Dual Activation of Calcium Channels Using Near-Infrared Responsive Conjugated Oligomer Nanoparticles for Precise Regulation of Blood Glucose Homeostasis.

The rarity of efficient tools with spatiotemporal resolution and biocompatibility capabilities remains a major challenge for further progress and application of signaling manipulation. Herein, biomimetic conjugated oligomeric nanoparticles (CM-CONs) were developed to precisely modulate blood glucose homeostasis via the two-pronged activation of calcium channels. Under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, CM-CONs efficiently generate local heat and reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby simultaneously activating thermosensitive transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) and ROS-sensitive transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) calcium channels in small intestinal endocrine cells. The activation of the channels mediates inward calcium flow and then promotes glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) secretion. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that CM-CONs effectively regulate glucose homeostasis in diabetic model mice upon NIR light irradiation. This work develops a two-pronged attack strategy for accurately controlling blood glucose homeostasis, holding great prospects in the treatment for diabetes.

Gel Property of Soy Protein Emulsion Gel: Impact of Combined Microwave Pretreatment and Covalent Binding of Polyphenols by Alkaline Method.

This study investigated the effects of microwave modification, alkali polyphenol (ferulic acid) covalently combined modification, and microwave-alkali polyphenol covalently combined modification on the gel properties of soy protein emulsions. The results showed that the properties of soy protein emulsions were improved significantly by the three modification methods. After three kinds of modification, the viscoelasticity of soy protein emulsion gel increased, and a gel system with stronger elasticity was formed. The texture, water-holding, and hydration properties of the emulsion gel increased significantly. The SEM and ClSM results showed that the modified soy protein emulsion gel had a more compact and uniform porous structure, and the oil droplets could be better embedded in the network structure of the gel. Among the three modification methods, the microwave-alkali method polyphenol covalently combining the compound modification effect was best, and the microwave modification effect was least effective compared to the other two methods. Our obtained results suggested that for gel property modification of soy protein emulsion gels, microwave pretreatment combined with the covalent binding of polyphenols by an alkaline method is an effective method.

Application prospective of nanoprobes with MRI and FI dual-modality imaging on breast cancer stem cells in tumor.

Breast cancer (BC) is a serious disease to threat lives of women. Numerous studies have proved that BC originates from cancer stem cells (CSCs). But at present, no one approach can quickly and simply identify breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) in solid tumor. Nanotechnology is probably able to realize this goal. But in study process, scientists find it seems that nanomaterials with one modality, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or fluorescence imaging (FI), have their own advantages and drawbacks. They cannot meet practical requirements in clinic. The nanoprobe combined MRI with FI modality is a promising tool to accurately detect desired cells with low amount in tissue. In this work, we briefly describe the MRI and FI development history, analyze advantages and disadvantages of nanomaterials with single modality in cancer cell detection. Then the application development of nanomaterials with dual-modality in cancer field is discussed. Finally, the obstacles and prospective of dual-modal nanoparticles in detection field of BCSCs are also pointed out in order to speed up clinical applications of nanoprobes.

Association between VANGL1 gene polymorphisms and neural tube defects.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common, severe congenital malformations. The association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of the VANGL1 gene and NTDs in a Han population of Northern China was principally studied. Missense single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4839469 c.346G > A p.Ala116Thr and rs34059106 c.1040A > C p.Glu347Ala) of the VANGL1 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing methods in 135 NTD cases and 135 normal controls. Genotype and allele frequency distribution was calculated, and the spatial structure of the protein was predicted. The results showed that the VANGL1 gene sequence at the rs4839469 locus exhibited Ala116Thr and Ala116Pro polymorphisms, and allele and genotype distributions were significantly different (p = 0.036 and 0.010) between the case and control group. Genotype GC was newly discovered, and its odds ratio value versus GG genotype was 10.241; the α helix fragment of the Ala116Pro mutant was significantly shortened compared with wild type. The rs34059106 site showed alleles of A and did not display C alleles in the two groups. Therefore, the rs4839469 allele of VANGL1 was obviously associated with NTDs. And genotype GC increased the risk of NTDs, changes in the three-dimensional protein structure may have impacted its biological functions, and the rs34059106 polymorphism had no significant correlation with NTDs.

The role of ANXA1 in the tumor microenvironment.

Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is widely expressed in a variety of body tissues and cells and is also involved in tumor development through multiple pathways. The invasion, metastasis, and immune escape of tumor cells depend on the interaction between tumor cells and their surrounding environment. Research shows that ANXA1 can act on a variety of cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and subsequently affect the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumors. This article describes the role of ANXA1 in the various components of the tumor microenvironment and its mechanism of action, as well as the existing clinical treatment measures related to ANXA1. These findings provide insight for the further design of strategies targeting ANXA1 for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors.

Treatment of Monochlorobenzene from Polymers Process through Electrochemical Oxidation.

With the rapid development of the economy and the demands of people's lives, the usage amount of polymer materials is significantly increasing globally. Chlorobenzenes (CBS) are widely used in the industrial, agriculture and chemical industries, particularly as important chemical raw materials during polymers processes. CBS are difficult to remove due to their properties, such as being hydrophobic, volatile and persistent and biotoxic, and they have caused great harm to the ecological environment and human health. Electrochemical oxidation technology for the treatment of refractory pollutants has been widely used due to its high efficiency and easiness of operation. Thus, the electrochemical oxidation system was established for the efficient treatment of monochlorobenzene (MCB) waste gas. The effect of a single factor, such as anode materials, cathode materials, the electrolyte concentration, current density and electrode distance on the removal efficiency (RE) of MCB gas were first studied. The response-surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the relationships between different factors' conditions (current density, electrolyte concentration, electrode distance), and a prediction model was established using the Design-Expert 10.0.1 software to optimize the reaction conditions. The results of the one-factor experiments showed that when treating 2.90 g/m3 MCB gas with a 0.40 L/min flow rate, Ti/Ti4O7 as an anode, stainless steel wire mesh as a cathode, 0.15 mol/L NaCl electrolyte, 10.0 mA/cm2 current density and 4.0 cm electrode distance, the average removal efficiency (RE), efficiency capacity (EC) and energy consumption (Esp) were 57.99%, 20.18 g/(m3·h) and 190.2 (kW·h)/kg, respectively. The results of the RSM showed that the effects of the process parameters on the RE of MBC were as follows: current density > electrode distance > electrolyte concentration; the interactions effects on the RE of MBC were in the order of electrolyte concentration and current density > current density and electrode distance > electrolyte concentration and electrode distance; the optimal experimental conditions were as follows: the concentration of electrolyte was 0.149 mol/L, current density was 18.11 mA, electrode distance was 3.804 cm. Under these conditions, the RE achieved 66.43%. The response-surface variance analysis showed that the regression model reached a significant level, and the validation results were in agreement with the predicted results, which proved the feasibility of the model. The model can be applied to treat the CBS waste gas of polymer processes through electrochemical oxidation.

Modification engineering of TiO2-based nanoheterojunction photocatalysts.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based photocatalysts have gained increasing attention for their versatile applications in organic degradation, hydrogen production, air purification, and CO2 reduction. Various TiO2-based heterojunction structures, including type I, type II, Schottky junction, Z-scheme, and S-scheme, have been extensively studied. The current research frontier is centered on the engineering modifications of TiO2-based nanoheterojunction photocatalysts, such as defect engineering, morphological engineering, crystal phase/facet engineering, and multijunction engineering. These modifications enhance carrier transport, separation, and light absorption, thereby improving the photocatalytic performance. Remarkably, this aspect has been less addressed in existing reviews. This review aims to fill this gap by focusing on the engineering modifications of TiO2-based nanoheterojunction photocatalysts. We delve into specific topics like oxygen vacancies, n-p homojunctions, and double defects. The review also systematically discusses the applications of multidimensional heterojunctions and examines carrier transport pathways in heterophase/facet junctions and their interactions with heterojunctions. A comprehensive summary of multijunction systems, including multi-Schottky junctions, semiconductor-based heterojunction-attached Schottky junctions, and multisemiconductor-based heterojunctions, is presented. Lastly, we outline future perspectives in this promising research field. This paper will assist researchers in constructing more efficient TiO2-based nanoheterojunction photocatalysts.

Water soluble fluorescence quantum dot probe labeling liver cancer cells.

Water soluble quantum dots (QDs) have been prepared by hydrothermal method and characterized by ultraviolet irradiation, XRD, TEM, UV-Vis absorption spectrometer and fluorescence spectrometer. Then the QD-antibody-AFP probes (QD-Ab-AFP) were synthesized by chemical process and specifically labeled AFP antigen in PLC/PRF/5 liver cancer cells. The results showed that the QDs were cubic structure and had excellent optical properties. Moreover, the QD-Ab-AFP with good stability could specifically label liver cancer cells. This work provides strong foundation for further studying and developing new approach to detect liver cancer at early stage.

