Leisure-time physical activity is associated with depressive symptoms in cancer patients: Data from the NHANES 2007-2018.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients have a higher risk of depression and are associated with severe adverse prognosis. The relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and depressive symptoms in cancer patients is currently unclear. Therefore, our study mainly explores the potential association between LTPA and the weekly cumulative time of LTPA with depressive symptoms in cancer patients. METHODS: We included and analyzed 3368 cancer patients (aged >20 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the United States from 1999 to 2018. The LTPA score was evaluated through a self-report questionnaire, while depressive symptoms were evaluated through the Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between LTPA duration and the occurrence of cancer-related depressiive symptoms. Linear correlation was studied using the restricted cubic spline method. RESULTS: According to a fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression model with confounding variables, the odds ratio (OR) between LTPA and depressive symptoms in cancer patients in this study was 0.59 (95 % confidence interval = 0.39, 0.92; P = 0.02). When the LTPA level was ≥300 min/week, the incidence of depressive symptoms was reduced by 59 % (OR = 0.41, 95 % CI = 0.21, 0.83). In addition, the cubic spline method was used to obtain a linear negative correlation between LTPA duration and tumor depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: LTPA was negatively correlated with cancer-related depressive symptoms, and the cumulative time of LTPA/week was linearly correlated with depressive symptoms. The slope of the benefit curve changed significantly when the cumulative time of LTPA reached 600 min per week, suggesting that appropriately increasing LTPA had significant benefits on mental health of cancer patients.

Prognostic factors and predictive models for patients with lung large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: Based on SEER database.

BACKGROUND: Lung Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare, aggressive, high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma with a poor prognosis, mainly seen in elderly men. To date, we have found no studies on predictive models for LCNEC. METHODS: We extracted data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of confirmed LCNEC from 2010 to 2018. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors, and then we constructed a novel nomogram and assessed the predictive effectiveness by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: A total of 2546 patients with LCNEC were included, excluding those diagnosed with autopsy or death certificate, tumor, lymph node, metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor grade deficiency, etc., and finally, a total of 743 cases were included in the study. After univariate and multivariate analyses, we concluded that the independent risk factors were N stage, intrapulmonary metastasis, bone metastasis, brain metastasis, and surgical intervention. The results of ROC curves, calibration curves, and DCA in the training and validation groups confirmed that the nomogram could accurately predict the prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram obtained from our study is expected to be a useful tool for personalized prognostic prediction of LCNEC patients, which may help in clinical decision-making.

Prognostic visualization model for primary pulmonary sarcoma: a SEER-based study.

Primary pulmonary sarcoma (PPS) is a rare and poor prognostic malignancy that results from current clinical studies are lacking. Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of PPS and to construct a predictive nomogram that predict the overall survival (OS) rate. We extracted data on patients diagnosed with PPS from 2010 to 2019 in the SEER database. A total of 169 patients were included after screening by inclusion and exclusion criteria. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses showed that age, pathological grade, liver metastasis, surgical intervention, and chemotherapy influenced the prognosis. We constructed the prediction model nomogram based on these factors. Moreover, the results of the internal and external ROC curves, calibration curves, and DCA plots confirmed that the model has good discrimination, accuracy, and clinical practice efficacy. The present study is the first population-based study to explore the factors affecting the prognosis of PPS. We established a novel prognostic nomogram to predict the OS rate, which can help to make proper clinical decisions.

Testing the stakeholders' partnership in a tourism waste management network: an ERGM approach.

The exponential random graph model (ERGM) is an effective approach for testing the dynamic and local processes of a network. This paper explores the structure of stakeholders' partnerships in a tourism waste management network using high-order dependency ERGMs based on relational data obtained from a field survey in Motuo County, China. The results reveal that (1) the network has many edges, indicating a tight network; (2) the geometrically weighted edge distribution shows a high transitive effect of the network; (3) the structural effect is more significant than the attribute effect; (4) there is a good agreement between the simulation results and observations, suggesting a tourism waste network with close connections and collaborative division of labor. These findings indicate that different groups of stakeholders have been extensively involved in tourism waste management in Motuo County. The edgewise shared partners formed by stakeholders of different groups increase the information transmission efficiency of the network. The results have implications for tourism waste management, specifically for promoting sustainability transitions via network governance.

Emerging role of circRNAs in cancer under hypoxia.

