Effects of soil microplastic heterogeneity on plant growth vary with species and microplastic types.

Microplastics are heterogeneously distributed in soils. However, it is unknown whether soil microplastic heterogeneity affects plant growth and root foraging responses and whether such effects vary with plant species and microplastic types. We grew each of seven herbaceous species (Platycodon grandiflorus, Trifolium repens, Portulaca oleracea, Medicago sativa, Taraxacum mongolicum, Perilla frutescenst, and Paspalum notatum) in heterogeneous soil (patches without microplastics and patches with 0.2 % microplastics) and homogeneous soil (patches with 0.1 % microplastics). Three microplastic types were tested: polypropylene (PP), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and polyester (PET). P. frutescens showed no response to soil microplastic heterogeneity. For P. grandiflora, microplastic heterogeneity tended to decrease its biomass (total, shoot and root) when the microplastic was PAN and also shoot biomass when it was PET, but had no effect when it was PP. For T. repens, microplastic heterogeneity promoted biomass when PAN was used, decreased total and root biomass when PET was used, but showed no effect when PP was used. Microplastic heterogeneity increased biomass of P. oleracea and decreased that of M. sativa when PET was used, but had no effect when PP or PAN was used. For T. mongolicum, microplastic heterogeneity reduced biomass when the microplastic was PAN, tended to increase total and root biomass when it was PP, but showed no effect when it was PET. For P. notatum, microplastic heterogeneity increased biomass when the microplastic was PP, decreased it when PET was used, but had no effect when PAN was used. However, biomass of none of the seven species showed root foraging responses at the patch level. Therefore, soil microplastic heterogeneity can influence plant growth, but such effects depend on species and microplastic types and are not associated with root foraging. Our findings highlight the roles of soil microplastic heterogeneity, which may influence species interactions and community structure and productivity.

The novel TERF2::PDGFRB fusion gene enhances tumorigenesis via PDGFRB/STAT5 signalling pathways and sensitivity to TKI in ph-like ALL.

Patients with Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Ph-like ALL) often face a grim prognosis, with PDGFRB gene fusions being commonly detected in this subgroup. Our study has unveiled a newfound fusion gene, TERF2::PDGFRB, and we have found that patients carrying this fusion gene exhibit sensitivity to dasatinib. Ba/F3 cells harbouring the TERF2::PDGFRB fusion display IL-3-independent cell proliferation through activation of the p-PDGFRB and p-STAT5 signalling pathways. These cells exhibit reduced apoptosis and demonstrate sensitivity to imatinib in vitro. When transfused into mice, Ba/F3 cells with the TERF2::PDGFRB fusion gene induce tumorigenesis and a shortened lifespan in cell-derived graft models, but this outcome can be improved with imatinib treatment. In summary, we have identified the novel TERF2::PDGFRB fusion gene, which exhibits oncogenic potential both in vitro and in vivo, making it a potential therapeutic target for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

[Functional peptidomics analysis of Saccharomyces pastorianus protein hydrolysates based on different enzyme treatments].

The aim of this study is to explore differences in the peptidomics of Saccharomyces pastorianus protein hydrolysates treated with different enzymes. Briefly, differences in the peptide fingerprints and active peptides of neutral protease/papain-hydrolyzed S. pastorianus were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) combined with PEAKS Online 1.7 analysis software, Peptide Ranker, and the BIOPEP database. Compared to traditional databases, the PEAKS Online uses de novo sequencing for analysis to obtain oligopeptides smaller than pentapeptides. It provides more comprehensive data of the peptide sample. In this study, enzymatic hydrolysates of S. pastorianus protein were prepared under the optimum conditions of neutral protease and papain respectively. In total, 7221 and 7062 polypeptides were identified in the hydrolysates of neutral protease and papain, respectively; among these polypeptides, 980 were common to the two enzymes. The 6241 and 6082 unique peptides found in the hydrolysates of neutral protease and papain, respectively, indicated that the peptide fingerprints of the two hydrolysates are quite different. Peptide Ranker predicted that 3013 (41.73%) and 3095 (43.83%) peptides were potentially bioactive in the hydrolysates of neutral protease and papain, respectively. According to the BIOPEP database, neutral protease and papain contained 295 and 357 active peptides, respectively; these peptides were mainly composed of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors and antioxidant peptides. The number of active peptides in the hydrolysate of papain was higher than that in the hydrolysate of neutral protease, but the total ion intensity of active peptides in the former was lower than that in the latter. This study revealed the influence of protease type on the composition of enzymatic hydrolysates from S. pastorianus protein. The above results provide a reference for the development of functional products of S. pastorianus protein peptides and the high-value utilization of yeast resources.

