Chronic stress impairs male spermatogenesis function and nectin-3 protein expression in the testis

Chronic stress is a crucial public issue that occurs when a person is repetitively stimulated by various stressors. Previous researches have reported that chronic stress induces spermatogenesis dysfunction in the reproductive system, but its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The nectin protein family, including nectin-1 to nectin-4, is Ca(2+)-independent immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules, that are widely expressed in the hippocampus, testicular tissue, epithelial cells and other sites. Nectin-3 contributes to the sperm development at the late stage, and the abnormal expression of nectin-3 impairs spermatogenesis. Some recent studies have demonstrated that stress induces a decrease in nectin-3 expression in the hippocampus via corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) pathway. Here, we tested whether chronic stress also caused a reduction in nectin-3 expression in the testis. We established a chronic social defeat stress paradigm, which provides naturalistic and complex chronic stress in male C57BL/6 mice. After 25 days of chronic social defeat stress, the mice showed weight loss, thymic atrophy and some other typical symptoms of chronic stress (e.g. anxiety-like behavior and social avoidance behavior). We found gonad atrophy, testicular histological structure changes and semen quality reductions in the stressed mice. The stressed male mice significantly spent more time to impregnate the female mice than the control male mice. Moreover, nectin-3 protein levels in stressed mice were significantly decreased in the testes compared with those in control mice. In addition, we found that the CRHR1 expression level was increased in the testes of stressed mice. Therefore, we demonstrated a decreased level of nectin-3 expression and an increase in CRHR1 expression in the testis after exposure to chronic stress, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for the spermatogenesis dysfunction induced by chronic stress.

COVID-19: Initial experience of an international group of hand surgeons

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected medical treatment protocols throughout the world. While the pandemic does not affect hand surgeons at first glance, they have a role to play. The purpose of this study was to describe the different measures that have been put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by hand surgeons throughout the world. The survey comprised 47 surgeons working in 34 countries who responded to an online questionnaire. We found that the protocols varied in terms of visitors, health professionals in the operating room, patient waiting areas, wards and emergency rooms. Based on these preliminary findings, an international consensus on hand surgery practices for the current viral pandemic, and future ones, needs to be built rapidly.

RUNX1-activated upregulation of lncRNA RNCR3 promotes cell proliferation, invasion, and suppresses apoptosis in colorectal cancer via miR-1301-3p/AKT1 axis in vitro and in vivo

PURPOSE

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have participated in progression of colorectal cancer. This study aims to study the role of RUNX1/RNCR3/miR-1301-3p/AKT1 axis in colorectal cancer.

METHODS

The cancer tissues were from patients with colorectal cancer. The qRT-PCR was used to determine expression of lncRNA RNCR3, miR-1301-3p, and AKT1. Both dual-luciferase reporter assay and ChIP assay were conducted to investigate the binding sites of RUNX1 on RNCR3 promoter. Western blot was performed to analyze expression of AKT1 protein. Both dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were performed to detect the interacting sites between RNCR3 and miR-1301-3p. The CCK-8 assay, soft agar assay, transwell assay, and annexin-V-FITC/PI staining were applied to analyze the cell growth, invasion, and apoptosis, respectively.

RESULTS

The data demonstrated that RNCR3 was elevated in colorectal cancer, and it was negatively correlated with expression of miR-1301-3p which was decreased in cancers. Then, RNCR3 could interact with and suppress miR-1301-3p expression in HCT116 and SW480. Knockdown of RNCR3 or miR-1301-3p overexpression significantly inhibited cell growth, invasion, and increased apoptosis through suppressing expression of Cyclin A1, PCNA, N-cadherin, Bcl-2, and promoting expression of E-cadherin, Bax in vitro and in vivo. RUNX1 was directly bound to RNCR3 promoter to activate RNCR3 expression. Furthermore, overexpression of RNCR3 blocked tumor inhibitory effects of miR-1301-3p on proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, RNCR3 and miR-1301-3p synergistically modulated AKT1 expression.

CONCLUSION

RUNX1-activated upregulation of RNCR3 promoted colorectal cancer progression by sponging miR-1301-3p to elevate AKT1 levels in vitro and in vivo.

