Association of the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia with early treatment intervention of herpes zoster and patient baseline characteristics: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a meta-analysis of the association between postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), baseline characteristics of patients with herpes zoster (HZ), and early interventions. METHODS: Literature searches were conducted in seven databases, in June 2021 and updated in June 2022. Two investigators independently conducted literature screening and data extraction, and the studies were evaluated according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: A total of 53 cohort studies were included. The meta-analyses identified skin lesions, timing of initial treatment (≥3 days), and comorbidities as potential risk factors for PHN. In contrast, female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.99-1.29), cervical herpes (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.21-2.99), lumbar herpes (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.61-2.74), and immunosuppressive therapy (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 0.22-17.12), were not significantly associated with PHN. In addition, glucocorticoid use (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.22-1.70) may be a protective factor for the development of PHN; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: A series of baseline characteristics were identified among populations at high risk of developing PHN from HZ. Additionally, the timing of initial treatment is associated with PHN occurrence. The preventive effect of glucocorticoids warrants further validation.

ABHD5 regulates midgut-specific lipid homeostasis in Bombyx mori.

Lipids are an important energy source and are utilized as substrates for various physiological processes in insects. Comparative gene identification 58 (CGI-58), also known as α/ß hydrolase domain-containing 5 (ABHD5), is a highly conserved and multifunctional gene involved in regulating lipid metabolism and cellular energy balance in many organisms. However, the biological functions of ABHD5 in insects are poorly understood. In the current study, we describe the identification and characterization of the ABHD5 gene in the lepidopteran model insect, Bombyx mori. The tissue expression profile investigated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) reveals that BmABHD5 is widely expressed in all tissues, with particularly high levels found in the midgut and testis. A binary transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 system was employed to conduct a functional analysis of BmABHD5, with the mutation of BmABHD5 leading to the dysregulation of lipid metabolism and excessive lipid accumulation in the larval midgut. Histological and physiological analysis further reveals a significant accumulation of lipid droplets in the midgut of mutant larvae. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis showed that genes related to metabolic pathways were significantly affected by the absence of BmABHD5. Altogether, our data prove that BmABHD5 plays an important role in regulating tissue-specific lipid metabolism in the silkworm midgut.

GASZ is indispensable for gametogenesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The prominent role of the P-element induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway in animals is to silence transposable elements and maintain genome stability, ensuring proper gametogenesis in gonads. GASZ (Germ cell protein with Ankyrin repeats, Sterile alpha motif, and leucine Zipper) is an evolutionarily conserved protein located on the outer mitochondrial membrane of germ cells and plays vital roles in the piRNA pathway and spermatogenesis in mammals. In the model insect Drosophila melanogaster, GASZ is essential for piRNA biogenesis and oogenesis, whereas its biological functions in non-drosophilid insects are still unknown. Here, we describe a comprehensive investigation of GASZ functions in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, a lepidopteran model insect, by using a binary transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 system. The BmGASZ mutation did not affect growth and development, but led to sterility in both males and females. Eupyrene sperm bundles of mutant males exhibited developmental defects, while the apyrene sperm bundles were normal, which were further confirmed through double copulation experiments with sex-lethal mutants, which males possess functional eupyrene sperm and abnormal apyrene sperm. In female mutant moths, ovarioles were severely degenerated and the eggs in ovarioles were deformed compared with that of wild type (WT). Further RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that amounts of piRNAs and transposon expression were dysregulated in gonads of mutants. In summary, this study has demonstrated vital roles of BmGASZ in gametogenesis through regulating the piRNA pathway in B. mori.

Silencing of purinergic receptor P2Y2 inhibited enteric neural crest cell proliferation, invasion and migration via suppressing ERK signaling pathway in Hirschsprung disease.