Development and validation of a scoring system to predict esophagogastroduodenoscopy necessity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and validate a scoring system for predicting the need for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in clinical practice to enhance accuracy and reduce misapplications. METHODS: From February 2021 to April 2022, outpatients scheduled for EGD at the Department of Gastroenterology in our hospital were recruited. Patients completed the system evaluation by providing clinical symptoms, relevant medical history, and endoscopic findings. Patients were randomly divided into the training and validation cohorts (at 2:1 ratio). The optimal algorithm was selected from five alternatives including a parallel test. Six physicians participated in a human-computer comparative validation. Sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio (-LR) were used as the primary indicators. RESULTS: Altogether 865 patients were enrolled, with 578 in the training cohort and 287 in the validation cohort. The scoring system comprised 21 variables, including age, 13 typical clinical symptoms, and seven medical history variables. The parallel test was selected as the final algorithm. Positive EGD findings were reported in 54.5% of the training cohort and 62.7% of the validation cohort. The scoring system demonstrated a sensitivity of 79.0% in the training cohort and 83.9% in the validation cohort, with -LR being 0.627 and 0.615, respectively. Compared to physicians, the scoring system exhibited higher sensitivity (84.0% vs 68.7%, P = 0.02) and a lower -LR (1.11 vs 2.41, P = 0.439). CONCLUSIONS: We developed a scoring system to predict the necessity of EGD using a parallel test algorithm, which was user-friendly and effective, as evidenced by single-center validation.

Comparison of tropomyosin released peptide and epitope mapping after in vitro digestion from fish (Larimichthys crocea), shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) through SWATH-MS based proteomics.

Tropomyosin (TM) is a major shellfish allergen and a minor fish allergen. Different digestion profiles affect potential allergen anaphylaxis of protein. In this study, released peptides of fish-TM, shrimp-TM, and clam-TM by in vitro digestion of simulated gastric fluid (SGF), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), and gastrointestinal (GI) were analyzed using sequential windowed acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion mass spectra (SWATH-MS) based proteomics. Results showed that digestion products of shrimp-TM yielded a lot of peptides matched T/B cell epitopes while core regions matched epitopes were distributed along the entire chain. Pepsin or trypsin-based digestion products of shrimp-TM presented many more peptides matched T/B cell epitopes compared with those of fish-TM and clam-TM. Besides, a differentiating peptide of VEKDKALSNAEGEVAAL (72-88) overlapped T/B cell epitopes could be used as a candidate peptide marker to identify tropomyosin allergen. These findings would supply new insight into the different allergenicity of tropomyosin.

[Yigong Powder regulates CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling to reduce glutamate release and prevent cognitive decline in mouse model of aging].