Circular RNA (circRNA), a recently identified type of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), forms a covalently closed loop with neither a 5' cap structure nor a 3' polyadenylated tail. Due to their lack of free ends, circRNAs are not easily cleaved by RNase R, thus avoiding degradation and being more stable than linear RNAs. Recent studies have suggested that circRNAs play a crucial role in regulating gene expression by acting as microRNAs sponges, RNA binding protein sponges and translational regulators. Currently, circRNAs are hot research topics due to their close association with the development of cancer and other diseases. Hypoxia is the most common microenvironment during tumor growth, and hypoxia-inducible factors have different effects on tumor growth and influence important cancer characteristics, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, vascularization/angiogenesis, genetic instability, tumor metabolism, tumor immune response, invasion and metastasis. The present review aimed to study the biogenesis and mechanisms of gene regulation of circRNAs in hypoxia, to summarize the latest studies on circRNAs as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in hypoxia, and to understand the role of circRNAs in the process of tumor drug resistance under hypoxia.

Hedgehog signaling regulates the development and treatment of glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and fatal malignant tumor type of the central nervous system. GBM affects public health and it is important to identify biomarkers to improve diagnosis, reduce drug resistance and improve prognosis (e.g., personalized targeted therapies). Hedgehog (HH) signaling has an important role in embryonic development, tissue regeneration and stem cell renewal. A large amount of evidence indicates that both normative and non-normative HH signals have an important role in GBM. The present study reviewed the role of the HH signaling pathway in the occurrence and progression of GBM. Furthermore, the effectiveness of drugs that target different components of the HH pathway was also examined. The HH pathway has an important role in reversing drug resistance after GBM conventional treatment. The present review highlighted the relevance of HH signaling in GBM and outlined that this pathway has a key role in the occurrence, development and treatment of GBM.

Circular RNA regulates the onset and progression of cancer through the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

The rapid increase in cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide is a major challenge for public health providers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the molecular mechanism of tumorigenesis and identify potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic methods. Circular RNA (circRNA) is characterized by a stable structure and tissue-specific expression; these features are useful in medical research and clinical applications. In recent years, with the development of high-throughput sequencing technology, the potential use of circRNA in cancer prognosis and treatment has been extensively explored. Abnormal circRNA expression interferes with specific signaling pathways such as the MAPK pathway; this phenomenon may provide potential diagnostic biomarkers and new therapeutic targets. The present article discusses the research progress on the regulatory roles of MAPK/ERK pathway-related circRNA molecules in the development and progression of different types of tumors. This review may provide insight into the development of circRNA-based cancer management strategies.

Evaluation of the environmental costs of tourism based on an emergy analysis of tourism waste disposal: a case study of Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Park in Motuo County, Tibet.

Eco-tourism has become increasingly popular in the postmodern era. However, the management of tourism waste remains a major challenge for tourist destinations worldwide. Here, a non-participatory survey was conducted in five famous scenic spots in Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Park in Motuo County, Tibet, to characterize the waste composition and the amount of average daily production per capita during sightseeing. In addition, interviews were conducted at 26 restaurants and 32 hotels in Motuo Town (the administrative center of Motuo County), and data on the composition and amount of average daily production per capita of waste generated by tourists during accommodation and meals were obtained. The total amount of tourism waste in Motuo County in 2018 was approximately 172,108.82 kg. Based on the data collected, an emergy analysis was applied to emergy calculations of the pollution and losses generated during two conventional and locally used tourism waste disposal methods. According to China's emergy to money ratio (EMR) of 2018, the emergy was converted into its monetary value. The theoretical ecological compensation standard for Motuo County was 4,293,568.99 CNY (equivalent to 648,830.20 USD), and the average ticket price for a single tourist was 18.87 CNY (equivalent to 2.85 USD) in the absence of government fiscal transfer payments. These findings should be utilized by local national park authorities to establish a market-oriented ecological compensation mechanism that is capable of alleviating environmental pressure.

Human leptin protein induces proliferation of A549 cells via inhibition of PKR-like ER kinase and activating transcription factor-6 mediated apoptosis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the anti-apoptotic mechanism of leptin in non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The influences of leptin on apoptosis were investigated, analyzing the mechanism that triggers growth of A549 cells. The effects of leptin on cell proliferation were examined by XTT analysis. Leptin, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), phosphorylated-PKR-like ER kinase (p-Perk), inositol requiring proteins-1, spliced X-box transcription factor-1 (XBP1), cleaved activating transcription factor-6 (ATF6), eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2α, caspase-12 and CHOP protein were detected in four groups by western blot, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress related mRNA were detected by reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS: The expression of leptin in A549 and leptin transfected cells inhibited cisplatin activated ER stress-associated mRNA transcription and protein activation. Two ER stress unfolded protein response pathways, PERK and ATF6, were involved, and XBP1 and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) were increased significantly when treated with cisplatin in A549-siRNA against leptin cells. Furthermore, CHOP expression was inhibited upon leptin expression in A549, LPT-PeP and LPT-EX cells. CONCLUSION: Leptin serves as an important factor that promotes the growth of A549 cells through blocking ER stress-mediated pathways. This blocking is triggered by p-Perk and ATF6 via inhibition of CHOP expression.

