Circ_0005276 aggravates the development of epithelial ovarian cancer by targeting ADAM9.

The article "Circ_0005276 aggravates the development of epithelial ovarian cancer by targeting ADAM9, by Z.-H. Liu, W.-J. Liu, X.-Y. Yu, X.-L. Qi, C.-C. Sunu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (20): 10375-10382-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202010_23387-PMID: 33155193" has been retracted by the authors due to inaccuracies related to the misuse of Table I. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/23387.

Dynamic cervical flexion/extension atlantodental interval and functional outcome of the Harms technique for posterior C1/2 fixation: A retrospective analysis of 16 atlantoaxial subluxation cases in a tertiary medical center.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the atlantodental interval (ADI) on dynamic flexion/extension cervical radiographs and functional outcomes of posterior spinal fixation by the Harms technique for atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS). Dynamic flexion/extension on cervical radiographs is a standard assessment for evaluation of C1/2 instability in AAS patients. Most studies focused on postoperative ADI and functional outcome, including pain and fusion rate; only few studies compared dynamic ADI change pre- to post-operatively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospectively, we reviewed the medical records of 16 patients who underwent posterior spinal fixation in our center from 2018 to 2019. We used dynamic cervical flexion/extension radiographs to assess the pre- to postoperative change at 12 months in ADI of flexion (ADIf), ADI of extension (ADIe), ADI between flexion/extension (ADIΔ), C1/2 fusion rate and functional outcomes measured by the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (mJOA scale). Postoperative CT at 3∼12 months assessed screw positioning on the Gertzbein and Robbins classification. RESULTS: In the 16 patients included in this study, ADIf, ADIe and ADIΔ were significantly reduced, from respectively 8.0mm, 5.0mm and 3.0mm preoperatively to 4.6mm, 3.8mm and 0.8mm at 12 months' follow-up. The fusion rate was 81% and the mJOA score recovery rate was 34.9±14.7%. Although the screw malposition rate was higher than in other studies in C1(10%) and C2(20%), there were no new neurologic deficits or worsening of symptoms at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The ADIΔ showed significant reduction, showing that the Harms technique of posterior spinal fixation can effective in maintaining the stability of the atlantoaxial joint and improving functional outcome.

Aetiology of tinea capitis in China: a multicentre prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Tinea capitis is still common in developing countries, such as China. Its pathogen spectrum varies across regions and changes over time. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to clarify the current epidemiological characteristics and pathogen spectrum of tinea capitis in China. METHODS: A multicentre, prospective descriptive study involving 29 tertiary hospitals in China was conducted. From August 2019 to July 2020, 611 patients with tinea capitis were enrolled. Data concerning demography, risk factors and fungal tests were collected. When necessary, the pathogens were further identified by morphology or molecular sequencing in the central laboratory. RESULTS: Among all enrolled patients, 74·1% of the cases were in patients aged 2-8 years. The children with tinea capitis were mainly boys (56·2%) and were more likely than adults to have a history of animal contact (57·4% vs. 35·3%, P = 0·012) and zoophilic dermatophyte infection (73·5% vs. 47%). The adults were mainly female (83%) and were more likely than children to have anthropophilic agent infection (53% vs. 23·9%). The most common pathogen was zoophilic Microsporum canis (354, 65·2%), followed by anthropophilic Trichophyton violaceum (74, 13·6%). In contrast to the eastern, western and northeastern regions, where zoophilic M. canis predominated, anthropophilic T. violaceum predominated in central China (69%, P < 0·001), where the patients had the most tinea at other sites (20%) and dermatophytosis contact (26%) but the least animal contact (39%). Microsporum ferrugineum was the most common anthropophilic agent in the western area, especially in Xinjiang province. CONCLUSIONS: Boys aged approximately 5 years were the most commonly affected group. Dermatologists are advised to pay more attention to the different transmission routes and pathogen spectra in different age groups from different regions.

