Identification of fluorescence in situ hybridization assay markers for prediction of disease progression in prostate cancer patients on active surveillance

BACKGROUND

Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the second most prevalent cancer among U.S. males. In recent decades many men with low risk PCa have been over diagnosed and over treated. Given significant co-morbidities associated with definitive treatments, maximizing patient quality of life while recognizing early signs of aggressive disease is essential. There remains a need to better stratify newly diagnosed men according to the risk of disease progression, identifying, with high sensitivity and specificity, candidates for active surveillance versus intervention therapy. The objective of this study was to select fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panels that differentiate non-progressive from progressive disease in patients with low and intermediate risk PCa.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective case-control study to evaluate FISH biomarkers on specimens from PCa patients with clinically localised disease (T1c-T2c) enrolled in Watchful waiting (WW)/Active Surveillance (AS). The patients were classified into cases (progressed to clinical intervention within 10 years), and controls (did not progress in 10 years). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify the best 3-5 probe combinations. FISH parameters were then combined with the clinical parameters ─ National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NNCN) risk categories ─ in the logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Seven combinations of FISH parameters with the highest sensitivity and specificity for discriminating cases from controls were selected based on the ROC curve analysis. In the logistic regression model, these combinations contributed significantly to the prediction of PCa outcome. The combination of NCCN risk categories and FISH was additive to the clinical parameters or FISH alone in the final model, with odds ratios of 5.1 to 7.0 for the likelihood of the FISH-positive patients in the intended population to develop disease progression, as compared to the FISH-negative group.

CONCLUSIONS

Combinations of FISH parameters discriminating progressive from non-progressive PCa were selected based on ROC curve analysis. The combination of clinical parameters and FISH outperformed clinical parameters alone, and was complimentary to clinical parameters in the final model, demonstrating potential utility of multi-colour FISH panels as an auxiliary tool for PCa risk stratification. Further studies with larger cohorts are planned to confirm these findings.

Age-dependent effect of UV light in abnormal alpha neoprotein formation in the lens

The aim of this study was to determine whether or not alpha neoprotein formation can occur in the lens in response to a photolytic process. Alpha crystallin from young calf and aged bovine lenses was irradiated for up to 22 hours with UV light. After cortical alpha crystallin had been irradiated, it completely preserved its quaternary antigenic determinants. In contrast, 24.3% of the bovine nuclear alpha crystallin completely lost their quaternary determinants as a result of irradiation. The latter population of molecules still preserved the association of A chains with B chains, suggesting the formation of abnormal proteins. The exposure to UV irradiation can cause the formation of alpha neoproteins from aged but not from young alpha crystallin. Comparison of photolytic rates based on spectroscopic and chromatographic parameters also show an age-related increase in the susceptibility of alpha crystallin to photolyze. It is suggested that this increase is due to the age-related formation of a photosensitizer in alpha crystallin.

Expression of smoothened in mouse embryonic maxillofacial development

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling plays many key roles in the development of Drosophila and vertebrate embryos including regulation of craniofacial development. The seven-transmembrane protein, smoothened (Smo) transduces the Hh signal across the plasma membrane as an essential receptor of PTCHED1/2. There are few studies that evaluate the detailed expression of Smo in mouse embryonic craniofacial development. We investigated the expression patterns of Smo during murine embryonic craniofacial development using in situ hybridization (ISH), studies of whole-mounts and sections, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real time PCR, and Western blot analysis. We found that Smo mRNA was expressed in the face of mouse embryos at 11 and 12.5 days post coitum (dpc). After 13.5 dpc, the expression decreased to a low level and was faintly detected after birth. Smo protein could be detected also in embryos at 11, 12.5, and 14.5 dpc. After 15.5 dpc, the expression was very faint and paralleled the gene expression studies. No expression was detected in whisker follicle during facial development and faint signal was detected in Meckel's cartilage. These findings concerning Smo expression should guide further investigation of sonic Hh signaling pathway gene function during maxillofacial development.

Salmonella osteomyelitis in a previously healthy neonate: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Acute osteomyelitis, which is uncommon in neonates, needs to be quickly diagnosed and treated to avoid devastating sequelae. Therefore, it is important to maintain a high index of suspicion and be aware of the evolving epidemiology and of the emergence of antibiotic resistant and aggressive strains requiring careful monitoring and targeted therapy. The most frequently isolated bacterium in neonates with osteomyelitis is Staphylococcus aureus, while Salmonella is an unusual organism causing osteomyelitis and is exceedingly rare in non-sickle cell disease children.

