Differential Expression of KIF18B in Gastric Cancer and Its Role in Chemotherapy Sensitivity.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a main cause of cancer death in the world, and improving the chemotherapy sensitivity can enhance the chemotherapy efficacy of GC. The study objective is to explore the differential KIF18B expression in GC and its effect on GC chemotherapy sensitivity. The KIF18B expression in GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The relationship between differential KIF18B expression and different clinicopathological features was detected. It was found that KIF18B was highly expressed in GC tissues, and KIF18B expression was differential in patients with different clinicopathological features. The upregulation of KIF18B has a positive correlation with the poor therapeutic effect and high KIF18 was associated with lower 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival. The KIF18B-downregulated NCI-N87 cells were constructed and tested by cell counting kit-8 assay and colony formation. Cell migration and invasion were detected by Transwell assay. The xenograft tumor model was established to observe the effect of KIF18B on the efficacy of chemotherapy. The upregulation of KIF18B reduced the chemotherapy sensitivity of GC cells and enhanced their proliferation, migration, and invasion. Silencing KIF18B inhibited tumor growth and promoted chemotherapy efficacy in vivo. In summary, KIF18B inhibitor may have a potential function for improving the efficacy of chemotherapy in GC.

OsAAP8 mutation leads to significant improvement in the nutritional quality and appearance of rice grains.

Members of the permease gene family are responsible for important biological functions in the growth and development of rice. Here, we show that OsAAP8 is a constitutive expression gene, and its translated protein is localized on the cell membrane. Mutation of the OsAAP8 can promote the expression of genes related to protein and amylopectin synthesis, and also promote the enlargement of protein bodies in its endosperm, leading to an increase in the protein, amylopectin, and total amino acid content of grains in OsAAP8 mutants. Seeds produced by the OsAAP8 mutant were larger, and the chalkiness traits of the OsAAP8 mutants were significantly reduced, thereby improving the nutritional quality and appearance of rice grains. The OsAAP8 protein is involved in the transport of various amino acids; OsAAP8 mutation significantly enhanced the root absorption of a range of amino acids and might affect the distribution of various amino acids. Therefore, OsAAP8 is an important quality trait gene with multiple biological functions, which provides important clues for the molecular design of breeding strategies for developing new high-quality varieties of rice. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01473-w.

Identification of novel antioxidant collagen peptides for preventing and treating H2 O2 -induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells through in vitro and in silico approaches.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, the prevalence of oxidative stress-related chronic diseases is increasing. The identification of novel antioxidant collagen peptides to counteract oxidative stress for individuals' health has gained significant attention. RESULTS: In this study, collagen peptides with antioxidant activities were separated and identified by ion chromatography, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The identified antioxidant collagen peptides were further screened by molecular docking for Keap1-targeted peptide inhibitors and their theoretical interaction mechanisms were investigated. Four novel antioxidant collagen peptides, GPAGPIGPVG, GPAGPpGPIG, ISGPpGPpGPA and IDGRPGPIGPA, with high binding affinity to Keap1 were selected. Molecular docking results demonstrated that the putative antioxidant mechanism of the four antioxidant collagen peptides contributed to their blockage of Keap1-Nrf2 interactions. The results of antioxidant activity of the four antioxidant collagen peptides proved that IDGRPGPIGPA exerted a high scavenging capacity for DPPH and ABTS free radicals, while GPAGPpGPIG improved the resistance of cells to hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage by promoting the activation of intracellular antioxidant enzymes and the production of reduced glutathione in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. CONCLUSION: The antioxidant collagen peptides (GPAGPIGPVG, GPAGPpGPIG, ISGPpGPpGPA and IDGRPGPIGPA) will be developed as novel functional food for human health in the near future. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Exosomes from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells improve liver fibrosis by regulating the miR-20a-5p/TGFBR2 axis to affect the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (ADSC-Exos) are active constituents for treating liver fibrosis. This paper attempted to preliminarily explain the functional mechanism of ADSC-Exos in liver fibrosis through the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway. METHODS: The cell models of hepatic fibrosis were established by inducing LX-2 cells with TGF-ß1. Mouse models of liver fibrosis were established by treating mice with CCl4. The in vivo and in vitro models of liver fibrosis were treated with ADSC-Exos. ADSCs were identified by flow cytometry/Alizarin red/oil red O/alcian blue staining. ADSC-Exos were identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and Western blot. LX-2 cell proliferation/viability were evaluated by MTT/BrdU assays. Exosomes were tracked in vivo and body weight changes in mice were monitored. Hepatic pathological changes were observed by HE/Masson staining. α-SMA/collagen I levels in liver tissues were assessed by immunohistochemistry. HA/PIIINP concentrations were measured using the magnetic particle chemiluminescence method. Liver function was assessed using an automatic analyzer. miR-20a-5p level was measured by RT-qPCR. The mRNA levels of fibrosis markers were determined by RT-qPCR, and their protein levels and levels of MAPK/NF-κB pathway-related proteins, as well as TGFBR2 protein level were measured by Western blot. The P65 nuclear expression in mouse liver tissues was quantified by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: ADSC-Exos suppressed TGF-ß1-induced LX-2 cell proliferation and fibrosis and reduced mRNA and protein levels of fibrosis markers in vitro. ADSC-Exos ameliorated liver fibrosis by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway activation. ADSC-Exos inhibited activation of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway via regulating the miR-20a-5p/TGFBR2 axis. The in vivo experiment asserted that ADSC-Exos were mainly distributed in the liver, and ADSC-Exos relieved liver fibrosis in mice, which was evidenced by alleviating decreased body weight, reducing collagen and enhancing liver function, and repressed the activation of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway via the miR-20a-5p/TGFBR2 axis. CONCLUSION: ADSC-Exos attenuated liver fibrosis by suppressing the activation of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway via the miR-20a-5p/TGFBR2 axis.

