Role of automated functional imaging and myocardial work in assessment of cardiac function in children with obstructive sleep apnea

BACKGROUND

Early identification of abnormal left ventricular function in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is difficult using conventional echocardiographic indices and commonly used clinical markers of myocardial damage. We sought to investigate the value of automatic function imaging and myocardial work parameters in predicting early cardiac impairment in children having OSA with preserved left heart function and thereby identifying an optimal index for assessment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-two children who presented with symptoms of nocturnal sleep snoring and open-mouth breathing and 34 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristics and conventional echocardiographic data were collected, and image analysis was performed using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography to obtain left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), post-systolic index, peak strain dispersion, global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work, and global work efficiency.

RESULTS

Children with OSA had significantly lower GLS, GWI, and GCW than those without (P < 0.05). Additionally, GWI (β = -32.87, 95% CI: -53.47 to -12.27), and GCW (β = -35.09, 95% CI: -55.35 to -14.84) were found to correlate with the disease severity in the multiple linear regression mode, with worsening values observed as the severity of the disease increased. ROC curve analysis revealed that GCW was the best predictor of myocardial dysfunction, with an AUC of 0.809 (P < 0.001), and the best cutoff point for diagnosing myocardial damage in children with OSA was 1965.5 mmHg%, with a sensitivity of 92.5% and a specificity of 58.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

GLS, GWI, and GCW were identified as predictors of myocardial dysfunction in children with OSA, with GCW being the best predictor.

Fluorescent Visualization of Chemical Profiles across the Air-Water Interface

Chemical transfer across the air-water interface is one of the most important geochemical processes of global significance. Quantifying such a process has remained extremely challenging due to the lack of suitable technologies to measure chemical diffusion across the air-water microlayer. Herein, we present a fluorescence optical system capable of visualizing the formation of the air-water microlayer with a spatial resolution of 10 μm and quantifying air-water diffusion fluxes using pyrene as a target chemical. We show for the first time that the air-water microlayer is composed of the surface microlayer in water (∼290 ± 40 μm) and a diffusion layer in air (∼350 ± 40 μm) with 1 μg L-1 of pyrene. The diffusion flux of pyrene across the air-water interface is derived from its high-resolution concentration profile without any pre-emptive assumption, which is 2 orders of magnitude lower than those from the conventional method. This system can be expanded to visualize diffusion dynamics of other fluorescent chemicals across the air-water interface and provides a powerful tool for furthering our understanding of air-water mass transfer of organic chemicals related to their global cycling.

[Comparison of pulmonary vascular tortuosity and fractal dimension in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension]

Objective: To compare the differences in pulmonary vascular morphological parameters between patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension(CTEPH), and to explore the value of pulmonary artery morphology in the differential diagnosis of CTEPD and CTEPH. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with CTEPH [14 males, 25 females, mean age: (54.1±12.4) years] and 29 patients with CTEPD [10 males, 19 females, mean age: (51.4±18.0) years] from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively included. The pulmonary artery and vein tree was segmented from the computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) images, and the morphological parameters of pulmonary vessels including the number of pulmonary arteries, pulmonary arterial tortuosity(distance metric, DM) and fractal dimension (FD), were calculated. The differences in pulmonary vascular morphological parameters between the two groups were compared, and the correlation between morphological parameters and hemodynamics was analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in gender and age between CTEPH and CTEPD groups (χ2=0.015,P=0.904 & t=-0.729, P=0.469). The number of pulmonary arteries in CTEPH group (n=249.43±76.27) was significantly lower than that in CTEPF group (n=298.79±78.11, t=2.612, P=0.011). The pulmonary arterial tortuosity in CTEPH group (DM=1.26±0.17) was significantly higher than that in CTEPD group (DM=1.17±0.10, t=3.516, P=0.002). There was no significant difference in FD between CTEPH and CTEPD (FD=3.01±0.21 & 3.08±0.22, t=1.359, P=0.179). The number of pulmonary arteries was negatively correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (r=-0.325, P=0.026). Pulmonary arterial tortuosity was positively correlated with mean pulmonary artery pressure (r=0.387,P=0.017), and was positively correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (r=0.647, P<0.001). Conclusion: Pulmonary artery curvature is an important morphological parameter in differentiating CTEPH from CTEPD, and is related to mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance.