This study aims to explore the effect of preventive administration of Yigong Powder on the learning and memory abilities of the mouse model of aging induced by D-galactose and decipher the underlying mechanism, so as to provide a basis for the application of Yigong Powder in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline. Forty KM mice were randomized into control, model, donepezil(1.5 mg·kg~(-1)), and high-dose(7.5 g·kg~(-1)) and low-dose(3.75 g·kg~(-1)) Yigong Powder groups. The mice in other groups except the control group were injected with D-galactose(200 g·kg~(-1)) at the back of the neck for the modeling of aging. At the same time, the mice were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for one month. Morris water maze was used to examine the learning and memory abilities of the mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the pathological and morphological changes of the hippocampus. The immunofluorescence assay was employed to detect the expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(IBA1), glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), chemokine C-X-C-motif ligand 12(CXCL12), chemokine C-X-C-motif receptor 4(CXCR4) in the hippocampus and observe the positional relationship between IBA1, GFAP, and CXCR4. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of extracellular regulated kinase(ERK), p-ERK, and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1(TNFR1). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of glutamate and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α) in the brain tissue and the level of TNF-α in the serum and spleen. Yigong Powder significantly shortened the escape latency, increased the times crossing platforms, and prolonged the cumulative time in quadrants of the aging mice. It alleviated the nerve cell disarrangement, increased intercellular space, and cell degeneration or death in the hippocampus and reduced the pathology score of the damaged nerve. Moreover, Yigong Powder reduced the positive area of IBA1 and GFAP, reduced the levels of TNF-α in the brain tissue, serum, and spleen, and decreased spleen index. Furthermore, Yigong Powder decreased the average fluorescence intensity of CXCL12 and CXCR4, reduced CXCR4-positive astrocytes and microglia, down-regulated the protein levels of p-ERK/ERK and TNFR1, and lowered the level of glutamate in the brain tissue. This study showed that the preventive administration of Yigong Powder can ameliorate the learning and memory decline of the D-galactose-induced aging mice by regulating the immune function of the spleen and the CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in the brain to reduce glutamate release. However, the mechanism of Yigong San in preventing and treating dementia via regulating spleen and stomach function remains to be studied.

Soil heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics influences productivity and species composition of plant communities.

Contamination of soils by microplastics can have profound ecological impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and has received increasing attention. However, few studies have considered the impacts of soil microplastics on plant communities and none has tested the impacts of spatial heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics in the soil on plant communities. We grew experimental plant communities in soils with either a homogeneous or a heterogeneous distribution of each of six common microplastics, i.e., polystyrene foam (EPS), polyethylene fiber (PET), polyethylene bead (HDPE), polypropylene fiber (PP), polylactic bead (PLA) and polyamide bead (PA6). The heterogeneous treatment consisted of two soil patches without microplastics and two with a higher (0.2%) concentration of microplastics, and the homogeneous treatment consisted of four patches all with a lower (0.1%) concentration of microplastics. Thus, the total amounts of microplastics in the soils were exactly the same in the two treatments. Total and root biomass of the plant communities were significantly higher in the homogeneous than in the heterogeneous treatment when the microplastic was PET and PP, smaller when it was PLA, but not different when it was EPS, HDPE or PA6. In the heterogeneous treatment, total and root biomass were significantly smaller in the patches with than without microplastics when the microplastic was EPS, but greater when the microplastic was PET or PP. Additionally, in the heterogeneous treatment, root biomass was significantly smaller in the patches with than without microplastics when the microplastic was HDPE, and shoot biomass was also significantly smaller when the microplastic was EPS or PET. The heterogeneous distribution of EPS in the soil significantly decreased community evenness, but the heterogeneous distribution of PET increased it. We conclude that soil heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics can influence productivity and species composition of plant communities, but such an effect varies depending on microplastic chemical composition (types) and morphology (shapes).

Lupus podocytopathy and antiphospholipid syndrome in a child with SLE: A case report and literature review.