Diabatic Gates for Frequency-Tunable Superconducting Qubits

We demonstrate diabatic two-qubit gates with Pauli error rates down to 4.3(2)×10^{-3} in as fast as 18 ns using frequency-tunable superconducting qubits. This is achieved by synchronizing the entangling parameters with minima in the leakage channel. The synchronization shows a landscape in gate parameter space that agrees with model predictions and facilitates robust tune-up. We test both iswap-like and cphase gates with cross-entropy benchmarking. The presented approach can be extended to multibody operations as well.

The molecular mechanism of serum microRNA124b induced coronary heart disease by inducing myocardial cell senescence

OBJECTIVE

The incidence and mortality of coronary heart disease are rapidly increasing in recent years. Myocardial cell dysfunction and cell senescence may play a role in coronary heart disease. MicroRNA controls a variety of biological processes, but leaving its role in coronary heart disease has yet to be explored.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with coronary heart disease were regarded as subjects, and healthy volunteers as the control, on both of which microRNA124b level of serum was studied by Real-time PCR, and the heart function of patients was detected by using ultrasound. The relationship between serum microRNA124b level and cardiac function was analyzed along with the model of rat coronary artery disease; the level of aging proteins P21 and P53 in cardiac muscle cells was also tested.

RESULTS

MicroRNA124b in the serum of patients with coronary heart disease was increased, and the heart function of patients was decreased (p < 0.05). Serum level of microRNA124b in a rat model of coronary heart disease was increased, and the cardiac function was decreased (p < 0.05). When myocardial cell appeared ageing, the level of P21 and P53 was increased, and the level of microRNA124b was related with P53.

CONCLUSIONS

The level of microRNA124b in the serum of coronary heart disease patients and rat model may be related to the occurrence of coronary heart disease; microRNA124b may lead to the occurrence of coronary heart disease by causing cell senescence.

[Diagnosis and treatment of cervical migratory foreign bodies caused by sharp esophageal foreign bodies]

Objective:Imaging findings and treatment of sharp foreign bodies penetrating the esophagus to migrate in the neck were collected. Method:All of 9 cases were determined by CT imaging. The foreign bodies were removed in 8 cases through the lateral cervical approach. The last case was taken out by bronchoscope. Eight cases successfully removed the foreign bodies. No definite foreign body was found in 1 case. Result:There were no postoperative complications in 8 patients that successful removed of foreign bodies. All patients begin to eat normally after operation and were discharged from hospital in 7 days. Tracheoesophageal fistula occurred that happened to the patient that no foreign body was found in operation. So gastric tube was retained for 7 days. Conclusion:CT imaging should be performed to determine whether there is the possibility of foreign body penetrating out of the esophagus, for the patients who had explicit history but the foreignbodies could not be found by barium meal examination. If necessary, three-dimensional CT reconstruction of the neck should be performed to locate the foreign body. Surgical exploration should be done as soon as possible to avoid aimless migration of foreign bodies, and it is difficult to find it during operation.

