Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a new class of noncoding RNA playing an indispensable role in different diseases by regulating miRNA. Our previous studies have suggested that miR‐630 was decreased in ...patients with cervical cancer. Recently, studies have shown that lncRNA NOC2L‐4.1 was abnormally expressed in patients with cervical cancer and can target miR‐630. Therefore, we wanted to identify the integrated relationship between lncRNA NOC2L‐4.1 and miR‐630 in the pathological processes regarding cervical cancer either in vitro or in vivo. Quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction detection shows that compared with human normal cervical epithelial cell, the expression of lncRNA NOC2L‐4.1 was significantly increased and the expression of miR‐630 was decreased in cell lines of cervical cancer. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay showed that miR‐630 was a target of lncRNA NOC2L‐4.1. The in vitro study found that downregulation of lncRNA NOC2L‐4.1 suppressed cervical cancer cell migration (transwell assays) and proliferation (cell counting kit‐8 and cloning formation assays). miR‐630 specific inhibitor treatment reversed the inhibitory effect of lncRNA NOC2L‐4.1 on cell proliferation and migration. Further studies also found that yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1) was the target of miR‐630. Overexpression YAP1 suppressed miR‐630 overexpression induced cell proliferation and inhibition of migration. Tumors induced by implantation of lncRNA NOC2L‐4.1‐knockdown Hela cells in nude mice showed that lncRNA NOC2L‐4.1 silencing decreased the growth of tumors in both volume and weight by regulation of miR‐630/YAP1. Taken together, our study reveals the important role of lncRNA NOC2L‐4.1/miR‐630/YAP1 regulatory network in cervical cancer, which provides new insights concerning the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.
miR‐630 specific inhibitor treatment reversed the inhibitory effect of long noncoding RNA NOC2L‐4.1 on cell proliferation and migration. Overexpression yes‐associated protein 1 suppressed miR‐630 overexpression induced cell proliferation and inhibition of migration.
Thyroid cancer is not among the top cancers in terms of diagnosis or mortality but it still ranks fifth among the cancers diagnosed in women. Infact, women are more likely to be diagnosed with ...thyroid cancer than the males. The burden of thyroid cancer has dramatically increased in last two decades in China and, in the United States, it is the most diagnosed cancer in young adults under the age of twenty-nine. All these factors make it worthwhile to fully understand the pathogenesis of thyroid cancer. Towards this end, microRNAs (miRNAs) have constantly emerged as the non-coding RNAs of interest in various thyroid cancer subtypes on which there have been numerous investigations over the last decade and half. This comprehensive review takes a look at the current knowledge on the topic with cataloging of miRNAs known so far, particularly related to their utility as epigenetic signatures of thyroid cancer progression and metastasis. Such information could be of immense use for the eventual development of miRNAs as therapeutic targets or even therapeutic agents for thyroid cancer therapy.
As the staple food source for more than one half of the world’s population, rice (
Oryza sativa
L.) is one of the most important crops in the world. Leaf hair derives from the epidermal cell of leaf ...and has the functions of resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in rice. Therefore, it is of great importance to identify genetic loci related to leaf hair development and then subsequently isolate corresponding genes in rice. In recent years, genome-wide association study (GWAS) has been adopted to study complex agronomic traits of crops. Here, we selected 149 rice varieties with abundant phenotypic and genetic variations to detect genetic loci related to development of leaf hairs with GWAS. Total of 13 genetic loci were found significantly associated with leaf hair development. Upstream and downstream of 120 kb to these loci (240 kb) was considered as the interval for candidate genes. Among those loci,
qHL6
-
2
included the gene
LOC_Os06g44750
, which was recently reported involved in the formation of rice leaf hair. Real time RT-PCR demonstrated that transcript amounts of the gene in hairy leaf varieties were significantly higher than those with less leaf hair. Overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9 analysis of
LOC_Os06g44750
confirmed its biological function in leaf hair development. Haplotype analysis on the coding region of
HL6
-
2
in 149 rice cultivars indicated that two haplotypes were dominant among at least 7 haplotypes. In addition, the number of root hairs was found decreased in CRISPR/Cas9 plants. Our study not only verifies that combined with gene annotation, GWAS can be utilized to rapidly identify candidate genes related to leaf hair, but also provides genetic basis for dissecting molecular mechanism underlie leaf hair and root hair formation.
