Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in a non-model animal: Non-coding RNAs respond to heat stress in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through ceRNA-regulated mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a typical cold-water fish. With global warming and extreme heat, high summer temperatures are the biggest threat to rainbow trout farming. Rainbow trout initiate stress defense mechanisms in response to thermal stimuli, and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation of target genes (mRNAs) mediated by non-coding RNAs (microRNAs [miRNAs], long non-coding RNAs) may be the main strategy for responding to thermal stimuli and enhancing adaptation. RESULTS: We screened the LOC110485411-novel-m0007-5p-hsp90ab1 ceRNA relationship pairs for affect heat stress in rainbow trout and validated their targeting relationships and functions based on preliminary high-throughput sequencing analysis results. The transfection of exogenous novel-m0007-5p mimics and inhibitors into primary rainbow trout hepatocytes effectively bound and inhibited the target genes hsp90ab1 and LOC110485411 without significant effects on hepatocyte viability, proliferation, and apoptosis. The inhibitory effect of novel-m0007-5p overexpression on hsp90ab1 and LOC110485411 under heat stress was time-efficient. Similarly, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) affected hsp90ab1 mRNA expression by silencing LOC110485411 expression time-efficiently. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we found that in rainbow trout, LOC110485411 and hsp90ab1 can bind competitively to novel-m0007-5p via 'sponge adsorption' and that interference with LOC110485411 affects hsp90ab1 expression. These results provide potential for anti-stress drug screening in rainbow trout.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Low-Intensity Ultrasound in Septic Rats.

OBJECTIVE: Sepsis is a severe systemic inflammatory response caused by infection. Here, the spleen region of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with sepsis was irradiated with low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS) to explore the regulation of inflammation and its mechanism by LIUS. METHODS: In this study, 30 rats used for survival analysis were randomly divided into the sham-operated group (Sham, n = 10), the group in which sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP, n = 10) and the group treated with LIUS immediately after CLP (LIUS, n = 10). The other 120 rats were randomly divided into the aforementioned three groups for detection at each time point. The parameters used in the LIUS group were 200 mW/cm2, 0.37 MHz, 20% duty cycle and 20 min, and no ultrasonic energy was produced in the Sham and CLP groups. Seven-day survival rate, histopathology and expression of inflammatory factors and proteins were evaluated in the three groups. RESULTS: LIUS was able to improve the survival rate of septic SD rats (p < 0.05), significantly inhibit the expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) (p < 0.05) and restore the ultrastructure of the spleen. CONCLUSION: Our study determined that LIUS can relieve spleen damage and alleviate severe cytokine storm to improve survival outcomes in septic SD rats, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway by downregulation of IL-1ß.

Effects of Astaxanthin on Growth Performance, Gut Structure, and Intestinal Microorganisms of Penaeus vannamei under Microcystin-LR Stress.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) are biologically active cycloheptapeptide compounds that are released by cyanobacteria during water blooms and are extensively found in aquatic ecosystems. The Penaeus vannamei is a significant species in global aquaculture. However, the high level of eutrophication in aquaculture water frequently leads to outbreaks of cyanobacterial blooms, posing a significant threat to its sustainable cultivation. Astaxanthin (AX) is commonly utilized in aquaculture for its physiological benefits, including promoting growth and enhancing immune function in cultured organisms. This study aimed to examine the protective effect of astaxanthin on P. vannamei exposed to microcystin-induced stress. The experiment consisted of three groups: one group was fed formulated feed containing MC (100 µg/kg), another group was fed formulated feed containing MC (100 µg/kg) + AX (100 mg/kg), and the third group was fed basic feed (control group). After 15 days of feeding, the specific growth rate (SGR) was significantly higher in the MCAX group (2.21% day-1) compared to the MC group (0.77% day-1), and there was no significant difference between the MCAX group (2.21% day-1) and the control group (2.24% day-1). Similarly, the percent of weight gain (PWG) was also significantly higher in the MCAX group (14.61%) compared to the MC group (13.44%) and the control group (16.64%). Compared to the control group, the epithelial cells in the MC group suffered severe damage and detachment from the basement membrane. However, in the MCAX group, although there was still a gap between the intestinal epithelial cells and the basement membrane, the overall intestinal morphology was slightly less impaired than it was in the MC group. The analysis of the intestinal microbiota revealed a significant disparity in the community composition (chao 1 and ACE) between the MC and MCAX groups. When comparing the various bacterial genera, the MC group exhibited an increase in Vibrio abundance, whereas the MCAX group showed a decrease in both Shewanella and Vibrio abundance. The results indicate that AX has a positive impact on the growth performance and resistance of P. vannamei against MC by regulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota. AX can be utilized to mitigate the detrimental effects of MC in aquaculture practices. This function could be attributed to the role of AX in preserving the structural integrity of the intestinal mucosa and regulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota.

