The deubiquitinase USP34 stabilizes SOX2 and induces cell survival and drug resistance in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Recent studies showed that the deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific protease 34 (USP34) was involved in the tumorigenesis of several tumors, but its function and mechanism are still unclear in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). In this study, we found that USP34 and SOX2 were elevated in LSCC tumor tissues, and we also found that USP34 expression was positively correlated with SOX2 expression. Our further studies showed that USP34 regulated the protein level of SOX2 in LSCC cells, but not the mRNA level, which suggested that USP34 stabilized SOX2. Moreover, USP34, as a deubiquitinase, could interact with SOX2, and reduce the polyubiquitination of SOX2. In addition, knockdown of USP34 could significantly inhibit LSCC cell growth, but overexpression of SOX2 could reverse this effect. Finally, we also found that USP34 and SOX2 were upregulated in cisplatin-resistant LSCC cells, but knockdown of USP34 could enhance the drug sensitivity of cisplatin in the resistant cells. Collectively, targeting USP34/SOX2 axis may be a promising strategy for the treatment of LSCC.

Electrochemical oxidation and advanced oxidation processes using a 3D hexagonal Co3O4 array anode for 4-nitrophenol decomposition coupled with simultaneous CO2 conversion to liquid fuels via a flower-like CuO cathode.

A novel electrocatalytic system was developed to realize one-pot conversion of organic pollutants into liquid fuels such as methanol (CH3OH) and ethanol (C2H5OH). The process combines the catalytic oxidation of organic pollutants with electrocatalytic reduction of CO2. We first coupled the electrocatalytic process with SO4•--based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) using a 3D-hexagonal Co3O4 anode. In this step, 4-NP was mineralized to CO2, and then the CO2 was converted to CH3OH and C2H5OH by electrocatalytic reduction using a flower-like CuO cathode. The experimental results show the destruction of 4-NP (60 mL, 10 mg/L) can be as high as 99%. In addition, the yields of CH3OH and C2H5OH were 98.29 µmol/L and 40.95 µmol/L, respectively, which represents a conversion of 41.8% of 4-NP into liquid fuels; the electron efficiency was 73.1%. In addition, we found that 3D-hexagonal arrays of Co3O4 with different morphologies can be obtained by adding different amounts of urea. We also investigated the formation mechanism of novel 3D-hexagonal Co3O4 arrays for the first time. A mechanism was proposed to explain the electrocatalytic steps involved in the conversion of 4-NP to CH3OH and C2H5OH and the synergetic effects between AOPs and electrocatalysis.

[Clinical analysis of allergic rhinitis in children between 1 and 3 years of age].

OBJECTIVE: To study the atopy spectrum and its related factors in 1 to 3 years old children with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Ninety-six children with allergic rhinitis, aged between 1 and 3 years old, referred to ENT department of Beijing Children's Hospital between August 2009 and November 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Data were recorded for patients' age, age stratification, sex, the age of first symptom, the duration of history, and the allergic history of children, the allergic history of parents. The screening tests on inhalant and food allergens were conducted by immunoblot assay using the Allergy Screen system. The total serum IgE level was also measured. The distribution of the inhalant and food allergens was summarized. The influence of the clinical characteristics was analyzed according to the age subgroup determined by month, allergen category and positiveness of eczema or asthma. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship of clinical characteristics and allergen spectrum. RESULTS: The total positive rates of allergic screening test rate were 81.3%. The inhalant and food allergens were 62.5% and 53.1% respectively. The commonest allergy was mixed fungal (50.0%), followed by milk (34.4%), lamb (31.3%), beef (26.0%), dust mite (21.0%), wheat (18.8%), mugwort (12.5%), egg white or egg yolk (11.5%).62.5% of patients could be diagnosed as AR, the remaining could be diagnosed temporarily as non-allergic rhinitis temporarily. Single factor analysis of clinical characteristics in different subgroup determined by month showed that: inhalant allergen (positive/negative) (χ2=13.699, P=0.001), father suffered from AR (χ2=14.060, P=0.001), and father or mother suffered from AR (χ2=7.396, P=0.025) were statistically significant at three monthly age groups. The personal history of eczema (OR=3.143, P=0.034) might increase the possibility of sensitization to allergens. The personal history of eczema (OR=3.125, P=0.015) and the total serum IgE level>200 IU/ml (OR=3.119, P=0.030) might increase the possibility of sensitization to inhalant allergens. No clinical features for food allergen sensitization was statistically significant. There was no significant difference in positive rates between inhalant and food allergens groups. The presence of inhalant allergens (OR=3.594, P=0.046), insect bites dermatitis (OR=11.941, P=0.002) were the risk factors for positiveness of eczema or asthma, and the father with AR (OR=0.251, P=0.040) as protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalant and food allergens all can be sensitized in the children with AR symptoms between 1 to 3 years old, and the positive rate of inhalant group is slightly higher. The differences of the inhalant allergen (positive/negative) and father suffered from AR are statistically significant at three monthly age groups. The history of eczema is the risk factor for allergen screening positive. Serum total IgE>200 IU/ml and eczema history are risk factors for inhalant allergen screening positive. The factors of inhalant allergens, insect bites dermatitis and father suffered from AR relate to any positive of eczema or asthma.

A new registration method for three-dimensional knee nearthrosis model using two X-ray images.

The purpose of this study is to develop a method to analyse the pose of the knee nearthrosis mounted and to automate the registration procedure for easy use in clinical applications. The proposed registration method is essentially a model-based method, in which the CAD model is acquired by reverse engineering. The CAD model is converted into a two-dimensional (2D) image by a rendering technique, and the compatibility of the X-ray image and the image of the CAD model is investigated. To avoid the optimisation of six unknown parameters with respect to the relative pose between the condyle and tibial models, a 2D coordinate system is set on each component of the X-ray images. A 3D coordinate system is also set on each of the two nearthrosis components. With such a setup, there is only one unknown rotational angle on each component, which is determined by an optimum algorithm in accordance with the contour error between the X-ray image and the image of the CAD model. Extensive computer simulation and in vitro experiments using real X-ray images have been implemented to investigate the feasibility of the proposed registration method.