Long non-coding RNA SND1-IT1 accelerates cell proliferation, invasion and migration via regulating miR-132-3p/SMAD2 axis in retinoblastoma.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as prognostic biomarkers and functional regulators in human tumors. In our study, we aim to investigate the roles of lncRNA SND1-IT1 (SND1-IT1) in retinoblastoma (RB). We observed that SND1-IT1 was highly expressed in both RB specimens and cells, and associated with poorer prognosis of RB patients. Functional investigation revealed that downregulation of SND1-IT1 suppressed RB cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and restrained RB tumorigenesis in vivo. MiR-132-3p was predicted to interact with SND1-IT1. RT-qPCR and dual-luciferase reporter assays verified the regulation of miR-132-3p by SND1-IT1 in RB cells. In addition, SND1-IT1 enhanced the expression of SMAD2 by sponging miR-132-3p. Rescue experiments revealed that knockdown of miR-132-3p reversed the inhibiting effects of miR-132-3p knockdown on RB cells. Overall, SND1-IT1 can promote the progression of RB cells through miR-132-3p/SMAD2 axis, suggesting that l SND1-IT1 might be a novel biomarker and potential target for RB.

A cross-sectional study of olfactory and taste disorders among COVID-19 patients in China.

To determine the prevalence and clinical features of olfactory and taste disorders among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in China. A cross-sectional study was performed in Wuhan from April 3, 2020 to April 15, 2020. A total of 187 patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) completed face-to-face interviews or telephone follow-ups. We found that the prevalence of olfactory and taste disorders was significantly lower in the Chinese cohort than in foreign COVID-19 cohorts. Females were more prone to olfactory and taste disorders. In some patients, olfactory and taste disorders precede other symptoms and can be used as early screening and warning signs.

Volume-based histogram analysis of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for estimation of gliomas IDH1 mutation status.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to investigate whether isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status in gliomas can be estimated by volume-based histogram analysis of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative DCE-MRI data of 85 pathologically confirmed glioma patients including 33 carrying IDH1 mutant type (IDH1mut) and 52 with IDH1 wildtype (IDH1wt) were reviewed in a retrospective approach. Regions of interest (ROI) covering entire tumor volume were manually delineated using O.K. software (OmniKinetics, GE Healthcare, China). Histogram parameters of volume transfer constant (Ktrans) and volume of extravascular /extracellular space per unit volume of tissue (Ve) derived from DCE-MRI were obtained. Mann-Whitney U tests were made to compare the differences in histogram parameters of Ktrans and Ve between IDH1mut and IDH1wt in all gliomas and high-grade gliomas (HGGs, grade III and IV). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis were implemented to assess the diagnostic performance. RESULTS: In histogram parameters of Ktrans and Ve, pairwise comparisons demonstrated statistically significant differences in mean, standard deviation (SD), 90th and 95th percentiles (90%, 95%) values between IDH1mut and IDH1wt in all cases of gliomas and HGGs (P < 0.05, respectively). The ROC analysis revealed that the cut-off values of 95% value of Ktrans (0.097 min-1) and mean value of Ve (0.099) provided the best combination of sensitivity and specificity to distinguish all gliomas with IDH1mut from IDH1wt. In HGGs, the cut-off values of mean value of Ktrans and Ve (0.044 min-1, 0.099) played similar role. CONCLUSION: Volume-based histogram analysis of DCE-MRI performs well in identification of IDH1mut gliomas.

Quantitative Assessment of Tumor Cell Proliferation in Brain Gliomas with Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate whether volume transfer constant (Ktrans) and volume of extravascular extracellular space per unit volume of tissue (Ve) derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) could quantitatively assess the tumor proliferation index (Ki-67) of gliomas noninvasively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preoperative DCE MRI data of 69 patients with pathologically confirmed glioma (28, 8, and 33 cases in grades Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ) were retrospectively reviewed. The maximal Ktrans and Ve were measured in the tumor body. The immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Ki-67 proteins in glioma specimens. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to analyze the differences in Ktrans, Ve, and Ki-67 index across histologically defined glioma grades. Spearman correlation was performed between Ktrans, Ve, and Ki-67 index. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the cutoff values of Ktrans and Ve in distinguishing different Ki-67 index expression levels. RESULTS: Ktrans, Ve, and Ki-67 index of grade Ⅱ (0.027 min-1, 0.065, 4.04%) were significantly lower than those of grade Ⅲ (0.093 min-1, 0.297, 25.13%) and Ⅳ (0.100 min-1, 0.299, 25.37%). Both Ktrans and Ve significantly correlated with the Ki-67 index in all tumors and high-grade gliomas (HGGs, grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the cutoff values for Ktrans (0.079 min-1) and Ve (0.249) provided the best combination of sensitivity and specificity to distinguish the gliomas with high Ki-67 index from those with low Ki-67 index. CONCLUSION: The DCE MRI-derived parameters were valuable in assessing the tumor cell proliferation in HGG noninvasively.