Introduction
Severe spinal cord injury results in the loss of neurons in the relatively intact spinal cord below the injury area and skeletal muscle atrophy in the paralyzed limbs. These pathological ...processes are significant obstacles for motor function reconstruction.
Objective
We performed tail nerve electrical stimulation (TNES) to activate the motor neural circuits below the injury site of the spinal cord to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of the excitatory afferent neurons in promoting the reconstruction of locomotor function.
Methods
Eight days after T10 spinal cord transection in rats, TNES was performed for 7 weeks. Behavioral scores were assessed weekly. Electrophysiological tests and double retrograde tracings were performed at week 8.
Results
After 7 weeks of TNES treatment, there was restoration in innervation, the number of stem cells, and mitochondrial metabolism in the rats' hindlimb muscles. Double retrograde tracings of the tail nerve and sciatic nerve further confirmed the presence of synaptic connections between the tail nerve and central pattern generator (CPG) neurons in the lumbar spinal cord, as well as motor neurons innervating the hindlimb muscles.
Conclusion
The mechanisms of TNES induced by the stimulation of primary afferent nerve fibers involves efficient activation of the motor neural circuits in the lumbosacral segment, alterations of synaptic plasticity, and the improvement of muscle and nerve regeneration, which provides the structural and functional foundation for the future use of cutting‐edge biological treatment strategies to restore voluntary movement of paralyzed hindlimbs.
The specific neural pathway and the mechanism of activation in the spinal cord CPG and effects on the motor neural circuits during TNES treatment.
This is the first comprehensive evaluation of tricuspid annular systolic velocity among patients with ADHF.
Tricuspid annular systolic velocity could be a predictor of poor short-term prognosis in ...ADHF.
Tricuspid annular systolic velocity should be considered in patients with ADHF at admission.
There is scant data on the association of the Pulsed wave-Doppler tissue imaging (PW-DTI)-derived tricuspid lateral annular peak systolic velocity (S') and poor short-term prognosis of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).
A total number of 732 participants from the Heb-ADHF registry in China were divided into three groups according to the corresponding status of tricuspid S′. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, physical examinations, lab tests, and medications were compared among the different groups. Different logistic regression models were utilized to gauge the relationship between S′ and the risk of a composite of short-term all-cause mortality or 30-day heart failure (HF)-related rehospitalization.
The number of composite outcome events identified in the study population was 85, with the short-term all-cause death coupled with 30-day HF readmission events reaching 23 and 62, respectively. As per the multivariable adjusted analysis, S′ was inversely related to the risk of a composite outcome <10 cm/s odds ratios (OR) 2.90, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.33-6.31; 10-11 cm/s OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.10-4.33; p for trend = 0.006 in comparison with S′ at >11 cm/s. When S′ was analysed as a continuous variable, per 1 cm/s increase, the OR (95% CI) for a composite outcome was 0.87 (0.77-0.99), p = 0.028. Area under curve (AUC) of S′ for predicting outcome of ADHF was 0.631 (95%CI: 0.573-0.690, p < 0.01). Significant inverse association was also observed in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥40% subgroup.
Inspite of the potential confounders, a more impaired tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity is associated with a poorer short-term prognosis of patients with ADHF.
Elderly patients are more prone to develop acute kidney injury during infections and polymyxin B (PMB)-associated nephrotoxicity than young patients. The differential response to PMB between the ...elderly and young critically ill patients is unknown. We aimed to assess PMB exposure in elderly patients compared with young critically ill patients, and to determine the covariates of PMB pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients.
