Genome-wide identification of the key kinesin genes during fiber and boll development in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Kinesin is a kind of motor protein, which interacts with microtubule filaments and regulates cellulose synthesis. Cotton fiber is a natural model for studying the cellular development and cellulose synthesis. Therefore, a systematic research of kinesin gene family in cotton (Gossypium spp.) will be beneficial for both understanding the function of kinesin protein and assisting the fiber improvement. Here, we aimed to identify the key kinesin genes present in cotton by combining genome-wide expression profile data, association mapping, and public quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.). Results showed that 159 kinesin genes, including 15 genes of the kinesin-13 gene subfamily, were identified in upland cotton; of which 157 kinesin genes can be traced back to the diploid ancestors, G. raimondii and G. arboreum. Using a combined analysis of public QTLs and genome-wide expression profile information, there were 29 QTLs co-localized together with 28 kinesin genes in upland cotton, including 10 kinesin-13 subfamily genes. Genome-wide expression profile data indicated that, among the 28 co-localized genes, seven kinesin genes were predominantly expressed in fibers or ovules. By association mapping analysis, 30 kinesin genes were significantly associated with three fiber traits, among which a kinesin-13 gene, Ghir_A11G028430, was found to be associated with both cotton boll length and lint weight, and one kinesin-7 gene, Ghir_D04G017880 (Gh_Kinesin7), was significantly associated with fiber strength. In addition, two missense mutations were identified in the motor domain of the Gh_Kinesin7 protein. Overall, the kinesin gene family seemingly plays an important role in cotton fiber and boll development. The exploited kinesin genes will be beneficial for the genetic improvement of fiber quality and yield.

A Retrospective Analysis of Robertsonian Translocations from a Single Center in China

Robertsonian translocations (ROBs) are the most common structural chromosomal abnormalities in the general population, with an estimated incidence rate of 1/1000 births. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the cases of ROBs from September 2015 to August 2022 and totally identified ROB carriers from 84,569 specimens karyotyped in a single accredited laboratory in China, including 189 cases of balanced ROBs and 3 of mosaic ROBs. Microsoft Excel and descriptive statistics were used to record and analyze the collected data. The male/female ratio of ROBs is 1/1.29, with der(13;14) and der(14;21) being the main karyotypes. Among the 192 patients, 7 were lost to follow-up, 82 had given birth, and 103 were childless (such as miscarriage, fetal chromosomal abnormalities, in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure, or divorce). A total of 44 amniocenteses were performed in 42 couples; ROB cases with natural pregnancies showed that the normal karyotype and balanced ROBs of fetal accounted for 66.67% (16/24), while the results of assisted pregnancies showed 90.00% (18/20). This study represents the largest collections of ROBs in Jiangxi population and reminder that the ROB carriers can achieve the ideal outcome for pregnancy with the appropriate genetic guidance and assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Genome-wide identification of the key Kinesin genes during fiber and boll development in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L)

Kinesin is a kind of motor protein, which interacts with microtubule filaments and regulates cellulose synthesis. Cotton fiber is a natural model for studying the cellular development and cellulose synthesis. Therefore, a systematic research of Kinesin gene family in cotton (Gossypium spp.) will be beneficial for both understanding the function of Kinesin protein and assisting the fiber improvement. Here, we aimed to identify the key Kinesin genes present in cotton by combining genome-wide expression profile data, association mapping, and public quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Results showed that 159 Kinesin genes, including 15 genes of the Kinesin-13 gene subfamily, were identified in upland cotton; of which 157 Kinesin genes can be traced back to the diploid ancestors, G. raimondii and G. arboreum. Using a combined analysis of public QTLs and genome-wide expression profile information, there were 29 QTLs co-localized together with 28 Kinesin genes in upland cotton, including 10 Kinesin-13 subfamily genes. Genome-wide expression profile data indicated that, among the 28 co-localized genes, seven Kinesin genes were predominantly expressed in fibers or ovules. By association mapping analysis, 30 Kinesin genes were significantly associated with three fiber traits, among which a Kinesin-13 gene, Ghir_A11G028430, was found to be associated with both cotton boll length and lint weight, and one Kinesin-7 gene, Ghir_D04G017880 (Gh_Kinesin7), was significantly associated with fiber strength. In addition, two missense mutations were identified in the motor domain of the Gh_Kinesin7 protein. Overall, the Kinesin gene family seemingly plays an important role in cotton fiber and boll development. The exploited Kinesin genes will be beneficial for the genetic improvement of fiber quality and yield.

