Highly expressed lncRNA H19 in endometriosis promotes aerobic glycolysis and Histone lactylation.

Previous studies from our group and others have shown increased IncRNA H19 expression in both the eutopic endometrium and the ectopic endometriosis tissue during endometriosis. In this study, we use immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and protein quantification to determine that levels of aerobic glycolysis and histone lactylation; which we show are increased in endometriosis tissues. In HESC cells (Human Endometrial Stromal Cells), we found that high H19 expression resulted in abnormal glucose metabolism by examining the levels of glucose, lactate, and ATP and measuring protein levels of enzymes that participate in glycolysis. At the same time, immunofluorescence and western blotting demonstrated increased histone lactylation in H19 overexpressing cells. Altering aerobic glycolysis and histone lactylation levels through the addition of Nala (sodium lactate) and 2-DG demonstrated that increased aerobic glycolysis and histone lactylation levels resulted in enhanced cell proliferation and cell migration, contributing to endometriosis. To validate these findings in vivo, we constructed an endometriosis mouse model, demonstrating similar changes in endometriosis tissues in vivo. Both aerobic glycolysis and histone lactylation levels were elevated in endometriotic lesions. Taken together, these data demonstrate elevated expression levels of H19 in endometriosis patients promote abnormal glucose metabolism and elevated histone lactylation levels in vivo, enhancing cell proliferation and migration and promoting the progression of endometriosis. Our study provides a functional link between H19 expression and histone lactylation and glucose metabolism in endometriosis, providing new insights into disease mechanisms that could result in novel therapeutic approaches.

New Approach for Preparation of Porous Polymers with Reversible Pore Structures for a Highly Safe Smart Supercapacitor.

Porous polymers have many industrial applications, but their pore structures (open or closed) are usually fixed during polymerization. In this study, polymers with reversible and controllable pore structures, namely, thermosensitive porous hydrogels with regulated volume phase transition temperature, were prepared using a Pickering high-internal-phase emulsion as the template. Upon heating, the hydrogels transformed not only in their wettability (between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity with water contact angles of 21.8 and 100.9°) but also their pore structure (between open through-holes and closed holes with pore throat sizes of 15.58 and 0 µm, respectively) in a short time (<10 s). When the hydrogel was used as a separator in smart supercapacitors (SCs), this behavior effectively limited the path of electrolyte migration, reducing the chance of conflagration accidents. Moreover, by utilizing the highly reversible pore structures and wettability of the porous hydrogel, reversible charging and discharging were restored after the system cooled down. This work not only provides great guidance for preparing porous polymers with reversible pore structures but also paves the way for designing smart SCs with enhanced safety.

The pathological roles and potential mechanisms of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 in gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the roles and underlying mechanisms of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) in gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: VEGFR-3 gene expression profiles in human gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) tissues were analysed using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Human GC cell lines and were used for in vitro studies. Mouse models of GC and distant metastasis were used for in vivo studies. Silencing of VEGFR-3 gene expression was achieved using small interfering RNA. RESULTS: VEGFR-3 gene expression was significantly elevated in GAC tissues and GC cells. Higher VEGFR-3 expression was positively correlated with more advanced stages and a greater number of metastatic lymph nodes. In vitro studies in GC cells showed that knockdown of VEGFR-3 gene expression significantly suppressed cell proliferation and migration, but promoted apoptosis. In vivo investigations revealed that silencing of VEGFR-3 gene expression exhibited significant inhibition on tumour growth and metastasis. Further mechanistic studies showed that VEGFR-3 exerted its pathological roles by affecting the key molecules in the apoptotic and epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathways. CONCLUSION: The molecular pathways associated with VEGFR-3-mediated pathological effects could be targets in the development of novel approaches for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of GC.

Using Multistage Energy Barrier of Heterojunctions in Improving Cr(VI) Detection.

Detecting heavy metals in seawater is challenging due to the high salinity and complex composition, which cause strong interference. To address this issue, we propose using a multistage energy barrier as an electrochemical driver to generate electrochemical responses that can resist interference. The Ni-based heterojunction foams with different types of barriers were fabricated to detect Cr(VI), and the effects of the energy barriers on the electrochemical response were studied. The single-stage barrier can effectively drive the electrochemical response, and the multistage barrier is even more powerful in improving sensing performance. A prototype Ni/NiO/CeO2/Au/PANI foam with multistage barriers achieved a high sensitivity and recovery rate (93.63-104.79%) in detecting seawater while resisting interference. The use of multistage barriers as a driver to resist electrochemical interference is a promising approach.

