Role of ADAR1 on Proliferation and Differentiation in Porcine Preadipocytes

Recent research has identified ADAR1 as a participant in the regulation of lipid accumulation in mice. However, there are no reports on the roles of ADAR1 in proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of porcine preadipocytes. In this study, we investigated the role of ADAR1 in differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis of porcine preadipocytes using CCK-8, EdU staining, cell cycle detection, RT-qPCR, Western blot, a triglyceride assay and Oil Red O staining. The over-expression of ADAR1 significantly promoted proliferation but inhibited the differentiation and apoptosis of porcine preadipocytes. The inhibition of ADAR1 had the opposite effect on the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of porcine preadipocytes with over-expressed ADAR1. Then, the regulation mechanisms of ADAR1 on preadipocyte proliferation were identified using RNA-seq, and 197 DEGs in response to ADAR1 knockdown were identified. The MAPK signaling pathway is significantly enriched, indicating its importance in mediating fat accumulation regulated by ADAR1. The study's findings will aid in uncovering the mechanisms that regulate fat accumulation through ADAR1.

Microstructural, Micromechanical Atlas of the Temporomandibular Joint Disc

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc is mainly composed of collagen, with its arrangement responding to efficient stress distribution. However, microstructural and micromechanical transformations of the TMJ disc under resting, functional, and pathological conditions remain unclear. To address this, our study presents a high-resolution microstructural and mechanical atlas of the porcine TMJ disc. First, the naive microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated in porcine TMJ discs (resting and functional conditions). Subsequently, the perforation and tear models (pathological conditions) were compared. Following this, a rabbit model of anterior disc displacement (abnormal stress) was studied. Results show diverse microstructures and mechanical properties at the nanometer to micrometer scale. In the functional state, gradual unfolding of the crimping cycle in secondary and tertiary structures leads to D-cycle prolongation in the primary structure, causing tissue failure. Pathological conditions lead to stress concentration near the injury site due to collagen interfibrillar traffic patterns, resulting in earlier damage manifestation. Additionally, the abnormal stress model shows collagen damage initiating at the primary structure and extending to the superstructure over time. These findings highlight collagen's various roles in different pathophysiological states. Our study offers valuable insights into TMJ disc function and dysfunction, aiding the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for TMJ disorders, as well as providing guidance for the design of structural biomimetic materials.

Protocol to capture transcription factor-mediated 3D chromatin interactions using affinity tag-based BL-HiChIP

Pioneer transcription factors (TFs) can directly establish higher-order chromatin interactions to instruct gene transcription. Here, we present a protocol for capturing TF-mediated 3D chromatin interactions using affinity tag-based bridge linker (BL)-Hi-chromatin immunoprecipitation (HiChIP). We describe steps for constructing FLAG-tagged TF, performing BL-HiChIP, and preparing the library. We then detail procedures for sequencing, data analysis, and quality control. This protocol has potential applications in 3D chromatin analysis centered on any specific TF in any type of cells without the need of optimal antibodies. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ren et al. (2022).1.

Sensitive and Specific Exonuclease III-Assisted Recombinase-Aided Amplification Colorimetric Assay for Rapid Detection of Nucleic Acids

The development of a contamination-free and on-site nucleic acid detection platform with high sensitivity and specificity but low-cost for the detection of pathogenic nucleic acids is critical for infectious disease diagnosis and surveillance. In this study, we combined the recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) with the exonuclease III (Exo III)-assisted signal amplification into a platform for sensitive and specific detection of nucleic acids of African swine fever virus (ASFV). We found that this platform enabled a naked eye visual detection of ASFV at a detection limit as low as 2 copies/μL in 30 min. As expected, no cross-reactivity was observed with other porcine viruses. In addition, to avoid aerosol contamination, a one-tube RAA-Exo III colorimetric assay was also established for the accurate detection of ASFV in clinical samples. Taken together, we developed a rapid, instrument-free, and low-cost Exo III-assisted RAA colorimetric-assay-based nucleic acid detection platform.

[Clinical application of retrosigmoid approach for BONEBRIDGE implantation after auricle reconstruction using expanded postauricular flap]

Objective: To explore the safety and reliability of retrosigmoid approach BONEBRIDGE implantation in patients with auricle reconstruction using skin expansion flap. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 43 congenital aural atresia cases (43 ears) who underwent BONEBRIDGE implantation from September 2019 to January 2023 in Beijing Tongren Hospital. 30 males and 13 females were included in this work. The implantation age was 9-36 years old (median age=10 y/o). All cases underwent auricle reconstruction surgery using the posterior ear flap expansion method, with 36 cases using the single expanded postauricular flap method and 7 cases using two-flap method. BONEBRIDGE implant surgery was performed during the third stage of auricle reconstruction or after all stages. The hearing improvements were evaluated by comparing the changes in pure tone hearing threshold and speech recognition rate of patients before and after BONEBRIDGE implantation. Routine follow-up was conducted to observe the hearing results and complications. SPSS 14.0 software was applied for data statistical analysis. Results: All 43 patients healed well and had no surgical complications when discharge. The average bone conduction hearing threshold after surgery was (8.2±6.6) dBHL, and there was no statistically significant difference compared to the preoperative [(8.1±5.7) dBHL] (P=0.95). After surgery, the threshold of hearing assistance with power on was significantly lower than that without hearing assistance [(32.8±4.6) dBHL vs (60.5±5.5) dBHL], and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The speech recognition rate of monosyllable words, disyllabic words and short sentences in quiet environment increased to 72%, 84%, and 98% respectively. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). The speech recognition rate of monosyllabic words, disyllabic words, and short sentences in noise environment was significantly increased by 70%, 80%, and 92% respectively (P<0.001). After a follow-up of 4 to 47 months (median=24 months), the hearing results were stable and the aesthetic outcomes were satisfying. One patient had delayed hematoma around coil of the implant. After aspiration and compressed dressing for one week, hematoma was not recurrent. Conclusion: For patients after auricle reconstruction using expanded postauricular flap, the preference of retrosigmoid approach is a good choice in terms of safety and reliability of operation, as well as aesthetic appearance.