Case presentation

We report an extremely rare case of neonatal osteomyelitis caused by Salmonella in a neonate, who was previously healthy. We report this case because it was caused by a rare pathogenic germ in newborns and by its non-specific presentation.

Conclusions

Salmonella should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of neonatal osteomyelitis. It is important to start antibiotic therapy as soon as possible and to adjust therapy in relation to the susceptibility of the bacterial strain.

A transfection method of PS-asODNs targeting ANGPTL4 in multicellular structures of hepatocarcinoma cell line

To find an efficient transfection method for metastatic cancer cells, we established a three-dimensional (3D) growth model for solid tumor cells to mimic the metastatic cancer cells in the vascular system and compared the efficiency of several transfection methods in vitro. We found that it was optimal to transfect two-dimensional cells in vitro and detach them for 3D growth 6 h later. The transfection efficiency of this method was high, and the results were reliable. This method can be used to deliver several types of small molecules into the 3D metastatic cell model. Using this method, we increased our understanding of why drugs that are effective in vitro cannot treat the disease in vivo. If this phenomenon occurs due to the resistance of the cells to the drug, other treatment agents for the disease must be identified. However, if this occurs because the agent cannot reach the cells inside the 3D aggregate, we can improve the delivery efficiency by using methods that target the agent to all cells. Briefly, the method introduced in this study will contribute to future research focusing on the 3D metastatic cell model as well as on drug development for various solid tumors.

Influence of rare-earth ions on SiO₂-Na₂O-RE₂O₃ glass structure

Praseodymium and europium sodium silicate glasses of nominal composition (SiO(2))(0.70 - x)(Na(2)O)(0.30)(RE(2)O(3))(x), where RE is the rare earth and 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10, were studied by neutron and high-energy x-ray scattering and classical molecular dynamics simulations. The observation of a significant x-ray intensity in doped as compared to un-doped glasses is indicative of RE-RE correlations at a distance of ∼ 3.7-3.9 Å, much shorter than would be expected for a homogeneous distribution, suggesting that clustering of the rare-earth cations occurs in both these glass systems at low concentrations. Above x = 0.075 (nominal), minimal changes in this region indicate that the RE atoms are incorporated much more randomly into the glass structure. The molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the rare-earth ions enter the sodium-rich regions in the sodium silicate glasses and act as modifiers. A cluster analysis performed on the model systems indicates that the tendency for clustering is higher in praseodymium-containing glasses than in the europium glasses.

Allelopathy and allelobiosis: efficient and economical alternatives in agroecosystems

Chemical interactions in plants often involve plant allelopathy and allelobiosis. Allelopathy is an ecological phenomenon leading to interference among organisms, while allelobiosis is the transmission of information among organisms. Crop failures and low yields caused by inappropriate management can be related to both allelopathy and allelobiosis. Therefore, research on these two phenomena and the role of chemical substances in both processes will help us to understand and upgrade agroecosystems. In this review, substances involved in allelopathy and allelobiosis in plants are summarized. The influence of environmental factors on the generation and spread of these substances is discussed, and relationships between allelopathy and allelobiosis in interspecific, intraspecific, plant-micro-organism, plant-insect, and mechanisms, are summarized. Furthermore, recent results on allelopathy and allelobiosis in agroecosystem are summarized and will provide a reference for the future application of allelopathy and allelobiosis in agroecosystem.

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 interventions on influenza-like illness in Beijing and Hong Kong: an observational and modeling study

BACKGROUND

The impact of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) related non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on influenza activity in the presence of other known seasonal driving factors is unclear, especially at the municipal scale. This study aimed to assess the impact of NPIs on outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) consultations in Beijing and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.

METHODS

We descriptively analyzed the temporal characteristics of the weekly ILI counts, nine NPI indicators, mean temperature, relative humidity, and absolute humidity from 2011 to 2021. Generalized additive models (GAM) using data in 2011-2019 were established to predict the weekly ILI counts under a counterfactual scenario of no COVID-19 interventions in Beijing and the Hong Kong SAR in 2020-2021, respectively. GAM models were further built to evaluate the potential impact of each individual or combined NPIs on weekly ILI counts in the presence of other seasonal driving factors in the above settings in 2020-2021.

