HOXA-AS2 Epigenetically Inhibits HBV Transcription by Recruiting the MTA1-HDAC1/2 Deacetylase Complex to cccDNA Minichromosome

Persistent transcription of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is critical for chronic HBV infection. Silencing cccDNA transcription through epigenetic mechanisms offers an effective strategy to control HBV. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), as important epigenetic regulators, have an unclear role in cccDNA transcription regulation. In this study, lncRNA sequencing (lncRNA seq) is conducted on five pairs of HBV-positive and HBV-negative liver tissue. Through analysis, HOXA-AS2 (HOXA cluster antisense RNA 2) is identified as a significantly upregulated lncRNA in HBV-infected livers. Further experiments demonstrate that HBV DNA polymerase (DNA pol) induces HOXA-AS2 after establishing persistent high-level HBV replication. Functional studies reveal that HOXA-AS2 physically binds to cccDNA and significantly inhibits its transcription. Mechanistically, HOXA-AS2 recruits the MTA1-HDAC1/2 deacetylase complex to cccDNA minichromosome by physically interacting with metastasis associated 1 (MTA1) subunit, resulting in reduced acetylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9ac) and lysine 27 (H3K27ac) associated with cccDNA and subsequently suppressing cccDNA transcription. Altogether, the study reveals a mechanism to self-limit HBV replication, wherein the upregulation of lncRNA HOXA-AS2, induced by HBV DNA pol, can epigenetically suppress cccDNA transcription.

Targeting of KDM5A by miR-421 in Human Ovarian Cancer Suppresses the Progression of Ovarian Cancer Cells [Retraction]

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.2147/OTT.S266211.].

Risk assessment of extra-uterine involvement and prognosis in young type I endometrial carcinoma with high or moderate differentiation and less than 1/2 myometrial invasion

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether young patients with endometrial carcinoma can preserve adnexa and lymph nodes to improve their quality of life without compromising their prognosis.

METHODS

A total of 319 patients with type I endometrial carcinoma (high or moderate differentiation and less than 1/2 myometrial invasion) hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2012 to July 2021 were included. The patients were divided into four groups: high differentiation without myometrial invasion group (G1MI-), high differentiation with superficial myometrial invasion group (G1MI+), moderate differentiation without myometrial invasion group (G2MI-), and moderate differentiation with superficial myometrial invasion group (G2MI+). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for extra-uterine involvement. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve to compare the prognosis in subgroups and rates of extra-uterine involvement were also compared using Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Multivariable logistic regression revealed that differentiation (HR = 14.590, 95%CI = 1.778-119.754, p = 0.013) and myometrial invasion (HR = 10.732, 95%CI = 0.912-92.780, p = 0.037) were the independent risk factors for extra-uterine involvement. The overall difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). In the subgroups analysis, both adnexal metastasis and lymph node metastasis were statistically significant in the G2MI+ group compared with G1MI- (p = 0.007, p = 0.008). There were no significant differences in the overall survival (OS) rate and progression free survival (PFS) rate among the four subgroups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery with adnexal preservation and without systematic lymphadenectomy could be employed for the patients who are high differentiation with less than 1/2 myometrial invasion or moderate differentiation without myometrial invasion, but not recommended to the patients with moderate differentiation and superficial myometrial invasion.

CUDC-907 exhibits potent antitumor effects against ovarian cancer through multiple in vivo and in vitro mechanisms

PURPOSE

CUDC-907 is a promising dual-target inhibitor of the HDAC and PI3K signaling pathways, with demonstrated therapeutic effects in a range of malignant tumors. However, its potential application in ovarian cancer (OC) has not been fully explored yet. In this study, we sought to investigate the efficacy of CUDC-907 in treating OC, both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Here, we examined the correlation between PI3K or HDAC expression and the prognosis of OC patients using the GEPIA database. RNA-Seq analysis was performed on OC cells treated with CUDC-907.To assess various cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cell cycle, we performed a series of assays, including the CCK8, EDU, wound healing, cell invasion, and flow cytometry assays. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting were performed to measure the expressions of target genes. Additionally, we utilized the SKOV3 xenograft tumor model to investigate the inhibitory effects of CUDC-907 on tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics analyses revealed that up-regulated HDAC and PI3K were significantly correlated with patients' poor survival in OC. In vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that CUDC-907 could inhibit the proliferation of OC cells by inhibiting the PI3K and HDAC pathways to down-regulate the expression of c-Myc, and induce cell apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2 pathway, and up-regulate p21 to induce G2 /M phase arrest.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that CUDC-907 had powerful anti-tumor effects on OC, which could provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the application of CUDC-907 in the therapy of OC.

Risk factors for pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastasis in non-endometrioid endometrial cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis (LNM) and para-aortic LNM in non-endometrioid endometrial cancer (non-EEC).

METHODS

A total of 283 patients with non-EEC hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2012 to December 2020 were included. Various characteristics were retrospectively analyzed in relation to LNM.

RESULTS

Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed cervical stromal invasion (OR = 3.441, 95% CI = 1.558-7.6, p = 0.002), myometrial invasion ≥1/2 (OR = 2.661, 95% CI = 1.327-5.337, p < 0.006), lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI) (OR = 4.118, 95% CI = 1.919-8.837, p < 0.001), positive peritoneal cytology (OR = 2.962, 95% CI = 1.344-6.530, p = 0.007), CA125 (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 1-1.004, p = 0.026) were the independent risk factors for pelvic LNM. And myometrial invasion ≥1/2 (OR = 5.881, 95% CI = 2.056-16.427, p = 0.001), LVSI (OR = 4.962, 95% CI = 1.933-12.740, p = 0.001), adnexal (OR = 5.921, 95% CI = 2.003-17.502, p = 0.001) were the independent risk factors for para-aortic LNM. With the increase of independent risk factors, the rates of LNM were increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical stromal invasion, myometrial invasion ≥1/2, LVSI, positive peritoneal cytology, and CA125 were risk factors for pelvic LNM. Myometrial invasion ≥1/2, LVSI and involvement of the adnexa were risk factors for para-aortic LNM which could provide a good basis to help predict which non-EEC patients are at higher risk for LNM.

Effects of ketogenic diet on weight loss parameters among obese or overweight patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails

Aim

To evaluate how effective a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (KD) is for changing key physical measurements such as weight, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and fat mass (FM) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who were obese or overweight.

Methods

Several online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (WOS), were searched systematically to find relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up until June 2023. The Q-test and I2 statistics were used to assess the level of heterogeneity among the included studies. The data were then combined using either a fixed or random effects model and presented as a weighted mean difference (WMD) along with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Of the 682 citations, 11 RCTs were included. The pooled results showed a significant decrease in the WMD of weight levels [WMD = -9.13 kg; 95% CI, -11.88, -6.39, P < 0.001; I2 = 87.23%] following KD. Moreover, KD significantly reduced BMI levels [WMD = -2.93 kg/m2; 95% CI, -3.65, -2.21, P < 0.001; I2 = 78.81%] compared to the controls. Patients with PCOS received KD demonstrated significant decrease in WC [WMD = -7.62 cm; 95% CI, -10.73, -4.50, P < 0.001; I2 = 89.17%] and FM [WMD = -5.32 kg; 95% CI, -7.29, -3.36, P < 0.001; I2 = 83.97%].

Conclusion

KD was associated with lower weight loss (WL) parameters, including weight, BMI, WC, and FM, in obese or overweight women with PCOS, highlighting the significance of physicians and nurses in taking care of the nutritional needs of overweight/obese patients with PCOS.

Whether surgical procedure can improve the prognosis of endometrial cancer arising in adenomyosis (EC-AIA)? a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Endometrial cancer arising in adenomyosis (EC-AIA) is frequently detected accidentally following a general hysterectomy for adenomyosis. Whether supplemental lymphadenectomy in patients with EC-AIA can improve the survival outcome remains inconclusive. Herein, we summarized the data of patients with EC-AIA and further explored the impact of lymphadenectomy on the prognosis of these patients.

METHODS

Five electronic databases, namely MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were employed for searching articles from inception to May 2023.