Interaction between long noncoding RNA and microRNA in lung inflammatory diseases

BACKGROUND

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a group of RNAs that cannot synthesize proteins, but are critical in gene expression regulation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), the two major family members, are intimately involved in controlling immune response, cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and polarization, and cytokine secretion. Their interactions significantly influence lung inflammatory diseases and could be potential therapeutic targets.

OBJECTIVES

The review aims to elucidate the role of ncRNAs, especially the interactions between lncRNA and miRNA in lung diseases, including acute and chronic lung inflammatory diseases, as well as lung cancer. And provide novel insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic methods.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive review of the latest studies on lncRNA and miRNA in lung inflammatory diseases. Our research involved searching through electronic databases like PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus.

RESULTS

We explain the fundamental characteristics and functions of miRNA and lncRNA, their potential interaction mechanisms, and summarize the newly explorations on the role of lncRNA and miRNA interactions in lung inflammatory diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Numerous lncRNAs and miRNAs have been found to partipicate in all stages of lung inflammatory diseases. While ncRNA-based therapies have been validated and developed, there remain challenges in developing more stable and effective drugs for clinical use.

P2 purinergic receptors regulate the progression of colorectal cancer

More and more studies have revealed that P2 purinergic receptors play a key role in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). P2X and P2Y purinergic receptors can be used as promoters and regulators of CRC and play a dual role in the progression of CRC. CRC microenvironment is rich in ATP and its cleavage products (ADP, AMP, Ado), which act as activators of P2X and P2Y purinergic receptors. The activation of P2X and P2Y purinergic receptors regulates the progression of CRC mainly by regulating the function of immune cells and mediating different signal pathways. In this paper, we focus on the specific mechanisms and functional roles of P2X7, P2Y12, and P2Y2 receptors in the growth and progression of CRC. The antagonistic effects of these selective antagonists of P2X purinergic receptors on the growth, invasion, and metastasis of CRC were further discussed. Moreover, different studies have reported that P2X7 receptor can be used as an effective predictor of patients with CRC. All these indicate that P2 purinergic receptors are a key regulator of CRC. Therefore, antagonizing P2 purinergic receptors may be an innovative treatment for CRC.

Establishment of Sensitive Sandwich-Type Chemiluminescence Immunoassay for Interleukin-18 in Urinary Samples

Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a member of IL-1 cytokine superfamily, is deemed as an important indicator of the kidney disease. Herein a sandwich chemiluminescence immunoassay integrated with magnetic beads was conducted to detect IL-18 in kidney disease. The detection limit and linear range were 0.0044 ng/mL and 0.01-2.7 ng/mL, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries were ranged from 91.70 to 101.18% with the relative standard deviation below 10%; interference bias of most biomarkers were within allowable deviation range (± 15%). In summary, the whole study was successfully applied to detect IL-18 levels in urine samples for patients with kidney disease. The results showed that chemiluminescence immunoassay for IL-18 detection could be used in the clinical application.

