Genome-wide identification and structural analysis of the BMP gene family in Triplophysa dalaica.

BACKGROUND: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are part of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) superfamily and play crucial roles in bone development, as well as in the formation and maintenance of various organs. Triplophysa dalaica, a small loach fish that primarily inhabits relatively high elevations and cooler water bodies, was the focus of this study. Understanding the function of BMP genes during the morphogenesis of T. dalaica helps to clarify the mechanisms of its evolution and serves as a reference for the study of BMP genes in other bony fishes. The data for the T. dalaica transcriptome and genome used in this investigation were derived from the outcomes of our laboratory sequencing. RESULTS: This study identified a total of 26 BMP genes, all of which, except for BMP1, possess similar TGF-ß structural domains. We conducted an analysis of these 26 BMP genes, examining their physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, phylogenetic relationships, covariance within and among species, chromosomal localization, gene structure, conserved motifs, conserved structural domains, and expression patterns. Our findings indicated that three BMP genes were associated with unstable proteins, while 11 BMP genes were located within the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, some BMP genes were duplicated, with the majority being enriched in the GO:0008083 pathway, which is related to growth factor activity. It was hypothesized that genes within the BMP1/3/11/15 subgroup (Group I) play a significant role in the growth and development of T. dalaica. By analyzing the expression patterns of proteins in nine tissues (gonad, kidney, gill, spleen, brain, liver, fin, heart, and muscle), we found that BMP genes play diverse regulatory roles during different stages of growth and development and exhibit characteristics of division of labor. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to a deeper understanding of BMP gene family member expression patterns in high-altitude, high-salinity environments and provides valuable insights for future research on the BMP gene family in bony fishes.

Cut-off values of haemoglobin and clinical outcomes in incident peritoneal dialysis: the PDTAP study.

BACKGROUND: To explore the cut-off values of haemoglobin (Hb) on adverse clinical outcomes in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients based on a national-level database. METHODS: The observational cohort study was from the Peritoneal Dialysis Telemedicine-assisted Platform (PDTAP) dataset. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and modified MACE (MACE+). The secondary outcomes were the occurrences of hospitalization, first-episode peritonitis and permanent transfer to haemodialysis (HD). RESULTS: A total of 2591 PD patients were enrolled between June 2016 and April 2019 and followed up until December 2020. Baseline and time-averaged Hb <100 g/l were associated with all-cause mortality, MACE, MACE+ and hospitalizations. After multivariable adjustments, only time-averaged Hb <100 g/l significantly predicted a higher risk for all-cause mortality {hazard ratio [HR] 1.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-281], P = .006}, MACE [HR 1.99 (95% CI 1.16-3.40), P = .012] and MACE+ [HR 1.77 (95% CI 1.15-2.73), P = .010] in the total cohort. No associations between Hb and hospitalizations, transfer to HD and first-episode peritonitis were observed. Among patients with Hb ≥100 g/l at baseline, younger age, female, use of iron supplementation, lower values of serum albumin and renal Kt/V independently predicted the incidence of Hb <100 g/l during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study provided real-world evidence on the cut-off value of Hb for predicting poorer outcomes through a nation-level prospective PD cohort.

Prognostic Value of ctDNA Detection in Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is increasingly used as a biomarker for metastatic rectal cancer and has recently shown promising results in the early detection of recurrence risk. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the prognostic value of ctDNA detection in LARC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). We systematically searched electronic databases for observational or interventional studies that included LARC patients undergoing nCRT. Study selection according to the PRISMA guidelines and quality assessment of the REMARK tool for biomarker studies. The primary endpoint was the impact of ctDNA detection at different time points (baseline, post-nCRT, post-surgery) on relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoint was to study the association between ctDNA detection and pathological complete response(pCR) at different time points. RESULTS: After further review and analysis of the 625 articles initially retrieved, we finally included 10 eligible studies. We found no significant correlation between ctDNA detection at baseline and long-term survival outcomes or the probability of achieving a pCR. However, the presence of ctDNA at post-nCRT was associated with worse RFS (HR = 9.16, 95% CI, 5.48-15.32), worse OS (HR = 8.49, 95% CI, 2.20-32.72), and worse pCR results (OR = 0.40, 95%CI, 0.18-0.89). The correlation between the presence of ctDNA at post-surgery and worse RFS was more obvious (HR = 14.94; 95% CI, 7.48-9.83). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ctDNA detection is a promising biomarker for the evaluation of response and prognosis in LARC patients undergoing nCRT, which merits further evaluation in the following prospective trials.