Lupus podocytopathy is a glomerular lesion in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) characterized by diffuse podocyte foot process effacement (FPE) without immune complex (IC) deposition or with only mesangial IC deposition. It is rarely seen in children with SLE. A 13-year-old girl met the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/ American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Classification Criteria for SLE based on positive ANA; facial rash; thrombocytopenia; proteinuria; and positive antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies, including lupus anticoagulant (LAC), anti-ß2 glycoprotein-I antibody (anti-ß2GPI), and anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL). The renal lesion was characterized by 3+ proteinuria, a 4.2 mg/mg spot (random) urine protein to creatinine ratio, and hypoalbuminemia (26.2 g/l) at the beginning of the disease. Kidney biopsy findings displayed negative immunofluorescence (IF) for immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgM, fibrinogen (Fb), C3, and C1q, except faint IgG; a normal glomerular appearance under a light microscope; and diffuse podocyte foot process effacement (FPE) in the absence of subepithelial or subendothelial deposition by electron microscopy (EM). Histopathology of the epidermis and dermis of the pinna revealed a hyaline thrombus in small vessels. The patient met the APS classification criteria based on microvascular thrombogenesis and persistently positive aPL antibodies. She responded to a combination of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents. Our study reinforces the need to consider the potential cooccurrence of LP and APS. Clinicians should be aware of the potential presence of APS in patients with a diagnosis of LP presenting with NS and positivity for aPL antibodies, especially triple aPL antibodies (LCA, anti-ß2GPI, and aCL).

Characterization of Marinilongibacter aquaticus gen. nov., sp. nov., a unique marine bacterium harboring four CRISPR-Cas systems in the phylum Bacteroidota.

A novel bacterium, designated YYF0007T, was isolated from an agar-degrading co-culture. The strain was found harboring four CRISPR-Cas systems of two classes in the chromosome and subsequently subjected to a study on polyphasic taxonomy. Pairwise analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YYF0007T had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (92.2%) to Jiulongibacter sediminis JN-14-9T. The phylogenomic trees based on the 16S rRNA gene and 269 single-copy orthologous gene clusters (OCs) indicated that strain YYF0007T should be recognized as a novel genus of the family Spirosomaceae. The cells were Gramstain-negative, nonmotile, strictly aerobic, and straight long rods with no flagellum. Optimum growth occurred at 28°C and pH 7.0 with the presence of NaCl concentration 1.0-3.0% (w/v). The strain showed oxidase and catalase activities. The major fatty acids were C16:1ω5c, iso-C15:0 and summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The complete genome size was 4.64 Mb with a DNA G + C content of 44.4%. Further typing of CRISPR-Cas systems in the family Spirosomaceae and the phylum Bacteroidota indicated that it was remarkable for strain YYF0007T featured by such a set of CRISPR-Cas systems. This trait highlights the applications of strain YYF-0007T in studies on the evolutionary dynamics and bacterial autoimmunity of CRISPR-Cas system as a potential model. The name Marinilongibacter aquaticus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, and the type strain is YYF0007T (= MCCC 1K06017T = GDMCC 1.2428T = JCM 34683T).

Diagnostic genes and immune infiltration analysis of colorectal cancer determined by LASSO and SVM machine learning methods: a bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Genetic factors account for approximately 35% of colorectal cancer risk. The specificity and sensitivity of previous diagnostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer could not meet the need of clinical application. The expanding scale and inherent complexity of biological data have encouraged a growing use of machine learning to build informative and predictive models of the underlying biological processes. The aim of this study is to identify diagnostic genes of colorectal cancer by using machine learning methods. Methods: The GSE41328 and GSE106582 data sets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The gene expression differences between colon cancer and normal tissues were analyzed. The key colorectal cancer genes were screened and validated by Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) regression. Immune cell infiltration and the correlation with the key genes in patients with colon cancer were further analyzed by CIBERSORT. Results: Eleven key genes were identified as biomarkers for colon cancer, namely ASCL2, BEST4, CFD, DPEPCFD, FOXQ1, TRIB3, KLF4, MMP7, MMP11, PYY, and PDK4. The mean area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of all 11 genes for colon cancer diagnosis were 0.94 with a range of 0.91-0.97. In the validation set, the expression of the 11 key genes was significantly different between colon cancer and normal subjects (P<0.05) and the mean AUCs were 0.82 with a range of 0.70-0.88. Immune cell infiltration analyses demonstrated that the relative quantity of plasma cells, T cells, B cells, NK cells, MO, M1, Dendritic cells resting, Mast cells resting, Mast cells activated, and Neutrophils in the tumor group were significantly different to the normal group. Conclusions: ASCL2, BEST4, CFD, DPEPCFD, FOXQ1, TRIB3, KLF4, MMP7, MMP11, PYY, and PDK4 were identified as the key genes for colon cancer diagnosis. These genes are expected to become novel diagnostic markers and targets of new pharmacotherapies for colorectal cancer.

