Singlet oxygen induces cell wall thickening and stomatal density reducing by transcriptome reprogramming.

Singlet oxygen (1O2) has a very short half-life of 10-5 s; however, it is a strong oxidant that causes growth arrest and necrotic lesions on plants. Its signaling pathway remains largely unknown. The Arabidopsis flu (fluorescent) mutant accumulates a high level of 1O2 and shows drastic changes in nuclear gene expression. Only two plastid proteins, EX1 (executer 1) and EX2 (executer 2), have been identified in the singlet oxygen signaling. Here, we found that the transcription factor abscisic acid insensitive 4 (ABI4) binds the promoters of genes responsive to 1O2-signals. Inactivation of the ABI4 protein in the flu/abi4 double mutant was sufficient to compromise the changes of almost all 1O2-responsive-genes and rescued the lethal phenotype of flu grown under light/dark cycles, similar to the flu/ex1/ex2 triple mutant. In addition to cell death, we reported for the first time that 1O2 also induces cell wall thickening and stomatal development defect. Contrastingly, no apparent growth arrest was observed for the flu mutant under normal light/dim light cycles, but the cell wall thickening (doubled) and stomatal density reduction (by two-thirds) still occurred. These results offer a new idea for breeding stress tolerant plants.

Circular RNA circWNK1 inhibits the progression of gastric cancer via regulating the miR-21-3p/SMAD7 axis.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options for advanced-stage patients. Recent studies have highlighted the role of circular RNA (circRNA) as a novel regulator of cancer progression in various malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms by which circRNA contributes to the development and progression of GC remain poorly understood. In this study, we utilized microarrays and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to identify and validate a downregulated circRNA, hsa_circ_0003251 (referred to as circWNK1), in paired GC and normal tissues. Through a series of in vitro and in vivo gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays, we demonstrated that circWNK1 exerts inhibitory effects on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of GC cells. Additionally, we discovered that circWNK1 acts as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for SMAD7 by sequestering miR-21-3p. Our findings were supported by comprehensive biological information analysis, as well as RNA pull-down, luciferase reporter gene, and western blot assays. Notably, the downregulation of circWNK1 in GC cells resulted in reduced SMAD7 expression, subsequently activating the TGF-ß signaling pathway. Collectively, our study reveals that circWNK1 functions as a tumor suppressor in GC by regulating the miR-21-3p/SMAD7-mediated TGF-ß signaling pathway. Furthermore, circWNK1 holds promise as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of GC.

A prediction nomogram for hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to develop and validate a new nomogram for predicting the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving antiviral therapy from real-world data. METHODS: The nomogram was established based on a real-world retrospective study of 764 patients with HBV from October 2008 to July 2020. A predictive model for the incidence of HCC was developed by multivariable Cox regression, and a nomogram was constructed. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were assessed by the concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Risk group stratification was performed to assess the predictive capacity of the nomogram. The nomogram was compared to three current commonly used predictive models. RESULTS: A total of 764 patients with HBV were recruited for this study. Age, family history of HCC, alcohol consumption, and Aspartate aminotransferase-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) were all independent risk predictors of HCC in CHB patients. The constructed nomogram had good discrimination with a C-index of 0.811. The calibration curve and DCA also proved the reliability and accuracy of the nomogram. Three risk groups (low, moderate, and high) with significantly different prognoses were identified (p < 0.001). The model's performance was significantly better than that of other risk models. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram was superior in predicting HCC risk among CHB patients who received antiviral treatment. The model can be utilized in clinical practice to aid decision-making on the strategy of long-term HCC surveillance, especially for moderate- and high-risk patients.

Composition of DOM along the depth gradients in the paddy field treated with crop straw for 10 years.