Merging Fluorine Incorporation and Functional Group Migration.

Fluorine incorporation by concomitant fluoroalkyl radical addition to alkene or alkyne and functional group migration (FGM) represents an ingenious and robust strategy for the synthesis of structurally diverse fluorinated compounds. This account gives an overview of related studies in our group, in which three main reaction modes are discussed: 1) radical fluoroalkylative difunctionalization of unactivated alkenes via intramolecular FGM; 2) alkene difunctionalization by docking-migration process using fluoroalkyl-containing bifunctional reagents; 3) incorporation of fluoroalkyl group into C(sp3 )-H bond via consecutive hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and FGM. Relying on these methods, a variety of trifluoromethylation and di-/mono-fluoroalkylation reactions along with the migration of cyano, heteroaryl, oximino, formyl, alkynyl, and alkenyl groups have been accomplished under mild conditions.

Efficacy of low-dose rituximab in minimal change disease and prevention of relapse.

BACKGROUND: Minimal change disease (MCD) is a major cause of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in children and a minority of adults. The higher tendency to relapse put patients at risk for prolonged exposure to steroids and other immunosuppressive agents. B cell depletion with rituximab (RTX) may be beneficial to the treatment and prevention of frequently relapsing MCD. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the therapeutic/preventive effects of low-dose RTX on the relapse in adult with MCD. METHODS: A total of 33 adult patients were selected for the study, including 22 patients with relapsing MCD in relapse treatment group who were treated with low-dose RTX (200 mg per week × 4 following by 200 mg every 6 months) and 11 patients in relapse prevention group with complete remission (CR) after steroid therapy were treated with RTX (200 mg ×1 every 6 months) for preventing the relapse of MCD. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients with MCD in relapse treatment group, there were 21 cases (95.45%) of remission [2 (9.09%) partial remission (PR), 19 (86.36%) CR], 1 (4.56%) no remission (NR) and 20 (90.90%) relapse-free. The Median duration of sustained remission was 16.3 months (3, 23.5 months, inter quartile range (IQR)). 11 patients in the relapse prevention group during a follow-up of 12 months (9-31 months) had no relapse. The average dose of prednisone in two groups after RTX treatment was significantly lower than before treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested low-dose RTX can significantly reduce relapse rate and steroid dose in adults with MCD with fewer side effects. Low-dose RTX regimens may be beneficial for the treatment of relapsing MCD in adults and may be the preferred regimen for patients at high risk for the development of adverse events from corticosteroids.

Genome-wide characterization of the Triplophysa dalaica slc4 gene family and expression profiles in response to salinity changes.

BACKGROUND: The solute carrier 4 (SLC4) gene family is involved in a variety of physiological processes in organisms and is essential for maintaining acid-base balance in the body. The slc4 genes have been extensively studied in mammals, and they play important roles in intracellular and extracellular pH regulation and in the secretion and uptake of HCO3- and other ions (Na+ and Cl-) between transepithelial cells in different tissues. This study identified and characterized the entire slc4 gene family of Triplophysa dalaica. RESULTS: Fifteen slc4 genes were identified in the whole genome of Triplophysa dalaica in this study, including five copies of Na+-independent Cl-/HCO3- transporters, eight members of Na+-dependent HCO3- transporters, and two genes coding Na+-coupled borate transporters. The chromosomal location information, isoelectric points, and molecular weights of the 15 slc4 genes were analyzed. The results for gene structure, domain analysis, and phylogenetic relationships of this gene family showed that the slc4 genes (except for slc4a9, which is missing in teleosts) are significantly expanded in teleosts compared to higher vertebrates. This phenomenon suggests that the slc4 gene family played an important role in the transition from aquatic to terrestrial animals. RT-PCR results showed that different slc4 genes showed diversified expression patterns in the tissues of T. dalaica. For osmotic pressure regulating organs, slc4a1b, slc4a4b, slc4a7, and slc4a11a were highly expressed in gills. In the kidney, slc4a1a, slc4a3, and slc4a10b were highly expressed, suggesting that the slc4 genes play a specific role in the salinity adaptation of T. dalaica. Our study has deciphered the biological roles of the slc4 genes in maintaining ionic and acid-base homeostasis in teleost fishes and provides a foundation for future exploration of the highly differentiated gene family in Triplophysa. CONCLUSIONS: The results are relevant for the breeding of alkali-tolerant varieties in saline-alkali areas for aquaculture. Our findings have important implications for the adaptation process of freshwater species to saline-alkali water.

