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Nitrate pollution in groundwater has become a global concern. One of the most important issues in controlling the nitrate pollution of groundwater is to identify the pollution source quickly and accurately. In this review, we firstly summarized the isotopic background values of potential sources of nitrate pollution in groundwater in 17 provinces (cities, autonomous regions) and 29 study areas in China, which could provide the fundamental database for subsequent research. Secondly, we reviewed the research progress of nitrate isotopes combined with multiple tracers for tracing nitrate in groundwater, and discussed their applicable conditions, advantages, and disadvantages. We found that halides and microorganisms combined with nitrate isotopes could accurately trace the pollution sources of domestic sewage, excrement and agricultural activities. The combination of Δ17O and nitrate isotopes could effectively distinguish the source of atmospheric deposition of nitrate in groundwater. The combination of groundwater age and nitrate isotopes could further determine the time scale of nitrate pollution. In addition, we summarized the application cases and compared the characteristics of mass balance mixing model, IsoSource model, Bayesian isotope mixing model, and EMMTE model for quantitative identification of nitrate pollution in groundwater. For the complexity and concealment of groundwater pollution sources, the coupling of nitrate isotopes with other chemical and biological tracing methods, as well as the application of nitrate isotope quantitative models, are effective tools for reliably identifying groundwater nitrate sources and transformation processes.

A novel LINC02321 promotes cell proliferation and decreases cisplatin sensitivity in bladder cancer by regulating RUVBL2.

Bladder cancer (BC) has a high incidence and is prone to recurrence. In most instances, the low 5-year survival rate of advanced BC patients results from postoperative recurrence and drug resistance. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can participate in numerous biological functions by regulating the expression of genes to affect tumorigenesis. Our previous work had demonstrated that a novel lncRNA, LINC02321, was associated with BC prognosis. In this study, A high expression of LINC02321 was found in BC tissues, which was associated with poor prognosis in patients. LINC02321 promoted both proliferation and G1-G0 progression in BC cells, while also inhibited sensitivity to cisplatin. Mechanistically, LINC02321 can bind to RUVBL2 and regulate the expression levels of RUVBL2 protein by affecting its half-life. RUVBL2 is involved in the DNA damage response. The potential of DNA damage repair pathways to exert chemosensitization has been demonstrated in vivo. The rescue experiment demonstrated that RUVBL2 overexpression can markedly abolish the decreased cell proliferation and the increased sensitivity of BC cells to cisplatin caused by LINC02321 knockdown. The results indicate that LINC02321 functions as an oncogene in BC, and may serve as a novel potential target for controlling BC progression and addressing cisplatin resistance in BC therapy.

Evaluating the efficacy of recombinant human growth factors in scar remodelling for patients with facial soft tissue injuries.

Facial soft tissue injuries, often resulting in scarring, pose a challenge in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery due to the need for functional and aesthetic restoration. This study evaluates the efficacy of recombinant human growth factors (rhGFs) in scar remodelling for such injuries. A retrospective evaluation was conducted from January 2020 to January 2023, involving 100 patients with facial soft tissue injuries. Participants were divided equally into a control group, receiving standard cosmetic surgical repair, and an observation group, treated with rhGFs supplemented cosmetic surgery. The study assessed scar characteristics (pigmentation, pliability, vascularity, height), hospital stay duration, tissue healing time, complication rates and patient satisfaction. The observation group demonstrated significant improvements in all scar characteristics, with notably better pigmentation, pliability, vascularity and height compared with the control group. The rhGF treatment also resulted in reduced hospital stay duration and faster tissue healing. Notably, the total complication rate was significantly lower in the observation group (10%) compared with the control group (34%). Additionally, patient satisfaction levels were higher in the observation group, with 98% combined satisfaction compared with 76% in the control group. The application of rhGFs in treating facial soft tissue injuries significantly enhances scar remodelling, expedites healing, reduces complications and improves patient satisfaction. These findings establish rhGFs as a valuable tool in the management of facial soft tissue injuries, highlighting their potential in improving both functional and aesthetic outcomes.