Chemical composition, sources, and health risks of PM2.5 in small cities with different urbanization during 2020 Chinese Spring Festival

To investigate the impact of quarantine measures and fireworks banning policy on chemical composition and sources of PM2.5 and associated health risks in small, less developed cities, we sampled in Guigang (GG), Shaoyang (SY), and Tianshui (TS), located in eastern, central, and north-western China, in 2020 Spring Festival (CSF). Mass concentration, carbonaceous, metals, and WSIIs of PM2.5 were analyzed. The study found high levels of PM2.5 pollution with the average concentration of 168.05 µg/m3 in TS, 134.59 µg/m3 in SY, and 125.71 µg/m3 in GG. A negative correlation was found between the urbanization level and PM2.5 pollution. Lockdown measures reduced PM2.5 mass and industrial elements. In non-control period (NCP), combustion and fireworks were the major sources of PM2.5 in GG and TS, and industry source accounted for a significant proportion in the relatively more urbanized SY. Whereas on control period (CP), soil dust, combustion, and road dust were the main source in GG, secondary aerosols dominated in SY and TS. Our health risk assessment showed unacceptable levels of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks over the study areas, despite lockdown measures reducing health risks. As and Cr(VI), as the major pollutants, their associated sources, industry sources, and fireworks sources, posed the greatest risk to people at the sampling sites after exposure to PM2.5. This work supports the improvement of PM2.5 control strategies in small Chinese cities during the CSF.

Radiopaque and X-ray-Responsive Nanomedicine for Preventive Therapy of Radiation-Induced Heart Disease

Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is a common radiotherapy complication. Reducing radiation exposure and post-irradiation antioxidant therapy are promising approaches. Here, a liquid metal-based core-shell nanomedicine (LMN) composed of a gallium core and a multifunctional polymeric shell with radiopaque, X-ray shielding, and X-ray-responsive antioxidation properties for preventive therapy of RIHD is developed. The liquid metal provides radiopaque properties to enhance X-ray and computed tomography imaging and attenuate radiation to prevent primary myocardial damage. Under X-ray radiation, cleavage of the diselenide bond on the polymeric shell results in the release of LMN and controlled antioxidation. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that LMN significantly reduces myocardial injury and impaired cardiac function, stabilizes mitochondrial function, and inhibits myocardial fibrosis. This nanomedicine with radiographic contrast, radiation shielding, and responsive features provides a new strategy for the prevention of radiation-related diseases.

Elevated FAM134B expression induces radiation-sensitive in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that Family with sequence similarity 134 member B (FAM134B) was involved in the occurrence and development of malignancy, however, the function and molecular mechanism of FAM134B in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) radiotherapy resistance remain unclear. Therefore, it may clinical effective to clarify the molecular mechanism and identify novel biomarker to overcome radiotherapy resistance in HCC.

METHODS

The protein and mRNA expression of FAM134B were determined using Real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. IHC assay was performed to investigate the association between FAM134B expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of 132 HCC patients. Functional assays, such as in situ model, colon formation, FACS, and Tunel assay were used to determine the oncogenic role of FAM134B in human HCC progression. Furthermore, western blotting and luciferase assay were used to determine the mechanism of FAM134B promotes radiation-sensitive in HCC cells.

RESULTS

We noted that FAM134B was downregulated in HCC, which was correlated with the radiation resistance in patients with HCC. Overexpression of FAM134B contribute to radiation sensitive in HCC; however, inhibition of FAM134B confers HCC cell lines to radiation resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we found that FAM134B interacts with FMS related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and downregulation of FAM134B activated JAK/Stat3 signaling pathway. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of JAK/Stat3 signaling pathway significantly counteracted downregulation of FAM134B-induced radiation resistance and enhanced radiation therapeutic efficacy in HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that FAM134B may be a potential therapeutic biomarker for the treatment of HCC patients with radiotherapy tolerance.

Identification of cuproptosis-related lncRNA for predicting prognosis and immunotherapeutic response in cervical cancer

