MiR-27b-3p suppresses glioma development via targeting YAP1

Previous studies have reported that miRNAs are involved in the progression of glioma, and that miR-27b-3p is involved in a variety of cancers. However, whether miR-27b-3p has a role in glioma is still unknown. Here, we demonstrated that miR-27b-3p is downregulated in glioma, and this is associated with the development of glioma. Overexpression of miR-27b-3p in glioma cells inhibits cell proliferation and migration, and induces cell apoptosis, which suppresses the progression of glioma. Furthermore, in our study, overexpression of miR-27b-3p also inhibited the growth of xenografted glioma tumors in-vivo. Finally, we verified that Yes Associated Protein 1 (YAP1) is the downstream target of miR-27b-3p, and that miR-27b-3p controls the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of glioma cells via regulating YAP1. Our study reveals a novel mechanism through which miR-27b-3p functions in the development of glioma, and thus provides a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of glioma.

[Study of relationship between dietary patterns and precocious puberty of school-age girls in Shenzhen]

Objective: To explore the daily dietary behaviors of girls under precocious puberty and provide targeted measures for the prevention of precocious puberty. Methods: A case control study was conducted in a hospital in Shenzhen between September 2016 and December 2018. Girls with diagnosed precocious puberty were selected as case group. A 1∶1 matching was conducted. The control group was from 26 primary schools in Shenzhen. Dietary survey was conducted in parents, completing a self-administered questionnaire. Frequencies of 12 kinds of food intakes were investigated and dietary patterns were analyzed. Conditional logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between dietary patterns and precocious puberty. Results: A total of 568 girls were included in the study. Among them, those aged 8-year-old accounted for highest proportion (43.8%). The median of age was same in both case group and control group (8 years-old). There was no significant difference in ethnic group between two groups (P>0.05). The medians of height, weight and BMI of case group were 135.0 cm, 30.2 kg and 16.6 kg/m(2), respectively, which were all higher than those of the control group (129.2 cm, 25.0 kg and 15.3 kg/m(2)), the differences were significant (P<0.05). There was significant difference in nutritional assessment result between two groups (P< 0.05). Three dietary patterns were defined, i.e. balanced pattern, high calorie and fat pattern and high protein diet pattern. The cumulative rate of variance contribution of the three dietary patterns was 0.541 2. The differences in the prevalence of three dietary patterns between two groups were significant (χ(2)=4.41, χ(2)=49.24, χ(2)=39.68, P<0.05 respectively). Data from the multivariate regression analysis showed that both balanced dietary pattern (OR=0.633, 95%CI: 0.504-0.769) and high protein diet pattern (OR=0.622, 95%CI: 0.498-0.776) were protective factors for precocious puberty, while high calorie and fat pattern was risk factors (OR=1.850, 95%CI: 1.461-2.342). Conclusions: Balanced dietary pattern was common in school-aged girls. High calorie and fat pattern was risk factor for precocious puberty. Children should be encouraged to develop a balanced dietary habit and increasing the intake of legumes and fish since they are beneficial to normal growth and development.

Performance of lung cancer screening with low-dose CT in Gejiu, Yunnan: A population-based, screening cohort study

Background

The performance of lung cancer screening with low‐dose computed tomography (CT) (LDCT) in China is uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of LDCT lung cancer screening in the Chinese setting.

Methods

In 2014, a screening cohort of lung cancer with LDCT was established in Gejiu, Yunnan Province, a screening center of the Lung Cancer Screening Program in Rural China (LungSPRC). Participants received a baseline screening and four rounds of annual screening with LDCT in two local hospitals until June 2019. We analyzed the rates of participation, detection, early detection, and the clinical characteristics of lung cancer.

Results

A total of 2006 participants had complete baseline screening results with a compliance rate of 98.4%. Of these, 1411 were high‐risk and 558 were nonhigh‐risk participants. During this period, 40 lung cancer cases were confirmed, of these, 35 were screen‐detected, four were post‐screening and one was an interval case. The positive rate of baseline and annual screening was 9.7% and 9.0%, while the lung cancer detection rate was 0.4% and 0.6%, respectively. The proportion of early lung cancer increased from 37.5% in T0 to 75.0% in T4. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological subtype. Lung cancer incidence according to the criteria of LungSPRC and National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) was 513.31 and 877.41 per 100 000 person‐years, respectively.

