CircMAN1A2 contributes to nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression via enhancing the ubiquitination of ATMIN through miR-135a-3p/UBR5 axis.

Recently, the dysregulation of circRNAs has been increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Among these circRNAs, circMAN1A2 has been highlighted for the up-regulated expression in NPC, whereas the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly established. Thus, the aim of this study was to delineate the tumor-supporting role of circMAN1A2 in the oncogenesis and metastases of NPC. We validated through qRT-PCR that circMAN1A2 was highly expressed in NPC tissues and NPC cells. Survival analysis through Kaplan-Meier method showed that the overall survival, disease-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival of patients was negatively correlated with the expression of circMAN1A2. Then, gain- and loss-of function assays demonstrated that circMAN1A2 knockdown could impede the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in NPC cells. Further, we conducted dual luciferase reporter gene, RIP, and RNA pull down assays, unveiling that circMAN1A2 functioned as a sponge of miR-135a-3p, and miR-135a-3p targeted UBR5. Additionally, UBR5 interacted with ATMIN to foster the ubiquitination of ATMIN, thereby expediting the malignant behaviors of NPC cells as well as the lung and inguinal lymph node metastases of NPC tumors in vivo. Together, our study uncovered the tumor-initiating and pro-metastatic role of circMAN1A2-miR-135a-3p-UBR5-ATMIN axis in NPC regulation that may be a potential therapeutic target for human NPC.

Demographic, Virological Characteristics and Prognosis of Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients in South China.

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic transmission is a major concern for SARS-CoV-2 community spread; however, little information is available on demographic, virological characteristics and prognosis of asymptomatic cases. METHODS: All COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Guangdong Province from September 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021, were included and were divided into asymptomatic and symptomaticgroup. The source country of all patients, clinical laboratory test results, the genotype of virus and the time of SARS-CoV-2 RNA turning negative or hospitalization were confirmed. RESULTS: Total 233 patients from 57 different countries or regions were included, with 83 (35.6%) asymptomatic and 150 (64.4%) symptomatic patients. Asymptomatic cases were younger (P = 0.019), lower rate in comorbidities (P = 0.021) such as hypertension (P = 0.083) and chronic liver disease (P = 0.045), lower PCT (P = 0.021), DDI (P < 0.001) and ALT (P = 0.029), but higher WBC count (P = 0.002) and lymphocyte (P = 0.011) than symptomatic patients. As for SARS-CoV-2 subtypes, patients infected with B.1.1 (53.8%), B.1.351 (81.8%) and B.1.524 (60%) are mainly asymptomatic, while infected with B, B.1, B.1.1.63, B.1.1.7, B.1.36, B.1.36.1, B.1.36.16, B.1.5 and B.6 were inclined to be symptomatic. Patients infected with variant B.1.351 and B.1.524 spent longer time in SARS-CoV-2 RNA turn negative (26 days, P = 0.085; 41 days, P = 0.007) and hospitalization (28 days, P = 0.085; 43 days, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The asymptomatic cases are prone to develop in patients with younger age, less comorbidities andinfected with B.1.1 and B.1.524 variants. More attention should be paid for lineage B.1.524 because it can significantly prolong the SARS-CoV-2 RNA negative conversion time and hospitalization in infected cases.

[Advantages and evidence of Chinese medicine in prevention and treatment of adult acute tonsillitis].

Though evaluation and analysis on the relevant literatures at home and abroad in recent years, the total number of retrieved literature was 2 664. According to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria,the literatures were screened out, and the results were as follows：374 literatures. To analyse the advantages and evidence of Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of adult acute tonsillitis. It is found to be effective, convenient and practical for the treatment of acute tonsillitis by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) like treatment according to syndrome differentiation, Chinese patent drug, self Chinese medicine prescription and external treatment. TCM has obvious advantages in the prevention and treatment of acute tonsillitis, has the function of supplementing or substituting antibiotics, and has the function of regulating the defense function of organism.