First Measurement of the Nuclear-Recoil Ionization Yield in Silicon at 100 eV

We measured the nuclear-recoil ionization yield in silicon with a cryogenic phonon-sensitive gram-scale detector. Neutrons from a monoenergetic beam scatter off of the silicon nuclei at angles corresponding to energy depositions from 4 keV down to 100 eV, the lowest energy probed so far. The results show no sign of an ionization production threshold above 100 eV. These results call for further investigation of the ionization yield theory and a comprehensive determination of the detector response function at energies below the keV scale.

siRNA-based approaches for castration-resistant prostate cancer therapy targeting the androgen receptor signaling pathway

Androgen deprivation therapy is a common treatment method for metastatic prostate cancer through lowering androgen levels; however, this therapy frequently leads to the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). This is attributed to the activation of the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. Current treatments targeting AR are often ineffective mostly due to AR gene overexpression and mutations, as well as the presence of splice variants that accelerate CRPC progression. Thus there is a critical need for more specific medication to treat CRPC. Small interfering RNAs have shown great potential as a targeted therapy. This review discusses prostate cancer progression and the role of AR signaling in CRPC, and proposes siRNA-based targeted therapy as a promising strategy for CRPC.

Anti-urolithiatic Activity of Daidzin in Ethylene Glycol-Induced Urolithiasis in Rats

Urolithiasis is a common urological disorder, which causes considerable morbidity in both genders at all age groups worldwide. Though treatment options such as diuretics and non-invasive techniques to disintegrate the deposits are available, but often they are found less effective in the clinics. In this work, we planned to investigate the ameliorative effects of daidzin against the ethylene glycol (EG)-induced urolithiasis in rats. The male albino rats were distributed into four groups (n = 6) as control (group I), urolithiasis induced by the administration of 0.75% EG (group II), urolithiasis induced rats treated with 50 mg/kg of daidzin (group III), and urolithiasis rats treated with standard drug 750 mg/kg of cystone (group IV). The urine volume, pH, and total protein in the urine were assessed. The activities of marker enzymes in both plasma and kidney tissues were analyzed using assay kits. The levels of kidney function markers such as calcium, oxalate, urea, creatinine, uric acid, magnesium, BUN, and phosphorous were estimated using assay kits. The status of antioxidants and inflammatory cytokines were also examined using kits. The renal tissues were examined by histopathological analysis. Our results revealed that the daidzin treatment effectively decreased the urine pH and protein level and increased the urine volume in the urolithiasis rats. Daidzin decreased the calcium, oxalate, uric acid, and urea, creatinine, and BUN levels and also improved the magnesium and phosphorus in the urolithiasis rats. The activities of AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, and LDH were effectively reduced by the daidzin in both serum and renal tissue. Daidzin also reduced the inflammatory marker and increased the antioxidant levels. Histopathology results also proved the therapeutic effects of daidzin. Together, our results displayed that daidzin is effective in the amelioration of EG-induced urolithiasis in rats.

Temporal relationship of the orphan receptor TR3 translocation and expression with zinc-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells

Background

This study aimed to investigate the precise mechanism of zinc-induced apoptosis in human prostate cell lines PC-3 and LNCaP and explore its relationships with the translocation and expression of the orphan receptor TR3 and cytochrome c.

Methods

The effects of zinc exposure on apoptosis levels were examined in both PC-3 and LNCaP cells. These cells were treated with exogenous ZnCl2 (100 µM) for 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h. Dansylaminoethyl-cyclen (DAEC) fluorescent probe was applied to visualize cellular zinc localization. Zinc-induced apoptosis was identified by Hoechst nuclear staining and flow cytometry analysis. TR3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels were detected by real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). TR3 protein localization and mitochondrial release of cytochrome c were identified by immunofluorescence microscopy. Mitochondrial membrane potential collapse under fluorescence microscopy was examined with a MitoLight probe.

Results

Zinc exposure led to gradually increasing apoptosis levels in both LNCaP and PC-3 cells over the 24-h treatment period. The apoptotic effects could be observed as early as after 4 h of zinc treatment in PC-3 cells, with this being seen at 8 h in LNCaP cells. The apoptosis levels of both PC-3 and LNCaP cells began to increase significantly from 8 to 24 h when necrotic cells were also found. TR3 protein translocation from the nucleus to the mitochondria was noted and was accompanied by cytochrome c release into the cytosol from the mitochondria. Interestingly, no significant changes in TR3 mRNA expression levels were observed after zinc treatment. However, the mitochondrial membrane potential of both PC-3 and LNCaP cells gradually disappeared following extended zinc exposure.

Conclusions

Zinc-induced apoptosis could be regulated through TR3 protein translocation from the nucleus to the mitochondria in prostate cancer cells without notable changes in TR3 mRNA levels. The direct effect of zinc on the mitochondria was associated with the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol through the mitochondrial targeting of TR3 protein.