RESULTS

In total, 38 eligible studies enrolling 56 patients were included. Of these, 44 patients had a traceable prognosis. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that patients who had undergone lymphadenectomy had a better progression-free survival (PFS) compared with those who had not undergone lymphadenectomy (P=0.016), but there was no difference in overall survival (OS). Univariable (P=0.025, HR=0.25, 95%CI=0.08-0.84) and multivariable (P=0.042, HR=0.13, 95%CI=0.020-0.930) Cox regression analyses revealed that lymphadenectomy was an independent protective factor for PFS.

CONCLUSION

For patients diagnosed with EC-AIA following hysterectomy for benign disease, further supplementary lymphadenectomy is recommended to improve PFS.

MnO2 porous carbon composite from cellulose enabling high gravimetric/volumetric performance for supercapacitor

Preparing electrode material integrated with high gravimetric/volumetric capacitance and fast electron/ion transfer is crucial for the practical application. Owing to the structural contradiction, it is a big challenge to construct electrode material with high packing density, sufficient ion transport channels, and fast electronic transfer pathways. Herein, MnO2 porous carbon composite with abundant porous structure and 3D carbon skeleton was facilely fabricated from Linum usitatissimum. L stems via NaOH activation and MnO2 introduction. The in-situ introduced MnO2 not only increases the packing density and the electrical conductivity of the porous carbon but also provides more active sites for oxidation reactions. These unique characteristics endow the resultant MnO2 porous carbon composite with remarkable gravimetric capacitance of 549 F g-1, volumetric capacitance of 378 F cm-3, and capacitance retention of 54.9 %. Giving the simple process and low cost, this work might offer a new approach for structural design and the practical application of high-performance electrode materials.

Theacrine enhances autophagy and inhibits inflammation via regulating SIRT3/FOXO3a/Parkin pathway

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis, a common chronic inflammatory skin condition, impacts around 2%-3% of the global population. Theacrine is recognized for its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the role of theacrine in psoriasis remains unclear.

PURPOSES

To investigate the effects of theacrine on psoriasis and explore the underlying signaling pathways.

METHODS

For imiquimod (IMQ)-induced Psoriasis-like mice, the psoriatic inflammation was monitored using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). The skin damage was observed using Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. The KI67 and CD4 in skin tissues were assessed using Immunohistochemistry analysis. Western blots were performed to evaluate the expression of Keratin 1 (KRT1), KRT6, LC3, P62, Beclin1, T-bet, GATA3, RAR-related orphan receptor (ROR)-γt, Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3), Forkhead Box O3a (FOXO3a) and Parkin. Additionally, LC3B expression was analyzed using an immunofluorescent assay, while flow cytometry was performed to analyze the percentage of Th17, Th1, and Th2 positive cells in skin-draining lymph node.

RESULTS

Theacrine improved skin condition by reducing hyperkeratosis and acanthosis, lowering PASI scores, and decreasing KI67-positive cells. Theacrine also modulated keratin expression, elevating KRT1 while reducing KRT6 levels. Theacrine enhanced autophagy indicated by an increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and Beclin1, while reduced P62 levels. Additionally, Theacrine reduced CD4-positive cells and suppressed Th17 and Th1 cell activation. Theacrine activated the FOXO3a/Parkin pathway by upregulating SIRT3 expression, and down-regulation of SIRT3 counteracted theacrine's effects in psoriasis-like mice.

CONCLUSION

Theacrine inhibits skin damage, promotes autophagy, and mediates inflammation in IMQ-induced psoriasis mice via upregulating SIRT3 to activate FOXO3a/Parkin pathway, positioning theacrine as a candidate for psoriasis treatment.

Theoretical Study of the NO Reduction Mechanism on Biochar Surfaces Modified by Li and Na Single Adsorption and OH Co-Adsorption

Theoretical and experimental investigations have shown that biochar, following KOH activation, enhances the efficiency of NO removal. Similarly, NaOH activation also improves NO removal efficiency, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, zigzag configurations were employed as biochar models. Density functional theory (DFT) was utilized to examine how Li and Na single adsorption and OH co-adsorption affect the reaction pathways of NO reduction on the biochar surface. The rate constants for all reaction-determining steps (RDSs) within a temperature range of 200 to 1000 K were calculated using conventional transition state theory (TST). The results indicate a decrease in the activation energy for NO reduction reactions on biochar when activated by Li and Na adsorption, thus highlighting their beneficial role in NO reduction. Compared to the case with Na activation, Li-activated biochar exhibited superior performance in terms of the NO elimination rate. Furthermore, upon the adsorption of the OH functional group onto the Li-decorated and Na-decorated biochar models (LiOH-decorated and NaOH-decorated chars), the RDS energy barriers were higher than those of Li and Na single adsorption but easily overcome, suggesting effective NO reduction. In conclusion, Li-decorated biochar showed the highest reactivity due to its low RDS barrier and exothermic reaction on the surface.

Conserved untranslated regions of multipartite viruses: Natural markers of novel viral genomic components and tags of viral evolution

Viruses with split genomes are classified as being either segmented or multipartite based on whether their genomic segments occur within a single virion or across different virions. Despite variations in number and sequence during evolution, the genomic segments of many viruses are conserved within the untranslated regions (UTRs). In this study, we present a methodology that combines RNA sequencing with iterative BLASTn of UTRs (https://github.com/qq371260/Iterative-blast-v.1.0) to identify new viral genomic segments. Some novel multipartite-like viruses related to the phylum Kitrinoviricota were annotated using sequencing data from field plant samples and public databases. We identified potentially plant-infecting jingmen-related viruses (order Amarillovirales) and jivi-related viruses (order Martellivirales) with at least six genomic components. The number of RNA molecules associated with a genome of the novel viruses in the families Closteroviridae, Kitaviridae, and Virgaviridae within the order Martellivirales reached five. Several of these viruses seem to represent new taxa at the subgenus, genus, and family levels. The diversity of novel genomic components and the multiple duplication of proteins or protein domains within single or multiple genomic components emphasize the evolutionary roles of genetic recombination (horizontal gene transfer), reassortment, and deletion. The relatively conserved UTRs at the genome level might explain the relationships between monopartite and multipartite viruses, as well as how subviral agents such as defective RNAs and satellite viruses can coexist with their helper viruses.

Coefficient of variation method combined with XGboost ensemble model for wheat growth monitoring

Introduction

Obtaining wheat growth information accurately and efficiently is the key to estimating yields and guiding agricultural development.

Methods

This paper takes the precision agriculture demonstration area of Jiaozuo Academy of Agriculture and Forestry in Henan Province as the research area to obtain data on wheat biomass, nitrogen content, chlorophyll content, and leaf area index. By using the coefficient of variation method, a Comprehensive Growth Monitoring Indicator (CGMI) was constructed to perform fractional derivative processing on drone spectral data, and correlation analysis was performed on the fractional derivative spectra with a single indicator and CGMI, respectively. Then, grey correlation analysis was carried out on differential spectral bands with high correlation, the grey correlation coefficients between differential spectral bands were calculated, and spectral bands with high correlation were screened and taken as input variables for the model. Next, ridge regression, random forest, and XGboost models were used to establish a wheat CGMI inversion model, and the coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean squared error (RMSE) were adopted for accuracy evaluation to optimize the wheat optimal growth inversion model.

Results and discussion

The results of the study show that: using the data of wheat biomass, nitrogen content, chlorophyll content and leaf area index to construct the comprehensive growth monitoring indicators, the correlation between the wheat growth monitoring indicators and the spectra was calculated, and the results showed that the correlation between the comprehensive growth monitoring indicators and the single indicator correlation had different degrees of increase, and the growth rate could reach 82.22%. The correlation coefficient between the comprehensive growth monitoring indexes and the differential spectra reached 0.92 at the flowering stage, and compared with the correlation coefficient with the original spectra at the same period, the correlation coefficients increased to different degrees, which indicated that the differential processing of spectral data could effectively enhance the spectral correlation. The three models of Random Forest, Ridge Regression and XGBoost were used to construct the wheat growth inversion model with the best effect at the flowering stage, and the XGBoost model had the highest inversion accuracy when comparing in the same period, with the training and test sets reaching 0.904 and 0.870, and the RMSEs were 0.050 and 0.079, so that the XGBoost model can be used as an effective method of monitoring the growth of wheat. To sum up, this study demonstrates that the combination of constructing comprehensive growth monitoring indicators and differential processing spectra can effectively improve the accuracy of wheat growth monitoring, bringing new methods for precision agriculture management.