Catalyst-Free gem-Difluorination/Spirocyclization of Indole-2-carboxamides: Synthesis of C2-Spiroindoline Derivatives.

A catalyst-free gem-difluorination/spirocyclization reaction has been successfully developed for the synthesis of gem-difluorinated C2-spiroindoline derivatives from indole-2-carboxamides. The resulting gem-difluorinated C2-spiroindolines can be easily converted into 2-spiropseudoindoxyls through hydrolysis. This method offers the benefits of simple operation, convenient access to raw materials, and mild conditions. Dual function of Selectfluor in this reaction is noteworthy as it can serve as both a fluorinating agent and an alkaline accelerator precursor.

Csp3-H Imination Using Arylazo Sulfone as a N Source: An Approach to Access Imines.

An unprecedented Csp3-H imination reaction using arylazo sulfones as the readily accessible and stable N source is reported. The synthetic virtues are demonstrated through mild conditions, simple operation, good air compatibility, and functional group tolerance, as well as suitability for gram-scale reaction. The resulting imines can be further converted to α-amino acids. The presented results shed light on an unusual usage of arylazo sulfones and will inspire novel experimental design by using arylazo sulfones as the N source.

Computational Analysis of Vibrational Spectra of Hydrogen Bonds in sII and sH Gas Hydrates.

The amount of energy in natural gas hydrates is thought to be equivalent to twice that of all other fossil fuels combined. However, economic and safe energy recovery has remained a challenge till now. To develop a novel method of breaking the hydrogen bonds (HBs) surrounding the trapped gas molecules, we investigated the vibrational spectra of the HBs of gas hydrates with structure types II and H. Two models of 576-atom propane-methane sII hydrate and 294-atom neohexane-methane sH hydrate were built. A first-principles density functional theory (DFT) method was employed using the CASTEP package. The simulated spectra were in good agreement with the experimental data. Compared with the partial phonon density of states of guest molecules, we confirmed that the experimental infrared absorption peak in the terahertz region mainly arose from HB vibrations. By removing the components of guest molecules, we found that the theory of two kinds of hydrogen bond vibrational modes applies. The use of a terahertz laser to enable resonance absorption of HBs (at about 6 THz, to be tested) may therefore lead to the rapid melting of clathrate ice and release of guest molecules.

A Novel Graphene Based Bi-Function Humidity Tolerant Binder for Lithium-Ion Battery.

Binders play a critical role in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by holding granular electrode materials, conductive carbons, and current collectors firmly together to form and maintain a continuous electron conduction phase with sufficient mechanical strength. In the commercial LIBs, the dominant binder is polyvinylidene fluoride for the cathode (LiCoO2 , LiFePO4 , LiNix Coty Mnz O2 , etc.) and carboxyl methylcellulose/styrene-butadiene rubber for the anode (graphite and Li4 Ti5 O12 ). However, these polymer binders have several drawbacks, particularly, a lack of electronic and lithium-ion conductivities. Here, a novel organic/inorganic hybrid conductive binder (LAP-rGO) for both the anode and cathode of LIBs is reported. The binder consists of 2D reduced graphene oxide sheets with anchored long alkane chains. Electrodes prepared using this binder exhibit sufficient high bond strength, fast electrolyte diffusion, high rate charge/discharge performance, and excellent cycling stability. Around 130 mAh g-1 capacity enhancement at 5C is demonstrated for LiFePO4 and Li4 Ti5 O12 electrodes owing to the combined improvement in electron and lithium ion transportation. LAP-rGO bond graphite anode shows specific capacity beyond its theoretical value. Electrode slurries prepared using this new binder have superior processing and coating properties that can be prepared under a high humidity and dried using less energy.

LncRNA-BC069792 suppresses tumor progression by targeting KCNQ4 in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor that threatens women's health. Attention has been paid on the study of long- non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in breast cancer. However, the specific mechanism remains not clear. METHODS: In this study, we explored the role of lncRNA BC069792 in breast cancer. In vitro and in vivo functional experiments were carried out in cell culture and mouse models. High-throughput next-generation sequencing technology and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR technology were used to evaluate differentially expressed genes and mRNA expression, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect protein expression. RNA immunoprecipitation assay and dual-luciferase activity assay were used to evaluate the competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA), and rescue and mutation experiments were used for verification. RESULTS: We found that lncRNA BC069792 was expressed at a low level in breast cancer tissues, and significantly decreased in breast cancer with high pathological grade, lymph node metastasis and high Ki-67 index groups. Moreover, BC069792 inhibited the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, BC069792 acts as a molecular sponge to adsorb hsa-miR-658 and hsa-miR-4739, to up-regulate the protein expression of Potassium Voltage-Gated Channel Q4 (KCNQ4), inhibits the activities of JAK2 and p-AKT, and plays a role in inhibiting breast cancer growth. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA BC069792 plays the role of tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer and is a new diagnostic index and therapeutic target in breast cancer.