The current study aimed to explore the effect and underlying mechanism of the purinergic receptor P2Y2 in regulating the loss of intestinal neurons and the intestinal neural crest in Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR). Western blotting was used to assess the expression levels of P2Y2 in colon tissues. An in vivo HSCR mouse model was established following treatment with benzalkonium chloride (BAC). We overexpressed or silenced P2Y2 in SH-SY5Y cells, and cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were subsequently investigated by CCK-8, wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively. Additionally, we implemented a xenograft model to assess the impact of P2Y2 on tumor growth as well as the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). The results showed that the expression of P2Y2 protein in the colon tissues of patients with HSCR was lower than that in the normal colon tissues. P2Y2 expression is downregulated in the colon tissues of mice with HSCR. Additionally, P2Y2 silencing inhibited SH-SY5Y cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Furthermore, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP, a strong agonist of P2Y2)-induced P2Y2 overexpression enhanced the proliferation, invasion, and migration of SH-SY5Y cells. Immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis revealed that P2Y2 silencing downregulated phosphorylated (p)-ERK in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, treatment with PD98059, a p-ERK inhibitor, reversed the effects of ATP on SH-SY5Y cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Finally, we demonstrated that P2Y2 silencing suppressed tumor growth and decreased p-ERK expression. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that P2Y2 plays an important role in HSCR pathogenesis. P2Y2 silencing inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of nerve cells by suppressing the ERK signaling pathway. P2Y2 silencing could be considered an innovative and possible target for treating HSCR.

Exosome-transmitted circ_MMP2 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by upregulating MMP2.

Exosomes released by tumor cells have been recently identified as important determinants of tumor progression. They often carry circular RNAs that are differentially expressed in tumors and may regulate tumorigenesis and metastasis. Here, we showed that supernatant of 97H hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line could promote metastasis in L02 human liver cells and HCC cell lines. Moreover, we determined that circ_MMP2 (has_circ_0039411) could be delivered by 97H- or LM3 cell-derived exosomes to L02 and HepG2 cell cultures. High expression of circ_MMP2 led to the upregulation of its host gene matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) via the sponging of miR-136-5p. Rescue assays demonstrated that miR-136-5p and MMP2 were two essential participants in HCC metastasis. Finally, high level of circ_MMP2 or MMP2, as well as low level of miR-136-5p, was correlated with low overall survival of HCC patients. Our study highlights a novel molecular pathway in HCC cell-derived exosomes.

Mannose receptor as a potential biomarker for gastric cancer: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The mannose receptor is an immune adhesion molecule mainly expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells such as nonmature dendritic cells and macrophages. This study aimed to investigate mannose receptor expression and its predictive role in papillary gastric cancer patients. METHODS: The expression of the mannose receptor was measured in 120 samples of gastric cancer tissues and corresponding paracarcinoma tissues, by immunohistochemical and quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The relationships between mannose receptor expression and clinicopathological features of gastric cancer patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The expression rate of the mannose receptor in gastric cancer cells was 45.8% (54/120), significantly higher than that in the paracarcinoma tissue (20.0%, 36/120) (χ2 = 6.286, p = 0.012). High expression of the mannose receptor was closely related to tumor size, T stage, N stage and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage of gastric cancer (p<0.05). A Kaplan-Meier survival model indicated that the survival of patients in the high-expression mannose receptor group was significantly shorter than in the low-expression mannose receptor group (p<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that high mannose receptor expression was an independent predictor for the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: High mannose receptor expression indicates poor prognosis for gastric cancer patients. The mannose receptor may be an important molecular marker for gastric cancer prognosis.

miR-1260b is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) mainly refers to colon and rectum cancer, which is the most common gastrointestinal malignant tumor. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in tumors participate in multiple processes of malignancy development, including cell differentiation, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. In this study we explored the relationship of miR-1260b abnormal expression with clinical pathological features in CRC patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS The expression of miR-1260b was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) in 120 cases of CRC tissues. The correlation of miR-1260b expression with the clinicopathologic features of CRC was analyzed by SPSS 21.0 statistical software. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Cox regression analyses were conducted to determine whether miR-1260b was an independent predictor of survival for CRC patients. RESULTS The miR-1260b expression in CRC was significantly higher than the expression levels in the corresponding para-carcinoma tissues (P<0.001). According to the expression levels of miR-1260b, 120 cases of CRC patients were classified into either the miR-1260b high expression group or the miR-1260b low expression group. The high expression levels of miR-1260b in CRC patients was associated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) and venous invasion (P<0.001). However, the high miR-1260b expression had no significant correlation with other clinical parameters (P>0.05). The high miR-1260b expression patients survived for shorter times than those CRC patients with low miR-1260b expression (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that high miR-1260b means poor prognosis of patients with CRC. CONCLUSIONS The high expression level of miR-1260b is an independent prognostic biomarker that indicates a worse prognosis for patients with CRC.