Hsa_circ_0001658 accelerates the progression of colorectal cancer through miR-590-5p/METTL3 regulatory axis.

BACKGROUND: As reported, multiple circular RNAs (circRNAs) interfere with colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Here, circRNA_0001658 (circ_0001658) is focused on studying how it works in CRC. AIM: Clarify the expression pattern, biological function, and underlying mechanism of circ_0001658 of CRC tumorigenesis. METHODS: In CRC-related chip data retrieved using the database named Gene Expression Omnibus, different expressions of circRNAs between CRC and normal tissue samples were identified. Quantitative Real-time PCR and Western blot ensured the analysis on circ_0001658, microRNA-590-5P (miR-590-5p), and methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) mRNA expressions in tissues and cells. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration. The targeting relations between circ_0001658, miR-590-5p, and METTL3 mRNA 3'-untranslated region were under the verification of bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase-based reporter gene assays. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis were employed on the downstream targets of miR-590-5p using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery database. RESULTS: Circ_0001658 and METTL3 mRNA was elevated in CRC tissues and cells, whereas miR-590-5p was decreased. Circ_0001658 overexpression promoted the proliferation of HT29 cells, inhibited apoptosis, and accelerated the cell cycle. In SW480 cells, knocking down circ_0001658 had the opposite effect. Circ_0001658 could specifically bind to miR-590-5p and negatively modulate its expressions; METTL3 is a miR-590-5p target that can be positively regulated by circ 0001658. Circ 0001658 was inversely associated with miR-590-5p expression while positively with METTL3 expressions. CONCLUSION: Circ_0001658 regulates the miR-590-5p/METTL 3-axis to increase CRC cell growth and decrease apoptosis.

High-Efficiency Photodynamic Antibacterial Activity of NH2-MIL-101(Fe)@MoS2/ZnO Ternary Composites.

Bacterial infections are a serious threat to human health, and the development of effective antibacterial agents represents a critical solution. In this study, NH2-MIL-101(Fe)@MoS2/ZnO ternary nanocomposites are successfully prepared by a facile wet-chemistry procedure, where MoS2 nanosheets are grown onto the MIL-101 scaffold forming a flower-like morphology with ZnO nanoparticles deposited onto the surface. The ternary composites exhibit a remarkable sterilization performance under visible light irradiation toward both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, eliminating 98.6% of Escherichia coli and 90% of Staphylococcus aureus after exposure to visible light for 30 min, a performance markedly better than that with NH2-MIL-101(Fe)@MoS2 binary composites and even more so than MoS2 nanosheets alone. This is ascribed to the unique electronic band structure of the composites, where the separation of the photogenerated carriers is likely facilitated by the S-scheme mechanism in the NH2-MIL-101(Fe)@MoS2 binary composites and further enhanced by the formation of a p-n heterojunction between MoS2 and ZnO in the ternary composites. This interfacial charge transfer boosts the effective production of superoxide radicals by the reduction of oxygen, and the disproportionation reaction with water leads to the formation of hydroxy radicals, as attested in spectroscopic and microscopic measurements. Results from this study highlight the significance of structural engineering of nanocomposites in the manipulation of the electronic band structure and hence the photodynamic activity.

Selective identification and separation of ReO4- by biomimetic flexible temperature-sensitive imprinted composite membranes.

A new type of temperature-sensitive imprinted composite membranes(ICMs) was developed. Poly N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEA) blocks, as temperature-sensitive polymer, were grafted onto the substrate of the imprinted polymer separation layer to endow membranes with better adsorption effect. The comprehensive properties of the imprinted composite membranes were adequately tested and evaluated in detail. Results showed that ReO4- -ICMs (Re-ICMs) with temperature-sensitive recognition sites could adjust the structure of the imprinted holes at different temperatures, which presented excellent performance in the selective separation and purification of ReO4-. The prepared Re-ICMs exhibit the maximum adsorption capacity of 0.1639 mmol/g at 35 °C with the equilibrium adsorption time of 2 h. After ten adsorption/desorption cycles, Re-ICMs could still maintain 73.5% of the original adsorption capacity, the separation degree of ReO4-/MnO4- was only reduced from the initial 24.5 to 15.9, and the desorption ratio dropped from 80.4% to 68.4%, indicating that Re-ICMs have excellent adsorption and separation performance and reusability.

A Facile Approach for Fabrication of Core-Shell Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Nanospheres towards Hypericin.