Willingness to receive and recommend hypothetical mpox vaccination and associated factors in Chinese adults: a community-based survey in Shenzhen, China

OBJECTIVES

China may face new threats to public health due to the increased risk of imported mpox (monkeypox) cases. However, research gaps exist in the acceptance of mpox vaccination and potential associated factors in the Chinese population.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cross-sectional study targeting community residents in Shenzhen, China, from August 5 to September 7 2022.

METHODS

A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information about demographic and health characteristics, mpox-related perceptions, and attitudes towards mpox vaccination. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to detect the factors associated with willingness to receive and recommend mpox vaccination.

RESULTS

A total of 2293 community residents were included in the analyses (average age: 34.03, female: 72.6%). Among the participants, 76.9% were aware of mpox, 62.1% were aware of the global mpox outbreak, but only 53.6% had a high knowledge level of mpox. Males had a higher proportion of high knowledge (56.9% vs 52.3%, P＜0.05) and a lower proportion of high worry (30.2% vs 45.4%, P＜0.05) than females. Approximately 69.1% of the participants were willing to vaccinate against mpox, and 69.6% were willing to recommend mpox vaccination to people around them, in which no gender difference was found. The obstacle reported most among people hesitant to receive vaccination was concerning the safety and side-effects, whereas it changed to be concerning the suitability due to individual health differences among people hesitant to recommend mpox vaccines. Factors associated with the willingness to receive and recommend mpox vaccination included having a history of influenza vaccination, having a history of COVID-19 vaccination, being aware of the global mpox outbreak, having a high knowledge level of mpox, and having a high level of mpox-related worry.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified a moderate willingness to receive and recommend mpox vaccination among Chinese adults. Without gender differences, willingness to receive and recommend mpox vaccination was significantly associated with mpox-related perceptions, such as awareness, knowledge, and worry. Authoritative and up-to-date information is needed to help the general population improve public confidence in mpox vaccines in China.

Comparison of clinical characteristics and prognosis between type I and type II endometrial cancer: a single-center retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

To explore the differences in clinical characteristics, prognosis, and risk factors between type I and type II endometrial cancer (EC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively collected EC patients diagnosed with type I or type II EC from 2009 to 2021 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.

RESULTS

In total, 606 eligible EC patients (396 type I, and 210 type II) were included. Baseline analyses revealed that type II patients were older, had more advanced clinical stage, were more likely to receive chemoradiotherapy, and had higher incidence of myometrial infiltration, cervix involvement, lymph node metastasis and positive ascites cytology. Type II significantly favored poorer overall survival (OS) (HR = 9.10, 95%CI 4.79-17.28, P < 0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 6.07, 95%CI 2.75-13.37, P < 0.001) compared to type I. For all included EC, univariate and multivariate COX analyses revealed age, myometrial infiltration and pathological type were independent risk factors for OS and PFS. Subgroup analyses identified age, menopause, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis as independent risk factors for type I regarding OS. While age, myometrial infiltration and chemoradiotherapy were identified as risk and protective factors for type II regrading OS. Age and cervix involvement were identified as independent risk factors for type I regarding PFS. Myometrial infiltration was identified as independent risk factor for type II regarding PFS.

CONCLUSION

Type II patients shared different clinical characteristics and worse prognosis compared to type I, and their independent risk and protective factors also varied.

Comparison of clinical characteristics and prognosis in endometrial carcinoma with different pathological types: a retrospective population-based study

BACKGROUND

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the second most common gynecological malignancy, and the differences between different pathological types are not entirely clear. Here, we retrospectively collected eligible EC patients to explore their differences regarding clinical characteristics and prognosis.

METHODS

Five hundred seventy EC patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included. Prognostic factors were measured using the univariate/multivariate Cox models. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were the primary and secondary endpoints, respectively.

RESULTS

In total, 396 patients with uterine endometrioid carcinoma (UEC), 106 patients with uterine serous carcinoma (USC), 34 patients with uterine mixed carcinoma (UMC), and 34 patients with uterine clear cell carcinoma (UCCC) were included. Comparison of baseline characteristics revealed patients diagnosed with UEC were younger, had more early clinical stage, and had lower incidence of menopause and lymph node metastasis. Compared to UEC, other pathological EC obtained more unfavorable OS (UCCC: HR = 12.944, 95%CI = 4.231-39.599, P < 0.001; USC: HR = 5.958, 95%CI = 2.404-14.765, P < 0.001; UMC: HR = 1.777, 95%CI = 0.209-15.114, P = 0.599) and PFS (UCCC: HR = 8.696, 95%CI = 1.972-38.354, P = 0.004; USC: HR = 4.131, 95%CI = 1.243-13.729, P = 0.021; UMC: HR = 5.356, 95%CI = 0.935-30.692, P = 0.060). Compared with UEC patients, the OS of UCCC patients in stage I-II and USC patients in stage III-IV were significantly worse, while UMC patients in stage I-II favored poorer PFS. The OS of UCCC patients receiving no postoperative adjuvant therapy or chemotherapy alone were significantly worse.

CONCLUSIONS

The baseline characteristics of UEC and other rare EC types varied greatly, and the prognostic significance of different pathological types on EC patients depended on clinical tumor stages and therapeutic options.

Single-nucleus RNA sequencing reveals heterogenous microenvironments and specific drug response between cervical squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and adenocarcinoma (CAde) are two major pathological types of cervical cancer (CC), but their high-resolution heterogeneity of tumor and immune microenvironment remains elusive.

METHODS

Here, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) from five CSCC and three CAde samples, and systematically outlined their specific transcriptome atlas.

FINDINGS

We found CD8+ T cells in CSCC were more cytotoxic but lower exhausted compared to those in CAde, and phagocytic MRC1+ macrophages were specifically enriched in CSCC. Interestingly, we discovered that pro-tumoral cancer-associated myofibroblasts (myoCAFs) and cancer-associated vascular-fibroblasts (vCAFs) were more abundant in CSCC, and further verified their pro-metastatic roles in vitro. Furthermore, we also identified some specific chemotherapy drugs for CSCC (Dasatinib and Doramapimod) and CAde (Pyrimethamine and Lapatinib) by revealing their heterogeneity in transcriptomic profiles of malignant epithelial cells, and further verified their specific sensitivity in cell lines and constructed CC-derived organoids. Cell-cell communication networks revealed that the pathways of NRG1-ERBB2, and FN1-ITAG3 were specific for CAde and CSCC, respectively, which may partly explain the specificities of identified chemotherapy drugs.

INTERPRETATION

Our study described the immune heterogeneity and specific cellular interactions between CSCC and CAde, which could provide insights for uncovering pathogenesis and designing personalized treatment.

FUNDINGS

National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFC2701201), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82072895, 82141106, 82103134, 81903114).

Construction and evaluation of a phospholipid-based phase transition in situ gel system for brexpiprazole

The objective of this study was to develop phospholipid-based injectable phase transition in situ gels (PTIGs) for the sustained release of Brexpiprazole (Brex). Phospholipid (Lipoid S100, S100) and stearic acid (SA) were used as the gel matrix which was dissolved in biocompatible solvent medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), and ethanol to obtain PTIGs solution. The Brex PTIG showed a solution condition of low viscosity in vitro and was gelatinized in situ in vivo after subcutaneous injection. Both in vitro release assay and in vivo pharmacokinetics study in SD rats displayed that Brex in PTIGs could achieve a sustained release, compared with brexpiprazole solution (Brex-Sol) or brexpiprazole suspension (Brex-Sus). The Brex-PTIGs had good degradability and biocompatibility in vivo with rare inflammation at the injection site. Among the three Brex-PTIG formulations, Brex-PTIG-3 with the SA in the formulation had the greatest gelation viscosity, the lowest initial release rate, and the most stable release profile with sustained release of up to 60 days. The above results indicated that, as a novel drug delivery system, the Brex-PTIGs offered a new option for the clinical treatment of patients with schizophrenia.