Emergency exploratory laparotomy and radical gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer combined with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignant tumor worldwide and ranks as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a frequent complication of GC. Radical gastrectomy and palliative therapy are widely used surgical procedures in the clinical management of GC. This study intends to probe the clinical efficacy and safety of radical gastrectomy and palliative therapy on the basis of exploratory laparotomy in patients with GC combined with UGIB, hoping to provide valuable information to aid patients in selecting the appropriate surgical intervention. AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of exploratory laparotomy + radical gastrectomy and palliative therapy in patients with GC and UGIB combined. METHODS: A total of 89 GC patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China between July 2018 and July 2020 were selected as participants for this study. The 89 patients were divided into two groups: radical resection group (n = 46) treated with exploratory laparotomy + radical gastrectomy and Palliative group (n = 43) treated with palliative therapy. The study compared several variables between the two groups, including surgical duration, intraoperative blood transfusion volume, postoperative anal exhaust time, off-bed activity time, length of hospitalization, and incidence of complications such as duodenal stump rupture, anastomotic obstruction, and postoperative incision. Additionally, postoperative immune function indicators (including CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, and CD3+/HLADR+), immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM), tumor markers (CEA, CA199, and CA125), and inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α) were assessed. The surgical efficacy and postoperative quality of life recovery were also evaluated. The patients were monitored for survival and tumor recurrence at 6 mo, 1 year, and 2 years post-surgery. RESULTS: The results indicated that the duration of operation time and postoperative hospitalization did not differ between the two surgical procedures. However, patients in the radical resection group exhibited shorter intraoperative blood loss, anus exhaust time, off-bed activity time, and inpatient activity time than those in the Palliative group. Although there was no substantial difference in the occurrence of postoperative complications, such as duodenal stump rupture and anastomotic obstruction, between the radical resection group and Palliative group (P > 0.05), the radical resection group exhibited higher postoperative immune function indicators (including CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, etc.) and immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgM) than the Palliative group, while tumor markers and inflammatory factors levels were lower than those in the radical resection group. Additionally, surgical efficacy, postoperative quality of life, and postoperative survival rates were higher in patients who underwent radical gastrectomy than in those who underwent palliative therapy. Moreover, the probability of postoperative tumor recurrence was lower in the radical gastrectomy group compared to the palliative therapy group, and these differences were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared to palliative therapy, exploratory laparotomy + radical gastrectomy can improve immune function, reduce the levels of tumor markers and inflammatory factors, improve surgical efficacy, promote postoperative quality of life recovery, enhance survival rates, and attenuate the probability of tumor recurrence.

CIRC_0001818 TARGETS MIR-136-5P TO INCREASE LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-INDUCED HK2 CELL INJURIES BY ACTIVATING TXNIP/NLRP3 INFLAMMASOME PATHWAY.

ABSTRACT: Background: The implication of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in sepsis-related complications arouses much attention, which provides additional treatment options for sepsis-related complications. The purpose of this study is to unveil the function and functional mechanism of circ_0001818 in cell models of septic acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: Septic AKI cell models were constructed using HK2 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The expression levels of circ_0001818, miR-136-5p, and thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) mRNA were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability and death were explored by CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays. The activity of oxidative stress-related markers was examined using commercial kits. The secretion of inflammatory factors was examined using ELISA kits. The binding between miR-136-5p and circ_0001818 or TXNIP was validated by dual-luciferase reporter test and pull-down assay. The receiver operating characteristic curve was depicted to assess the diagnostic value of circ_0001818, miR-136-5p, and TXNIP in serumal exosomes from patients with septic AKI. Results: Circ_0001818 expression was elevated in LPS-treated HK2 cells. Loss-of-function assays displayed that circ_0001818 downregulation alleviated LPS-induced HK2 cell death, oxidative stress, inflammatory release, and inflammasome activation. MiR-136-5p was targeted by circ_0001818, and inhibition of miR-136-5p attenuated the effects of circ_0001818 downregulation, thus recovering LPS-induced HK2 cell injuries. MiR-136-5p targeted the downstream TXNIP, and circ_0001818 dysregulation could affect TXNIP expression via targeting miR-136-5p. Overexpression of TXNIP overturned the effects of circ_0001818 downregulation. Moreover, circ_0001818, miR-136-5p, and TXNIP in serumal exosomes had diagnostic values. Conclusions: Circ_0001818 targets miR-136-5p to activate TXNIP expression, leading to the contribution of LPS-induced HK2 cell injury.

