Long non-coding RNA MIR600HG as a ceRNA inhibits the pancreatic cancer progression through regulating the miR-1197/PITPNM3 axis.

Objective: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is considered to be a highly malignant cancer with poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is the potential factor to predict cancer prognosis. The effect of MIR600HG in PC needs to be further studied. Our work mainly focused on the importance of MIR600HG for PC prognosis and its underlying molecular mechanism of regulating PC progression. Methods: Data set was acquired from TCGA database to find differentially expressed genes and prognostic significance of MIR600HG in PC, and to construct the MIR600HG competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA). Clinical specimens were collected to prove the analysis results. Vector over-expressed MIR600HG was transfected to study the roles of MIR600HG in proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration. The methods of CCK-8, flow cytometry, Transwell and scratch assays were all used in order to explore the apoptosis, migration and invasion. We evaluated the proliferation-related genes (PCNA, CyclinD1 and P27), as well as invasion and migration-related genes such as MMP-9, MMP-7 and ICAM-1. The transcriptional regulation between MIR600HG and miR-1197/PITPNM3 axis was determined with luciferase reporter assays. Results: In present study, MIR600HG was dropped in both PC tissues and cells, and the down-regulated MIR600HG was closely related to the poor clinical outcomes in PC patients. MIR600HG could inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion in PC cells. We also investigated whether MIR600HG acting as a sponge of microRNA-1197 (miR-1197) and miR-1197 acting on PITPNM3. We found the positive association between MIR600HG and PITPNM3, as well as the negative association of miR-1197 and MIR600HG (or PITPNM3). Moreover, PITPNM3 mRNA and protein expression saw a simultaneous increase after the MIR600HG-overexpression (MIR600HG-OE), but this result partially diminished in MIR600HG-OE cells and miR-1197 mimics. Conclusions: Our study explored the anticancer action of MIR600HG in PC by regulating miR-1197 to increase the expression of PITPNM3, which might help the diagnosis and therapy of PC.

A biological product of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 strain for promoting banana plant growth and modifying rhizosphere soil microbial diversity and community composition.

Introduction: Bananas are not only an important food crop for developing countries but also a major trading fruit for tropical and semitropical regions, maintaining a huge trade volume. Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense is becoming a serious challenge to the banana industry globally. Biological control has the potential to offer both effective and sustainable measures for this soil-borne disease. Methods: In order to explore the biocontrol effects of the biological agent Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 strain on banana plants, two cultivars, Brazilian and Yunjiao No. 1, with varied resistance to FWB, were used in greenhouse pot experiments. Results: Results showed that the plant height and pseudostem diameter of banana-susceptible cultivar Brazilian increased by 11.68% and 11.94%, respectively, after QST713 application, while the plant height and pseudostem diameter of resistant cultivar Yunjiao No. 1 increased by 14.87% and 12.51%, respectively. The fresh weight of the two cultivars increased by 20.66% and 36.68%, respectively, indicating that this biological agent has potential effects on plant growth. Analysis of the rhizosphere soil microbial communities of two different cultivars of banana plants showed that TR4 infection and B. amyloliquefaciens QST713 strain application significantly affected the bacterial and fungal diversity of Yunjiao No. 1, but not in the cultivar Brazilian. In addition, TR4 infection and QST713 application changed the bacterial community composition of both banana cultivars, and the fungal community composition of Yunjiao No. 1 also changed significantly. Relevance analysis indicated that the relative richness of Bacillus and Pseudomonas in the rhizosphere of both cultivars increased significantly after QST713 application, which had a good positive correlation with plant height, pseudostem girth, aboveground fresh weight, leaf length, and leaf width. Discussion: Therefore, the outcome of this study suggests that the biological agent QST713 strain has potential application in banana production for promoting plant growth and modification of soil microbial communities, particularly in the TR4-infected field.

Prognostic Values of Prothrombin Time and Inflammation-Related Parameter in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients After Intravenous Thrombolysis with rt-PA.

