A novel long noncoding RNA-lncRNA-AABR07066529.3 alleviates inflammation, apoptosis, and pyroptosis by inhibiting MyD88 in lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial depression.

Sepsis-induced myocardial depression (SIMD) is common in pediatric intensive care units and seriously threatens children's health. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been showed to play important roles in various diseases; however, its role in SIMD is unclear. In this study, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats and H9c2 cardiomyocytes to mimic SIMD in vivo and in vitro. We found that the expression of a novel lncRNA, we named lncRNA-AABR07066529.3, was elevated in LPS-induced rat heart tissue and H9c2 cardiomyocytes. In addition, LPS-induced inflammation, apoptosis, and pyroptosis were significantly exacerbated after lncRNA-AABR07066529.3 knockdown. Moreover, we found that myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) was upregulated in LPS-treated groups and was inhibited by lncRNA-AABR07066529.3. Besides, MyD88 knockdown abolished lncRNA-AABR07066529.3 silencing effects on inflammation, apoptosis, and pyroptosis induced by LPS in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. In our study, we found lncRNA-AABR07066529.3 exerted protective effects on LPS-induced cardiomyocytes by regulating MyD88 and might serve as a potential treatment target for SIMD.

Kcnma1 is involved in mitochondrial homeostasis in diabetes-related skeletal muscle atrophy.

Uncontrolled diabetes causes a catabolic state with multi-organic complications, of which impairment on skeletal muscle contributes to the damaged mobility. Kcnma1 gene encodes the pore-forming α-subunit of Ca2+ - and voltage-gated K+ channels of large conductance (BK channels), and loss-of-function mutations in Kcnma1 are in regards to impaired myogenesis. Herein, we observed a time-course reduction of Kcnma1 expression in the tibialis anterior muscles of leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) diabetic mice. To investigate the role of Kcnma1 in diabetic muscle atrophy, muscle-specific knockdown of Kcnma1 was achieved by mice receiving intravenous injection of adeno-associated virus-9 (AAV9)-encoding shRNA against Kcnma1 under the muscle creatine kinase (MCK) promoter. Impairment on muscle mass and myogenesis were observed in m/m mice with AAV9-shKcnma1 intervention, while this impairment was more obvious in diabetic db/db mice. Simultaneously, damaged mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis showed much severer in db/db mice with AAV9-shKcnma1 intervention. RNA sequencing revealed the large transcriptomic changes resulted by Kcnma1 knockdown, and changes in mitochondrial homeostasis-related genes were validated. Besides, the artificial alteration of Kcnma1 in mouse C2C12 myoblasts was achieved with an adenovirus vector. Consistent results were demonstrated by Kcnma1 knockdown in palmitate-treated cells, whereas opposite results were exhibited by Kcnma1 overexpression. Collectively, we document Kcnma1 as a potential keeper of mitochondrial homeostasis, and the loss of Kcnma1 is a critical event in priming skeletal muscle loss in diabetes.

Targeting epigenetic and post-translational modifications regulating pyroptosis for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Inflammatory diseases, including infectious diseases, diabetes-related diseases, arthritis-related diseases, neurological diseases, digestive diseases, and tumor, continue to threaten human health and impose a significant financial burden despite advancements in clinical treatment. Pyroptosis, a pro-inflammatory programmed cell death pathway, plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation. Moderate pyroptosis contributes to the activation of native immunity, whereas excessive pyroptosis is associated with the occurrence and progression of inflammation. Pyroptosis is complicated and tightly controlled by various factors. Accumulating evidence has confirmed that epigenetic modifications and post-translational modifications (PTMs) play vital roles in the regulation of pyroptosis. Epigenetic modifications, which include DNA methylation and histone modifications (such as methylation and acetylation), and post-translational modifications (such as ubiquitination, phosphorylation, and acetylation) precisely manipulate gene expression and protein functions at the transcriptional and post-translational levels, respectively. In this review, we summarize the major pathways of pyroptosis and focus on the regulatory roles and mechanisms of epigenetic and post-translational modifications of pyroptotic components. We also illustrate these within pyroptosis-associated inflammatory diseases. In addition, we discuss the effects of novel therapeutic strategies targeting epigenetic and post-translational modifications on pyroptosis, and provide prospective insight into the regulation of pyroptosis for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

