Spontaneous Particle Ordering, Sorting, and Assembly on Soap Films.

Soap bubbles exhibit abundant fascinating phenomena throughout the entire life of evolution with different fundamental physics governing them. Nevertheless, the complicated dynamics of small objects in soap films are still unrevealed. Here, we report the first observation of spontaneous particle ordering in a complicated galaxy of soap films without any external energy. The balance of interfacial tension at two liquid-gas interfaces is theoretically predicted to govern belted wetted particles (BWPs) traveling along a specified path spontaneously. Such spontaneous particle path-finding is found to depend on the particle size and hydrophilic properties. Spontaneous particle sorting is directly realized via these discrete and distinctive paths for different particles. The deformation of the soap membrane facilitates 1D/2D particle organization along the path. This observation represents the discovery of a new spontaneous order phenomenon in soap film systems and provides a new energy-free approach for particle separation and soft colloidal crystal assembly.

GANT61, an inhibitor of Gli1, inhibits the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Constitutive activation of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been implicated in many cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among them, the terminal glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1) regulates the expression of critical genes in the Hh pathway. The current study aims to evaluate the anti-HCC effect of the Gli1 inhibitor, GANT61. In vitro analysis including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry, and migration and invasion assay were adopted to evaluate the effect of GANT61 on HCC cell lines. In vivo, xenograft studies were also performed to verify the effect of GANT61 on HCC. By CCK-8 assay, we found that GANT61 could significantly reduce the growth of HCC cell lines Huh7 and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLE), and their IC50 concentrations were 4.481 and 6.734 µM, respectively. Flow cytometry shows that GANT61 induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and accelerated apoptosis of both HLE and Huh7 cells. While migration and invasion assay shows that GANT61 weakens cells' migration and invasion ability. Besides that, GANT61 inhibits the expression of Gli1, FoxM1, CyclinD1, and Bcl-2, upregulates the level of Bax protein, and also reverses the epithelial-mesenchymal transition program by downregulating the expression of Vimentin and N-Cadherin and upregulating the expression of epithelial E-Cadherin expression. Furthermore, GANT61 inhibits the growth of subcutaneous xenografts of Huh7 cells in nude mice. Overall, this study suggests that Gli1 is a potential target for therapy and GANT61 shows promising therapeutic potential for future treatment in HCC.

Self-Powered and Broadband Photodetectors Based on High-performance Mixed Dimensional Sb2O3/PdTe2/Si Heterojunction for Multiplex Environmental Monitoring.

Solar-blind ultraviolet (SBUV) to near-infrared (NIR) broadband photodetectors (BB-PD) have important applications in environmental monitoring and other applications. However, it is challenging to prepare SBUV-IR photosensitive materials via simple steps and to construct SBUV-IR broadband devices for multiplex detection with high sensitivity at different wavelengths. Here, self-powered and broadband photodetectors using a high-performance mixed dimensional Sb2O3 nanorod 1-dimension (1D)/monodisperse microdiamond-like PdTe2 3-dimension (3D)/Si (3D) heterojunction for multiplex detection of environmental pollutants with high sensitivity at broadband wavelength are developed. The 1D/3D mixed dimensional Sb2O3/PdTe2/Si structure combines the advantages of strong light absorption, high carrier transport efficiency of 1D Sb2O3 nanorods, and expansion of interface barrier caused by 3D microdiamond-like PdTe2 interlayer to improve the photocurrent density and self-powered ability. The efficient photogenerated charge separation enables anon/off ratio of more than 5 × 106. The device exhibits excellent photoelectric properties from 255 to 980 nm with the responsivity from 4.56 × 10-2 to 6.55 × 10-1 AW-1, the detectivity from 2.36 × 1012 to 3.39 × 1013 Jones, and the sensitivity from 3.90 × 107 to 1.10 × 1010 cm2 W-1 without external bias. Finally, the proposed device is applied for the multiplex monitoring of environmental pollution gases NO2 with the detection limit of 200 ppb and PM2.5 particles at mild pollution at broadband wavelength. The proposed BB-PD has great potential for multiplex detection of environmental pollutants and other analytes at broadband wavelength.