HGFIN deficiency exacerbates spinal cord injury by promoting inflammation and cell apoptosis through regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological disease characterized by neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is related to the pathological process of SCI. Hematopoietic growth factor inducible neurokinin-1 type (HGFIN) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that exerts neuroprotective actions in various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the potential role and mechanism of HGFIN in the development of SCI are still unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of HGFIN on inflammation and neuronal apoptosis as well as the underlying mechanism in SCI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A rat model of SCI was established, and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) motor function assay was performed to detect motor function. Expression of HGFIN was measured at 7 days after injury by western blot and immunofluorescence. An HGFIN-shRNA-carrying lentivirus was injected into the injury site to block the expression of HGFIN. The effects of HGFIN on neuronal apoptosis and the PI3K/AKT pathway were analyzed by TUNEL staining and immunofluorescence. The Iba-1 expression and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in spinal cord tissues by immunofluorescence staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. RESULTS: The SCI rats showed increased expression of HGFIN in spinal cord tissues. The HGFIN deficiency aggravated SCI lesions, as evidenced by decreased BBB scores. At 7 days post-injury, HGFIN knockdown promoted neuronal apoptosis, accompanied by the increased expression level of the apoptosis effector cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, and decreased anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, HGFIN knockdown aggravated the inflammation process, indicated by increased Iba1-positive cells. The HGFIN knockdown increased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6. Further analysis revealed that HGFIN deficiency reduced the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in spinal cord tissue after injury. CONCLUSIONS: Lentivirus-mediated downregulation of HGFIN exacerbates inflammation and neuronal apoptosis in SCI by regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway, and provides clues for developing novel therapeutic approaches and targets against SCI.

Sperm induce macrophage extracellular trap formation via phagocytosis-dependent mechanism.

Infertility is a public health concern worldwide. Asthenozoospermia is a common cause of male infertility and is characterized by decreased motility. Sperm motility ensures that sperm migrate to complete fertilization. Macrophages are an essential component of innate immunity in the female reproductive tract. Macrophage extracellular traps are induced by various microorganisms to capture and mediate the clearance of microorganisms. The relationship between sperm and macrophage extracellular traps is unclear. The human monocyte leukemia (THP-1) cells differentiated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) are widely used as surrogate of human macrophages. This study investigated sperm-induced macrophage extracellular trap formation and clarified some of the mechanisms affecting macrophage extracellular trap production. Sperm-induced macrophage extracellular traps were visualized and components of macrophage extracellular traps were identified by immunofluorescence analyses and scanning electron microscopy. By inhibiting macrophage extracellular trap production and macrophage phagocytosis, the relationship between macrophage phagocytosis and macrophage extracellular trap production was analyzed. Sperm could trigger PMA-differentiated THP-1 macrophages to produce extracellular traps. Sperm-triggered macrophage extracellular traps are dependent on phagocytosis and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. Sperm from asthenozoospermia donors are more likely to be phagocytosed by macrophages than sperm from healthy donors, which induce more macrophage extracellular trap release. These data confirm the phenomenon and partial mechanism of sperm-induced macrophage extracellular trap formation in vitro. These may partly provide evidence to explain the mechanisms of clearing abnormally morphological or hypomotile sperm in the female reproductive tract and the rationale for the decreased probability of successful fertilization in asthenozoospermia.

Enhanced Heterogeneous Peroxymonosulfate Activation by MOF-Derived Magnetic Carbonaceous Nanocomposite for Phenol Degradation.

Degradation efficiency and catalyst stability are crucial issues in the control of organic compounds in wastewater by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). However, it is difficult for catalysts used in AOPs to have both high catalytic activity and high stability. Combined with the excellent activity of cobalt/copper oxides and the good stability of carbon, highly dispersed cobalt-oxide and copper-oxide nanoparticles embedded in carbon-matrix composites (Co-Cu@C) were prepared for the catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The catalysts exhibited a stable structure and excellent performance for complete phenol degradation (20 mg L-1) within 5 min in the Cu-Co@C-5/PMS system, as well as low metal-ion-leaching rates and great reusability. Moreover, a quenching test and an EPR analysis revealed that ·OH, O2·-, and 1O2 were generated in the Co-Cu@C/PMS system for phenol degradation. The possible mechanism for the radical and non-radical pathways in the activation of the PMS by the Co-Cu@C was proposed. The present study provides a new strategy with which to construct heterostructures for environmentally friendly and efficient PMS-activation catalysts.