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Sepsis-induced myocardial depression (SIMD), a common complication of sepsis, is one of the main causes of death in patients with sepsis. The pathogenesis of SIMD is complicated, and the process of SIMD remains incompletely understood, with no single or definitive mechanism fully elucidated. Notably, pyroptosis, as a pro-inflammatory programmed cell death, is characterized by Gasdermin-mediated formation of pores on the cell membrane, cell swelling, and cell rupture accompanied by the release of large amounts of inflammatory factors and other cellular contents. Mechanistically, pyroptosis is mainly divided into the canonical pathway mediated by caspase-1 and the non-canonical pathway mediated by caspase-4/5/11. Pyroptosis has been confirmed to participate in various inflammation-associated diseases. In recent years, more and more studies have shown that pyroptosis is also involved in the occurrence and development of SIMD. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis and its research progress in SIMD, aiming to provide novel strategies and targets for the treatment of SIMD.

Roles of protein post-translational modifications in glucose and lipid metabolism: mechanisms and perspectives.

The metabolism of glucose and lipids is essential for energy production in the body, and dysregulation of the metabolic pathways of these molecules is implicated in various acute and chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis (AS), obesity, tumor, and sepsis. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins, which involve the addition or removal of covalent functional groups, play a crucial role in regulating protein structure, localization function, and activity. Common PTMs include phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, methylation, and glycosylation. Emerging evidence indicates that PTMs are significant in modulating glucose and lipid metabolism by modifying key enzymes or proteins. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the role and regulatory mechanisms of PTMs in glucose and lipid metabolism, with a focus on their involvement in disease progression associated with aberrant metabolism. Furthermore, we discuss the future prospects of PTMs, highlighting their potential for gaining deeper insights into glucose and lipid metabolism and related diseases.

Influence of the Long-Range Transport of Siberian Biomass Burnings on Air Quality in Northeast China in June 2017.

Biomass burning (BB) emits a large volume of trace gases and aerosols into the atmosphere, which can significantly affect the earth's radiative balance and climate and has negative impacts on air quality and even human health. In late June 2017, an intense BB case, dominated by forest and savanna fires, occurred in Siberia, and it affected the air quality of Northeast China through long-range transport. Here, multisatellite remote-sensing products and ground-based PM2.5 measurements are used to evaluate the influence of the Siberian smoky plume on Northeast China. The results show that the BB was intense at the early stage when the daily fire count and average fire radiative power exceeded 300 and 200 MW, respectively. The maximum daily fire count reached 1350 in Siberia, and the peak value of instantaneous fire radiative power was as high as 3091.5 MW. High concentrations of CO and aerosols were emitted into the atmosphere by the BB in Siberia. The maximum daily mean values of the CO column concentration and aerosol optical depth (AOD) increased by 3 × 1017 molec·cm2 and 0.5 compared with that during the initial BB stage. In addition, the BB released a large number of absorptive aerosols into the atmosphere, and the UV aerosol index (UVAI) increased by five times at the peak of the event in Siberia. Under the appropriate synoptic conditions and, combined with pyroconvection, the smoky plume was lifted into the upper air and transported to Northeast China, affecting the air quality of Northeast China. The daily mean values of CO concentration, AOD, and UVAI in Northeast China increased by 6 × 1017 molec·cm2, 0.5, and 1.4, respectively, after being affected. Moreover, the concentration of the surface PM2.5 in Northeast China approximately doubled after being affected by the plume. The results of this study indicate that the air quality of Northeast China can be significantly affected by Siberian BBs under favorable conditions.

Risks of specific congenital anomalies in offspring of women with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies including over 80 million births.