3D-printed electrospun fibres for wound healing.

Wound management for acute and chronic wounds has become a serious clinical problem worldwide, placing considerable pressure on public health systems. Owing to the high-precision, adjustable pore structure, and repeatable manufacturing process, 3D-printed electrospun fibre (3DP-ESF) has attracted widespread attention for fabricating wound dressing. In addition, in comparison with 2D electrospun fibre membranes fabricated by traditional electrospinning, the 3D structures provide additional guidance on cell behaviour. In this perspective article, we first summarise the basic manufacturing principles and methods to fabricate 3DP-ESF. Then, we discuss the function of 3DP-ESF in manipulating the different stages of wound healing, including anti-bacteria, anti-inflammation, and promotion of cell migration and proliferation, as well as the construction of tissue-engineered scaffolds. In the end, we provide the current challenge faced by 3DP-ESF in the application of skin wound regeneration and its promising future directions.

Effect of different head-high lateral extubation on adverse reactions in the peri-extubation period of pediatric OSAS surgery under general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Children with OSAS are prone to various airway complications during tracheal extubation after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy due to oropharyngeal secretions and oozing blood. However, few studies have examined the effect of position on airway complications after tracheal extubation in children with OSAS. The aim of this study was to investigate the appropriate position for extubation in children with OASA. METHODS: A total of 459 children aged 3-14 years with OSAS who underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were recruited for this study. All children were treated with the same surgical approach and standard anesthesia methods of induction of anesthesia, tracheal intubation and maintenance of anesthesia. At the end of surgery, the children were delivered to the post anesthesia care unit and randomly divided into three groups: Group A: Head-high 0° in lateral position; Group B: Head-high 15° in lateral position; Group C: Head-high 30° in lateral position. The main outcomes of this study were the pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) and the Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS) scores of the children after extubation, the outflow of oral-nasal secretions and the respiratory complications. Secondary outcomes were blood pressure, heart rate, end-respiratory carbon dioxide, respiratory rate, and post-operative awakening time of the children in three groups. RESULTS: Data from a total of 423 children were statistically analyzed, 141 in Group A, 142 in Group B, and 140 in Group C. The main results showed a significant decrease in choking response after extubation in Group B (46.5%) and Group C (40.7%) compared to Group A (60.3%) (P < 0.05). The SAS score for postoperative agitation was higher in Group A (4.6 [Formula: see text] 0.9) than in Group B (4.4 [Formula: see text] 0.7) and Group C (4.3 [Formula: see text] 0.6) (P < 0.05). Also the SpO2 after extubation was higher in Group B (97.2%) and Group C (97.1%) than in Group A (95.8%) (P < 0.05). In contrast, there was no difference in the occurrence of respiratory complication and postoperative agitation in children between Group B and Group C (all P > 0.05). In addition, there was no difference in the amount of oral-nasal secretions among the children in the three groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The head-high 15° lateral position and head-high 30° lateral position can reduce the incidence of airway complications and agitation and provide safe and comfortable extubation conditions for children during the peri-extubation period after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, which has certain clinical guidance value. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration Number: NO.ChiCTR2200055835(20,01,2022) https://www.chictr.org.cn.