[Treatment of orbital vascular malformations with intralesional bleomycin injection and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue embolization]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of bleomycin lavage combined with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue embolization and resection in the treatment of orbital vascular malformations. Methods: It was a retrospective case series study. Patients with orbital vascular malformations diagnosed at the Ophthalmology Division of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2018 to October 2021 were included and divided into exophthalmos group and non-exophthalmos group based on whether the patients had postural exophthalmos. Intralesional bleomycin injection and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue embolization were performed. The preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, the dosages of bleomycin and isobutyl cyanoacrylate glue, pathological results, imaging findings and remission rate were recorded and analyzed. The Chi-square test, Wilcoxon signed rank analysis and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 58 patients (58 eyes)were included, and there were 22 males (37.9%)　and 36 females (62.1%). Nineteen (32.8%) patients had postural exophthalmos, and 39 (67.2%) patients did not suffer postural exophthalmos. The patient's age of the two groups was 39.0 (28.0, 54.5) years vs. 14.0 (5.7, 26.5) years, with a statistically significant difference (Z=-3.96, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in gender, eye laterality, follow-up time and the disease course between the two groups (all P>0.05). During the operation, the dosage of bleomycin was 15 000 (13 500, 15 000) U in the exophthalmos group, and 15 000 (9 000, 16 500) U in the non-exophthalmos group (Z=-0.70, P=0.944). The dosages of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue were 2.8 (1.0, 3.0) ml and 1.7 (1.0, 2.2) ml, respectively, in the two groups, with no significant difference (Z=-1.11, P=0.268). There was no visual impairment in both groups, while the visual acuity in 5 patients without postural exophthalmos was improved postoperatively. The imaging examination results showed no difference in the malformed vascular area before and after the treatment in the exophthalmos group [384.0 (329.0, 458.0) mm² vs. 330.5 (271.6, 356.7) mm²; Z=-1.26, P=0.208], but a significantly decreased area after the treatment in the non-exophthalmos group [960.8 (822.1, 1058.3) mm² vs. 311.6 (164.6, 361.6) mm²; Z=-2.67, P=0.008]. All patients had no obvious local or systemic adverse reactions during the follow-up. The pathology reports showed vascular malformations in all 15 specimens obtained from the exophthalmos group, as well as vascular malformations in 41.0% (16/39) of specimens and venous lymphatic malformations in 59.0% (23/39) of specimens from the non-exophthalmos group. Thirty-nine patients had complete remission (67.2%), 19 patients had partial remission (32.8%), and the effective treatment rate was 100%. Conclusion: Bleomycin lavage combined with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue embolization can achieve good therapeutic effects on orbital vascular malformations.

A Gly684Ala substitution in the androgen receptor is the cause for azoospermia in a Chinese family with mild androgen insensitivity syndrome and normal hormone levels

Androgen receptor gene (AR) is essential for male growth and fertility. Its mutations are responsible for androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) that usually shows the phenotype of azoospermia resulting in male infertility. This study reported the first case of mild AIS with complete normal serum hormones in a Chinese family. The proband referred for infertility because of azoospermia. His uncle and two cousins are both infertile and have azoospermia. Whole-exome sequencing in the genetic analyses showed that the proband carries a novel hemizygous AR missense mutation, NM_000044.6: c.2051G>C (p.Gly684Ala), in exon four within the ligand-binding domain. His mother and maternal aunt are heterozygous carriers, while his father and brother are wildtype, indicating that the mutation in the proband was inherited from his mother. This pattern is consistent with the genetic model of the X-linked recessive inheritance of AR in AIS pathogenesis. HOPE predicts that p.Gly684Ala increases the hydrophobicity of AR but does not change the AR conformation. PolyPhen-2 predicts that p.Gly684Ala is harmful. This study provides the new knowledge to understand the AR gene mutations in MAIS.

Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction and the Potential Mechanisms in Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion Induced Cognitive Impairment

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is a major cause of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Although the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated, the emerging data suggest that blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is one of the pivotal pathological changes in CCH. BBB dysfunction appears early in CCH, contributing to the deterioration of white matter and the development of cognitive impairment. In this review, we summarize the latest experimental and clinical evidence implicating BBB disruption as a major cause of VCID. We discuss the mechanisms of BBB dysfunction in CCH, focusing on the cell interactions within the BBB, as well as the potential role of APOE genotype. In summary, we provide novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying BBB dysfunction and the potential clinical benefits of therapeutic interventions targeting BBB in CCH.

Successful outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer using ejaculated spermatozoa from two Chinese asthenoteratozoospermic brothers with a compound heterozygous FSIP2 mutation

Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a characteristic form of severe asthenozoospermia and closely related to male infertility. However, it is not sure whether intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) allows MMAF patients reproductive success. The present study reported the first case of successful intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (ICSI-ET) in Chinese brothers with a novel compound heterozygous mutation of FSIP2 (fibrous sheath interacting protein 2), a newly identified MMAF-related genes. The proband and his brother were referred for MMAF because of their abnormal sperm flagellum. Through whole-exome sequencing in the genetic analyses of the proband, his brother and parents showed that the proband and his brother carry a novel compound heterozygous FSIP2 mutation (c.1750T>A and c.13600A>G), which will lead to abnormal expression of FSIP2 and loss of its function. Considering that these brothers had the MMAF phenotype, we recommended ICSI treatment. The successful outcome of ICSI indicated that a lose-function mutation of FSIP2 might not have any effect on ICSI, although the latest report showed a failed outcome of ICSI in a patient with FSIP2 mutation. This study provides new knowledge to understand the effect of MMAF caused by FSIP2 mutation on ICSI outcome.

[Randomized controlled trials of acupuncture and moxibustion in China in past 45-year (1975-2019): hotspots and trends]

By searching the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and moxibustion from CNKI since its inception date to december 31 of 2019, the development status and hot trend of RCTs of acupuncture and moxibustion in China were summarized. The CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were used to perform keyword co-occurrence analysis, clustering analysis, time-zone analysis and citation-burst analysis, and visual map was drawn. As a result, a total of 60 995 articles were included, which were published in 1027 academic journals with 1787 keywords. The publication date was from 1975 to 2019. During the past 45 years, the publications of RCTs on acupuncture and moxibustion had shown an overall growth trend with characteristics of the times. The RCTs of manual acupuncture ranked the top, and its proportion of publications every 5 years was stable in the past 30 years. Since 1994, the hot words such as electroacupuncture, warming needling, auricular point sticking and various acupoint therapies had emerged; meanwhile, the spectrum of diseases had broadened, and an evolutionary trend corresponding to therapies and disease systems had been formed. In recent decade, the RCTs using moxibustion therapy have increased significantly, and the hot words such as "sub-health" "winter diseases being treated in summer" and "acupoint application/ moxibustion during the dog days" had indicated that acupuncture clinical research was further inclined to the field of chronic disease prevention and health services, which was in line with social development and the needs of the times.

ceRNA regulatory network of FIH inhibitor as a radioprotector for gastrointestinal toxicity by activating the HIF-1 pathway

Given the relentless renewal ability of intestinal crypt-base stem cells, small intestine in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is more vulnerable to radiation-induced disruption. Through promoting epithelial integrity and reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) have been proved to exhibit radioprotective effects in the GI tract. Therefore, enhancing stability or transcriptional activity of HIFs might be a therapeutic strategy for developing radioprotectors. Factor inhibiting HIF (FIH or HIF-1AN) can hamper transcriptional capacity of HIF-1α via interacting with Asn803 in its C-terminal domain. Previously, we discovered promoting HIF-1α transcriptional activity in vitro by FIH inhibitor-N-oxalyl-D-phenylalanine (NOFD) exerts radioprotection on cells. However, the radioprotective effect of FIH inhibitor on the GI tract and its competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network from the FIH/HIF axis has never been addressed. Here we verified radioprotection of NOFD for the GI tract by an animal model and performed whole-transcriptome analysis to fully elucidate the radioprotective mechanism from the FIH/HIF axis against GI syndrome. We identified two novel circular RNAs (circRNAs) (circRNA_2909 and circRNA_0323) and two long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) (NONMMUT140549.1 and NONMMUT148249.1) that promote expression of HIF1A and NOS2 in the HIF-1 pathway by sponging microRNAs (miRNAs), especially mmu-miR-92a-1-5p. The de-repression of HIF-1α transcriptional capacity by inhibiting FIH proteomic activity suggests a new therapeutic strategy in alleviating radiation-induced GI syndrome.