PDIA4 promotes glioblastoma progression via the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathway.

Protein disulfide isomerase A4 (PDIA4) is highly expressed in clear cell ovarian carcinoma and lung cancer. Through analysis of TCGA database and CGGA database, we noted that PDIA4 is a key promotor of glioblastoma (GBM). However, the detailed role and molecular mechanism of PDIA4 in GBM remain unclear. In this study, the expression pattern and biological role of PDIA4 in GBM was investigated. PDIA4 was overexpressed in GBM tumor samples and cell lines and positively correlated with pathological grades in glioma patients. In addition, downregulation of PDIA4 promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation of GBM. Meanwhile, there was a concurrent decrease in aerobic glycolysis metabolites. Mechanistically, PDIA4 downregulation promoted the apoptosis of GBM cells by increased the expression of apoptosis pathway proteins (caspase 3, caspase 9 and Bax). Downregulation of PDIA4 decreased energy demand and inhibited GBM growth in vitro and in vivo. Besides, such effect also inhibited the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathway by inhibiting protein phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT and m-TOR. After addition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activator 740Y-P, the effect of PDIA4 knockdown on GBM was reversed. Therefore, we believe that PDIA4 regulates the proliferation via activating the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathway and suppression of apoptosis in glioblastoma. It could be used as a potential target for the treatment of GBM.

A comprehensive dynamic immune acetylproteomics profiling induced by Puccinia polysora in maize.

Lysine-ε-acetylation (Kac) is a reversible post-translational modification that plays important roles during plant-pathogen interactions. Some pathogens can deliver secreted effectors encoding acetyltransferases or deacetylases into host cell to directly modify acetylation of host proteins. However, the function of these acetylated host proteins in plant-pathogen defense remains to be determined. Employing high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry, we analyzed protein abundance and lysine acetylation changes in maize infected with Puccinia polysora (P. polysora) at 0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. A total of 7412 Kac sites from 4697 proteins were identified, and 1732 Kac sites from 1006 proteins were quantified. Analyzed the features of lysine acetylation, we found that Kac is ubiquitous in cellular compartments and preferentially targets lysine residues in the -F/W/Y-X-X-K (ac)-N/S/T/P/Y/G- motif of the protein, this Kac motif contained proteins enriched in basic metabolism and defense-associated pathways during fungal infection. Further analysis of acetylproteomics data indicated that maize regulates cellular processes in response to P. polysora infection by altering Kac levels of histones and non-histones. In addition, acetylation of pathogen defense-related proteins presented converse patterns in signaling transduction, defense response, cell wall fortification, ROS scavenging, redox reaction and proteostasis. Our results provide informative resources for studying protein acetylation in plant-pathogen interactions, not only greatly extending the understanding on the roles of acetylation in vivo, but also providing a comprehensive dynamic pattern of Kac modifications in the process of plant immune response.

Telemedicine and Clinical Outcomes in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Propensity-Matched Study.

INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine (TM) has shown to provide potential benefits on clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease but limited evidences published in the peritoneal dialysis (PD) population. This study aimed to explore the long-term effects of TM on the mortality and technique failure. METHODS: The Peritoneal Dialysis Telemedicine-assisted Platform Cohort Study (PDTAP Study) was conducted prospectively in 27 hospitals in China since 2016. Patient and practice data were collected through the doctor-end of the TM app (Manburs) for all participants. TM including self-monitoring records, on-line education materials, and real-time physician-patient contact was only performed for the patient-end users of the Manburs. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were cause-specific mortality and all-cause and cause-specific permanent transfer to hemodialysis. RESULTS: A total of 7,539 PD patients were enrolled between June 2016 and April 2019, with follow-up till December 2020. Patients were divided into two cohorts: TM group (39.1%) and non-TM group (60.9%). A propensity score was used to create 2,160 matched pairs in which the baseline covariates were well-balanced. There were significantly lower risks of all-cause mortality (HR 0.59 [0.51, 0.67], p < 0.001), CVD mortality (HR 0.59 [0.49, 0.70], p < 0.001), all-cause transfer to hemodialysis (0.57 [0.48, 0.67], p < 0.001), transfer to hemodialysis from PD-related infection (0.67 [0.51, 0.88], p = 0.003), severe fluid overload (0.40 [0.30, 0.55], p < 0.001), inadequate solute clearance (0.49 [0.26, 0.92], p = 0.026), and catheter-related noninfectious complications (0.41 [0.17, 0.97], p = 0.041) in the TM group compared with the non-TM group. CONCLUSION: This study indicated real-world associations between TM usage and reduction in patient survival and technique survival through a multicenter prospective cohort.

Fibronectin glomerulopathy with monoclonal gammopathy responding to bortezomib plus dexamethasone: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Fibronectin glomerulopathy is a rare, familial glomerular disease characterized by mesangial fibronectin deposition in the glomeruli. It is caused by the genetic defect in fibronectin and does not involve the activation of the immune system. Therefore, glomerular immunoglobulin and complement staining is generally absent or weak. Monoclonal gammopathy (MG) is an increasing cause of renal lesion, featured by light chain (κ or λ) and/or heavy chain restriction in glomeruli. Herein, we report a case of fibronectin glomerulopathy presenting as strong IgA and C3 immunostaining in renal biopsy, concomitant with monoclonal gammopathy (monoclonal IgA κ). CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for one-month pedal edema. The serum albumin of 19.6 g/l, and the 24-h urine protein was 15.092 g. Immunofixation electrophoresis displayed monoclonal IgA. The renal biopsy showed the mesangial deposits positive for IgA (3+) and C3 (3+) and also for IgG (2+), IgM (2+), and C1q (2+) IF microscopy. In addition, the staining intensity of light chain κ was slight greater than that of light chain λ. The glomerular deposits were strongly positive by FN by immuohistochemistry. The patient was treated with bortezomib, dexamethasone in combination with cyclophosphamide and gained partial remission. CONCLUSION: We present the first FNG patient with strong IgA and C3 immunostaining in the context of monoclonal IgA κ in the circulation. Perhaps FNG, monoclonal IgA κ and immune activation are potentially interplayed and eventually induce renal injuries.

Arctigenin inhibits apoptosis, extracellular matrix degradation, and inflammation in human nucleus pulposus cells by up-regulating miR-483-3p.

BACKGROUND: Arctigenin (ATG) is the active ingredient of the Chinese herbal medicine Arctium lappa, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Excessive inflammation and cell apoptosis are important causes of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Hence, this study probed into the possible role of ATG in IDD. METHODS: Interleukin (IL)-1ß (10 ng/ml) was adopted to induce human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs) as a cell model for IDD. The effects of different concentrations of ATG (0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 µmol/L) on the viability of HNPCs and effects of ATG (10, 50 µmol/L) on the viability of IL-1ß-induced HNPCs were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). After IL-1ß-induced HNPCs were transfected with miR-483-3p inhibitor and/or treated with ATG, cell viability and apoptosis were determined by CCK-8 and flow cytometry; the expressions of miR-483-3p, extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes, and inflammation-related genes were measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and expressions of ECM/apoptosis/NF-κB pathway-related proteins were quantified by Western blot. RESULTS: ATG had no significant effect on the viability of HNPCs but could promote the viability of IL-1ß-induced HNPCs. ATG inhibited apoptosis, ECM degradation, inflammation, and activation of NF-κB pathway in HNPCs induced by IL-1ß, but promoted the expression of miR-483-3p. MiR-483-3p inhibitor reversed the above-mentioned regulatory effects of ATG. CONCLUSION: Arctigenin suppresses apoptosis, ECM degradation, inflammation, and NF-κB pathway activation in HNPCs by up-regulating miR-483-3p.