RESULTS

The weekly ILI counts in Beijing and the Hong Kong SAR fluctuated across years and months in 2011-2019, with an obvious winter-spring seasonality in Beijing. During the 2020-2021 season, the observed weekly ILI counts in both Beijing and the Hong Kong SAR were much lower than those of the past 9 flu seasons, with a 47.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 42.3%, 52.2%) and 60.0% (95% CI: 58.6%, 61.1%) reduction, respectively. The observed numbers for these two cities also accounted for only 40.2% (95% CI: 35.4%, 45.3%) and 58.0% (95% CI: 54.1%, 61.5%) of the GAM model estimates in the absence of COVID-19 NPIs, respectively. Our study revealed that, "Cancelling public events" and "Restrictions on internal travel" measures played an important role in the reduction of ILI in Beijing, while the "restrictions on international travel" was statistically most associated with ILI reductions in the Hong Kong SAR.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that COVID-19 NPIs had been reducing outpatient ILI consultations in the presence of other seasonal driving factors in Beijing and the Hong Kong SAR from 2020 to 2021. In cities with varying local circumstances, some NPIs with appropriate stringency may be tailored to reduce the burden of ILI caused by severe influenza strains or other respiratory infections in future.

Ferric His93Gly myoglobin cavity mutant and its complexes with thioether and selenolate as heme protein models

The composition of ferric exogenous ligand-free His93Gly sperm whale myoglobin (H93G Mb) at neutral pH has been determined by examination of the spectral properties of the protein over the pH range from 3.0 to 10.5. An apparent pKa value of ~6.6 has been observed for the conversion of a postulated six-coordinate bis-water-bound coordination structure at pH 5.0 to a five-coordinate hydroxide-bound form at pH 10.5. Starting from the exogenous ligand-free ferric H93G protein, ferric mono- and bis-thioether (tetrahydrothiophene, THT)-ligated adducts have been prepared and characterized by UV-visible (UV-vis) absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy. The mon-THT ferric H93G Mb species has hydroxide as the sixth ligand. The bis-THT derivative is a model for the low-spin ferric heme binding site of native bis-Met-ligated bacterioferritin or streptococcal heme-associated protein (Shp). A novel THT-bound ferryl H93G Mb moiety has been partially formed. The high-spin five-coordinate ferric H93G(selenolate) Mb complex has been prepared using benzeneselenol and characterized by UV-vis and MCD spectroscopy as a model for Se-Cys-ligated ferric cytochrome P450. The results described herein further demonstrate the versatility of the H93G cavity mutant for modeling the coordination structures of novel heme iron protein active sites.

Distribution of microbiota across different intestinal tract segments of a stranded dwarf minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Marine mammals are an important part of ocean ecosystems, of which, whales play a vital role in the marine food chain. In this study, the mucosa and contents from different intestinal tract segments (ITSs) of a stranded dwarf minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) were analyzed. The gut microbiota were sequenced using high‐throughput sequencing technology, based on a 16S rRNA approach. The microbial composition of the intestinal mucosa and its contents were similar in every single ITS. Large intestine microbiota richness and diversity were significantly higher when compared to the duodenum and jejunum. The dominant bacteria in the gut were Firmicutes and Actinobacteria; the former was enriched in the large intestine, whereas the latter was more abundant in the duodenum and jejunum. Our findings provide novel insights for microbiota in B. acutorostrata.

Classification of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules Using a Combined Clinical Information and Gene Expression Signatures

BACKGROUND

A key challenge in thyroid carcinoma is preoperatively diagnosing malignant thyroid nodules. A novel diagnostic test that measures the expression of a 3-gene signature (DPP4, SCG5 and CA12) has demonstrated promise in thyroid carcinoma assessment. However, more reliable prediction methods combining clinical features with genomic signatures with high accuracy, good stability and low cost are needed.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

25 clinical information were recorded in 771 patients. Feature selection and validation were conducted using random forest. Thyroid samples and clinical data were obtained from 142 patients at two different hospitals, and expression of the 3-gene signature was measured using quantitative PCR. The predictive abilities of three models (based on the selected clinical variables, the gene expression profile, and integrated gene expression and clinical information) were compared. Seven clinical characteristics were selected based on a training set (539 patients) and tested in three test sets, yielding predictive accuracies of 82.3% (n = 232), 81.4% (n = 70), and 81.9% (n = 72). The predictive sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 72.3%, 80.5% and 76.8% for the model based on the gene expression signature, 66.2%, 81.8% and 74.6% for the model based on the clinical data, and 83.1%, 84.4% and 83.8% for the combined model in a 10-fold cross-validation (n = 142).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings reveal that the integrated model, which combines clinical data with the 3-gene signature, is superior to models based on gene expression or clinical data alone. The integrated model appears to be a reliable tool for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid tumors.