[Role of lncRNA Fez family zinc finger protein 1 antisense RNA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the effect of long-chain non-coding RNA Fez family zinc finger protein 1 antisense RNA1 (lncRNA FEZF1-AS1) on the biological function of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: SMMC771 and BEL-7402 cells were transfected with sh-FEZF1-AS1 and OE-FEZF1-AS1, respectively. The expression of lncRNA FEZF1-AS1 was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Cell proliferation was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The effects of lncRNA FEZF1-AS1 on invasion and migration were detected by Transwell and wound healing assays. The expression levels of adhesion molecules were detected by Western blot. The effect of lncRNA FEZF1-AS1 on the in vivo growth was verified by nude mice xenograft experiments. Results: The silencing or ectopic expression of lncRNA FEZF1-AS1 inhibited or promoted the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. CCK-8 assay showed that the proliferation abilities of SMMC7721 and BEL-7402 cells in sh-FEZF1-AS1 transfection group significantly decreased, achieving (35.43±4.06)% and (34.68±3.97)%, respectively, on the fifth day. There were significant differences between sh-FEZF1-AS1 group and sh-NC group [52.21±8.46)% and (53.76±7.64)%] (all P<0.05). In contrast, the proliferation ability of SMMC7721 and BEL-7402 cells transfected with OE-FEZF1-AS1 was significantly increased, achieving (83.49±6.92)% and (80.31±3.13)%, respectively, on the fifth day. There were significant differences between OE-FEZF1-AS1 and OE-NC group [53.03±8.84)% and (55.11±7.09)%] (all P<0.05). The subsequent flow cytometry results showed that cell apoptotic rates of SMMC7721 and BEL-7402 cells transfected with sh-FEZF1-AS1 were (13.02±1.38)% and (11.88±1.29)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in sh-NC groups [(5.57±1.46)% and (8.06±1.42)%, respectively, all P<0.05]. In contrast, the apoptotic rates of SMMC7721 and BEL-7402 cells transfected with OE-FEZF1-AS1 were (3.01±0.39)% and (3.22±0.43)%, which were significantly lower than those in OE-NC groups [(6.68±0.96)% and (6.63±0.45)%, all P<0.05]. In addition, knockdown or overexpression of lncRNA FEZF1-AS1 expression inhibited or enhanced the migration and invasion abilities as well as the levels of adhesion molecules in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. After 30 days of feeding under the same conditions, the tumor volumes of sh-FEZF1-AS1 and sh-NC SMMC7721 cells xenograft mice models were (0.26±0.03) cm(3) and (0.63±0.06) cm(3), respectively, showing significant difference (P<0.05). The tumor volumes of sh-FEZF1-AS1 and sh-NC BEL-7402 cells were (0.31±0.02) cm(3) and (0.72±0.08) cm(3), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: lncRNA FEZF1-AS1 may strengthen the growth, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis reveal the potential function of ethylene responsive factor gene family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection and ovule development in grapes (Vitis vinifera L.)

The prevention of Botrytis cinerea infection and the study of grape seedlessness are very important for grape industries. Finding correlated regulatory genes is an important approach towards understanding their molecular mechanisms. Ethylene responsive factor (ERF) gene family play critical roles in defence networks and the growth of plants. To date, no large-scale study of the ERF proteins associated with pathogen defence and ovule development has been performed in grape (Vitis vinifera L.). In the present study, we identified 113 ERF genes (VvERF) and named them based on their chromosome locations. The ERF genes could be divided into 11 groups based on a multiple sequence alignment and a phylogenetic comparison with homologues from Arabidopsis thaliana. Synteny analysis and Ka/Ks ratio calculation suggested that segmental and tandem duplications contributed to the expansion of the ERF gene family. The evolutionary relationships between the VvERF genes were investigated by exon-intron structure characterisation, and an analysis of the cis-acting regulatory elements in their promoters suggested potential regulation after stress or hormone treatments. Expression profiling after infection with the fungus, B. cinerea, indicated that ERF genes function in responses to pathogen attack. In addition, the expression levels of most ERF genes were much higher during ovule development in seedless grapes, suggesting a role in ovule abortion related to seedlessness. Taken together, these results indicate that VvERF proteins are involved in responses to Botrytis cinerea infection and in grape ovule development. This information may help guide strategies to improve grape production.

The effect of hyaluronic acid on the corrosion of an orthopedic CoCrMo-alloy in simulated inflammatory conditions

During joint inflammation, various reactive oxygen species (ROS) are present in the surrounding tissue and joint fluid. In the laboratory, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is typically used to simulate inflammatory conditions, and media containing proteins and hyaluronic acid (HA) are employed to simulate joint synovial fluid. Electrochemical interactions between H₂O₂ and HA in the presence of a CoCrMo surface are expected, since HA molecules contain redox-active moieties. We hypothesized that any redox reactions of these moieties with ROS will mitigate the oxidizing effect of H₂O₂ on the CoCrMo surface, limiting the corrosion rate of the metal. Non-destructive electrochemical measurements (open circuit potential, linear polarization resistance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) were used to investigate the corrosion response of CoCrMo in synovial model fluid containing physiologically relevant concentrations of albumin proteins and hyaluronic acid, with and without H₂O₂. Two different molarities of H₂O₂, 3 mM and 30 mM, were tested. While both molarities are within physiological limits, 3mM is well within the range HA could mitigate, whereas 30 mM is not. Contrary to our hypothesis, HA did not alleviate corrosion in 3 mM H₂O₂ and even caused a corrosion increase in the case of 30 mM H₂O₂. The decrease in corrosion resistance of the alloy may be attributed to the complexation of degenerated HA molecular chains with chromium ions released from the metallic surface, which are necessary to build a protective oxide film. This finding has clinical implications, suggesting that HA accelerates corrosion of CoCrMo implants in the presence of strong inflammation.