Crop straw return is a widely used agricultural management practice. The addition of crop straw significantly alters the pool of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in agricultural soils and plays a pivotal role in the global carbon (C) cycle, which is sensitive to climate change. The DOM concentration and composition at different soil depths could regulate the turnover and further storage of organic C in terrestrial systems. However, it is still unclear how crop straw return influences the change in DOM composition in rice paddy soils. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in which paddy soil was amended with crop straw for 10 years. Two crop straw-addition treatments [NPK with 50% crop straw (NPK+1/2S) and NPK with 100% crop straw (NPK + S)], a conventional mineral fertilization control (NPK) and a non-fertilized control were included. Topsoil (0-20 cm) and subsoil (20-40 cm) samples were collected to investigate the soil DOM concentration and compositional structure of the profile. Soil nutrients, iron (Fe) fraction, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and concentration and optical properties (UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra) of soil DOM were determined. Here, we found that the DOM in the topsoil was more humified than that in the subsoil. The addition of crop straw further decreased the humidification degree of DOM in the subsoil. In crop straw-amended topsoil, microbial decomposition controlled the composition of DOM and induced the formation of aromatic DOM. In the straw-treated subsoil, selective adsorption by poorly crystalline Fe(oxyhydr)oxides and microbial decomposition controlled the composition of DOM. In particular, the formation of protein-like compounds could have played a significant role in the microbial degradation of DOM in the subsoil. Overall, this work conducted a case study within long-term agricultural management to understand the changes in DOM composition along the soil profile, which would be further helpful for evaluating C cycling in agricultural ecosystems.

A Maximization of the Proton Conductivity of Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Ketone) with Grafted Segments Containing Multiple, Flexible Propanesulfonic Acid Groups.

To enhance the proton conductivity of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK), proton-conducting groups are required to be covalently connected to SPEEK and form proton-conducting channels. Herein, SPEEK fully grafted with segments containing multiple, flexible propanesulfonic acid groups (MS-SPEEK-102) is successfully prepared. Compared with SPEEK, MS-SPEEK-102 exhibits a higher proton conductivity of 8.3 × 10-2  S cm-1 at 80 °C with 98% relative humidity, and consequently a greater power density of 0.530 W cm-2 at 60 °C. These can be ascribed to the increased number of sulfonic acid groups, and ample, uninterrupted proton-conducting channels constructed by the movement of the maximum content, flexible side-chain segments. This approach offers an idea for obtaining a proton exchange membrane with good proton conductivity based on SPEEK.

CH4 and CO2 emissions in water networks of rice cultivation regions.

Rice cultivation regions have a high density of open water networks to meet the requirements of rice growth and production. These open water networks have a significant risk of carbon (C) emissions due to agricultural production, but the C emissions from these waters are not clearly recorded in previous studies. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the pattern and internal mechanism of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from multiple types of waters (i.e., river, fish pond, reservoir, and ditch) in a typical rice cultivation region in southwestern China. The annual CH4 and CO2 fluxes were higher in the downstream river (2.79-94.89 and 39.39-1699.98 mg m-2 h-1) and ditch (8.80-74.99 and 123.43-542.65 mg m-2 h-1, respectively) and lower in the reservoir (-0.67 to 3.45 and -239.15 to 141.50 mg m-2 h-1) (P < 0.05). The monthly trends of CH4 and CO2 fluxes from the middle river and ditch were driven by interactive reactions of rice cultivation practices and precipitation. In contrast, the emission patterns of CH4 and CO2 from the lower river, upper river, and fish pond were mainly driven by domestic sewage discharge, precipitation, and aquaculture practices, respectively. This study suggested that river and ditch were more sensitive to C emissions than other waters, and the rice production period was the critical period for controlling C emission. Although rice paddy soils yield more cumulative emissions of CH4, water networks in rice cultivation regions were possible hotspots for C emissions due to the higher emission intensities, which were largely overlooked before. Thus, it is necessary to refine and promote practices to better mitigate C emissions from waters in rice cultivation regions in the future.

A Nonlinear Relationship Between ALT Levels at Delivery and the Risk of Postpartum ALT Flares in Pregnant Women with Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels at delivery and postpartum ALT flares among women with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: Pregnant women with CHB from November 2008 to November 2017 were included in this retrospective study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and a generalized additive model were performed to determine both linear and nonlinear relationships between ALT levels at delivery and postpartum ALT flares. Stratification analysis was performed to test for effect modifications in subgroups. Results: A total of 2643 women were enrolled. Multivariable analysis indicated that ALT levels at delivery were positively associated with postpartum ALT flares (odds ratio (OR) 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.02, P < 0.0001). When ALT levels were converted to a categorical variable, the ORs and 95% CIs in quartiles 3 and 4 versus quartile 1 were 2.26 (1.43-3.58) and 5.34 (3.48-8.22), respectively (P for trend < 0.001). When ALT levels were dichotomized into a categorical variable according to clinical cutoffs (40 U/L or 19 U/L), the ORs and 95% CIs were 3.06 (2.05-4.57) and 3.31 (2.53-4.35), respectively (P < 0.0001). The ALT level at delivery was also found to have a nonlinear relationship with postpartum ALT flares. The relationship followed an inverted U-shaped curve. Conclusions: The ALT level at delivery was positively correlated with postpartum ALT flares in women with CHB when the ALT level was less than 182.8 U/L. The ALT cutoff (19 U/L) at delivery was more sensitive to predict the risk of ALT flares postpartum.

