Characterization of extrachromosomal circular DNAs in plasma of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) have been recognized for their significant involvement in numerous biological processes. Nonetheless, the existence and molecular characteristics of eccDNA in the peripheral blood of patients diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have not yet been reported. Our aim was to identify potentially marked plasma eccDNAs in ccRCC patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The detection of plasma eccDNA in ccRCC patients and healthy controls was performed using the Tn5-tagmentation and next-generation sequencing (NGS) method. Comparisons were made between ccRCC patients and healthy controls regarding the distribution of length, gene annotation, pattern of junctional nucleotide motif, and expression pattern of plasma eccDNA. RESULTS: We found 8,568 and 8,150 plasma eccDNAs in ccRCC patients and healthy controls, respectively. There were no statistical differences in the length distribution, gene annotation, and motif signature of plasma eccDNAs between the two groups. A total of 701 differentially expressed plasma eccDNAs were identified, and 25 plasma eccDNAs with potential diagnostic value for ccRCC have been successfully screened. These up-regulated plasma eccDNAs also be indicated to originate from the genomic region of the tumor-associated genes. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates the characterization of plasma eccDNAs in ccRCC and suggests that the up-regulated plasma eccDNAs could be considered as a promising non-invasive biomarker in ccRCC.

Ultrasound-Microwave Combined Extraction of Novel Polysaccharide Fractions from Lycium barbarum Leaves and Their In Vitro Hypoglycemic and Antioxidant Activities.

Ultrasound-microwave combined extraction (UMCE), gradient ethanol precipitation, chemical characterization, and antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of Lycium barbarum leaf polysaccharides (LLP) were systematically studied. The optimal conditions for UMCE of LLP achieved by response surface method (RSM) were as follows: microwave time of 16 min, ultrasonic time of 20 min, particle size of 100 mesh, and ratio of liquid to solid of 55:1. Three novel polysaccharide fractions (LLP30, LLP50, LLP70) with different molecular weights were obtained by gradient ethanol precipitation. Polysaccharide samples exhibited scavenging capacities against ABTS and DPPH radicals and inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Among the three fractions, LLP30 possessed relatively high antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities in vitro, which showed a potential for becoming a nutraceutical or a phytopharmaceutical for prevention and treatment of hyperglycemia or diabetes.

A Randomized, 8-Week Study of the Effects of Extended-Release Paliperidone and Olanzapine on Heart Rate Variability in Patients With Schizophrenia.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the effect of extended-release paliperidone (paliperidone ER) and olanzapine on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A total of 106 patients with schizophrenia diagnosed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) were randomly divided into the paliperidone ER group or the olanzapine group for an 8-week clinical trial, with 53 patients in each group. The time domain and frequency domain analyses including the SD of all the R-R intervals in 24 hours (SDNN), the SD of the mean value of all the normal R-R intervals in every 5-minute interval within 24 hours (SDANN index), the mean value of the SD of all the normal R-R intervals in every 5-minute interval within 24 hours (SDNN index), the root mean square of successive R-R differences, the percentage of adjacent R-R intervals that differ by more than 50 milliseconds, high-frequency power (HF), low-frequency power (LF), and LF/HF were adopted to assess the HRV of patients at baseline and after treatment for 8 weeks in each group. The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. The incidence rates of adverse reactions were also calculated. RESULTS: In total, 48 patients in the paliperidone ER group and 45 patients in the olanzapine group completed the entire 8-week treatment. The SDNN, SDNN index, and SDANN index in the olanzapine group were significantly lower than those in the paliperidone ER group (P < 0.05) after treatment for 8 weeks, whereas their mean LF level was higher than that in the paliperidone ER group (P < 0.05) after completion of treatment. Patients in the olanzapine group showed a significant decrease in the SDNN, SDANN index, and SDNN index as well as a statistical increase in the LF and LF/HF in comparison with the pretreatment values (P < 0.05), whereas patients in the paliperidone ER group showed a decrease in the SDANN index and a statistical increase in the LF in comparison with the pretreatment values (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The HRV of patients with schizophrenia changes when they are administered with paliperidone ER or olanzapine, and more attention should be paid to their cardiac autonomic function when using these 2 antipsychotics.

Zn(II)-benzotriazolate clusters based amide functionalized porous coordination polymers with high CO2 adsorption selectivity.

Two new porous coordination polymers (PCPs) based on different nanosized C3 symmetry ligands and Zn(II)-benzotriazolate clusters have been synthesized solvothermally. Both of the desolvated complexes show selective uptake of CO2 over CH4 and N2 at ambient temperature.

[Forensic psychiatric cases of 534 mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the types of mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury and the optimal time for forensic psychiatric appraisal. To explore the relationship between the degree of traumatic brain injury, the time of appraisal and the grade of intellectual deficiency. METHODS: Five hundred and thirty-four forensic psychiatric cases of mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: In the types of mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury, the most cases were diagnosed as organic mood disorders (51.1%), following organic neurosis-like syndrome (24.0%) and organic intellectual deficiency (18.0%). For the disability grades, the most cases were the level VIII and IX disability grades, 219 cases (41.0%) and 177 cases (33.1%), respectively. The degree of brain injury and the degree of intelligence defection according to WAIS-RC were higher in intellectual deficiency group compared with non-intellectual deficiency group (P < 0.05). The grade of disability correlated with the degree of brain injury, the result of WAIS-RC, the result of cerebral CT scanning, and the grade of brain electrical activity mapping (BEAM) abnormality (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, the degree of intellectual deficiency did not correlate with appraisal time and the degree of brain injury (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The factors influencing intellectual deficiency are complex. The findings of objective examination including cerebral CT scanning, BEAM, WAIS-RC and others should be considered as important indexes for disability evaluation.