[Advances in Hippo signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common cancer that develops from oral epithelial cells, it has a high incidence, mortality and teratogenic rate, which poses a serious threat to people's life and health.The Hippo signaling pathway plays a key role in tumorigenesis, regulation of stem cell homeostasis, tissue regeneration, and organ size control. In OSCC, activation of Hippo signaling pathway can inhibit malignant biological behavior, epithelial mesenchymal transformation and distant metastasis of tumors, and improve the survival rate of patients. Considering the importance of the Hippo signaling pathway in the development of cancer, this paper summarized the composition and regulatory mechanism of Hippo pathway, elaborated the role of Hippo signaling pathway in the occurrence and development of OSCC.At the same time, make a simple generalization about the potential therapeutic approaches and strategies to reduce the risk of drug resistance for OSCC patients targeting this pathway.

[The importance of neuroadaptation after multifocal intraocular lens implantation]

Multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) can help cataract patients get a full range of vision, restore binocular stereopsis, improve pseudo-accommodation power, and correct regular corneal astigmatism with limits. However, MIOL also have shortcomings, including decreased contrast sensitivity, night glare, halos and other negative dysphotopsias, despite strictly controlled indications. Sometimes dysphotopsia can be relieved spontaneously after surgery in a period of time. During this process neuroadaptation plays an important role. This article explains the concept and mechanism of neuroadaptation, the location of neuroadaptation in the central nervous system, cognitive training, the preoperative evaluation of MIOL implantation, and the treatment for postoperative dissatisfaction. Correct understanding of the important role of neuroadaptation will provide theoretic foundation for cataract specialists and facilitate the handling of complications after MIOL implantation. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 6-10).

[Long-term outcome of childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with modified national protocol of childhood leukemia in China-acute lymphoblastic leukemia 2008]

Objective: To analyse the long-term efficacy in childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cases enrolled in the national protocol of childhood leukemia in China-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (NPCLC-ALL) 2008. Methods: Clinical data of 96 patients diagnosed as T-ALL and treated with NPCLC-ALL2008 protocol between January 2009 and December 2017 in the Department of Hematology-Oncology, the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were analyzed retrospectively. Predictive value of minimal residual disease (MRD) monitored by flow cytometry was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used for long-term survival analysis. Results: A total of 96 evaluable patients with newly diagnosed T-ALL were analysed, including 72 males and 24 females. The age was 9.5 (ranged from 1.0 to 16.0) years. The follow-up time was 5.7 (ranged from 1.0 to 9.7) years. Among 96 patients, 92 (96%) achieved complete remission. The 5-year event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were (61±6) % and (70±5) %, respectively. Relapse occurred in 18 cases and the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse was (27±6) %. Twenty-four patients died. The 5-year OS rates of patients with MRD>5% on day 15 of induction therapy was significantly worse than those with MRD≤5% ((60±12) % vs. (72±6) %, χ(2)=3.904, P=0.048) . The 5-year EFS and OS rates were obviously lower in patients with MRD>10% before the consolidation therapy ((50±35) %). The 5-year OS rates of patients with relapsed disease was significantly worse than those without ((26±13) % vs. (81±5) %, χ(2)=18.411, P<0.01). The earlier the relapse, the worse the prognosis. The 5-year OS rates for patients relapsed within 6 months, within 3 years and more than 3 years, were (25±22) %, (30±14) % and (50±35) % respectively (χ(2)=13.207, P<0.01). Conclusions: NPCLC-ALL2008 protocol is effective for childhood T-ALL. The MRD guided accurate risk stratification and individualized treatment can reduce the relapse and improve the survival rate of pediatric T-ALL.

