ST14 interacts with TMEFF1 and is a predictor of poor prognosis in ovarian cancer.

TMEFF1 is a new protein involved in the physiological functions of the central nervous system, and we previously reported TMEFF1 can promote ovarian cancer. ST14 was determined to be involved in the processes of epidermal differentiation, epithelial cell integrity, and vascular endothelial cell migration, etc. The relationship between ST14 and TMEFF1 in the ovary remains unknown. In this study, we detected the expression of ST14 and TMEFF1 in 130 different ovarian cancer tissues through immunohistochemistry. We determined ST14 and TMEFF1 were highly expressed in ovarian cancer, indicating a higher degree of tumor malignancy and a worse prognosis. Tissues significantly expressing ST14 also highly expressed TMEFF1, and the expression of the two proteins was positively correlated. Consistently, immunofluorescence double staining demonstrated the co-localization of ST14 and TMEFF1 in the same region, and immunoprecipitation confirmed the interaction between ST14 and TMEFF1. TMEFF1 expression was also reduced after knocking down ST14 through Western blot. MTT, wound healing and Transwell assays results determined that knockdown of ST14 inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells in vitro, but the inhibitory effect was restored after adding TMEFF1 exogenous protein. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways analysis showed that ST14 and its related genes were enriched in the processes of epithelial formation, intercellular adhesion, protein localization, and mitosis regulation. We also clarified the kinase, microRNA, and transcription factor target networks and the impact of genetic mutations on prognosis. Overall, high expression of ST14 and TMEFF1 in ovarian cancer predicts higher tumor malignancy and a worse prognosis. ST14 and TMEFF1 co-localize and interact with each other in ovarian cancer. ST14 can regulate TMEFF1 expression to promote proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. We speculate that the relationship between ST14 and TMEFF1 in ovarian cancer could become a potential target for anti-cancer therapy.

Glycolysis: A fork in the path of normal and pathological pregnancy.

Glucose metabolism is vital to the survival of living organisms. Since the discovery of the Warburg effect in the 1920s, glycolysis has become a major research area in the field of metabolism. Glycolysis has been extensively studied in the field of cancer and is considered as a promising therapeutic target. However, research on the role of glycolysis in pregnancy is limited. Recent evidence suggests that blastocysts, trophoblasts, decidua, and tumors all acquire metabolic energy at specific stages in a highly similar manner. Glycolysis, carefully controlled throughout pregnancy, maintains a dynamic and coordinated state, so as to maintain the homeostasis of the maternal-fetal interface and ensure normal gestation. In the present review, we investigate metabolic remodeling and the selective propensity of the embryo and placenta for glycolysis. We then address dysregulated glycolysis that occurs in the cellular interactive network at the maternal-fetal interface in miscarriage, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and gestational diabetes mellitus. We provide new insights into the field of maternal-fetal medicine from a metabolic perspective, thus revealing the mystery of human pregnancy.

Layer-Point Structure of Si3N4-NH2@GO for Improving Corrosion and Wear Resistance of Waterborne Epoxy Coating.

The use of graphene-based materials as anticorrosion coatings to protect metals is always a topic of discussion. In this work, silicon nitride (Si3N4) was aminated to improve its water dispersibility. Then it is attached to the graphene oxide (GO) surface to improve compatibility with epoxy (EP) resin as well as conductivity. The results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and zeta potentials test analyses indicated that Si3N4-NH2@GO with a layer-point structure has been successfully prepared. The corrosion resistance of the composite coatings was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization curve analysis, and the wear resistance of the composite coatings was tested by friction and wear tests. The results showed that 1.0% Si3N4-NH2@GO has excellent corrosion and wear resistance. The use of Si3N4-NH2@GO layer point structures in this study broadens the way for GO applications.

Glycine-Ti3C2Tx Hybrid Material Improves the Electrochemical Corrosion Resistance of a Water-Borne Epoxy Coating.

Improving the dispersibility and compatibility of nanomaterials in water-borne epoxy resins is an important means to improve the protection ability and corrosion resistance of coatings. In this study, glycine-functionalized Ti3C2Tx (GT) was used to prepare an epoxy composite coating. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction showed that glycine was successfully modified. The scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results showed that the aggregation of Ti3C2Tx was alleviated. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test results show that, after 60 days of immersion, GT coating still shows the best protection performance, and the composite coating |Z|f = 0.01 Hz is 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of the pure epoxy coating. This is mainly because, after adding glycine, the -COOH group on the surface of glycine binds to the -OH group on the surface of Ti3C2Tx, improving the aggregation of Ti3C2Tx itself. At the same time, the -NH group of glycine can also participate in the curing reaction of epoxy resin to strengthen the bonding strength between the coating and the metal. The good dispersion of GT in epoxy resin makes it fill the pores and holes left by epoxy resin curing and strengthen the corrosion resistance. The easy availability and green properties of glycine provide a simple and environmentally friendly method for the modification of Ti3C2Tx.