Comparison between perfusion computed tomography and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in assessing glioblastoma microvasculature.

PURPOSE: Perfusion computed tomography (PCT) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) provide independent measurements of biomarkers related to tumor perfusion. The aim of this study was to compare the two techniques in assessing glioblastoma microvasculature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients diagnosed with glioblastoma (14 males and 11 females; 51±11years old, ranging from 33 to 70 years) were includede in this prospective study. All patients underwent both PCT and DCE-MRI. Imaging was performed on a 256-slice CT scanner and a 3-T MRI system. PCT yielded permeability surface-area product (PS) using deconvolution physiological models; meanwhile, DCE-MRI determined volume transfer constant (Ktrans) using the Tofts-Kermode compartment model. All cases were submitted to surgical intervention, and CD105-microvascular density (CD105-MVD) was measured in each glioblastoma specimen. Then, Spearman's correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots were obtained for PS, Ktrans and CD105-MVD. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Tumor PS and Ktrans values were correlated with CD105-MVD (r=0.644, P<0.001; r=0.683, P<0.001). In addition, PS was correlated with Ktrans in glioblastoma (r=0.931, P<0.001). Finally, Bland-Altman plots showed no significant differences between PS and Ktrans (P=0.063). CONCLUSION: PCT and DCE-MRI measurements of glioblastoma perfusion biomarkers have similar results, suggesting that both techniques may have comparable utility. Therefore, PCT may serve as an alternative modality to DCE-MRI for the in vivo evaluation of glioblastoma microvasculature.

Effect of Yupingfeng granules on HA and Foxp3(+) Treg expression in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Yupingfeng on hyaluronic acid (HA) and Foxp3(+) Treg in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 58 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were divided into two groups, 30 cases in the treatment group, 28 cases in the control group. Patients in two groups were treated with synchronous radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, the treatment group was treated with the Yupingfeng granules through oral administration, 10 g/time, tid for 2 courses. The serum Foxp3(+) Treg markers of each group were detected by flow cytometry assay before treatment and after treatment, and the level of HA in serum was detected by radio immunoassay. RESULTS: After radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the contents of Foxp3(+) Treg and HA were significantly decreased in two groups (P < 0.05), and the decrease of treatment group was more significantly (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed positive correlation between Foxp3(+) Treg and HA (P < 0.05). After treatment, the incidence of side effects in two groups was significantly decreased. And there was significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy with Yupingfeng treatment can decrease the levels of Foxp3(+) Treg and HA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Yupingfeng can also effectively reduce the side effect due to radiation and chemotherapy.

The assessment of immature microvascular density in brain gliomas with dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to quantitatively evaluate the immature microvascular density (MVD) of brain gliomas using the volume transfer constant (K(trans)) and volume of extravascular extracellular space per unit volume of tissue (Ve) from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) noninvasively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (35 males, 22 females; age range, 14-70, mean age 46±12 years old) with brain glioma were included in this study. The maximal values of K(trans) and Ve of all patients with brain glioma (grade II 24, III 7 and IV 26) were obtained. The CD105-microvascular density (CD105-MVD) of each tumor was measured in surgical specimen. The differences of K(trans), Ve and CD105-MVD between the different grades of gliomas were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test. The Pearman correlation coefficient was determined between K(trans), Ve and CD105-MVD. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The differences in K(trans), Ve and CD105-MVD were statistically significant between low-grade glioma (LGG) and high-grade glioma (HGG) (P=0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001). The K(trans), Ve and CD105-MVD of grade II were significantly lower than those of grade III and IV. K(trans) and Ve were positively correlated with CD105-MVD in HGG (P<0.001, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest DCE-MRI plays an important part in noninvasively evaluating the immature MVD of brain gliomas.

Three-dimensional display of peripheral nerves in the wrist region based on MR diffusion tensor imaging and maximum intensity projection post-processing.

OBJECTIVES: To achieve 3-dimensional (3D) display of peripheral nerves in the wrist region by using maximum intensity projection (MIP) post-processing methods to reconstruct raw images acquired by a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scan, and to explore its clinical applications. METHODS: We performed DTI scans in 6 (DTI6) and 25 (DTI25) diffusion directions on 20 wrists of 10 healthy young volunteers, 6 wrists of 5 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, 6 wrists of 6 patients with nerve lacerations, and one patient with neurofibroma. The MIP post-processing methods employed 2 types of DTI raw images: (1) single-direction and (2) T2-weighted trace. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the median and ulnar nerves were measured at multiple testing sites. Two radiologists used custom evaluation scales to assess the 3D nerve imaging quality independently. RESULTS: In both DTI6 and DTI25, nerves in the wrist region could be displayed clearly by the 2 MIP post-processing methods. The FA and ADC values were not significantly different between DTI6 and DTI25, except for the FA values of the ulnar nerves at the level of pisiform bone (p=0.03). As to the imaging quality of each MIP post-processing method, there were no significant differences between DTI6 and DTI25 (p>0.05). The imaging quality of single-direction MIP post-processing was better than that from T2-weighted traces (p<0.05) because of the higher nerve signal intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional displays of peripheral nerves in the wrist region can be achieved by MIP post-processing for single-direction images and T2-weighted trace images for both DTI6 and DTI25. The FA and ADC values of the median nerves can be accurately measured by using DTI6 data. Adopting 6-direction DTI scan and MIP post-processing is an efficient method for evaluating peripheral nerves.