RNA-Seq and Immune Repertoire Analysis of Normal and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Relapse After Liver Transplantation.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) relapse is the main reason for the poor prognosis of HCC after Liver transplantation (LT). This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms and immune repertoire profiles of HCC relapse. Material and Methods: RNA-seq of blood samples from patients with normal (n=12) and HCC relapse (n=6) after LT was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and key signalling pathways. The DEGs and immune genes were further analyzed by bioinformatics. TRUST4 was used to analyze the differences in the immune repertoire between the two groups. Another 11 blood samples from patients with HCC who had received LT were collected for RT-qPCR verification of key genes. Results: A total of 131 upregulated and 157 downregulated genes were identified using RNA-seq, and GO enrichment analysis revealed that the top 15 pathways were immune-related. The PPI network identified 10 key genes. Immune infiltration analysis revealed a significant difference in the five immune cell types between the two groups. A total of 83 intersecting genes were obtained by intersecting DEGs and immune genes. 6 key genes, including MX1, ISG15, OAS1, PRF1, SPP1, and THBS1 were obtained according to the intersection of DEGs, PPI network top 10 genes and immune intersecting genes. Immune repertoire analysis showed that the usage frequency of variable (V) and joining (J) genes in the normal group was higher than that in the relapse group. RT-qPCR validation showed that the expression levels of key genes were consistent with the RNA-seq results. Conclusion: Our study identified key pathways and genes that could help determine whether transplant recipients are more prone to HCC relapse. Immune repertoire analysis revealed a difference in the usage frequency of VJ genes between the normal and relapse groups, providing a research direction for immunotherapy in patients with HCC relapse after liver transplantation.

Upconversion luminescence and optical thermometry behaviors of Yb3+ and Ho3+ co-doped GYTO crystal.

Optical thermometry based on the upconversion (UC) luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) has attracted considerable attention because of its feasibility for achievement of accurate non-contact temperature measurement. Compared with traditional UC phosphors, optical thermometry based on UC single crystals can achieve faster response and higher sensitivity due to the stability and high thermal conductivity of the single crystals. In this study, a high-quality 5 at% Yb3+ and 1 at% Ho3+ co-doped Gd0.74Y0.2TaO4 single crystal was grown by the Czochralski (Cz) method, and the structure of the as-grown crystal was characterized. Importantly, the UC luminescent properties and optical thermometry behaviors of this crystal were revealed. Under 980 nm wavelength excitation, green and red UC luminescence lines at 550 and 650 nm and corresponding to the 5F4/5S2 → 5I8 and 5F5 → 5I8 transitions of Ho3+, respectively, were observed. The green and red UC emissions involved a two-photon mechanism, as evidenced by the analysis of power-dependent UC emission spectra. The temperature-dependent UC emission spectra were measured in the temperature range of 330-660 K to assess the optical temperature sensing behavior. At 660 K, the maximum relative sensing sensitivity (Sr) was determined to be 0.0037 K-1. These results highlight the significant potential of Yb,Ho:GYTO single crystal for optical temperature sensors.

Silica nanoparticles induces sperm granuloma formation and blood-epididymal barrier disruption via the p38 MAPK pathway in mice.

Previous researches have demonstrated that the silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), which are widely used in all aspects of life, are hazardous to the male reproductive system. However, the cellular and molecular mechanism underlying SiNPs toxicity to the epididymis remain unclear. In this present study, a total of 60 male mice were separated into 4 groups and then treated to SiNPs for 7 consecutive days at a dose of 0, 2.5, 10, and 20 mg/kg body weight. The results showed that SiNPs could alter the histological structure of epididymis and induce sperm granuloma formation, leading to decreased sperm quality and quantity. In addition, the ultrastructure and permeability of blood-epididymal barrier (BEB) were impaired after exposure to SiNPs, and a significant downregulation of integral membrane proteins at the BEB was detected. SiNPs were also found to raise the percentage of macrophages in the epithelium and interstitium of the epididymis, followed by increased expression of pro-inflammatory molecules including TNF α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. Meanwhile, SiNPs induced oxidative stress in epididymis, as shown by the markedly elevated generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and upregulated activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Further study showed that SiNPs activated the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, which accelerated clathrin-mediated endocytosis of integral membrane proteins and perturb vesicular trafficking. Taken together, exposure to SiNPs could induce sperm granuloma formation and impair the integrity of BEB in mice through activating the p38 MAPK pathway.