Prognosis, Immune Microenvironment Infiltration and Immunotherapy Response in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Based on Cuproptosis-related Immune Checkpoint Gene Signature

Background: Immune checkpoint genes (ICGs), which are the cornerstone of immunotherapy, influence the incidence and progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). It is important to note that there is not much data in the literature to determine how cuproptosis and antitumor immunity are related. Methods: On the basis of The Cancer Genome Atlas ccRCC dataset (n=526), cuproptosis-related ICGs (CICGs) were used to identify distinct molecular subtypes. Using the Cox regression method, a risk signature was constructed and externally validated using the ICGC (n=91) and primary ccRCC subgroups of GSE22541 (n=24). The molecular and immune characteristics and efficacy of immunotherapy in the subgroups defined by the risk score were investigated. Four risk CICGs were verified through in vitro experiment. Results: We identified two unique molecular subgroups with substantial prognostic differences based on 17 CICGs. The two subtypes clearly differ in terms of the tumor immune microenvironment (TME). A predictive risk signature (CD276, HLA-E, LGALS9, and TNFRSF18) was created and externally confirmed, and their expressions were validated by realtime PCR. The multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that this signature could independently predict survival. Thus, a credible nomogram incorporating the signature, age, stage, and grade was constructed, and discrimination was confirmed using the C-index, calibration curve, and decision curve analyses. The underlying implications for immune checkpoint inhibitors, the landscape of the TME, and single-cell level localization are depicted. In addition, its accuracy in forecasting actual immunotherapeutic results has been proven (CheckMate025 and TCGA-SKCM cohorts). The sensitivity of the two risk groups to various drug-targeted therapy methods was analyzed. Conclusions: The data provided here provide the groundwork for creating customized therapeutic options for individuals with ccRCC. The findings also suggested that researching the cuproptosis-based pathway might improve ccRCC patient better prognosis, development of anti-tumor immunity, and therapeutic strategies for immunotherapy.

Identification of a pyroptosis-related long non-coding RNA Signature for prognosis and its related ceRNA regulatory network of ovarian cancer

Aim: To identify the pyroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in ovarian cancer and construct a prognostic signature based on them. Methods: Expression data from TCGA was used to explore differentially expressed pyroptosis-related lncRNAs in ovarian cancer. A risk signature was established by LASSO and cox regression analysis and then validated. Databases such as ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, TIMER, XCELL were used to identify the relation between this signature and the immune microenvironment of ovarian cancer. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was introduced to identify the pathways and functions that the signature may participate in. Based on miRcode and starBase databases, microRNAs related to the lncRNAs in our signature and the positively co-expressed pyroptosis- related genes were screened and a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was then constructed. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was conducted to validate the expression levels of two lncRNAs in this ceRNA network. Results: A 13 pyroptosis-related lncRNA prognostic signature (MYCNOS, AL161772.1, USP30-AS1, ZNF32-AS2, AC068733.3, AC012236.1, AC015802.5, KIAA1671-AS1, AC013403.2, MIR223HG, KRT7-AS, PTPRD-AS1 and LINC01094) was constructed. Patients in high-risk group had a significantly worse prognosis than that of low-risk (P<0.0001). Immune infiltration analysis found that patients identified as high-risk had a higher infiltration of macrophages and tumor-associated fibroblasts. Further pathway analysis revealed that the signature may be involved in epithelial mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix receptor interaction, and focal adhesion. Finally, a competitive endogenous inhibition relationship was discovered between LINC01094, KRT7-AS, MYCNOS, ZNF32-AS2, AC012236.1 and pyroptosis- related genes such as IRF1, NOD1, GSDMC, NLRP1, PLCG1, GSDME and GZMB, in which LINC01094 and KRT7-AS were found to be overexpressed in three ovarian cancer cell lines. Conclusion: We constructed a pyroptosis-related lncRNA signature and correlate it to the immune microenvironment. A ceRNA regulatory network related to pyroptosis was also constructed, which provides novel insights useful for the study of pyroptosis in ovarian cancer.

Downregulation of PIM1 Regulates Glycolysis and Suppresses Tumor Progression in Gallbladder Cancer [Retraction]

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.2147/CMAR.S184381.].

Spent Coffee Grounds Derived Carbon Loading C, N Doped TiO2 for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is an ideal photocatalyst candidate due to its high activity, low toxicity and cost, and high chemical stability. However, its practical application in photocatalysis is seriously hindered by the wide band gap energy of TiO₂ and the prone recombination of electron-hole pairs. In this study, C, N doped TiO₂ were supported on spent coffee grounds-derived carbon (ACG) via in situ formation, which was denoted as C, N-TiO₂@ACG. The obtained C, N-TiO₂@ACG exhibits increased light absorption efficiency with the band gap energy decreasing from 3.31 eV of TiO₂ to 2.34 eV, a higher specific surface area of 145.8 m²/g, and reduced recombination rates attributed to the synergistic effect of a spent coffee grounds-derived carbon substrate and C, N doping. Consequently, the optimal 1:1 C, N-TiO₂@ACG delivers considerable photocatalytic activity with degradation efficiencies for methylene blue (MB) reaching 96.9% within 45 min, as well as a high reaction rate of 0.06348 min^-1, approximately 4.66 times that of TiO₂ (0.01361 min^-1). Furthermore, it also demonstrated greatly enhanced photocatalytic efficiency towards methyl orange (MO) in the presence of MB compared with a single MO solution. This work provides a feasible and universal strategy of synchronous introducing nonmetal doping and biomass-derived carbon substrates to promote the photocatalytic performance of TiO₂ for the degradation of organic dyes.

First report of grapevine asteroid mosaic-associated virus in grapevines in China

Grapevine asteroid mosaic-associated virus (GAMaV), a member of the genus Marafivirus of the family Tymoviridae, was first described to infect grapevines in California (Abou Ghanem-Sabanadzovic et al. 2003). Since then, GAMaV has been reported from Greece, Japan, Canada, Uruguay, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Russia, and also in some free-living grapevines in North America (Kyriakopoulou, 1991; Morán et al., 2021; Reynard et al., 2022; Shvets et al., 2022; Thompson et al., 2021). GAMaV may be associated with grapevine asteroid mosaic disease (Martelli 2014). In August 2022, a grapevine cv. Cabernet Sauvignon exhibiting chlorotic mottling was collected in Ningxia, China. Total RNAs were extracted using RNAprep Pure Plant Plus Kit (DP441, TIANGEN BIOTECH, Beijing), and the ribosomal RNA were removed by the Epicentre Ribo-Zero rRNA Removal Kit (Epicentre, Madison, WI, USA). The ribosomal RNA-depleted RNAs were then used to construct a cDNA library using a TruSeq RNA Sample Prep Kit (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA), which was sequenced on an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform (Biomarker Biology Technology), resulting in 39,297,567 paired-end clean reads (150 nt × 2). Reads mapping to the grapevine genome (GenBank accession no PN40024) were removed using hisat2 2.1.0 software. The 15,003,158 unmapped reads were de novo assembled into 70,512 contigs using the rnaviralSPAdes method in the SPAdes v3.15.3 software with default parameters and analyzed through BLASTn and BLASTx analysis. Five viruses and two viroids were identified: GAMaV (5 contigs), grapevine Pinot gris virus (3 contigs), grapevine berry inner necrosis virus (3 contigs) , grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (4 contigs), grapevine red globe virus (2 contigs), grapevine yellow speckle 1 viroid (4 contigs) and hop stunt viroid (3 contigs). The five contigs of GAMaV were 352 nt~2, 224 nt in length, which were assembled from 3, 308 reads and shared 85.56%~91.81% nt identity with the genome of the GAMaV isolate GV30 (KX354202) with 93.3% coverage. To further confirm the infection of GAMaV, we designed two pairs of primers, GAMaV-mel1a/1b (5'-CACCTCGCCCCCTACCTTGAC-3'/5'-AAGAGGACGCCTTTGCGGGAG-3') and GAMaV-cp1a/1b (5'-CTAGCGACGACCGCACTGATC-3'/5'-GTCGGTGTACGAGATTTGGTC-3'), which were used to amplify the 329-bp and 440-bp fragments in the helicase (Hel) domain and coat protein (CP) gene of GAMaV genome in RT-PCR, respectively. The amplified PCR products were cloned and sequenced and the two sequences (OQ676951 and OQ676958) showed 91.2% and 93.4% nt identity with the isolate GV30, respectively. Furthermore, 429 grapevine samples of 71 cultivars were collected from 21 provinces and tested by RT-PCR using the above primer pairs. The results showed that 1.4% (6/429) of the samples tested positive, including one 'Autumn seedless' grapevine (Liaoning province), two 'Dawuhezi' (Liaoning), one 'Cabernet Gernischt' (Liaoning) and two 'Cabernet Sauvignon' (Tianjing and Shandong respectively). The partial sequences of the Hel domain (OQ676952-57) and CP gene (OQ676959-61) obtained from the positive samples by sequencing showed 89.1% to 84.5% and 93.6% to 93.9% nt identity with the isolate GV30, respectively. Because these GAMaV-positive grapevines did not show distinct symptoms, GAMaV pathogenicity remains challenging to confirm. This is the first report of GAMaV in grapevines in China, extending the information on its geographical distribution.