Identify Potential Urine Biomarkers for Bladder Cancer Prognosis Using NGS Data Analysis and Experimental Validation

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most often reported malignancies globally, with a high recurrence rate and associated morbidity and mortality, especially in advanced BC. There has been a surge in the number of molecular targets revealed for BC prognosis and treatment. However, there is still a great need to discover novel biomarkers. Consequently, the current study investigated biomarkers that might indicate the progression of bladder cancer. In this study, bioinformatics analysis was done on a single GEO dataset, and TCGA-BLCA information was connected with differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The levels of mRNA and protein expression were validated using qRT-PCR. According to our findings, CRYAB, ECM1, ALDOB, AOC, GPX3, IGFBP7, AQP2, LASS2, TMEM176A, GALNT1, and LASS2 were highly enriched in cell division, identical protein binding, and developmental process in bladder cancer patients. In addition, among the highly differentiated genes, ECM1, GALNT1, LASS2, and GPX3 showed significant molecular alterations in BC, which are crucial for marker identification. Moreover, the mRNA, CNVs, and protein levels of ECM1, GALNT1, LASS2, and GPX3 were significantly increased in BC patients. Our predictions and analysis studies stated that these four genes act as urine biomarkers and played a crucial role in disease prognosis and the therapeutic process of bladder cancer. Our outcomes showed that these four novel urine biomarkers have the potential to provide innovative diagnostics, early predictions, and disease targets, ultimately improving the BC patient's prognosis.

Long-range interaction within the chromatin domain determines regulatory patterns in porcine skeletal muscle

Spatial chromatin structure is crucial for understanding the early growth and development of porcine skeletal muscle. However, its characteristic of 3D architecture and elaborate regulation of gene transcription remains unclear. In this study, ChIA-PET method is used to study the changes of early chromatin three-dimensional structure in skeletal muscle of lean type Yorkshire pig and fat type Meishan pig. Integrating the in situ Hi-C data revealed the 3D architecture and long-range interaction of the porcine muscle. The results showed the CTCF/RNAPII mediated long-range interaction shapes the different chromatin architecture and dominates the unique regulation of enhancers. In addition, the results revealed that key myogenic genes like ssc-mir-1 had a unique enhancer regulation function in myogenesis. Interestingly, the FGF6 gene is of breed-specific regulation, implying the difference between two breeds in skeletal muscle development. Our research thus may provide a clue for the porcine genetic improvement of skeletal muscle.

Values of OAS gene family in the expression signature, immune cell infiltration and prognosis of human bladder cancer

Background

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most common genitourinary malignancies in the world, but its pathogenic genes have not been fully identified and the treatment outcomes are still unsatisfactory. Although the members of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) gene family are known involved in some tumorous biological processes, the roles of the OAS gene family in BLCA are still undetermined.

Methods

By combining vast bioinformatic datasets analyses of BLCA and the experimental verification on clinical BLCA specimen, we identified the expressions and biological functions of OAS gene family members in BLCA with comparison to normal bladder tissues.

Results

The expression levels of OAS gene family members were higher in BLCA than in normal bladder tissues. The expression levels of most OAS genes had correlations with genomic mutation and methylation, and with the infiltration levels of CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in the microenvironment of BLCA. In addition, high expressions of OAS1, OAS2, OAS3, and OASL predicted better overall survival in BLCA patients.

Conclusions

The highly expressed OAS genes in BLCA can reflect immune cells infiltration in the tumor microenvironment and predict the better overall survival of BLCA, and thus may be considered as a signature of BLCA. The study provides new insights into the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of BLCA.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-10102-8.

Characterization and perturbation of CTCF-mediated chromatin interactions for enhancing myogenic transdifferentiation

Expression of key transcription factors can induce transdifferentiation in somatic cells; however, this conversion is usually incomplete due to undefined intrinsic barriers. Here, we employ MyoD-induced transdifferentiation of fibroblasts as a model to illustrate the chromatin structures that impede the cell-fate transition. Focusing on the three-dimensional (3D) chromatin interactions, we show that MyoD directly establishes chromatin loops to activate myogenic transcriptional program. Similarly, dynamic changes of CTCF-mediated chromatin interactions are favorable for fibroblast-to-myoblast conversion. However, a substantial portion of CTCF-mediated chromatin interactions remain stable, and the associated genes are steady in expression and enriched for fibroblast function that may restrict cell-identity transformation. Temporal CTCF depletion can interrupt the resistant chromatin loops to enhance myogenic transdifferentiation in mice, pig, and chicken fibroblasts. Therefore, during induced transdifferentiation, the transcription factor can directly reorganize the 3D chromatin interactions, and perturbation of CTCF-mediated genome topology may resolve the limitations of cell fate transitions.

A novel stricture prevention technique in blunt urethral injury: A multi-center retrospective observational study

Purpose

Bulbar injury is the most common type of urethral injury. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of a novel technique, local urethral flushing, in preventing stricture formation after blunt bulbar urethra injuries.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study included 205 males diagnosed with straddle injury-induced bulbar urethra injury at the Shanxi Bethune Hospital and First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January 2015 and January 2019. Patients were diagnosed by retrograde urethrography and classified as partial or complete urethral rupture according to the urethral integrity after injury. Complete urethral rupture patients received suprapubic cystostomy and received urethroplasty 3 months later. Patients with partial urethral rupture underwent endoscopic urethral realignment by cystoscopic guide-wire guided catheterization. Patients with both injury types were divided into 3 groups. The treatment groups received urethral flushing with 0.05% dexamethasone through a secondary ureteral catheter that locked at the urethral lesion. The blank control groups received normal saline. The negative control groups had only a single ureteral catheter placed. Patients were assessed for pain during catheterization, infection, and stenosis, and followed for at least 2 years.

Results

Stenosis rates and length were significantly reduced in the normal saline groups, and even further reduced in the dexamethasone groups. The negative control groups had significantly higher infection rates than patients in the dexamethasone or saline groups.

Conclusions

Local urethral flushing with dexamethasone could significantly decrease urethral stenosis rates and severity without increasing patients’ discomfort or infection risk.

