miR-497 promotes the progression of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma through FAM114A2.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible role and mechanism of miR-497 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect miR-497 and FAM114A2 expression level in 38 cases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and 22 normal skin tissues as well as in CSCC cell lines (A431, HSC-5) and normal cells (HaCaT). MiR-497 effects on cell proliferation and cell cycle were examined by CCK8 assays and flow cytometry. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to detect the regulating relationship between miR-497 and FAM114A2. In addition, the expression of FAM114A2 after overexpression or knockdown of miR-497 was detected by Western blot to evaluate whether miR-497 could regulate proliferation and cell cycle by regulating the expression of FAM114A2. RESULTS: MiR-497mRNA expression in CSCC tissues and cell lines was markedly lower than that in normal tissues and cells. Meanwhile, FAM114A2 mRNA and protein levels in CSCC tissues were markedly higher when compared to than that in normal tissues. miR-497 overexpression or knockdown could inhibit or promote the cell proliferation and cell cycle of A431, HSC-5. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay suggested that FAM114A2 might be a direct target gene of miR-497, and that FAM114A2 expression had a significant negative correlation with miR-497. Overexpression of miR-497 could inhibit FAM114A2 protein expression. Besides, FAM114A2 knockdown reversed the inhibitory effect of low expression of miR-497 on proliferation rate of A431 or HSC-5 cells. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-497 was lowly expressed in squamous cell carcinoma tissues and cells, which can participate in the regulation of cell proliferation through FAM114A2, thus promoting the progression of CSCC.

Low expression of microRNA-21 inhibits trophoblast cell infiltration through targeting PTEN.

OBJECTIVE: We investigate whether microRNA-21 could increase the infiltration ability of trophoblast cells via regulating PTEN expression, thus participating in the occurrence and development of preeclampsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: MicroRNA-21 expression in the placenta tissues of preeclampsia women and normal pregnant women was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The effects of microRNA-21 on cell proliferation and infiltration were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay, respectively. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine the binding relationship between microRNA-21 and PTEN. Western blot was performed to detect PTEN and microRNA-21 in trophoblasts. RESULTS: QRT-PCR results showed that the microRNA-21 expression was significantly lower in the placenta of the preeclampsia women than those of normal pregnant women. Overexpression of microRNA-21 in HTR-8/SVneo cells had no effect on cell proliferation, but enhanced cell infiltration ability. Inhibition of microRNA-21 in trophoblasts showed the opposite effects. The results of luciferase activity assay and Western blot showed that microRNA-21 could target PTEN and downregulate its expression. Overexpression of PTEN in HTR-8/SVneo cells partially reversed the enhanced invasive ability induced by microRNA-21 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: Low expression of microRNA-21 attenuated cell infiltration of trophoblasts via direct regulating PTEN expression.

Wavefront aberration changes caused by a gradient of increasing accommodation stimuli.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the wavefront aberration changes in human eyes caused by a gradient of increasing accommodation stimuli. DESIGN: This is a prospective, single-site study. METHODS: Healthy volunteers (n=22) aged 18-28 years whose refraction states were emmetropia or mild myopia, with astigmatism <1 diopter (D), were included in this study. After dilating the right pupil with 0.5% phenylephrine drops, the wavefront aberration of the right eye was measured continuously either without or with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6D accommodation stimuli (WFA1000B psychophysical aberrometer). The root mean square (RMS) values of the total wavefront aberrations, higher-order aberrations, and 35 individual Zernike aberrations under different accommodation stimuli were calculated and compared. RESULTS: The average induced accommodations using 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6D accommodation stimuli were 0.848, 1.626, 2.375, 3.249, 4.181, or 5.085 D, respectively. The RMS of total wavefront aberrations, as well as higher-order aberrations, showed no significant effects with 1-3 D accommodation stimuli, but increased significantly under 4, 5, and 6 D accommodation stimuli compared with relaxed accommodation. Zernike coefficients of significantly decreased with increasing levels of accommodation. CONCLUSION: Higher-order wavefront aberrations in human eyes changed with increased accommodation. These results are consistent with Schachar's accommodation theory.

Communication: X-ray excited optical luminescence from TbCl3 at the giant resonance of terbium.

We have studied the optical recombination channels of TbCl(3) using x-ray excited optical luminescence at the N(4,5) absorption edge of Tb (giant resonance) in both the energy and time domain. The luminescence exhibits a relatively fast (5)D(3), and a slow (5)D(4) decay channel in the blue and green, respectively. The rather short lifetime of the (5)D(3) state indicates that the decay is mainly driven by Tb-Tb ion interaction via non-radiative energy transfer (cross-relaxation). At the giant resonance the X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) recorded using partial photoluminescence yield is inverted. In the pre-edge region the contrast of the spectral feature is significantly better in optical XANES than in total electron yield. Changes in the intensity of (5)D(3)-(7)F(5) (544 nm) and (5)D(4)-(7)F(6) (382 nm) optical transitions as the excitation energy is tuned across the giant resonance are also noted. The results provide detailed insight into the dynamics of the optical recombination channels and an alternative method to obtain high sensitivity, high energy resolution XANES at the giant resonance of light emitting rare-earth materials.

A nucleation site and mechanism leading to epitaxial growth of diamond films

A diamond nucleation site responsible for epitaxial growth of diamond on silicon by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is identified in high-resolution transmission electron microscopic images. Other sites in the same sample leading to polycrystalline growth, but deleterious to epitaxial CVD growth, are also described. A mechanism for the heteroepitaxial growth of diamond is suggested, in which etching of the nondiamond carbon binder exposes and removes nonadherent nanodiamond nuclei, leaving intact only those directly nucleated on the silicon substrate. This work enhances our understanding of diamond nucleation and heteroepitaxial growth and its potential applications.