Association between Tumor Acidity and Hypervascularity in Human Gliomas Using pH-Weighted Amine Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Echo-Planar Imaging and Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast Perfusion MRI at 3T

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Acidification of the tumor microenvironment from abnormal metabolism along with angiogenesis to meet metabolic demands are both hallmarks of malignant brain tumors; however, the interdependency of tumor acidity and vascularity has not been explored. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the association between pH-sensitive amine chemical exchange saturation transfer echoplanar imaging (CEST-EPI) and relative cerebral blood volume (CBV) measurements obtained from dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion MRI in patients with gliomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, 90 patients with histologically confirmed gliomas were scanned between 2015 and 2018 (median age, 50.3 years; male/female ratio = 59:31). pH-weighting was obtained using chemical exchange saturation transfer echo-planar imaging estimation of the magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry at 3 ppm, and CBV was estimated using DSC-MR imaging. The voxelwise correlation and patient-wise median value correlation between the magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry at 3 ppm and CBV within T2-hyperintense lesions and contrast-enhancing lesions were evaluated using the Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS

General colocalization of elevated perfusion and high acidity was observed in tumors, with local intratumor heterogeneity. For patient-wise analysis, median CBV and magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry at 3 ppm within T2-hyperintense lesions were significantly correlated (R = 0.3180, P = .002), but not in areas of contrast enhancement (P = .52). The positive correlation in T2-hyperintense lesions remained within high-grade gliomas (R = 0.4128, P = .001) and in isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type gliomas (R = 0.4300, P = .002), but not in World Health Organization II or in isocitrate dehydrogenase mutant tumors. Both magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry at 3 ppm and the voxelwise correlation between magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry and CBV were higher in high-grade gliomas compared with low-grade gliomas in T2-hyperintense tumors (magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry, P = .02; Pearson correlation, P = .01). The same trend held when comparing isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type gliomas and isocitrate dehydrogenase mutant gliomas (magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry, P = .04; Pearson correlation, P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

A positive linear correlation between CBV and acidity in areas of T2-hyperintense, nonenhancing tumor, but not enhancing tumor, was observed across patients. Local heterogeneity was observed within individual tumors.

Down-regulated expression of Tim-3 promotes invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells

To explore how Tim-3 is expressed and how its expression influences invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. A total of 188 CRC patients were prospectively collected for this study. Meanwhile, 135 normal controls were incorporated during the same period. Intestinal samples of the CRC radical cancerous tissues, paracancerous tissues ( 5.0 cm beyond the cancer tissue) were collected for the following experiment. Furthermore, peripheral venous blood samples (10 ml) were collected from each subject. Immunohistochemical analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot were performed for the detection of Tim-3 in different tissues. The immunohistochemical staining results showed that a positive Tim-3 signal was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus, observed as yellow or brown granules. Tim-3 was largely expressed in colon carcinoma tissues and normal colon mucosa tissues but was rarely expressed in the cell membrane. RT-qPCR results indicated that Tim-3 mRNA levels were significantly lower in CRC tissues than in paracancerous tissues and normal colon mucosa tissues. A trend of decreased Tim-3 mRNA levels was also found in the paracancerous tissues compared with the normal colon mucosa tissues (all P < 0.05). Western blot results revealed reduced Tim-3 protein expression in CRC tissues compared with normal colon mucosa tissues and paracancerous tissues, and Tim-3 protein expression was much lower in the paracancerous tissues than in the normal colon mucosa tissues (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, obviously lower Tim-3 mRNA levels were found in the poorly differentiated CRC patients and in those with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis (all P < 0.05). Collectively, Tim-3 expression was mainly located in the cytoplasm and nucleus, showing down-regulated expression in colon carcinoma tissues compared with normal and paracancerous tissues. Reduced Tim-3 expression may promote CRC invasion and metastasis providing a medical reference for the treatment of CRC.