Single-dose rAAV5-based vaccine provides long-term protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants, has posed unprecedented challenges worldwide. Existing vaccines have limited effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Therefore, novel vaccines to match mutated viral lineages by providing long-term protective immunity are urgently needed. We designed a recombinant adeno-associated virus 5 (rAAV5)-based vaccine (rAAV-COVID-19) by using the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD-plus) sequence with both single-stranded (ssAAV5) and self-complementary (scAAV5) delivery vectors and found that it provides excellent protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection. A single-dose vaccination in mice induced a robust immune response; induced neutralizing antibody (NA) titers were maintained at a peak level of over 1:1024 more than a year post-injection and were accompanied by functional T-cell responses. Importantly, both ssAAV- and scAAV-based RBD-plus vaccines produced high levels of serum NAs against the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. A SARS-CoV-2 virus challenge showed that the ssAAV5-RBD-plus vaccine protected both young and old mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Whole genome sequencing demonstrated that AAV vector DNA sequences were not found in the genomes of vaccinated mice one year after vaccination, demonstrating vaccine safety. These results suggest that the rAAV5-based vaccine is safe and effective against SARS-CoV-2 and several variants as it provides long-term protective immunity. This novel vaccine has a significant potential for development into a human prophylactic vaccination to help end the global pandemic.

Factors Associated with Pulmonary Function Changes in Patients Undergoing Microwave Ablation for Pulmonary Ground-Glass Nodules.

Purpose: Microwave ablation has become an alternative treatment for pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGN) and is widely accepted by clinicians. However, its effect on lung function remains unknown. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to explore pulmonary function changes and associated risk factors in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT)-guided microwave ablation (MWA) for treating pulmonary GGN. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients diagnosed with pulmonary GGN on thin-layer chest CT and enhanced CT were examined. Patients unable or unwilling to undergo thoracoscopic surgery underwent CT-guided simultaneous percutaneous core needle biopsy and MWA. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were performed before ablation and 3 days and 6 months post-ablation. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1%, forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values pre- and post-MWA were analysed. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the correlation between ablation volume and changes in PFT findings 3 days post-ablation. Associations between patient characteristics, rates of postoperative complications, and PFT findings were analysed. Results: Forty-eight lesions were completely ablated and examined intraoperatively. There were significant differences in pre- and post-operative PFT findings on day 3 but not at 6 months. The mean ablation volume after 3 days of 11.4 ± 6.3 cm3 was positively correlated with changes in FEV1, MVV, and PEF values. Patients' age (mean, 59.4 ± 13.0 years) positively correlated with changes in PEF values. The rates of change in FVC and MVV values were significantly higher with multiple pulmonary nodules than with isolated pulmonary nodule. PFT findings were similar between patients who experienced or did not experience complications (eg, pneumothorax and pleural effusion). Conclusions: Pulmonary function could be impaired shortly after MWA. PFT findings may correlate with age, ablation volume, and number of ablated lesions. In most patients, pulmonary function returned to the preoperative state after 6 months.

A long noncoding RNA GTF2IRD2P1 suppresses cell proliferation in bladder cancer by inhibiting the Wnt/ß­catenin signaling pathway.

Background: There is growing evidence that long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are key in the development of a variety of human tumors. However, the role of lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 has not been well studied in cancer. The impact of GTF2IRD2P1 on the biological function and clinical relevance in bladder cancer is largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the biological role of GTF2IRD2P1 in bladder evolution and carcinogenesis. Methods: We used bioinformatics to obtain the lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 from bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The expression of lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 was detected by qRT-PCR. The CCK8 assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 function on the proliferation of bladder cancer cells. A western blot was used to calculate the protein level of cell cycle proteins and Wnt signaling pathway proteins. The effect of lncRNA GTF2IRD2P1 on tumorigenesis of bladder cancer was confirmed by a xenograft nude mouse model. Results: GTF2IRD2P1 expression was found to be lower in both human bladder cancer tissues and cell lines (UM-UC-3, RT4, and 5637), and elevated in T24 compared to the corresponding normal controls. GTF2IRD2P1 expression was also enhanced after transfection of UM-UC-3 cells with the overexpression vector. Meanwhile, overexpression of GTF2IRD2P1 inhibited the proliferation of UM-UC-3 and prolonged the cell cycle. The silencing of GTF2IRD2P1 significantly increased the proliferation and shortened the cell cycle of T24 cells and induced Wnt signaling activity to promote the progression of bladder cancer. Similarly, the transplanted tumor nude mouse model demonstrated that silencing GTF2IRD2P1 strengthens the progression of bladder cancer by targeting the Wnt signaling pathway.