By taking advantage of the self-polymerization of dopamine on the surface of magnetic nanospheres in weak alkaline Tris-HCl buffer solution, a facile approach was established to fabricate core-shell magnetic molecularly imprinted nanospheres towards hypericin (Fe3O4@PDA/Hyp NSs), via a surface molecular imprinting technique. The Fe3O4@PDA/Hyp NSs were characterized by FTIR, TEM, DLS, and BET methods, respectively. The reaction conditions for adsorption capacity and selectivity towards hypericin were optimized, and the Fe3O4@PDA/Hyp NSs synthesized under the optimized conditions showed a high adsorption capacity (Q = 18.28 mg/g) towards hypericin. The selectivity factors of Fe3O4@PDA/Hyp NSs were about 1.92 and 3.55 towards protohypericin and emodin, respectively. In addition, the approach established in this work showed good reproducibility for fabrication of Fe3O4@PDA/Hyp.

Prediction of frequency-specific hearing threshold using chirp auditory brainstem response in infants with hearing losses.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical usefulness of the LS-chirp auditory brainstem response for estimation of behavioral thresholds in young children with mild to severe hearing losses. METHODS: 68 infants (136 ears) aged 6-12 months (mean age=9.2 months) with bilateral mild to severe hearing losses were studied at Children's Hospital of Fudan University. In all cases, the children were referred for LS-chirp ABR and visual reinforcement audiometric (VRA) measurements. The low-frequency band chirp (LF-chirp) thresholds (frequency band=0.1-0.85kHz) were compared to the average VRA thresholds (frequency band=0.25-0.5kHz), whereas the high-frequency band chirp (HF-chirp) thresholds (frequency band=1-10kHz) were compared to the average VRA thresholds (frequency band=1-4kHz) using statistical correlation coefficient values. RESULTS: The LS-chirp ABR thresholds are very close to behavioral hearing levels. The mean differences between chirp-ABR and VRA thresholds were within 5dBHL for all measurements. The smallest mean threshold difference (<3dBHL) was obtained for the severe hearing loss group. The correlation coefficient values (r) were 0.97 at low-frequency and high-frequency bands. For each carrier frequency, the best correlations between chirp-ABR thresholds and VRA thresholds were obtained at VRA frequency of 0.25kHz/LF-chirp (r=0.98) and VRA frequency of 1kHz/HF-chirp (r=0.98). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the effectiveness using chirp-ABR predicted frequency-specific thresholds, especially of low and middle frequencies. LS-chirp ABR thresholds determined behavioral thresholds in patients with severe hearing losses were better than for mild hearing losses. The use of a chirp-ABR testing ensures higher sensitivity and accuracy than that of auditory stead-state evoked response (ASSR) for measuring frequency-specific thresholds in young children.

Performance of two hearing screening protocols in NICU in Shanghai.

OBJECTIVE: To study the sensitivity and specificity of targeted neonatal hearing screening for the single-session distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) technique and the combined DPOAE/automated auditory brain-stem response (AABR) technique. METHODS: 3000 high-risk newborns were studied at Children's Hospital of Fudan University. They were required to take two different screening procedures separately. The first procedure consisted of DPOAE alone and the second consisted of DPOAE combined with the AABR. Based upon the etiology in high-risk babies, they were divided into four groups. In group I there were 670 very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) newborns (1340 ears), and in group II there were 890 preterm babies (1780 ears). 850 babies (1700 ears) suffered from hyperbilirubinemia in group III, whereas 790 babies (1580 ears) with asphyxia were in group IV. The babies in groups II, III, and IV came from the neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) of our hospital. The study protocols consisted of the DPOAE alone and DPOAE combined with AABR hearing screening at an age of less than 1 month, and a diagnostic stage at the age of 2 months. RESULTS: With single-session DPOAE screening, the referral rate (8% of the NICU babies), the false-positive rate (4.96%) and the false-negative rate (0.8%) were higher. The different etiologies in NICU babies had significantly different referral rates (F-test, p<0.01). A 4.46% referral rate of hyperbilirubinemi babies was much lower. The combined DPOAE/AABR screening technique revealed a referral rate of 5.03%, a false-positive rate of 2% and a false-negative rate of 0.06%. The false-positive rate was well below the suggested 3% of the American Academy of Pediatric. Comparisons of the referral rate, false-positive rate and false-negative rate of two hearing screening protocols (DPOAE alone and combined DPOAE/AABR) revealed significant differences (t-test, p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.01). 91 infants (3.03% of the NICU babies) who failed the combined DPOAE/AABR screening were confirmed on hearing impairment. Of 22 babies who passed DPOAE screening but failed the AABR screening had a severe to profound hearing loss based on classic ABR. These patients (24% of the NICU babies with hearing losses) with hyperbilirubinemia and asphyxia problems at newborn stage were diagnosed as auditory neuropathy based on evaluations of DPOAE screening passed, abnormal ABR and absent middle-ear muscle reflexes (MMR). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the use of a combination of DPOAE and AABR testing ensures high sensitivity and acceptable specificity, and predict the AN profile in NICU babies. Our efforts identified 22 NICU babies with auditory neuropathy who hopefully will benefit from early remediation of their hearing deficit.