BACKGROUND: Pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) has been known to be a risk factor for congenital heart defects (CHDs) for decades. However, the associations between maternal PGDM and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the risk of specific types of CHDs and congenital anomalies (CAs) in other systems remain under debate. We aimed to investigate type-specific CAs in offspring of women with diabetes and to examine the extent to which types of maternal diabetes are associated with increased risk of CAs in offspring. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We searched PubMed and Embase from database inception to 15 October 2021 for population-based studies reporting on type-specific CAs in offspring born to women with PGDM (combined type 1 and 2) or GDM, with no limitation on language. Reviewers extracted data for relevant outcomes and performed random effects meta-analyses, subgroup analyses, and multivariable meta-regression. Risk of bias appraisal was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021229217). Primary outcomes were overall CAs and CHDs. Secondary outcomes were type-specific CAs. Overall, 59 population-based studies published from 1990 to 2021 with 80,437,056 participants met the inclusion criteria. Of the participants, 2,407,862 (3.0%) women had PGDM and 2,353,205 (2.9%) women had GDM. The meta-analyses showed increased risks of overall CAs/CHDs in offspring born to women with PGDM (for overall CAs, relative risk [RR] = 1.99, 95% CI 1.82 to 2.17, P < 0.001; for CHDs, RR = 3.46, 95% CI 2.77 to 4.32, P < 0.001) or GDM (for overall CAs, RR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.23, P < 0.001; for CHDs, RR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.64, P < 0.001). The results of the meta-regression analyses showed significant differences in RRs of CAs/CHDs in PGDM versus GDM (all P < 0.001). Of the 23 CA categories, excluding CHD-related categories, in offspring, maternal PGDM was associated with a significantly increased risk of CAs in 21 categories; the corresponding RRs ranged from 1.57 (for hypospadias, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.02) to 18.18 (for holoprosencephaly, 95% CI 4.03 to 82.06). Maternal GDM was associated with a small but significant increase in the risk of CAs in 9 categories; the corresponding RRs ranged from 1.14 (for limb reduction, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.23) to 5.70 (for heterotaxia, 95% CI 1.09 to 29.92). The main limitation of our analysis is that some high significant heterogeneity still persisted in both subgroup and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed an increased rate of CAs in offspring of women with diabetes and noted the differences for PGDM versus GDM. The RRs of overall CAs and CHDs in offspring of women with PGDM were higher than those in offspring of women with GDM. Screening for diabetes in pregnant women may enable better glycemic control, and may enable identification of offspring at risk for CAs.

Loss of endothelial glucocorticoid receptor promotes angiogenesis via upregulation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a member of the nuclear receptor family that controls key biological processes in the cardiovascular system and has recently been shown to modulate Wnt signaling in endothelial cells. Wnt/ß-catenin signaling has been demonstrated to be crucial in the process of angiogenesis. In the current study, we studied whether GR could regulate angiogenesis via the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. APPROACH AND RESULTSA: Key components of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway were evaluated using quantitative PCR and Western blot in the presence or absence of GR. Enhanced angiogenesis was found in GR deficiency in vitro and confirmed with cell viability assays, proliferation assays and tube formation assays. Consistent with these in vitro findings, endothelial cell-specific GR loss GR in vivo promoted angiogenesis in both a hind limb ischemia model and sponge implantation assay. Results were further verified in a novel mouse model lacking endothelial LRP5/6, a key receptor in canonical Wnt signaling, and showed substantially suppressed angiogenesis using these same in vitro and in vivo assays. To further investigate the mechanism of GR regulation of Wnt signaling, autophagy flux was investigated in endothelial cells by visualizing auto phagolysosomes as well as by assessing P62 degradation and LC3B conversion. Results indicated that potentiated autophagy flux participated in GR-Wnt regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of endothelial GR triggers autophagy flux, leads to activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and promotes angiogenesis. There may also be a synergistic interaction between autophagy and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of transcripts of uncertain coding potential in septic myocardial depression.

BACKGROUND: Septic shock with myocardial depression is very common in intensive care units. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying sepsis-induced myocardial depression remain unclear. Whether the profiles of transcripts of uncertain coding potential (TUCPs) differ between patients with and without myocardial depression is also unknown. Our study aimed to find expression differences between groups of TUCPs and determine their potential functions in a preclinical model. METHODS: We generated rat models of hypodynamic septic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide. A total of 12 rats were established and left ventricular tissue from each was collected. We performed RNA-seq to identify TUCPs in each sample. Transcripts with an corrected P value of < 0.05 were defined as differentially expressed (DE). We also performed GO terms and KEGG analysis to identify the potential functions of DE TUCPs. RESULTS: A total of 4,851 TUCPs were identified in heart samples, 85 of which were expressed differently between the sepsis and control groups. Further bioinformatic analyses suggested that TUCPs play important roles in myocardial contraction, energy regulation, and metabolic processes, and are also involved in the regulation of several pathways. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that TUCPs both participate in and mediate the pathological process of myocardial depression. Our study improves the understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms underlying myocardial depression from a novel perspective.