Preparation and Characterization of Nanocomposite Hydrogels Based on Self-Assembling Collagen and Cellulose Nanocrystals.

Collagen (Col) hydrogels are an important biomaterial with many applications in the biomedical sector. However, deficiencies, including insufficient mechanical properties and a rapid rate of biodegradation, hamper their application. In this work, nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared by combining a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) with Col without any chemical modification. The high-pressure, homogenized CNC matrix acts as nuclei in the collagen's self-aggregation process. The obtained CNC/Col hydrogels were characterized in terms of their morphology, mechanical and thermal properties and structure by SEM, rotational rheometer, DSC and FTIR, respectively. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy was used to characterize the self-assembling phase behavior of the CNC/Col hydrogels. The results showed an accelerated assembling rate with the increasing loading of CNC. The triple-helix structure of the collagen was preserved with a dosage of CNC of up to 15 wt%. The CNC/Col hydrogels demonstrated an improvement in both the storage modulus and thermal stability which is attributed to the interaction between the CNC and collagen by the hydrogen bonds.

Asymptomatic uterine metastasis of breast cancer: Case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Uterine metastasis from breast cancer is extremely rare. Asymptomatic patients with cervical metastases from breast cancer are rarer and more likely to be missed. We present an asymptomatic patient with breast cancer metastasized to the uterus and share opinions on diagnosing and treating for this kind of cases. PATIENT CONCERNS: We present the case of a 64-year-old woman who was diagnosed with both breast cancer and uterine fibroids after examination. She had no symptoms of gynecological disease during breast cancer treatment. A positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan was performed during reexamination, revealing multiple metastases of the bone throughout the body and an abnormal hypermetabolic mass in the uterus. It was later confirmed as uterine metastasis by pathology. DIAGNOSIS: A diagnosis of metastatic breast invasive lobular carcinoma was established after a uterine curettage. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: Treatment of the uterine metastasis included systemic chemotherapy, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH and BSO), postoperative radiotherapy, and postoperative chemotherapy. The patient eventually refused further treatment for personal reasons and died at home. LESSONS: Breast cancer metastases to the uterus are very rare and further research is needed for their diagnosis and treatment. During reexamination of breast cancer patients, clinicians must be alert to metastasis to gynecologic organs. This is particularly important in hormone receptor-positive patients with asymptomatic distant metastasis.

Computer simulation of hypothetical hydrogen ordered structure of ice XIX.

A new ice phase, ice XIX, was discovered in 2018, and is the second hydrogen-ordered polymorph of hydrogen-disordered ice VI. The first hydrogen-ordered polymorph of ice VI is ice XV, and ices XIX, VI, and XV comprise a unique triplet group in the ice family. However, the exact crystal structure of ice XIX has not been confirmed. We constructed four possible conformations of ice XIX using neutron diffraction data obtained by Gasser et al. We then optimized these structures and simulated their Raman scattering spectra using first-principles density functional theory. By comparing these simulated spectra with the experimental Raman scattering spectra, we were able to exclude the existence of a ferroelectric structure with the space group Cc. The other three candidate structures are in good agreement with the experimental Raman scattering data; two of them are ferroelectric structures with the space group P21; and the last one is a weak ferroelectric structure with the space group Cc. We proposed that the partially hydrogen-ordered structure of ice XIX maybe a mixing of several hydrogen-ordered structures.

Theoretical Prediction of Rhenium Separation from Ammonium Perrhenate by Phonon-Photon Resonance Absorption.

Rhenium (Re) is an extremely rare and precious element that is mainly used in the construction of aerospace components and satellite stations. However, an efficient and simple method for preparing Re has yet to be devised. To this end, we investigated the vibrational spectrum of ammonium perrhenate (NH4ReO4) using the CASTEP code based on first-principles density functional theory. We assigned the infrared (IR) absorption and Raman scattering spectra for NH4ReO4 using a dynamic process analysis of optical branch normal modes. We examined the IR-active peaks of Re-related vibrational modes in detail and found that the typical IR peak at approximately 914 cm-1 is due to the Re-O bond stretching. Thus, we posit that strong terahertz laser irradiation of NH4ReO4 at 914 cm-1 will lead to sufficient resonance absorption to cleave its Re-O bonds. This method could potentially be used to efficiently separate Re from its oxides.