Perioperative stroke in patients undergoing spinal surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of perioperative stroke following spinal surgery, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, has not been fully investigated in the Chinese population. Whether specific spinal or emergency/elective procedures are associated with perioperative stroke remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of perioperative stroke, health economic burden, clinical outcomes, and associated risk factors. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study using an electronic hospital information system database was conducted from Jan 1, 2015, to Jan 1, 2021, in a tertiary hospital in China. Patients aged ≥18 years who had undergone spinal surgery were included in the study. We recorded patient demographics, comorbidities, and health economics data. Clinical outcomes included perioperative stroke during hospitalization and associated risk factors. The patients' operative data, anesthetic data, and clinical manifestations were recorded. RESULT: A total of 17,408 patients who had undergone spinal surgery were included in this study. Twelve patients had perioperative stroke, including seven ischemic stroke (58.3%) and five hemorrhagic stroke (41.7%). The incidence of perioperative stroke was 0.07% (12/17,408). In total, 12 stroke patients underwent spinal fusion. Patients with perioperative stroke were associated with longer hospital stay (38.33 days vs. 9.78 days, p < 0.001) and higher hospital expenses (RMB 175,642 vs. RMB 81,114, p < 0.001). On discharge, 50% of perioperative patients had severe outcomes. The average onset time of perioperative stroke was 1.3 days after surgery. Stroke history (OR 146.046, 95% CI: 28.102-759.006, p < 0.001) and hyperlipidemia (OR 4.490, 95% CI: 1.182-17.060, p = 0.027) were associated with perioperative stroke. CONCLUSION: The incidence of perioperative stroke of spinal surgery in a tertiary hospital in China was 0.07%, with a high proportion of hemorrhagic stroke. Perioperative stroke patients experienced a heavy financial burden and severe outcomes. A previous stroke history and hyperlipidemia were associated with perioperative stroke.

Radical-mediated rearrangements: past, present, and future.

Rearrangement reactions, one of the most significant transformations in organic chemistry, play an irreplaceable role in improving synthetic efficiency and molecular complexity. Concomitant cleavage and reconstruction of chemical bonds can display the great artistry and the glamour of synthetic chemistry. Over the past century, ionic rearrangement reactions, in particular those involving cationic pathways, have represented most of the research. Alongside the renaissance of radical chemistry, radical-mediated rearrangements have recently seen a rapid increase of attention from the chemical community. Many new radical rearrangements that extensively reveal the migratory behaviour of functional groups have been unveiled in the last decade. This Review provides a comprehensive perspective on the area from the past to present achievements, and brings up the prospects that may inspire colleagues to develop more useful synthetic tools based on radical rearrangements.

Chemical formation and source apportionment of PM2.5 at an urban site at the southern foot of the Taihang mountains.

The region along the Taihang Mountains in the North China Plain (NCP) is characterized by serious fine particle pollution. To clarify the formation mechanism and controlling factors, an observational study was conducted to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the fine particulate matter in Jiaozuo city, China. Mass concentrations of the water-soluble ions (WSIs) in PM2.5 and gaseous pollutant precursors were measured on an hourly basis from December 1, 2017, to February 27, 2018. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) method and the FLEXible PARTicle (FLEXPART) model were employed to identify the sources of PM2.5. The results showed that the average mass concentration of PM2.5 was 111 µg/m3 during the observation period. Among the major WSIs, sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium (SNA) constituted 62% of the total PM2.5 mass, and NO3- ranked the highest with an average contribution of 24.6%. NH4+ was abundant in most cases in Jiaozuo. According to chemical balance analysis, SO42-, NO3-, and Cl- might be present in the form of (NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, NH4Cl, and KCl. The liquid-phase oxidation of SO2 and NO2 was severe during the haze period. The relative humidity and pH were the key factors influencing SO42- formation. We found that NO3- mainly stemmed from homogeneous gas-phase reactions in the daytime and originated from the hydrolysis of N2O5 in the nighttime, which was inconsistent with previous studies. The PMF model identified five sources of PM2.5: secondary origin (37.8%), vehicular emissions (34.7%), biomass burning (11.5%), coal combustion (9.4%), and crustal dust (6.6%).

