognostic indicator for GBM. Besides, the two subgroups divided by the model have significant differences, which provides novel insights for further studies as well as the personalized treatment of patients.

LncRNA NCK1-AS1 in plasma distinguishes oral ulcer from early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) at early stages can be misdiagnosed as an oral ulcer (OU) due to similar symptoms, such as chronic and indurated ulcer. LncRNA NCK1-AS1 has been characterized as a key player in cervical cancer, while its role in OSCC is unknown. METHODS: All participants were selected at Jiangxi Province Tumor Hospital from December 2016 to December 2018. Expression levels of NCK1-AS1 and miR-100 in plasma from both OSCC and OU patients were measured by RT-qPCR. Diagnostic analysis was performed through ROC curve. Potential interactions between NCK1-AS1 and miR-100 were detected by cell transfection experiments. Cell invasion and migration were assessed by Transwell assays. RESULTS: The expression of NCK1-AS1 was upregulated in early-stage OSCC patients but not in OU patients. Upregulation of NCK1-AS1 distinguished OSCC patients from OU patients. The expression of miR-100 was inversely correlated with the expression of NCK1-AS1. Overexpression of NCK1-AS1 was followed by promoted OSCC cell invasion and migration. Overexpression of miR-100 did not affect the expression of NCK1-AS1 but inhibited the role of NCK1-AS1. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, NCK1-AS1 may promote the metastasis of OSCC by downregulating miR-100.

[Detection of quorum-sensing pathway and construction of LuxS gene deletion mutants of group B Streptococcus].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the possible presence of AI-2 quorum-sensing pathway and construct group B Streptococcus (GBS) mutants with deletion of LuxS gene related to quorum-sensing pathway. METHOD: V. harveyi BB170 was employed as the reporter strain to detect AI-2 pathway in GBS, and identification of LuxS homologous gene in GBS type V strain 2603 was performed by software-based analysis. LuxS gene deletion mutant Delta LusX was then constructed in GBS by means of allelic exchange and verified by Southern hybridization analysis. RESULTS: A component in the secretions of GBS could induce bioluminescence activity in the reporter strain, suggesting the presence of AI-2 quorum-sensing pathway in GBS. luxS homologous gene was detected in GBS and LuxS gene deletion mutants was successfully constructed in GBS Ia 515 and V 2603 strains. CONCLUSION: This study establishes a bacterial model for studying the role of LuxS molecule in AI-2 quorum-sensing pathway in GBS and provides new insights into virulence regulation mechanism of GBS.

Possibility of using DNA chip technology for diagnosis of human papillomavirus.

To explore the application of DNA chip technology for the detection and typing of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the HPV6, 11, 16 and 18 gene fragments were isolated and printed onto aminosilane-coated glass slides by a PixSys 5500 microarrayer as probes to prepare the HPV gene chips. HPV samples, after being labeled with fluorescent dye by restriction display PCR (RD-PCR) technology, were hybridized with the microarray, which was followed by scanning and analysis. The experimental condition for preparing the HPV gene chips was investigated, and the possibility of HPV genotyping using gene chips was discussed. The technique that was established in this study for preparing HPV gene chips is practical. The results of the present study demonstrated the versatility and inspiring prospect of using this technology to detect and genotype HPV.

Gene expression study of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the Agilent 2100 bioanalyser.

This study explores the restriction display-polymerase chain reaction (RD-PCR) application of a new chip-based nucleic acid analysis system (Agilent 2100 bioanalyser) in a gene differential expression study. Total RNAs is extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, double-stranded complementary DNA (cDNA) is synthesised by reverse transcription from the purified messenger RNA (mRNA), RD-PCR conducted to obtain the cDNA fragments and bioanalyser and agarose gel electrophoresis compared for the analysis of RD-PCR products. The bioanalyser proved to be faster and more sensitive in separating and detecting gene fragments, and was also able to compare different gene fragments quantitatively. Using this technology, comparison of several differential gene fragments is performed.