Inoculation of Bacillus megaterium strain A14 alleviates cadmium accumulation in peanut: effects and underlying mechanisms

AIMS

A cadmium (Cd)-tolerant Bacillus megaterium strain A14 was used to investigate the effects and mechanisms of bacterial inoculation on peanut growth, Cd accumulation in grains and Cd fixation in Cd-contaminated soil.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Spectroscopic analysis showed that A14 has many functional groups (-OH, -NH2 and -COO et al.) distributed on its surface. The pot experiment indicated that compared to the Cd-contaminated soil alone treatment, inoculation with strain A14 increased shoot and root biomass by 59·93 and 58·31% respectively. The accumulation of Cd in grains decreased by 48·14%, while the proportion of exchangeable Cd in soil decreased from 40 to 26% in A14 inoculated soil.

CONCLUSIONS

Inoculation with B. megaterium A14 improved peanut plant growth via (i) adsorbing Cd²⁺ through functional groups on cell surface, (ii) immobilization of Cd in soil through extracellular secretions, (iii) scavenging the reactive oxygen species through production of antioxidant enzymes, and (iv) by reducing the phytoavailable Cd through regulation of Cd transport gene expression.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study provided a new sight on microbial approach for the chemical composition transformation of soil Cd and associated food safety production, which pointed out an efficient way to improve peanut cultivation.

Planktonic and sediment bacterial communities in an integrated mariculture system

An integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system, with one fish cage model surrounded by an island and shellfish rafts, was used in the current study. Planktonic and sediment bacterial communities in the IMTA system were monitored over four seasons in 2019. In both plankton and sediment samples, the most dominant phyla were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota. Sediment bacterial samples were more similar and had higher levels of biodiversity than planktonic bacterial samples. Obvious seasonal variations were found in plankton samples, but not in sediment samples. No obvious inter-site variations in planktonic and sediment bacteria (fish cages, shellfish rafts and control sites) were found and the results suggested that no obvious impact of feeding operations in fish culture cage model on bacterial communities in the IMTA system was observed in this study. Based on the sequence data, some faecal indicator bacteria and potentially pathogenic bacterial species were detected. According to the results, the bacterial water quality in the IMTA system was acceptable. PICRUSt (Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States) analysis revealed that the primary difference in potential functional roles of planktonic and sediment bacteria was amino acid transport and metabolism, which was active in different seasons.

Long noncoding RNA FAM201A mediates the metastasis of lung squamous cell cancer via regulating ABCE1 expression

OBJECTIVE

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) family with sequence similarity 201-member A (FAM201A) is a novel lncRNA promoting the development of various cancers. However, the biological function of FAM201A on the metastasis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of FAM201A and its target protein in advanced LSCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was applied to evaluate FAM201A expression in lung cancer tissues. The impact of high FAM201A expression on the overall survival in patients with lung cancer was tested using the log-rank test. The relevance between aberrant FAM201A and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with lung cancer was analyzed using the Chi-square tests. Cell proliferation was assayed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and a transwell assay, and the mice xenograft models were applied to determine the promoting effects of FAM201A on LSCC in vitro and in vivo. The underlying regulatory mechanism was explored through RNA transfection, qPCR, and Western blotting. The correlation between ATP-binding cassette transporter E1 (ABCE1) and FAM201A expression was verified using Spearman's correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

FAM201A is aberrantly elevated in tissues from patients with non-small cell lung cancer. High levels of FAM201A expression were more likely to present in patients with squamous type, M1 stage, and inferior overall survival. Differential expression was found between non-metastatic and metastatic squamous carcinoma, but not in adenocarcinoma. FAM201A knockdown inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of LSCC cells in vitro, and represses tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, ABCE1 in LSCC cells was downregulated by silencing FAM201A. The tissue level of ABCE1 was positively correlated with FAM201A expression in patients with LSCC.

CONCLUSIONS

FAM201A may markedly induce migration and invasion of LSCC, resulting in the M1 stage and poor survival. These findings suggest the FAM201A-ABCE1 axis as a novel therapeutic target in LSCC.