Patients diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer (CC) have poor prognosis after primary treatment, and there is a lack of biomarkers for predicting patients with an increased risk of recurrence of CC. Cuproptosis is reported to play a role in tumorigenesis and progression. However, the clinical impacts of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (CRLs) in CC remain largely unclear. Our study attempted to identify new potential biomarkers to predict prognosis and response to immunotherapy with the aim of improving this situation. The transcriptome data, MAF files, and clinical information for CC cases were obtained from the cancer genome atlas, and Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to identify CRLs. In total, 304 eligible patients with CC were randomly assigned to training and test groups. LASSO regression and multivariate Cox regression were performed to construct a cervical cancer prognostic signature based on cuproptosis-related lncRNAs. Afterwards, we generated Kaplan-Meier curves, receiver operating characteristic curves and nomograms to verify the ability to predict prognosis of patients with CC. Genes for assessing differential expression among risk subgroups were also evaluated by functional enrichment analysis. Immune cell infiltration and the tumour mutation burden were analysed to explore the underlying mechanisms of the signature. Furthermore, the potential value of the prognostic signature to predict response to immunotherapy and sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs was examined. In our study, a risk signature containing eight cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (AL441992.1, SOX21-AS1, AC011468.3, AC012306.2, FZD4-DT, AP001922.5, RUSC1-AS1, AP001453.2) to predict the survival outcome of CC patients was developed, and the reliability of the risk signature was appraised. Cox regression analyses indicated that the comprehensive risk score is an independent prognostic factor. Moreover, significant differences were found in progression-free survival, immune cell infiltration, therapeutic response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, and IC50 for chemotherapeutic agents between risk subgroups, suggesting that our model can be well employed to assess the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Based on our 8-CRLs risk signature, we were able to independently assess the outcome and response to immunotherapy of CC patients, and this signature might benefit clinical decision-making for individualized treatment.

Schwann cells as a target cell for the treatment of cancer pain

Tumor erosion and metastasis can invade surrounding tissues, damage nerves, and sensitize the peripheral primary receptors, inducing pain, which can potentially worsen the suffering of patients with cancer. Reception and transmission of sensory signal receptors, abnormal activation of primary sensory neurons, and activation of glial cells are involved in cancer pain. Therefore, exploring promising therapeutic methods to suppress cancer pain is of great significance. Various studies have found that the use of functionally active cells is a potentially effective way to relieve pain. Schwann cells (SCs) act as small, biologically active pumps that secrete pain-relieving neuroactive substances. Moreover, SCs can regulate the progression of tumor cells, including proliferation and metastasis, through neuro-tumor crosstalk, which emphasizes the critical role of SCs in cancer and cancer pain. The mechanisms by which SCs repair injured nerves and exert analgesia include neuroprotection, neurotrophy, nerve regeneration, neuromodulation, immunomodulation, and enhancement of the nerve-injury microenvironment. These factors may ultimately restore the damaged or stimulated nerves and contribute to pain relief. Strategies for pain treatment using cell transplantation mainly focus on analgesia and nerve repair. Although these cells are in the initial stages of nerve repair and pain, they open new avenues for the treatment of cancer pain. Therefore, this paper discusses, for the first time, the possible mechanism of SCs and cancer pain, and new strategies and potential problems in cancer pain treatment.

Integrated Analysis of Transcriptome Expression Profiles Reveals miRNA-326-NKX3.2-Regulated Porcine Chondrocyte Differentiation