The prognosis of patients with small cell carcinoma of the cervix: a retrospective study of the SEER database and a Chinese multicentre registry

BACKGROUND

Small cell carcinoma of the cervix is a rare but poor prognosis pathological type of cervical cancer, for which advice in clinical guidelines is unspecific. We therefore aimed to investigate the factors and treatment methods that affect the prognosis of patients with small cell carcinoma of the cervix.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we collected data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 registries cohort and a Chinese multi-institutional registry. The SEER cohort included females diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the cervix between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2018, whereas the Chinese cohort included women diagnosed between Jun 1, 2006, and April 30, 2022. In both cohorts, eligibility was limited to female patients older than 20 years with a confirmed diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the cervix. Participants who were lost to follow-up or those for whom small cell carcinoma of the cervix was not the primary malignant tumour were excluded from the multi-institutional registry, and those with an unknown surgery status (in addition to those for whom small cell carcinoma of the cervix was not the primary malignant tumour) were excluded from the SEER data. The primary outcome of this study was overall survival (length of time from the date of first diagnosis until the date of death from any cause, or the last follow-up). Kaplan-Meier analysis, propensity score matching, and Cox-regression analyses were used to assess treatment outcomes and risk factors.

FINDINGS

1288 participants were included in the study; 610 in the SEER cohort and 678 in the Chinese cohort. Both univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis (SEER hazard ratio [HR] 0·65 [95% CI 0·48-0·88], p=0·0058; China HR 0·53 [0·37-0·76], p=0·0005) showed that surgery was associated with a better prognosis. In subgroup analyses, surgery remained a protective factor for patients with locally advanced disease in both cohorts (SEER HR 0·61 [95% CI 0·39-0·94], p=0·024; China HR 0·59 [0·37-0·95]; p=0·029). Furthermore, the protective effect of surgery was observed among patients with locally advanced disease after propensity score matching in the SEER cohort (HR 0·52 [95% CI 0·32-0·84]; p=0·0077). In the China registry, surgery was associated with better outcomes in patients with stage IB3-IIA2 cancer (HR 0·17 [95% CI 0·05-0·50]; p=0·0015).

INTERPRETATION

This study provides evidence that surgery improves outcomes of patients with small cell carcinoma of the cervix. Although guidelines recommend non-surgical methods as first-line treatment, patients with locally advanced disease or stage IB3-IIA2 cancer might benefit from surgery.

FUNDING

The National Key R&D Program of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Development and validation of a prediction model for unsuccessful treatment outcomes in patients with multi-drug resistance tuberculosis

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization has reported that the treatment success rate of multi-drug resistance tuberculosis is approximately 57% globally. Although new drugs such as bedaquiline and linezolid is likely improve the treatment outcome, there are other factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome. The factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes have been widely examined, but only a few studies have developed prediction models. We aimed to develop and validate a simple clinical prediction model for unsuccessful treatment outcomes in patients with multi-drug resistance pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-PTB).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was performed between January 2017 and December 2019 at a special hospital in Xi'an, China. A total of 446 patients with MDR-PTB were included. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression were used to select prognostic factors for unsuccessful treatment outcomes. A nomogram was built based on four prognostic factors. Internal validation and leave-one-out cross-validation was used to assess the model.

RESULTS

Of the 446 patients with MDR-PTB, 32.9% (147/446) cases had unsuccessful treatment outcomes, and 67.1% had successful outcomes. After LASSO regression and multivariate logistic analyses, no health education, advanced age, being male, and larger extent lung involvement were identified as prognostic factors. These four prognostic factors were used to build the prediction nomograms. The area under the curve of the model was 0.757 (95%CI 0.711 to 0.804), and the concordance index (C-index) was 0.75. For the bootstrap sampling validation, the corrected C-index was 0.747. In the leave-one-out cross-validation, the C-index was 0.765. The slope of the calibration curve was 0.968, which was approximately 1.0. This indicated that the model was accurate in predicting unsuccessful treatment outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

We built a predictive model and established a nomogram for unsuccessful treatment outcomes of multi-drug resistance pulmonary tuberculosis based on baseline characteristics. This predictive model showed good performance and could be used as a tool by clinicians to predict who among their patients will have an unsuccessful treatment outcome.

Visual Volatile-Compound Fingerprint Based on Headspace Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry Combined with Chemometrics Analysis and Exploration in the Authentic Identification of Lonicerae japonicae flos

Headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometric (HS-GC-IMS) fingerprint of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJF, Jinyinhua in Chinese) was developed. This method, combined with chemometrics analysis, was explored in the identification of authentic LJF. Seventy VOCs were identified from LJF, including aldehydes, ketones, esters, etc. The developed volatile-compound fingerprint based on HS-GC-IMS coupled with PCA analysis can successfully discriminate LJF from its adulterant: Lonicerae japonicae(LJ, called Shanyinhua in China) and can equally discriminate the LJF samples from different geographical origins of China. Total of four (compound 120, compound 184, 2-heptanone and 2-heptanone#2) and nine VOCs (styrene, compound 41, 3z-hexenol, methylpyrazine, hexanal#2, compound 78, compound 110, compound 124 and compound 180) were exploited, which might serve as the chemical markers for the difference of LJF, LJ and LJF from different regions of China. The result showed that the fingerprint based on HS-GC-IMS combined with PCA exhibited distinct advantages, such as rapid, intuitive and powerful selectivity, which demonstrated great application potential in the authentic identification of LJF.

A novel cuproptosis-related gene signature for overall survival prediction in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC)

Cuproptosis is a copper-dependent model of cell death involved in tumor genesis and progression. Its roles in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) remains elusive. Here, we aimed to explore the expression and prognostic values of cuprotosis-related genes (CRGs) in UCEC. Expression profiles and clinical data of UCEC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and randomly divided into testing or training cohort (1:1 ratio). The CRG signature was identified by LASSO regression analysis. The differentially expressed genes and their functional enrichment analysis were performed by the "limma" R package and Metascape, respectively. The immunocytes infiltration was measured by TIMER, and "GSVA" R package. In total, seven differentially expressed prognostic genes of CRGs in UCEC were identified, and four genes (GLS, CDKN2A, PC, and SUCLG1) were selected to construct a predictive model in training cohort. UCEC patients from training and testing cohorts were further divided into high- or low-risk groups according to the median risk score. High-risk group favored poor prognosis compared to low-risk group. Functional enrichment analysis revealed this CRG signature were got involved in the process of cell-cell adhesion and immune activities (e.g., IL-1 signaling pathway, cellular response to cytokine stimulus). Further analyses revealed there were significant differences between high- and low-risk patients regarding immunocytes infiltration, chemokines, and chemokine receptors. Finally, the expression and biological functions of identified CRGs were confirmed by UCEC samples and experimental methods in vitro. In summary, the CRG signature was significantly correlated with patients' overall survival, which could provide insights into the diagnosis and prognosis prediction for UCEC.