The effect of in-hospital high-dose vs. low-dose intensive statin in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome

Background

Statins remain a standard treatment for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. We aimed to determine the association between different dosages of in-hospital statins and the prognoses among patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

NSTE-ACS patients were retrospectively enrolled from January 2010 to December 2014 from five centres in China. Patients receiving either atorvastatin or rosuvastatin during their hospitalizations were included. All the patients were categorized into high-dose statin group (40mg atorvastatin or 20mg rosuvastatin) or low-dose statin group (20mg atorvastatin or 10mg rosuvastatin). In-hospital events and long-term all-cause death was recorded.

Results

Of the 7,008 patients included in the study, 5,248 received low-dose intensive statin (mean age: 64.28±10.39; female: 25.2%), and 1,760 received high-dose intensive statin (mean age: 63.68±10.59; female: 23.1%). There was no significant difference in in-hospital all-cause death between the two groups (adjusted OR, 1.27; P=0.665). All-cause death was similar between the two groups during the long-term follow-up period (30-day: adjusted HR, 1.28; P=0.571; 3-year: adjusted HR, 0.83; P=0.082). However, there was a robust association between the high-dose statin and the reduction in in-hospital dialysis (adjusted OR, 0.11; P=0.030).

Conclusions

The in-hospital high-dose intensive statin is not associated with lower risks of in-hospital or follow-up all-cause death in NSTE-ACS patients undergoing PCI. Considering the robust beneficial effect of in-hospital dialysis, an individualized high-dose intensive statin can be rational in specified populations.

Univariate and multivariate analyses

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): The Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangzhou City athe China Youth Research Funding

MicroRNA-223 negatively regulates LPS-induced inflammatory responses by targeting NLRP3 in human dental pulp fibroblasts

AIM

To investigate the effect of miR-223 on NLRP3, subsequently regulating the production of the NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome pathway-mediated proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in human dental pulp fibroblasts (HDPFs).

METHODOLOGY

Human dental pulp tissue (HDPT) and HDPFs were obtained from impacted third molars. The miR-223 mimics and inhibitor or NLRP3 plasmid were used to upregulate or downregulate miR-223 or NLRP3 in HDPFs, respectively. Computational prediction via TargetScan 5.1 and a luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm target association. The mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 was determined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The release of IL-1β and IL-18 was analysed by ELISA. The significance of the differences between the experimental and the control groups was determined using one-way analysis of variance; P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

RESULTS

A decrease in miR-223 and an increase in NLRP3 in HDPT occurred during the transformation of reversible pulpitis into irreversible pulpitis compared to that in healthy pulp tissue (P < 0.05). The computational prediction and luciferase reporter assay confirmed that NLRP3 was a direct target of miR-223 in HDPFs. The miR-223 inhibitor further promoted ATP plus LPS-induced NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome pathway activation compared to the ATP plus LPS-induced group (P < 0.05). In contrast, the miR-223 mimic significantly inhibited the NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome pathway activation induced by ATP plus LPS compared to the ATP plus LPS-induced group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MiR-223 served as a negative regulator involved in the control of the production and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines mediated by the NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome pathway by targeting NLRP3. These data provide insight into the potential regulatory effects of miRNAs on the NLRP3 inflammasome, thus opening up novel potential therapeutic avenues for future endodontic treatment.

Crystallization of ApoA1 and ApoE4 nanolipoprotein particles and initial XFEL-based structural studies

Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs), also called “nanodiscs”, are discoidal particles with a patch of lipid bilayer corralled by apolipoproteins. NLPs have long been of interest due to both their utility as membrane-model systems into which membrane proteins can be inserted and solubilized and their physiological role in lipid and cholesterol transport via HDL and LDL maturation, which are important for human health. Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) at X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) is a powerful approach for structural biology of membrane proteins, which are traditionally difficult to crystallize as large single crystals capable of producing high-quality diffraction suitable for structure determination. To facilitate understanding of the specific role of two apolipoprotein/lipid complexes, ApoA1 and ApoE4, in lipid binding and HDL/LDL particle maturation dynamics and develop new SFX methods involving NLP membrane protein encapsulation, we have prepared and crystallized homogeneous populations of ApoA1 and ApoE4 NLPs. Crystallization of empty NLPs yields semi-ordered objects that appear crystalline and give highly anisotropic and diffuse X-ray diffraction, similar in characteristics to fiber diffraction. Several unit cell parameters were approximately determined for both NLPs from these measurements. Thus, low-background, sample conservative methods of delivery are critical. Here we implemented a fixed target sample delivery scheme utilizing the Roadrunner fast-scanning system and ultra-thin polymer/graphene support films, providing a low-volume, low-background approach to membrane protein SFX. This study represents initial steps in obtaining structural information for ApoA1 and ApoE4 NLPs and developing this system as a supporting scaffold for future structural studies of membrane proteins crystalized in a native lipid environment.

Computer-aided three-dimensional assessment of periodontal healing distal to the mandibular second molar after coronectomy of the mandibular third molar: a prospective study

Background

The periodontal healing distal to the mandibular second molar (M2M) after coronectomy of the M3M has shown controversial results. We aimed to combine a digital method with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and estimate periodontal healing of M2M after M3M coronectomy. An accurate and stable indicator in three dimensions was also explored tentatively.

Methods

Patients with a M3M in contact with the inferior alveolar canal were included. CBCT was applied immediately after coronectomy (baseline) and 6-months later. Data were investigated with digital software for registration. Previously reported and coronectomy-related factors were included for univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

A total of 181 patients (213 M3Ms) completed 6-month follow-up. Significant reduction in the distal intra-bony defect (DBD) depth of the M2M was shown (1.28 ± 1.24 mm, P < 0.001). DBD depth of the M2M at baseline was the most influential factor (r = 0.59), followed by preoperative M3M condition, age, rotation and migration of the root complex. Remaining enamel (OR = 6.93) and small retromolar space (0.67) contributed to re-contact of the root complex and M2M. Bone volume regenerated in the distal 2 mm was associated significantly with DBD-depth reduction (r = 0.74, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Bone volume regenerated in the distal 2 mm of the M2M denoted stability of distal periodontal healing of the M2M. DBD depth at baseline was the most influential factor for healing of a DBD of the M2M after M3M coronectomy. The remaining enamel and a small retromolar space could contribute to re-contact of the root complex and the M2M.

Trial registration

China Clinical Trial Center, ChiCTR1800014862. Registered 10 February 2018,

Blood-brain barrier amenable gold nanoparticles biofabrication in aged cell culture medium

Green fabrication of nanoscale materials is highly desirable because of associated adverse effects with conventional nanomaterial biomedical applications. Moreover, the higher selective nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the brain ailments treatment through conventional chemotherapy, thus providing room for nanotechnology-based modalities for BBB traversing. In this contribution, we have biosynthesized gold nanoparticles from the HAuCl4 solution in the aged cells culture medium. This approach is highly facile without any other chemical utilization. The cell culture medium age and cell number can tune the Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) size from 2 to several hundred nm. The 24 h MTT assay and cell uptake studies in vitro and murine models' vital organs (liver, kidney, spleen, lung, and heart) study up to 48 h demonstrated that biosynthesized AuNPs were biocompatible and BBB amenable. Interestingly, the transferrin and cell culture medium isolated proteins were found factors responsible for HAuCl4 solution biomineralization and size control. Moreover, the protein corona on biosynthesized AuNPs could help them traverse BBB both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting their potential applications for brain disease theranostics. In conclusion, the biosynthesis of AuNPs from aged cells medium is highly facile, green, and biocompatible for brain disease theranostics.