In previous studies, prothrombin time (PT), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) and systemic immune inflammation Index (SII) levels might be the prognostic factors for patients with ischemic stroke. However, the association between these coagulation and inflammation biomarkers and prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who undergo intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) remains unclear and needs further study. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between these biomarkers and clinical prognosis after IVT in AIS patients. We included patients at the Hebei general hospital diagnosed with AIS who received standard-dose IVT with rt-PA from September 2017 to August 2022. Demographic information, vascular risk factors, laboratory test results, and other stroke-related data were collected for analysis. Clinical outcomes included short-term outcome at 24 h and functional outcome at 3 months. We enrolled 281 patients in this study. In total, 16 patients had END within 24 h, and 106 patients had an unfavorable outcome at the 3-month visit. In the multivariate analysis, PT level (OR = 1.833; 95% CI: 1.161-2.893; P = 0.009), SIRI level (OR = 2.166; 95% CI: 1.014-4.629; P = 0.046) and SII level (OR = 1.002; 95% CI: 1.000-1.003; P = 0.021) were independently associated with 3-month poor outcome in AIS patients with IVT. In conclusion, the higher PT, SIRI and SII levels were independently associated with poor prognosis in AIS patients after IVT. Additionally, PT, SIRI and SII all can be novel short-term prognostic biomarkers for AIS patients treated with IVT.

Disentangling the resistant mechanism of Fusarium wilt TR4 interactions with different cultivars and its elicitor application.

Fusarium wilt of banana, especially Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is a major factor restricting banana production. Developing a resistant cultivar and inducing plant defenses by elicitor application are currently two of the best options to control this disease. Isotianil is a monocarboxylic acid amide that has been used as a fungicide to control rice blast and could potentially induce systemic acquired resistance in plants. To determine the control effect of elicitor isotianil on TR4 in different resistant cultivars, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted and its results showed that isotianil could significantly alleviate the symptoms of TR4, provide enhanced disease control on the cultivars 'Baxi' and 'Yunjiao No.1' with control effect 50.14% and 56.14%, respectively. We compared the infection processes in 'Baxi' (susceptible cultivars) and 'Yunjiao No.1' (resistant cultivars) two cultivars inoculated with pathogen TR4. The results showed that TR4 hyphae could rapidly penetrate the cortex into the root vascular bundle for colonization, and the colonization capacity in 'Baxi' was significantly higher than that in 'Yunjiao No.1'. The accumulation of a large number of starch grains was observed in corms cells, and further analysis showed that the starch content in 'Yunjiao No. 1' as resistant cultivar was significantly higher than that in 'Baxi' as susceptible cultivar, and isotianil application could significantly increase the starch content in 'Baxi'. Besides, a mass of tyloses were observed in the roots and corms and these tyloses increased after application with isotianil. Furthermore, the total starch and tyloses contents and the control effect in the corms of 'Yunjiao No.1' was higher than that in the 'Baxi'. Moreover, the expression levels of key genes for plant resistance induction and starch synthesis were analyzed, and the results suggested that these genes were significantly upregulated at different time points after the application of isotianil. These results suggest that there are significant differences between cultivars in response to TR4 invasion and plant reactions with respect to starch accumulation, tyloses formation and the expression of plant resistance induction and starch synthesis related genes. Results also indicate that isotianil application may contribute to disease control by inducing host plant defense against TR4 infection and could be potentially used together with resistant cultivar as integrated approach to manage this destructive disease. Further research under field conditions should be included in the next phases of study.

Klebsiella pneumoniae-related brain abscess and meningitis in adults: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Klebsiella pneumoniae is once thought to be a less common cause of brain abscess in adults and is mainly hospital-acquired. Community-acquired CNS infection (brain abscess and meningitis) caused by K pneumoniae without other metastatic septic abscesses is exceedingly rare. Therefore, we present a rare adult patient with invasive cerebral abscess and meningitis without other invasive abscesses related to K pneumoniae. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 64-year-old woman experienced a sudden onset of severe continuous headache accompanied by intermittent nausea, vomiting, and fever. Meanwhile, she experienced tinnitus and had a feeling of swelling in the right ear. DIAGNOSIS: Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal hyperintensity signals in the left head of the caudate nucleus. The next generation sequencing of cerebral spinal fluid showed infection with K pneumoniae. The patient was diagnosed with K pneumoniae-related brain abscesses and meningitis. INTERVENTIONS: Antibacterial treatment was carried out for 2 months. OUTCOMES: The patient recovered well. CONCLUSION: Despite the progress of modern neurosurgical techniques, new antibiotics, and modern imaging techniques, brain abscesses are still a potentially fatal infection. Streptococci are common organisms that result in brain abscesses. Nevertheless, Klebsiella species, once thought to be a less common cause of brain abscess in adults, has become an increasingly important cause of brain abscess, especially in Asia.