The porcine body length trait is an essential factor affecting meat production and reproductive performance. It is evident that the development/lengthening of individual vertebrae is one of the main reasons for increases in body length; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, RNA-seq analysis was used to profile the transcriptome (lncRNA, mRNA, and miRNA) of the thoracic intervertebral cartilage (TIC) at two time points (1 and 4 months) during vertebral column development in Yorkshire (Y) and Wuzhishan pigs (W). There were four groups: 1- (Y1) and 4-month-old (Y4) Yorkshire pigs and 1- (W1) and 4-month-old (W4) Wuzhishan pigs. In total, 161, 275, 86, and 126 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, 1478, 2643, 404, and 750 DE genes (DEGs), and 74,51, 34, and 23 DE miRNAs (DE miRNAs) were identified in the Y4 vs. Y1, W4 vs. W1, Y4 vs. W4, and Y1 vs. W1 comparisons, respectively. Functional analysis of these DE transcripts (DETs) demonstrated that they had participated in various biological processes, such as cellular component organization or biogenesis, the developmental process, the metabolic process, bone development, and cartilage development. The crucial bone development-related candidate genes NK3 Homeobox 2 (NKX3.2), Wnt ligand secretion mediator (WLS), gremlin 1 (GREM1), fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX), (collagen type XI alpha 1 chain (COL11A1), and Wnt Family Member 16 (WNT16)) were further identified by functional analysis. Moreover, lncRNA, miRNA, and gene interaction networks were constructed; a total of 55 lncRNAs, 6 miRNAs, and 7 genes formed lncRNA-gene, miRNA-gene, and lncRNA-miRNA-gene pairs, respectively. The aim was to demonstrate that coding and non-coding genes may co-regulate porcine spine development through interaction networks. NKX3.2 was identified as being specifically expressed in cartilage tissues, and it delayed chondrocyte differentiation. miRNA-326 regulated chondrocyte differentiation by targeting NKX3.2. The present study provides the first non-coding RNA and gene expression profiles in the porcine TIC, constructs the lncRNA-miRNA-gene interaction networks, and confirms the function of NKX3.2 in vertebral column development. These findings contribute to the understanding of the potential molecular mechanisms regulating pig vertebral column development. They expand our knowledge about the differences in body length between different pig species and provide a foundation for future studies.

Unleashing the potential of combining FGFR inhibitor and immune checkpoint blockade for FGF/FGFR signaling in tumor microenvironment

BACKGROUND

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) play a crucial role in cell fate and angiogenesis, with dysregulation of the signaling axis driving tumorigenesis. Therefore, many studies have targeted FGF/FGFR signaling for cancer therapy and several FGFR inhibitors have promising results in different tumors but treatment efficiency may still be improved. The clinical use of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has resulted in sustained remission for patients. MAIN: Although there is limited data linking FGFR inhibitors and immunotherapy, preclinical research suggest that FGF/FGFR signaling is involved in regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) including immune cells, vasculogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This raises the possibility that ICB in combination with FGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (FGFR-TKIs) may be feasible for treatment option for patients with dysregulated FGF/FGFR signaling.

CONCLUSION

Here, we review the role of FGF/FGFR signaling in TME regulation and the potential mechanisms of FGFR-TKI in combination with ICB. In addition, we review clinical data surrounding ICB alone or in combination with FGFR-TKI for the treatment of FGFR-dysregulated tumors, highlighting that FGFR inhibitors may sensitize the response to ICB by impacting various stages of the "cancer-immune cycle".

One hundred most cited articles related to Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A bibliometric analysis

Background

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has developed over the past few decades into a reliable technology for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Through a bibliometric analysis, this research attempted to evaluate the characteristics of the top 100 articles on ERCP that had the most citations.

Methods

We extracted pertinent publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) on July 9, 2022. The top 100 ERCP articles with the most citations were identified and analyzed. The following data were extracted: publication year, country/region, organization, total citation times, annual citation times, research type and research field, etc. To implement the network’s visual analysis, a bibliographic coupling network based on keywords was built using the VOSviewer 1.6.17 program.

Results

The journal with the most publications were GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY, with 45 articles. Most of the top 100 articles came from the United States (n = 47) and Italy (n = 14). Indiana University and the University of Amsterdam were among the most important institutions in ERCP research. ML Freeman of the University of Minnesota contributed the highest number (n = 9) and the most highly cited paper. The age of the paper and article type is closely related to citation frequency. Of the 100 most-cited articles, clinical application in the field of ERCP has focused on three aspects: diagnosis, treatment, and complications. Clinical use of ERCP has shifted from diagnosis to treatment. Post-ERCP pancreatitis is the focus of attention, and the clinical application of technically complex therapeutic ERCP is the future development trend.

Conclusion

This study lists the most influential articles in ERCP by exposing the current state of the field, and showing the evolution of research trends to provide perspective for the future development of ERCP.