Down-regulation of FN1 inhibits colorectal carcinogenesis by suppressing proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Fibronectin 1 (FN1) is involved in cell adhesion and migration processes including embryogenesis, wound healing, blood coagulation, host defense, metastasis, and implicated in various biochemical processes. However, its effects on the development and progression of human cancer, especially colorectal cancer (CRC), are unclear. To evaluate the relationship between the expression of FN1 and the histopathologic parameters of patients with CRC or the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer cell lines, we screened FN1 as a new candidate gene which promotes development of CRC, in an independent dataset (The Human Protein Atlas website). Here, we reported that FN1 was elevated in CRC tissues compared with normal colon tissues. Further, FN1 expression level was correlated with age, lymph vascular invasion, and survival rate. Knockdown of FN1 in two CRC cell lines, LOVO, and SW1116, significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed that down-regulation of FN1 significantly decreased the expression of Bcl-2, MMP-9, Twist, and increased the expression of Bax, Caspase-3, and E-cadherin in LOVO and SW1116 cells. Then, we found that the protein ITGA5 was identified as a binding partner of FN1 and ITGA5 overexpression reversed FN1-induced tumorigenesis of CRC in vitro. Taken together, FN1 suppressed apoptosis and promoted viability, invasion, and migration in CRC through interacting with ITGA5. FN1 may be a prognostic factor and potential target for CRC treatment.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use during early pregnancy and congenital malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies of more than 9 million births.

BACKGROUND: In 2005, the FDA cautioned that exposure to paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of cardiac malformations. Since then, the association between maternal use of SSRIs during pregnancy and congenital malformations in infants has been the subject of much discussion and controversy. The aim of this study is to systematically review the associations between SSRIs use during early pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations, with particular attention to the potential confounding by indication. METHODS: The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018088358). Cohort studies on congenital malformations in infants born to mothers with first-trimester exposure to SSRIs were identified via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases through 17 January 2018. Random-effects models were used to calculate summary relative risks (RRs). RESULTS: Twenty-nine cohort studies including 9,085,954 births were identified. Overall, use of SSRIs was associated with an increased risk of overall major congenital anomalies (MCAs, RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.19) and congenital heart defects (CHD, RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.37). No significantly increased risk was observed when restricted to women with a psychiatric diagnosis (MCAs, RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.13; CHD, RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.26). Similar significant associations were observed using maternal citalopram exposure (MCAs, RR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.31; CHD, RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.51), fluoxetine (MCAs, RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.28; CHD, 1.30, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.53), and paroxetine (MCAs, RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.32; CHD, RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.41) and analyses restricted to using women with a psychiatric diagnosis were not statistically significant. Sertraline was associated with septal defects (RR 2.69, 95% CI 1.76 to 4.10), atrial septal defects (RR 2.07, 95% CI 1.26 to 3.39), and respiratory system defects (RR 2.65, 95% CI 1.32 to 5.32). CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests a generally small risk of congenital malformations and argues against a substantial teratogenic effect of SSRIs. Caution is advisable in making decisions about whether to continue or stop treatment with SSRIs during pregnancy.

Autophagy is activated in the ovarian tissue of polycystic ovary syndrome.