[Association of XAGE-1 gene expression with clinical characteristics of lung cancer].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: XAGE-1 is a cancer-testis (CT) antigen which was demonstrated to be expressed at a significant frequency and to be immunogenic in some tumors. The aim of this study is to explore the association between XAGE-1 gene expression and the clinical characteristics of lung cancer. METHODS: Tumor tissue and adjacent lung tissue samples from 85 patients were screened for expression of the four XAGE-1 transcript variants by nest PCR. The correlations between XAGE-1b gene expression and several clinical characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: 32.94% (28/85) of lung cancer samples were positive for XAGE-1 gene. 59.46% (22/37) of the adencarcinoma samples and 21.74% (5/23) of the squamous cell carcinoma samples were positive for one of the four XAGE-1 transcript variants. The frequent of XAGE-1b gene in adencarcinoma was much higher than that in squamous cell carcinoma. There were not any important correlation between XAGE-1b gene expression and clinical characteristics, such as gender, age and clinical stage. CONCLUSION: XAGE-1 gene is highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma and XAGE-1 may be a promising immunotherapeutic target for lung cancer.

Tau binds both subunits of calcineurin, and binding is impaired by calmodulin.

Calcineurin, an important protein Ser/Thr phosphatase which acts on tau in vivo, is a heterodimer of a catalytic subunit, calcineurin A, and a regulatory subunit, calcineurin B, and is unique in being regulated by calmodulin. Here, we find that both subunits of calcineurin bind tau, and calmodulin interferes with the association between calcineurin and tau. The domains of both subunits of calcineurin and tau involved in binding are mapped. We also investigate the functional consequences of the interactions between both subunits of calcineurin, tau and calmodulin, and reveal the interactions affect dephosphorylation of tau by calcineurin and contribute to the balance of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of tau in vivo. Our findings may be of potential significance in neuronal physiology and also in neurodegenerative disorders. They shed some light on how the interactions might control the phosphorylation state of tau under physiological conditions, and provide new insights into the treatment of tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease.

Spectroelectrochemical flow cell with temperature control for investigation of electrocatalytic systems with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

We describe a method for investigating the reaction mechanism of fuel cell systems by designing a spectroelectrochemical cell with functions of temperature and flow control to mimic the reaction condition of fuel cell systems and utilizing Au core Pt shell (Au@Pt) nanoparticles to enhance the Raman signal of the surface species on the surface of electrocatalysts. The cell consists of three parts: a thin-layer spectroelectrochemical reaction chamber with an optical window for Raman measurement, the heating chamber right beneath the reaction chamber, and a long spiral flow channel to preheat the solution to the desired temperature and effectively exchange the solution. The temperature of the solution can be easily controlled from room temperature to 80 degrees C, and the flow rate can be as high as 945 microl s(-1). The temperature and flow control is demonstrated by monitoring the changes in the cyclic voltammograms and the Raman signals. By synthesizing Au@Pt nanoparticles and assembling them on a Pt substrate, we can significantly enhance the Raman signal of surface species on the Pt shell surface, which allows us to detect strong signal of CO as the dissociative product of formic acid as well as the intermediate species of the oxidation process. The further development and perspectives of using SERS to study the electrocatalytic systems are discussed.

Inhibition of calcineurin by infusion of CsA causes hyperphosphorylation of tau and is accompanied by abnormal behavior in mice.

Calcineurin is a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase that dephosphorylates numerous substrates in different neuronal compartments. Genetic and pharmacological studies have provided insight into its involvement in the brain. Cyclosporin A (CsA) is used as a specific calcineurin inhibitor in many pharmacological experiments. However, the calcineurin activity of CsA-treated brain has not been reported. To examine the relationship between calcineurin activity and brain function, we injected CsA into the left lateral ventricle of the mouse brain and assayed calcineurin activity. CsA reduced calcineurin activity in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the amount of calcineurin protein. Assays of the effect of protein phosphatase inhibitors on CsA-injected mouse brain extracts and kinetic analysis revealed that CsA inhibited calcineurin activity in a non-competitive manner in vivo, in agreement with in vitro results. Injection of CsA led to enhanced phosphorylation of tau at Ser-262 (12E8 site), Ser-198, Ser-199, and/or Ser-202 (Tau-1 site) and Ser-396 and/or Ser-404 (PHF-1 site), as well as to impaired spatial memory, which are two characteristic features of Alzheimer's disease. We propose that inhibition of calcineurin may play an important role in Alzheimer's disease.