Angiogenesis-Related Gene Signature-Derived Risk Score for Glioblastoma: Prospects for Predicting Prognosis and Immune Heterogeneity in Glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant tumor in the central nervous system with poor prognosis and unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy. Considering the high correlation between tumors and angiogenesis, we attempted to construct a more effective model with angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) to better predict therapeutic response and prognosis. Methods: The ARG datasets were downloaded from the NCBI-Gene and Molecular Signatures Database. The gene expression data and clinical information were obtained from TCGA and CGGA databases. The differentially expressed angiogenesis-related genes (DE-ARGs) were screened with the R package "DESeq2". Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to screen for ARGs related to overall survival. The redundant ARGs were removed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Based on the gene signature of DE-ARGs, a risk score model was established, and its effectiveness was estimated through Kaplan-Meier analysis, ROC analysis, etc. Results: A total of 626 DE-ARGs were explored between GBM and normal samples; 31 genes were identified as key DE-ARGs. Then, the risk score of ARG signature was established. Patients with high-risk score had poor survival outcomes. It was proved that the risk score could predict some medical treatments' response, such as temozolomide chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Besides, the risk score could serve as a promising prognostic predictor. Three key prognostic genes (PLAUR, ITGA5, and FMOD) were selected and further discussed. Conclusion: The angiogenesis-related gene signature-derived risk score is a promising predictor of prognosis and treatment response in GBM and will help in making appropriate therapeutic strategies.

Computed tomographic enterography (CTE) in evaluating bowel involvement in patients with ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: To explore the utility of CTE in the evaluation of bowel invasion in patients with primary ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer. METHODS: This observational study included 73 patients who received CTE before operation between September 2019 and December 2021. Two radiologists reviewed CTE images, focusing on the sites and depth of bowel involvement. Based on the findings during surgical exploration, we evaluated the diagnostic power, like sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (+ LR), and negative likelihood ratio (- LR) of CTE. Additionally, the characteristic images of bowel involvement on CTE corresponding to surgical findings were shown in the study. RESULTS: The rate of macroscopic bowel invasion in this cohort was 49.31% (36/73), of which eight patients had small bowel involvement, 17 patients had colon involvement and 27 patients had sigmoid-rectum involvement. CTE detected bowel invasion in the small intestine with a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 87.50%, 92.31%, 58.33%, 98.36%, 91.78%; for colon, the statistics were 58.82%, 96.43%, 83.33%, 88.52%, 87.67% and for sigmoid-rectum 62.96%, 82.61%, 68.00%, 79.17%, 75.34%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CTE appeared a preferable diagnostic power on the small bowel and colon invasion in patients with primary ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer.

Embryonic Origin and Subclonal Evolution of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Imply Preventive Care for Cancer.

Macrophages are widely distributed in tissues and function in homeostasis. During cancer development, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) dominatingly support disease progression and resistance to therapy by promoting tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and immunosuppression, thereby making TAMs a target for tumor immunotherapy. Here, we started with evidence that TAMs are highly plastic and heterogeneous in phenotype and function in response to microenvironmental cues. We pointed out that efforts to tear off the heterogeneous "camouflage" in TAMs conduce to target de facto protumoral TAMs efficiently. In particular, several fate-mapping models suggest that most tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) are generated from embryonic progenitors, and new paradigms uncover the ontogeny of TAMs. First, TAMs from embryonic modeling of TRMs and circulating monocytes have distinct transcriptional profiling and function, suggesting that the ontogeny of TAMs is responsible for the functional heterogeneity of TAMs, in addition to microenvironmental cues. Second, metabolic remodeling helps determine the mechanism of phenotypic and functional characteristics in TAMs, including metabolic bias from macrophages' ontogeny in macrophages' functional plasticity under physiological and pathological conditions. Both models aim at dissecting the ontogeny-related metabolic regulation in the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity in TAMs. We argue that gleaning from the single-cell transcriptomics on subclonal TAMs' origins may help understand the classification of TAMs' population in subclonal evolution and their distinct roles in tumor development. We envision that TAM-subclone-specific metabolic reprogramming may round-up with future cancer therapies.