Associations between sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitude and practice of partners and the occurrence of unintended pregnancy.

Background: Although global contraceptive coverage has increased significantly, high rates of unintended pregnancy remain the current global status quo. A comparative analysis of the differences and correlations of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of both partners will help guide public health work according to gender characteristics and needs, and reduce the occurrence of unintended pregnancy. Methods: A questionnaire survey of people with unintended pregnancies including women and their male partners (n = 1,275 pairs) who sought help from the Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from October 2017 to October 2021. Data were collected on sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and practices in both partners who had unintended pregnancies. Chi-square test and Logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between the occurrence of unintended pregnancy and KAP and its influencing factors. Paired odds ratio and McNemar's test were used to estimate the difference and concordance of KAP between partners. Results: This study included 1,275 partners with a mean age of 30.0 years. The partner's overall level of KAP is good. Compared with women, men had better knowledge (χ2 = 3.93, p = 0.047) and more active contraceptive practices (χ2 = 19.44, p < 0.001). In the analysis of partner concordance, male contraceptive intention was found to be better than female [matched pairs odds ratio (ORMP) = 2.56, p < 0.001], and the concordance of positive contraceptive practice between partners increased with male education [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.556, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.185-2.044, p = 0.001]. In partner-paired regression analysis, compared with good contraceptive knowledge in both men and women in the partner, the risk of negative contraceptive practice was 1.7 times (aOR = 1.721, 95% CI = 1.234-2.400, p = 0.001) higher with good contraceptive knowledge in women but negative in men, while women with poor contraceptive knowledge but men with good knowledge are 1.3 times (aOR = 1.349, 95% CI = 1.000-1.819, p = 0.05) more likely to have negative contraceptive practices. In addition, compared with partners with positive contraceptive attitudes, women with positive attitudes but negative men and women with negative attitudes but positive men had 1.7 and 1.4 times the risk of negative contraceptive practices, respectively. Conclusion: The study found that unintended pregnancy occurs mainly in young people, and the younger age of first sexual intercourse, the low education background and the lack of discussion of contraception between partners are risk factors for not taking contraceptive measures. Men's better knowledge and contraceptive practices compared with female partners, and poor male contraceptive knowledge and attitudes may lead to a higher risk of negative contraceptive practices, the results suggest that male KAP plays an important role in promoting contraceptive use and reducing unintended pregnancy.

Case Report and Literature Review: Primary Pulmonary NUT-Midline Carcinoma.

Nuclear protein of the testis (NUT) carcinoma is a very rare and aggressive carcinoma characterized by chromosomal rearrangement. NUT-midline carcinoma (NMC) can occur anywhere in the body, but most of the tumors are found in the midline anatomic structure or mediastinum. Pulmonary-originated NMC is extremely rare and often difficult to be distinguished from other poorly differentiated tumors, making the diagnosis awfully challenged in clinical practice. There are less than 100 cases of NUT carcinoma reported so far. In this study, the diagnosis and molecular mechanisms of reported NUT carcinoma cases were reviewed. Furthermore, a case of primary pulmonary NUT-midline carcinoma and its pathological features was reported. The process of pathological identification and genomic analysis for establishing the diagnosis was discussed. We found that NUT carcinoma could be identified by combining CT, H&E staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and molecular tests. The development of NUT carcinoma might be associated with mutation of MYC, p63, and MED24 genes and the Wnt, MAPK, and PI3K signaling pathways. Our study provided a detailed molecular mechanistic review on NMC and established a procedure to identify pulmonary NMC.

Using photo-induced p-n junction interface effect of CoMn2O4/ß-MnO2 oxidase mimetics for colorimetric determination of hydroquinone in seawater.

Detection of pollutants in seawater faces a great challenge of strong interference, and the facile detection method is lacked. The CoMn2O4/ß-MnO2 p-n junction oxidase mimetics were successfully prepared for colorimetric detection of hydroquinone in seawater. The catalysis ability was enhanced significantly by the photo-induced p-n junction interface effect. It not only promoted the formation of H2O2 by suppressing the recombination of photon-generated carriers, but also provided the driving force for electron transport. The colorimetric detection of hydroquinone was achieved by fading and exhibited good adaptability in seawater. The obtained good recovery rate (97.23%-101.37%) in seawater makes it an inspiring method for practical application. The photo-induced p-n junction interface effect provides an opportunity for developing the application of colorimetric sensing in seawater detection.

Low-Temperature-Induced Controllable Transversal Shell Growth of NaLnF4 Nanocrystals.