Altered Brain Activity in Patients With Comitant Strabismus Detected by Analysis of the Fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuation: A Resting-State Functional MRI Study

More and more studies showed that strabismus is not simply an ocular disease, but a neuro-ophthalmology disease. To analyze potential changes in brain activity and their relationship to behavioral performance in comitant strabismus patients and healthy controls. Our study recruited 28 patients with comitant strabismus and 28 people with matched weight, age range, and sex ratio as healthy controls. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we evaluated fALFF to compare spontaneous brain activity between comitant strabismus and healthy controls. We did hospital anxiety and depression scale questionnaires for these patients. We found significantly lower fALFF value in comitant strabismus patients compared with controls in the left frontal superior medial gyrus and the right middle cingulum. In the latter region, fALFF was significantly negatively correlated with the hospital anxiety and depression scale, as well as the duration of disease. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the fALFF method has clear potential for the diagnosis of comitant strabismus patients. These results revealed abnormal spontaneous activity in two brain regions of comitant strabismus patients, which may indicate underlying pathologic mechanisms and may help to advance clinical treatment.

miR-218-5p in endometrial microenvironment prevents the migration of ectopic endometrial stromal cells by inhibiting LASP1

BACKGROUND

Our previous two-dimensional electrophoresis experiment showed that the expression of LASP1 in patients with endometriosis was significantly higher than that of control endometrium. However, the molecular mechanism by which LASP1 is regulated in endometriosis/adenomyosis is unknown.

METHODS

Herein, qPCR was performed to analyze the expression levels of LASP1 and miR-218-5p between endometriosis (Ems) cells and control cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was carried out to measure the expression level of miR-218-5p in ectopic endometrium versus normal endometrium. After miR-218-5p mimic or inhibitor were transfected, the transwell experiment was carried out to see the effect of miR-218-5p on the migration of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). EdU was used to measure cell proliferation rate. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the binding of hsa-miR-218-5p to the 3'UTR of LASP1. Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis were carried out to identify the protein expression pattern of LASP1 and EMT markers in endometrial tissue.

RESULTS

The miR-218-5p is mainly secreted from blood vessels and expressed in the muscle layer around the endometrium, which inhibits the expression level of LASP1 by binding the 3'UTR region of LASP1 in normal ESCs. Overexpression of miR-218-5p impedes the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and prevents the migration of ESCs and the expression of Vimentin in Ems.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings revealed that miR-218-5p in endometrial microenvironment prevents the migration of ectopic endometrial stromal cells by inhibiting LASP1.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-stimulated Gene-6 (TSG-6) Secreted by BMSCs Regulates Activated Astrocytes by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling Pathway to Ameliorate Blood Brain Barrier Damage After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

To investigate the influence of tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) secreted by bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on blood brain barrier (BBB) after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and its related mechanisms. BMSCs and astrocytes were isolated and induced by TNF-α and LPS respectively. The effect of TSG-6 secreted by BMSCs on the proliferation and apoptosis of astrocytes and inflammatory response were assessed by CCK8, flow cytometry, and ELISA respectively. Then we studied the effects of TSG-6 secreted by BMSCs through the paracrine mechanism on the integrity of BBB after ICH via NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. We successfully isolated BMSCs and astrocytes. After LPS treatment of astrocytes, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α showed an upward trend. TSG-6 secreted by TNF-α-activated BMSCs could antagonize the inflammatory response in activated astrocytes. Through the co-culture of astrocytes and BMSCs and the ICH animal model, we found that TSG-6 regulates activated astrocytes by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway and ameliorates BBB damage. Furthermore, we found that TNF-α-activated BMSCs secreted exosomes containing TSG-6 and played an anti-inflammatory effect. TSG-6 secreted by BMSCs regulates activated astrocytes by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating BBB damage.