Radioprotective efficacy of Astilbin in mitigating radiation-induced lung injury through inhibition of p53 acetylation.

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a common side effect in thoracic tumor patients undergoing radiotherapy. At present, there is no ideal radio-protective agent which is widely used in RILI treatment. Astilbin (AST), a bioactive flavonoid, exhibits various biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic activities, which partly result from reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in various pathogenic conditions. However, the protective efficacy of AST to ameliorate RILI has not been reported. In this study, we employed network pharmacology, RNA sequencing, and experimental evaluation to reveal the effects and pharmacological mechanism of AST to treat RILI in vivo and in vitro. We observed that AST reduced radiation-induced apoptosis, DNA damage, inflammatory reactions, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in human normal lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B. Further study showed that AST treatment significantly ameliorated RILI by reducing the radiation-induced pathology changes and inflammatory reaction of lung tissue in C57BL/6J mice. Mechanistically, the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and radiation-triggered acetylation of the p53 protein were alleviated by AST treatment. Furthermore, AST alleviated the acetylation of p53 after intervention of Trichostatin A (TSA). Our data indicate that AST can alleviate RILI by inhibiting inflammatory reactions and the EMT process through decreasing the expression of p53 acetylation. In conclusion, our study suggests that AST has great potential to be a new protective and therapeutic compound for RILI.

Comparison of toxic effects of 5 macrofungi against Drosophila melanogaster.

Traditional chemical pesticides pose potential threats to human health, the environment, and food safety, and there is an urgent need to develop botanical pesticides that are easily degradable, renewable, and environmentally compatible. This research serves to detect the lethal impacts of Amanita pantherina(DC.:Fr) Schrmm.(Agaricales, Amanitaceae, Amanita), Amanita virgineoides Bas (Agaricales, Amanitaceae, Amanita), Coprinus comatus (O.F.Müll.) Pers. (Agaricales, Psathyrellaceae, Coprinus), Pycnoporus cinnabarinus(Jacq.:Fr) Karst (Polyporales, Polyporaceae, Polyporus) and Phallus rubicundus (Bosc) Fr. (Phallales, Phallaceae, Phallus) on Drosophila melanogaster(Diptera, Drosophilidae, Drosophila), including their effects on lifespan, fecundity, offspring growth and developmental characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activity, peroxide content, and the gene transcription associated with signaling pathways and lifespan of D. melanogaster. The results demonstrated that they all produced lethal effects on D. melanogaster. Female flies were more sensitive to the addition of macrofungi to their diet and have a shorter survival time than male flies. The toxic activity of A. pantherina-supplemented diet was the strongest, so that the D. melanogaster in this group had no offspring. The macrofungal-supplemented diets were able to significantly reduce the activity of antioxidant enzymes, accumulate peroxidation products, up-regulatd the transcription of genes related to signaling pathways, inhibit the expression of longevity genes, reduce the lifespan and fertility of D. melanogaster. Consequently, we hypothetically suggest that medicinal C. comatus, P. cinnabarinus and P. rubicundus hold the potential to be developed into an environmentally friendly biopesticide for fly killing.

Attenuated expression of SNF5 facilitates progression of bladder cancer via STAT3 activation.

BACKGROUND: SWI/SNF, a well-known ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complex, plays an essential role in several biological processes. SNF5, the core subunit of the SWI/SNF remodeling complex, inactivated in 95% of malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRT), highlighting its significance in tumorigenesis. However, the role of SNF5 in bladder cancer (BC) remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function and potential clinical applicability of SNF5 in BC. METHODS: Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) databases were used to evaluate the clinical significance of SNF5 in BC. We performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and functional assays to investigate the role of SNF5 in BC. Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) and drug-susceptibility tests were performed to identify the potential value of SNF5 in the treatment of BC. RESULTS: Low SNF5 expression conferred a poor prognosis and was significantly associated with the N-stage in BC. ROC curves indicated that SNF5 could distinguish BC from the normal tissues. In vitro and in vivo functional assays demonstrated that attenuated SNF5 expression could promote cell proliferation and enhance migration by STAT3 activation. We imputed that low SNF5 expression could confer greater resistance against conventional first-line drugs, including cisplatin and gemcitabine in BC. GDSC and drug-resistance assays suggested that low SNF5 expression renders T24 and 5637 cells high sensitivity to EGFR inhibitor gefitinib, and combination of EZH2 inhibitor GSK126 and cisplatin. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, the present study, for the first time, showed that low SNF5 expression could promote cell proliferation and migration by activating STAT3 and confer poor prognosis in BC. Importantly, SNF5 expression may be a promising candidate for identifying BC patients who could benefit from EGFR-targeted chemotherapy or cisplatin in combination with EZH2 inhibitor treatment regimens.