[Evaluation of adhesive bone conduction hearing aid in pediatric patients with unilateral congenital aural atresia]

Objective: To evaluate the auditory efficacy and subjective satisfaction of adhesive bone conduction hearing aid in children with unilateral congenital aural atresia (UCAA). Methods: Ten subjects (5 males and 5 females) diagnosed with UCAA with an average age of 8.3 years old (ranged from 5 to 15) were included in Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January to August 2019. The free sound field hearing threshold, word recognition score in quiet, speech reception threshold in noise and sound localization ability (results were measured by RMS error) tests were performed in unaided and aided situation, respectively. Subjective satisfaction questionnaires were also distributed to subjects. Paired t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used as statistical analysis methods. Results: The average hearing threshold in aided condition was improved by (21.9±4.4) dB (t=15.8，P<0.05). Speech recognition abilities were generally improved both under quiet and noise (P<0.05);however, when the binaural summation, squelch and head shadow effects were analyzed respectively, the binaural squelch effect was not statistically improved (P>0.05), while the other effects were improved in aided condition (P<0.05). In sound localization test, there was no significant difference of the RMS error value between the unaided and aided situation (P>0.05). The subjects got high satisfaction rates in three subjective questionnaires. Conclusion: The adhesive bone conduction hearing aid can provide significant audiological benefit for children with UCAA as well as raising the quality of their life.

Constraints on Lightly Ionizing Particles from CDMSlite

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) achieved efficient detection of very small recoil energies in its germanium target, resulting in sensitivity to lightly ionizing particles (LIPs) in a previously unexplored region of charge, mass, and velocity parameter space. We report first direct-detection limits calculated using the optimum interval method on the vertical intensity of cosmogenically produced LIPs with an electric charge smaller than e/(3×10^{5}), as well as the strongest limits for charge ≤e/160, with a minimum vertical intensity of 1.36×10^{-7}  cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1} at charge e/160. These results apply over a wide range of LIP masses (5  MeV/c^{2} to 100  TeV/c^{2}) and cover a wide range of βγ values (0.1-10^{6}), thus excluding nonrelativistic LIPs with βγ as small as 0.1 for the first time.

Light Dark Matter Search with a High-Resolution Athermal Phonon Detector Operated above Ground

We present limits on spin-independent dark matter-nucleon interactions using a 10.6 g Si athermal phonon detector with a baseline energy resolution of σ_{E}=3.86±0.04(stat)_{-0.00}^{+0.19}(syst)  eV. This exclusion analysis sets the most stringent dark matter-nucleon scattering cross-section limits achieved by a cryogenic detector for dark matter particle masses from 93 to 140  MeV/c^{2}, with a raw exposure of 9.9 g d acquired at an above-ground facility. This work illustrates the scientific potential of detectors with athermal phonon sensors with eV-scale energy resolution for future dark matter searches.

CircRNA_103801 accelerates proliferation of osteosarcoma cells by sponging miR-338-3p and regulating HIF-1/Rap1/PI3K-Akt pathway

This study aimed to investigate the roles of hsa_circRNA_103801 in the progression of osteosarcoma (OS) cells. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression level of circRNA_103801 in OS cells. Cell count kit-8 and Transwell migration and invasion assays were employed to detect the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of OS cells. The effects of circRNA_103801 on the apoptosis of OS cells were identified by flow cytometry. The binding relationship between circRNA_103801 and miR-338-3p was verified by bioinformatics analysis. MiR-338-3p level in OS cell lines was detected by RT-qPCR. Additionally, Western blotting was utilized to detect the expression levels of HIF-1, Rap1, PI3K, and Akt in OS cells. The results showed that the expression level of circRNA_103801 was significantly up-regulated in OS patients' tissues. Inhibiting the expression level of circRNA_103801 could attenuate the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of OS cells. In addition, the down-regulated expression level of circRNA_103801 could induce cell apoptosis. The results of the luciferase reporter assay suggested that circRNA_103801 could be combined with miR-338-3p, and the RT-qPCR revealed that the miR-338-3p level in OS cells after knockdown of circRNA_103801 was elevated compared with the control group. The results of Western blotting suggested that the expression levels of HIF-1, Rap1, PI3K, and Akt were elevated in OS cells. In conclusion, the circRNA_103801-miR-3388-3p-HIF-1/Rap1/PI3K-Akt pathway could be a therapeutic target of OS.

Metabolomic profile of milk fermented with Streptococcus thermophilus cocultured with Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, or both during storage

In this study, the microbial interactions among cocultures of Streptococcus thermophilus (St) with potential probiotics of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (Ba) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lp) in fermented milk were investigated during a storage period of 21 d at 4°C, in terms of acidifying activity (pH and titratable acidity), viable counts, and metabolites. A nontargeted metabolomics approach based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was employed for mapping the global metabolite profiles of fermented milk. Probiotic strains cocultured with St accelerated milk acidification, and improved the microbial viability compared with the single culture of St. The St-Ba/Lp treatment manifested a higher bacteria viability and acidification ability in comparison with the St-Ba or the St-Lp treatment. Relative quantitation of 179 significant metabolites was identified, including nucleosides, AA, short peptides, organic acids, lipid derivatives, carbohydrates, carbonyl compounds, and compounds related to energy metabolism. The principal component analysis indicated that St treatment and coculture treatments displayed a complete distinction in metabolite profiles, and Lp had a larger effect than Ba on metabolic profiles of fermented milk produced by cofermentation with St during storage. The heat map in combination with hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the abundance of metabolites significantly varied with the starter cultures over the storage, and high abundance of metabolites was observed in either St or coculture samples. The St-Ba/Lp treatment showed relatively high abundance for the vast majority of metabolites. These findings suggest that the profile of the metabolites characterizing fermented milk samples may depend on the starter cultures, and incorporation of probiotics may considerably influence the metabolomic activities of fermented milks.

