Erratum: MiR-4295 promotes cell growth in bladder cancer by targeting BTG1.

[This corrects the article on p. 4892 in vol. 8, PMID: 27904689.].

Levels and distributions of organochlorine pesticides in the soil-groundwater system of vegetable planting area in Tianjin City, Northern China.

To study the influence of long-term pesticide application on the distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the soil-groundwater system, 19 soil samples and 19 groundwater samples were collected from agricultural area with long-term pesticide application history in Northern China. Results showed that the composition of OCPs changed significantly from soil to groundwater. For example, ∑DDT, ∑HCH, and ∑heptachlor had high levels in the soil and low levels in the groundwater; in contrast, endrin had low level in the soil and high level in the groundwater. Further study showed that OCP distribution in the soil was significantly influenced by its residue time, soil organic carbon level, and small soil particle contents (i.d. <0.0002 mm). Correlation analysis also indicates that the distribution of OCPs in the groundwater was closely related to the levels of OCPs in the soil layer, which may act as a pollution source.

MiR-4295 promotes cell growth in bladder cancer by targeting BTG1.

microRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to contribute to tumor progression and metastasis, and have been proposed to be key regulators of diverse biological processes. In this study, we report that miR-4295 is deregulated in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. To characterize the role of miR-4295 in bladder cancer cells, we performed functional assays. The overexpression of miR-4295 significantly promoted bladder cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration. Moreover, its downregulation induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter assay and rescue experiment indicated that miR-4295 directly targets BTG1 by binding its 3'UTR. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that miR-4295 acts as an oncogene and may be a potential biomarker for bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Impact of Corneal Endothelial Dysfunctions on Intraocular Oxygen Levels in Human Eyes.

PURPOSE: We studied the implications of corneal endothelial dysfunctions on oxidative stress in the anterior segment via in vivo measurements of oxygen partial pressure (pO2) in the anterior chamber (AC) of human eyes. METHODS: We recruited 51 patients undergoing cataract surgery and/or endothelial keratoplasty (EK). Endothelial cell density (ECD; n = 33) and central corneal thickness (CCT; n = 41) were measured on patients with relatively clear corneas. Before surgery, an oxygen sensor was introduced into the AC via a peripheral corneal paracentesis. In all patients, seven measurements of pO2 were obtained by positioning the flexible tip near the endothelium at the central cornea, at four cardinal subendothelial locations near the midperipheral cornea, and in the mid-AC and AC angle. In patients with pseudophakia or eyes undergoing cataract surgery, pO2 also was measured near the lens surface and in the posterior chamber. RESULTS: Consistent with our previous reports, a steep oxygen gradient was noted in the anterior segment of normal controls (n = 24). In patients with endothelial dysfunctions (n = 27), there was a significant increase of pO2 at all five subendothelial locations without a significant increase of pO2 in the AC angle. By regression analyses, subendothelial pO2 correlated inversely with ECD and positively with CCT in patients with endothelial dysfunctions. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates an even steeper intraocular oxygen gradient in eyes with corneal endothelial dysfunctions. It suggests that the reduced oxygen consumption in corneal endothelial cells may increase oxidative stress in the AC and the existence of an alternative aqueous inflow pathway that maintains a relatively low and constant pO2 at the AC angle.

Using Three-Dimensional Fluorescence Spectrum Technology to Analyze the Effects of Natural Dissolved Organic Matter on the Pesticide Residues in the Soil.

The behavior of pesticide in soil is influenced by dissolved organic matter (DOM) through competition adsorption, adsorption, solubilization, accelerated degradation, and so on. Thus DOM and its components play an important role in the environmental risk in the soil ecosystem and groundwater environment. Currently, most studies focused on the short-term effect of high concentration of DOM on the pesticide residues. However, soil DOM is mainly at low level. Therefore, there is of some practical significance to probe into the environmental behavior of soil pesticides under natural level of DOM. Thus a site investigation was conducted in the farmland with long-term application history of pesticide. By using the three dimensional excitation-emission fluorescence matrix (3D-EEM) technology, together with the fluorescence regional integration (FRI) quantitative method, the long-term effects of pesticide residues under low concentration of natural DOM were analyzed. Results showed that: (1) The long-term effects of the natural DOM components on the environment behavior of most soil organochlorine pesticides were not significant except for a few pesticides such as y-HCH, p, p'-DDE, etc. (2) The influencing effects of DOM components on different type of pesticides were varied. Among which, the content of tyrosine component showed a significantly negative correlation (p < 0.05) with the concentration of y-HCH and p, p'-DDE. There were significant positive correlations (p < 0.05) between the byproducts of microbial degradation in DOM components and the concentration of heptachlor. There were also a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the content of active humus component of humic acid in the DOM and the concentration of heptachlor epoxide. These results suggested that the distribution of different types of pesticides residue in the soil was influenced by different components at different levels of significance. (3) The humification degree of soil organic matter showed minor effect of DOM on the pesticide residues in the soil. In this study, 3D-EEM and FRI technology were firstly coupled in use for studying the influence of different components of DOM in soil on the environmental behavior of pesticides, which provides a new idea for the research on the mechanism of pesticides transportation and transformation in soil and groundwater environment.