Conclusions

The program of lung cancer screening with LDCT showed a successful performance in Gejiu, Yunnan. However, further studies are warranted to refine a high‐risk population who will benefit most from LDCT screening and reduce the high false positive results.

Key points

This study reports the results of lung cancer screening with LDCT in Gejiu, Yunnan, a high‐risk area of lung cancer, and it demonstrates that lung cancer screening with LDCT is effective in detecting early‐stage lung cancer. Our program provides an opportunity to explore the performance of LDCT lung cancer screening in the Chinese context.

miR-137 alleviates focal cerebral ischemic injury in rats by regulating JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway

The repairing effect and potential mechanism of miR-137 on cerebral ischemic injury in rats was investigated. The volume of cerebral infarction and calculated brain water content was detected by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The expression of inflammatory factors was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pathological damage of brain tissue was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin and Nissl staining. The apoptosis in ischemic brain tissue was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling. The levels of STAT1 and JAK1 proteins were analyzed by Western blot. The expression of miR-137 in primary hippocampal neurons was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. miR-137 overexpression significantly improved brain damage in rats. miR-137 overexpression can reduce the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. miR-137 overexpression can reduce the degree of brain tissue damage and inhibit the expression of JAK1 and STAT1 proteins. miR-137 overexpression can reduce oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)/R-induced cell damage, improve cell proliferation, and reduce apoptotic rate. JAK1 and STAT1 protein expression was inhibited in hippocampal neurons after OGD/R treatment after transfection with miR-137 mimic. After the addition of the Filgotinib inhibitor, the levels of JAK1 and STAT1 proteins were significantly reduced. The results suggested that miR-137 overexpression can effectively improve ischemic injury after focal cerebral ischemia and protect against by inhibiting JAK1/STAT1 pathway.

LncRNA DLGAP1-AS2 modulates glioma development by up-regulating YAP1 expression

LncRNA DLGAP1 antisense RNA 2 (DLGAP1-AS2) is one kind cytoplasmic long non-coding RNA; however, there is rarely little information about its function in physiological process. Here, we demonstrated that LncRNA DLGAP1-AS2 was up-regulated in glioma and was quite correlated with poor prognosis of glioma patients. Depletion of DLGAP1-AS2 in glioma cells could inhibit cell proliferation and cell migration, and induce cell apoptosis, resulting in the suppression of the progression of glioma consequently. Furthermore, knockdown of DLGAP1-AS2 inhibited the growth of xenograft glioma tumour in vivo as well. Finally, we verified Yes Associated Protein 1 (YAP1) was the downstream target of DLGAP1-AS2 and DLGAP1-AS2 modulated glioma cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis via regulating YAP1. Our study revealed novel mechanism about how did lncRNA DLGAP1-AS2 execute function in glioma and thus provided potential therapeutic interventions for the treatment of glioma.

A Comparison of Biopsy and Mucosal Swab Specimens for Examining the Microbiota of Upper Gastrointestinal Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

There is currently no optimal sampling method for upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract microbiota. We compared biopsies and mucosal swab specimens for microbial sampling from patients with UGI carcinoma.

METHODS

A total of 67 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and 36 patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) were recruited in the Linxian Cancer Hospital (Henan, China). Sterile biopsies and swabs were used to collect paired samples from the resection specimens from carcinoma and adjacent normal tissue. Data from 16S rRNA gene sequencing were processed using QIIME2 to evaluate differences in alpha and beta diversity and taxonomic relative abundances between specimen types.

RESULTS

Alpha diversity was not significantly different between swab specimens and biopsies, both for ESCC and GCA. Paired specimens were correlated for both sample types from ESCC (ρ > 0.6, P < 0.001) but not GCA (ρ < 0.4, P > 0.05). For beta diversity, distinct clustering by sampling method was not observed for adjacent normal or tumor tissue from ESCC or GCA. There was a high correlation for weighted UniFrac and Bray-Curtis distance only in ESCC paired specimens (ρ > 0.6, P = 0.001). The 10 dominant bacterial genera were similar between swab and biopsy specimens. However, higher levels of Veillonella (P = 0.0002) and Streptococcus (P = 0.0002) were detected in ESCC adjacent normal and GCA carcinoma swabs, respectively, compared with the biopsies.

CONCLUSIONS

Mucosal swab specimens and biopsies could yield similar microbial profiles from ESCC but not GCA. Both can be used to characterize UGI microbiota; one sampling method should be selected for future studies.

IMPACT

This study provides insight for planning microbiota collections from the UGI tract.