The importance of autophagy in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-related metabolic disorders is increasingly being recognized, but few studies have investigated the role of autophagy in PCOS. Here, transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that autophagy was enhanced in the ovarian tissue from both humans and rats with PCOS. Consistent with this, ovarian granulosa cells from PCOS rats showed increases in the autophagy marker protein light chain 3B (LC3B), whereas levels of the autophagy substrate SQSTM1/p62 were decreased. In addition, the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I was markedly elevated in human PCOS ovarian tissue compared with normal ovarian tissue. Real-time PCR arrays indicated that 7 and 34 autophagy-related genes were down- and up-regulated in human PCOS , Signal-Net, and regression analysis suggested that there are a wide range of interactions among these 41 genes, and a potential network based on EGFR, ERBB2, FOXO1, MAPK1, NFKB1, IGF1,TP53 and MAPK9 may be responsible for autophagy activation in PCOS. Systematic functional analysis of 41 differential autophagy-related genes indicated that these genes are highly involved in specific cellular processes such as response to stress and stimulus, and are linked to four significant pathways, including the insulin, ERBB, mTOR signaling pathways and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. This study provides evidence for a potential role of autophagy disorders in PCOS in which autophagy may be an important molecular event in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

The Trend of ß3-Adrenergic Receptor in the Development of Septic Myocardial Depression: A Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Rat Septic Shock Model.

Septic shock with low cardiac output is very common in children. However, the mechanism underlying myocardial depression is unclear. The role of ß3-AR in the development of myocardial depression in sepsis is unknown. In the present study, we generated an adolescent rat model of hypodynamic septic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Neonatal cardiomyocytes were also treated with LPS to mimic myocardial depression in sepsis, which was confirmed via an in vivo left ventricular hemodynamic study, and measurements of contractility and the Ca2+ transient in isolated adolescent and neonatal cardiomyocytes. After 16 h of LPS treatment, cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes showed a diminished Ca2+ transient amplitude associated with an increase in the ß3-AR level. With the addition of a ß3-AR agonist, the Ca2+ transient in LPS-treated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes gradually decreased over time; such a change was absent in cells treated with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors prior to treatment with a ß3-AR agonist. In adolescent rats with septic myocardial depression, cardiac function declined as indicated by decreased MAP, dP/dtmax, and dP/dtmix for 6 h after LPS injection; however, the ß3-AR level first increased 2 h after LPS treatment and then decreased 6 h after LPS treatment in the absence of exogenous catecholamines. The results indicate that, in vitro, at the cellular level ß3-AR may be involved in the development of myocardial depression (Ca2+ transient depression) in sepsis through NOS signaling pathways; however, in vivo, a complicated mechanism for modulating ß3-AR may exist.

Assessment of the development of assisted reproductive technology in Liaoning province of China, from 2012 to 2016.

BACKGROUND: The development of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) has resulted in rapid advances in the treatment of infertility. However, a systematic assessment of ART and its processes and outcomes in China has never been carried out. The goal of this study was to assess the features of ART status from 2012 to 2016 in clinics and in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratories in Liaoning, the largest IVF province in the northeast of China. METHODS: Data from Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2016 was retrieved from the assisted reproductive certificate registry of Liaoning province. We extracted data from: i) fresh and thawed cycles; ii) donor sperm and donor egg cycles; iii) intrauterine insemination with husband semen and donor semen (AIH and AID). RESULTS: We showed that: (i) there has been a significant increase in the number of IVF fresh and thawed cycles, and the proportion of cases of primary infertility and secondary infertility has decreased and increased, respectively; (ii) standard long GnRH agonist was the major ovarian stimulation protocol. During the observation period, increasing trends in the use of GnRH antagonists, mild stimulation, and natural cycles were observed; (iii) significant differences in the number of cycles, number of retrieved oocytes, fertilization rates, implantation rates, and sex ratio were noticed between conventional IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection; (iv) significant differences in age at treatment for infertility, number of cycles, and ectopic pregnancy rates were noticed between donor sperm cycles and donor egg cycles; (v) significant differences in number of thawed cycles, number of thawed embryos, embryo recovery rates, implantation rates, and clinical pregnancy rates were noticed between day 3 and day 5 embryos; (vi) significant differences in age at treatment for infertility, number of cycles, clinical pregnancy rates, ectopic pregnancy rates, and live birth ratio were noticed between AIH and AID. CONCLUSIONS: ART in Liaoning province has undergone substantial development from 2012 to 2016 in clinics and IVF laboratories. This presentation of detailed ART data will provide researchers, policy makers, and potential ART users a rich source of information about IVF characteristics in the northeast of China.