Microporous carbon material from fish waste for removal of methylene blue from wastewater.

Microporous fish waste-based activated carbon material (MFC) was prepared, with a large surface area of 2,193.52 m²/g, a pore size of 2.67 nm and micropore and total pore volumes of 0.9168 cm³/g and 0.9975 cm³/g, respectively. Adsorption efficiency of MFC was investigated by removal of methylene blue dye from wastewater. The Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics adequately described the adsorption process. MFC exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 476.19 mg/g at 30 °C, and reached equilibrium within 1 h. MFC could be an efficient and low-cost adsorbent for cationic dye removal during wastewater treatment.

A six-gene prognostic model predicts overall survival in bladder cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The fatality and recurrence rates of bladder cancer (BC) have progressively increased. DNA methylation is an influential regulator associated with gene transcription in the pathogenesis of BC. We describe a comprehensive epigenetic study performed to analyse DNA methylation-driven genes in BC. METHODS: Data related to DNA methylation, the gene transcriptome and survival in BC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). MethylMix was used to detect BC-specific hyper-/hypo-methylated genes. Metascape was used to carry out gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-penalized Cox regression was conducted to identify the characteristic dimension decrease and distinguish prognosis-related methylation-driven genes. Subsequently, we developed a six-gene risk evaluation model and a novel prognosis-related nomogram to predict overall survival (OS). A survival analysis was carried out to explore the individual prognostic significance of the six genes. RESULTS: In total, 167 methylation-driven genes were identified. Based on the LASSO Cox regression, six genes, i.e., ARHGDIB, LINC00526, IDH2, ARL14, GSTM2, and LURAP1, were selected for the development of a risk evaluation model. The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated that patients in the low-risk group had considerably better OS (P = 1.679e-05). The area under the curve (AUC) of this model was 0.698 at 3 years of OS. The verification performed in subgroups demonstrated the validity of the model. Then, we designed an OS-associated nomogram that included the risk score and clinical factors. The concordance index of the nomogram was 0.694. The methylation levels of IDH2 and ARL14 were appreciably related to the survival results. In addition, the methylation and gene expression-matched survival analysis revealed that ARHGDIB and ARL14 could be used as independent prognostic indicators. Among the six genes, 6 methylation sites in ARHGDIB, 3 in GSTM2, 1 in ARL14, 2 in LINC00526 and 2 in LURAP1 were meaningfully associated with BC prognosis. In addition, several abnormal methylated sites were identified as linked to gene expression. CONCLUSION: We discovered differential methylation in BC patients with better and worse survival and provided a risk evaluation model by merging six gene markers with clinical characteristics.

The replicative senescent mesenchymal stem / stromal cells defect in DNA damage response and anti-oxidative capacity.

Replicative senescence and potential malignant transformation are great limitations in the clinical application of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem / stromal cells (MSCs). An abnormal DNA damage response may result in genomic instability, which is an integral component of aging and tumorigenesis. However, the effect of aging on the DNA damage response in MSCs is currently unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the DNA damage response induced by oxidative stress and DNA double-strand breaks in human bone marrow-derived MSCs. After long-term cell culture, replicative senescent MSCs (sMSCs) were characterized by a poor proliferation rate, high senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity, and enhanced expression of P53 and P16. Features of the DNA damage response in these sMSCs were then compared with those from early-passage MSCs. The sMSCs were more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide and bleomycin treatment with respect to cell viability and apoptosis induction. Combined with the comet assay, γH2AX foci characterization and reactive oxygen species detection were used to demonstrate that the antioxidant and DNA repair ability of sMSCs are attenuated. This result could be explained, at least in part, by the downregulation of anti-oxidation and DNA repair genes, including Cu/Zn-SOD, GPX, CAT, OGG1, XRCC1, Ku70, BRCA2 and XRCC4. In conclusion, MSCs aging is associated with a reduction in the DNA repair and anti-oxidative capacity.

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a geo-specific poster compared to a general poster for effecting change in perceived threat and intention to avoid drowning 'hotspots' among children of migrant workers: evidence from Ningbo, China.