Alleviation of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte death through miR-147-y-mediated mitophagy.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly used antitumor drug. However, it may cause severe cardiotoxicity, apoptosis being a major change. A recent report indicates that miR-147 expression is decreased in the myocardium of a myocardial infarction model, suggesting a potential role of this miRNA in DOX-induced cardiomyocyte toxicity. In this study, freshly isolated neonatal pig cardiomyocytes were used; following transfection of a miR-147-y mimic, the cell death induced by DOX was alleviated, represented by augmented mitophagy [indicated by a decrease in P62, and increases in LC3, PINK1, parkin mRNA, LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ, beclin-1, PINK1, and parkin including p-parkin (Ser65) protein expression], prohibited cell apoptosis as determined by TUNEL staining, and the suppression of caspase-3 transcription and cleaved caspase-3 translation. In cells transfected with an miR-147-y inhibitor, DOX-induced mitophagy was decreased, while apoptosis was increased. Additionally, RAPTOR gene silencing in cardiomyocytes exposed to DOX increased the rate of mitophagy and decreased that of apoptosis as compared with the treatment with DOX alone. Moreover, RAPTOR overexpression downregulated the rate of mitophagy and increased that of apoptosis in cells exposed to DOX. RAPTOR was confirmed as the target gene of miR-147-y based on the results of luciferase reporter gene assays and the opposite effects of the miR-147-y mimic and miR-147-y inhibitor on RAPTOR expression. In summary, our study suggests that miR-147-y mediates DOX-induced cardiomyocyte mitophagy while suppresses apoptosis by targeting RAPTOR, thus playing a protective role in DOX-induced cardiomyocyte damage.

An enzyme-responsive and NIR-triggered lipid-polymer hybrid nanoplatform for synergistic photothermal/chemo cancer therapy.

A combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy is an emerging therapeutic strategy with promising clinical prospects in cancer treatment. Despite the huge progress achieved in the past years, a number of obstacles still hamper the therapeutic efficacy of this synergistic modality such as uneven heat distribution, lack of targetability of anti-cancer agents and dosage-related side effects. Thus, developing a nanoplatform for targeted drug delivery against cancer is of great necessity. Herein, a lipid-polymer hybrid nanosystem (LP/ID) based on polyethyleneimine (PEI)-lecithin-polyethylene glycol (PEG) was fabricated to co-load indocyanine green (ICG) and dichloroacetate (DCA) for combined photothermal/chemotherapy. DCA and ICG were linked to the PEI backbone to form a dense hydrophobic core through amide bonds and electrostatic interactions, which increased the payload of DCA and ICG as well as achieved enzyme-responsive drug release because of the overexpressed amidase in tumor cells. Lecithin and DSPE-PEG2000 self-assembled around the hydrophobic complexes to obtain prolonged blood circulation and attenuated systemic toxicity of the hybrid nanosystem. The prepared LP/ID exhibited favourable stability in a physiological environment, good tumor imaging properties, and satisfactory photothermal/chemotherapeutic performance. Moreover, LP/ID could also enhance the cellular uptake and tumor retention capacity in comparison with free drug administration. Notably, by co-loading two therapeutic agents with different anti-cancer mechanisms, an obvious inhibitory effect on tumor growth was observed with negligible damage to normal tissues and organs because of the synergistic photothermal/chemotherapy effect, indicating the great potential of LP/ID as a robust nanoplatform for cancer treatment.

A study on pick cutting properties with full-scale rotary cutting experiments and numerical simulations.