Preconception thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Evidence for the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction before conception and its pregnancy outcomes is inconsistent. Thus, we evaluated the relationship between preconception thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

A total of 50,217 women without prior thyroid disease who became pregnant within 1 year after undertaking a routine TSH test in the Chongqing Municipality of China (2010-2016) were studied. Restricted cubic spline regression and logistic regression were used to estimate the association between preconception TSH levels and pregnancy outcomes. The main outcomes were individual and composite adverse pregnancy outcomes (CAPOs) comprising pregnancy loss, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, and preterm birth.

RESULTS

Incidence of CAPO was 24.19%. Increased preconception TSH level was positively associated with CAPO (odds ratio [OR]/SD: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.07) when TSH was ≥2.1 mIU/L, positively associated with pregnancy loss (OR/SD: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12) when TSH was <2.1 mIU/L, negatively and positively associated with preterm delivery when TSH levels were <1.3 mIU/L (OR/SD: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83-0.97) and >3.0 mIU/L (OR/SD: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.00-1.17), respectively. Women with subclinical hypothyroidism before conception were at a higher risk for CAPO (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04-1.22), while those with subclinical hyperthyroidism had a higher risk of preterm delivery (aOR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.01-1.70).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonlinear associations were indicated between preconception TSH levels and pregnancy outcomes. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction before conception was associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Iron overload triggering ECM-mediated Hippo/YAP pathway in follicle development: a hypothetical model endowed with therapeutic implications

Disruption of iron homeostasis plays a negative role in follicle development. The dynamic changes in follicle growth are dependent on Hippo/YAP signaling and mechanical forces. However, little is known about the liaison between iron overload and the Hippo/YAP signalling pathway in term of folliculogenesis. Here, based on the available evidence, we established a hypothesized model linking excessive iron, extracellular matrix (ECM), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and Hippo/Yes-associated protein (YAP) signal regarding follicle development. Hypothetically, the TGF-β signal and iron overload may play a synergistic role in ECM production via YAP. We speculate that the dynamic homeostasis of follicular iron interacts with YAP, increasing the risk of ovarian reserve loss and may enhance the sensitivity of follicles to accumulated iron. Hence, therapeutic interventions targeting iron metabolism disorders, and Hippo/YAP signal may alter the consequences of the impaired developmental process based on our hypothesis, which provides potential targets and inspiration for further drug discovery and development applied to clinical treatment.

A role for cAMP in angiotensin II mediated inhibition of cell growth in AT1A receptor-transfected CHO-K1 cells

G-protein coupled Angiotensin II receptors (AT1A), mediate cellular responses through multiple signal transduction pathways. In AT1A receptor-transfected CHO-K1 cells (T3CHO/AT1A), angiotensin II (AII) stimulated a dose-dependent EC50 = 3.3 nM) increase in cAMP accumulation, which was inhibited by the selective AT1, nonpeptide receptor antagonist EXP3174. Activation of protein kinase C, or increasing intracellular Ca2+ with ATP, the calcium ionophore A23187 or ionomycin failed to stimulate cAMP accumulation. Thus, AII-induced cAMP accumulation was not secondary to activation of a protein kinase C- or ca2+/calmodulin-dependent pathway. Since cAMP has an established role in cellular growth responses, we investigated the effect of the AII-mediated increase in cAMP on cell number and [3H]thymidine incorporation in T3CHOA/AT1A cells. AII (1 microM) significantly inhibited cell number (51% at 96 h) and [3H]thymidine incorporation of 68% at 24 h) compared to vehicle controls. These effects were blocked by EXP3174, confirming that these responses were mediated through the AT1 receptor. Forskolin (10 microM) and the cAMP analog dibutyryl-cAMP (1 mM) also inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation by 55 and 25% respectively. We extended our investigation on the effect of AII-stimulated increases in cAMP, to determine the role for established growth related signaling events, i.e., mitogen-activated protein kinase activity an tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. AII-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase activity and phosphorylation of the 42 and 44 kD forms. These events were unaffected by forskolin stimulated increases in cAMP, thus the AII-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase activity was independent of cAMP in these cells. AII also stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of cellular proteins in T3CHO/AT1A cells, in particular at 127 kD protein. The phosphorylation of the 127 kD protein was transient, reaching a maximum at 1 min, and returning to basal levels within 10 min. The dephosphorylation of this protein was blocked by a selective inhibitor of cAMP dependent protein kinase A, H89-dihydrochloride and preexposure to forskolin prevented the AII-induced transient tyrosine phosphorylation of the 127 kD protein. These data suggest that cAMP, and therefore protein kinase A can contribute to AII-mediated growth inhibition by stimulating the dephosphorylation of substrates that are tyrosine phosphorylated in response to AII.