Ultrasound irradiation inhibits proliferation of cervical cancer cells by initiating endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis and triggering phosphorylation of JNK.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the 2nd most frequently diagnosed gynecological cancer. Therefore, it is clinically significant to discover an effective anti-cancer approach. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-intensity ultrasound irradiation (USI) on cervical cancer cells and associated mechanisms of cell death. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Normal human cervical HaCaT cells and cervical cancer cell lines C33A, Hela and Siha were cultured and γ-rays applied at a dosage of 2.0 Gy/min. The MTT assay was then used to assess viability (proliferation) of HaCaT, C33A, Hela, and Siha cells. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences that silence the glucose-related protein (GRP78) gene were synthesized. Structural changes to cells exposed to USI were observed with scanning electron microscopy. Immunocytochemistry and western blotting were utilized to examine GRP78, C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK), and caspase-12 expression in cervical cancer cells. RESULTS: Ultrasound irradiation reduced the viability of cervical cancer cells and increased apoptosis, compared to untreated tumor cells (p < 0.05). This effect was not apparent on HaCaT cells. Ultrasound irradiation also induced formation of apoptotic bodies compared to untreated tumor cells (p < 0.05), and activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated apoptosis compared to untreated tumor cells (p < 0.05), by triggering GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 expression. Moreover, USI triggered ER stress by upregulating GRP78 expression. Remarkably, USI triggered phosphorylation of JNK compared to untreated tumor cells (p < 0.05). Ultrasound irradiation initiated phosphorylation of JNK by increasing GRP78 expression. Silencing of GRP78 further enhanced the effect of USI on tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound irradiation significantly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by initiating ER stress associated with apoptosis signaling pathways and triggering phosphorylation of JNK.

Goodpasture's syndrome in early pregnancy: A case report.

Goodpasture's syndrome (GPS) presenting during pregnancy is extremely rare and patients exhibiting hemoptysis and renal dysfunction in early pregnancy are uncommon. The present study reports the case of a 17-year-old diagnosed with GPS during the thirteenth week of pregnancy. Prompt recognition and immediate treatment (steroids and plasma exchange) was initiated. Renal function normalized following treatment and anti-GBM antibody became negative during hospital stay. However, due to irregular follow-up, the patient eventually succumbed. The case highlights that the current treatment plan for GPS should be revised to improve the outcome of pregnancy. In addition, it determines how important it is for obstetricians to consider whether a pregnancy should be terminated to improve the chances of survival of pregnant patients with GPS.

RETRACTED: Effects of high-energy electro-pulsing treatment on microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor. Figure 5 duplicates figure 8 of the article that had already appeared in Materials Characterization 98 (2014) 147-161, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2014.10.026, figure 12 of the paper that had appeared in Applied Physics A 117 (2014) 2251-2264, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00339-014-8655-1, as well as panels from figure 12 of the article that had appeared in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds 616 (2014) 173-183, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.07.143. Figure 6 duplicates figure 9 of the article that had already appeared in Materials Characterization 98 (2014) 147-161, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2014.10.026 and figure 13 of the article that had appeared in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds 616 (2014) 173-183, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.07.143. Figure 7 duplicates figure 10 of the article that had already appeared in Surface & Coatings Technology 258 (2014) 467-484, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2014.08.052. One of the conditions of submission of a paper for publication is that authors declare explicitly that their work is original and has not appeared in a publication elsewhere. Re-use of any data should be appropriately cited. As such this article represents an abuse of the scientific publishing system. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process. Journal records indicate that confirmation of the submission and publication of the article was sent to the first author's email address, in addition to an email that used the corresponding author's name (guoyitangforwork@163.com). The corresponding author and the first author wish to mention that the co-author Zion T.H. Tse was not involved in the preparation and handling of this article. He was not informed about the publication and he did not grant the use of his name and affiliation in the publication. Prof. S. Petter Lyngstadaas, Dr. Hanna Tiainen and Dr. Sebastian Geissler from University of Oslo are acknowledged for the considerable effort put into collecting the evidence and reporting this case of multiple publication.

RETRACTED: Mechanical properties and phase transition of biomedical titanium alloy strips with initial quasi-single phase state under high-energy electropulses.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. The authors have reused figures and text that have already appeared in their previous articles. Figure 4 duplicates figure 4 in Reference [1], figure 6 in Reference [2], figure 8 in Reference [3] and figure 4 in Reference [4], while Figure 7a-b duplicates figure 7a-b in Reference [4]. The article also duplicates significant parts of the text that appeared in References [1] and [4]. One of the conditions of submission of a paper for publication is that authors declare explicitly that their work is original and has not appeared in a publication elsewhere. As such this article represents an abuse of the scientific publishing system. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process. Journal records indicate that confirmation of the submission and publication of the article was sent to the first author's email address but not to the corresponding author's email address. The corresponding author and the first author wish to mention that the co-author Zion T.H. Tse was not involved in the preparation and handling of this article. He was not informed about the publication nor granted the use of his name and affiliation in the publication. References [1] J Mater Res 30 (2015) 206-223, http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2014.367. [2] Mat Sci Eng A 622 (2015) 1-6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2014.11.003. [3] J Mater Res 29 (2014) 1500-1512, http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2014.171. [4] Adv Eng Mater 17 (2015) 995-1007, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adem.201400273.

Preparation and characterization of self-emulsified waterborne nitrocellulose.

Waterborne nitrocellulose (WNC) dispersion was successfully synthesized by self emulsification and reaction among isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) and nitrocellulose (NC). The WNC was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), etc. The WNC dispersion has Z-average particle size of 133 nm approximately and distribution index of 0.152. It is indicated by TEM that the cured WNC particles show a core-shell structure, in which hydrophobic component is encapsulated by the hydrophilic carboxyl. FTIR confirms that the reactions (i.e. IPDI and NC, IPDI and DMPA) have occurred, the - NCO group of IPDI has been consumed totally and the backbone of NC is retained. TGA reveals that the cross-linked WNC film has better thermal resistance, and the water resistance measurement confirms that it has weaker water-sensitivity.