MicroRNA-363 inhibits angiogenesis, proliferation, invasion, and migration of renal cell carcinoma via inactivation of the Janus tyrosine kinases 2-signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 axis by suppressing growth hormone receptor gene.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common malignancy involving the kidneys and a major cause of cancer mortality. The involvement of microRNA (miRNA) expression in the tumorigenesis and progression of RCC has been previously highlighted. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate whether microRNA-363 (miR-363) affects the development of RCC via the Janus tyrosine kinases (JAK2)-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) axis by targeting the growth hormone receptor (GHR), by observing the changes that occurred in the RCC and the normal adjacent tissues of patients with RCC. RCC cells were transfected with a series of miR-363 mimic, miR-363 inhibitor, or small interfering RNA against GHR to determine the influence of miR-363 on the expression of GHR and JAK2-STAT3 axis-related genes with the use of reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. The angiogenesis, viability, invasion, and migration of cells were evaluated by means of in vitro angiogenesis, 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT), wound-healing, and Transwell assays. The results revealed reduced miR-363 expression and elevated GHR expression in RCC. It was also found that miR-363 altered the activation of the JAK2-STAT3 axis through the inhibition of GHR. Cells treated with the miR-363 inhibitor presented with increased capillary vessels, cell viability, invasion, and migration, whereas it was on the contrary in the RCC cells with overexpressed miR-363. These results implicated that the overexpression of miR-363 could specifically bind to GHR to downregulate the expression of GHR, which, in turn, inactivates the JAK2-STAT3 axis, thereby influencing the angiogenesis, cell invasion, and migration abilities in RCC.

Clinicopathologic factors linked to oncologic outcomes for renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid dedifferentiation: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There are still differences in the prognostic factors of renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid dedifferentiation (sRCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate important predictors of survival in patients with sRCC. Patients and methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted to identify eligible studies. The endpoints embraced overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Hazard ratios (HRs) and related 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted. Results: A total of 13 studies were included for analyses. The pooled results showed that high European Cooperative Oncology Group performance score (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.32-4.30; P = 0.004), high T stage (HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.66-2.86; P < 0.001), positive lymph node (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.40-1.69; P < 0.001), distant metastasis (HR 2.52, 95% CI 1.99-3.21; P < 0.001), lung metastases (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16-1.80; P < 0.001), liver metastases (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.30-2.25; P < 0.001), tumor necrosis (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.14-2.80; P = 0.010), and percentage sarcomatoid ≥50% (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.57-3.52; P < 0.001) were associated with unfavorable OS. Positive lymph node (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.33-1.85; P < 0.001) and high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.29; P = 0.008) were associated with unfavorable CSS. High T stage (HR 1.93 95% CI 1.44-2.58; P < 0.001) was associated with unfavorable progression-free survival. Conclusions: A meta-analysis of available data identified important prognostic factors for CSS, OS, and PFS of sRCC, which should be systematically evaluated for patient counseling, risk stratification, and treatment selection. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=249449.

Oxidative esterification of renewable furfural on cobalt dispersed on ordered porous nitrogen-doped carbon.

A series of highly dispersed cobalt-based catalysts on N-doped ordered porous carbon (Co-NOPC) were synthesized using the sacrificial-template method. MCM-41, ZSM-5 and SBA-15 were employed as hard templates with 2,2'-bipyridine as the ligand. The physical and chemical properties of the Co-NOPC catalyst were characterized by Raman, XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, ICP, BET, XPS. Co-NOPC had been proven to be a highly efficient catalyst for oxidative esterification of furfural (FUR) to methyl 2-furoate without alkaline additives. Catalytic performance was correlated to the dispersed cobalt, porous structure and specific surface area. The relationship between oxygen activation and the strong interaction of cobalt and pyridine nitrogen were confirmed by XPS. Catalytic performance enhancement mechanisms were correlated with the redistribution of electrons at the interface between carbon material and cobalt atoms through the molecular dynamics method and a reaction mechanism was also proposed. The optimized catalysts showed outstanding catalytic activity and stability and no obvious decrease in activity was found after 6 cycles with 99.6% FUR conversion and 96% methyl 2-furoate selectivity.

The Genetic Diversity of HIV-1 Within Antiretroviral-Naive Outpatients in Ganzhou, China.

To explore the molecular epidemiological status of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Ganzhou, China, eight HIV-1-positive outpatients were recruited from July 5 to 21, 2018. Six HIV-1 near-full-length sequences were amplified and sequenced from the plasma samples that were collected before the patients' antiretroviral treatments. Phylogenetic and bootscan analyses revealed that one of the sequences was CRF01_AE, one was CRF55_01B, and two were CRF07_BC. Notably, one of the sequences was a unique recombinant form, and one of them was a second-generation recombinant form of CRF07_BC and subtype C. These results revealed that multiple HIV-1 subtypes are circulating in Ganzhou, China. Systematic surveys with large sample sizes are urgently needed to explore the exact molecular epidemiological characteristics and to trace the origins of HIV-1 in Ganzhou, China.

Comparison of Outcomes Between Transperitoneal and Retroperitoneal Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: A Meta-Analysis Based on Comparative Studies.

BACKGROUND: To compare perioperative, functional and oncological outcomes between transperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy (TRPN) and retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy (RRPN). METHODS: A literature searching of Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science was performed in August, 2020. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) or weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using fixed-effect or random-effect model. Publication bias was evaluated with funnel plots. Only comparative studies with matched design or similar baseline characteristics were included. RESULTS: Eleven studies embracing 2,984 patients were included. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding conversion to open (P = 0.44) or radical (P = 0.31) surgery, all complications (P = 0.06), major complications (P = 0.07), warm ischemia time (P = 0.73), positive surgical margin (P = 0.87), decline in eGFR (P = 0.42), CKD upstaging (P = 0.72), and total recurrence (P = 0.66). Patients undergoing TRPN had a significant higher minor complications (P = 0.04; OR: 1.39; 95% CI, 1.01-1.91), longer operative time (P < 0.001; WMD: 21.68; 95% CI, 11.61 to 31.76), more estimated blood loss (EBL, P = 0.002; WMD: 40.94; 95% CI, 14.87 to 67.01), longer length of hospital stay (LOS, P < 0.001; WMD: 0.86; 95% CI, 0.35 to 1.37). No obvious publication bias was identified. CONCLUSION: RRPN is more favorable than TRPN in terms of less minor complications, shorter operative time, less EBL, and shorter LOS. Methodological limitations of the included studies should be considered while interpreting these results.

Prognostic role of pretreatment lactate dehydrogenase in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To date, there remain uncertainties over the prognostic role of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible studies were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases up to October 2019. The endpoints included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate each endpoint. RESULTS: Thirty observational studies of low to moderate risk of bias embracing 6754 patients with mRCC were included. The results showed that patients with a high pretreatment serum LDH had an inferior OS (HR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.85-2.51; P < 0.001) and PFS (HR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.49-2.10; P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses according to year of publication, study design, patient population, geographic region, sample size and NOS score did not alter the direction of results. There was significant publication bias for OS, but not for PFS. Sensitivity analyses further confirmed the robustness of the results. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that a high level of pretreatment serum LDH was associated with an inferior OS and DFS in patients with mRCC. Methodological limitations should be considered while interpreting these results.