[Bonebridge implantation combined with simultaneous bilateral auricle reconstruction for bilateral congenital aural atresia]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of auricle reconstruction combined with Bonebridge implantation for bilateral aural atresia patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 36 cases(72 ears) who underwent Bonebridge implantation combined with bilateral auricle reconstruction from February 1, 2017 to January 15, 2020. All cases were bilateral congenital aural atresia and underwent Nagata auricle reconstruction for both sides simultaneously. Bonebridge implantations were performed during the second stage of auricle reconstruction. Results: All 36 patients healed well and had no surgical complications when discharged. The preoperative average bone conduction threshold of the patients was(8.5±5.8) dB HL and postoperative bone conduction threshold was (8.4±5.2) dB HL. There was no significant change after the implantation (P=0.724). The preoperative average air conduction threshold of was(64.9±7.4)dB HL and postoperative air conduction threshold was (24.0±5.3) dB HL, which had a significant change after the implantation (P<0.001). The hearing threshold with Bonebridge significantly decreased by 40.9 dB HL compared with the preoperative air conduction threshold(P<0.001). The speech recognition rate of monosyllable words, disyllabic words and short sentences in quiet environment increased by 62.5%, 63.5% and 72.2% respectively. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). The speech recognition rate of monosyllabic words, disyllabic words and short sentences in noise environment were significantly increased by 55.9%, 58.9% and 69.9% respectively (P<0.001). After a follow-up of 18.3 months in average, the hearing results were stable and the aesthetic outcomes were satisfied. One patient had implant rupture and healed after revision surgery. Conclusions: With an integrated surgical procedure, patients with bilateral congenital aural atresia can complete bilateral auricle reconstruction and hearing implantation within six months. This integrated surgical procedure is safe and efficient, with a stable hearing improvement and good appearance.

The combination of G-CSF and AMD3100 mobilizes bone marrow-derived stem cells to protect against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in mice

BACKGROUND

Several studies have confirmed that mobilizing bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) ameliorates renal function loss following cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to explore whether the combination of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and plerixafor (AMD3100) exerts beneficial effects on renal function recovery in a model of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

METHODS

C57BL/6J mice received intraperitoneal injections of G-CSF (200 μg/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days. On the day of the last injection, the mice received a single subcutaneous dose of AMD3100 (5 mg/kg) 1 h before cisplatin 20 mg/kg injection. Ninety-six hours after cisplatin injection, the mice were euthanized, and blood and tissue samples were collected to assess renal function and tissue damage. Cell mobilization was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTS

Mice pretreated with G-CSF/AMD3100 exhibited longer survival and lower serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels than mice treated with only G-CSF or saline. Combinatorial G-CSF/AMD3100 treatment attenuated tissue injury and cell death, enhanced cell regeneration, and mobilized a higher number of stem cells in the peripheral blood than G-CSF or saline treatment. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory factors was lower, whereas that of anti-inflammatory factors was higher, in the G-CSF/AMD3100 group than in the G-CSF or saline group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that combinatorial G-CSF/AMD3100 therapy mobilizes BMSCs to accelerate improvements in renal functions and prevent cisplatin-induced renal tubular injury. This combinatorial therapy may represent a new therapeutic option for the treatment of AKI and should be further investigated in the future.

MiR-135b-5p affected malignant behaviors of ovarian cancer cells by targeting KDM5B

The article "MiR-135b-5p affected malignant behaviors of ovarian cancer cells by targeting KDM5B, by R. Ren, J. Wu, M.-Y. Zhou, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (7): 3548-3554-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202004_20815-PMID: 32329828" has been withdrawn from the authors stating that "some data cannot be repeated by our further research". The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/20815.

Laparoscopic resection of a large clinically silent paraganglioma at the organ of Zuckerkandl: a rare case report and review of the literature

Background

Large paraganglioma of the Zuckerkandl organ (POZ) is extremely rare. The patient can occasionally be paucisymptomatic, further obscuring the diagnosis and carrying high mortality. Recommended treatment for large paraganglioma (PGL) is open surgical removal. We report a case of successful laparoscopic resection of a large POZ with normal blood pressure in a 45-year-old man.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old man was hospitalized because of hyperglycemia. Computed tomography of the abdomen and the serum and urinary catecholamine levels confirmed the diagnosis of large POZ. But his blood pressure was normal and he underwent laparoscopic tumor excision successfully. During 6 months follow-up after laparoscopy, serum and urinary catecholamines were normal but glycaemia remained high level. DNA analysis of the succinate dehydrogenase complex subunits B (SDHB) and SDHD revealed no mutation.

Conclusions

POZ is an unusual mass and preoperative diagnosis can be difficult in clinically silent cases. PGL cannot be excluded in patients with normal blood pressure. Even a large POZ can be excised laparoscopically by following proper techniques.

CircRNA Circ_0001721 Promotes the Progression of Osteosarcoma Through miR-372-3p/MAPK7 Axis

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common bone tumor. Many studies have reported that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in the development of a variety of human cancers. However, the underlying mechanism of circ_0001721 in regulating osteosarcoma progression remains unknown.

Materials and Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the levels of circ_0001721, miR-372-3p, and mitogen-activated protein kinase 7 (MAPK7) in osteosarcoma tissues and cells. Besides, glycolysis was investigated by glucose consumption, lactate production and hexokinase II (HK2) protein level. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry, separately. Cell migration and invasion were determined by transwell assay. Moreover, the protein levels of HK2 and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were determined by Western blot analysis. The relationship between miR-372-3p and circ_0001721 or MAPK7 was predicated by starbase v3.0 and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay or RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Murine xenograft model was established to investigate the role of circ_0001721 in vivo.