Sphondin efficiently blocks HBsAg production and cccDNA transcription through promoting HBx degradation

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss and seroconversion, which is considered as functional cure of chronic HBV infection, is rarely achieved even after long-term antiviral treatments. Therefore, new antiviral strategies interfering with other HBV replication steps are required, especially those that could efficiently inhibit HBsAg production. Here, we identified novel anti-HBV compounds that could potently block HBsAg expression from cccDNA by screening a natural compound library derived from Chinese traditional medical plants by a novel screening strategy. The combination of ELISA assay detecting the HBsAg and real-time PCR detecting HBV RNAs as indicator for cccDNA transcriptional activity were used. The antiviral activity of a candidate compound and underlying mechanism were evaluated in HBV-infected cells and a humanized liver mouse model. Herein, we selected a highly effective low-cytotoxic compound sphondin, which could effectively inhibit both intracellular HBsAg production and HBV RNAs levels. Moreover, we found that sphondin markedly inhibited cccDNA transcriptional activity without affecting cccDNA level. Mechanistic study found sphondin preferentially bound to HBx protein by residue Arg72, which led to increased 26S proteasome-mediated degradation of HBx. Sphondin treatment significantly reduced the recruitment of HBx to cccDNA, which subsequently led to inhibition of cccDNA transcription and HBsAg expression. The absence of HBx or R72A mutation potently abrogated the antiviral effect induced by sphondin in HBV-infected cells. Collectively, sphondin may be considered as a novel and natural antiviral agent directly targeting HBx protein, which effectively inhibited cccDNA transcription and HBsAg expression. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Distribution, dynamic evolution, and clinical outcomes of patients with advanced breast cancer according to HER2 expression

BACKGROUND

Novel antibody‒drug conjugates (ADC) have shown great efficacy in HER2-low advanced breast cancer. However, the clinical features of HER2-low disease still need to be clarified. The current study aims to evaluate the distribution and dynamic change in HER2 expression in patients with disease recurrence and the clinical outcome of those patients.

METHODS

Patients with pathologically diagnosed relapsed breast cancer between 2009 and 2018 were included. Samples were considered HER2-zero when the immunohistochemistry (IHC) score was 0, HER2-low when the IHC score was 1 + or 2 + with negative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results, and HER2-positive when the IHC score was 3 + or the FISH results were positive. Breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) was compared among the three HER2 groups. Changes in HER2 status were also evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 247 patients were included. Among recurrent tumors, 53 (21.5%) were HER2-zero, 127 (51.4%) were HER2-low, and 67 (27.1%) were HER2-positive. The HER2-low subtype represented 68.1% of the HR-positive breast cancer group and 31.3% of the HR-negative group (P < 0.001). This three-group classification of HER2 status was prognostic in advanced breast cancer (P = 0.0011), with HER2-positive patients having the best clinical outcome after disease recurrence (P = 0.024), while only marginal survival advantages were observed in HER2-low patients versus HER2-zero patients (P = 0.051). In the subgroup analysis, the survival difference was observed only in patients with HR-negative recurrent tumors (P = 0.0006) or with distant metastasis (P = 0.0037). The overall discordance rate of HER2 status between primary and recurrent tumors was 38.1%, with 25 (49.0%) primary HER2-zero patients and 19 (26.8%) HER2-positive patients shifting to HER2-low at recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Nearly half of the advanced breast cancer patients had HER2-low disease, which indicates a poorer prognosis than HER2-positive disease and marginally better outcomes than HER2-zero disease. During disease progression, one-fifth of tumors convert to HER2-low entities, and the corresponding patients may benefit from ADC treatment.

[Research progress of single-cell sequencing technology in liver diseases]

Liver disease is one of the most burdensome diseases in the world. Therefore, new technologies are needed to study its pathogenesis in depth; however, because of its complex pathogenesis, there are relatively limited treatment options. Single-cell sequencing (SCS), as an emerging sequencing method, reflects the heterogeneity between cells by sequencing the genome, transcriptome, and epigenome of a single cell, thereby revealing the complex mechanisms of disease occurrence and development. The application of SCS in the study of liver diseases will enrich our understanding of the pathogenesis of liver diseases and provide a new direction for exploring the diagnosis and treatment. This article mainly reviews the research progress of SCS technology in liver diseases.

FNDC5 and AKR1B10 inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of adrenocortical carcinoma cells by regulating AMPK/mTOR pathway

Being a rare malignancy, adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) exhibits aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) is a transmembrane protein involved in multiple types of cancer. Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) has a suppressive role in ACC. The present study aimed to investigate the role of FNDC5 in ACC cells as well as its mechanisms related to AKR1B10. The Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database predicted FNDC5 expression in tumour tissue of patients suffering from ACC and the overall survival rate. Western blotting as well as reverse transcription-quantitative PCR were used for the examination of the transfection efficiency of FNDC5-overexpression vector (Oe-FNDC5) and small interfering (si)RNA against AKR1B10. Cell Counting Kit-8 was employed for the assessment of cell viability. The proliferation, migration and invasion of the transfected cells were assessed by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining, wound healing and Transwell assays. Additionally, cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity was determined by ELISA. The levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition- and 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mTOR signalling pathway-associated proteins were assessed by western blotting. The interaction between FNDC5 and AKR1B10 was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. FNDC5 levels in ACC tissue were reduced compared with normal tissue. After overexpressing FNDC5, proliferation, migration and invasion of NCI-H295R cells were suppressed, while cell apoptosis was promoted. FNDC5 interacted with AKR1B10 and AKR1B10 knockdown promoted proliferation, migration and invasion while inhibiting the apoptosis of NCI-H295R cells transfected with si-AKR1B10. The AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway was activated by FNDC5 overexpression, which was subsequently suppressed by AKR1B10 knockdown. Collectively, FNDC5 overexpression inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion while promoting apoptosis of NCI-H295R cells via triggering the AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway. These effects were counteracted by AKR1B10 knockdown.

MOF-Derived Co/C and MXene co-Decorated Cellulose-Derived Hybrid Carbon Aerogel with a Multi-Interface Architecture toward Absorption-Dominated Ultra-Efficient Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Exploring electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with ultra-efficient EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) and an absorption-dominated mechanism is urgently required for fundamentally tackling EMI radiation pollution. Herein, zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67)/MXene/cellulose aerogels were first prepared via a simple solution mixing-regeneration and freeze-drying process. Subsequently, they are converted into electric/magnetic hybrid carbon aerogels (Co/C/MXene/cellulose-derived carbon aerogels) through a facile pyrolysis strategy. ZIF-67-derived porous Co/C could provide the additional magnetic loss capacity. The resultant electric/magnetic hybrid carbon aerogels exhibit a hierarchically porous structure, complementary electromagnetic waves (EMWs) loss mechanisms, and abundant heterointerfaces. The construction of a porous architecture and the synergy of electric/magnetic loss could greatly alleviate the impedance mismatching at the air-specimen interface, which enables more EMWs to enter into the materials for consumption. Moreover, numerous heterointerfaces among Co/C, Ti₃C₂T_x MXene, and cellulose-derived carbon skeleton induce the generation of multiple polarization losses containing interfacial and dipole polarization, which further dissipate the EMWs. The resultant electric/magnetic hybrid carbon aerogel with a low density (85.6 mg/cm³) achieves an ultrahigh EMI SE of 86.7 dB and a superior absorption coefficient of 0.72 simultaneously. This work not only offers a novel approach to design high-performance EMI shielding materials entailing low reflection characteristic but also broadens the applicability of electric/magnetic hybrid carbon aerogels in aerospace, precision electronic devices, and military stealth instruments.

Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Dissecting Interaction between Vitis vinifera L. and Grapevine Fabavirus

Grapevine fabavirus (GFabV) is a novel member of the Fabavirus genus associated with chlorotic mottling and deformation symptoms in grapevines. To gain insights into the interaction between GFabV and grapevines, V. vinifera cv. 'Summer Black' infected with GFabV was investigated under field conditions through physiological, agronomic, and multi-omics approaches. GFabV induced significant symptoms on 'Summer Black', and caused a moderate decrease in physiological efficiency. In GFabV-infected plants, alterations in carbohydrate- and photosynthesis-related genes might trigger some defense responses. In addition, secondary metabolism involved in plant defense was progressively induced by GFabV. Jasmonic acid and ethylene signaling were down-regulated in GFabV-infected leaves and berries along with the expression of proteins related to LRR and protein kinases, suggesting that GFabV can block the defense in healthy leaves and berries. Furthermore, this study provided biomarkers for early monitoring of GFabV infection in grapevines, and contributed to a better understanding of the complex grapevine-virus interaction.

Reversible information hiding scheme based on interpolation and histogram shift for medical images

Medical imaging and information management systems require transmission and storage of medical images over the Internet. Many reversible information hiding schemes for image have been proposed to ensure security and availability. In order to avoid the risk of medical information leakage and the medical image distortion, a reversible information hiding scheme based on interpolation and histogram shift for medical images has been proposed in this paper. The proposed adaptive interpolation between neighbor pixels (AIA) technique is used to obtain seed and non-seed pixels, which ensures the reversibility of the scheme while balancing the embedding capacity and the quality of marked image. Then, the image is divided into the region of interest (ROI) and the region of non-interest (NROI). Sensitive information such as electronic patient records (EPR) and electronic signatures of medical images are embedded as secret information. In the ROI, the corresponding bit histogram shift repeated embedding method (CBHSR) is adopted for embedding information to effectively avoid the problem of image distortion caused by histogram stretching. Experimental results show that algorithm not only has high embedding capacity, but also keeps the peak signal-to-noise ratio above 50dB, visual information fidelity and structural similarity above 0.99, which has good subjective and objective image quality.

A systematic morphology study on the effect of high glucose on intervertebral disc endplate degeneration in mice

To explore the relationship between diabetes and intervertebral disc degeneration in mice and the associated underlying mechanism. Four-week-old male Kunming mice were used to model diabetes using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection. After 6 months, morphological and pathological changes in L4-L6 intervertebral discs were detected by magnetic resonance imaging, micro-CT and histological staining. Immunostaining of CD31, F4/80 and CD16/32 receptors was used to detect vascular invasion and inflammatory infiltration in endplates; the exact changes were then explored by the transmission electron microscopy. The nucleus pulposus of the control and the diabetic group had a clear boundary and regular shape without collapse, while endplate calcification and chondrocyte abnormality in the diabetic group were more obvious. Immunofluorescence confirmed that compared to control, expression levels of CD31 (vascular endothelial marker) and F4/80 (monocyte/macrophage marker) in the diabetic group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), with an elevated number of F4/80 (+)/CD16/32 (+) cells (P < 0.05). The morphology of endplates was observed by transmission electron microscopy, which showed monocytes/macrophage accumulation in the endplate of the diabetic group, accompanied by increased vascular density, collagen fiber distortion and chondrocyte abnormality. In a conclusion, diabetes promotes endplate degeneration with vascular invasion, monocyte/macrophage infiltration and inflammation in mice.

[Research progress of the regulatory role of autophagy in metabolic liver diseases]

Autophagy is one of several hepatic metabolic processes in which starved cells are supplied with glucose, free fatty acids, and amino acids to produce energy and synthesize new macromolecules. Moreover, it regulates the quantity and quality of mitochondria and other organelles. As the liver is a vital metabolic organ, specific forms of autophagy are necessary for maintaining liver homeostasis. Protein, fat, and sugar are the three primary nutrients that can be altered by different metabolic liver diseases. Drugs that have an effect on autophagy can either promote or inhibit autophagy, and as a result, it can either increase or inhibit the three major nutritional metabolisms that are affected by liver disease. Thus, this opens up a novel therapeutic option for liver disease.

The Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Cervical Cancer Attributable to Smoking From 1990 to 2019: Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Smoking is one of the risk factors for cervical cancer. Understanding the global distribution of the disease burden of cervical cancer attributable to smoking and related changes is of clear significance for the prevention and control of cervical cancer in key populations and for tobacco control. As far as we know, research on the burden of cervical cancer attributable to smoking is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

We estimated the disease burden and mortality of cervical cancer attributable to smoking and related trends over time at the global, regional, and national levels.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease study website. Age-standardized rates were used to facilitate comparisons of mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) at different levels. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was used to assess trends in the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR). A Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate correlations between the sociodemographic index and the age-standardized rates.

RESULTS

In 2019, there were 30,136.65 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 14,945.09-49,639.87) cervical cancer-related deaths and 893,735.25 (95% UI 469,201.51-1,440,050.85) cervical cancer-related DALYs attributable to smoking. From 1990 to 2019, the global burden of cervical cancer attributable to smoking showed a decreasing trend around the world; the EAPCs for ASMR and ASDR were -2.11 (95% CI -2.16 to -2.06) and -2.22 (95% CI -2.26 to -2.18), respectively. In terms of age characteristics, in 2019, an upward trend was observed for age in the mortality of cervical cancer attributable to smoking. Analysis of the trend in DALYs with age revealed an initially increasing and then decreasing trend. From 1990 to 2019, the burden of disease in different age groups showed a downward trend. Among 204 countries, 180 countries showed downward trends, 10 countries showed upward trends, and the burden was stable in 14 countries. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between sociodemographic index and the age-standardized rates of cervical cancer attributable to smoking (ρ=-0.228, P<.001 for ASMR and ρ=-0.223, P<.001 for ASDR).

CONCLUSIONS

An increase over time in the absolute number of cervical cancer deaths and DALYs attributable to smoking and a decrease over time in the ASMR and ASDR for cervical cancer attributable to smoking were observed in the overall population, and differences in these variables were also observed between countries and regions. More attention should be paid to cervical cancer prevention and screening in women who smoke, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Distinct niche structures and intrinsic programs of fallopian tube and ovarian surface epithelial cells

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) can originate from either fallopian tube epithelial (FTE) or ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells, but with different latencies and disease outcomes. To address the basis of these differences, we performed single cell RNA-sequencing of mouse cells isolated from the distal half of fallopian tube (FT) and surface layer of ovary. We find at the molecular level, FTE secretory stem/progenitor cells and OSE cells resemble mammary luminal progenitors and basal cells, respectively. An FT stromal subpopulation, enriched with Pdgfra ⁺ and Esr1 ⁺ cells, expresses multiple secreted factor (e.g., IGF1) and Hedgehog pathway genes and may serve as a niche for FTE cells. In contrast, Lgr5 ⁺ OSE cells express similar genes largely by themselves, raising a possibility that they serve as their own niche. The differences in intrinsic expression programs and niche organizations of FTE and OSE cells may contribute to their different courses toward the development of EOCs.

[The role of circulating tumor DNA in the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common malignant tumors. However, the detection of biomarkers can't meet the clinical needs for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC now. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a highly tumor-specific DNA molecule that exists in the blood circulation. It is part of Circulating cell free DNA (cfDNA) and originates from the primary tumor or metastasis of cancer patients. Now, with the developing of next-generation sequencing technology and a full understanding of HCC genetics or epigenetic changes, we can analyze ctDNA mutations and methylation more comprehensively. Through continuous exploration of ctDNA mutations and methylation and continuous innovation of detection methods, HCC diagnosis and prognosis can be greatly improved in terms of specificity and sensitivity.

The comparative study for survival outcome of locally advanced cervical cancer treated by neoadjuvant arterial interventional chemotherapy or intravenous chemotherapy followed by surgery or concurrent chemoradiation

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the survival outcome of 3 different treatment groups (arterial interventional chemotherapy or intravenous chemotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy) for locally advanced cervical cancer.