First Measurement of Λ_{c} Baryon Production in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

We report on the first measurement of the charmed baryon Λ_{c}^{±} production at midrapidity (|y|<1) in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV collected by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The Λ_{c}/D^{0} [denoting (Λ_{c}^{+}+Λ_{c}^{-})/(D^{0}+D[over ¯]^{0})] yield ratio is measured to be 1.08±0.16  (stat)±0.26  (sys) in the 0%-20% most central Au+Au collisions for the transverse momentum (p_{T}) range 3<p_{T}<6  GeV/c. This is significantly larger than the pythia model calculations for p+p collisions. The measured Λ_{c}/D^{0} ratio, as a function of p_{T} and collision centrality, is comparable to the baryon-to-meson ratios for light and strange hadrons in Au+Au collisions. Model calculations including coalescence hadronization for charmed baryon and meson formation reproduce the features of our measured Λ_{c}/D^{0} ratio.

Extending the Southern Shore of the Island of Inversion to ^{28}F

Detailed spectroscopy of the neutron-unbound nucleus ^{28}F has been performed for the first time following proton/neutron removal from ^{29}Ne/^{29}F beams at energies around 230  MeV/nucleon. The invariant-mass spectra were reconstructed for both the ^{27}F^{(*)}+n and ^{26}F^{(*)}+2n coincidences and revealed a series of well-defined resonances. A near-threshold state was observed in both reactions and is identified as the ^{28}F ground state, with S_{n}(^{28}F)=-199(6)  keV, while analysis of the 2n decay channel allowed a considerably improved S_{n}(^{27}F)=1620(60)  keV to be deduced. Comparison with shell-model predictions and eikonal-model reaction calculations have allowed spin-parity assignments to be proposed for some of the lower-lying levels of ^{28}F. Importantly, in the case of the ground state, the reconstructed ^{27}F+n momentum distribution following neutron removal from ^{29}F indicates that it arises mainly from the 1p_{3/2} neutron intruder configuration. This demonstrates that the island of inversion around N=20 includes ^{28}F, and most probably ^{29}F, and suggests that ^{28}O is not doubly magic.

Perspective-shifting are helpful for children in Chinese passive sentence comprehension

Passive sentences have been shown to be more difficult than active sentences for young children in English, German, Italian, Turkish, as well as Japanese, Korean. Many factors, such as syntactic structure, lexical-semantic, language experience, have been proved to affect passive sentence processing. In this paper, two experiments were carried out to investigate the role of perspective-shifting and animacy characteristics of agents and patients in processing passive sentences by 5~6 year-old Chinese children, using a sentence-picture matching task. The results were as follows: (1) Passive sentences were more difficult to comprehend than active sentences in Mandarin Chinese; (2) The ability of perspective-shifting played an important role in processing passive sentences. In sum, addressing sentences involving syntactic transformation is a complex cognitive activity for young children. Many factors, such as syntactic structure, lexical-semantic, language experience, and cognitive flexibility should be given full consideration.

JQ1, a bromodomain inhibitor, suppresses Th17 effectors by blocking p300-mediated acetylation of RORγt

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Th17 cells play critical roles in chronic inflammation, including fibrosis. Histone acetyltransferase p300, a bromodomain-containing protein, acetylates RORγt and promotes Th17 cell development. The bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 was shown to alleviate Th17-mediated pathologies, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized that JQ1 suppresses the response of Th17 cells by impairing p300-mediated acetylation of RORγt.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The effect of JQ1 on p300-mediated acetylation of RORγt was investigated in HEK293T (overexpressing Flag-p300 and Myc-RORγt) and human Th17 cells through immunoprecipitation and western blotting. To determine the regions of p300 responsible for JQ1-mediated suppression of HAT activity, we performed HAT assays on recombinant p300 fragments with/without the bromodomain, after exposure to JQ1. Additionally, the effect of JQ1 on p300-mediated acetylation of RORγt and Th17 cell function was verified in vivo, using murine Schistosoma-induced fibrosis models. Liver injury was assessed by histopathological examination and measurement of serum enzyme levels. Expression of Th17 effectors was detected by qRT-PCR, whereas IL-17- and RORγt-positive granuloma cells were detected by FACS.