Identification and clinical validation of NUSAP1 as a novel prognostic biomarker in ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Nucleolar and spindle-associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) was shown to be involved in cell cycle regulation in cancer. However, its prognostic value and underlying mechanism in ovarian cancer remain unclear. METHODS: Oncomine, TCGA, CCLE, and UALCAN databases were used to analyze the expression level of NUSAP1 in ovarian cancer. The Kaplan-Meier plotter database was used to evaluate its prognostic value. The results from these analyses were further validated using immunohistochemical assay. The potential molecular mechanism of NUSAP1 in ovarian cancer was assessed with respect to homologous recombination repair, mismatch repair, and immunology using different databases. RESULTS: Database analyses and experimental results demonstrated that NUSAP1 was highly expressed in ovarian cancer, its levels being correlated with the FIGO stage. High NUSAP1 expression was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Moreover, NUSAP1 was associated with cell cycle, DNA replication, homologous recombination, and p53 signaling pathway. A positive correlation was identified between the expression of NUSAP1 and BRCA1/2 in ovarian cancer. In addition, NUSAP1 was associated with the expression of DNA mismatch repair genes and immune cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: NUSAP1 may be a valuable prognostic marker, as well as a novel biomarker for evaluating the response to immunotherapy of patients with ovarian cancer.

Identification of a five-gene signature of the RGS gene family with prognostic value in ovarian cancer.

The RGS (regulator of G protein signaling) gene family, which includes negative regulators of G protein-coupled receptors, comprises important drug targets for malignant tumors. It is thus of great significance to explore the value of RGS family genes for diagnostic and prognostic prediction in ovarian cancer. The RNA-seq, immunophenotype, and stem cell index data of pan-cancer, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, and GTEx data of ovarian cancer were downloaded from the UCSC Xena database. In the pan-cancer database, the expression level of RGS1, RGS18, RGS19, and RGS13 was positively correlated with stromal and immune cell scores. Cancer patients with high RGS18 expression were more sensitive to cyclophosphamide and nelarabine, whereas those with high RGS19 expression were more sensitive to cladribine and nelarabine. The relationship between RGS family gene expression and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of ovarian cancer patients was analyzed using the KM-plotter database, RGS17, RGS16, RGS1, and RGS8 could be used as diagnostic biomarkers of the immune subtype of ovarian cancer, and RGS10 and RGS16 could be used as biomarkers to predict the clinical stage of this disease. Further, Lasso cox analysis identified a five-gene risk score (RGS11, RGS10, RGS13, RGS4, and RGS3). Multivariate COX analysis showed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor for patients with ovarian cancer. Immunohistochemistry and the HPA protein database confirmed that the five-gene signature is overexpressed in ovarian cancer. GSEA showed that it is mainly involved in the ECM-receptor interaction, TGF-beta signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and chemokine signaling pathway, which promote the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer. The prediction model of ovarian cancer constructed using RGS family genes is of great significance for clinical decision making and the personalized treatment of patients with ovarian cancer.

Maleimide-Functionalized Liposomes: Prolonged Retention and Enhanced Efficacy of Doxorubicin in Breast Cancer with Low Systemic Toxicity.

Cell surface thiols can be targeted by thiol-reactive groups of various materials such as peptides, nanoparticles, and polymers. Here, we used the maleimide group, which can rapidly and covalently conjugate with thiol groups, to prepare surface-modified liposomes (M-Lip) that prolong retention of doxorubicin (Dox) at tumor sites, enhancing its efficacy. Surface modification with the maleimide moiety had no effect on the drug loading efficiency or drug release properties. Compared to unmodified Lip/Dox, M-Lip/Dox was retained longer at the tumor site, it was taken up by 4T1 cells to a significantly greater extent, and exhibited stronger inhibitory effect against 4T1 cells. The in vivo imaging results showed that the retention time of M-Lip at the tumor was significantly longer than that of Lip. In addition, M-Lip/Dox also showed significantly higher anticancer efficacy and lower cardiotoxicity than Lip/Dox in mice bearing 4T1 tumor xenografts. Thus, the modification strategy with maleimide may be useful for achieving higher efficient liposome for tumor therapy.