Hsa_circ_0050102 regulates the pancreatic cancer development via miR-218-5p/PPME1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignancy worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) affects the growth of PC, nonetheless the mechanism is blurry. Here, we reconnoitered the parts of hsa_circ_0050102 in PC. METHODS: Hsa_circ_0050102, microRNA-218-5p (miR-218-5p) and protein phosphatase methylesterase 1 (PPME1) abundances were indicated by quantitative RT-PCR or Western blot. Moreover, the cell functions were uncovered. Additionally, the relation of miR-218-5p and hsa_circ_0050102 or PPME1 was identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Ultimately, the mice teats were utilized to quantity the part of hsa_circ_0050102. RESULTS: Hsa_circ_0050102 and PPME1 contents were increased, and the miR-218-5p was dwindled in PC. Hsa_circ_0050102 lack subdued cell vitality, colony formation, cell migration and invasion, and angiogenesis, but endorsed cell apoptosis in PC cells. Furthermore, miR-218-5p was established to block the development of PC cells via PPME1. Hsa_circ_0050102 bound to miR-218-5p to adjust the content of PPME1. CONCLUSION: Hsa_circ_0050102 expedited the expansion of PC through growing PPME1 abundance by adjusting miR-218-5p.

Overweight/obesity-related transcriptomic signature as a correlate of clinical outcome, immune microenvironment, and treatment response in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Backgrounds: The pandemic of overweight and obesity (quantified by body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25) has rapidly raised the patient number of non-alcoholic fatty hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and several clinical trials have shown that BMI is associated with the prognosis of HCC. However, whether overweight/obesity is an independent prognostic factor is arguable, and the role of overweight/obesity-related metabolisms in the progression of HCC is scarcely known. Materials and methods: In the present study, clinical information, mRNA expression profile, and genomic data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) as a training cohort (TCGA-HCC) for the identification of overweight/obesity-related transcriptome. Machine learning and the Cox regression analysis were conducted for the construction of the overweight/obesity-associated gene (OAG) signature. The Kaplan-Meier curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the Cox regression analysis were performed to assess the prognostic value of the OAG signature, which was further validated in two independent retrospective cohorts from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Subsequently, functional enrichment, genomic profiling, and tumor microenvironment (TME) evaluation were utilized to characterize biological activities associated with the OAG signature. GSE109211 and GSE104580 were retrieved to evaluate the underlying response of sorafenib and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment, respectively. The Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database was employed for the evaluation of chemotherapeutic response. Results: Overweight/obesity-associated transcriptome was mainly involved in metabolic processes and noticeably and markedly correlated with prognosis and TME of HCC. Afterward, a novel established OAG signature (including 17 genes, namely, GAGE2D, PDE6A, GABRR1, DCAF8L1, DPYSL4, SLC6A3, MMP3, RIBC2, KCNH2, HTRA3, PDX1, ATHL1, PRTG, SHC4, C21orf29, SMIM32, and C1orf133) divided patients into high and low OAG score groups with distinct prognosis (median overall survival (OS): 24.87 vs. 83.51 months, p < 0.0001), and the values of area under ROC curve (AUC) in predicting 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year OS were 0.81, 0.80, 0.83, and 0.85, respectively. Moreover, the OAG score was independent of clinical features and also exhibited a good ability for prognosis prediction in the ICGC-LIHC-JP cohort and GSE54236 dataset. Expectedly, the OAG score was also highly correlated with metabolic processes, especially oxidative-related signaling pathways. Furthermore, abundant enrichment of chemokines, receptors, MHC molecules, and other immunomodulators as well as PD-L1/PD-1 expression among patients with high OAG scores indicated that they might have better responses to immunotherapy. However, probably exclusion of T cells from infiltrating tumors resulting in lower infiltration of effective T cells would restrict immunotherapeutic effects. In addition, the OAG score was significantly associated with the response of sorafenib and TACE treatment. Conclusions: Overall, this study comprehensively disclosed the relationship between BMI-guided transcriptome and HCC. Moreover, the OAG signature had the potential clinical applications in the future to promote clinical management and precision medicine of HCC.