BACKGROUND: Drowning among children of migrant workers is a major, though neglected public health issue in China. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was used to examine the potential impact of viewing a preventive health poster with/without geo-located drowning events on perceptions of drowning risk among Chinese migrant children. A total of 752 children from three schools in Jiangbei district were selected by multi-stage sampling and randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 380) or control (n = 372). Multilevel models were used to analyse changes in responses to the following questions after viewing the assigned poster for 10 min: (1) "Do you believe that drowning is a serious health problem in Ningbo city?"; (2) "Do you believe that there are lots of drowning-risk waters around you?"; (3) "Do you believe that the likelihood of your accessing a drowning-risk water is great?"; and (4) "Would you intend to avoid accessing to those drowning-risk waters when being exposed?" RESULTS: At baseline there were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups in perceptions of drowning risk or covariates. Following the intervention, participants that viewed the geo-specific poster were more likely to respond more favourably to the first three questions (p < 0.001) than those who viewed the standard poster. However, there was no substantive difference between the geo-specific or standard poster in terms of changing intentions to avoid drowning hotspots (p = 0.214). CONCLUSIONS: Use of 'geo-located' information added value to the effectiveness of a drowning prevention poster for enhancing awareness of drowning hotspots among children of migrant workers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-IOR-16008979 (Retrospectively registered) (The date of trial registration: Aug 5, 2016, the date of enrolment of the first participant: Nov 10, 2015).

Higher expression of XPF is a critical factor in intrinsic chemotherapy resistance of human renal cell carcinoma.

Human renal cancer is extremely resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This clinical characteristic reduces the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of recurrence or metastasis following surgical resection. Understanding the mechanism of chemotherapy resistance in renal cell carcinoma remains a significant challenge. In this study, we have shown that varied level of XPF expression was organ-tissue specific by comparing human renal cancer, bladder cancer, testicular cancer and their normal tissue counterparts, respectively. The expression of XPF was significantly higher in renal cancer than in bladder cancer and testicular cancer and correlated with the clinical characteristic of their chemotherapeutics sensitivity. These novel findings proposed that the intrinsic chemoresistance of human renal cell carcinomas might be derived from the high level of XPF expression. In a panel of five cancer cell lines, decreasing cisplatin sensitivity correlated with increasing levels of XPF expression. Knockdown of XPF expression not only increased sensitivity of renal carcinoma cells to cisplatin treatment by affecting the DNA damage response, including DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis, but also increased senescence of renal cancer cell. Furthermore, experiment in vivo confirmed that silenced XPF significantly increased the sensitivity and survival following treatment with cisplatin in xenograft mice bearing renal cell tumor. These findings firstly uncover a partial mechanism of intrinsic chemoresistance in renal cancer and may provide a new approach to break through the obstacle of intrinsic chemoresistance by targeting the XPF protein with a potential new inhibitor.

Potential of MR histogram analyses for prediction of response to chemotherapy in patients with colorectal hepatic metastases.

PURPOSE: To determine if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) histogram analyses can help predict response to chemotherapy in patients with colorectal hepatic metastases by using response evaluation criteria in solid tumours (RECIST1.1) as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standard MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging (b=0, 500 s/mm(2)) was performed before chemotherapy in 53 patients with colorectal hepatic metastases. Histograms were performed for apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, arterial, and portal venous phase images; thereafter, mean, percentiles (1st, 10th, 50th, 90th, 99th), skewness, kurtosis, and variance were generated. Quantitative histogram parameters were compared between responders (partial and complete response, n=15) and non-responders (progressive and stable disease, n=38). Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analyses were further analyzed for the significant parameters. RESULTS: The mean, 1st percentile, 10th percentile, 50th percentile, 90th percentile, 99th percentile of the ADC maps were significantly lower in responding group than that in non-responding group (p=0.000-0.002) with area under the ROC curve (AUCs) of 0.76-0.82. The histogram parameters of arterial and portal venous phase showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Histogram-derived parameters for ADC maps seem to be a promising tool for predicting response to chemotherapy in patients with colorectal hepatic metastases. KEY POINTS: • ADC histogram analyses can potentially predict chemotherapy response in colorectal liver metastases. • Lower histogram-derived parameters (mean, percentiles) for ADC tend to have good response. • MR enhancement histogram analyses are not reliable to predict response.

In situ formation of nanoscale zero-value iron on fish-scale-based porous carbon for Cr(VI) adsorption.