[Effects of valsartan and U0126 on atrial fibrosis and connexin40 remodeling in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of valsartan and MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 on atrial fibrosis and connexin40 (Cx40) remodeling in rats treated with isoproterenol (ISO). METHODS: 32 male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (A), ISO (5 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1) for 7 days) + DMSO group (B), ISO + U0126 (0.5 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1) for 28 days) group (C, U0126 was dissolved in DMSO), ISO + valsartan (30 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1) for 28 days) + DMSO group (D). Rats were sacrificed after 28 days. The AngIIcontent in myocardial tissue was measured by radioimmunoassay, P-MEK1/2, P-ERK1/2 and Cx40 was detected by immunohistochemistry, atrial fibrosis was determined on HE and Masson stained heart sections. RESULTS: The content of AngII was significantly higher in group B, C and D compared with group A [(368.243 ± 6.283) ng/L, (357.175 ± 5.944) ng/L, (359.908 ± 2.496) ng/L vs (250.380 ± 4.261) ng/L, P < 0.01]; the degree of atrial fibrosis was significantly lower in group C and D compared with group B [CVF(10.260 ± 0.525)%, (10.238 ± 0.524)% vs (78.710 ± 1.587)%, P < 0.01] while there was no atrial fibrosis in group A [CVF(9.025 ± 0.456)%]; the expression of P-MEK1/2 and P-ERK1/2 was significantly upregulated in group B compared with group A (P-MEK1/2: 0.311 ± 0.007 vs 0.203 ± 0.009, P < 0.01; P-ERK1/2: 0.259 ± 0.003 vs 0.173 ± 0.006, P < 0.01) and significantly lower in group C and D compared with group B (P-MEK1/2: 0.212 ± 0.004, 0.213 ± 0.005 vs 0.311 ± 0.007, P < 0.01, P-ERK1/2: 0.178 ± 0.004, 0.175 ± 0.007 vs 0.259 ± 0.003, P < 0.01). The content of Cx40 was obviously reduced and the distribution of Cx40 was disordered in group B compared with A (0.199 ± 0.007 vs 0.241 ± 0.004, P < 0.01) which could be partly reversed in group C and D (0.239 ± 0.037, 0.235 ± 0.006 vs 0.199 ± 0.007, P < 0.01). All parameters in group C and D were similar (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The chronically elevated AngII content in myocardium may be related to atrial fibrosis and Cx40 remodeling in this model, valsartan and U0126 were equivalent on attenuating atrial fibrosis and Cx40 remodeling by inhibiting ERK pathways at different levels.

[Cohort study on fuzheng capsule and quxie capsule in reducing relapse and metastasis of cancer in patients with stage II and III colorectal carcinoma after operation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Fuzheng Capsule (FC) and Quxie Capsule (QC) in reducing relapse and metastasis of colorectal cancer in stage II and III after the cancer had been treated by radical operation and succedent routine radiotherapy and chemotherapy. METHODS: A prospective cohort controlled study was conducted in 101 patients with colorectal cancer in stage II and III after radical operation and routine radiotherapy and chemotherapy, among whom 53 patients were treated with FC and QC and 48 were given no treatment, they were followed up regularly. The rate and time of relapse and metastasis were observed after 1, 2 and 3 years. RESULTS: One-year, 2-year and 3-year relapse-metastasis rate was 0, 2.7% and 14.8% respectively in the treated group, and 6.2% , 24.2% and 30.8% in the control group. Significant difference was found only in the 2-year rate between the two groups (chi-squared = 5.428, P < 0.05). Average time of relapse and metastasis was 26.2 +/- 4.5 months in the treated group and 14.2 +/- 4.2 months in the control group, showing significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: FC and QC applying in the succedent consolidating treatment for stage II and III colorectal cancer after radical operation might be favourable to reduce relapse and metastasis and improve quality of life, further clinical study with randomized and controlled method is worthwhile to be conducted.