Long noncoding RNA LINC00261 has been experimentally validated to function as a tumor suppressor in several cancers, but its pathological role and functional mechanism in non–small cell lung cancer ...(NSCLC) are largely unclear. In this study, LINC00261 was delineated in NSCLC to be significantly downregulated in cancer tissues compared with corresponding adjacent normal tissues. Low expression of LINC00261 predicted worse survival for patients with NSCLC. Overexpression of LINC00261 in NSCLC cell lines inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, meanwhile promoted apoptosis. Subcellular fractionation assay showed that LINC00261 existed mainly in the cytoplasm of NSCLC A549 cells and luciferase assay validated its direct interaction with miR‐522‐3p. Overexpression of miR‐522‐3p significantly ameliorated suppressive effects of LINC00261 on proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells. Besides, miR‐522‐3p was found to be able to directly combine with the 3′‐untranslated region of SFRP2, which was generally regarded as a suppressor of Wnt signaling. Further quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot experiments showed that LINC00261 upregulation potentiated the expression of SFRP2 and inhibited Wnt signaling pathway, which could both be reversely modulated by miR‐522‐3p. Taken together, our study demonstrated that LINC00261 suppressed NSCLC cells progression via sponging miR‐522‐3p and inhibiting Wnt signaling. These results supported us to better understand the pathogenic mechanism of NSCLC and revealed a potential molecular target for this fatal disease.
Overexpression of LINC00261 in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and promoted cells apoptosis. Overexpression of miR‐522‐3p significantly ameliorated the suppressive effects of LINC00261 on NSCLC cells proliferation and invasion. LINC00261 upregulation potentiated the expression of SFRP2 and inhibited Wnt signaling pathway, which could both be modulated by miR‐522‐3p.
In order to reduce drivers' labor intensity during the operation of road sweeper, the development of road operation feature recognition algorithm based on visual perception technology is of great ...significance, especially in the intelligent control of the cleaning devices and the improvement of energy saving effect. This paper summarizes the development status and trends of road sweepers in domestic and foreign, proposes intelligent road sweeper operation power control system, and designs key technologies. Taking the type of garbage and the coverage of garbage as the target of feature recognition, the corresponding visual perception and recognition algorithm was developed, and the algorithm was tested and analysed. The recognition rate and recognition effect reached the expected.
Limited evidence is available on the effects of various fine particulate matter (PM2.5) components on inflammatory cytokines and DNA methylation. We examined whether 16 PM2.5 components are ...associated with changes in four blood biomarkers, that is, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), soluble cluster of differentiation 40 ligand (sCD40L), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and fibrinogen, as well as their corresponding DNA methylation levels in a panel of 36 healthy college students in Shanghai, China. We used linear mixed-effect models to evaluate the associations, with controls of potential confounders. We further conducted mediation analysis to evaluate the potential mediation effects of components on inflammatory markers through change in DNA methylation. We observed that several components were consistently associated with TNF-α and fibrinogen as well as their DNA hypomethylation. For example, an interquartile range increase in personal exposure to PM2.5-lead (Pb) was associated with 65.20% (95% CI: 37.07, 99.10) increase in TNF-α and 2.66 (95% CI: 37.07, 99.10) decrease in TNF-α methylation, 30.51% (95% CI: 0.72, 69.11) increase in fibrinogen and 1.25 (95% CI: 0.67, 1.83) decrease in F3 methylation. PM2.5 components were significantly associated with sICAM-1 methylation but not with sICAM-1 protein. DNA methylation mediated 19.89%–41.75% of the elevation in TNF-α expression by various PM2.5 constituents. Our findings provide clues that personal PM2.5 constituents exposure may contribute to increased systemic inflammation through DNA hypomethylation.
Children’s blood lead levels and prevalence of lead poisoning in China are significantly higher than in developed countries, though a substantial decrease has been observed. Since 2011, strict lead ...control policies in lead-related industries have been implemented in China, but the success of these policies is unknown. In this study, we collected environmental samples, questionnaire data, and blood samples from 106 children from 1 to 14 years old, before and after implementation of lead-usage control policy in wire rope factories by local government in Zhuhang, Nantong in 2012. Results showed that, one year after the lead control, lead concentrations sharply decreased in both environmental and biological samples with a decrease of 0.43 μg/m3 (−84.3%) in ambient air samples, 0.22 mg/kg (−36.1%) in vegetable samples, 441.1 mg/kg (−43.7%) in dust samples, and 6.24 μg/dL (−51.5%) in childhood blood lead levels (BLL). This study demonstrates the success of lead control policies in promoting the prevention and control of childhood lead poisoning in Nantong, China.