Magnetic carbon materials that have nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) supported on fish scale based hierarchical lamellar porous carbon (FHLC) is reported in this study. The nZVI on FHLC was in the form of body-centered-cubic iron (Fe) crystal. Although it was demonstrated that the specific surface area (SBET), total pore volume (Vt) and micropore volume (Vm) of the FHLC decreased with the increase of Fe contents, a certain amount of addition of iron nanoparticles on FHLC enhances the Cr(VI) adsorption properties. The as-prepared material shows faster adsorption rate and higher maximum adsorption capacity (357.14 mg/g) compared to bare FHLC (344.83 mg/g). In addition, this magnetic carbon material exhibits a high saturated magnetization (16.49 emu/g). It is indicated that the as-prepared carbon material not only can be used to remove Cr(VI) efficiently but also shows excellent magnetic separation performance from wastewater.

Circulating Long Noncoding RNA as a Potential Target for Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer is considered the second most common visceral malignancy in men in Western countries. Its emergence is largely due to the coordination of a malignant network, and long noncoding RNA has been recently demonstrated to play a critical role in prostate carcinogenesis. The aberrant expression of long noncoding RNA in prostate cancer patients is strongly associated with diagnosis, risk stratification and carcinogenesis, information that provides new insight into the complicated intracellular milieu of prostate cancer. This review focuses mainly on literature evidence for the role of long noncoding RNA in prostate cancer, which may suggest novel strategies for its prognosis, diagnosis and clinical treatment.

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS FOR NONFATAL DROWNING IN THE MIGRANT CHILDREN.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and potential risk factors for nonfatal drowning among migrant workers' children in China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of students from third to ninth grade at five Migrant Workers' Children schools in Ningbo, China in 2014. General information and a history of nonfatal drowning was obtained from self-reported questionnaires by migrant students. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify potential risk factors. A total 3,859 students were included in the current study. Of these, 13.4% had experienced a nonfatal drowning accident (15.2% for males, 11.2% for females). Most nonfatal drowning occurred in natural water settings. Diving into unknown water without adult supervision had the greatest association with history of nonfatal drowning [odds ratio (OR) = 1.97; 95% confidential interval (CI): 1.31-2.95], followed by fishing in water (OR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.05-2.14), swimming or playing in water (OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.02-2.12), and trying to rescue peers in the water if they were drowning (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.04-1.64). There were factors associated with a lower risk of drowing: having a parent accompany the child to school (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.51-0.93),understanding the the danger of swimming alone (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.48-0.99) and having a knowledge about water safety (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.98-0.99). The study population was at inceased risk for nonfatal drowning. Preventive measures, such as improved water-safety knowledge, decreasing risky water-related activities and better supervision of children need to be developed and tested to decrease the risk of nonfatal drowning among the study population.

[Effects of intra-periaqueductal gray injection of zeta pseudosubstrate inhibitory peptide on sensory and affective components of pain].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of intra-PAG injection of ZIP on sensory and affective components of pain. METHODS: For determining the role of ZIP on pain-induced aversion, the effects of intra-PAG injection of ZIP on formalin-induced conditioned place avoidance (F-CPA) was investigated. To determine the role of ZIP on pain perception, formalin-induced inflammatory pain model was established and the effects of intra-PAG injection of ZIP on formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors was investigated. RESULTS: In the NS-treated rats, the time in the pain-paired compartment during the test session was significantly shorter than that during the preconditioning session 2 and 24 hours after administration of the drug at both 1 and 7 day post-training (Group NS-1 d-2 h: (465.1 ± 40.6) vs (133.8 ± 29.4) s (P < 0.001); Group NS-7 d-2 h: (432.3 ± 43.7) vs (150.5 ± 26.6) s (P < 0.01); Group NS-1 d-24 h: (500.5 ± 20.6) vs (107.0 ± 15.7) s (P < 0.001); Group NS-7 d-24 h: (450.8 ± 27.4) vs (129.4 ± 21.1) s (P < 0.001)). On the contrary, in the ZIP-treated rats, no significant differences were observed in the time in the pain-paired compartment between the post-conditioning and pre-conditioning sessions at the same time-points. CPA scores also showed the attenuation of F-CPA by intra-PAG injection of ZIP in comparison to the saline-injected rats (P < 0.05). Compared with the intra-PAG saline-injected group, intra-PAG microinjection of ZIP did not affect the formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that PAG contributes to pain-related aversion in rats, and the mechanism of pain emotion encoding in PAG may attribute to the activation of targets of ZIP.