CSI Feedback Model Based on Multi-Source Characterization in FDD Systems.

In wireless communication, to fully utilize the spectrum and energy efficiency of the system, it is necessary to obtain the channel state information (CSI) of the link. However, in Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) systems, CSI feedback wastes part of the spectrum resources. In order to save spectrum resources, the CSI needs to be compressed. However, many current deep-learning algorithms have complex structures and a large number of model parameters. When the computational and storage resources are limited, the large number of model parameters will decrease the accuracy of CSI feedback, which cannot meet the application requirements. In this paper, we propose a neural network-based CSI feedback model, Mix_Multi_TransNet, which considers both the spatial characteristics and temporal sequence of the channel, aiming to provide higher feedback accuracy while reducing the number of model parameters. Through experiments, it is found that Mix_Multi_TransNet achieves higher accuracy than the traditional CSI feedback network in both indoor and outdoor scenes. In the indoor scene, the NMSE gains of Mix_Multi_TransNet are 4.06 dB, 4.92 dB, 4.82 dB, and 6.47 dB for compression ratio η = 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, respectively. In the outdoor scene, the NMSE gains of Mix_Multi_TransNet are 3.63 dB, 6.24 dB, 4.71 dB, 4.60 dB, and 2.93 dB for compression ratio η = 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, respectively.

Effects of ophthalmic surface anesthetic alcaine on the proliferation and apoptosis of human corneal endothelial cells through HIF-1α regulation.

The corneal endothelium is a monolayer, which mediates solute and water flux across the posterior corneal surface. Alcaine's main component proparacaine is paramount in human corneal endothelium (HCE) cell regulation. This study explored the mechanism of alcaine in regulating HCE cells. HCE cell morphology under gradient concentrations was observed by an optical microscope. Cell proliferation and viability were detected by MTT assay to determine the half inhibitory concentration (IC 50). Cell apoptosis rate, HIF-1α mRNA expression, and HIF-1α, p/t-JNK and Caspase-3 protein levels were detected by flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and Western blot. After treatment with alcaine at 0.625-5 g/L concentration range for 24 h, HCE cells showed cytoplasmic vacuolation, cell shrinkage, separation from culture matrix, and eventual death. Alcaine treated-HCE cell proliferation was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The IC 50 of alcaine was 1.26 g/L. After alcaine treatment, HCE cell apoptosis rate was promoted and HIF-1α levels in HCE cells were stimulated. Knockdown of HIF-1α partially annulled the effects of alcaine on inhibiting HCE cell proliferation and facilitating apoptosis. Alcaine might activate the JNK/caspase-3 pathway by increasing HIF-1α. The inhibition of the JNK/caspase-3 pathway partially abrogated the effects of alcaine on inhibiting HCE cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Alcaine might affect HCE cell proliferation and apoptosis by upregulating HIF-1α and activating the JNK/caspase-3 pathway.

QTL Mapping of Agronomic and Physiological Traits at the Seedling and Maturity Stages under Different Nitrogen Treatments in Barley.

Nitrogen (N) stress seriously constrains barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production globally by influencing its growth and development. In this study, we used a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of 121 crosses between the variety Baudin and the wild barley accession CN4027 to detect QTL for 27 traits at the seedling stage in hydroponic culture trials and 12 traits at the maturity stage in field trials both under two N treatments, aiming to uncover favorable alleles for N tolerance in wild barley. In total, eight stable QTL and seven QTL clusters were detected. Among them, the stable QTL Qtgw.sau-2H located in a 0.46 cM interval on the chromosome arm 2HL was a novel QTL specific for low N. Notably, Clusters C4 and C7 contained QTL for traits at both the seedling and maturity stages. In addition, four stable QTLs in Cluster C4 were identified. Furthermore, a gene (HORVU2Hr1G080990.1) related to grain protein in the interval of Qtgw.sau-2H was predicted. Correlation analysis and QTL mapping showed that different N treatments significantly affected agronomic and physiological traits at the seedling and maturity stages. These results provide valuable information for understanding N tolerance as well as breeding and utilizing the loci of interest in barley.