Clinical efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction complicated with chronic renal insufficiency: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this research is to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) by meta-analysis, to provide scientific and effective medical evidence for PCI in patients with AMI complicated with CRI, and to support the clinical application of PCI.

METHODS

Electronic databases will be searched, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wanfang Data. Patients with AMI complicated by renal insufficiency treated with PCI will be included. The retrieval time is from inception to January 2019. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are formulated to search only the relevant literature. Endnote software management for literature will be adopted. The literature will be independently screened by 2 researchers. Excel 2016 will be applied to extract literature data with the "Research Information Registration Form." The final selected literature will be assessed for bias risk. Stata 12.0 software will be used for the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The systematic evaluation and meta-analysis will be carried out strictly in accordance with the requirements of the Cochrane System Evaluator Manual 5.3 on meta-analyses, which will provide a high-quality evaluation of the clinical efficacy and safety of PCI in patients with AMI and CRI.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study belongs to the category of systematic reviews, not clinical trials. Therefore, it does not require ethical approval. The results of this study will be published in influential international academic journals related to this topic.

CONCLUSION

PCI is an effective and safe treatment for patients with AMI and CRI. This study will provide a definite evidence-based medical conclusion and provide a scientific basis for the clinical treatment of patients with AMI and CRI.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019131367.

Design and synthesis a mitochondria-targeted dihydronicotinamide as radioprotector

Radiation-induced damage to the mitochondrial macromolecules and electron transfer chain (ETC), causing the generation of primary and secondary reactive oxygen (ROS) species. The continuous ROS production after radiation will trigger cell oxidative stress and ROS-mediated nucleus apoptosis and autophagy signaling pathways. Scavenging radiation-induced ROS effectively can help mitochondria to maintain their physiological function and relief cells from oxidative stress. Nicotinamide is a critical endogenous antioxidant helping to neutralize ROS in vivo. In this study, we designed and synthetized a novel mitochondrial-targeted dihydronicotinamide (Mito-N) with the help of mitochondrial membrane potential to enter the mitochondria and scavenge ROS. According to experiment results, Mito-N significantly increased cell viability by 30.75% by neutralizing the accumulated ROS and resisting DNA strands breaks after irradiation. Furthermore, the mice survival rate also improved with the treatment of Mito-N, by effectively ameliorating the hematopoietic system infliction under lethal dose irradiation.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppressed growth and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by inactivating the NF-κB pathway

Purpose: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is the main polyphenol extracted from honeybee propolis, which inhibits the growth of several kinds of tumor. This study aimed to assess the inhibitory effect of CAPE in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), evaluate the synergistic action of CAPE in radiotherapy sensitivity of NPC cell lines and further elucidate the possible molecular mechanism involved.

Materials and methods: CCK-8 assay was used to analyze cell proliferation ability. Colony formation assay was used to evaluate the clonogenic ability and radio-sensitiveness of NPC cells by CAPE treatment. Wound-healing and transwell assay were used to assess the motility of cells. The expression of key molecules of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) was determined by western blot analysis and changes in radiation sensitivity were measured by colony-formation assay. cDNA microarray analysis was used to determine differentially expressed genes with and without CAPE treatment, with Gene Ontology enrichment of gene function and KEGG pathways determined. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry and western blot analysis.

Results: CAPE suppressed the viability of NPC cell lines time- and dose-dependently. It induced apoptosis in NPC cells along with decreased expression of Bcl-XL and increased cleavage of PARP and expression of Bax. G1 phase arrest was induced by CAPE with ower expression of CDK4, CDK6, Rb and p-Rb. The migratory and invasive ability of NPC cells was decreased by the EMT pathway. The irradiation sensitivity of NPC cells was enhanced with CAPE treatment. CAPE specifically inhibited nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway by suppressing p65 subunit translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus. CAPE treatment was synergistic with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Conclusion: CAPE may inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of NPC cells but enhance radiosensitivity in NPC therapy by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. CAPE could be a potential therapeutic compound for NPC therapy.