METHODS

A total of 187 patients with pathological stage IB3-IIB cervical cancer (cervical squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, or adenocarcinoma) hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to May 2019 were included. Therefore, this article is a retrospective study. We collected data from all eligible patients. And all according to the treatment methods at that time, they were divided into three subgroups: (1) 40 patients who received neoadjuvant arterial interventional chemotherapy + surgery + postoperative chemotherapy (IA-NAC + RS), (2) 63 patients who received neoadjuvant intravenous chemotherapy + surgery + postoperative chemotherapy (IV-NAC + RS), (3) 84 patients who only received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Notably, 108 of these patients met the 5-year follow-up period, and 187 patients met the 3-year follow-up period only. Consequently, we compared 5-year survival and 3-year survival separately. The prognosis (5-year survival and 3-year survival) of the three groups and the chemotherapy efficacy, intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and postoperative pathological risk factors of different subgroups were compared.

RESULTS

(1) There were no significant differences in the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate, 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate, 5-year OS rate, and 5-year PFS rate among the three subgroups (p > 0.05). (2) The chemotherapy response rates of IA-NAC+RS group (37.5%) and IV-NAC+RS group (25.4%) were comparable (p > 0.05). (3) The intraoperative blood loss in the IA-NAC+RS group (average 92.13±84.09 mL) was significantly lower than that in the IV-NAC+RS group (average 127.2±82.36 mL) (p < 0.05). (4) The operation time of the IA-NAC+RS group (average 231.43±63.10 min) and the IV-NAC+RS group (average 219.82±49.11 min) were comparable (p > 0.05). (5) There were no significant differences between the IA-NAC+RS group and IV-NAC+RS group in pathological lymph node metastasis, parametrial invasion, and involvement of lymphovascular space (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with surgery had the same long-term survival benefit as concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

[The study of a key molecule Caspase-1 of inflammasome in hepatitis B virus-related diseases]

Objective: To investigate the expression and role of asparte-specific cysteine protease (Caspase)-1, inflammasomes key molecule, in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related diseases. Methods: HBV-related liver disease patients' serum (438 cases) and liver tissue (82 cases) samples were collected from Beijing You'an Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University. The mRNA expression level of caspase-1 in liver tissue was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The protein expression level of Caspase-1 in liver tissue was detected by the immunofluorescence method. The activity of Caspase-1 was detected using the Caspase-1 colorimetric assay kit. The level of Caspase-1 in the serum was detected by an ELISA kit. Results: The results of qRT-PCR showed that the mRNA level of Caspase-1 was downregulated in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while up-regulated in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) (P＜0.01) compared with normal subjects. Immunofluorescence assays showed that Caspase-1 protein levels were elevated in ACLF patients, decreased in HCC and LC patients, and slightly elevated in CHB patients. The activity of Caspase-1 was slightly higher in liver tissue from CHB, LC, and HCC patients than in the normal control group, and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Additionally, compared with the control group, Caspase-1 activity was significantly reduced in the ACLF group (P＜0.01). Serum Caspase-1 levels were significantly lower in patients with CHB, ACLF, LC, and HCC than in normal subjects, and serum Caspase-1 levels were lowest in patients with ACLF (P＜0.001). Conclusion: Caspase-1, a key molecule of inflammasomes, plays an important role in HBV-related diseases and has significant differences, showing distinct features for ACLF than other HBV-related diseases.

PLP1 may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker of uterine fibroids

Objective: We aim to identify the crucial genes or potential biomarkers associated with uterine fibroids (UFs), which may provide clinicians with evidence about the diagnostic biomarker of UFs and reveal the mechanism of its progression.

Methods: The gene expression and genome-wide DNA methylation profiles were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO). GSE45189, GSE31699, and GSE593 datasets were included. GEO2R and Venn diagrams were used to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and extract the hub genes. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed by the online tool Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). The mRNA and protein expression of hub genes were validated by RT-qPCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value.

Results: We detected 22 DEGs between UFs and normal myometrium, which were enriched in cell maturation, apoptotic process, hypoxia, protein binding, and cytoplasm for cell composition. By finding the intersection of the data between differentially expressed mRNA and DNA methylation profiles, 3 hub genes were identified, including transmembrane 4 L six family member 1 (TM4SF1), TNF superfamily member 10 (TNFSF10), and proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1). PLP1 was validated to be up-regulated significantly in UFs both at mRNA and protein levels. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of PLP1 was 0.956, with a sensitivity of 79.2% and a specificity of 100%. Conclusion: Overall, our results indicate that PLP1 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker for uterine fibroids.

Molecular subtypes based on cuproptosis-related genes and tumor microenvironment infiltration characterization in ovarian cancer

Background

Cuproptosis (copper death) is a recently found cell death type produced by copper iron; nonetheless, the properties of cuproptosis molecular subtypes and possible involvement of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in ovarian cancer (OC) remain unknown.

Methods

CRG changes were characterized at the genomic and transcriptional levels in 656 OC samples, and their expression patterns were investigated using three different datasets.

Results

We identified three distinct molecular subtypes, and discovered that variations in molecular subtypes were linked to patient prognosis, TME cell infiltration characteristics, malignancy, and immune-related pathways. Then, in order to predict overall survival (OS), we created a risk score and tested its predictive potential in OC patients. As a result, we created a very accurate nomogram to increase risk score clinical applicability. Better OS, younger age, early stage, and immune activity were all associated with a low risk score. The hallmarks of a high-risk score are older age, advanced stage, immunosuppression, and a bad prognosis. Furthermore, risk score was linked to immune checkpoint expression (including PD-L1, CTLA4), targeted therapy gene expression (PARP, PDGFRA), cancer stem cell (CSC), chemotherapy and targeted medication sensitivity.

Conclusions

Our comprehensive analysis of CRGs in OC showed their potential role in TME, clinicopathological characteristics, chemotherapy and targeted drug screening and prognosis. These discoveries could help us better understand CRGs in OC, as well as pave the path for novel ways to assess prognosis and design more effective immunotherapy strategies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02756-y.

Identification of a ferroptosis-related long non-coding RNA Signature for prognosis prediction of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest malignant tumors. Ferroptosis is closely related to various cancers, including ovarian cancer, but the genes involved in regulating ferroptosis in ovarian cancer are still unclear. The aim of this study is to construct a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) signature related to ferroptosis and evaluate its relationship with the prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with ovarian cancer. In this study, a prognostic risk model comprising 18 lncRNAs related to ferroptosis was obtained. Compared to the low-risk group, the high-risk group based on the FerRLSig score had significantly poorer overall survival (p&lt;0.001). The receiver operating characteristics curve supported the accuracy of the model, established a prognostic nomogram combining FerRLSig and clinical characteristics, and showed a good prognosis and survival risk stratification predictive power. In addition, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that FerRLSig was involved in many malignant tumor-related immunomodulatory pathways. Based on the risk model, we found that immune status and immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy were significantly different between the high-risk and low-risk groups. This study provided a more in-depth understanding of the molecular and signaling pathways of ferroptosis in ovarian cancer and showed the impact of tumor microenvironment on ovarian cancer, as well as provided a prognostic model for ovarian cancer patients to guide the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer.

Unruptured ovarian ectopic pregnancy: Two case reports and literature review

In clinical practice, ovarian pregnancy is extremely rare and is always found to be ruptured. A definitive diagnosis for ruptured ovarian pregnancy is difficult to obtain. We present two cases of unruptured ovarian pregnancies detected during laparoscopy and review existing literature to better understand the clinical characteristics of ectopic pregnancies in this rare site. Intrauterine devices, assisted reproductive technology, and intrauterine operations are all high-risk factors in ovarian pregnancy. Moreover, menopause, abdominal pain, and vaginal bleeding are clinical manifestations. Ovarian pregnancy can be diagnosed using serum hCG, transvaginal ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. Laparoscopy is the treatment of choice for ovarian pregnancy. It is recommended that the intact gestational sac be excised and the ovarian function be protected to the greatest extent possible during the operation. More definitive diagnosis of ovarian pregnancy must be reported in order to gain a better understanding of ovarian pregnancy.