To investigate the cutting forces on road-header picks, a series of full-scale single-pick rotary cutting tests on sandstone samples were conducted at the National Engineering Laboratory of Coal Mining Machinery and Equipment, China. The primary objective of this study is to optimize the cut spacing and to verify the numerical simulation results. Cutting forces are investigated under different cutting depths and cut spacings. Cut spacing is optimized by analyzing the specific energy, coarseness index, and cutting force. The rock cutting process is simulated on a pick model using the PFC3D software. Rock samples are used as models, and particle assemblies and micro-properties are calibrated by uniaxial compressive strength tests and Brazilian disc tensile strength tests. The optimum ratio of cut spacing to cutting depth for the analyzed sandstone is determined to be in the range of 3 to 4. The experimental results show that a higher coarseness index corresponds to an increased block ratio, and specific energy decreases under optimum cutting conditions. Forces acting on the pick model are determined by simulation. A reasonable agreement exists between the experimental and numerical simulation results regarding the pick forces. The influence of the cut spacing on the rock-breaking effect observed in the experiments is confirmed by numerical simulations. Therefore, numerical simulations using the PFC3D software represent a reliable method for predicting the pick forces.

Aurantio-obtusin induces hepatotoxicity through activation of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

Aurantio-obtusin (AO) is a major anthraquinone (AQ) compound derived from Cassiae semen (CS). Although pharmacological studies have shown that the CS extracts can serve as effective agents in preclinical and clinical practice, AQ-induced hepatotoxicity in humans has attracted widespread attention. To explore whether AO induces hepatotoxicity and its underlying mechanisms, we exposed larval zebrafish and mice to AO. We found that AO delayed yolk sac absorption, and increased liver area and inflammation in the larval zebrafish. This inflammation was manifested as an increase in liver neutrophils and the up-regulated mRNA expression of interleukin-6 (Il-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (Tnf-α) in the larval zebrafish. Furthermore, a pharmacokinetics study showed that AO was quickly absorbed into the blood and rapidly metabolized in the mice. Of note, AO induced hepatotoxicity in a gender-dependent manner, characterized by liver dysfunction, increased hepatocyte necrosis with inflammatory infiltration, and up-regulated mRNAs of Il-6, Tnf-α and monocyte chemotactic protein 1(Mcp1) in the female mice after 28-day oral administration. It also highlighted that AO triggered NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP) signaling in the female mice, as evidenced by the increased NLRP3, Caspase-1, pro-IL-1ß, IL-1ß and IL-18. Finally, we found that AO led to a significant increase in potassium calcium-activated channel, subfamily N, member 4 (KCNN4) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, along with decreased nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65), in the female mouse livers. In conclusion, AO induced hepatotoxicity by activating NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, at least in part, through increased KCNN4 and ROS production, and NF-κB inhibition.

Human CYP enzyme-activated genotoxicity of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromobiphenyl ether in mammalian cells.

Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of persistent organic pollutants with endocrine-disrupting, neurotoxic, tumorigenic and DNA-damaging activities. They are hydroxylated by human liver microsomal CYP enzymes, however, their mutagenicity remains unknown. In this study, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromobiphenyl ether (BDE-47, relatively abundant in human tissues) was investigated for micronuclei induction and DNA damage in mammalian cells. The results indicated that BDE-47 up to 80 µM under a 6 h/18 h (exposure/recovery, covering 2 cell cycles) regime did not induce micronuclei in V79-Mz and V79-derived cell lines expressing human CYP1A1 or 1A2, while it was moderately positive in human CYP2B6-, 2E1-and 3A4-expressing cell lines (V79-hCYP2B6, V79-hCYP2E1-hSULT1A1 and V79-hCYP3A4-hOR, respectively). Following 24 h exposure, BDE-47 induced micronuclei in V79-hCYP2E1-hSULT1A1 and V79-hCYP3A4 cells at increased potencies. In the human hepatoma (HepG2) cells BDE-47 (48 h exposure) was inactive up to 40 µM, however, pretreatment of the cells with ethanol (0.2%, v:v, inducer of CYP2E1) or rifampicin (10 µM, inducer of CYP3A4) led to significant micronuclei formation by BDE-47; pretreatment with bisphenol AF (100 nM) also potentiated BDE-47-induced micronuclei formation (which was blocked by a CYP2E1 inhibitor trans-1,2-dichloroethylene or a CYP3A inhibitor (ketoconazole). Immunofluorescent staining of centromere protein B with the micronuclei formed by BDE-47 in HepG2 cells pretreated with ethanol or rifampicin demonstrated selective formation of centromere-containing micronuclei. The increased phosphorylation of both histones H2AX and H3 in HepG2 by BDE-47 also indicated an aneugenic potential. Therefore, this study suggests that BDE-47 is an aneugen activated by several human CYP enzymes.