Comparison of unilateral and bilateral puncture percutaneous kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical efficacy of unilateral and bilateral puncture PKP in the treatment of OVCFs and explored whether there is a difference in the efficacy of unilateral and bilateral puncture PKP after surgery. METHODS: A total of 98 patients with OVCFs treated by PKP from August 2016 to June 2018 were selected. There were 62 cases in the unilateral puncture group and 36 cases in the bilateral puncture group. The operation time, the amount of bone cement injection, the height of the anterior edge of the vertebral body and the visual analog scale (Visual Analog Scale, VAS) scores before and after the operation were analyzed, and whether the differences between the 2 groups were statistically significant was analyzed. RESULTS: All patients were followed up completely. The operation time and the number of X-ray fluoroscopies of the unilateral puncture group were significantly reduced compared to those of the bilateral group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). In terms of the bone cement injection volume, the average injection volume of the bilateral group was greater than that of the unilateral group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05); the postoperative VAS scores of the 2 groups of patients were significantly improved, and the difference was statistically significant compared with that before surgery (p<0.05) but that of the unilateral group was not statistically significant compared with that of the bilateral group (p>0.05). The height of the anterior edge of the vertebral body in both groups was significantly improved compared with that before the operation, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Unilateral and bilateral puncture PKP can achieve good clinical efficacy in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, but unilateral PKP has the advantages of short operation time and low X-ray exposure.

Identification of EMT-related high-risk stage II colorectal cancer and characterisation of metastasis-related genes.

BACKGROUND: Our laboratory previously reported an individual-level prognostic signature for patients with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC). However, this signature was not applicable for RNA-sequencing datasets. In this study, we constructed a robust epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)- related gene pair prognostic signature. METHODS: Based on EMT-related genes, metastasis-associated gene pairs were identified between metastatic and non-metastatic samples. Then, we selected prognosis-associated gene pairs, which were significantly correlated with disease-free survival of stage II CRC using multivariate Cox regression model, as the EMT-related prognosis signature. RESULTS: An EMT-related signature composed of fifty-one gene pairs (51-GPS) for prediction-relapse risk of patients with stage II CRC was developed, whose prognostic efficiency was validated in independent datasets. Moreover, 51-GPS achieved better predictive performance than other reported signatures, including a commercial signature Oncotype Dx colon cancer and an immune-related gene pair signature. Besides, EMT-related functional gene sets achieved high enrichment scores in high-risk samples. Especially, loss-of-function antisense approach showed that DEGs between the predicted two clusters were metastasis-related. CONCLUSIONS: The EMT-related gene pair signature can identify the high relapse-risk patients with stage II CRC, which can facilitate individualised management of patients.

The application of laparoscopy combined with indocyanine green fluorescence imaging technique for hepatic cystic echinococcosis.

