Designing organic components that can be used to construct porous materials enables the preparation of tailored functionalized materials. Research into porous materials has seen a resurgence in the ...past decade as a result of finding of self‐standing porous molecular crystals (PMCs). Particularly, a number of crystalline systems with permanent porosity that are formed by self‐assembly through hydrogen bonding (H‐bonding) have been developed. Such systems are called hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (HOFs). Herein we systematically describe H‐bonding patterns (supramolecular synthons) and molecular structures (tectons) that have been used to achieve thermal and chemical durability, a large surface area, and functions, such as selective gas sorption and separation, which can provide design principles for constructing HOFs with permanent porosity.
HOF the shelf: Hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are described systematically based on hydrogen‐bonding patterns (supramolecular synthons) and molecular structures (tectons). HOFs can show thermal and chemical durability, a large surface area, and permanent porosity.
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. Highly penetrant copy number variants (CNVs) and genes related to the etiology of TOF likely exist with differences ...among populations. We aimed to identify CNV contributions to sporadic TOF cases in Han Chinese. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood in 605 subjects (303 sporadic TOF and 302 unaffected Han Chinese Control from cardiac centers in China) and analyzed by genome‐wide association study (GWAS). The GWAS results were compared with existing Database of Genetic Variants. These CNVs were further validated by qPCR. Bioinformatics analyses were performed with protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and KEGG pathway enrichment. Across all chromosomes 119 novel “TOF‐specific CNVs” were identified with prevalence of CNVs of 21.5% in chromosomes 1‐20 and 37.0% including Chr21/22. In chromosomes 1‐20, CNVs on 11q25 (encompasses genes ACAD8, B3GAT1, GLB1L2, GLB1L3, IGSF9B, JAM3, LOC100128239, LOC283177, MIR4697, MIR4697HG, NCAPD3, OPCML, SPATA19, THYN1, and VPS26B) and 14q32.33 (encompasses genes THYN1, OPCML, and NCAPD3) encompass genes most likely to be associated with TOF. Specific CNVs found on the chromosome 21 (6.3%) and 22(11.9%) were also identified in details. PPI network analysis identified the genes covering the specific CNVs related to TOF and the signaling pathways. This study for first time identified novel TOF‐specific CNVs in the Han Chinese with higher frequency than in Caucasians and with 11q25 and 14q32.33 not reported in TOF of Caucasians. These novel CNVs identify new candidate genes for TOF and provide new insights into genetic basis of TOF.
A genome‐wide association study (GWAS) in 605 subjects identified 119 novel tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)‐specific rare copy number variants (CNVs) in sporadic TOF in the Han Chinese with higher frequency than that reported in Western countries. The genotype–phenotype correlation was analyzed. These findings provide new insights into the contribution of CNVs to the genetic basis of TOF, give clear evidence of higher prevalence of CNV in the Han Chinese than in Caucasians, and identify new genetic loci potentially important to the pathogenesis of TOF that forms new basis for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in TOF.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of noncoding RNAs, have recently drawn lots of attention in the pathogenesis of human cancers. However, the role of circRNAs in cancer cells ...epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify novel circRNAs that regulate urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) cells' EMT and explored their regulatory mechanisms and clinical significance in UCBs.
We first screened circRNA expression profiles using a circRNA microarray in paired UCB and normal tissues, and then studied the clinical significance of an upregulated circRNA, circPRMT5, in a large cohort of patients with UCB. We further investigated the functions and underlying mechanisms of circPRMT5 in UCB cells' EMT. Moreover, we evaluated the regulation effect of circPRMT5 on miR-30c, and its target genes,
and
, in two independent cohorts from our institute and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).
We demonstrated that upregulated expression of circPRMT5 was positively associated with advanced clinical stage and worse survival in patients with UCB. We further revealed that circPRMT5 promoted UCB cell's EMT via sponging miR-30c. Clinical analysis from two independent UCB cohorts showed that the circPRMT5/miR-30c/SNAIL1/E-cadherin pathway was essential in supporting UCB progression. Importantly, we identified that circPRMT5 was upregulated in serum and urine exosomes from patients with UCB, and significantly correlated with tumor metastasis.
CircPRMT5 exerts critical roles in promoting UCB cells' EMT and/or aggressiveness and is a prognostic biomarker of the disease, suggesting that circPRMT5 may serve as an exploitable therapeutic target for patients with UCB.
Although 5-methylcytosine (m
C) is a widespread modification in RNAs, its regulation and biological role in pathological conditions (such as cancer) remain unknown. Here, we provide the ...single-nucleotide resolution landscape of messenger RNA m
C modifications in human urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). We identify numerous oncogene RNAs with hypermethylated m
C sites causally linked to their upregulation in UCBs and further demonstrate YBX1 as an m
C 'reader' recognizing m
C-modified mRNAs through the indole ring of W65 in its cold-shock domain. YBX1 maintains the stability of its target mRNA by recruiting ELAVL1. Moreover, NSUN2 and YBX1 are demonstrated to drive UCB pathogenesis by targeting the m
C methylation site in the HDGF 3' untranslated region. Clinically, a high coexpression of NUSN2, YBX1 and HDGF predicts the poorest survival. Our findings reveal an unprecedented mechanism of RNA m
C-regulated oncogene activation, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for UCB.