The Impact of Various Organic Phosphorus Carriers on the Uptake and Use Efficiency in Barley.

Organic phosphorus (OP) is an essential component of the soil P cycle, which contributes to barley nutrition after its mineralization into inorganic phosphorus (Pi). However, the dynamics of OP utilization in the barley rhizosphere remain unclear. In this study, phytin was screened out from six OP carriers, which could reflect the difference in OP utilization between a P-inefficient genotype Baudin and a P-efficient genotype CN4027. The phosphorus utilization efficiency (PUE), root morphological traits, and expression of genes associated with P utilization were assessed under P deficiency or phytin treatments. P deficiency resulted in a greater root surface area and thicker roots. In barley fed with phytin as a P carrier, the APase activities of CN4027 were 2-3-fold lower than those of Baudin, while the phytase activities of CN4027 were 2-3-fold higher than those of Baudin. The PUE in CN4027 was mainly enhanced by activating phytase to improve the root absorption and utilization of Pi resulting from OP mineralization, while the PUE in Baudin was mainly enhanced by activating APase to improve the shoot reuse capacity. A phosphate transporter gene HvPHT1;8 regulated P transport from the roots to the shoots, while a purple acid phosphatase (PAP) family gene HvPAPhy_b contributed to the reuse of P in barley.

Incorporating agricultural practices in digital mapping improves prediction of cropland soil organic carbon content: The case of the Tuojiang River Basin.

Accurate mapping of soil organic carbon (SOC) in cropland is essential for improving soil management in agriculture and assessing the potential of different strategies aiming at climate change mitigation. Cropland management practices have large impacts on agricultural soils, but have rarely been considered in previous SOC mapping work. In this study, cropland management practices including carbon input (CI), length of cultivation (LC), and irrigation (Irri) were incorporated as agricultural management covariates and integrated with natural variables to predict the spatial distribution of SOC using the Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model. Additionally, we evaluated the performance of incorporating agricultural management practice variables in the prediction of cropland topsoil SOC. A case study was carried out in a traditional agricultural area in the Tuojiang River Basin, China. We found that CI was the most important environmental covariate for predicting cropland SOC. Adding cropland management practices to natural variables improved prediction accuracy, with the coefficient of determination (R2), the root mean squared error (RMSE) and Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient (LCCC) improving by 16.67%, 17.75% and 5.62%, respectively. Our results highlight the effectiveness of incorporating agricultural management practice information into SOC prediction models. We conclude that the construction of spatio-temporal database of agricultural management practices derived from inventories is a research priority to improve the reliability of SOC model prediction.

The AMG model coupled with Rock-Eval® analysis accurately predicts cropland soil organic carbon dynamics in the Tuojiang River Basin, Southwest China.

Accurate soil organic carbon models are key to understand the mechanisms governing carbon sequestration in soil and to help develop targeted management strategies to carbon budget. The accuracy and reliability of soil organic carbon (SOC) models remains strongly limited by incorrect initialization of the conceptual kinetic pools and lack of stringent model evaluation using time-series datasets. Notably, due to legacy effects of management and land use change, the traditional spin-up approach for initial allocation of SOC among kinetic pools can bring substantial uncertainties in predicting the evolution of SOC stocks. The AMG model can fulfill these conditions as it is a parsimonious yet accurate SOC model using widely-available input data. In this study, we first evaluated the performance of AMGv2 before and after optimizing the potential mineralization rate (k0) of SOC stock following a leave-one-site-out cross-validation based on 24 long-term field experiments (LTEs) in the Southwest of China. Then, we used Rock-Eval® thermal analysis results as input variables in the PARTYSOC machine learning model to estimate the initial stable SOC fraction (CS/C0) for the 14 LTEs where soil samples were available. The results showed that initializing the CS/C0 ratio using PARTYSOC combined with the optimized k0 further improved the accuracy of model simulations (R2 = 0.87, RMSE = 0.25, d = 0.90). Combining average measured CS/C0 and k0 optimization across all 24 LTEs also improved the model predictive capability by 25% compared to using default parameterization, thus suggesting promising avenue for upscaling model applications at the regional level where only a few measurement data on SOC stability can be available. In conclusion, the new version of the AMG model developed in the Tuojiang River Basin context exhibits excellent performance. This result paves the way for further calibration and validation of the AMG model in a wider set of contexts, with the potential to significantly improve confidence in SOC predictions in croplands over regional scales.