Seventeen elderly patients (age ≥ 65 years) and six young critically ill patients (age < 65 years) were enrolled. Six to eight blood samples were collected during the 12 h intervals after at least six doses of intravenous PMB in each patient. PMB plasma concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The primary outcome was PMB exposure as assessed by the area under the concentration-time curve over 24 h at steady state (AUC
).
The elderly group had lower total body weight (TBW) and higher Charlson comorbidity scores than young group. Neither AUC
nor normalized AUC
(adjusting AUC for the daily dose in mg/kg of TBW) was significantly different between the elderly group and young group. The half-life time was longer in the elderly patients than in young patients (11.21 vs 6.56 h respectively,
= 0.003). Age and TBW were the covariates of half-life time (
= 0.415,
= 0.049 and
= -0.489,
= 0.018, respectively). TBW was the covariate of clearance (
= 0.527,
= 0.010) and AUC
(
= -0.414,
= 0.049). Patients with AUC
≥ 100 mg·h/L had higher baseline serum creatinine levels and lower TBW than patients with AUC
< 50 mg·h/L or patients with AUC
50-100 mg·h/L. The PMB exposures were comparable in elderly and young critically ill patients. High baseline serum creatinine levels and low TBW was associated with PMB overdose.
ChiCTR2300073896 retrospectively registered on 25 July 2023.
After spinal cord transection injury, the inflammatory microenvironment formed at the injury site, and the cascade of effects generated by secondary injury, results in limited regeneration of injured ...axons and the apoptosis of neurons in the sensorimotor cortex (SMC). It is crucial to reverse these adverse processes for the recovery of voluntary movement. The mechanism of transcranial intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) as a new non-invasive neural regulation paradigm in promoting axonal regeneration and motor function repair was explored by means of a severe spinal cord transection.
Rats underwent spinal cord transection and 2 mm resection of spinal cord at T10 level. Four groups were studied: Normal (no lesion), Control (lesion with no treatment), sham iTBS (lesion and no functional treatment) and experimental, exposed to transcranial iTBS, 72 h after spinal lesion. Each rat received treatment once a day for 5 days a week; behavioral tests were administered one a week. Inflammation, neuronal apoptosis, neuroprotective effects, regeneration and synaptic plasticity after spinal cord injury (SCI) were determined by immunofluorescence staining, western blotting and mRNA sequencing. For each rat, anterograde tracings were acquired from the SMC or the long descending propriospinal neurons and tested for cortical motor evoked potentials (CMEPs). Regeneration of the corticospinal tract (CST) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) nerve fibers were analyzed 10 weeks after SCI.
When compared to the Control group, the iTBS group showed a reduced inflammatory response and reduced levels of neuronal apoptosis in the SMC when tested 2 weeks after treatment. Four weeks after SCI, the neuroimmune microenvironment at the injury site had improved in the iTBS group, and neuroprotective effects were evident, including the promotion of axonal regeneration and synaptic plasticity. After 8 weeks of iTBS treatment, there was a significant increase in CST regeneration in the region rostral to the site of injury. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the number of 5-HT nerve fibers at the center of the injury site and the long descending propriospinal tract (LDPT) fibers in the region caudal to the site of injury. Moreover, CMEPs and hindlimb motor function were significantly improved.
Neuronal activation and neural tracing further verified that iTBS had the potential to provide neuroprotective effects during the early stages of SCI and induce regeneration effects related to the descending motor pathways (CST, 5-HT and LDPT). Furthermore, our results revealed key relationships between neural pathway activation, neuroimmune regulation, neuroprotection and axonal regeneration, as well as the interaction network of key genes.