Determination of the enaminone DM5, an anti-epileptic agent, in mouse plasma and brain tissue by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

Enaminone derivatives of the 4-carbomethoxy-5-methylcyclohexane-1,3-dione series represent a new and potentially active series of compounds for the treatment of Epilepsy. Enaminone esters have been previously evaluated as compounds with potent oral anticonvulsant activity similar to class 1 anticonvulsants phenytoin, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine. DM5, a member of this class with -Cl in the para-substituted position, has been assessed to have the most potent pharmacological activity (ED50) in both the mouse and rat. A selective and specific high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed to quantitate DM5 in plasma and brain tissue in mice. Reverse phase chromatography with ultraviolet (lambda = 307 nm) detection was utilized to quantitate eluate. A C18 analytical column was used and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.05 M NaH2PO4 buffer (60:40; v/v). Liquid-liquid extraction with ether was used to extract the DM5 from plasma or brain homogenates. DM5 and carbamazepine (internal standard) eluted at approximately 6.0 and 9.0 min without any interfering peaks. The calibration curves were found to be linear (r > or = 0.9999) in the range of 0.1-5.0 microg/ml or microg/g. Intra-run precision's were in all in the range of 90%. The absolute recovery of the analyte in brain and plasma samples was < or = 90%. The valid method accurately quantified DM5 in plasma and brain tissue samples collected from a pharmacokinetic study consisting of an intravenous bolus in the tail vein of wild type and genetically altered mice.

Long noncoding RNA LUCAT1 promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation and invasion by upregulating MTA1

OBJECTIVE

Recent researches have revealed the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the development of tumors. In this study, lncRNA LUCAT1 was explored to identify how it affected the progression of cervical cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect LUCAT1 expression in both cervical cancer cells and tissue samples. Moreover, the associations between LUCAT1 expression level and patients' overall survival rate were explored, respectively. In addition, cell proliferation assay and transwell assay were conducted. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism was explored via performing qRT-PCR and Western blot assay.

RESULTS

By comparing with the expression level in corresponding ones, the LUCAT1 expression level in cervical cancer samples was significantly higher. Moreover, expression level of LUCAT1 was negatively correlated with patients' overall survival time. In addition, after LUCAT1 was overexpressed, cell proliferation, cell invasion and migration capacities were promoted in vitro. In addition, the mRNA and protein expressions of MTA1 were upregulated after LUCAT1 was overexpressed. Furthermore, it was found that the expression level of MTA1 was positively related to LUCAT1 expression level in cervical cancer tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

We showed that LUCAT1 could enhance proliferation, invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells through upregulating MTA1, which might offer a potential therapeutic choice for patients with cervical cancer.