Correlation between inflammatory cytokines and liver cancer stem cell markers in DEN-induced liver cancer rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of inflammatory factors and hepatocarcinoma stem cells of induced liver cancer rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 SD male healthy rats were selected. 10 rats were given water as normal control group. 10 rats only were implemented laparotomy as sham operation group. The remaining 10 rats were the liver cancer model group and treated with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) to induce liver cancer. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the related inflammatory factors in HCC tissues, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß), human interleukin-1α (IL-1α), human interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and levels of hepatocarcinoma stem cells indicators CD90, CD133, Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between inflammatory factors and hepatocarcinoma stem cells markers CD90 and CD133. RESULTS: The expression levels of IL-6, MCP-1 and TGF-ß of HCC tissues in liver cancer model group were significantly higher than those in the control group and the sham operation group. The expression levels of CD90 and CD133 of tissues in the liver cancer model group were significantly higher than those in the control group and the sham operation group. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). By inhibiting related inflammatory factors, the growth, migration and invasion of liver cancer cells were significantly inhibited, and apoptosis was promoted. Correlation analysis results showed that the expression changes of IL-6, MCP-1 and TGF-ß were significantly positively correlated with CD90 up-regulation (p<0.05), while the expression changes of IL-6, MCP-1 and TGF-ß were significantly positively correlated with CD133 up-regulation (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory factors IL-6, MCP-1 and TGF-ß are closely related to hepatocarcinoma stem cells, which play an important role in promoting the occurrence and deterioration of liver cancer.

Circ_0005276 aggravates the development of epithelial ovarian cancer by targeting ADAM9.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the relationship between circ_0005276 and clinical features of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and to illustrate the regulatory effect of circ_0005276 on migratory potential in EOC cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: EOC tissues and adjacent normal ones were collected from 49 EOC patients. Relative levels of circ_0005276 and ADAM9 in EOC tissues were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between circ_0005276 and clinical features of EOC patients was analyzed. Moreover, migratory potentials of CAOV3 and SKOV3 cells affected by circ_0005276 were examined by transwell and wound healing assay. Regulatory effects of circ_0005276/ADAM9 feedback loop on the development of EOC were finally detected by Luciferase assay and rescue experiments. RESULTS: It was found that circ_0005276 was upregulated in EOC tissues and its level was positively linked to rates of lymphatic metastasis and distant metastasis in EOC patients. Survival analysis showed worse OS and DFS in EOC patients expressing a high level of circ_0005276 than those with a low level. Besides, knockdown of circ_0005276 attenuated migratory potentials in EOC cells. ADAM9 was verified to be the target gene binding circ_0005276, and its level was positively regulated by circ_0005276. Notably, circ_0005276 aggravated the development of EOC by targeting ADAM9. CONCLUSIONS: Circ_0005276 is highly expressed in EOC tissues, and its level is positively linked to metastasis. Serving as an unfavorable gene in the prognosis of EOC, circ_0005276 aggravates the development of EOC by upregulating ADAM9.

Correlations of hsa_circ_0046264 expression with onset, pathological stage and chemotherapy resistance of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations of hsa_circ_0046264 expression with the onset, pathological stage, and chemotherapy resistance of lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Firstly, gene expression profiling microarrays were applied to screen the differentially expressed circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs) in the tumor tissues of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Secondly, quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) assay was adopted to further verify the circRNAs with significant differences. Thirdly, the correlations of hsa_circ_0046264 expression level with the clinical features of NSCLC patients were explored via statistical analysis. Fourthly, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were utilized to investigate the influence of hsa_circ_0046264 expression level on the survival of the patients. Finally, the role of hsa_circ_0046264 in the process of lung cancer was probed using in vitro experimental methods. RESULTS: It was shown in the results of gene microarray assay that hsa_circ_0046264 was the most prominently upregulated gene, and RT-qPCR assay further proved that hsa_circ_0046264 expression was upregulated remarkably in the tissues of tumor patients. Clinical analysis indicated that the expression level of hsa_circ_0046264 was notably associated with the patient's age, tumor size, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and lymph node metastasis (p<0.01). In addition, Kaplan-Meier statistical analysis manifested that the patients in hsa_circ_0046264 low-expression group had a markedly longer survival than those in hsa_circ_0046264 high-expression group. In the tumor tissues and serum of the patients, the area under ROC curve of hsa_circ_0046264 was 0.971 and 0.915, the specificity was 0.973 and 0.957, and the sensitivity was 0.951 and 0.927, while the Youden Index was 0.924 and 0.884 respectively. The results of Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay revealed that the proliferative ability of lung cancer A549 cells was significantly enhanced at 36, 48, and 72 h in hsa_circ_0046264 overexpression group. According to the results of wound-healing assay, the migratory ability of A549 cells was distinctly strengthened in hsa_circ_0046264 overexpression group compared with that in the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, the transwell assay results pointed out that the invasive ability of A549 cell lines at 48 h after overexpression of hsa_circ_0046264 was evidently stronger than that in control group (p<0.05). Under the stimulation of different doses of cisplatin, hsa_circ_0046264 overexpression group had a clearly raised survival rate of A549 cells in comparison with control group, and the differences in data were statistically significant (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Hsa_circ_0046264 may serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis and a possible therapeutic target of lung cancer.