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element. However, Se in soil is often accompanied by heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), because of geological background. The safe utilization of such Se-rich ...land resources remains a challenge. A typical Se-rich area located in Enshi County, China, was systematically investigated with geochemical and epidemiological methods. The results show that Se in the topsoil is 0.84 ± 1.39 μg/g, whereas that of Cd is 0.93 ± 1.63 μg/g. And the concentration of Se and Cd in corn is 0.22 ± 0.96 μg/g and 0.15 ± 0.32 μg/g, respectively, which is mainly related to the high concentrations in soil. The benchmark dose limit of urinary Cd for β2-microglobulin in subjects (
n
= 160) was calculated as 3.27 µg/g Cr. In view of crop–human dose effect and combining the relationship among the concentrations of crops and human biomarkers and the concentrations of crops and topsoil, this study established the models of land resource safety zoning. With that, the risk screening value of Cd in the soil could be obtained as 0.98 μg/g in this typical area. The proportions of priority utilization, safe utilization, and strict management of agricultural land area were 58.85%, 22.90%, and 18.25%, respectively, in Enshi, China. These results could provide scientific support for local agricultural development and ecological sustainability.
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Multiple studies indicate that United States veterans have an increased risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to civilians. However, the responsible etiological factors are ...unknown. In the general population, specific occupational (e.g. truck drivers, airline pilots) and environmental exposures (e.g. metals, pesticides) are associated with an increased ALS risk. As such, the increased prevalence of ALS in veterans strongly suggests that there are exposures experienced by military personnel that are disproportionate to civilians. During service, veterans may encounter numerous neurotoxic exposures (e.g. burn pits, engine exhaust, firing ranges). So far, however, there is a paucity of studies investigating environmental factors contributing to ALS in veterans and even fewer assessing their exposure using biomarkers. Herein, we discuss ALS pathogenesis in relation to a series of persistent neurotoxicants (often emitted as mixtures) including: chemical elements, nanoparticles and lipophilic toxicants such as dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. We propose these toxicants should be directly measured in veteran central nervous system tissue, where they may have accumulated for decades. Specific toxicants (or mixtures thereof) may accelerate ALS development following a multistep hypothesis or act synergistically with other service-linked exposures (e.g. head trauma/concussions). Such possibilities could explain the lower age of onset observed in veterans compared to civilians. Identifying high-risk exposures within vulnerable populations is key to understanding ALS etiopathogenesis and is urgently needed to act upon modifiable risk factors for military personnel who deserve enhanced protection during their years of service, not only for their short-term, but also long-term health.
Over the past ten years, unconventional gas and oil drilling (UGOD) has markedly expanded in the United States. Despite substantial increases in well drilling, the health consequences of UGOD ...toxicant exposure remain unclear. This study examines an association between wells and healthcare use by zip code from 2007 to 2011 in Pennsylvania. Inpatient discharge databases from the Pennsylvania Healthcare Cost Containment Council were correlated with active wells by zip code in three counties in Pennsylvania. For overall inpatient prevalence rates and 25 specific medical categories, the association of inpatient prevalence rates with number of wells per zip code and, separately, with wells per km2 (separated into quantiles and defined as well density) were estimated using fixed-effects Poisson models. To account for multiple comparisons, a Bonferroni correction with associations of p<0.00096 was considered statistically significant. Cardiology inpatient prevalence rates were significantly associated with number of wells per zip code (p<0.00096) and wells per km2 (p<0.00096) while neurology inpatient prevalence rates were significantly associated with wells per km2 (p<0.00096). Furthermore, evidence also supported an association between well density and inpatient prevalence rates for the medical categories of dermatology, neurology, oncology, and urology. These data suggest that UGOD wells, which dramatically increased in the past decade, were associated with increased inpatient prevalence rates within specific medical categories in Pennsylvania. Further studies are necessary to address healthcare costs of UGOD and determine whether specific toxicants or combinations are associated with organ-specific responses.