FANCD2 and RAD51 recombinase directly inhibit DNA2 nuclease at stalled replication forks and FANCD2 acts as a novel RAD51 mediator in strand exchange to promote genome stability.

FANCD2 protein, a key coordinator and effector of the interstrand crosslink repair pathway, is also required to prevent excessive nascent strand degradation at hydroxyurea-induced stalled forks. The RAD51 recombinase has also been implicated in regulation of resection at stalled replication forks. The mechanistic contributions of these proteins to fork protection are not well understood. Here, we used purified FANCD2 and RAD51 to study how each protein regulates DNA resection at stalled forks. We characterized three mechanisms of FANCD2-mediated fork protection: (1) The N-terminal domain of FANCD2 inhibits the essential DNA2 nuclease activity by directly binding to DNA2 accounting for over-resection in FANCD2 defective cells. (2) Independent of dimerization with FANCI, FANCD2 itself stabilizes RAD51 filaments to inhibit multiple nucleases, including DNA2, MRE11 and EXO1. (3) Unexpectedly, we uncovered a new FANCD2 function: by stabilizing RAD51 filaments, FANCD2 acts to stimulate the strand exchange activity of RAD51. Our work biochemically explains non-canonical mechanisms by which FANCD2 and RAD51 protect stalled forks. We propose a model in which the strand exchange activity of FANCD2 provides a simple molecular explanation for genetic interactions between FANCD2 and BRCA2 in the FA/BRCA fork protection pathway.

FGD5-AS1/miR-5590-3p/PINK1 induces Lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Lenvatinib is a common systemic treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the resistance to which presents a great challenge. However, the mechanism of lenvatinib resistance in HCC remains unclear. Therefore, elucidating the underlying and key regulatory molecular mechanisms of lenvatinib resistance is urgently needed. METHODS: Bioinformatic enrichment analysis was used to investigate the gene associated with lenvatinib resistance. RT-PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and luciferase assays were used to explore the mechanisms of lenvatinib resistance. The effects of the FGD5-AS1/miR-5590-3p/PINK1 axis on lenvatinib resistance were evaluated by colony formation assay, cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial homeostasis, and morphology analyses. RESULTS: Higher expression of PINK1 was observed in lenvatinib-resistant cells and tissues. PINK1 could be activated by increased FGD5-AS1 expression, thereby maintaining the mitochondrial structure and function and promoting the antioxidative stress response. FGD5-AS1/miR-5590-3p showed competitive regulation of PINK1, which affected lenvatinib sensitivity through regulation of mitochondrial structure and antioxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: PINK1 was identified as a key gene leading to lenvatinib resistance by maintaining the mitochondrial structure and function. The FGD5-AS1/miR-5590-3p/PINK1 axis may be a promising strategy to overcome lenvatinib resistance in treatment-negative patients.

Degradation of the Three-Phase Boundary Zone of Carbon Fiber Anodes in an Electrochemical System.

The electrochemical recycling nanoarchitectonics of graphene oxide from carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) is a promising approach due to its economic and environmental benefits. However, the rapid degradation of the CFRP anode during the recycling process reduces its overall efficiency. Although previous studies have investigated the electrochemical oxidation of carbon fibers (CFs) and bonding of CFs to the matrix, few researchers have explicitly studied the electrochemical activity of CFs and the possible fracture caused by strong electrochemical reactions. To address this gap, this study investigates the degradation mechanism of CF anodes by analyzing changes in overall mechanical properties, hardness, elastic modulus, functional groups, and elemental composition of individual fibers. The experimental results demonstrate that the three-phase boundary region experiences the most severe degradation, primarily due to the number of oxygen-containing functional groups, which is the most important factor affecting the degree of degradation. This continuous decrease in the hardness and elastic modulus of individual fibers eventually leads to the fracture of CF anodes.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals: A promoter of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver disorder. With the improvement in human living standards, the prevalence of NAFLD has been increasing in recent years. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a class of exogenous chemicals that simulate the effects of hormones in the body. There has been growing evidence regarding the potential effects of EDCs on liver health, especially in NAFLD. This paper aims to summarize the major EDCs that contribute to the growing burden of NAFLD and to raise public awareness regarding the hazards posed by EDCs with the objective of reducing the incidence of NAFLD.