BACKGROUND: With the mature application of laparoscopy in hepatobiliary surgery, laparoscopic treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis (CE) has made certain progress. But, due to the inherent limitations of laparoscopy and the growth characteristics of cystic echinococcosis, distinguishing the boundary between cystic lesion and normal hepatic parenchyma is pivotal importance for successful surgery. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging technology can view the boundary of lesion and normal tissue during the treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Applied laparoscopy combined with ICG fluorescence imaging technique for hepatic cystic echinococcosis may be an effective surgical strategy. METHODS: The clinical data contained nine patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis who underwent laparoscopic surgery with indocyanine green fluorescence imaging technique in authors' institution from December 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Indocyanine green was administered intravenously three days prior to surgery. The fluorescence acquisition system for real-time imaging was used during the surgery and the patients were followed up after surgery. RESULTS: Of reported nine patients, six are male and the remaining three are female. The average age is (36.4 ± 7.6) years. For all subjects, surgical procedures were performed under laparoscopy with indocyanine green fluorescence system. This technique showed the clear boundary of the hepatic cyst with normal liver parenchyma. Total cystectomy in six patients, subtotal cystectomy in two patients and partial hepatectomy in one patient were performed respectively. The average operation time was 3.8 ± 0.9 h, blood loss 206.0 ± 120.7 ml. Neither blood transfusion nor post-operative complication was experienced. The average abdominal drainage time was 3.4 ± 0.9 days with hospital stay 5.7 ± 2.1 days. During the 6-12 months follow-up period, neither recurrence nor intraperitoneal implantation was found. CONCLUSIONS: Applied laparoscopy combined with ICG fluorescence imaging technique for hepatic cystic echinococcosis is safe and feasible. Enhanced boundary image can assist surgeons to complete radical resection and reduce complications.

Response of extracellular polymeric substances and enzymatic activity to salinity for the waste activated sludge anaerobic fermentation process.

Salinity (NaCl) was used in waste activated sludge (WAS) anaerobic fermentation system which had been presented to greatly enhance the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production including protein and polysaccharide and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Salinity enhanced soluble protein and polysaccharide (SB-EPS) release which was 4.04 times (protein) and 1.83 times (polysaccharide) compared to 0 g/L NaCl level. More important, salinity restrained the coenzyme 420 activity (F420), but increased the hydrolase activity. Abundant hydrolysis of substrate and highly active hydrolase led to abundant SCFA production. Pearson correlation coefficient showed that the protein became the main reaction substrate for SCFA generation.

Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on sludge anaerobic fermentation: phenomenon and mechanism.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) production and usage might lead to a large discharge of ZnO NPs into the natural environment, raising concerns of pollution and ecological security. The effects of ZnO NPs on waste activated sludge hydrolytic acidification and microbial communities were studied in semi-continuous fermentation systems. The fermentation performance of eight ZnO NPs concentrations including ZnO NPs normal [0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/g mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS)] and ZnO NPs shock (10, 1000, 1000 and 10,000 mg/g MLSS) were discussed, and their biodegradability was also analyzed. The experimental results showed that proteins, polysaccharides and short-chain fatty acids were enhanced by ZnO NPs, particularly by ZnO NPs shock. Low ZnO NPs concentrations inhibited coenzyme 420 (F420) and dehydrogenase activities but enhanced α-glucosidase and protease activities. Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed that ZnO NPs addition enriched Azospira, Ottowia and Hyphomicrobium but not Anaerolineaceae.

miR-185 affected the EMT, cell viability, and proliferation via DNMT1/MEG3 pathway in TGF-ß1-induced renal fibrosis.

Kidney fibrosis is usually the final manifestation of a wide variety of renal diseases. Recent years, research reported that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) played important roles in a variety of human diseases. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in kidney fibrosis were complicated and largely unclear. In our study, we constructed the cell model of renal fibrosis in HK2 cells using transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) and found that lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) was downregulated in TGF-ß1-induced renal fibrosis. We then found that overexpressed MEG3 inhibited the TGF-ß1-induced promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell viability, and proliferation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that DNA methyltransferases 1 (DNMT1) regulated the MEG3 expression by altering the CpGs methylation level of MEG3 promoter in TGF-ß1-induced renal fibrosis. In addition, we further revealed that miR-185 could regulate the DNMT1 expression and thus, modulate the MEG3 in TGF-ß1-induced renal fibrosis. Ultimately, our study illustrated that the modulation of the miR-185/ DNMT1/ MEG3 pathway exerted important roles in TGF-ß1-induced renal fibrosis. In summary, our finding displayed a novel regulatory mechanism for TGF-ß1-induced renal fibrosis, which provided a new potential therapeutic target for renal fibrosis.