Background
Obesity may impact surgical outcomes of gastrectomy. Whether visceral fat area (VFA) is a better obesity parameter than body mass index (BMI) is still controversial. The aim of this study ...is to compare the accuracy and effectiveness of VFA and BMI in predicting the short-term surgical outcomes of gastrectomy.
Methods
Patients who were diagnosed with gastric cancer were measured for BMI and VFA preoperatively and then divided into a VFA-H (VFA-high) group and VFA-L (VFA-low) group, at the cutoff point of 100 cm
2
, and a BMI-H (BMI-high) group and BMI-L (BMI-low) group, at the cutoff point of 25 kg/m
2
. The short-term surgical outcomes were compared between the different groups.
Results
In total, 276 patients were enrolled in this study; 55 (19.9%) patients were classified into the BMI-H group, and 122 (44.2%) patients were classified into the VFA-H group. There was a significant correlation between BMI and VFA (
r
= 0.652,
p
< 0.001). Compared with the VFA-L group, the VFA-H group had a higher incidence of postoperative complications (31.1% vs. 13.0%;
p
< 0.001), longer operation duration (270.0 (235.0–305.0) vs. 255.0 (223.8–295.0),
p
= 0.046), and more blood loss (100.0 (100.0–150.0) vs. 80.0 (80.0–100.0),
p
< 0.001), while the BMI-H group had more blood loss than the BMI-L group (100.0 (100.0–120.0) vs. 100.0(80.0–100.0),
p
= 0.006). Logistic regression showed that VFA was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications (odds ratio 2.813, 95% CI 1.523–5.194;
p
= 0.001).
Conclusion
For gastric cancer patients, VFA is superior to BMI in accurately and effectively illuminating the impact of obesity on short-term surgical outcomes.
Trial Registration
Clinicaltrials.gov
: NCT02800005.
Nanotechnology shows great potential for producing food with higher quality and better taste through including new additives, improving nutrient delivery, and using better packaging. However, lack of ...investigations on safety issues of nanofood has resulted in public fears. How to characterize engineered nanomaterials in food and assess the toxicity and health impact of nanofood remains a big challenge. Herein, a facile and highly reliable separation method of TiO2 particles from food products (focusing on sugar‐coated chewing gum) is reported, and the first comprehensive characterization study on food nanoparticles by multiple qualitative and quantitative methods is provided. The detailed information on nanoparticles in gum includes chemical composition, morphology, size distribution, crystalline phase, particle and mass concentration, surface charge, and aggregation state. Surprisingly, the results show that the number of food products containing nano‐TiO2 (<200 nm) is much larger than known, and consumers have already often been exposed to engineered nanoparticles in daily life. Over 93% of TiO2 in gum is nano‐TiO2, and it is unexpectedly easy to come out and be swallowed by a person who chews gum. Preliminary cytotoxicity assays show that the gum nano‐TiO2 particles are relatively safe for gastrointestinal cells within 24 h even at a concentration of 200 μg mL−1. This comprehensive study demonstrates accurate physicochemical property, exposure, and cytotoxicity information on engineered nanoparticles in food, which is a prerequisite for the successful safety assessment of nanofood products.
A facile method to separate nano‐TiO2 particles from chewing gum to achieve comprehensive characterization is reported. Over 93% of TiO2 in gum is smaller than 200 nm, and around 95% would enter the body of a person chewing the gum. These nano‐TiO2 particles are relatively safe for gastrointestinal cells.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been epidemic more than 30 years in America and 20 years in China. It is still one of the most important causative agents to the ...worldwide swine industry. Here, we systematically analyzed the prevalence status of PRRSV in China by a molecular epidemiological perspective. Now both PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 are circulating and approximately more than 80% of pig farms are seropositive for PRRSV. For PRRSV-2, there are four lineages (lineage 1, lineage 3, lineage 5, lineage 8) circulating in the fields. Lineage 8 (CH-1a-like) and lineage 5 (BJ-4-like) appeared almost at the same time during 1995-1996. Notably, BJ-4 shares 99.6% and 99.8% identity with VR2332 and RespPRRS MLV, respectively. It means that lineage 5 is likely to be imported from America. Now highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) which was considered to be evolved from local diversity of lineage 8 strains is predominant with different variants. Lineage 3 appeared in 2010 which is mainly sporadic in south of China. Lineage 1, also known as NADC30-like strains in China, has been prevalent since 2013 and leads to PRRS pandemic again. For PRRSV-1, although sporadic at present, more than 9 provinces/regions have been reported. All the circulating strains belong to subtype I. It should be paid more attention since there are no vaccines available. Our analysis would help to deeply understand the prevalent status of PRRSV in China and provide useful information for prevention and control of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).
Ferroptosis is a type of regulated necrosis that is triggered by a combination of iron toxicity, lipid peroxidation, and plasma membrane damage. The upstream inducers of ferroptosis can be divided ...into two categories (biological versus chemical) and activate two major pathways (the extrinsic/transporter versus the intrinsic/enzymatic pathways). Excessive or deficient ferroptotic cell death is implicated in a growing list of physiological and pathophysiological processes, coupled to a dysregulated immune response. This review focuses on new discoveries related to how ferroptotic cells and their spilled contents shape innate and adaptive immunity in health and disease. Understanding the immunological characteristics and activity of ferroptotic death not only illuminates an intersection between cell death and immunity but may also lead to the development of novel treatment approaches for immunopathological diseases.