Complete mitochondrial genome of banana skipper Erionota torus Evans (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) and phylogenetic analysis.

Erionota torus (Evans, 1941) is a banana pest and is mainly distributed in Southeast Asia and the Pacific regions. The complete mitogenome of E. torus (GenBank accession number MW586888) is 15,987 bp in size, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs genes, and a noncoding A + T-rich region. The A + T-rich region is located between 12S rRNA and tRNAMet . The base composition of the whole E. torus mitogenome is 39.68% for A, 7.30% for G, 41.55% for T, and 11.47% for C, with a high AT content of 81.23%. The phylogeny analysis indicated that E. torus had a close relationship with Notocrypta curvifascia. The present data could contribute to the further detailed phylogeographic analysis and provide a comprehensive control strategy for this banana pest.

A Real-Time Fluorescent Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR Assay for Rapid Detection of Genetic Markers' Expression Associated with Fusarium Wilt of Banana Biocontrol Activities in Bacillus.

Fusarium wilt of banana, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), especially Tropical Race 4 (TR4), seriously threatens banana production worldwide. There is no single effective control measure, although certain Bacillus strains secrete antibiotics as promising disease-biocontrol agents. This study identified five Bacillus strains displaying strong antibiotic activity against TR4, using a systemic assessment for presence/absence of genetic markers at genome level, and expression profiles at transcriptome level. A conventional PCR with 13 specific primer pairs detected biocontrol-related genes. An accurate, quantitative real-time PCR protocol with novel designed specific primers was developed to characterise strain-specific gene expression, that optimises strain-culturing and RNA-isolation methodologies. Six genes responsible for synthesising non-ribosomal peptide synthetase biocontrol metabolites were detected in all five strains. Three genes were involved in synthesising three Polyketide synthetase metabolites in all five strains, but the macrolactin synthase gene mln was only detected in WBN06 and YN1282-2. All five Bacillus strains have the genes dhb and bioA, essential for synthesising bacillibactin and biotin. However, the gene sboA, involved in subtilisin synthesis, is absent in all five strains. These genes' expression patterns were significantly different among these strains, suggesting different mechanisms involved in TR4 biocontrol. Results will help elucidate functional genes' biocontrol mechanisms.

Effects of CircRNA-ITCH on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through inhibiting Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

PURPOSE: To explore the effects of circular ribonucleic acid (circRNA)-E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (ITCH) on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and its possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: To study the role of circRNA-ITCH in the occurrence and development of HCC. The relative expression level of circRNA-ITCH was detected via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in four kinds of HCC Huh-7, U251, HB611 and SMMC-7721 cell lines, and human normal liver L-02 cell line. Moreover, the effect of overexpression of circRNA-ITCH on the TCF luciferase activity was detected using ß-catenin/TCF-responsive luciferase reporter assay. Finally, the influences of overexpression of circRNA-ITCH on the protein levels of ß-catenin and Wnt3α and the mRNA levels of c-myc and cyclinD1 were determined using Western blotting and qPCR, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with that in human normal liver L-02 cell line, the expression of circRNA-ITCH was significantly down-regulated in HCC Huh-7, U251, HB611 and SMMC-7721 cell lines (p<0.05). According to the results of CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay and flow cytometry, the overexpression of circRNA-ITCH could obviously inhibit cell proliferation, suppress colony formation ability and induce apoptosis (p<0.05). The results of dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that there was a significant interaction between circRNA-ITCH and miR-7 or miR-214 (p<0.05). CircRNA-ITCH was involved in the regulating of Wnt/ß-catenin signal transduction pathway and inhibited the expressions of c-myc and cyclinD1. CONCLUSIONS: CircRNA-ITCH affects the proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells through inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signal transduction pathway, thereby exerting a carcinogenic effect in the occurrence and development of HCC. The research results provide a new therapeutic target for HCC.