Methylation of the HCBP6 promoter is associated with primary biliary cholangitis pathogenesis.

Hepatitis C virus core-binding protein 6 (HCBP6), first characterized in our laboratory and also referred to as FUNDC2, is involved in lipid and glucose metabolism, platelet activation, and platelet survival. Here we demonstrate that hypermethylation of mitochondrial HCBP6 is linked Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) pathogenesis. Serum and liver levels of HCBP6 in PBC patients were reduced in comparison with controls. Further research confirmed a correlation between CpG1 hypermethylation and HCBP6 levels. Taken together, our results reveal another new feature of HCBP6.

Determining the laser-induced release probability of a nanoparticle from a soft substrate.

This Letter presents a study of laser-induced nanoparticle release from a soft substrate in air under different conditions. A continuous wave (CW) laser heats a nanoparticle and causes a rapid thermal expansion of the substrate, which gives an upward momentum that releases the nanoparticle from the substrate. The release probability of different nanoparticles from different substrates under different laser intensities is studied. The effects of surface properties of substrates and surface charges of the nanoparticles on the release are also investigated. The mechanism of nanoparticle release demonstrated in this work is different from that of laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT). Owing to the simplicity of this technology and the wide availability of commercial nanoparticles, this nanoparticle release technology may find applications in nanoparticle characterization and nanomanufacturing.

Two new photoactive metal-organic compounds for degradation of methylene blue and treatment in ophthalmic local anesthesia.

Two new metal-organic compounds, namely [Cu(CrO4)(4,4'-bipy)(H2O)]·n(H2O) (1) together with [Mn(Cr2O7)(bpp)2]n (2) (4,4'-bipy is 4,4'-bipyridine and bpp is 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane), were hydrothermally generated, which were characterized structurally through a series of characterization techniques. Moreover, compounds 1 and 2 have 2.95 eV and 3.02 eV of narrow optical band gap values, and possess outstanding photocatalytic effects for the methylene blue degradation under irradiation of visible light. The application of above compounds in the ophthalmic local anesthesia was examined and the specific mechanism was tested. First of all, the acetylcholine content in the synaptic cleft was measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay after treated with the CPs. The acetylcholine receptor relative expression on nerve cells was subsequently measured via real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) under the treatment of compounds. In the end, the complexes' toxicity was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) detection.

Alterations of monoamine neurotransmitters, HPA-axis hormones, and inflammation cytokines in reserpine-induced hyperalgesia and depression comorbidity rat model.

BACKGROUND: Pain and depression often occur simultaneously, but the mechanism of this condition is still unclear. METHODS: The aim of this study was to examine the alterations of monoamine neurotransmitters, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones, and inflammation cytokines in hyperalgesia and depression comorbidities. The reserpine-induced "Sprague Dawley" (SD) rat models were used, and the concentrations of monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and their metabolic products 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), Homovanillic acid (HVA), 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in raphe nucleus region were tested by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Serum levels of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Cortisol (CORT), and inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-4, IL-10 were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Repeated reserpine injection induced hyperalgesia and depressive behaviors with decreased sucrose preference and horizontal movement distance, and increased immobility time in forced swimming test. The concentrations of 5-HT and NE in raphe nucleus, and ACTH and CORT in serum were elevated in the model group. And the model group showed increases in serum IL-1ß and IL-6, and decrease in serum IL-10. CONCLUSION: More research in these areas is needed to understand the pathogenesis of the disease, so as to find more and better therapeutic targets.

Nomogram to predict overall survival based on the log odds of positive lymph nodes for patients with endometrial carcinosarcoma after surgery.