Highly controllable anisotropic shell growth is essential for further engineering the function and properties of lanthanide-doped luminescence nanocrystals, especially in some of the advanced applications such as multi-mode bioimaging, security coding and three-dimensional (3D) display. However, the understanding of the transversal shell growth mechanism is still limited today, because the shell growth direction is impacted by multiple complex factors, such as the anisotropy of surface ligand-binding energy, anisotropic core-shell lattice mismatch, the size of cores and varied shell crystalline stability. Herein, we report a highly controlled transversal shell growth method for hexagonal sodium rare-earth tetrafluoride (ß-NaLnF4) nanocrystals. Exploiting the relationship between reaction temperature and shell growth direction, we found that the shell growth direction could be tuned from longitudinal to transversal by decreasing the reaction temperature from 310 °C to 280 °C. In addition to the reaction temperature, we also discussed the roles of other factors in the transversal shell growth of nanocrystals. A suitable core size and a relative lower shell precursor concentration could promote transversal shell growth, although different shell hosts played a minor role in changing the shell growth direction.

A Systematic Review of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis on Diagnosis and Molecular Mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare low-grade metastatic tumor; however, LAM patients were always found in young age with difficulty for diagnosis. Our study is aimed at observing the clinical characteristics of patients with lymphangiomatosis, including the clinical manifestations, imaging findings, histopathological features, and immunophenotype. METHODS: We did a systematic review on LAM/PLAM cases, especially on male cases, and collected the clinical features and molecular mechanisms of PLAM based on previous findings. RESULTS: Diagnosis criteria were summarized by combining CT scans, MRI, immunohistochemistry results, and gene sequencing results for effectively distinguishing between PLAM and similar diseases. Moreover, our study illustrated the molecular mechanism of PLAM as well as the signaling pathway involved in the disease initials. In addition, a male case was reported with differential diagnosis on the clinical manifestations, microscopic features, immunophenotypes, and genotypes. CONCLUSION: Our review will definitely improve the understanding of diagnosis and treatment in PLAM cases.

LncRNA KRT19P3 Is Involved in Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration and Invasion.

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have already been taken as critical regulatory molecules in breast carcinoma (BC). Besides, the progression of BC is closely associated with the immune system. However, the relationship between lncRNAs and the tumor immune system in BC has not been fully studied. LncRNA KRT19P3 has been reported to inhibit the progression of gastric cancer. In the present study, we first discovered that KRT19P3 was downregulated in BC tissues compared with para cancer tissue. Then we showed that KRT19P3 could be used as a marker to differentiate BC from para cancer tissue. Increased expression of KRT19P3 markedly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion rate of BC cells in vitro and tumor growth of BC in vivo. Conversely, KRT19P3 knockdown by siRNA markedly promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion rate of BC cells after being transfected. Comparison of clinical parameters showed an inverse relationship between the expression of KRT19P3 and pathological grade. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was applied to reveal the positive rate of the expression of Ki-67, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and CD8 in BC tissues. Correlation analysis showed that Ki-67 and PD-L1 were inversely proportional to KRT19P3 but CD8 was directly proportional to KRT19P3. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that lncRNA KRT19P3 inhibits BC progression, and may affect the expression of PD-L1 in BC, which in turn affects CD8+ T (CD8 positive Cytotoxic T lymphocyte) cells in the immune microenvironment.

Architecting Hierarchical WO3 Agglomerates Assembled With Straight and Parallel Aligned Nanoribbons Enabling High Capacity and Robust Stability of Lithium Storage.

The pursuit of electrochemical energy storage has led to a pressing need on materials with high capacities and energy densities; however, further progress is plagued by the restrictive capacity (372 mAh g-1) of conventional graphite materials. Tungsten trioxide (WO3)-based anodes feature high theoretical capacity (693 mAh g-1), suitable potential, and affordable cost, arousing ever-increasing attention and intense efforts. Nonetheless, developing high-performance WO3 electrodes that accommodate lithium ions remains a daunting challenge on account of sluggish kinetics characteristics and large volume strain. Herein, the well-designed hierarchical WO3 agglomerates assembled with straight and parallel aligned nanoribbons are fabricated and evaluated as an anode of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which exhibits an ultra-high capacity and excellent rate capability. At a current density of 1,000 mA g-1, a reversible capacity as high as 522.7 mAh g-1 can be maintained after 800 cycles, corresponding to a high capacity retention of ∼80%, demonstrating an exceptional long-durability cyclic performance. Furthermore, the mechanistic studies on the lithium storage processes of WO3 are probed, providing a foundation for further optimizations and rational designs. These results indicate that the well-designed hierarchical WO3 agglomerates display great potential for applications in the field of high-performance LIBs.