Study on disinfection effect of a 222-nm UVC excimer lamp on object surface.

Effective disinfection of contaminated surfaces is essential for preventing the transmission of pathogens. In this study, we investigated the UV irradiance and wavelength distribution of a 222-nm ultraviolet C (UVC) excimer lamp and its disinfection efficacy against microorganisms in laboratory conditions. By using a carrier quantitative germicidal test with stainless steel sheets as carriers, we examined the disinfection effect of the 222-nm UVC lamp on three standard strains-Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We tested the disinfection efficacy under different conditions by adjusting irradiation time, as well as the state and temperature of the stainless steel carriers. Our results indicated that a bacterial suspension in PBS and not-dried stainless steel carriers yielded better disinfection than in TSB and dried carriers. Additionally, carrier temperature had no significant impact on disinfection efficacy. When utilizing a bacterial suspension in PBS and non-dried carriers at a temperature of 20 °C, the three bacteria were eliminated by 222-nm UVC excimer lamp irradiation in just 15 s. In contrast, when using a bacterial suspension in TSB and dried carriers at temperatures of 20 °C, 4 °C, or - 20 °C, the three bacteria were eradicated by 222-nm UVC excimer lamp irradiation in 60 s. Comparatively, the LPM lamp required more than 10 min to achieve the same disinfection effect. Our data demonstrate that the 222-nm UVC excimer lamp has higher irradiance and a more potent microbial disinfection effect than the LPM lamp, requiring significantly less irradiation time to achieve the same disinfection effect under identical conditions. Furthermore, the 222-nm UVC excimer lamp exhibited a substantial disinfection effect on bacterial propagules at low temperatures. Our findings support the optimization of "tunnel-type" cold-chain goods disinfection devices, providing an alternative, highly efficient, and practical tool to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through cold-chain systems.

Advances in Research on microRNAs Related to the Invasion and Metastasis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC), which is associated with latent Epstein-Barr virus infection in most cases, is a unique epithelial malignancy arising from the nasopharyngeal mucosal lining. Accumulating evidence is providing insights into the genetic and molecular aberrations that likely drive nasopharyngeal tumor development and progression. We review recent analyses of microRNAs (miRNAs), including Epstein-Barr virus-encoded miRNAs (EBV-encoded miRNAs) and dysregulated cellular miRNAs, that may be related to the metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The studies summarized herein have greatly expanded our knowledge of the molecular biology of NPC involving miRNAs, and they may provide new biological targets for clinical diagnosis and reveal the potential of microRNA therapeutics. However, much remains to be uncovered.

Annexin A1 affects tumor metastasis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Annexin A1 (annexin I, ANXA1), the first discovered member of the annexin superfamily, plays important roles in tumor development, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis and drug resistance based on tumor type-specific patterns of expression. The acquisition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics is an essential mechanism of metastasis because they increase the mobility and invasiveness of cancer cells. Cancer invasion and metastasis remain major health problems worldwide. Elucidating the role and mechanism of ANXA1 in the occurrence of EMT will help advance the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Hence, this review aims to attract everyone's attention to the important role of ANXA1 in tumors and provide new ideas for clinical tumor treatment. Methods: The PubMed database was mainly used to search for various English research papers and reviews related to the role of ANXA1 in tumors and EMT published from November 1994 to April 2022. The search terms used mainly include ANXA1, EMT, tumor, cancer, carcinoma, and mechanism. Key Content and Findings: This article mainly provides a summary of the roles of ANXA1 and EMT in tumor metastasis as well as the various mechanisms via which ANXA1 facilitates the occurrence of EMT, thereby affecting tumor metastasis. In addition, the expression of ANXA1 in different metastatic tumor cell lines and its roles in tumorigenesis and development are also elaborated. This article has found many tumorous therapeutic targets related to ANXA1 and EMT, further confirming that ANXA1 has a huge potential for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of certain cancers. Conclusions: Both the abnormal expression of ANXA1 and the occurrence of EMT are closely related to the invasion and metastasis of tumors, and more interestingly, ANXA1 can impact EMT directly or indirectly by mediating signaling pathways and adhesion among cells. We need more studies to elucidate the effects of ANXA1 on tumor invasion, migration and metastasis through EMT in vitro and in vivo clearly, and ultimately in patients to identify more therapeutic targets.