PURPOSE: Aims to compare the prognostic performance of the number of positive lymph nodes (PLNN), lymph node ratio (LNR) and log odds of metastatic lymph nodes (LODDS) and establish a prognostic nomogram to predict overall survival (OS) rate for patients with endometrial carcinosarcoma (ECS). METHODS: Patients were retrospectively obtained from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 2004 to 2015. The prognostic value of PLNN, LNR and LODDS were assessed. A prediction model for OS was established based on univariate and multivariate analysis of clinical and demographic characteristics of ECS patients. The clinical practical usefulness of the prediction model was valued by decision curve analysis (DCA) through quantifying its net benefits. RESULTS: The OS prediction accuracy of LODDS for ECS is better than that of PLNN and LNR. Five factors, age, tumor size, 2009 FIGO, LODDS and peritoneal cytology, were independent prognostic factors of OS. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.743 in the training cohort. The AUCs were 0.740, 0.682 and 0.660 for predicting 1-, 3- and 5-year OS, respectively. The calibration plots and DCA showed good clinical applicability of the nomogram, which is better than 2009 FIGO staging system. These results were verified in the validation cohort. A risk classification system was built that could classify ECS patients into three risk groups. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that OS in the different groups was accurately differentiated by the risk classification system and performed much better than FIGO 2009. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that LODDS was an independent prognostic indicator for ECS patients, with better predictive efficiency than PLNN and LNR. A novel prognostic nomogram for predicting the OS rate of ECS patients was established based on the population in the SEER database. Our nomogram based on LODDS has a more accurate and convenient value for predicting the OS of ECS patients than the FIGO staging system alone.

The impact of topical lidocaine and timing of LMA removal on the incidence of airway events during the recovery period in children: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The timing of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) removal remains undefined. This study aimed to assess the optimal timing for LMA removal and whether topical anesthesia with lidocaine could reduce airway adverse events. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial assessed one-to-six-year-old children with ASA I-II scheduled for squint correction surgery under general anesthesia. The children were randomized into the LA (lidocaine cream smeared to the cuff of the LMA before insertion, with mask removal in the awake state), LD (lidocaine application and LMA removal under deep anesthesia), NLA (hydrosoluble lubricant application and LMA removal in the awake state) and NLD (hydrosoluble lubricant application and LMA removal in deep anesthesia) groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of irritating cough, laryngeal spasm, SpO2 < 96%, and glossocoma in the recovery period in the PACU. The secondary endpoints included the incidence of pharyngalgia and hoarseness within 24 h after the operation, duration of PACU stay, and incidence of agitation in the recovery period. The assessor was unblinded. RESULTS: Each group included 98 children. The overall incidence of adverse airway events was significantly lower in the LA group (9.4%) compared with the LD (23.7%), NLA (32.6%), and NLD (28.7%) groups (P=0.001). Cough and laryngeal spasm rates were significantly higher in the NLA group (20.0 and 9.5%, respectively) than the LA (5.2 and 0%, respectively), LD (4.1 and 1.0%, respectively), and NLD (9.6 and 2.1%, respectively) groups (P=0.001). Glossocoma incidence was significantly lower in the LA and NLA groups (0%) than in the LD (19.6%) and NLD (20.2%) groups (P< 0.001). At 24 h post-operation, pharyngalgia incidence was significantly higher in the NLA group (15.8%) than the LA (3.1%), LD (1.0%), and NLD (3.2%) groups (P< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LMA removal in the awake state after topical lidocaine anesthesia reduces the incidence of postoperative airway events. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR, ChiCTR-IPR-17012347 . Registered August 12, 2017.

LncRNA ADAMTS9-AS2 suppresses the proliferation of gastric cancer cells and the tumorigenicity of cancer stem cells through regulating SPOP.

Nowadays, research on CSCs is still in an initial stage, and there are few studies reporting the successful isolation and identification of CSCs. In the present study, we attempted to isolate CSCs through cultivating the cell line MKN45 in defined serum-free medium and study the expression of stem cell markers or related proteins (Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog and CD44) in CSCs. Moreover, immunofluorescence staining was performed to validate the stem cell markers of spheroid body-forming cells. Further experiments were used to evaluate the SPOP expression in tumorsphere cells. In addition, ADAMTS9-AS2 is a lncRNA that contributes to the genesis and development of many cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). We found ADAMTS9-AS2 functioned as an anti-oncogene and positively correlated with the expression of SPOP in GC tissues by combining bioinformatics analyses. Furthermore, we reported that ADAMTS9-AS2 regulated the expression of SPOP in GC cells and tumorsphere cells to inhibit GC progression. Together, our results demonstrated that SPOP and ADAMTS9-AS2 can be potential targets for GC treatment.