Distinguishing Rectal Cancer from Colon Cancer Based on the Support Vector Machine Method and RNA-sequencing Data.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Several studies have indicated that rectal cancer is significantly different from colon cancer in terms of treatment, prognosis, and metastasis. Recently, the differential mRNA expression of colon cancer and rectal cancer has received a great deal of attention. The current study aimed to identify significant differences between colon cancer and rectal cancer based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data via support vector machines (SVM). Here, 393 CRC samples from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were investigated, including 298 patients with colon cancer and 95 with rectal cancer. Following the random forest (RF) analysis of the mRNA expression data, 96 genes such as HOXB13, PRAC, and BCLAF1 were identified and utilized to build the SVM classification model with the Leave-One-Out Cross-validation (LOOCV) algorithm. In the training (n=196) and the validation cohorts (n=197), the accuracy (82.1 % and 82.2 %, respectively) and the AUC (0.87 and 0.91, respectively) indicated that the established optimal SVM classification model distinguished colon cancer from rectal cancer reasonably. However, additional experiments are required to validate the predicted gene expression levels and functions.

Altererythrobacter flava sp. nov., a new member of the family Erythrobacteraceae, isolated from a surface seawater sample.

A Gram-stain-negative, light yellow pigmented, non-motile and aerobic bacterial strain, designated HHU E2-1 T, was isolated from a surface seawater sample. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that HHU E2-1 T shared the highest sequence similarity to the type strain Qipengyuania gaetbuli DSM 16225 T (96.90%), which belongs to the family Erythrobacteraceae. Combined phylogeny of 288 single-copy orthologous gene clusters, analysis of average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH), average amino acid identity (AAI) and evolutionary distances suggested that HHU E2-1 T can be considered as a member of the genus Altererythrobacter based on the recently proposed standard for defining genera of Erythrobacteraceae. Strain HHU E2-1 T grew at 15-35 °C and pH 5.0-8.0, with optimum growth at 28 °C and pH 7.0. Tolerance to NaCl was up to 4% (w/v) with optimum growth in 2-3% NaCl. The major fatty acids (> 10%) were C18:1ω7c11-methyl, summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c), and summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10. The genomic G + C content was 57.40%. On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characterizations, HHU E2-1 T represents a novel species of the genus Altererythrobacter, for which the name Altererythrobacter flava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HHU E2-1 T (= CGMCC 1.17394 T = KCTC 72835 T = MCCC 1K04226T).

Analysis of 234 cases of colorectal polyps treated by endoscopic mucosal resection.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal polyps refer to all neoplasms that protrude into the intestinal cavity. Researchers believe that 50%-70% of colorectal cancers originate from adenomatous polyps. AIM: To investigate the endoscopic morphologic features, pathologic types, and clinical situation; evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR); and guide clinicians in their daily practice. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-four patients who underwent EMR in our hospital from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 were recruited. Data including sex, age, endoscopic morphology of the polyps, and pathological characteristics were analyzed among groups. RESULTS: A total of 295 polyps were resected from the 234 subjects enrolled in the study, of which 4 (1.36%) were Yamada type I. There were 75 (25.42%) type II, 101 (34.24%) type III, and 115 (38.98%) type IV adenomas. Among them, 41 were non-adenomas, 110 were low-risk adenomas, 139 were high-risk adenomas, and 5 were carcinomas. The differences in distribution were not statistically significant, with P values greater than 0.05. The risk of cancer significantly increased for polyps ≥ 1 cm in diameter (c2 = 199.825, P = 0.00). Regarding the endoscopic morphological features, congestion, erosion, and lobulation were more common on the surface morphology of high-risk adenomas and cancerous polyps (c2 = 75.257, P = 0.00), and most of them were Yamada types III and IV. In all, 6 of the 295 polyps could not be removed completely, with a one-time resection rate of 97.97%. There were two cases of postoperative bleeding and no cases of perforation, with an overall complication rate of 0.09%. CONCLUSION: Colorectal polyps ranging from non-adenomatous polyps, low-risk adenomas, and high-risk adenomas to adenocarcinomas each has their own endoscopic features, while EMR, as a mature intervention, has good safety and operability and should be promoted clinically, especially at the primary care level.