Polymer Nanoparticles Overcome Drug Resistance by a Dual-Targeting Apoptotic Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) activating therapy has received wide attention due to its capacity to precisely induce cancer cell apoptosis. However, drug resistance and the poor pharmacokinetic properties of TRAIL protein are obstacles in TRAIL-based therapy for cancer. Herein, a strategy is developed to remotely control and specifically initiate TRAIL-mediated apoptotic signaling to promote TRAIL-resistant cancer cell apoptosis using near-infrared (NIR) light-absorbing conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs). Upon 808 nm laser excitation, the promoter 70 kilodalton heat shock protein (HSP70) initiates transcription of the TRAIL gene in response to heat shock, thereby expressing TRAIL protein in breast cancer cells, which activates the TRAIL-mediated apoptosis signaling pathway. Simultaneously, the CPNs locally release W-7, which targets calmodulin (CaM) and further promotes caspase-8 cleavage and enhances cancer cell apoptosis. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that CPNs/W-7/pTRAIL produces an excellent synergistic therapeutic effect on breast cancer upon near-infrared light with low toxicity. Therefore, this work provides a strategy for overcoming drug resistance through dual-targeting TRAIL-mediated apoptotic signaling in breast cancer.

N,P-codoped carbon quantum dots-decorated TiO2 nanowires as nanosized heterojunction photocatalyst with improved photocatalytic performance for methyl blue degradation.

N,P-doped carbon quantum dots (N,P-CQDs) are deemed as a promising candidate to environmentally friendly materials owing to the inexpensive, biocompatible nature. TiO2 nanowire is a prospective photocatalyst because of its efficient migration of photoexcited carriers in wastewater treatment. However, the N,P-CQDs-decorated TiO2 nanowire (N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2) photocatalysts have been rarely reported. In this study, we build N,P-CQDs on the surface of TiO2 nanowires via a simple deposition process. Our investigations demonstrate that N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2 has a great photocatalytic degradation for methyl blue (MB) under irradiation. The degradation rate of can reach 93.6% within 120 min under proper conditions. The excellent degradation performance of N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2 is ascribed to the mesoporous structure and high separation rate of photoexcited carriers. In addition, the N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2 have outstanding recycled photocatalytic capability. After being recycled four times, the N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2 still maintain 59.9% photocatalytic activity. The fabricated nanosized photocatalyst can be widely utilized in the field of photocatalysis for wastewater treatment.

New hydrophilic/lipophilic tetra-α-(4-carboxyphenoxy) phthalocyanine zinc-mediated photodynamic therapy inhibits the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma Bel-7402 cells by triggering apoptosis and arresting cell cycle.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel and promising antitumor treatment. Phthalocyanine-mediated PDT has shown antitumor activity in some tumor cells, but the effect of new hydrophilic/lipophilic tetra-α-(4-carboxyphenoxy)phthalocyanine zinc (TαPcZn)-mediated PDT (TαPcZn-PDT) on human hepatocellular carcinoma Bel-7402 cells and underlying mechanisms have not been clarified. In the present study, therefore, the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectrum and cellular localization of TαPcZn, and effect of TαPcZn-PDT on the proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, Bcl-2 and Fas in Bel-7402 cells were investigated by spectrophotometry, inverted microscope, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, electron microscopy, annexinV-FITC/propidium iodide double staining, DNA content and immunoblot assay, respectively. We found that an intense absorption in UV-vis absorption spectrum of TαPcZn was in the red visible region at 650-680 nm, where light penetration in tissue is efficient, that green TαPcZn localized to both plasma membrane and nuclear membrane of Bel-7402 cells, signifying that there was a selective uptake of TαPcZn in Bel-7402 cells and TαPcZn-PDT would be expected to directly damage DNA, and that TαPcZn-PDT significantly resulted in the proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, S cell cycle arrest, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Fas. Taken together, we conclude that TαPcZn-PDT inhibits the proliferation of Bel-7402 cells by triggering apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle.