MiR-19 enhances pancreatic cancer progression by targeting PTEN through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal expression of micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) has become an important marker of cancer. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of miRNAs were not very clear. Here, we decided to investigate the miR-19 effect and molecular mechanism on pancreatic cancer, which was blank until now. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was applied for testing miR-19 and gene of phosphate and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) expression. Western blot was used for detecting the protein expression. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and transwell assay were carried out to measure cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. RESULTS: We showed that miR-19 expression was increased in cancerous tissues and was associated with the survival of patients, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis. MiR-19 mimic enhanced cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, while suppressing miR-19 cell progression was suppressed. With the help of TargetScanHuman and luciferase reporter assay, we verified PTEN as a specific target of miR-19. Moreover, PTEN expression was reduced by miR-19 mimic and was increased by miR-19 inhibitor. We next found that PTEN was elevated in cancerous tissues and its expression was negatively correlated with miR-19 expression. Furthermore, miR-19 regulated cell progression via activating phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that miR-19 facilitated cell progression through modulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by targeting PTEN, which provided a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer patients.

LncRNA SNHG7 contributes to cell proliferation, invasion and prognosis of cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in the development of various cancers. However, the function of lncRNA SNHG7 in cervical cancer remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of lncRNA SNHG7 in cervical cancer and to explore the possible underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of lncRNA SNHG7 in 60 cervical cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assays were used to study the effects of lncRNA SNHG7 on the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells, respectively. Furthermore, Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of proteins in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. RESULTS: LncRNA SNHG7 expression increased significantly in cervical cancer tissues. The inhibition of lncRNA SNHG7 expression markedly inhibited cervical cell proliferation and invasion. Meanwhile, the inhibition of lncRNA SNHG7 resulted in the increased protein expression level of E-cadherin, and decreased protein expressions of N-cadherin and Vimentin. In addition, the survival time of patients with high expression of lncRNA SNHG7 was remarkably shortened. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA SNHG7 contributes to cell proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer. Moreover, SNHG7 has emerged as an independent and significant factor associated with poor survival of cervical cancer patients.

High expression of XRCC5 is associated with metastasis through Wnt signaling pathway and predicts poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Metastasis is one of the main causes of leading recurrence and death in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). XRCC5 can affect several types of human cancers. The aim of the present study is to explore the metastasis correlation between the expression level of XRCC5 protein in HCC cell lines with different metastatic potentials and the prognosis of patients with HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines used in this study include MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L, HepG2, and HL-7702. RESULTS: XRCC5 was widely expressed in HCC cell lines analyzed by Real-Time Reverse Transcription PCR and Western blotting. The levels of XRCC5 protein and mRNA were positively correlated with the migration and invasion capability of HCC cell lines. SiRNA-XRCC5 significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of HCC cells. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results showed that high-expressed XRCC5 in patients with HCC was associated with advanced tumors, size, and microvascular invasion and lower overall survival time than the low-expressed. The expression levels of CTNNB1 and MMP9 decreased by knocked down XRCC5 which may promote the progression of HCC via the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the high expression of XRCC5 predicts poor prognosis in patients with HCC, and XRCC5 may be a potential biomarker to inhibit the invasion and migration of HCC.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00641 promotes cell growth and migration through modulating miR-378a/ZBTB20 axis in acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: Many researchers have revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) acted as modulators in tumor biology. LncRNA LINC00641 (LINC00641), a newly discovered tumor-related lncRNA, has been reported to act as a modulator in several tumors. Hence, our study aimed to examine the expression and function of LINC00641 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression pattern of LINC00641 in AML specimens and cell lines was explored using a gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) tool and RT-PCR assays. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, transwell migration, and invasion assays were used for the functional study of cell viability, cell migration, and invasion. The influence of LINC00641 on cell cycle and apoptosis was determined using Flow cytometry detection. The regulating associations between LINC00641, miR-378a, and ZBTB20 were investigated in AML cells using the Luciferase reporter assays and RT-PCR assays RESULTS: We found that LINC00641 was highly expressed in AML specimens and cell lines. Functionally, the silence of LINC00641 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle arrest in AML cells while inducing their apoptosis. The results using bioinformatics assays predicted the complementary binding sites within LINC00641 and miR-378a, which was demonstrated by the use of the Luciferase reporter assays. In addition, we also demonstrated that ZBTB20 was a direct target of miR-378a. Moreover, the inhibition of miR-378a could rescue the ZBTB20 protein level decrease induced by LINC00641 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS: We firstly identified LINC00641 as a novel AML-related lncRNA whose knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoted apoptosis by modulating miR-378a/ZBTB20 axis in AML.