Fluoxetine and congenital malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

AIMS: To investigate the safety of fluoxetine use during pregnancy, and to better understand the relationship between maternal fluoxetine use during the first trimester and congenital malformations in infants. METHODS: PubMed and Web of Science databases were systematically searched from inception to 21 March 2016. Additional studies were identified in a manual search of the reference lists. Two reviewers independently extracted data. A third reviewer checked the data. Estimates were pooled using a random-effects model to calculate the summarized relative ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Among 1918 initially identified articles, 16 cohort studies were included. The offspring of pregnant women exposed to fluoxetine during the first trimester had a statistically increased risk of major malformations (RR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.08-1.29), cardiovascular malformations (RR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.17-1.59), septal defects (RR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.19-1.61), and non-septal defects (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.12-1.73) with low heterogeneity in infants. There were no significant observations of other system-specific malformations in the nervous system, eye, urogenital system, digestive system, respiratory system, or musculoskeletal system, respectively. There was no indication of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this meta-analysis indicate maternal fluoxetine use is associated with a slightly increased risk of cardiovascular malformations in infants. Health care providers and pregnant women must weigh the risk-benefit potential of these drugs when making decisions about whether to treat with fluoxetine during pregnancy.

Sertraline use in the first trimester and risk of congenital anomalies: a systemic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

AIM: To perform a meta-analysis of available cohort studies on the association between sertraline use by pregnant women in the first trimester and the findings of congenital anomalies in infants. METHODS: A comprehensive search of articles published from the index date up to 31st December 2015 investigating the aforementioned associations was conducted on PubMed and Web of Science. Mesh headings used included the terms "serotonin reuptake inhibitor," "sertraline," "congenital anomalies" and "obstetrical outcome." RESULTS: Twelve cohort studies that involved 6 468 241 pregnant women were identified. We summarized odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of congenital anomalies using the random-effects model. Pregnant women who used sertraline in the first trimester had a statistically significant increased risk of infant cardiovascular-related malformations (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.06-1.74; I2  = 64.4%; n = 12) as well as atrial and/or ventricular septal defects (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.06-1.76; I2  = 62.2%; n = 8). Additionally, positive but nonsignificant associations between sertraline use and congenital anomalies of the nervous system (OR = 1.39; 95% CI = 0.83-2.32; I2  = 0%; n = 5), digestive system (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 0.76-1.98; I2  = 0%; n = 5), eye, ear, face and neck (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.33-3.55; I2  = 32.1%; n = 3), urogenital system (OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.73-1.46; I2  = 0%; n = 5), and musculoskeletal system (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.69-1.36; I2  = 0%; n = 5) were observed. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggested that the use of sertraline use by pregnant women in the first trimester had an increased risk of cardiovascular-related malformations as well as atrial and/or ventricular septal defects in infants. Meanwhile, nonsignificant associations between sertraline use and other congenital anomalies were found. More cohort studies are warranted to provide detailed results of other congenital anomalies.

KCTD15 acts as an anti-tumor factor in colorectal cancer cells downstream of the demethylase FTO and the m6A reader YTHDF2.

Potassium Channel Tetramerization Domain Containing 15 (KCTD15) participates in the carcinogenesis of several solid malignancies; however, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Here we find that KCTD15 exhibits lower expression in CRC tissues as compared to para-carcinoma tissues. Tetracycline (tet)-induced overexpression and knockdown of KCTD15 confirms KCTD15 as an anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic factor in CRC both in vitro and in xenografted tumors. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is known to affect the expression, stabilization, and degradation of RNAs with this modification. We demonstrate that upregulation of fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO), a classical m6A eraser, prevents KCTD15 mRNA degradation in CRC cells. Less KCTD15 RNA is recognized by m6A 'reader' YTH N6-Methyladenosine RNA Binding Protein F2 (YTHDF2) in FTO-overexpressed cells. Moreover, KCTD15 overexpression decreases protein expression of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) but increases acetylation of critical tumor suppressor p53 at Lys373 and Lys382. Degradation of p53 is delayed in CRC cells post-KCTD15 overexpression. We further show that the regulatory effects of KCTD15 on p53 are HDAC1-dependent. Collectively, we conclude that KCTD15 functions as an anti-growth factor in CRC cells, and its expression is orchestrated by the FTO-YTHDF2 axis. Enhanced p53 protein stabilization may contribute to KCTD15's actions in CRC cells.