Exosomal ANXA2 derived from ovarian cancer cells regulates epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of human peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Ovarian cancer, one of the malignant gynaecological tumours with the highest mortality rate among female reproductive system, is prone to metastasis, recurrence and chemotherapy resistance, causing a poor prognosis. Exosomes can regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of tumour cells, remodel surrounding tumour microenvironment, and affect tumour cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis. However, the function and mechanism of exosomes in the intraperitoneal implantation of ovarian cancer remain unclear. In this study, exosomal annexin A2 (ANXA2) derived from ovarian cancer cells was co-cultured with human peritoneal mesothelial (HMrSV5) cells; functional experiments were conducted to explore the effects of exosomal ANXA2 on the biological behaviour of HMrSV5 and the related mechanisms. This study showed that ANXA2 in ovarian cancer cells can be transferred to HMrSV5 cells through exosomes, exosomal ANXA2 can not only promote the migration, invasion and apoptosis of HMrSV5 cells, but also regulates morphological changes and fibrosis of HMrSV5 cells. Furthermore, ANXA2 promotes the mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT) and degradation of the extracellular matrix of HMrSV5 cells through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, finally affects pre-metastasis microenvironment of ovarian cancer, which provides a new theoretical basis for the mechanism of intraperitoneal implantation and metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Identification of the prognostic value of a 2-gene signature of the WNT gene family in UCEC using bioinformatics and real-world data.

BACKGROUND: The WNT gene family plays an important role in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors, but its involvement has not been systematically analyzed in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the WNT gene family in UCEC. METHODS: Pan-cancer transcriptome data of the UCSC Xena database and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) normal tissue data were downloaded to analyze the expression and prognosis of 19 WNT family genes in UCEC. A cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas-Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (TCGA-UCEC) was used to analyze the expression of the WNT gene family in different immune subtypes and clinical subgroups. The STRING database was used to analyze the interaction of the WNT gene family and its biological function. Univariate Cox regression analysis and Lasso cox analysis were used to identify the genes associated with significant prognosis and to construct multi signature prognosis model. An immunohistochemical assay was used to verify the predictive ability of the model. Risk score and the related clinical features were used to construct a nomogram. RESULTS: The expression levels of WNT2, WNT3, WNT3A, WNT5A, WNT7A, and WNT10A were significantly different among different immune subtypes and correlated with TP53 mutation. According to the WNT family genes related to the prognosis of UCEC, UCEC was classified into two subtypes (C1, C2). The prognosis of subtype C1 was significantly better than that of subtype C2. A 2-gene signature (WNT2 and WNT10A) was constructed and the two significantly prognostic groups can be divided based on median Risk score. These results were verified using real-world data, and the nomogram constructed using clinical features and Risk score had good prognostic ability. CONCLUSIONS: The 2-gene signature including WNT2 and WNT10A can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with UCEC, which is important for clinical decision-making and individualized therapy for patients with UCEC.

YWHAE as an HE4 interacting protein can influence the malignant behaviour of ovarian cancer by regulating the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways.

BACKGROUND: Malignant tumours of the female reproductive system threaten the lives and health of women worldwide, with ovarian cancer having the highest mortality rate. Based on previous work, this study analysed the expression and role of YWHAE in ovarian epithelial tumours. METHODS: The interaction between YWHAE and HE4 was evaluated via immunoprecipitation, western blot analysis, and cellular immunofluorescence. Immunohistochemistry was used to address the relationship between YWHAE expression, clinicopathological parameters, and patient prognosis. Changes in cell invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle before and after differential expression of YWHAE were also explored in ovarian cancer cell lines and via in vivo experiments. RESULTS: YWHAE was found to interact with HE4, and its expression was positively correlated with HE4 expression. Moreover, YWHAE upregulation was associated with advanced stages of ovarian cancer and poor patient prognosis. In addition, YWHAE enhanced invasion, migration, and proliferation, but inhibited the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. These biological effects were found to be mediated by the AKT and MAPK signalling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, this study demonstrates that YWHAE is substantially upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues, representing a risk factor for the prognosis of ovarian cancer that is positively correlated with HE4 expression. Furthermore, YWHAE and its downstream pathways may represent new therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer.