Undiscovered Mechanism for Pyrogenic Carbonaceous Matter-Mediated Abiotic Transformation of Azo Dyes by Sulfide

Pyrogenic carbonaceous matter (PCM) catalyzes the transformation of a range of organic pollutants by sulfide in water; however, the mediation mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we observed for the first time that the degradation of azo dyes by sulfide initially underwent a lag phase followed by a fast degradation phase. Interestingly, the presence of PCM only reduced the lag phase length of the azo dye decolorization but did not significantly enhance the reaction rate in the fast degradation phase. An analysis of the azo dye reduction and polysulfide formation indicated that PCM facilitated the transformation of sulfide into polysulfides, including disulfide and trisulfide, resulting in fast azo dye reduction. Moreover, the oxygen functional groups of the PCM, especially the quinones, may play an important role in the transformation of sulfide into polysulfides by accelerating the electron transfer. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the PCM-mediated abiotic transformation of organic pollutants by sulfide in anaerobic aqueous environments.

Down-regulation of microRNA-144-3p and its clinical value in non-small cell lung cancer: a comprehensive analysis based on microarray, miRNA-sequencing, and quantitative real-time PCR data

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that miR-144-3p might be a potential biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, the comprehensive mechanism behind the effects of miR-144-3p on the origin, differentiation, and apoptosis of NSCLC, as well as the relationship between miR-144-3p and clinical parameters, has been rarely reported.

METHODS

We investigated the correlations between miR-144-3p expression and clinical characteristics through data collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarrays, the relevant literature, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and real-time quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses to determine the clinical role of miR-144-3p in NSCLC. Furthermore, we investigated the biological function of miR-144-3p by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created to identify the hub genes.

RESULTS

From the comprehensive meta-analysis, the combined SMD of miR-144-3p was - 0.95 with 95% CI of (- 1.37, - 0.52), indicating that less miR-144-3p was expressed in the NSCLC tissue than in the normal tissue. MiR-144-3p expression was significantly correlated with stage, lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion (all P <  0.05). As for the bioinformatics analyses, a total of 37 genes were chosen as the potential targets of miR-144-3p in NSCLC. These promising target genes were highly enriched in various key pathways such as the protein digestion and absorption and the thyroid hormone signaling pathways. Additionally, PPI revealed five genes-C12orf5, CEP55, E2F8, STIL, and TOP2A-as hub genes with the threshold value of 6.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study validated that miR-144-3p was lowly expressed in NSCLC. More importantly, miR-144-3p might function as a latent tumor biomarker in the prognosis prediction for NSCLC. The results of bioinformatics analyses may present a new method for investigating the pathogenesis of NSCLC.

In silico analysis identified miRNA‑based therapeutic agents against glioblastoma multiforme

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) contribute to the development of various malignant neoplasms, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The present study aimed to explore the pathogenesis of GBM and to identify latent therapeutic agents for patients with GBM, based on an in silico analysis. Gene chips that provide miRNA expression profiling in GBM were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were also determined via the RobustRankAggreg algorithm. The target genes of DEMs were predicted and then intersected with GBM-associated genes that were collected from the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis. Gene Oncology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of the overlapping genes were then performed. Simultaneously, a connectivity map (CMap) analysis was performed to screen for potential therapeutic agents for GBM. A total of 10 DEMs (hsa-miR-196a, hsa-miR-10b, hsa-miR-196b, hsa-miR-18b, hsa-miR-542-3p, hsa-miR-129-3p, hsa-miR-1224-5p, hsa-miR-876-3p and hsa-miR-770-5p) were obtained from three GEO gene chips (GSE25631, GSE42657 and GSE61710). Then, 1,720 target genes of the 10 miRNAs and 4,185 differently expressed genes in GBM were collected. By intersecting the aforementioned gene clusters, the present study identified 390 overlapping genes. GO and KEGG analyses of the 390 genes demonstrated that these genes were involved in certain cancer-associated biological functions and pathways. Eight genes [(GTPase NRas (NRAS), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit Gamma (CAMK2G), platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), calmodulin 3 (CALM3), cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit beta (CAMK2B), retinoblastoma-associated protein (RB1) and protein kinase C beta type (PRKCB)] that were centralized in the glioma pathway were selected for CMap analysis. Three chemicals (W-13, gefitinib and exemestane) were identified as putative therapeutic agents for GBM. In summary, the present study identified three miRNA-based chemicals for use as a therapy for GBM. However, more experimental data are needed to verify the therapeutic properties of these latent drugs in GBM.

A Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis of Multi-Target, Multi-Pathway, Multi-Compound Treatment for Ovarian Serous Cystadenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Pharmacological control against ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma has received increasing attention. The purpose of this study was to investigate multi-drug treatments as synergetic therapy for ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and to explore their mechanisms of action by the network pharmacology method.

METHODS

Genes acting on ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma were first collected from GEPIA and DisGeNET. Gene Ontology annotation, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway, Reactome pathway, and Disease Ontology analyses were then conducted. A connectivity map analysis was employed to identify compounds as treatment options for ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma. Targets of these compounds were obtained from the Search Tool for Interacting Chemicals (STITCH). The intersections between the ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma-related genes and the compound targets were identified. Finally, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Reactome pathways in which the overlapped genes participated were selected, and a correspondence compound-target pathway network was constructed.

RESULTS

A total of 541 ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma-related genes were identified. The functional enrichment and pathway analyses indicated that these genes were associated with critical tumor-related pathways. Based on the connectivity map analysis, five compounds (resveratrol, MG-132, puromycin, 15-delta prostaglandin J2, and valproic acid) were determined as treatment agents for ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma. Next, 48 targets of the five compounds were collected. Following mapping of the 48 targets to the 541 ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma-related genes, we identified six targets (PTGS1, FOS, HMOX1, CASP9, PPARG, and ABCB1) as therapeutic targets for ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma by the five compounds. By analysis of the compound-target pathway network, we found the synergistic anti-ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma potential and the underlying mechanisms of action of the five compounds.

CONCLUSION

In summary, latent drugs against ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma were acquired and their target actions and pathways were determined by the network pharmacology strategy, which provides a new prospect for medicamentous therapy for ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma. However, further in-depth studies are indispensable to increase the validity of this study.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Rosmarinic Acid Derivative that Targets Mitochondria and Protects against Radiation-Induced Damage In Vitro

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in gamma-radiation-induced mediating oxidative stress. Scavenging radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) can help mitochondria to maintain their physiological function. Rosmarinic acid is a polyphenol antioxidant that can scavenge radiation-induced ROS, but the structure prevents it from accumulating in mitochondria. In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel rosmarinic acid derivative (Mito-RA) that could use the mitochondrial membrane potential to enter the organelle and scavenge ROS. The DCFH-DA assay revealed that Mito-RA was more effective than rosmarinic acid at scavenging ROS. DNA double-strand breaks, chromosomal aberration, micronucleus and comet assays demonstrated the ability of Mito-RA to protect against radiation-induced oxidative stress in vitro. These findings demonstrate the potential of Mito-RA as an antioxidant, which can penetrate mitochondria, scavenge ROS and protect cells against radiation-induced oxidative damage.

Effectiveness of bacterial infection-related cytokine profile (BIRCP) determination for monitoring pathogen infections in children with hemopathy in the bone marrow inhibition phase

Serum cytokine profiles were analyzed before and after infection in children with hemopathy in the bone marrow inhibition phase to explore the utility of cytokine variations for detecting infections. Serum Th1/Th2 cytokine levels, including tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and interferon, were quantitatively determined by cytometric bead array technology in 480 cases (230 children) of children with hemopathy in the bone marrow inhibition phase with signs of infection, such as fever, and without, to establish baseline and affected levels for comparison with healthy control children. We used the cytokine profile of infected, blood culture-positive children to establish a bacterial infection-related cytokine profile (BIRCP) for predicting infections by pathogens in blood culture-negative children. Overall, 82.9% of children with Gram-negative bacterial infections were accompanied by marked increases of IL-6 and IL-10 levels [>10 times (means ± SD)], whereas only a mild increase of IL-6 levels occurred in Gram-positive bacteria-infected children [>2 times (means ± SD)] and only a mild increase of IFN-γ levels occurred in fungal culture-positive children [>2 times (means ± SD)]. Gram-positive bacterial and fungal infections did not cause a marked increase in IL-6 or IL- 10 levels. The effective rate (86.05%, N = 43) of infectious cases predicted by BIRCP was significantly higher than that obtained using traditional methods for selecting antibiotics based on clinical indications (65.45%, N = 55, P < 0.05). In summary, BIRCP can be used to predict the infections by pathogens in children with hemopathy and to select appropriate antibiotics.

