Long noncoding RNA UCA1 regulates proliferation and apoptosis in multiple myeloma by targeting miR-331-3p/IL6R axis for the activation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

OBJECTIVE: We attempted to clarify the regulatory mechanism of UCA1/miR-331-3p/IL6R on cell progression in multiple myeloma (MM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression of UCA1, miR-331-3p, and IL6R in tumor tissues and cells was measured by qRT-PCR. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was conducted to detect cell proliferation, and flow cytometry assay was applied to examine cell apoptosis. Protein expression of L6R, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, c-Myc, CyclinD1, Bcl-2, and Bax was detected by Western blot assay. The interaction among miR-331-3p, UCA1, and IL6R was determined by Luciferase reporter system. Murine xenograft assay was performed to confirm the biological function of UCA1 in vivo. RESULTS: The expression of UCA1 and IL6R was up-regulated, while miR-331-3p was down-regulated in MM tumors and cell lines compared with normal tissues and cells. By calculation, miR-331-3p was correlated with UCA1 or IL6R inversely. In addition, UCA1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase reporter system confirmed the interaction between miR-331-3p and UCA1 or IL6R. More importantly, UCA1 restored miR-331-3p mediated inhibition of proliferation and promotion on apoptosis of MM cells. Consistently, IL6R rescued UCA1 knockdown caused repression on MM cell growth and elevation on apoptosis. Besides, UCA1 facilitated the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway by enhancing IL6R expression via targeting miR-331-3p. CONCLUSIONS: UCA1 accelerates proliferation and suppresses apoptosis in MM by targeting miR-331-3p/IL6R axis to activate JAK2/STAT3 pathway, providing potential targets for the diagnosis and therapy of MM.

[Analysis on the distribution and drug resistance features of anaerobes isolated from clinical infectious specimens].

Objective: To clarify distribution and drug resistance characteristics of anaerobes isolated from clinical infectious samples, and to provide experimental data for guiding on treatment of infections caused by anaerobes. Methods: The anaerobes, isolated from 1 057 different clinical specimens from inpatients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from March 2016 to November 2017, were identified by VITEK-2 anaerobes and corynebacterium (ANC) card and bacteroides fragilis isolates were further verified by 16S-rRNA sequencing. Meanwhile, broth dilution method was employed to detect the drug sensititities of bacteroides fragilis and PCR method was used to detect the carbapenem resistance gene cfiA. Results: Totally 303 strains of anaerobic bacteria were isolated, among which 199 strains were gram-negative bacteria, accounted for 65.68%. Among the gram negative anaerobes, bacteroides species were the most common, accounted for 35.64%, followed by prevotella spp., which accounted for 19.14%. B. fragilis were the most common among Bacteroides spp., accounted for 21.54%, followed by Prevotella bivia, accounted for 5.94%. The coincidence rate of 16S-rRNA sequencing results of Bacteroides fragilis and that of ANC card identification results was 100% (65/65). The drug resistance of B. fragilis to penicillin, clidamycin, ampicillin/sulbactam, amoxicillin/clavulanic, were 100%, 90.77%, 56.92% and 66.67%, respectively. The resitance rate of B. fragilis to chloramphenicol was the lowest, which was 1.54%.Moreover, the resistance rate of B. fragilis to imipenem and metronidazole were both higher, which were 38.46%(25/65) and 23.08%(15/65), respectively, and the positive rate of beta lactamase was 100% (65/65). The carrying rate of carbapenems resistance gene cfiA for 65 strains of Bacteroides fragilis was 52.3% (34/65), and 72.00%(18/25)for imipenem resistant strains. Conclusions: The obligate anaerobic bacteria are widely distributed in clinical specimens, and the great majority are gram negative anaerobic bacteria, and the most frequently isolated one is Bacteroides fragilis. Bacteroides fragilis isolates are found to be resistant to several kinds of common antibiotics, especially for imipenem and metronidazole, which should be given more attention to.

High prevalence of developmental delay among children under three years of age in poverty-stricken areas of China.

OBJECTIVES: Poverty and its associated factors put children at risk for developmental delay. The aim of this study was to describe the neurodevelopment of children under three years of age in poverty-stricken areas of China and explore possible associated factors. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2837 children aged 1-35 months in poverty-stricken areas of China. METHODS: Characteristics of the child, caregiver, and family were collected through face-to-face caregiver interviews. Developmental delay was explored with the five-domain, structured, parent-completed Ages and Stages Questionnaire. The Zung Self-rating Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms of the caregivers. The Chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore associated factors. RESULTS: Of the children, 39.7% (95% confidence interval, 37.9-41.5) had developmental delay in at least one of the five domains. For the domains of communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social skills, the prevalence was 11.5%, 18.5%, 21.4%, 18.4%, and 17.9%, respectively. Significant predictors of increased odds of developmental delay included the child having no toys (odds ratio [OR] = 2.31), the caregiver having depression (OR = 2.24), insufficient learning activities (OR = 1.65), and more children in the family (OR = 1.16). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of developmental delay in children younger than three years in poverty-stricken areas of China and the presence of risk factors for developmental delay such as inadequate learning resources and activities in the home, caregiver depression, and low family income highlight the need for early identification and interventions.

Physical and sexual abuse of women before, during, and after pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To examine patterns of physical and sexual abuse before, during, and after pregnancy. METHODS: A community-based interview survey of a representative group of women with children aged 6-18 months was carried out between November 1, 2001, and February 28, 2002, in 32 communities of the Tianjing, Liaoning, Henan, and Shannxi provinces. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of physical and sexual abuse (occurring before, during, and after pregnancy) was 11.7%. The prevalence of physical and sexual abuse before pregnancy was 8.5%, compared with 3.6% during pregnancy and 7.4% during an average postpartum period of 11 months. Abuse before pregnancy was a strong indicator of abuse during pregnancy and after delivery, and abuse during a previous period was a strong indicator of subsequent abuse. Most abuse was recurrent and not severe. CONCLUSIONS: Routine screening for abuse in the maternity services setting is advocated to decrease the effect of abuse on women and their children.

[The application of adaptive line enhancement filter in extracting cutaneous electrogastrogram].

Based on the principle of adaptive filtering, The higher signal-to-noise ratio of electrogastrogram data can be extracted from abdomen skin with the adaptive line enhancement filter. The design method of feedback factor and filtering coefficient is introduced in this paper. Experimental and practical results show the method is effective.

[Postpartum depression].

A retrospective study was carried out in Beijing, China, in 1992. Edinburgh postnatal depression scale was used to inquire the mothers at 6-12 month after delivery. A total of 550 women were investigated by mailing. 425 women replied. The positive rate of PPD in our study was 17.9%. Women who had had a history of mood disorder before pregnancy had a higher risk of PPD. Social and psychological factors such as lacking support from the women's relatives, the poor marital relationship and the bad living condition shown to be significantly associated with postnatal depression. PPD can seriously affected the physical and mental health and well-being of women, her child's early education causing delayed development and her family causing a great deal of suffering, personal distress and marital troubles even causing divorce and suicide. Thus it is important to identify the high risk women and give treatment as early as possible.

[Serum HSV-2 antibody in males from high and low incidence areas of cervical cancer].

Serum HSV-2 antibody in male from high and low incidence areas of cervical cancer was assayed by enzyme-immuno-slide method. The results show that the geometric mean titer of the serum HSV-2 antibody in the male from high incidence area (413.5) is significantly higher than that from the low incidence area (210.4) (P less than 0.01). It indicates that the high cancer incidence might be related to the high HSV-2 infection rate in the spouses of the cervical cancer patients.