Results

The levels of circ_0001721 and MAPK7 were upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cells, while miR-372-3p was downregulated. Knockdown of circ_0001721 inhibited glycolysis, cell proliferation, cell migration, invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and promoted apoptosis. Circ_0001721 was validated as a sponge of miR-372-3p and mediated glycolysis, cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and EMT of osteosarcoma cells through miR-372-3p. MAPK7 was a target of miR-372-3p and overexpression of MAPK7 attenuated anti-cancer role of miR-372-3p in OS cells. Further studies revealed that circ_0001721 regulates MAPK7 expression via sponging miR-372-3-p. Finally, knockdown of circ_0001721 inhibited tumor progression in vivo.

Conclusion

Circ_0001721 promoted osteosarcoma development through the miR-372-3p/MAPK7 axis.

[CT imaging analysis of 33 cases with the 2019 novel coronavirus infection]

Objective: To explore the CT imaging features of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection in order to summarize the imaging characteristics of the disease and improve the ability of imaging diagnosis and early diagnosis of the disease. Methods: From January 13, 2020 to January 31, 2020, a total of 33 patients with 2019-nCoV infection diagnosed and treated by Suzhou Fifth People's Hospital were analyzed retrospectively, including 20 males and 13 females, with an average age of (50±12) years, ranging from 20 to 70 years old. There were 3 cases of mild type, 27 cases of common type and 3 cases of severe type.There were 2 cases with hypertension, 1 case with postoperative lung,1 case with diabetes, 1 case with chronic bronchitis, and 1 case with bronchiectasis.SPSS25.0 Chi-square test was used to analyze the distribution of lesions in each lung lobe; SPSS25.0 Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the image score and clinical classification. Results: There were 3 cases (9.1%) with normal lung and 30 cases (90.9%) with Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia(COVID-19) of the 2019-nCoV infected patients. In the distribution of COVID-19, 29 cases (87.9%) were involved in bilateral lung and 1 case (3.0%) in unilateral lung. There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of lesions in each lobe. The correlation coefficient between the degree of lesion distribution and clinical classification was 0.819, and the two were highly correlated.There were 30 cases (90.9%) with subpleural lesions, 17 cases (51.5%) with central lesions. There were many kinds of lesions, 25 cases (75.8%) had ground glass density shadow, 16 cases (48.5%) had consolidation, 12 cases (36.4%) had interstitial change, and 18 cases (54.5%) had interlobular septal thickening. Among the 22 cases, 10 cases had more lesions, 6 cases had no changes and 6 cases had less lesions. Conclusion: Most of the patients with 2019-nCoV infection have pulmonary inflammation.CT manifestations include multiple parts, subpleural area or middle and lateral field of lung, ground glass shadow and consolidation, or coexistence. Some cases have pleural thickening or interlobular septal thickening. CT images can indicate the diagnosis of COVID-19 and provide important basis for early detection and disease monitoring.

[Follow-up study on natural course changes of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome among young and middle aged patients]

Objective: To explore the natural course of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and its associated factors in young and middle-aged patients with OSAHS. Methods: A total of 52 young and middle-aged OSAHS patients were recruited in this study from West China Hospital of Sichuan University. All patients were performed twice overnight polysomnography (PSG) examinations. At the baseline, patients underwent the first PSG and clinical evaluation from September 2009 to September 2017 and the patients received the second PSG from January 2017 to January 2019. During the follow-up period, these patients had no treatment. All patients were categorized into two groups including mild-to-moderate [5/h≤ apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)<30/h] group and severe (AHI ≥ 30/h) group according to the baseline AHI value. Differences in the clinical characteristics and PSG variables between baseline and follow-up were compared in two groups separately using t-tests or Mann-Whitney U test. The general linear correlation analysis was used to explore the factors related to the severity of OSAHS including AHI, the mean oxyhemoglobin saturation and the minimal oxyhemoglobin saturation during the follow-up period. Results: This study recruited 28 OSAHS patients in mild-to-moderate group [mean age, (39.7±10.2) y] and 24 patients in severe group [mean age, (41.0±7.1) y]. Compared to the baseline, there was a significant increase in AHI value [(45.0±25.3) vs (33.6±27.3)/h, P<0.001] in all OSAHS patients. Notably, the increase of AHI was more significant in the mild-to-moderate OSAHS group [(32.1±22.2) vs (13.6±8.7)/h, P<0.05] but not in severe OSAHS patients [(60.7±19.5) vs (58.0±21.5)/h, P>0.05]. A person correlation analysis revealed that the AHI value was positively related to the age (r=0.531, P=0.004) in mild-to-moderate OSAHS patients. Conclusion: The severity of OSAHS is increased with the age in young and middle-aged patients with mild-to-moderate OSAHS, but not in those with severe OSAHS.

[Associations between objective sleepiness and cognition function before and after CPAP in obstructive sleep apnea patients]

Objective: To examine the association between objective sleepiness and neurocognitive function before and after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Methods: A total of 53 patients with overnight polysomnography (PSG) determined moderate-to-severe OSA (apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥15 events/h) and with overnight CPAP therapy from West China Hospital, Sichuan University within the period from Feb 2018 to Dec 2018 were enrolled in the study. At the baseline, all patients underwent overnight PSG study, multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), and Epworth sleepiness score (ESS). After CPAP therapy, all patients underwent MSLT and PVT. Paired nonparametric test or t test were used to compare the differences between daytime sleepiness and PVT performance before and after CPAP. Results: Compared with baseline data, AHI [68.8(42.2, 80.0) vs 7.4(3.1, 11.1) events/h, P<0.05] decreased, the percentages of non-rapid eye movement stage 3 sleep time [0(0, 0.5%) vs 4.4%(1.9%, 11.3%), P<0.05] and the percentages of rapid eye movement sleep time [18.6%(13.2%, 22.7%) vs 25.4%(23.85, 30.3%), P<0.05] increased after CPAP therapy. The reaction time (RT) [353.0(317.5, 429.5) vs 333.6(309.7, 381.4) ms, P<0.05], the slowest 10% RT [602.9(473.2, 841.3) vs 505.5(431.6, 618.8) ms, P<0.05] and the fastest 10% RT [260.8(236.6, 300.6) vs 251.4(233.6, 283.2) ms, P<0.05] shortened, and the lapse [6.0(2.5, 16.5) vs 3.0(1.0, 8.5) events, P<0.05] decreased. The mean sleep latency (MSL) [5.8 (3.4, 8.3) vs 7.5(4.7, 12.4) min, P<0.05] increased. The changes in PVT parameters [ΔRT (r=0.20, P>0.05), Δslowest 10% RT (r=0.15, P>0.05), Δfastest 10% RT (r=0.24, P>0.05), and Δlapse (r=0.15, P>0.05)] were not correlated with the change in MSL. The significant association between the slowest 10% RT and ESS was found in baseline data. Conclusions: The change in MSL is not associated with the change in PVT performance before and after CPAP therapy. MSLT and PVT may be different in nature.