Analysis of spatial distribution characteristics of dissolved organic matter in typical greenhouse soil of northern China using three dimensional fluorescence spectra technique and parallel factor analysis model.

The aim of the present work is to study the soil DOM characteristics in the vegetable greenhouse with a long-term of cultivation. Results showed that the soil DOM mainly consisted of three components, fulvic acid-like (C1), humic acid-like (C2) and protein-like (C3), with C1 as the majority one. The distribution of DOM in space was also studied. In vertical direction, C1 and C2 decreased significantly with the increase in soil depth, while C3 component decreased after increased. The humification coefficient decreased fast from 0-20 to 30-40 cm, and then increased from 30-40 to 40-50 cm. In the horizontal direction, the level of C2 component varied greatly in space, while that of C1 component changed little, and that of C3 component fell in between the above two. The change in the humification degree of each soil layer significantly varied spatially. Humification process of soil organic matter mainly occurred in the surface soil layer. In addition, the humification degree in space also changed significantly. The new ideas of this study are: (1) Analyze the composition and spatial heterogeneity of soil DOM in the vegetable greenhouse; (2) Use three dimensional fluorescence spectra technology and parallel factor analysis model successfully to quantify the components of soil DOM, which provides a new method for the soil DOM analysis.

Primary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the penis: a case report.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma involving the penis is extremely rare. Here, we describe a case of primary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the penis in a 64-year-old man who presented with a palpable penile mass. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of a large, round non-encapsulated mass in the perineum. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the pelvis showed that the mass was located in the tunica albuginea and corpora cavernosa at the base of the penis. The mass encased the urethra and demonstrated no marked enhancement during the arterial phase. The patient underwent successful surgical resection of the tumor. Histologically, the tumor was composed primarily of neoplastic plasma cells that were positive for CD38, vimentin and Ki 67. Postoperatively, the patient recovered well and exhibited no evidence of development of multiple myeloma, local recurrence or distant metastasis at 2 months post-surgery. To the best of our knowledge, our case represents the first documented case of human primary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the penis.

A unique TGFBI protein in granular corneal dystrophy types 1 and 2.

PURPOSE: Types 1 and 2 granular corneal dystrophies (GCD) are primarily associated with accumulation of the R555W and R124H mutant transforming growth factor ß-inducible proteins (TGFBIp) in corneal stroma, respectively. However, specific components of TGFBIp responsible for granular deposits have not been delineated. This study was undertaken to identify the mutant TGFBIp components potentially responsible for GCD. METHODS: Recombinant TGFBIp of wild-type (WT) and three mutants, R124C, R124H, and R555W, were generated in HEK293FT cells. WT and TGFBIp mutants were collected from cell lysates. Immunoblot analyses were performed with five different antibodies directed against various regions of WT TGFBIp. RESULTS: WT and TGFBIp mutants showed differential reactivities with these antibodies. In contrast to our prior observation in purified WT and TGFBIp mutants, TGFBIp from cell lysates were less prone to polymerize. A unique 35 kD fragment was detected in cell lysates of R555W and R124H, but not in those of WT or R124C, by a commercial antibody raised against amino acids (a.a.) 199-406 of TGFBIp. CONCLUSIONS: Monomeric and polymeric WT and TGFBIp mutants were observed in vitro. The 35 kD fragment found only in R555W and R124H, but not in WT and R124C cell lysates, is likely a degraded TGFBIp derived from the central domain of these mutants and this fragment may be contributory to the nonamyloid granular deposits observed in GCD 1 and 2.

Unique TGFBI protein in lattice corneal dystrophy.