Acute cerebral infarction with acute myocardial infarction due to patent foramen ovale: A case report.

RATIONALE: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is not considered to be the main cause of stroke and is classified as the infarction of undetermined cause. The relationship between PFO and cerebral embolism is still unclear and cerebral embolism accompanied with coronary artery embolization in PFO patient is rare. In this case, we reported a patient with PFO suffered acute cerebral and myocardial infarction simultaneously, and analyzed the source of emboli and potential pathogenesis. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 53-year-old female presented with chief complaints of intermittent palpitations and chest tightness for 6 years, aggravated for 3 days. DIAGNOSES: During the hospitalization, acute cerebral infarction and acute myocardial infarction occurred at the same time in the patient. The patient felt paroxysmal abdominal pain repeatedly. Finally, we detected PFO in the patient INTERVENTIONS:: Double antiplatelet therapy was given to the patient of acute cerebral and myocardial infarction with PFO. OUTCOMES: Two weeks after the onset of the disease, the condition was relatively stable. But after 2 months, the patient experienced repeated heart failure, transthoracic echocardiography manifested no significant change in the PFO gap but significant cardiac function reduction. LESSONS: Although a growing number of people are aware that PFO is a risk factor for arterial embolization especially when coexisting with atrial septal aneurysm, a significant proportion of patients have paradoxical embolism after PFO closure. Therefore, transesophageal echocardiography should be routinely performed to find the possible cause of embolism when infarction of undetermined cause occurs, and PFO closure and anti-platelet aggregation or anticoagulant therapy should be given at the same time in order to reduce the occurrence of arterial thrombosis.

iNOS-derived peroxynitrite mediates high glucose-induced inflammatory gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells through promoting KLF5 expression and nitration.

Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression and peroxynitrite formation are significantly increased in diabetic vascular tissues. Transcription factor KLF5 activates iNOS gene transcription and is involved in vascular inflammatory injury and remodeling. However, mutual regulation between KLF5, iNOS and peroxynitrite in diabetic vascular inflammation, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remain largely unknown. In this study, we found a marked increase in KLF5 and iNOS expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of diabetic patients. High glucose-induced expression of KLF5 and iNOS was also observed in cultured mouse VSMCs. Further investigation showed that high glucose induced KLF5 nitration by iNOS-mediated peroxynitrite generation, and nitrated KLF5 increased its interaction with NF-κB p50 and thus cooperatively activated the expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß. Furthermore, we showed that the VSMC-specific knockout of KLF5 dramatically reduced inflammatory cytokine expression in the vascular tissues of diabetic mice. Moreover, 17ß-estradiol (E2) inhibited high glucose-mediated effects in VSMCs, and in the response to E2, estrogen receptor (ER) α competed with KLF5 for binding to NF-κB p50, which in turn leads to the suppression of inflammatory gene expression in VSMCs. Together, the present findings were the first to show that KLF5 expression and nitration by iNOS-mediated peroxynitrite are necessary for the induction of TNF-α and IL-1ß expression in VSMCs of diabetic vascular tissues.

Raf kinase inhibitor protein mediated signaling inhibits invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer with high mortality and poor prognosis. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways have been implicated in promoting tumor cell proliferation and invasion of HCC cells. METHODS: As a potential inhibitor of tumor metastasis, the role of Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) in HCC development and the functional relevance with MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways were investigated. The levels of RKIP expression were examined in human HCC tissues and correlated with tumor stages and metastatic status. Function of RKIP in cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis was investigated in HCC cell lines by either overexpressing or knocking down RKIP expression. Mouse xenograft model was established to assess the effect of RKIP expression on tumor growth. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated decreased RKIP expression in HCC tissues and a strong correlation with tumor grade and distant metastasis. Manipulation of RKIP expression in HCCLM3 and HepG2 cells indicated that RKIP functioned to inhibit HCC cell motility and invasiveness, and contributed to tumor growth inhibition in vivo. Mechanistic studies showed that the function of RKIP was mediated through MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. However, cell type-dependent RKIP regulation on these two pathways was also suggested, indicating the complex nature of signaling network. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a better understanding on the molecular mechanisms of HCC metastasis and sets the foundation for the development of targeted therapeutics for HCC.