KEY RESULTS

JQ1 impaired p300-mediated RORγt acetylation in human Th17 and HEK293T cells. JQ1 failed to suppress the acetyltransferase activity of p300 fragments lacking the bromodomain. JQ1 treatment attenuated Schistosoma-induced fibrosis in mice, by inhibiting RORγt acetylation and IL-17 expression.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

JQ1 impairs p300-mediated RORγt acetylation, thus reducing the expression of RORγt target genes, including Th17-specific cytokines. JQ1-mediated inhibition of p300 acetylase activity requires the p300 bromodomain. Strategies targeting p300 may provide new therapeutic approaches for controlling Th17-related diseases.

A fixed-target platform for serial femtosecond crystallography in a hydrated environment

For serial femtosecond crystallography at X-ray free-electron lasers, which entails collection of single-pulse diffraction patterns from a constantly refreshed supply of microcrystalline sample, delivery of the sample into the X-ray beam path while maintaining low background remains a technical challenge for some experiments, especially where this methodology is applied to relatively low-ordered samples or those difficult to purify and crystallize in large quantities. This work demonstrates a scheme to encapsulate biological samples using polymer thin films and graphene to maintain sample hydration in vacuum conditions. The encapsulated sample is delivered into the X-ray beam on fixed targets for rapid scanning using the Roadrunner fixed-target system towards a long-term goal of low-background measurements on weakly diffracting samples. As a proof of principle, we used microcrystals of the 24 kDa rapid encystment protein (REP24) to provide a benchmark for polymer/graphene sandwich performance. The REP24 microcrystal unit cell obtained from our sandwiched in-vacuum sample was consistent with previously established unit-cell parameters and with those measured by us without encapsulation in humidified helium, indicating that the platform is robust against evaporative losses. While significant scattering from water was observed because of the sample-deposition method, the polymer/graphene sandwich itself was shown to contribute minimally to background scattering.

Formation of optical supramolecular structures in a fibre laser by tailoring long-range soliton interactions

Self-assembly of fundamental elements through weak, long-range interactions plays a central role in both supramolecular DNA assembly and bottom-up synthesis of nanostructures. Optical solitons, analogous in many ways to particles, arise from the balance between nonlinearity and dispersion and have been studied in numerous optical systems. Although both short- and long-range interactions between optical solitons have attracted extensive interest for decades, stable soliton supramolecules, with multiple aspects of complexity and flexibility, have thus far escaped experimental observation due to the absence of techniques for enhancing and controlling the long-range inter-soliton forces. Here we report that long-range soliton interactions originating from optoacoustic effects and dispersive-wave radiations can be precisely tailored in a fibre laser cavity, enabling self-assembly of large numbers of optical solitons into highly-ordered supramolecular structures. We demonstrate several features of such optical structures, highlighting their potential applications in optical information storage and ultrafast laser-field manipulation.

[A Chinese consensus statement on the clinical application of transesophageal echocardiography for critical care (2019)]

Transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) is valuable in intensive care unit (ICU) because its application meets the requirements of diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients.However, the current application has not fully adapted to the specialty of critical care. TEE could be more valuablein ICU when used with a new way that under the guidance of the theory of critical care and embedded into the treatment workflow. We have expanded and improved the application of traditional TEE and integrated the concept of critical care, established the concept of transesophageal echocardiography for critical care (TEECC). Chinese Critical Ultrasound Study Group (CCUSG) organized experts in the area to form the consensus based the previous studiesand the long term practice of critical care ultrasound and TEE, aiming at clarifying the nature and characteristics of TEECC, promoting the rational and standardized clinical application and the coming researches.The consensus of Chinese experts on clinical application of TEECC (2019) were 33 in total, of whichthe main items were as follows: (1) TEECC is a significant means, which is expanded and improved from the traditional transesophageal echocardiography according to characteristics of critically ill patients and is applied in ICU based on critically clinical scenarios and requirements by the critical care physician, to promote visualized, refined and precisely management of critically ill patients.(2) TEE possesses distinctive superiority in implementation in ICU. It has characteristics of images with good quality, operations with good stability and low-dependent of operators, monitoring with continuity, and visualization with all-dimensional and detail of heart and blood vessels.(3)As a means of refined monitoring that could resulted in precise diagnosis and treatment, TEECC expands the dimension of intensive monitoring and improves the performance of critical care. (4) Indications of TEECC application include clinical etiological searching and invasive procedures guiding when it acted as a traditional role; and also refined hemodynamic monitoring based on critical care rationale and over-all management under specific critical clinical scenarios. (5) TEE and TTE assessments are complementary; they are not alternative. Integrated assessment of TTE and TEE is required under many critical clinical scenarios.(6) TEE should be a necessary configuration in ICU. (7) All-round and significant information regarding to the mechanism of acute circulatory disorders can be provided by TEECC; it is a non-substitutable means of identifying the causes of shock under some special clinical scenarios. (8) Focal extracardiac hematoma can be accurately and rapidly detected by TEE in patients with open-thoracic cardiac surgery or severe chest trauma when highly suspected pericardial tamponade.(9) The priority of pathophysiologic mechanism of septic shock can be rapidly and accurately identified by TEE; even if its pathophysiological changes are complex, including hypovolemia and/or vasospasm and/or left and right heart dysfunction. (10) Causes of hemodynamic disorders can be rapidly and qualitatively evaluated so that the orientation of treatment can be clarified by TEECC. (11) A full range of quantitative indicators for refined hemodynamic management in critically ill patients can be provided by TEECC. (12) TEECC helps to accurately assess volume status and predict fluid responsiveness.(13) TEECC is specially suitable for accurate quantitative assessment of cardiac function.(14) Mini TEE provides long-term continuous hemodynamic monitoring. (15) Standard views are easy to be acquired by TEECC, which is a premise for accurate and repeatable measurements, and a guarantee for assessment of effect and risk of therapy. (16) Compared with invasive hemodynamic monitoring, TEECC is minimally invasive, with low infection risk and high safety.(17) In patients with acute cor pulmonale (ACP) under condition of right ventricular dysfunction and low cardiac output, TEECC is a key tool for assessment. (18) TEECC should be implemented actively when suspicious of left to right shunt in critically ill patients who occurred hypotension that hard to explain the cause. (19) TEECC should be implemented actively when suspicious of right to left shunt in critically ill patients who occurred hypoxemia that hard to explain the cause. (20) TEECC is preferred in hemodynamics monitoring under prone position of ventilated patients.(21) TEECC is an imperative means to achieve over-all management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, especially for all-round hemodynamic monitoring. (22) Three basic views is recommended to be used to simplify TEE assessment during cardiac arrest so that reversible causes could be identified, and resuscitation could be guided. (23) The flow related echodynamic evaluation (TEECC-FREE) workflow is preferred in refined hemodynamics monitoring and therapy. (24) Simple workflow of TEECC could be implemented in special critical clinical scenarios. (25) Application of TEECC is highly secure; however, impairments of procedure should also be alert by operators. (26) Pitfalls in application of TEE should be paid attention to by the critical care physician. (27) Timely and rationally application of TEECC is in favor of diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients and may improve the prognosis.

Down-regulation of lncRNA Linc00152 suppressed cell viability, invasion, migration, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and reversed chemo-resistance in breast cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types in women, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were found to play important roles in breast cancer progression. The present study examined the effects of Linc00152 on the breast cancer progression and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression levels of relevant genes in tissues and cells were detected by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay. Cell viability, growth, invasion, and migration were measured by CCK-8, colony formation, transwell invasion, and migration assays, respectively. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of proteins.

RESULTS

The results showed that Linc00152 was highly expressed in the breast cancer tissues compared to their adjacent normal tissues, and Linc00152 was also up-regulated in the breast cancer cell lines compared to normal cell lines. Knock-down of Linc00152 by using siRNAs in breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) significantly suppressed cell viability, cell growth, cell invasion and migration as measured by the CCK-8, colony formation, transwell invasion, and migration assays. The qRT-PCR and Western blot results showed that knock-down of Linc00152 suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cell lines. In addition, CCK-8 assay showed that knock-down of Linc00152 in MCF-7/ADR cells reversed the chemo-resistance to doxorubicin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested the oncogenic role of Linc00152 in the breast cancer progression. Understanding the role of Linc00152 in breast cancer progression may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer.

[Risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis in Shiqu County Sichuan Province: a case-control study]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the main risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis in Shiqu County, Sichuan Province, so as to provide the reference for the formulation of echinococcosis control strategies in Shiqu County.

METHODS

During the period from November 2015 through June 2017, the patients with cystic echinococcosis (case group) and healthy controls (control group) were randomly sampled from Shiqu County as the study subjects. A questionnaire survey was conducted to capture the study subjects'age, gender, ethnicity, occupation, religion, lifestyle, education level, number of household dogs, bovine and sheep, and density of dog feces in the courtyard. The major risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis were identified using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Univariate logistic regression analysis showed 7 risk factors with statistical significance between the case and control groups, and age, lifestyle, number of household bovine, number of household sheep, number of house-hold dogs, and the density of dog feces in the courtyard were included in the multivariate logistic regression model (OR = 1.026, 4.792, 1.067, 1.022, 1.709 and 1.095, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

High age, pastoral nomadic lifestyle, high number of house-hold bovine, high number of household sheep, high number of household dogs and high density of dog feces in the courtyard are strongly associated with the riks of human cystic echinococcosis in Shiqu County.

Histamine H3 receptor antagonist Clobenpropit protects propofol-induced apoptosis of hippocampal neurons through PI3K/AKT pathway

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to explore whether histamine H3 receptor antagonist Clobenpropit could protect propofol-induced neurotoxicity in hippocampal neurons.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hippocampal neurons were extracted from neonatal rats and induced with propofol. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay was performed to detect apoptotic rate of neurons. Western blot was conducted to detect protein levels of cleaved-caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl2. After LY294002 treatment, the PI3K pathway antagonist was applied in neurons, protein levels of cleaved-caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl2 were detected by Western blot as well.

RESULTS

Propofol treatment remarkably induced neuronal apoptosis. Clobenpropit alleviated cell apoptosis induced by propofol. Protein expressions of cleaved-caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl2 were remarkably downregulated in neurons treated with Clobenpropit. LY294002 induction remarkably reverses the protective role of Clobenpropit in neuronal apoptosis, manifesting as downregulated PI3K and p-AKT after LY294002 treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Clobenpropit protects propofol-induced neuronal apoptosis through activating PI3K/AKT pathway.

The effect of DC+CIK combined therapy on rat liver cancer model and its modulatory effect on immune functions

OBJECTIVE

Primary liver cancer is a sort of the most common solid tumors occurred in the digestive system. The incidence and mortality rate maintain at a high level, thus leading to heavy economic and psychological burdens for patients. Next-generation biological therapy, such as cellular immune treatment, improves the medicine efficacy. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells can effectively clear residual tumor lesion and inhibit metastasis or recurrence. Dendritic cells (DCs) can specifically eliminate tumor cells via modulating cellular immune function of the host. This study aimed to investigate the function of DC+CIK combined treatment on rat liver model and its effect on immune functions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RH-35 tumor cell was used to prepare live cancer model on Wistar rats, which were further divided into control, CIK and DC+CIK groups, in which rats received autograft CIK and DCs. Tumor size was later measured along with liver function index. The secretions of IFN-γ, IL-4, and TNF-α were measured by Real-time PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Both CIK and DC+CIK treatment significantly reduced tumor size and improved liver function, increased secretion of IFN-γ, IL-4, and TNF-α, decreased Bcl-2 expression and enhanced Bax expression (p < 0.05 compared to control group). DC+CIK combined therapy presented significantly better efficacy than CIK did.

CONCLUSIONS

DC+CIK combined therapy can protect the host against tumors invasion via modulating body immune or liver function, regulating apoptosis/anti-apoptosis balance, which shows better efficacy than CIK alone, and can work as a novel biological therapeutic strategy for liver cancer.