Identification of immune-enhanced molecular subtype associated with BRCA1 mutations, immune checkpoints and clinical outcome in ovarian carcinoma.

Ovarian carcinoma has the highest mortality among the malignant tumours in gynaecology, and new treatment strategies are urgently needed to improve the clinical status of ovarian carcinoma patients. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort were performed to explore the immune function of the internal environment of tumours and its clinical correlation with ovarian carcinoma. Finally, four molecular subtypes were obtained based on the global immune-related genes. The correlation analysis and clinical characteristics showed that four subtypes were all significantly related to clinical stage; the immune scoring results indicated that most immune signatures were upregulated in C3 subtype, and the majority of tumour-infiltrating immune cells were upregulated in both C3 and C4 subtypes. Compared with other subtypes, C3 subtype had a higher BRCA1 mutation, higher expression of immune checkpoints, and optimal survival prognosis. These findings of the immunological microenvironment in tumours may provide new ideas for developing immunotherapeutic strategies for ovarian carcinoma.

Down-regulation of TRIB3 inhibits the progression of ovarian cancer via MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRIB3) protein is a pseudokinase which plays an important role in cellular stress, metabolism, and tumor progression. However, the expression and function of TRIB3 in ovarian cancer is unknown. METHODS: TRIB3 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in the ovarian tissue samples. Following down-regulation of TRIB3 by siRNA, multiple aspects of ovarian cancer cells were detected by the MTT assay, flow cytometry, scratch test and Transwell. Additionally, changes in related molecules and the MEK/ERK pathway were detected by western blotting. Finally, many bioinformatic methods, websites and databases, such as gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), DVAID, Genemania, TISIDB and cBioPortal were used to study the TRIB3. RESULTS: The expression level of TRIB3 was higher in ovarian epithelial malignant tumors as compared to other groups. Patients with a high expression level of TRIB3 had significantly shorter survival times,which was consistent with the results of analysis of the KM-plot database. Down-regulation of TRIB3 expression significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration capabilities of ovarian cancer cells, and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Following TRIB3 siRNA transfection, expression levels of relative proteins were found to be decreased. Additionally, analysis in DAVID website and GSEA revealed that TRIB3 expression was associated with multiple biological processes. Protein phosphorylation levels of MEK and ERK also decreased following TRIB3-siRNA transfection. The Genemania website was used to analyze the proteins that interact with TRIB3. Analysis of TRIB3 in the TISIDB database and cBioPortal website showed that ovarian cancer patients with high levels of mutation in TRIB3 had poor prognosis, and that the expression of TRIB3 was related to immunomodulation. CONCLUSIONS: The TRIB3 was highly expressed and promoting the malignant behavior of ovarian cancer cells by activating the MEK-ERK signaling pathway. It was also found to be associated with genetic variations and immune modulators.

Identification of long noncoding RNA RP11-89K21.1 and RP11-357H14.17 as prognostic signature of endometrial carcinoma via integrated bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in gynecology. The potential functions and mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the occurrence and progression of EC remains unclear. It's meaningful to explore lncRNAs signature for providing prognostic value of EC. METHODS: The differentially expressed lncRNAs and their prognostic values in EC were investigated based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database; the transcriptional factors (TFs), the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism, functional regulatory network and immune infiltration of RP11-89K21.1 and RP11-357H14.17 were further explored by various bioinformatics tools and databases. RESULTS: We firstly identified high expression of RP11-89K21.1 and RP11-357H14.17 were closely associated with shorten overall survival (OS) and poor prognosis in patients with EC. We also elucidated the networks of transcription factor and co-expression genes associated with RP11-89K21.1 and RP11-357H14.17. Furthermore, the ceRNA network mechanism was successfully constructed through 2 lncRNAs (RP11-89K21.1 and RP11-357H14.17), 11 miRNAs and 183 mRNAs. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the targeting genes of RP11-89K21.1 and RP11-357H14.17 were strongly associated with microRNAs in cancer, vessel development, growth regulation, growth factor and cell differentiation, and involved in pathways including pathways in cancer, microRNAs in cancer and apoptotic signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated for the first time that RP11-89K21.1 and RP11-357H14.17 may play crucial roles in the occurrence, development and malignant biological behavior of EC, and can be regarded as potential prognostic biomarkers for EC.

A Modular Synthetic Strategy for Functional Macrocycles.