Increased Circulating IL-32 Is Associated With Placenta Macrophage-derived IL-32 and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Placenta-derived inflammation plays a vital role in the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). IL-32 is a novel pro-inflammatory cytokine and metabolic regulator involved in the development of metabolic disease. We investigated the effect of IL-32 in GDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First-trimester C-reactive protein (CRP) level was monitored in a case-control study of 186 women with GDM and 186 women without. Placental tissue was lysed and analyzed by high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Circulating level of inflammatory cytokines IL-32, IL-6, and TNF-α were measured by ELISA kits. The expression of placenta-derived macrophages, inflammatory cytokines, and related pathway proteins were assessed by reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, or immunofluorescence. RESULTS: First-trimester CRP level in peripheral blood was closely associated with glucose and insulin resistance index and was an independent correlation with the development of GDM. High-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed that placenta-derived CRP expression was dramatically elevated in women with GDM. Interestingly, the expression of placenta-derived IL-32 was also increased and located in the macrophages of placental tissue. Meanwhile, the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and p-p38 were up-regulated in the placental tissues with GDM. Either IL-6 or TNF-α was colocated with IL-32 in the placental tissue. Importantly, circulating IL-32 throughout pregnancy was increased in GDM and was related to placental-derived IL-32 expression, circulating IL-6, and TNF-α, glucose and insulin resistance index. CONCLUSION: Increased circulating IL-32 throughout pregnancy was closely associated with placenta macrophage-derived IL-32 expression and GDM. First trimester IL-32 level in peripheral blood may serve to predict the development of GDM.

Non-coding RNAs in metabolic reprogramming of bone and soft tissue sarcoma: Fundamental mechanism and clinical implication.

Sarcomas, comprising approximately 1% of human malignancies, show a poor response to treatment and easy recurrence. Metabolic reprogramming play an important role in tumor development in sarcomas. Accumulating evidence shows that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) participate in regulating the cellular metabolism of sarcomas, which improves the understanding of the development of therapy-resistant tumors. This review addresses the regulatory roles of metabolism-related ncRNAs and their implications for sarcoma initiation and progression. Dysregulation of metabolism-related ncRNAs is common in sarcomas and is associated with poor survival. Emerging studies show that abnormal expression of metabolism-related ncRNAs affects cellular metabolism, including glucose, lipid, and mitochondrial metabolism, and leads to the development of aggressive sarcomas. This review summarizes recent advances in the roles of dysregulated metabolism-related ncRNAs in sarcoma development and stemness and describes their potential to serve as biological biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis prediction, as well as therapeutic targets for treating refractory sarcomas.

Gut microbiome and serum short-chain fatty acids are associated with responses to chemo- or targeted therapies in Chinese patients with lung cancer.

Background: The association between gut microbes and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and therapeutic responses of patients with lung cancer (LC) receiving therapy remains unknown. Methods: Fecal and serum samples were prospectively collected from patients with LC, classified as responders, if they presented durable clinical benefits, and non-responders, if not. The composition of gut microbes was analyzed using 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. Serum SCFA concentrations were detected using gas chromatography. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays were performed on isobutyric acid-treated A549 cells. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining experiments have been performed to investigate the expression of associated genes or proteins. Results: Non-responders harbored higher microbiome α-diversity but lower ß-diversity compared with responders. Compared to the patients with low α-diversity, those with high α-diversity showed significantly shorter progression-free survival. Additionally, ß-diversity has also been observed between these two groups. Specifically, Parasutterella, Clostridiaceae, and Prevotella_7 were more abundant among responders, whereas Bacteroides_stercoris and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group were more abundant in non-responders. The serum SCFA (especially acetate and isobutyrate) levels tended to be higher in responders. Isobutyric acid inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of A549 cells by inducing apoptosis and G1/S arrest while upregulating the expression of GPR41, GPR43, and GPR5C and downregulating that of PAR1, and increasing the activity of histone acetyltransferases. Conclusion: We revealed the influence of gut microbiota and SCFAs on the therapeutic responses in patients with LC and the anti-tumor effect of isobutyric acid, indicating their potential use as therapeutic targets.