Reversible luminescence switching between single and dual emissions of bipyridinium-type organic crystals.

An excitation-wavelength-dependent luminescence behavior of a bipyridinium derivative, together with its luminescence switching between single- and dual-emissions upon reversible solid state structural transformation, has been presented.

Charge-distribution-related regioisomerism of photoresponsive metal-organic polymeric chains.

Ligand-originated isomers have been introduced into metal-organic materials to yield two complexes with almost the same coordination linkage and packing geometries but different charge-distributions, which exhibit distinct photoresponsive behaviors in the solid state.

[Clinical features and screening of ACVRL1 gene in II hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features and pathogenic gene of the patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). METHODS: The clinical features of 3 HHT families were collected. And the patients were diagnosed according to clinical diagnostic analyzed criteria of HHT, the ACVRL1 gene screened and the conservation of mutation protein. RESULTS: Three probands and 1 patient were diagnostic for HHT and 2 patients were suspected. In family I, there was a missense mutation of ACVRL1 gene in c.287A > G on 2 patients, leading to the transferal of amino acids from Asn to Ser at 96(th) place. In family II, there was a missense mutation of c.1271C > T on ACVRL1 in 2 patients, leading to the transfer of amino acids from Pro to Leu at 424(th) place. In family III, there was a deletion mutation of c.147delC on ACVRL1 so as to produce only the former 53 amino acids of ALK1 protein. Through an analysis of multi-species conservation, the mutations were conserved between multiple species. By querying the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, we confirmed that the mutation was not of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). CONCLUSION: The genetic screening of HHT patients may identify their virulence gene. And genetic screening of their offspring is helpful for the early diagnosis and prevention before disease onset.

[The effect of genetic polymorphism of the exon 2 of the beta-lactoglobulin gene on the milk composition in Chinese Holstein].

OBJECTIVE: In order to study the effect of the polymorphism at the exon2 region of the (3-LG allele gene on milk composition and yield. METHODS: The single-strand conformation polymorphism method (PCR-SSCP) was used to analyze for polymorphism the exon2 region of the 3-LG gene (NCBI accession number: DQ489319) in Chinese Holstein. RESULTS: Eight SSCP patterns were detected in the fragments: ab, abc, abd, abe, abcd, abce, abde and abcde, and the patterns frequencies as follows: 0.14, 0.10, 0.27, 0.23, 0.05, 0.04, 0.11 and 0.06 (P < 0.05); Six single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were detected in this study: sitel C>T, site2 T>C, site3 C>T, site4 C>C, site5 C> A, site6 A>T or C, and the polymorphism infonnation content (PIC) of these SNPs were in median or high polymorphism (PIC > 0.25). CONCLUSION: These SNPs at the exon2 region of the beta-LG gene were remarkably and affected milk performance traits (milk yield, protein and fat contents) in Chinese Holstein.

[Application of apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy in identification of tumor component and grading of brain astrocytoma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in identification of tumor element and grading of brain astrocytoma. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with histologically confirmed astrocytoma underwent diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and conventional MRI before operation. The values of ADC and FA of different regions in the same tumor and of astrocytoma of different grades were measured and compared. RESULTS: The ADC values of the tumor parenchyma, necrotic region, peritumoral edema region were (1.28 +/- 0.44), (1.97 +/- 0.53), and (1.74 +/- 0.47) respectively, all significantly higher than that of the corresponding normal brain tissues [(0.80 +/- 0.18), P = 0.009, P = 0.000, P = 0.000] with significantly differences between the tumor parenchyma and necrotic region and peritumoral edema region (both P < 0.05), however, there was not significant difference between the necrotic region and peritumoral edema region. The FA values of the tumor parenchyma, necrotic region, and peritumoral edema region were (0.18 +/- 0.07), (0.14 +/- 0.05), and (0.16 +/- 0.05) respectively, all significantly higher than that of the corresponding normal brain tissues [(0.58 +/- 0.10), all P = 0.000], without significant differences among the former 3 groups. There were no significant differences in the ADC and FA values among the tumors at different grades, however, there was a tendency of ADC to decrease and of FA to increase along the increase of grade of tumor, although not significantly. CONCLUSION: ADC value plays an important part in distinguishing tumor components and determining tumor boundary, and plays a certain role in judging the grade of astrocytomas. FA value is vital to determine the tumor boundary, and has certain value in differentiating high-grade from low-grade astrocytomas.