Greater levels of prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) have been associated with childhood obesity in epidemiological studies. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear.
We ...hypothesized that prenatal PAH over-exposure during gestation would lead to weight gain and increased fat mass in offspring and grand-offspring mice. Further, we hypothesized that altered adipose gene expression and DNA methylation in genes important to adipocyte differentiation would be affected.
Pregnant dams were exposed to a nebulized PAH mixture versus negative control aerosol 5 days a week, for 3 weeks. Body weight was recorded from postnatal day (PND) 21 through PND60. Body composition, adipose cell size, gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) α, cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and adiponectin, and DNA methylation of PPAR γ, were assayed in both the offspring and grand-offspring adipose tissue.
Offspring of dams exposed to greater PAH during gestation had increased weight, fat mass, as well as higher gene expression of PPAR γ, C/EBP α, Cox2, FAS and adiponectin and lower DNA methylation of PPAR γ. Similar differences in phenotype and DNA methylation extended through the grand-offspring mice.
Greater prenatal PAH exposure was associated with increased weight, fat mass, adipose gene expression and epigenetic changes in progeny.
Reducing cadmium (Cd) exposure in Cd-polluted areas in Asia is urgently needed given the toxic effects of Cd. The short-term and long-term benefits of lowering Cd exposure are unknown because of its ...long half-life in the body.
We aimed to investigate whether an intervention with low-Cd rice in a contaminated area of China reduced urinary Cd (UCd) levels and improved blood pressure and kidney function outcomes compared to no-intervention in consumers of high-Cd rice in the same region.
106 non-smoking subjects were divided into three treatment groups: the intervention group (replacing homegrown high-Cd rice with market low-Cd rice, n = 34), the non-intervention group (continue eating high-Cd rice, n = 36) and the control group (continued eating low-Cd rice they have been eating for years, n = 36). The intervention period lasted for almost 8 months, during which participants were visited on up to 4 occasions and UCd, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), kidney function biomarkers (β2-microglobulin and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase) were measured.
After 3 months, the geometric mean UCd in the intervention (Int) group decreased significantly by 0.32 μg/g (p = 0.007), while changes were not significant in the non-intervention (non-Int) group (0.13 μg/g, p = 0.95) or the control group (−0.01 μg/g, p = 0.52). UCd in the Int group remained lower than in the non-Int group but higher than in the Control group through the end of follow up. DBP in the Int group decreased significantly from 80 mm Hg at month three (p = 0.03) and stayed around 74 mm Hg for the remainder of the study. SBP also decreased in the Int group but with variations similar to those observed in the other two groups. The two kidney biomarkers showed variations without a clear pattern.
This study suggested that UCd reflected both short-term (<3 months) and long-term Cd exposure. In addition, the low-Cd rice intervention showed initial benefits in lowering blood pressure levels, especially DBP, but not kidney biomarkers.
•UCd in the intervention group decreased significantly during 3 months' intervention.•UCd in the intervention group remained lower than other groups after intervention.•Low-Cd rice intervention showed initial benefits in lowering blood pressure levels.•The two kidney biomarkers showed variations without a clear pattern.•UCd reflected both short-term (<3 months) and long-term Cd exposure.
Since 2009, unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) has significantly increased in Appalachia's Marcellus Shale formation. Elevations of fine particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5), have been ...documented in areas surrounding drilling operations during well stimulation. Furthermore, many communities are experiencing increased industrial activities and probable UNGD air pollutant exposures. Recent studies have associated UNGD emissions with health effects based on distances from well pads. In this study, PM2.5 filter samples were collected on an active gas well pad in Morgantown, West Virginia, and three locations downwind during hydraulic stimulation. Fine particulate samples were analyzed for major and trace elements. An experimental source identification model was developed to determine which elements appeared to be traceable downwind of the UNGD site and whether these elements corresponded to PM2.5 measurements. Results suggest that 1) magnesium may be useful for detecting the reach of UNGD point source emissions, 2) complex surface topographic and meteorological conditions in the Marcellus Shale region could be modeled and confounding sources discounted, and 3) well pad emissions may be measurable at distances of at least 7 km. If shown to be more widely applicable, future tracer studies could enhance epidemiological studies showing health effects of UNGD-associated emissions at ≥15 km.
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