Reported here is a molecule-Lego synthetic strategy for macrocycles with functional skeletons, involving one-pot and high-yielding condensation between bis(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)arene monomers and paraformaldehyde. By changing the blocks, variously functional units (naphthalene, pyrene, anthraquinone, porphyrin, etc.) can be conveniently introduced into the backbone of macrocycles. Interestingly, the macrocyclization can be tuned by the geometrical configuration of monomeric blocks. Linear (180°) monomer yield cyclic trimers and pentamers, while V-shaped (120°, 90° and 60°) monomers tend to form dimers. More significantly, even heterogeneous macrocycles are obtained in moderate yield by co-oligomerization of different monomers. This series of macrocycles have the potential to be prosperous in the near future.

Identification of molecular marker associated with ovarian cancer prognosis using bioinformatics analysis and experiments.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is one of the three major malignant tumors of the female reproductive system, and the mortality associated with ovarian cancer ranks first among gynecologic malignant tumors. The pathogenesis of ovarian cancer is not yet clearly defined but elucidating this process would be of great significance for clinical diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. For this study, we used bioinformatics to identify the key pathogenic genes and reveal the potential molecular mechanisms of ovarian cancer; we used immunohistochemistry to validate them. METHODS: We analyzed and integrated four gene expression profiles (GSE14407, GSE18520, GSE26712, and GSE54388), which were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, with the aim of obtaining a common differentially expressed gene (DEG). Then, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway analysis using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). We then established a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the DEGs through the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and selected hub genes. Finally, survival analysis of the hub genes was performed using a Kmplotter online tool. RESULTS: A total of 226 DEGs were detected after the analysis of the four gene expression profiles; of these, 87 were upregulated genes and 139 were downregulated. GO analysis results showed that DEGs were significantly enriched in biological processes including the G2/M transition of the mitotic cell cycle, the apoptotic process, cell proliferation, blood coagulation, and positive regulation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. KEGG analysis results showed that DEGs were particularly enriched in the cell cycle, the p53 signaling pathway, the Wnt signaling pathway, the Ras signaling pathway, the Rap1 signaling pathway, and tyrosine metabolism. We selected 50 hub genes from the PPI network, which had 147 nodes and 655 edges, and 30 of them were associated with the prognosis of ovarian cancer. We performed immunohistochemistry on phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1). PSAT1 was highly expressed in cancer tissues, and its expression level was related to clinical stage and tissue differentiation in ovarian cancer. A Cox proportional risk model suggested that high expression of PSAT1 and late clinical stage were independent risk factors for survival and prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. CONCLUSION: The detection of DEGs using bioinformatics analysis might be crucial to understanding the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer, especially the molecular mechanisms of its development. The association between PSAT1 expression and the occurrence, development, and prognosis of ovarian cancer was further verified by immunohistochemistry. The PSAT1 expression can be used as a prognostic marker to provide a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.

Annexin A8 can serve as potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ovarian cancer: based on the comprehensive analysis of Annexins.

BACKGROUND: Annexins are involved in vesicle trafficking, cell proliferation and apoptosis, but their functional mechanisms in ovarian cancer remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed Annexins in ovarian cancer using different databases and selected Annexin A8 (ANXA8), which showed the greatest prognostic value, for subsequent validation in immunohistochemical (IHC) assays. METHODS: The mRNA expression levels, genetic variations, prognostic values and gene-gene interaction network of Annexins in ovarian cancer were analyzed using the Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), cBioPortal, Kaplan-Meier plotter and GeneMANIA database. ANXA8 was selected for analyzing the biological functions and pathways of its co-expressed genes, and its correlation with immune system responses via the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and the TISIDB database, respectively. We validated the expression of ANXA8 in ovarian cancer via IHC assays and analyzed its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. RESULTS: ANXA2/3/8/11 mRNA expression levels were significantly upregulated in ovarian cancer, and ANXA5/6/7 mRNA expression levels were significantly downregulated. Prognostic analysis suggested that significant correlations occurred between ANXA2/4/8/9 mRNA upregulation and poor overall survival, and between ANXA8/9/11 mRNA upregulation and poor progression-free survival in patients with ovarian serous tumors. Taken together, results suggested that ANXA8 was most closely associated with ovarian cancer tumorigenesis and progression. Further analyses indicated that ANXA8 may be involved in cell migration, cell adhesion, and vasculature development, as well as in the regulation of PI3K-Akt, focal adhesion, and proteoglycans. Additionally, ANXA8 expression was significantly correlated with lymphocytes and immunomodulators. The IHC results showed that ANXA8 expression was higher in the malignant tumor group than in the borderline and benign tumor groups and normal ovary group, and high ANXA8 expression was an independent risk factor for survival and prognosis of ovarian cancer patients (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Members of the Annexin family display varying degrees of abnormal expressions in ovarian cancer. ANXA8 was significantly highly expressed in ovarian cancer, and high ANXA8 expression was significantly correlated with poor prognosis. Therefore, ANXA8 is a high candidate as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Systematic profiling of alternative splicing signature reveals prognostic predictor for cervical cancer.