Morphological effects of the nanostructured ceria support on the activity and stability of CuO/CeO2 catalysts for the water-gas shift reaction

Three CuO/CeO2 catalyst with different morphologies of ceria, namely nanospheres, nanorods and nanocubes, were synthesized and used to catalyze the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. The reactivity tests showed that the Cu supported on the ceria nanospheres exhibited both the highest activity and superior stability when compared with the nanocube and nanorod ceria catalysts. Operando X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) methods were used to characterize these catalysts in their working state. High resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM, STEM) was used to look at the local atomic structure and nano-scale morphology. Our results show that the morphology of the ceria support, which can involve different crystal faces and concentrations of defects and imperfections, has a critical impact on the catalytic properties and influences: (1) the dispersion of CuO in the as-synthesized catalyst; (2) the particle size of metallic Cu upon reduction during the WGS reaction, (3) the stability of the metallic Cu upon variations of temperature, and (4) the dissociation of water on the ceria support. The nanosphere ceria catalyst showed an excellent water dissociation capability, the best dispersion of Cu and a strong Cu-Ce interaction, therefore delivering the best performance among the three WGS catalysts. The metallic Cu, which is the active species during the WGS reaction, was more stabilized on the nanospheres than on the nanorods and nanocubes and thus led to a better stability of the nanosphere catalyst than the other two architectures. Each catalyst exhibited a distinctive line-shape in the 800-1600 cm(-1) region of the DRIFTS spectra, pointing to the existence of different types of carbonate or carboxylate species as surface intermediates for the WGS.

A modified single-tube one-step product-enhanced reverse transcriptase (mSTOS-PERT) assay with heparin as DNA polymerase inhibitor for specific detection of RTase activity

BACKGROUND

Current regulations and recommendations proposed for the production of vaccines in continuous cell lines of any origin demand that these be free of exogenous viruses, particularly retroviruses. Recently, the ultra-sensitive product-enhanced reverse transcriptase (PERT) assay can be used to detect minute of reverse transcriptase (RTase) in single retroviral particle and is 10(6) times more sensitive than the conventional RTase assays. However, coincidental with this increase in sensitivity is an increase in false-positive reactions derived from contaminating cellular DNA polymerases, which are known to have RTase-like activities.

OBJECTIVES

To develop a modified single-tube one-step PERT (mSTOS-PERT) assay with improvements on decreasing significantly the level of false-positive reactions, and to evaluate the mSTOS-PERT assay for sensitivity and specificity.

STUDY DESIGN

Ampliwaxtrade mark was used to compartmentalize the reverse transcription (RT) and PCR step in the same micro-tube with more efficiency and reproducibility, while maintaining the high sensitivity. The DNA amplification products were separated by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis, and then analyzed by non-isotopic Southern blot hybridization. A wide variety of cell lines used in biologicals production were detected to validate the improved mSTOS-PERT assay.

RESULTS

The detection limit for the mSTOS-PERT assay was at least 10(-9)U, when using AMV-RTase as a positive control. Furthermore, heparin involvement in the RT step can eliminate completely the false-positive PERT signals which are exhibited by cellular polymerases such as DNA-dependent DNA polymerase alpha, gamma released by cell death. Most mammalian cells (MRC-5, Vero, WISH, 2BS, RK-13, MDCK, etc.) are PERT-negative in cell supernatants. Some PERT-positive signals in cell lysates were found to be introduced by the cellular DNA polymerases and could be inhibited specifically by heparin. Chick cells derived from either chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) or allantoic fluid from SPF embryonated eggs, murine hybridoma cell SP2/0, etc., contained authentic RTase activities, which could not be inactivated by heparin.

CONCLUSIONS

The improved mSTOS-PERT assay described here may distinguish the genuine RTase activity from cellular polymerases with high sensitivity and specificity, and is rapid and easy to perform to screen for the possible contamination of minute retroviruses in the cell substrates used in vaccine production.