[Association between mixed sleep apnea and treatment-emergent central sleep apnea]

Objective: To examine the association between mixed sleep apnea (MA) and treatment-emergent central sleep apnea (TE-CSA). Methods: A total of 256 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on overnight polysomnography (PSG) and receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in West China Hospital, Sichuan University during the period from August 2013 to November 2018 were enrolled in the study. Based on the mixed apnea index (MAI) and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in the baseline PSG study during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the subjects were categorized into three groups of A (MAI=0/h, n=110), B (NREM-MAI≥5/h and REM-MAI<5/h, n=72) and C (REM-MAI≥5/h and NREM-MAI< 5/h, n=74). Sleep and breathing related parameters before and after CPAP therapy among three groups and the difference of TE-CSA incidence were analyzed. Results: The AHI [(44.2(26.8,64.5)/h,66.6(56.0,81.7)/h, 79.8(63.6, 88.3)/h], REM-AHI [50.0(34.7, 64.7)/h, 60.1(49.1, 70.0)/h, 66.3(56.1, 74.6)/h] and NREM-AHI[43.5(25.9, 65.1)/h,67.6(53.7, 82.4)/h,81.3(64.2, 91.5)/h]) were higher in group B and C compared to group A (all P<0.05),while the mean and lowest oxygen saturation [(92.6%±3.5%),(90.8%±3.6%),(87.3%±5.1%) and (70.6%±14.1%), (61.0%±16.0%), (47.9%±17.0%)] were lower in group B and group C compared to group A (all P<0.05). The incidence of TE-CSA after initial CPAP was 7.8% in all patients, and the incidence was significantly higher in group B of 14.1% compared to group C of 4.1% and group A of 2.7% (all P<0.05). Conclusions: TE-CSA is correlated with baseline MA, and baseline MA in NREM sleep can predict the incidence of TE-CSA after initial CPAP.

miRNA-138 regulates MLK3/JNK/MAPK pathway to protect BV-2 cells from H2O2-induced apoptosis

BACKGROUND

miR-138 is one of the down-regulated miRNAs during acute spinal cord injury. Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3), a key factor of jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, is the target of miR-138. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-138 in H2O2-treated BV-2 cells.

METHODS

Murine microglia BV-2 cells were treated with H2O2 and tested for cell viability and miR-138 expression. The cells were then transfected with miR-138 agomir or miR-138 antagomir, and treated with 200 μM H2O2 for 24 h. The cellular apoptosis was detected by Aennexin V/PI staining. Expression of miR-138, MLK3, and other factors of JNK/MAPK pathway was detected.

RESULTS

After treatment of various concentrations of H2O2, the cell viabilities were reduced, and miR-138 expression was down-regulated. Compared to the control cells, over-expressing miR-138 in BV-2 cells reduced apoptosis rate from 24.2 % to 11.9 %. Western blot further showed that JNK, p-JNK, c-jun, p-c-jun, p38 MAPK, and p-p38 MAPK were down-regulated. Expression of pro-apoptosis factors iNOS and COX-2 were also down-regulated. Transfection of miR-138 antagomir produced the opposite effect of the transfection of miR-138 agomir.

CONCLUSION

miR-138 was able to reduce H2O2-induced apoptosis in BV-2 cells. The protective effect was related to the down-regulation of MLK3 proteins and sequentially inhibiting JNK/MAPK signaling pathway (Fig. 3, Ref. 27). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Profiling and characterization of miRNAs associated with intramuscular fat content in Yorkshire pigs

miRNAs are short noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by binding to complementary regions of the target mRNA. The miRNAs associated with the deposition of intramuscular fat (IMF) content in pigs, which is an important meat quality trait, still remain to be investigated. In this study, the longissimus dorsi muscles (LDMs) from 234 individuals were collected from Yorkshire pigs at 90 kg body weight and the miRNA deep sequencing was conducted by using two tailed groups which were taken five individuals each from high (2.94 ± 0.04%) and low (1.62 ± 0.02%) IMF samples. The results showed that total 268 mature miRNAs were identified, of which 70 were previously known, 162 were conserved among species and 36 were identified specifically in pigs. Moreover, 28 miRNAs involved in adipogenesis were differentially expressed in the two groups, and five out of 16 miRNAs were validated by quantitative PCR (qPCR) using stem loop primers. Our results may serve as a fundamental basis for understanding the roles of miRNA in IMF development in pigs. The miRNAs identified in our study can be utilized for research IMF trait in pig population and will provide further clues to the study of meat quality regulatory mechanisms.