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants that are enriched in sludge. They enter soil through sludge soil amendment, landfill, and discard, which will cause inescapable environmental pollution ...risks. Sludge treatment technology commonly used in China include anaerobic digestion (AD), thermal drying (TD), thermal hydrolysis (TH) and aerobic composting (AC). In this study, characteristics of MPs in sewage sludge from four representative large cities in China (Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Guilin) were analyzed. Effects of four representative sludge treatment technology on sludge MPs were also studied. In addition, the amount of MPs input to soil from sludge in China was estimated. The abundance range of sludge MPs of representative cities in China was 1448–11,125 n∙kg−1 DW. Previous studies indicate that this abundance range is low among other domestic cities and is close to that of European countries. MPs were predominantly fiber-shaped, accounting for 46.66%; 56.5% MPs were white and transparent, and 62.5% were polypropylene and polyethylene. The abundance of MPs in the sludge increased after TH, indicating that MPs broke into smaller particles. However, the other three treatment methods had no significant influence on the abundance of MPs. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the micro-morphology of sludge MPs surface were rougher after AD, and MPs cracked following TD and TH. Furthermore, broken edges were more blurred after TH, and surfaces of MPs were damaged and eroded after AC. The input quantities of MPs in sludge to soil was deduced to be 1013 particles per year. These results are important for controlling the potential risk of sludge MPs in China.
Display omitted
•Median sludge microplastics (MPs) abundance of selected cities was 5434 n∙kg−1 DW.•Shape, color, polymer of MPs were mainly fibers, white, polypropylene respectively.•Sludge treatment did not significantly reduce the abundance of MPs in sludge.•Thermal hydrolysis increased abundance and changed surface morphology of MPs.•Estimated input of MPs from sludge into soil was up to 1013 particles per year.
Temperature control is an important limitation to further increase in geotechnical centrifuge power. Although vacuum pumps can reduce windage loss, they also negatively affect heat transfer ...performance. Therefore, in this study, we aim to accurately determine the rate at which windage loss decreases with pressure to help assess whether reducing pressure is beneficial to temperature control. A computational fluid dynamic method based on the multi-reference model and k–ω shear-stress transport turbulence model is used to simulate the ZJU400gt geotechnical centrifuge. The windage loss and temperature of ZJU400 at 0–150 gravity acceleration under normal pressure conditions are simulated. Compared with the experimental data, the error is < 20.7%, indicating simulation reliability. Furthermore, the simulation model is used to simulate the windage loss power under low-pressure conditions and predict the relationship between the windage loss power and pressure. Compared with current calculation methods, which yield a linear relationship between windage loss and operating pressure, the simulation results indicate a slightly nonlinear relationship. At 5,000 Pa, the simulated windage loss is 40% larger than the calculated value, severely affecting the temperature control design. Moreover, the velocity exhibits minimal variation with pressure, whereas the effective kinematic viscosity varies substantially. The nonlinear relationship between the windage loss and pressure can be attributed to increased turbulent kinetic energy and the size of the wake region caused by vacuum pumping. A formula for nonlinear windage loss with pressure is proposed, providing a basis for the future design of super-gravity geotechnical centrifuges.
Two novel tetranuclear zinc(II) clusters with different topological structures have been synthesized by using Zn(ClO4)2·6H2O, sodium azide and potentially multidentate Schiff base ligands containing ...different substituent groups. The two complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, single crystal X-ray diffraction and fluorescence studies. Structural studies reveal that Zn4(HL1)4(μ1,1-N3)2(N3)2 (1) is a linear tetranuclear cluster whereas Zn4(HL2)4(μ1,1-N3)4 (2) is a square-planar tetranuclear cluster. Both two complexes display intraligand (π→π*) fluorescence. Due to the heavy atom effect which increases the probability for intersystem crossing to the triplet state, the fluorescence intensity of complex 2 is much lower than that of complex 1.
Two new Zn(II) complexes have been successfully synthesized under the identical experimental conditions. Due to the different types of R substituents in Schiff base ligands, complexes 1 and 2 exhibit linear and square-planar tetranuclear structures respectively. The fluorescence properties of these two complexes have also been investigated. Display omitted
•Two Zn(II) clusters with interesting topological structures have been obtained.•The ligands with different substituents lead to diverse tetranuclear clusters.•The heavy atom effect results in lower luminescence intensity.
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