[Simultaneous determination of twenty amino acids and six carbohydrates in soy sauce by ion chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detection]

A method of gradient elution ion chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detection for simultaneous determination of twenty amino acids and six carbohydrates in soy sauce was established. The effects of column temperature, pH value of solution, and standing time were studied, and then the suitable gradient elution conditions were found for the determination. In the conditions that the flow rate is 0.25 mL/min, pH value of solution is in the range of 5.2-6.7, temperature of column is 35℃, the linear relationships of the 26 components are good and the correlation coefficients are not less than 0.995. Except glutamine, leucine, isoleucine and methionine, the limits of detection (S/N=3) of the other 22 components are less than 0.03 mg/L. The recoveries of the 26 components in soy sauce are 84.2%-109% at the spiked levels of 0.20, 0.50, 2.00 mg/L, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) are in the range of 2.7%-7.8%. The method is efficient, easy, sensitive, and accurate for simultaneous determination of amino acids and carbohydrates in soy sauce, and can provide an effective research technique for adulterated soy sauce.

[Role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in ischemic rats underwent cardiac shock waves therapy]

Objective: To investigate the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in ischemic rats underwent cardiac shock therapy. Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats weighing 220-250 g were used to establish a heart failure model by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Rat models were defined by echocardiographic assessment at 4 weeks post operation and heart failure rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,namely heart failure group (HF group, 9 cases),heart failure+cardiac shock waves therapy group (HF+CSWT group, 9 cases),heart failure+inhibitor(HF+LY294002 group, 9 cases),heart failure+cardiac shock waves therapy group+inhibitor (HF+CSWT+LY294002 group, 9 cases),and another 9 sham-operated SD rats served as control group (sham group, 9 cases). At 8 weeks postoperation, echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function in each group,myocardial infarct size was measured by TTC staining,the apoptotic index of rats cardiomyocytes were detected by TUNEL method,the myocardial mRNA expression of apoptosis-related factor was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, the protein expression levels of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and apoptosis-related pathways were detected by Western blot. Results: (1) Eight weeks after operation, left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) were significantly lower in HF+CSWT group than in HF group (all P<0.05), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular shortening rate (LVFS) were significantly higher in HF+CSWT group than in HF group (all P<0.05),LVEF was significantly lower in the HF+ CSWT+ LY294002 group than in HF+ CSWT group (P<0.05). (2) Myocardial infarct size was significantly lower in the HF+ CSWT group than in HF group ((5.57 ± 0.51)% vs. (25.56 ± 0.56)%, P<0.05), which was significantly higher in the HF+CSWT+LY294002 group than in HF+CSWT group ((12.90±2.34)% vs. (5.57±0.51)%,P<0.05). (3) The cardiomyocyte apoptotic index was significantly lower in the HF+CSWT group than in the HF group ((30.25±6.12)% vs. (53.85±9.89)%,P<0.05), which was significantly higher in the HF+CSWT+LY294002 group than in the HF+CSWT group ((46.12±3.42)% vs.(30.25±6.12)%,P<0.05). (4) The myocardial mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was significantly higher, while myocardial mRNA Bax and Caspase-3 expression were significantly lower in HF+CSWT group than in HF group and HF+CSWT+LY294002 group (all P<0.05). (5) The expression levels of p-Akt, Bcl-2 and pro-Caspase-3 in myocardial tissue were significantly higher in the HF+CSWT group than in the HF group and HF+CSWT+LY294002 group (all P<0.05), which were significantly lower in the HF+LY294002 group than in the HF and HF+CSWT+LY294002 groups (all P<0.05). Myocardial Bax protein expression was significantly lower in the HF+CSWT group than in the HF group and the HF+CSWT+LY294002 group (all P<0.05), which was significantly higher in the HF+LY294002 group than in the HF group (P<0.05). Conclusion: CSWT improves cardiac function and inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis through PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in this rat HF model.