Comparative transcriptome analyses of adzuki bean weevil (Callosobruchus chinensis) response to hypoxia and hypoxia/hypercapnia.

Stored product insects show high adaption to hypoxia and hypercapnia, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Herein, a comparative transcriptome on 4th adzuki bean weevil (Callosobruchus chinensis) instar larvae was studied to clarify the response mechanisms to hypoxia (HA) and hypoxia/hypercapnia (HHA) using NextSeq500 RNA-Seq. Transcript profiling showed a significant difference in HA or HHA exposure both quantitatively and qualitatively. Compared with control, 631 and 253 genes were significantly changed in HHA and HA, respectively. Comparing HHA with HA, 1135 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The addition of hypercapnia made a complex alteration on the hypoxia response of bean weevil transcriptome, carbohydrate, energy, lipid and amino acid metabolism were the most highly enriched pathways for genes significantly changed. In addition, some biological processes that were not significantly enriched but important were also discussed, such as immune system and signal transduction. Most of the DEGs related to metabolism both in HHA and HA were up-regulated, while the DEGs related to the immune system, stress response or signal transduction were significantly down-regulated or suppressed. This research reveals a comparatively full-scale result in adzuki bean weevil hypoxia and hypoxia/hypercapnia tolerance mechanism at transcription level, which might provide new insights into the genomic research of this species.

LncRNA TUG1 promotes osteoarthritis-induced degradation of chondrocyte extracellular matrix via miR-195/MMP-13 axis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease characterized by articular cartilage degradation. Long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) plays important roles in a series of biological processes, but its role in osteoarthritis is still not quite clear. This study aims to investigate the regulatory role of taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) in osteoarthritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of lncRNA-TUG1 in cartilages of patients with osteoarthritis and those of normal people was compared using Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Primary chondrocytes were induced by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), followed by expression detection of lncRNA-TUG1, microRNA-195 (miR-195), and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13). In addition, in vitro regulatory roles of lncRNA-TUG1 and miR-195 in osteoarthritis were verified by transfection of lncRNA-TUG1 and miR-195 plasmids. The dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay was performed to analyze the secretion and formation of soluble sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG). RESULTS: The expression levels of lncRNA-TUG1 and MMP-13 in cartilages of patients with osteoarthritis were higher than those in cartilages of normal people, while the level of miR-195 decreased in cartilages of patients with osteoarthritis. After chondrocytes were induced by IL-1ß and TNF-α, the expression of lncRNA-TUG1 increased. Overexpression of lncRNA-TUG1 decreased the expressions of miR-195, collagen, and aggrecan, but increased the expression of MMP-13. LncRNA-TUG1 knockdown obtained the opposite results. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA-TUG1 regulates the degradation of extracellular matrix in osteoarthritis via lncRNA-TUG1/miR-195/MMP-13 axis.