Genome-Wide Identification of Histone Modifications Involved in Placental Development in Pigs

Development of placental folds is a critical event affecting placental function in pigs because it can increase surface area for improvement in capillary density as gestation advances. However, the molecular mechanisms of the event are not well defined. Histone modifications have important roles in gene regulation. To investigate their effects on regulation of genes controlling porcine placental development, RNA-seq and ChIP-seq of porcine placental tissues from gestational days 50 (establishment stage of placental folds) and 95 (expanding stage of placental folds) were carried out in this study. The differentially expressed genes were identified and of which the down- and up-regulated genes are related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and angiogenesis, respectively. In addition, we mapped the genome-wide profiles of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac), which are associated with transcriptional activation. A number of differential modification regions between the 2 gestational stages were identified and majority of them are those with increased signals of H3K4me3 (14,576 out of 16,931). Furthermore, we observed that the increase of H3K4me3 is significantly correlated with the elevated expression levels of the neighboring genes, and notably, these genes were enriched in pathways related to blood vessel formation and microvascular permeability. Taken together, the findings suggest important roles of histone modifications on placental remolding in response to developmental changes.

[Effects of continuous positive airway pressure on periodic limb movements during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea]

Objective: To investigate the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: The polysomnography (PSG) data of 828 consecutive OSA outpatients from January 2015 to January 2017 who had undergone overnight CPAP titration were analyzed retrospectively. On the basis of changes in periodic limb movements index (PLMI) values (cut off level≥15/h) from baseline PSG (BPSG) to CPAP titration PSG, patients were assigned to one of the following four groups: persistent, CPAP-emergent, CPAP-disappeared, and non-PLMS. Results: Among 828 patients, 756 (91.3%) were male and 72 (8.7%) were female. The mean age was (45.7±10.7) years old, the mean body mass index (BMI) was (27.6±3.5) kg/m(2). The rate of patients was 3.9% in the persistent group, 10.3% in the CPAP-emergent group, 7.5% in the CPAP-disappearance group, and 78.4% in the non-PLMS group. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that female appeared to be associated with the persistent group (P=0.004); older age and higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) on BPSG appeared to be associated with the CPAP-emergent group (P=0.012, 0.030). On the other hand, older age was negatively associated with the non-PLMS group (P=0.006). Conclusion: Elderly patients with higher AHI at BPSG may present with CPAP-emergent PLMS.

[Gender differences of REM related obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome]

Objective: To explore the gender differences of rapid-eye-movement (REM) related obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods: Consecutive patients with primary complaint of snoring from Sleep Medicine Center of West China Hospital between January 2016 and November 2016 were included in the study. All participants underwent one night polysomnography (PSG) and Epworth sleep scale (ESS) was estimated. The patients diagnosed with OSAHS were classified as REM related OSAHS (REM-OSAHS group) and non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) related OSAHS (NREM-OSAHS group) based on the PSG parameters. And the gender differences of demographic and polysomnograpic characteristics in both groups were compared. The associations between apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and body mass index (BMI), neck circumference and waist circumference among patients with OSAHS were explored by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: A total of 1 258 patients were diagnosed with OSAHS. There were 997 (79.3%) male and 261 (20.7%) female among these patients, the mean age was (46.4±12.0) years old and mean BMI was (26.6±3.4) kg/m(2). There were 236 patients (18.8%) classified into REM-OSAHS group, and 1 022 patients (81.2%) classified into NREM-OSAHS group; the proportion of REM-OSAHS in female was significantly higher than that in male (34.1% vs 14.7%, P<0.001). After controlling for age, drinking, smoking, hypnotics, coffee, strong tea and sleep related parameters, in NREM-OSAHS group, AHI was positively correlated with BMI, neck circumference and waist circumference (P<0.001) both in male and female. In REM-OSAHS group, AHI was positively correlated with BMI, neck circumference and waist circumference in female (P<0.05), but only significantly correlated with BMI and waist circumference in male (P<0.05). Conclusions: REM-OSAHS is commonly seen in female OSAHS patients. Evaluation of the influences of anthropometric data on the severity of REM-OSAHS should consider the impact of gender.

Direct loop gain and bandwidth measurement of phase-locked loop

A simple and robust technique for directly measuring the loop gain and bandwidth of a phase-locked loop (PLL) is proposed. This technique can be used for the real-time measurement of the real loop gain in a closed PLL without breaking its locking state. The agreement of the measured loop gain and theoretical calculations proves the validity of the proposed measurement technique. This technique with a simple configuration can be easily expanded to other phase-locking systems whose loop gain and bandwidth should be measured precisely.

[The implantation of Bonebridge in bilateral congenital malformation of external and middle ear]

Objective: To evaluate the auditory efficacy of Bonebridge implantation in patients with bilateral congenital malformation of external and middle ear. Methods: Eleven cases (6 males and 5 females) had unilateral Bonebridge implantation. The age ranged from 8 to 26 and the average age was 16.9. Seven to ten days after operation, the first fitting was undergone. In acoustic sound field, the average auditory thresholds were respectively measured for unaided ears and Bonebridge implanted ears by pure tone auditory (PTA, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz). For the group over 12-year-old, MSTM was applied to evaluate speech discrimination score (SDS). For the other cases, MLNT was used as the test material. The auditory efficacy post Bonebridge implantation would be analyzed and evaluated by comparing the differences between unaided ears and Bonebridge implanted ears. Results: The bone conduction audibility threshold after Bonebridge implantation was as well as the preoperative. The auditory threshold with Bonebridge aided was improved to 25-35 dB HL, when compared to that of the unaided ears in the sound field. The SDS in the group over 12-year-old was improved about 50%; the efficacy was slightly limited for the other two cases (both less than 12 years old). Statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between unaided ears and Bonebridge implanted ears in the sound field and SDS(P<0.05). Conclusions: The auditory efficacy of Bonebridge is significant and noticeable in patients with bilateral congenital malformation of external and middle ear. Bonebridge provides a new and effective way for patient with congenital malformation of external and middle ear to reconstruct hearing.