Relevance research between the expression of p16INK4a , Notch1, and hTERC genes: The development of HPV16-positive cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: GLOBOCAN 2018 latest data show cervical cancer ranks fourth in morbidity and mortality among women. Many genes in cervical lesions differ in sensitivity and specificity. However, the diagnostic molecules for early cervical cancer are not very clear. This paper screens biomarkers for early molecular diagnosis of Mongolian patients with cervical cancer. METHODS: Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expression of p16INK4a and Notch1 protein in paraffin sections of 226 Mongolian patients with HPV16-positive cervical lesions after pathological examination, and 100 of them were randomly selected by fluorescence in situ hybridization to detect hTERC gene. The HPV16-binding human cervical cancer SiHa cell line was used to silence the expression of HPV16 E6/E7 gene by RNA interference, and the expression of p16INK4a , Notch1, and hTERC genes and protein expression levels were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of p16INK4a , Notch1, and hTERC genes in HPV16-positive cervical cancer, CIN-III, CIN-II, CIN-I, uterine leiomyoma, and chronic cervicitis were significantly different (P < .05); the positive expression rates of the three genes were also significantly different in the same type of cervical lesions (P < .05); RNA interference can effectively inhibit HPV16 E6/E7, p16INK4a and Notch1 gene expression, but has no effect on hTERC gene expression. CONCLUSION: The p16INK4a gene can be used as a biomarker for early screening of cervical cancer, and the hTERC gene can be used to confirm the clinical diagnosis of cervical cancer.

A novel pathogenic variant in OSBPL2 linked to hereditary late-onset deafness in a Mongolian family.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical features and the underlying causal gene of a family with hereditary late-onset deafness in Inner Mongolia of China, and to provide evidence for the early genetic screening and diagnosis of this disease. METHODS: Family data were collected to draw a pedigree. Audiological testing and physical examination of the family members were conducted following questionnaire. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 5 family members (3 patients and 2 normal control) and subjected to whole genome sequencing for identifying deafness casual genes. The pathogenic variant in the deafness gene was further confirmed by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The family is composed of a total of 6 generations, with 53 traceable individuals. In this family,19 of them were diagnosed with post lingual deafness with the age of onset between 10 and 40 years, displaying delayed and progressive hearing loss. Patients with hearing loss showed bilateral symmetry and mild to severe sensorineural deafness. The pattern of deafness inheritance in this family is autosomal dominant. Whole genome sequencing identified a novel pathogenic frameshift mutation, c.158_159delAA (p.Gln53Arg fs*100) in the gene OSBPL2 (Oxysterol-binding protein-related protein 2, NM_144498.2), which is absent from genomic data of 201 unrelated normal subjects. This pathogenic variant was further validated by Sanger sequencing, and was found to co-segregate in this family. CONCLUSIONS: Whole genome sequencing identified a two-nucleotide deletion in OSBPL2 (c.158_159delAA) as the pathogenic variant for deafness in the family. Our finding expands the mutational spectrum of OSBPL2 and contributes to the pathogenic variant list in genetic counseling for deafness screening.

[Ultrasound subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing for treatment of chronic periodontitis in elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of ultrasound subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing for treatment of chronic periodontitis in elderly patients. METHODS: Forty elderly patients with chronic periodontitis were randomly divided into test group for treatment with ultrasound and Gracey subgingival curette for subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing and control group treated with ultrasound subgingival curette scaling (n=20). We compared plaque index (PLI), bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD), and attachment loss (AL) between the two groups before and at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: After periodontal treatment, PLI, BI, PD and AL all decreased significantly in both groups compared with the levels before the treatment (P < 0.05). The patients in the test group showed significantly more obvious decrease of PD and AL than those in the control group (P < 0.05), but the reduction of PLI and BI was comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing produces better therapeutic effect than ultrasonic subgingival scaling alone for treatment of chronic periodontitis in elderly patients.

Polysaccharide from wild morels alters the spatial structure of gut microbiota and the production of short-chain fatty acids in mice.

Polysaccharides from morels possess many characteristics beneficial to health, such as anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in the modulation of immune function. However, the impact of morel polysaccharides on the gut microbiota has not yet been explored. In this study, a high-throughput pyrosequencing technique was used to investigate the effects of MP, a new heteropolysaccharide extracted from wild morels, on the diversity and composition of microbiota along the intestine in mice, as well as the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The results showed that MP treatment increased the number of operational taxonomic unit (OTUs) and diversity along the intestine, especially in the small intestine. MP treatment induced a significant decrease in the number of Firmicutes and a significant increase in the number of Bacteroidetes in the small intestine microbiota. It was also observed that the relative abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria, especially Lachnospiraceae, was increased in both the cecum and colon of MP-treated mice. Moreover, MP promoted the production of SCFAs in mice. These results provide a foundation for further understanding the health benefits conferred by morel polysaccharides.

Effects of polysaccharides from wild morels on immune response and gut microbiota composition in non-treated and cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

Polysaccharides isolated from mushrooms have been identified as potential prebiotics that could impact gut microbiota. In this study, a water-soluble polysaccharide (MP) extracted from wild morels was evaluated for its effects on the gut microbiota of non-treated and cyclophosphamide (CP)-treated mice. The results showed that MP restored the spleen weight and increased the counts of white blood cells and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and spleen of the CP-treated mice. Mice treated with MP exhibited increased levels of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, especially Lachnospiraceae, compared to normal mice, and increased levels of Bacteroidetes and SCFA-producing bacteria, especially Ruminococcaceae, compared to the CP-treated mice. Moreover, MP treatment increased the production of valeric acid and decreased the production of acetic acid in the non-treated mice and increased the production of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid in the CP-treated mice. These results show that MP is potentially good for health.

Profiling of miRNA expression in immune thrombocytopenia patients before and after Qishunbaolier (QSBLE) treatment.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), also known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, is an autoimmune disease characterized by low platelet count and increased bleeding tendency. Currently, glucocorticoid and splenectomy are the main therapies for ITP but with obvious side effects including tendency of relapse and risk of internal bleeding. In this study, we report the Mongolian medicine Qishunbaolier (QSBLE) can significantly and efficiently increase platelet count with a low recurrent rate and unnoticeable side effect. We profiled the microRNA (miRNA) expression in the blood sample of ITP patients and identified 44 miRNAs that are differentially expressed in ITP patients before and after QSBLE treatment. Out of these 44 miRNAs, 25 are expressed in control subjects and are downregulated in ITP patients, whereas the treatment with QSBLE restores their expressions to the level of control subjects. This result suggests that abnormal expression of these 25 miRNAs might be connected to the pathogenesis of ITP. Interestingly, 14 of those 44 miNRAs are predicted to target at least once on 31 known IPT associated genes, indicating the possible mechanism of QSBLE on ITP therapy.