Homologous recombination as an evolutionary force in the avian influenza A virus.

Avian influenza A viruses (AIVs), including the H5N1, H9N2, and H7N7 subtypes, have been directly transmitted to humans, raising concerns over the possibility of a new influenza pandemic. To prevent a future avian influenza pandemic, it is very important to fully understand the molecular basis driving the change in AIV virulence and host tropism. Although virulent variants of other viruses have been generated by homologous recombination, the occurrence of homologous recombination within AIV segments is controversial and far from proven. This study reports three circulating H9N2 AIVs with similar mosaic PA genes descended from H9N2 and H5N1. Additionally, many homologous recombinants are also found deposited in GenBank. Recombination events can occur in PB2, PB1, PA, HA, and NP segments and between lineages of the same/different serotype. These results collectively demonstrate that intragenic recombination plays a role in driving the evolution of AIVs, potentially resulting in effects on AIV virulence and host tropism changes.

Overexpression of Spondin-2 Is Associated with Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients with Localized Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The spondin-2 (SPON2) gene is overexpressed in multiple malignant tumors and may promote tumor aggressiveness. However, its expression profile and functional roles in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) are still unclear. METHODS: SPON2 expression in ccRCC was evaluated using expression data from TCGA and GEO databases, then confirmed by local patient population (94 patients). The clinical significance of SPON2 expression was evaluated. Downregulation of SPON2 was performed using small-interfering RNA (siRNA). The effects of SPON2 silencing on cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration in vitro were investigated. RESULTS: SPON2 was overexpressed in the majority of the ccRCC at both mRNA and protein levels. SPON2 expression was significantly correlated with stage, grade, and recurrence (all P < 0.05) in patients with localized ccRCC. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that SPON2 expression could serve as a predictor of recurrence. SPON2 expression was significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with localized ccRCC. Knocking down SPON2 resulted in suppressed cell invasion and migration in vitro. CONCLUSION: SPON2 expression might function as a prognostic biomarker in patients with localized ccRCC.

Overexpression of COL5A1 promotes tumor progression and metastasis and correlates with poor survival of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: COL5A1 has been identified to be involved in metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) by bioinformatic analysis. This study aimed to investigate COL5A1 expression and its clinical significance in ccRCC. The function of COL5A1 in ccRCC was further investigated. METHODS: COL5A1 expression was examined in 256 ccRCC tissues and paired adjacent normal renal tissues by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR. The clinical significance of COL5A1 expression was evaluated. Downregulation of COL5A1 was achieved using siRNA. The effects of COL5A1 silencing on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo were investigated. RESULTS: COL5A1 expression was upregulated in the majority of the ccRCC tissues at both protein and mRNA levels. COL5A1 expression was significantly correlated with tumor diameter, tumor stage, tumor grade, distant metastasis, recurrence, necrosis, and sarcomatoid (all P<0.05). COL5A1 expression was also significantly associated with overall survival of ccRCC patients (HR 1.876; P=0.027) and recurrence-free survival of localized ccRCC patients (HR 4.751; P<0.001). The accuracy of TNM, University of California Los Angeles Integrated Staging System, and Mayo clinic stage, size, grade, and necrosis prognostic models was improved when COL5A1 expression was added. CONCLUSION: COL5A1 knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis, inhibited cell migration and invasion in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Therefore, COL5A1 may be a novel prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for ccRCC.

Room-temperature borylation and one-pot two-step borylation/Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of aryl chlorides.

A highly efficient room-temperature borylation strategy of aryl chlorides is described. Utilizing Buchwald's second-generation preformed catalyst, boronate esters were obtained for a wide range of substrates in high yield. The method was also applied to Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction in a one-pot two-step sequential manner, providing a facile and convenient access to the direct synthesis of biaryl compounds from aryl chlorides.

Cobalt oxide 2D nano-assemblies from infinite coordination polymer precursors mediated by a multidentate pyridyl ligand.

In this work, the construction of Co3O4 two dimensional (2D) nano-assemblies utilizing infinite coordination polymers (ICPs) as precursors was investigated, aiming at the morphology targeted fabrication and utilization of 2D materials. Based on the successful modulation of morphology, a rose-like Co based ICP precursor was obtained, which was further transformed into porous Co3O4 nanoflake assemblies with a well-preserved 2D morphology and a large surface area. The mechanism of the morphology modulation was illustrated by systematic investigation, which demonstrated the crucial role of a modulating agent in the formation of 2D nano-assemblies. In addition, the cobalt oxide 2D nano-assemblies are fabricated into a lithium anode combined with graphene, and the remarkable capacity and stability (900 mA h g(-1) after 50 cycles) of the resulting Co3O4/G nanocomposite indicates its potential in lithium battery applications.