Critical roles of regulatory B and T cells in helminth parasite-induced protection against allergic airway inflammation

The prevalence of allergic asthma and incidences of helminth infections in humans are inversely correlated. Although experimental studies have established the causal relation between parasite infection and allergic asthma, the mechanism of the parasite-associated immunomodulation is not fully elucidated. Using a murine model of asthma and nematode parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus, we investigated the roles of regulatory B cells (B_reg ) and T cells (T_reg ) in mediation of the protection against allergic asthma by parasite. H. polygyrus infection significantly suppressed ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation (AAI) evidenced by alleviated lung histopathology and reduced numbers of bronchoalveolar inflammatory cell infiltration, and induced significant responses of interleukin (IL)-10⁺ B_reg , IL-10⁺ T_reg and forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)⁺ T_reg in mesenteric lymph node and spleen of the mice. Adoptive transfer of IL-10⁺ B_reg and IL-10⁺ T_reg cell prevented the lung immunopathology in AAI mice. Depletion of FoxP3⁺ T_reg cells in FoxP3-diphtheria toxin (DT) receptor transgenic mice by diphtheria toxin (DT) treatment exacerbated airway inflammation in parasite-free AAI mice and partially abrogated the parasite-induced protection against AAI. IL-10⁺ B_reg cells were able to promote IL-10⁺ T_reg expansion and maintain FoxP3⁺ T_reg cell population. These two types of T_regs failed to induce CD19⁺ B cells to transform into IL-10⁺ B_reg cells. These results demonstrate that B_reg , IL-10⁺ T_reg and FoxP3⁺ T_reg cells contribute in A discrepant manner to the protection against allergic airway immunopathology by parasiteS. B_reg cell might be a key upstream regulatory cell that induces IL-10⁺ T_reg response and supports FoxP3⁺ T_reg cell population which, in turn, mediate the parasite-imposed immunosuppression of allergic airway inflammation. These results provide insight into the immunological relationship between parasite infection and allergic asthma.

Nano-selenium attenuates nickel-induced testosterone synthesis disturbance through inhibition of MAPK pathways in Sprague-Dawley rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Nano-Se against Ni-induced testosterone synthesis disorder in rats and determine the underlying protective mechanism. Sprague-Dawley rats were co-treated with Ni (5.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and Nano-Se (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg, oral gavage) for 14 days after which various endpoints were evaluated. The Ni-induced abnormal pathological changes and elevated 8-OHdG levels in the testes were attenuated by Nano-Se administration. Importantly, decreased serum testosterone levels in the Ni-treated rats were significantly restored by Nano-Se treatment, particularly at 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein levels of testosterone synthetase were increased by Nano-Se compared to the Ni group, whereas phosphorylated protein expression levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways were suppressed by Nano-Se administration in the Ni-treated rats. Overall, the results suggest that Nano-Se may ameliorate the Ni-induced testosterone synthesis disturbance via the inhibition of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK MAPK pathways.

Panoramic Visualization of Circulating MicroRNAs Across Neurodegenerative Diseases in Humans

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and dementia pose one of the greatest health challenges this century. Although these NDs have been looked at as single entities, the underlying molecular mechanisms have never been collectively visualized to date. With the advent of high-throughput genomic and proteomic technologies, we now have the opportunity to visualize these diseases in a whole new perspective, which will provide a clear understanding of the primary and secondary events vital in achieving the final resolution of these diseases guiding us to new treatment strategies to possibly treat these diseases together. We created a knowledge base of all microRNAs known to be differentially expressed in various body fluids of ND patients. We then used several bioinformatic methods to understand the functional intersections and differences between AD, PD, ALS, and MS. These results provide a unique panoramic view of possible functional intersections between AD, PD, MS, and ALS at the level of microRNA and their cognate genes and pathways, along with the entities that unify and separate them. While the microRNA signatures were apparent for each ND, the unique observation in our study was that hsa-miR-30b-5p overlapped between all four NDS, and has significant functional roles described across NDs. Furthermore, our results also show the evidence of functional convergence of miRNAs which was associated with the regulation of their cognate genes represented in pathways that included fatty acid synthesis and metabolism, ECM receptor interactions, prion diseases, and several signaling pathways critical to neuron differentiation and survival, underpinning their relevance in NDs. Envisioning this group of NDs together has allowed us to propose new ways of utilizing circulating miRNAs as biomarkers  and in visualizing diverse NDs more holistically . The critical molecular insights gained through the discovery of ND-associated miRNAs, overlapping miRNAs, and the functional convergence of microRNAs on vital pathways strongly implicated in neurodegenerative processes can prove immensely valuable in the identifying new generation of biomarkers, along with the development of miRNAs into therapeutics.

Chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis of the mandibular body: report of a case and review of the literature

Chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis is a rare form of osteomyelitis that is characterised by new bone formation with periosteal reaction. It is also traditionally known as Garre's osteomyelitis. The common sources of infection of the jaw include dental caries associated with periapical periodontitis, periodontitis, fractures and nonodontogenic infections. Chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis mainly presents in younger patients. Here, we present a case of a 12-year-old patient with chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis with no definitive infection source such as pericoronitis, caries and periodontitis. Therapeutic measures involved surgical debridement and antibiotics. Disease remission and a normal facial symmetrical morphology were observed at the six-month follow-up.

P52 Prescription of patient’s regular medications on admission to neurosurgical unit

Objectives

Timely and correct prescription of patients’ regular medications on admission to neurosurgical unit is noticed not to be fully compliant with set standards. This audit aims to review the practice of medication prescription by junior doctors during patient admission to a national neurosurgical unit, and to identify areas of improvement for prompt and accurate prescription.

Design

Prospective clinical audit.

Subjects

130 patients admitted to the neurosurgical unit in 2 weeks.

Methods

Prescription of patient’s regular medications on admission was audited. The prescription practice was compared against the set standards, and between different settings (in-hour vs. out-of-hour, emergency vs. elective, experienced vs. new SHOs).

Results

18% of patients had no regular medications prescribed by clerking doctors, the majority of which were elective admissions during in-hour clerking and performed by experienced SHOs. Of the patients who had their regular medications prescribed on admission, 29% were prescribed inaccurately, and 16% in wrong doses. Total percentage of missed and error prescription was 46%, in which only 18% were corrected within 24 hours and 21% corrected up to 48 hours after admission.

Conclusions

Areas of improvement identified: prescription practice of experienced SHOs during elective admissions, medication and dose check on prescription in both elective and emergency settings, medication reconciliation within 24 hours and thereafter. Changes (e.g. an alert system) are being implemented and re-audit is in plan.

An efficient approach for constructing 3-D boron nitride networks with epoxy composites to form materials with enhanced thermal, dielectric, and mechanical properties

Thermally conductive epoxy composites of 3-D boron nitride (BN) networks were synthesized via a facile template method, wherein an epoxy was infiltrated into the network. The 3-D BN network skeletons, which use polystyrene (PS) microspheres as a framework support, were prepared by hot compression and ablation techniques. Field emission scanning electron microscope indicated that the content of BN filler and its dispersion greatly influences the integrity and density of the resultant network. With a BN loading of 40 vol%, the composites showed a maximum thermal conductivity of 1.98 W mK−1, which is 1000% times higher than the pristine epoxy material. In addition, the thermal stabilities, mechanical properties, and dielectric properties of the fabricated BN/epoxy composites were also largely improved. This facile method is an effective approach to designing and fabricating composites with high thermal conductivities.

Roux-en-Y or Billroth II Reconstruction After Radical Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to compare the clinical symptoms between Billroth II (B-II) and Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction after distal subtotal gastrectomy (DG) for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND

Surgery is the mainstay of curative treatment for gastric cancer. The technique for reconstruction after DG remains controversial. Both B-II and R-Y are popular methods.

METHODS

This is a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial. From October 2008 to October 2014, 162 patients who underwent DG were randomly allocated to B-II (n = 81) and R-Y (n = 81) groups. The primary endpoint is Gastrointestinal (GI) Symptoms Score 1 year after surgery. We also compared the nutritional status, extent of gastritis on endoscopy, and quality of life after surgery between the 2 procedures at 1 year.

RESULTS

Operative time was significantly shorter for B-II than for R-Y [mean difference 21.5 minutes, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 3.8-39.3, P = 0.019]. The B-II and R-Y groups had a peri-operative morbidity of 28.4% and 33.8%, respectively (P = 0.500) and a 30-day mortality of 2.5% and 1.2%, respectively (P = 0.500). GI symptoms score did not differ between R-Y versus B-II reconstruction (mean difference -0.45, 95% CI -1.21 to 0.31, P = 0.232). R-Y resulted in a lower median endoscopic grade for gastritis versus B-II (mean difference -1.32, 95% CI -1.67 to -0.98, P < 0.001). We noted no difference in nutritional status (R-Y versus B-II mean difference -0.31, 95% CI -3.27 to 2.65, P = 0.837) and quality of life at 1 year between the 2 groups too.

CONCLUSION

Although BII is associated with a higher incidence of heartburn symptom and higher median endoscopic grade for gastritis, BII and RY are similar in terms of overall GI symptom score and nutritional status at 1 year after distal gastrectomy.