The efficacy of moxibustion and acupuncture therapy for ankylosing spondylitis: A protocol for an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Ankylosing spondylitis is a complex and progressive autoimmune inflammatory disease with a worldwide prevalence ranging up to 0.9%. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses of traditional Chinese medicine alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or moxibustion, have demonstrated the effectiveness of moxibustion and acupuncture in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. However, there is no relevant literature to comprehensively evaluate the evidence. The purpose of this overview is to synthesize and evaluate the reliability of evidence generated in the systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis of moxibustion and acupuncture as a primary or complementary therapy for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese VIP Information, Wanfang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analysis that review the efficacy of acupuncture or moxibustion as the primary treatment for patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. The literature published before August 2020 will be selected. Additionally, the relevant SRs and meta-analyses that unpublished or ongoing will be searched in PROSPERO and INPLASY. The methodological guidelines for overviews will be used to review and extract data by 2 reviewers, and their will do it independently. Methodology quality will be analyzed by the assessment of multiple systematic reviews-2and the risk of bias by POBIS. For the included studies, we will adopt the following results as primary evaluation indicators: effective rate, visual analogue scale and bath AS disease activity index. Reviewers will assess the certainty of evidence by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation.

RESULTS

The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

CONCLUSION

This overview will provide comprehensive evidence of moxibustion and acupuncture for patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Shear models and parametric analysis of the PVC geomembrane-cushion interface in a high rock-fill dam

As a type of flexible impermeable material, a PVC geomembrane must be cooperatively used with cushion materials. The contact interface between a PVC geomembrane and cushion easily loses stability. In this present paper, we analyzed the shear models and parameters of the interface to study the stability. Two different cushion materials were used: the common extrusion sidewall and non-fines concrete. To simulate real working conditions, flexible silicone cushions were added under the loading plates to simulate hydraulic pressure loading, and the loading effect of flexible silicone cushions was demonstrated by measuring the actual contact areas under different normal pressures between the geomembrane and cushion using the thin-film pressure sensor. According to elastomer shear stress, there are two main types of shear stress between the PVC geomembrane and the cushion: viscous shear stress and hysteresis shear stress. The viscous shear stress between the geomembrane and the cement grout was measured using a dry, smooth concrete sample, then the precise formula parameters of the viscous shear stress and viscous friction coefficient were obtained. The hysteresis shear stress between the geomembrane and the cushion was calculated by subtracting the viscous shear stress from the total shear stress. The formula parameters of the hysteresis shear stress and hysteresis friction coefficient were calculated. The three-dimensional box-counting dimensions of the cushion surface were calculated, and the formula parameters of the hysteresis friction were positively correlated with the three-dimensional box dimensions.

Construction of novel multifunctional luminescent nanoparticles based on DNA bridging and their inhibitory effect on tumor growth

Cyclic RGD peptide was introduced onto the surface of silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-single strand DNA (ssDNA)-graphene quantum dots (GQDs) (ADG) after coating with a hybrid phospholipid material (ADG-DDPC) to be used for antitumor treatment. The Ag and ssDNA content was quantified. The morphology and properties of the nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-VIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The etching effect of H2O2 on the AgNPs and the cleavage of DNA was observed. The cytotoxicity of the ADG-DDPC was investigated using the cell viability and LDH content. The cell uptake was evaluated by using the fluorescence recovery of the GQDs in the ADG-DDPC. The antitumor effects of ADG-DDPC were also evaluated. The content of the ssDNA was 15.3 μg mL-1. The content of the silver element in AgNPs was 3.75 μg mL-1 and 20.43 μg mL-1 in ADG-DDPC. ADG were distributed uniformly with the GQDs on the surface. After coating with hybrid phospholipid membranes containing DSPE-PEG2000-cRGD, ADG-DDPC was detected with an average size of 25.2 nm with a low IC50 of 209.68 ng mL-1 and showed LDH activity on HeLa cells. A better cellular uptake of ADG-DDPC was observed in HeLa cells, compared with cRGD-unmodified ADG nanoparticles (ADG-DDP), up to 6 and 12 h using the fluorescence recovery of GQDs as a measurement. Compared with ADG-DDP (3.6 mg of silver equivalent per kg body weight), ADG-DDPC at the same dose significantly halted 50.9% of tumor growth with little change to body weights when compared with a PTX Injection (10 mg kg-1). The novel nanoparticles, ADG-DDPC, could target tumor sites to exhibit multifunctional inhibition on tumor growth with little toxicity.