RAD51 bypasses the CMG helicase to promote replication fork reversal.

Replication fork reversal safeguards genome integrity as a replication stress response. DNA translocases and the RAD51 recombinase catalyze reversal. However, it remains unknown why RAD51 is required and what happens to the replication machinery during reversal. We find that RAD51 uses its strand exchange activity to circumvent the replicative helicase, which remains bound to the stalled fork. RAD51 is not required for fork reversal if the helicase is unloaded. Thus, we propose that RAD51 creates a parental DNA duplex behind the helicase that is used as a substrate by the DNA translocases for branch migration to create a reversed fork structure. Our data explain how fork reversal happens while maintaining the helicase in a position poised to restart DNA synthesis and complete genome duplication.

Identification of Recurrence-Related mRNAs and Noncoding RNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine whether altered mRNA, long non-coding RNA, and circular RNA expression is related to hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation. METHODS: Five recurrent and 5 non-recurrent primary hepatocellular carcinoma samples were used to perform RNA sequencing. Then, differentially expressed mRNAs, differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs, and differentially expressed circular RNAs between recurrent group and non-recurrent group were identified. In addition, differentially expressed long non-coding RNA/differentially expressed circular RNA-differentially expressed mRNA co-expression network, and competing endogenous RNA (differentially expressed circular RNA/differentially expressed long non-coding RNA-miRNA-differentially expressed mRNA) regulatory network were constructed. Finally, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed for verification. RESULTS: Five hundred forty-one differentially expressed mRNAs, 239 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs, and 16 differentially expressed circular RNAs in the recurrent group were obtained. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that these differentially expressed mRNAs may affect hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence through multiple pathways, such as E2F, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, G2M, and oxidative phosphorylation. Then, 993 differentially expressed long non-coding RNA-differentially expressed mRNA co-expression pairs and 28 differentially expressed circular RNA/differentially expressed mRNA co-expression pairs were obtained. The competing endogenous RNA network contained 10 circular RNA-miRNA pairs, 12 long non-coding RNA-miRNA pairs, and 36 miRNA- mRNA pairs. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed the same expression trend as RNA-seq results. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal key mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs associated with recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after liver transplantation.

VX-765 inhibits pyroptosis and reduces inflammation to prevent acute liver failure by upregulating PPARα expression.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: As a fatal clinical syndrome, acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by overwhelming liver inflammation and hepatic cell death. Finding new therapeutic methods has been a challenge in ALF research. VX-765 is a known pyroptosis inhibitor and has been reported to prevent damage in a variety of diseases by reducing inflammation. However, the role of VX-765 in ALF is still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ALF model mice were treated with D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LO2 cells were stimulated with LPS. Thirty subjects were enrolled in clinical experiments. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, pyroptosis-associated proteins and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) were detected using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry. An automatic biochemical analyzer was used to determine the serum aminotransferase enzyme levels. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological features of the liver. RESULTS: With the progression of ALF, the expression levels of interleukin (IL) -1ß, IL-18, caspase-1, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were increased. VX-765 could reduce the mortality rate of ALF mice, relieve liver pathological damage, and reduce inflammatory responses to protect against ALF. Further experiments showed that VX-765 could protect against ALF through PPARα, and this protective effect against ALF was reduced in the context of PPARα inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: As ALF progresses, inflammatory responses and pyroptosis deteriorate gradually. VX-765 can inhibit pyroptosis and reduce inflammatory responses to protect against ALF by upregulating PPARα expression, thus providing a possible therapeutic strategy for ALF.

Replication fork uncoupling causes nascent strand degradation and fork reversal.