Black Phosphorus, an Emerging Versatile Nanoplatform for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Black phosphorus (BP) is one of the emerging versatile nanomaterials with outstanding biocompatibility and biodegradability, exhibiting great potential as a promising inorganic nanomaterial in the biomedical field. BP nanomaterials possess excellent ability for valid bio-conjugation and molecular loading in anticancer therapy. Generally, BP nanomaterials can be classified into BP nanosheets (BPNSs) and BP quantum dots (BPQDs), both of which can be synthesized through various preparation routes. In addition, BP nanomaterials can be applied as photothermal agents (PTA) for the photothermal therapy (PTT) due to their high photothermal conversion efficiency and larger extinction coefficients. The generated local hyperpyrexia leads to thermal elimination of tumor. Besides, BP nanomaterials are capable of producing singlet oxygen, which enable its application as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Moreover, BP nanomaterials can be oxidized and degraded to nontoxic phosphonates and phosphate under physiological conditions, improving their safety as a nano drug carrier in cancer therapy. Recently, it has been reported that BP-based PTT is capable of activating immune responses and alleviating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by detection of T lymphocytes and various immunocytokines, indicating that BP-based nanocomposites not only serve as effective PTAs to ablate large solid tumors but also function as an immunomodulation agent to eliminate discrete tumorlets. Therefore, BP-mediated immunotherapy would provide more possibilities for synergistic cancer treatment.

Downregulation of PART1 Inhibits Proliferation and Differentiation of Hep3B Cells by Targeting hsa-miR-3529-3p/FOXC2 Axis.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an important subtype of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and microRNA sponges regulate protein-coding gene expression. The lncRNA prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART1) was implicated in the process of several cancer pathogeneses. However, studies on the regulation of PART1 expression and its mechanism in liver cancer are lacking. METHODS: qRT-PCR and western blot were used to detect PART1 levels in liver cancer serums and cell lines. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected using CCK8 assays, cell clones, and transwell assays. Interaction between PART1 and miR-3529-3p and forkhead box protein C2 (FOXC2) was confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: We revealed that expression levels of PART1 and FOXC2 are significantly upregulated and the miR-3529-3p expression level significantly decreases in the serum while high expression level of PART1 is positively associated with tumour size, BCLC stage, and TNM stage. shRNA of PART1 can significantly reduce the ability of cell migration and invasion by regulating AKT signalling associated with the reduction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that PART1 can sponge miR-3529-3p, which targets FOXC2 in liver cancer cells. The promoting or suppressing effect of PART1 for Hep3B cell proliferation, invasion, and migration is revised by miR-3529-3p mimics and inhibitors. CONCLUSION: Results showed that downregulation of PART1 can partially inhibit proliferation and differentiation by targeting hsa-miR-3529-3p/FOXC2 axis.

ACE2 and Furin Expressions in Oral Epithelial Cells Possibly Facilitate COVID-19 Infection via Respiratory and Fecal-Oral Routes.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that mainly transfers from human to human via respiratory and gastrointestinal routes. The S-glycoprotein in the virus is the key factor for the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the cell, which contains two functional domains: S1 is an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor binding domain, and S2 is necessary for fusion of the coronavirus and cell membranes. Moreover, it has been reported that ACE2 is likely to be the receptor for SARS-CoV-2. In addition, mRNA level expression of Furin enzyme and ACE2 receptor had been reported in airway epithelia, cardiac tissue, and enteric canals. However, the expression patterns of ACE2 and Furin in different cell types of oral tissues are still unclear. Methods: In order to investigate the potential infective channel of the new coronavirus via the oropharyngeal cavity, we analyze the expression of ACE2 and Furin in human oral mucosa using the public single-cell sequence datasets. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was performed in mucosal tissue from different oral anatomical sites to confirm the expression of ACE2 and Furin at the protein level. Results: The bioinformatics results indicated the differential expression of ACE2 and Furin on epithelial cells from different oral anatomical sites. Immunohistochemistry results revealed that both the ACE2-positive and Furin-positive cells in the target tissues were mainly positioned in the epithelial layers, partly expressed in fibroblasts, further confirming the bioinformatics results. Conclusions: Based on these findings, we speculated that SARS-CoV-2 could invade oral mucosal cells through two possible routes: binding to the ACE2 receptor and fusion with cell membrane activated by Furin protease. Our results indicated that oral mucosa tissues are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 that could facilitate COVID-19 infection via respiratory and fecal-oral routes.