AIM: Cervical cancer is a common malignant carcinoma of the gynecological tract with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis and prognosis of cervical cancer by searching for the involved key genes. METHOD: In this study, the alternative splicing (AS) events of 253 patients with cervical cancer were analyzed, and 41,766 AS events were detected in 9961 genes. Univariate analysis was performed to screen prognostic AS events. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was used to identify the pathways in which these AS events were involved. RESULTS: We found that exon skip (ES) is the main AS event in patients with cervical cancer. There was pronounced consistency between the genes involved in overall survival and those involved in recurrence. At the same time, we found that a gene may exhibit several different types of AS events, and these different AS events may be related to prognosis. Four characteristic genes, HSPA14, SDHAF2, CAMKK2 and TM9SF1, that can be used as prognostic markers for cervical cancer were selected. CONCLUSION: The importance of AS events in the development of cervical cancer and prediction of prognosis was revealed by a large amount of data at the whole genome level, which may provide a potential target for cervical cancer treatment. We also provide a new method for exploring the pathogenesis of cervical cancer to determine clinical treatment and prognosis more accurately.

[Genetic analysis of a child with 13q deletion syndrome featuring congenital heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis of a child with congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Clinical examination of the child was carried out. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and quantitative PCR were carried out to detect copy number variations. RESULTS: The major features of the child included CHD (ventricular septal defect, severe pulmonary hypertension, tricuspid regurgitation, patent ductus arteriosus, and patent foramen ovale), severe pneumonia and liver failure. A de novo 3.2 Mb deletion encompassing 25 genes in 13q34 and a paternal 2.2 Mb duplication in 19p13.3 were revealed by CMA and qPCR. CONCLUSION: The 13q34 region probably contains susceptibility genes for CHD.

Simulation of radon detection efficiency with small pulse ionization chamber based on Geant4.

Radon measurement is crucial in assessing the damage to the human body caused by natural radiation. Pulsed ionization chambers are effective for real-time radon measurement and have widespread applications in other radiation techniques. However, due to practical constraints such as limited space and portability concerns, it becomes imperative to consider not only the detection efficiency but also their ease of transportation. This work utilizes the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit to characterize the detection models of small cylindrical and flat plate-type pulsed ionization chambers, and carry out a simulation study to analyze the three crucial factors that influence detection efficiency, including the geometry of the chamber, electrode size, and operating temperature. The results indicate that the cylindrical pulse ionization chamber, with a length of 8 cm and radius of 2 cm, has the best detection efficiency and portability in terms of geometric dimensions, achieving a detection efficiency of (58 ± 4)%. Meanwhile, the flat plate pulse ionization chamber, with dimensions of 7 cm in length and 3 cm in width, achieves the best detection efficiency and portability, with a detection efficiency of (54 ± 3)%. In terms of electrode wire size, the cylindrical ionization chamber electrode wire with a length of 7 cm and a radius of 2.5 mm was optimal with a detection efficiency of (59 ± 4)%. In terms of operating temperature, the detection efficiency of the flat-plate pulsed ionization chamber was the highest at 30 °C, which was (58 ± 4)%, and that of the cylindrical pulsed ionization chamber was the highest at 20 °C, which was (63 ± 4)%. By analyzing the influencing factors of the detection efficiency of the pulsed ionization chamber, it has a certain reference value and guiding significance for the research and design of small pulsed ionization chamber detectors for radon measuring instruments.

Small ion pulse ionization chamber for radon measurement in underground space.

Radon, prevalent in underground spaces, requires continuous monitoring due to health risks. Traditional detectors are often expensive, bulky, and ill-suited for humid environments in underground spaces. This study presents a compact, cost-effective radon detector designed for long-term, online monitoring. It uses a small ionization chamber with natural airflow, avoiding the need for fans or pumps, and includes noise filtering and humidity mitigation. Featuring multi-point networking and easy integration capabilities, this detector significantly enhances radon monitoring in challenging, underground conditions.