What we do and do not know about women and kidney diseases; Questions unanswered and answers unquestioned: Reflection on World Kidney Day and International Woman's Day.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 10% of the world's adult population; it is within the top 20 causes of death worldwide, and its impact on patients and their families can be devastating. World Kidney Day and International Women's Day in 2018 coincide, thus offering an opportunity to reflect on the importance of women's health and specifically their kidney health, on the community, and the next generations, as well as to strive to be more curious about the unique aspects of kidney disease in women so that we may apply those learnings more broadly. Girls and women, who make up approximately 50% of the world's population, are important contributors to society and their families. Gender differences continue to exist around the world in access to education, medical care, and participation in clinical studies. Pregnancy is a unique state for women, which not only offers an opportunity for diagnosis of kidney disease, but also states where acute and chronic kidney diseases may manifest, and which may impact future generations with respect to kidney health. There are various autoimmune and other conditions that are more likely to impact women with profound consequences for childbearing, and on the fetus. Women have different complications on dialysis than men and are more likely to be donors than recipients of kidney transplants. In this editorial, we focus on what we do and do not know about women, kidney health, and kidney disease and what we might learn in the future to improve outcomes worldwide.

Tuning the catalytic activity of colloidal noble metal nanocrystals by using differently charged surfactants.

The catalytic activity of metal nanocrystals is mainly tuned through the control of their shapes and sizes. However, the shapes and sizes of many metal nanocrystals are difficult to control and therefore their catalytic activity is hard to tune. Here, we demonstrate another approach, using differently charged surfactants, for tuning the catalytic activity of metal nanocrystals. Au and Pd nanocrystals capped with cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic citrate are chosen to study the effect of surfactant charges on the catalytic activity. The oxidation of o-phenylenediamine to 2,3-diaminophenazine by H2O2 is selected as a model reaction. The prepared Au and Pd nanocrystals are initially capped with CTAB, which is changed to citrate through surfactant exchange. Owing to the relatively weak electrostatic interaction of CTAB with the nanocrystals, the surfactant exchange does not induce observable changes in nanocrystal shapes and sizes. In contrast, the catalytic activity is greatly improved by the surfactant exchange. XPS analysis and theoretical calculations indicate that the adsorption of anionic citrate enriches the electrons of the nanocrystal surfaces, while the adsorption of CTAB depletes the electrons of the nanocrystal surfaces. The different catalytic activities of CTAB and citrate-capped nanocrystals arise from the different behaviors of electron transfer between the surfactants and the nanocrystal surface. Since the surfacants that electrostatically bind to the metal nanocrystals are facile to exchange into other surfactants, our findings provide an effective way to tuning the catalytic activity of metal nanocrystals.

A novel mutation of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-like protein-6 in a family with suspicious idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) occurs in a broad spectrum of cardiac pathologies and is an important cause of mortality in the general population. Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) is a rare but important factor resulting in SCD. It is diagnosed in a resuscitated cardiac arrest victim underlying unknown cause, with documented ventricular fibrillation. Previous studies have demonstrated that mutations in dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-like protein-6 (DPP6) and cardiac sodium channel Nav1.5 (SCN5A) are the most important genetic factors involve in IVF. AIM: By using whole sequencing to identify the genetic lesion of a family with suspicious idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. DESIGN: Prospective genetic study. METHODS: In this study, we employed whole-exome sequencing in combination with arrhythmia-related gene filtering to identify the genetic lesion for a family suffering from suspicious IVF, syncope and SCD. We then generated the plasmids of DPP6-pcDNA3.1+ (WT and c.1578G>C/p.Q526H). Kv4.3-pcDNA3.1+ was co-transfected together with/without DPP6-pcDNA3.1+ (WT and/or c.1578G>C/p.Q526H) into HEK293 cells to perform the patch clamp experiments. RESULTS: A novel missense mutation (c.1578G>C/p.Q526H) of DPP6 was identified and co-segregated with affected patients in this family. Patch clamp experiments suggested that this novel mutation might result in a gain of function and disturb the efflux of potassium ion. CONCLUSION: Our study not only reported the second missense mutation of DPP6 in heart disease and expanded the spectrum of DPP6 mutations, but also contribute to the genetic diagnosis and counseling of families with suspicious IVF, syncope and SCD.