Circular RNA Circ_0003221 Promotes Cervical Cancer Progression by Regulating miR-758-3p/CPEB4 Axis.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial roles in the development and progression of various cancers, including cervical cancer. However, the role and regulatory mechanism of circ_0003221 in cervical cancer are still unclear. METHODS: The expression of circ_0003221, microRNA-758-3p (miR-758-3p), cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 4 (CPEB4) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, and 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (Edu) assays were utilized to determine cell proliferation. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were detected by transwell assay. All protein levels were detected by Western blot assay. The interaction between miR-758-3p and circ_0003221 or CPEB4 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays. Mice xenograft model of cervical cancer was established to verify the function of circ_0003221 in vivo. RESULTS: Circ_0003221 was upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cells. Knockdown of circ_0003221 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT and induced cell cycle arrest in cervical cancer cells. MiR-758-3p was a direct target of circ_0003221, and miR-758-3p inhibition reversed the effects of circ_0003221 knockdown in cervical cancer cells. Moreover, CPEB4 was identified as a direct target of miR-758-3p, and miR-758-3p exerted its anti-cancer role by targeting CPEB4. Furthermore, circ_0003221 acted as a sponge of miR-758-3p to upregulate CPEB4 expression. In addition, circ_0003221 silence also suppressed tumor growth and EMT in vivo. CONCLUSION: Circ_0003221 knockdown inhibited cervical cancer progression via modulating miR-758-3p/CPEB4 axis, which might suggest a new insight into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.

Multidisciplinary team therapy for left giant adrenocortical carcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant epithelial tumor originating from adrenocortical cells that carries a very poor prognosis. Metastatic or inoperable diseases are often considered incurable, and treatment remains a challenge. Especially for advanced cases such as ACC complicated with renal venous cancer thrombus, there are few cumulative cases in the literature. CASE SUMMARY: The patient in this case was a 39-year-old middle-aged male who was admitted to the hospital for more than half a month due to dizziness and chest tightness. Computed tomography (CT) findings after admission revealed a left retroperitoneal malignant space-occupying lesion, but the origin of the formation of the left renal vein cancer thrombus remained to be determined. It was speculated that it originated from the left adrenal gland, perhaps a retroperitoneal source, and left adrenal mass + left nephrectomy + left renal vein tumor thrombus removal + angioplasty were performed under general anesthesia. Postoperative pathology results indicated a diagnosis of ACC. Postoperative steroid therapy was administered. At 3 mo after surgery, abdominal CT reexamination revealed multiple enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes and multiple low-density shadows in the liver, and palliative radiotherapy and mitotane were administered, considering the possibility of metastasis. The patient is currently being followed up. CONCLUSION: ACC is a highly malignant tumor. Even if the tumor is removed surgically, there is still the possibility of recurrence. Postoperative mitotane and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy have certain benefits for patients, but they cannot fully offset the poor prognosis of this disease.

LncRNA NORAD accelerates the progression and doxorubicin resistance of neuroblastoma through up-regulating HDAC8 via sponging miR-144-3p.

The dysregulation of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) often caused aberrant cell behaviors. In the present study, we focused on the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) non-coding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) in the development of neuroblastoma (NB). The enrichment of NORAD, miRNA-144-3p (miR-144-3p) and histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) was measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The proliferation, chemoresistance, apoptosis, metastasis and autophagy of NB cells were determined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, transwell migration and invasion assays and Western blot assay, respectively. The target relationship between miR-144-3p and NORAD or HDAC8 was predicted by Starbase software and validated through dual-luciferase reporter assay, RIP and RNA-pull down assays. The protein expression of HDAC8 was measured by Western blot assay. Murine xenograft model was used to verify the function of NORAD in vivo. We found that the level of NORAD was up-regulated in NB tissues and cells, and the level of NORAD was negatively correlated with the prognosis of NB patients. NORAD promoted the proliferation, metastasis and doxorubicin (DOX) resistance while inhibited the apoptosis and autophagy of NB cells. MiR-144-3p was a target of NORAD in NB cells, and NORAD accelerated the progression and DOX resistance of NB through sponging miR-144-3p. HDAC8 was a direct target of miR-144-3p in NB cells, and miR-144-3p suppressed the progression of NB through down-regulating HDAC8. NORAD up-regulated the expression of HDAC8 through sponging miR-144-3p in NB cells. NORAD accelerated the growth of NB tumors at least partly through miR-144-3p/HDAC8 signaling in vivo. In conclusion, NORAD promoted the progression and DOX resistance of NB through miR-144-3p/HDAC8 axis in vivo and in vitro.

Annexin A1: A double-edged sword as novel cancer biomarker.

The occurrence, development, infiltration and metastasis of tumors are very complex processes involving the participation of many factors, some of which play a key role. Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is known as an anti-inflammatory protein. However, it has now been recognized to have a broader role beyond the inflammation, including roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. This review is intended to outline the research surrounding the pathophysiological effects of ANXA1 in tumors and its potential as a therapeutic and diagnostic agent. These studies comprehensively explore the expression changes of ANXA1 in cancer and further explore its mechanism of action in tumors, which is of great clinical significance for the early diagnosis, treatment and prognostic evaluation of tumors.