Caveolin-1 Knockdown Decreases SMMC7721 Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Invasiveness by Inhibiting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Induced Angiogenesis.

Background: Recently, several studies have demonstrated that caveolin-1 overexpression is involved in apoptosis resistance, angiogenesis, and invasiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms underlying caveolin-1-mediated tumor progression remain unclear. Methodogy. Lentiviral vectors were used to construct caveolin-1 small interfering RNA- (siRNA-) expressing cells. Secreted VEGF levels in SMMC7721 cells were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SMMC7721 cell proliferation, cycle, apoptosis, and invasiveness were detected by MTT, flow cytometry, Annexin V-FITC/PI, and invasion assay, respectively. Phospho-eNOS levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cocultured with SMMC7721 cell supernatants were analyzed by Western blot. Capillary-like tubule formation assay was performed to analyze endothelial tubular structure formation in HUVECs treated with supernatants from caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells. SMMC7721 implantation and growth in nude mice were observed. Angiogenesis in vivo was analyzed by immunohistochemical angiogenesis assay. Results: Caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells secreted reduced levels of VEGF. Caveolin-1 RNAi also caused an inhibition of SMMC7721 cell proliferation and cell cycle progression that was accompanied by increased apoptosis. Supernatants from caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells inhibited cell cycle progression and decreased phospho-eNOS levels in HUVECs. Endothelial tubular structure formation in HUVECs treated with supernatants from caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells was considerably reduced. Caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells also showed reduced tumorigenicity and angiogenesis induction in vivo. Conclusion: Our results reveal a novel mechanism, whereby caveolin-1 positively regulates human HCC cell invasiveness by coordinating VEGF-induced angiogenesis.

MiR-590-3p regulates proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblast by targeting ZEB1.

Previous studies have implicated the attractive and promising role of miR-590-3p to restore the cardiac function following myocardial infarction (MI). However, the molecular mechanisms for how miR-590-3p involves in cardiac fibrosis remain largely unexplored. Using human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) as the cellular model, luciferase report assay, mutation, EdU assay and transwell migration assay were applied to investigate the biological effects of miR-590-3p on the proliferation, differentiation, migration and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts. We found that miR-590-3p significantly suppressed cell proliferation and migration of HCFs. The mRNA and protein expression levels of α-SMA, Col1A1 and Col3A were significantly decreased by miR-590-3p. Moreover, miR-590-3p directly targeted at the 3'UTR of ZEB1 to repress the translation of ZEB1. Interfering with the expression of ZEB1 significantly decreased the cell proliferation, migration activity, mRNA and protein expressions of α-SMA, Col1A1 and Col3A. Furthermore, the expressions of miR-590-3p and ZEB1 were identified in infarct area of MI model in pigs. Collectively, miR-590-3p suppresses the cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts by targeting ZEB1. These works will provide useful biological information for future studies on potential roles of miR-590-3p as the therapeutic target to recover cardiac function following MI.

Glycerol's generalized two-dimensional correlation IR/NIR spectroscopy and its principal component analysis.

In this manuscript, the fundamental vibration, the combination vibration and the first overtone vibration of the glycerol hydroxyl were studied by near-infrared and infrared spectroscopy. The composition and variation of hydrogen bond were analyzed by two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy and principal component analysis. The analysis revealed five types of hydroxyl and verified the existence of independent, intramolecular, as well as intermolecular, hydrogen bond hydroxyl. The principal component analysis showed that there were three main forms of glycerol association: the first and second principal components explained the majority of the spectral features, and the third was mainly the independent hydroxyl. The results provided insight into the structure of glycerol and illustrated the potential for using these tools in analyzing bonding in even more complex systems.