CircRNA-0008717 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by regulating miR-203/Slug in esophageal cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in the regulation of multiple human diseases, including cancer. In particular, the dysregulation of circRNA-0008717 has been linked to multiple types of cancer. However, the clinical significance and the molecular mechanisms of circRNA-0008717 in EC need to be further investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to prove the role of circRNA-0008717 in EC and its underlying molecular mechanism of action. METHODS: The expression of circRNA-0008717, miR-203, and the Slug was measured in two EC cell lines (EC109 and KYSE-150) by qRT-RCR. EC109 and KYSE-150 cells were first transfected with circRNA-0008717 siRNA (si-circRNA). After that, the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of EC109 and KYSE-150 cells were measured. The western blot detected Slug, Vimentin, and E-cadherin protein levels. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to set up the interactions among circRNA-0008717, miR-203, and Slug. RESULTS: circRNA-0008717 expression was significantly upregulated in EC cells, and miR-2031 expression was decreased. Moreover, si-circRNA-0008717 or si-Slug inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC cells. We found that circRNA-0008717 functioned as a sponge of miR-203, resulting in increased expression of Slug. We also reversed the effect of circRNA-0008717 knockdown on the EC progression by co-transfecting EC cells with a miR-203 inhibitor or Slug. CONCLUSIONS: The proliferation, invasion, and migration of EC cells were enhanced by circRNA-0008717 sponging the miR-203 to increase Slug expression.

Combination treatment with artemisinin and oxaliplatin inhibits tumorigenesis in esophageal cancer EC109 cell through Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a prevalent malignant cancer worldwide. Interestingly, the antimalaria compound artemisinin (ART) is also reported to have anticancer potential, although its underlying mechanism in EC is unclear. In this study, we explored the anticancer role of ART in EC109 and further explored the combination of ART and oxaliplatin (OXA) for their synergetic anticancer functions. METHODS: Human EC cell line EC109 was used. After ART or oxaliplatin (OXA) treatment, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were measured by MTT, transwell, and scratch wound assays, respectively. Flow cytometry was performed to examine the cell cycle and apoptosis. The mRNA and protein levels were determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting. RESULTS: The migration and invasion abilities of EC109 were suppressed by ART. This was due to the inhibitory effect of ART on the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. The levels of ß-catenin, c-myc, and survivin were also downregulated by ART. ART inhibits the proliferation of EC109 cells by arresting the cells in the G1-phase of cell cycle. By using LiCl, an activator of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, we further verified that the inhibition of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway was indeed due to ART. Remarkably, ART enhanced the anticancer effects of OXA in EC109 cells. OXA combined with ART was found to be more efficient in decreasing tumor growth compared to the individual drugs. CONCLUSIONS: ART could suppress tumor progression by inhibiting Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and it may also enhance the antitumor effect of OXA in EC. Thus, ART could be a novel anticancer drug for EC treatment. KEY POINTS: SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: ART could be a novel anticancer drug for esophageal cancer (EC) treatment. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: Combination treatment with artemisinin and oxaliplatin inhibits tumorigenesis in esophageal cancer EC109 cells through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

LINC00657/miR-26a-5p/CKS2 ceRNA network promotes the growth of esophageal cancer cells via the MDM2/p53/Bcl2/Bax pathway.