Genotoxins cause nascent strand degradation (NSD) and fork reversal during DNA replication. NSD and fork reversal are crucial for genome stability and are exploited by chemotherapeutic approaches. However, it is unclear how NSD and fork reversal are triggered. Additionally, the fate of the replicative helicase during these processes is unknown. We developed a biochemical approach to study synchronous, localized NSD and fork reversal using Xenopus egg extracts and validated this approach with experiments in human cells. We show that replication fork uncoupling stimulates NSD of both nascent strands and progressive conversion of uncoupled forks to reversed forks. Notably, the replicative helicase remains bound during NSD and fork reversal. Unexpectedly, NSD occurs before and after fork reversal, indicating that multiple degradation steps take place. Overall, our data show that uncoupling causes NSD and fork reversal and elucidate key events that precede fork reversal.

Self-Powered and Broadband Bismuth Oxyselenide/p-Silicon Heterojunction Photodetectors with Low Dark Current and Fast Response.

Inorganic nanomaterials such as graphene, black phosphorus, and transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted great interest in developing optoelectronic devices due to their efficient conversion between light and electric signals. However, the zero band gap nature, the unstable chemical properties, and the low electron mobility constrained their wide applications. Bismuth oxyselenide (Bi2O2Se) is gradually showing great research significance in the optoelectronic field. Here, we develop a bismuth oxyselenide/p-silicon (Bi2O2Se/p-Si) heterojunction and design a self-powered and broadband Bi2O2Se/p-Si heterojunction photodetector with an ultrafast response (2.6 µs) and low dark current (10-10 A without gate voltage regulation). It possesses a remarkable detectivity of 4.43 × 1012 cm Hz1/2 W-1 and a self-powered photoresponse characteristic at 365-1550 nm (ultraviolet-near-infrared). Meanwhile, the Bi2O2Se/p-Si heterojunction photodetector also shows high stability and repeatability. It is expected that the proposed Bi2O2Se/p-Si heterojunction photodetector will expand the applications of Bi2O2Se in practical integrated circuits in the field of material science, energy development, optical imaging, biomedicine, and other applications.

Toward Rapid and Accurate Molecular Diagnostics at Home.

The global outbreaks of infectious diseases have significantly driven an imperative demand for rapid and accurate molecular diagnostics. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) feature high sensitivity and high specificity; however, the labor-intensive sample preparation and nucleic acid amplification steps remain challenging in order to carry out rapid and precision molecular diagnostics at home. This review discusses the advances and challenges of automatic solutions of sample preparation integrated with on-chip nucleic acid amplification for effective and accurate molecular diagnostics at home. The sample preparation methods of whole blood, urine, saliva/nasal swab, and stool on chip are examined. Then, the repurposable integrated sample preparation on a chip using various biological samples is investigated. Finally, the on-chip NAATs that can be integrated with automated sample preparation are evaluated. The user-friendly approaches with combined sample preparation and NAATs can be the game changers for next-generation rapid and precision home diagnostics.

Edaravone Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Downregulating Ferroptosis via the Nrf2/FPN Pathway in Rats.

Edaravone, an antioxidant protective agent, has anti-cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury (CIRI) effects, but its anti-CIRI mechanism is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-CIRI mechanism of edaravone based on the nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/ferroportin (FPN) pathway that regulates ferroptosis-mediated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. We evaluated the brain injury by constructing a middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) model in rats. The results showed that cerebral infarct volume and neurological impairment scores were increased in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats, with impaired sensorimotor ability; furthermore, brain tissue glutathione (GSH) content was decreased, Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipide peroxide (LPO) content were increased, and the expression level of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), a key protein of ferroptosis, was also decreased. Meanwhile, the Nrf2 expression level was increased and the FPN expression level was decreased after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, while the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were increased. However, edaravone exhibited a protective effect on cerebral infarct and neurological and sensorimotor function in relevant tests. In addition, we also found that edaravone decreased the contents of Fe2+, MDA, and LPO in the brain tissue of MCAO/R rats and increased GSH content to inhibit ferroptosis. Furthermore, Western blot showed that after treatment with edaravone, the expression of Nrf2, GPX4, and FPN was up-regulated, the nuclear location of Nrf2 was increased, and the levels of inflammation-related indicators IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and MPO were lower than in the MCAO/R group. Our results demonstrated that edaravone inhibits ferroptosis to attenuate CIRI, probably through the activation of the Nrf2/FPN pathway.