PURPOSE: Specific components of transforming growth factor-beta-induced protein (TGFBIp) responsible for amyloid deposits in lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) have not been delineated. LCD has been associated with various TGFBIp mutations such as R124C, L518P, and L527R. Using recombinant TGFBIp, this study was undertaken to identify TGFBIp components potentially contributing to the protein deposits in LCD. METHODS: Recombinant wild-type (WT) TGFBIp and four mutants (R124C, R124H, L518P, and L527R) were generated in HEK293FT cells. WT and mutant TGFBIp were collected from crude cell lysates or purified from culture media. Immunoblot analyses were performed with four different anti-TGFBIp antibodies raised against various regions of TGFBIp. RESULTS: Consistent with the authors' previous findings, purified recombinant proteins are more prone to polymerize than crude cell lysates. As expected, all monomers and polymers of TGFBIp WT and mutants were detected by these antibodies. However, the authors noted WT and TGFBIp mutants showed differential reactivities with these antibodies. A 47-kDa band was detected in purified 2-tag proteins of L518P by all four antibodies. A unique 43-kDa band was detected in both 1-tag cell lysates and purified proteins of R124C by the authors' custom-made antibody (KE50) and a commercial anti-TGFBIp. CONCLUSIONS: Based on its universal reactivity with various antibodies, the authors surmise that the 47-kDa protein is a ubiquitous TGFBIp fragment derived from the N-terminus of the L518P mutant. The fact that the 43-kDa protein fragment was present primarily in R124C and R124H but not in WT implicates its potential role in the protein deposits of LCD.

[Effect of spironolactone on left ventricular remodeling in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of spironolactone on left ventricular remodeling (LVRM) in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: In this multicentric, randomized, controlled study, spironolactone 40 mg/d was randomly administered in addition to the routine treatment for patients with AMI. During the 6 months the serum PIIINP, BNP and echocardiography were examined in all patients to assess myocardial fibrosis, LV function and volume. RESULTS: A total of 88 AMI patients entered the study came from 4 hospitals in Shijiazhuang. There were 43 patients with anterior MI and 45 with inferior MI. In anterior MI group 23 patients received spironolactone and 20 accepted the routine treatment. In inferior MI group 23 received spironolactone and 22 accepted the routine treatment. In anterior MI group: (1) At 3rd, 6th month PIIINP and BNP serum levels were significantly lower in the spironolactone group compared with those in control group [PIIINP (260.2 +/- 59.9) vs (328.0 +/- 70.3) ng/L, P = 0.001, (197.1 +/- 46.3) vs (266.7 +/- 52.4) ng/L, P < 0.001], [BNP (347.4 +/- 84.0) vs (430.1 +/- 62.9) ng/L, P < 0.001, (243.7 +/- 79.7) vs (334.6 +/- 62.8) ng/L, P < 0.001]; (2) There were smaller LVEDD and LVESD in spironolactone group compared with those in control group after 6 months intervention [(51.0 +/- 5.5) vs (55.6 +/- 4.5) mm, P = 0.005, (35.7 +/- 4.6) vs (39.1 +/- 5.6) mm, P = 0.046]. However, in inferior MI group: (1) There were no significant differences in PIIINP and BNP values between the two groups after 6 months intervention; (2) There were no significant differences in the LVEDD, LVESD, LVEF after 6 months treatment. CONCLUSION: (1) In patients with anterior MI, spironolactone combined with the routine treatment could inhibit myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular dilation and prevent LVRM. (2) In patients with inferior MI, no significant difference in prevention of LVRM was found between the spironolactone combined with the routine treatment and the routine treatment alone.

[Effect of Wuling Powder on rats with renal hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Wuling Powder extract on rats with renal hypertension and to evaluate the influence of it on the volume of urine and the concentrations of Na(+), K(+), Cl(-). METHODS: Reformed Gold-blatt hypertension rat model (G-2K1C) was established. The rats were divided into 6 groups as follows: sham-operation group; model group, Wuling Powder high dosage group (80 g/kg), Wuling Powder middle dosage group (40 g/kg), Wuling Powder low dosage group (20 g/kg), and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) group (25 mg/kg). Urine volume of the rats was measured during the experiment. Tail arterial pressure and [Na(+)], [K(+)], [Cl(-)] in serum of the rats were detected after 30 days of treatment. RESULTS: The blood pressure of the G-2K1C rats was decreased in the three Wuling Powder groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but higher than that of the false-operation group (P<0.01), and there was no difference between each of the Wuling Powder groups and the HCT group (P>0.05). Diuretic effect of the three dosages of Wuling Powder was weaker than that of the HCT (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The effects of the three dosages of Wuling Powder and HCT on [Na(+)] and [Cl(-)] in the serum were not obviously different (P>0.05), but [K(+)] of the HCT group was significantly decreased compared with that of the false-operation group and the three Wuling Powder groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Wuling Powder extract had satisfying therapeutic effects in increasing the discharge of urine, decreasing the blood pressure and keeping the balance of the serum electrolyte contents in rats with renal hypertension.