ALK5 is essential for tooth germ differentiation during tooth development

The TGFβ superfamily of proteins participates in tooth development. TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 regulate odontoblast differentiation and dentin extracellular matrix synthesis. Although the expression of TGFβ family member ligands is well-characterized during mammalian tooth development, less is known about the TGFβ receptor, which is a heteromeric complex consisting of a type I and type II receptors. The molecular mechanism of ALK5 (TGFβR1) in the dental mesenchyme is not clear. We investigated the role of ALK5 in tooth germ mesenchymal cells (TGMCs) from the lower first molar tooth germs of day 15.5 embryonic mice. Human recombinant TGFβ3 protein or an ALK5 inhibitor (SD208) was added to the cells. Cell proliferation was inhibited by SD208 and promoted by TGFβ3. We found that SD208 inhibited TGMCs osteogenesis and dentinogenesis. Both canonical and noncanonical TGFβ signaling pathways participated in the process. TAK1, P-TAK1, p38 and P-p38 showed greater expression and SMAD4 showed less expression when ALK5 was inhibited. Our findings contribute to understanding the role of TGFβ signaling for the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental germ and suggest possible targets for optimizing the use of stem cells of dental origin for tissue regeneration.

Proteomics reveals the preliminary physiological states of the spotted seal (Phoca largha) pups

Spotted seal (Phoca largha) is a critically endangered pinniped in China and South Korea. The conventional method to protect and maintain the P. largha population is to keep them captive in artificially controlled environments. However, little is known about the physiological differences between wild and captive P. largha. To generate a preliminary protein expression profile for P. largha, whole blood from wild and captive pups were subjected to a label-free comparative proteomic analysis. According to the results, 972 proteins were identified and predicted to perform functions related to various metabolic, immune, and cellular processes. Among the identified proteins, the expression level of 51 were significantly different between wild and captive P. large pups. These differentially expressed proteins were enriched in a wide range of cellular functions, including cytoskeleton, phagocytosis, proteolysis, the regulation of gene expression, and carbohydrate metabolism. The abundances of proteins involved in phagocytosis and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis were significantly higher in the whole blood of wild P. largha pups than in captive individuals. In addition, heat shock protein 90-beta, were determined as the key protein associated with the differences in the wild and captive P. largha pups due to the most interactions of it with various differentially expressed proteins. Moreover, wild P. largha pups could be more nutritionally stressed and have more powerful immune capacities than captive pups. This study provides the first data on the protein composition of P. largha and provides useful information on the physiological characteristics for research in this species.

Comprehensive analysis identifies CLEC1B as a potential prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

C-type lectin domain family 1 member B (CLEC1B, encoding the CLEC-2 protein), a member of the C-type lectin superfamily, is a type II transmembrane receptor involved in platelet activation, angiogenesis, and immune and inflammatory responses. However, data regarding its function and clinical prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain scarce.

METHODS

The expression of CLEC1B was explored using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. RT-qPCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry assays were employed to validate the downregulation of CLEC1B. Univariate Cox regression and survival analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic value of CLEC1B. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was conducted to investigate the potential association between cancer hallmarks and CLEC1B expression. The TISIDB database was applied to search for the correlation between immune cell infiltration levels and CLEC1B expression. The association between CLEC1B and immunomodulators was conducted by Spearman correlation analysis based on the Sangerbox platform. Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis kit was used for the detection of cell apoptosis.

RESULTS

The expression of CLEC1B was low in various tumors and exhibited a promising clinical prognostic value for HCC patients. The expression level of CLEC1B was tightly associated with the infiltration of various immune cells in the HCC tumor microenvironment (TME) and positively correlated with a bulk of immunomodulators. In addition, CLEC1B and its related genes or interacting proteins are implicated in multiple immune-related processes and signaling pathways. Moreover, overexpression of CLEC1B significantly influenced the treatment effects of sorafenib on HCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reveal that CLEC1B could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and may be a novel immunoregulator for HCC. However, its function in immune regulation should be further explored.

Construction of Biological Model of Human Lumbar and Analysis of its Mechanical Properties

In this paper, combined with physiological anatomy knowledge, the complete finite element model of L3–L4 lumbosacral segment of human lumbar was established by using the 3D graphic of human spine L3–L4 segment, which is obtained by image diagnosis technique (CT scan). This model includes the sections of the bones, the intervertebral disc and the anterior ligament, the posterior ligament, the ligamentum flavum, the fibrous ring and other major spine attached soft tissue. Then the finite element model meshing and the material properties of the corresponding part setting were done on the constructed model, and different loads and boundary conditions were imposed to simulate the displacement and stress and strain nephogram of the normal model and intervertebral disc herniation, senile degeneration and other models in different movement states. And the effectiveness of model data is verified by analyzing its biomechanical properties. The biomechanical properties of the spine obtained by the finite element method can be used to provide biomechanical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of intervertebral disc herniation and degeneration.