LncRNA LINC00657 has oncogenic or anti-carcinoma roles in different cancers, and yet its detailed molecular mechanism in esophageal cancer (EC) remains unclear. In addition, competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks are critical for tumorigenesis and progression. Hence, the present study explored the roles of LINC00657 in EC and identified its relevant ceRNA network. We first detected the expression of LINC00657 in EC. Then, we applied starBase and TargetScan websites to find miR-26a-5p binding to LINC00657 and obtain CKS2 as a target of miR-26a-5p. The roles of LINC00657, miR-26a-5p or CKS2 in the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of EC cells were respectively assessed by CCK-8, wound healing assay, transwell invasion assay, and flow cytometry. The changes of the MDM2/p53/Bcl2/Bax pathway were measured via Western blot. The results revealed that LINC00657 showed an aberrant high expression in EC cells, which promoted the growth of EC cells. Additionally, LINC00657 functioned as a sponge of miR-26a-5p, and LINC00657 negatively mediated miR-26a-5p to regulate the growth of EC cells. Furthermore, CKS2 was observed as a direct target of miR-26a-5p, and CKS2 controlled the growth of EC cells via the MDM2/p53/Bcl2/Bax pathway. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between LINC00657 and CKS2. LINC00657 knockdown inhibited CKS2 expression to suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC cells and induced apoptosis via regulating the MDM2/p53/Bcl2/Bax pathway. Collectively, LINC00657/miR-26a-5p/CKS2 ceRNA network could promote the progression of EC, which is good for understanding the molecular mechanism of EC and offers novel biomarkers for EC diagnosis and therapy.

CR6-interacting factor-1 contributes to osteoclastogenesis by inducing receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand after radiation.

BACKGROUND: Radiation induces rapid bone loss and enhances bone resorption and adipogenesis, leading to an increased risk of bone fracture. There is still a lack of effective preventive or therapeutic method for irradiation-induced bone injury. Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) provides the crucial signal to induce osteoclast differentiation and plays an important role in bone resorption. However, the mechanisms of radiation-induced osteoporosis are not fully understood. AIM: To investigate the role of CR6-interacting factor-1 (Crif1) in osteoclastogenesis after radiation and its possible mechanism. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were exposed to Co-60 gamma rays and received 5 Gy of whole-body sublethal irradiation at a rate of 0.69 Gy/min. For in vitro study, mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BM-MSCs) were irradiated with Co-60 at a single dose of 9 Gy. For osteoclast induction, monocyte-macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cocultured with mouse BM-MSCs for 7 d. ClusPro and InterProSurf were used to investigate the interaction interface in Crif1 and protein kinase cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-activited catalytic subunit alpha complex. Virtual screening using 462608 compounds from the Life Chemicals database around His120 of Crif1 was carried out using the program Autodock_vina. A tetrazolium salt (WST-8) assay was carried out to study the toxicity of compounds to different cells, including human BM-MSCs, mouse BM-MSCs, and Vero cells. RESULTS: Crif1 expression increased in bone marrow cells after radiation in mice. Overexpression of Crif1 in mouse BM-MSCs and radiation exposure could increase RANKL secretion and promote osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Deletion of Crif1 in BM-MSCs could reduce both adipogenesis and RANKL expression, resulting in the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. Deletion of Crif1 in RAW264.7 cells did not affect the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB expression or osteoclast differentiation. Following treatment with protein kinase A (PKA) agonist (forskolin) and inhibitor (H-89) in mouse BM-MSCs, Crif1 induced RANKL secretion via the cAMP/PKA pathway. Moreover, we identified the Crif1-protein kinase cyclic adenosine monophosphate-activited catalytic subunit alpha interaction interface by in silico studies and shortlisted interface inhibitors through virtual screening on Crif1. Five compounds dramatically suppressed RANKL secretion and adipogenesis by inhibiting the cAMP/PKA pathway. CONCLUSION: Crif1 promotes RANKL expression via the cAMP/PKA pathway, which induces osteoclastogenesis by binding to receptor activator of nuclear factor κB on monocytes-macrophages in the mouse model. These results suggest a role for Crif1 in modulating osteoclastogenesis and provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies targeting the balance between osteogenesis and adipogenesis for radiation-induced bone injury.