The Selective Function of Quantum Biological Electron Transfer between DNA Bases and Metal Ions in DNA Replication.

Metal ions play vital roles in the electron transfer between biological molecules in humans, animals, and plants. However, the electron transfer between metal ions and nucleic acids and its impact on DNA-ion binding during DNA replication has been ignored. Here, we present a long-range quantum biological electron transfer (QBET) between DNA bases and metal ions and its selective function of DNA-ion binding in DNA replication. We discover biophysical DNA-ion binding and create biological filters that allow selective DNA replication by dual modulators of the valence and concentration of metal ions. QBET-based DNA replication filters provide powerful tools for ultrasensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to selectively amplify target sequences with a discrete concentration window of metal ions; for example, Au3+ exhibits a concentration window that is approximately 3 orders of magnitude lower than that of Na+. DNA-ion filters provide new perspectives into metal ion-mediated QBET in DNA replication and hold great potential in life sciences and medical applications.

Exploring the underlying molecular mechanism of liver cancer cells under hypoxia based on RNA sequencing.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to use the differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) to illustrate the underlying mechanism of hypoxia in liver cancer. METHODS: In this study, a cell model of hypoxia was established, and autophagy activity was measured with western blotting and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of hypoxia conditions on the invasion of liver cancer cell was evaluated. RNA sequencing was used to identify DEmRNAs and DEmiRNAs to explore the mechanism of hypoxia in liver cancer cells. RESULTS: We found that autophagy activation was triggered by hypoxia stress and hypoxia might promote liver cancer cell invasion. In addition, a total of 407 shared DEmRNAs and 57 shared DEmiRNAs were identified in both HCCLM3 hypoxia group and SMMC-7721 hypoxia group compared with control group. Furthermore, 278 DEmRNAs and 24 DEmiRNAs were identified as cancer hypoxia-specific DEmRNAs and DEmiRNAs. Finally, we obtained 19 DEmiRNAs with high degree based on the DEmiRNA-DEmRNA interaction network. Among them, hsa-miR-483-5p, hsa-miR-4739, hsa-miR-214-3p and hsa-miR-296-5p may be potential gene signatures related to liver cancer hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS: Our study may help to understand the potential molecular mechanism of hypoxia in liver cancer.

The Degree of Plasma Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Level Decrease Is Related to Clinical Outcomes for Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the decrease of plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) levels and clinical outcomes in patients with acute atherosclerosis-related ischemic stroke. METHODS: We recruited acute ischemic stroke patients within 3 days of onset consecutively. Plasma oxLDL levels were measured on the second day after admission and before discharge (10-14 days after stroke onset). Initial stroke severity was assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, and infarct volume was measured using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) by the ITK-SNAP software. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by DWI volumes in the acute phase, neurological improvement at discharge, and favorable functional prognosis at 90 days. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between oxLDL level decrease and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: 207 patients were enrolled in this study. Compared with the mild decrease of the oxLDL level group, patients with a significant decrease of the oxLDL level group were more likely to have a higher ratio of neurological improvement at discharge (55.07% vs. 14.49%, p < 0.01) and favorable functional prognosis at 90 days (91.30% vs. 55.07%, p < 0.01). In multivariable logistic regression, the degree of oxLDL level decrease was related to neurological improvement at discharge and favorable functional prognosis at 90 days (p < 0.01). Patients with significant decrease were more likely to have neurological improvement at discharge (OR = 7.92, 95% CI, 3.14-19.98, and p < 0.01) and favorable functional prognosis at 90 days (OR = 7.46, 95% CI, 2.40-23.23, and p < 0.01) compared to patients with mild decrease of oxLDL level. The DWI volumes in patients with different oxLDL level decrease groups had no statistical difference (p = 0.41), and the Spearman's rho between oxLDL level decrease and DWI infarct volumes was -0.03, but no statistical difference (p = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: The degree of oxLDL level decrease is related to neurological improvement at discharge and favorable functional prognosis at 90 days for patients with acute atherosclerosis-related ischemic stroke, but not with infarct volume in the acute phase.