Mechanism of phenanthrene degradation by the halophilic Pelagerythrobacter sp. N7.

PAHs has shown worldwide accumulation and causes a significant environmental problem especially in saline and hypersaline environments. Moderately halophilic bacteria could be useful for the bioremediation of PAH pollution in hypersaline environments. Pelagerythrobacter sp. N7 was isolated from the PAH-degrading consortium 5H, which was enriched from mixed saline soil samples collected in Shanxi Province, China. 16S rRNA in the genomic DNA revealed that strain N7 belonged to Pelagerythrobacter. Strain N7 exhibited a high tolerance to a wide range of salinities (1-10%) and was highly efficient under neutral to weak alkaline conditions (pH 6-9). The whole genome of strain N7 was sequenced and analyzed, revealing an abundance of catabolic genes. Using the whole genome information, we conducted preliminary research on key enzymes and gene clusters involved in the upstream and downstream PAH degradation pathways of strain N7, thereby inferring its degradation pathway for phenanthrene and naphthalene. This study adds to our understanding of PAH degradation in hypersaline environments and, for the first time, identifies a Pelagerythrobacter with PAH-degrading capability. Strain N7, with its high efficiency in phenanthrene degradation, represents a promising resource for the bioremediation of PAHs in hypersaline environments.

Accuracy of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 for diagnosing sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a complex and life-threatening systemic disease. A positive blood culture is the criterion standard of diagnosis for sepsis; however, it does not produce results for 24 to 72 hours. Besides, the clinical manifestations of sepsis are variable and nonspecific. Therefore, a new diagnostic biomarker for diagnosis of sepsis should be developed. The present study aims to assess the diagnostic value of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in individuals with sepsis. METHODS: The literature will be searched in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases from the inception of each database up to June 2019. The methodological quality of eligible study will be assessed by Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool-2 (QUADAS-2). Stata 15.1 software (version 15.1, Stata Corporation) will be used to calculate the pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, pooled positive likelihood ratio, pooled negative likelihood ratio, pooled diagnostic odds ratio, pre-test probability, post-test probability, and summary receiver-operating characteristic curve for diagnostic value of ICAM-1. The I statistic will be used to test heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis will be used to explore the source of inconsistency. GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system will be used to assess the certainty of evidence. This study will be conducted fully following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of diagnostic test accuracy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our study will detect the potential of ICAM-1 for diagnosing the patients with sepsis and the results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. DISCUSSION: The evidence will indicate that ICAM-1 is a valuable biomarker for detecting sepsis. This is a protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis, so the ethical approval and patient consent are not required.

MicroRNA-138-5p inhibits cell migration, invasion and EMT in breast cancer by directly targeting RHBDD1.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating studies have identified that microRNAs (miRNAs) are novel regulators acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in tumor progression. The aim of the study is to investigate the functional roles of miR-138-5p in breast cancer (BC) cells and explore the underlying mechanisms by identifying its target gene. METHODS AND RESULTS: Our results first showed that miR-138-5p expression was remarkably decreased in BC tissues and cells using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Forced expression of miR-138-5p significantly suppressed cell migration and invasion ability of BC using transwell assay. Moreover, miR-138-5p overexpression suppressed cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon of BC by upregulating E-cadherin expression, but downregulating N-cadherin and Vimentin expression. More importantly, rhomboid domain-containing protein 1 (RHBDD1) was predicted as the direct target of miR-138-5p by TargetScan and miRanda, which was subsequently confirmed by luciferase reporter assay in BC cells. RHBDD1 was up-regulated in BC tissues and negatively correlated with miR-138-5p expression. Furthermore, forced expression of miR-138-5p could down-regulate the expression of RHBDD1, but overexpression of RHBDD1 reversed the suppressive effects of miR-138-5p in BC cell migration, invasion and EMT. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed the tumor-suppressive role of miR-138-5p in regulating BC migration by targeting RHBDD1, suggesting that miR-138-5p negatively regulating EMT might be a therapeutic target in BC.

Partial splenic embolization using Bletilla striata particles for hypersplenism in cirrhosis: a prospective study.

The article evaluates the long-term follow-up results of PSE using Bletilla striata (BS) particles for hypersplenism in cirrhosis, as compared to PSE using gelfoam particles. Fifty-nine patients with cirrhosis-induced hypersplenism were treated with PSE. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: gelfoam group, which includes 32 patients using gelfoam particles as the embolic material, and BS group, which includes 27 patients using BS particles. The peripheral blood cell counts and parameters for complications associated with PSE were measured during the follow-up. The mean values of leukocyte and thrombocyte, but not hemoglobin, were significantly increased after PSE (p < 0.01) in both groups. The values of leukocyte and thrombocyte during the long-term follow-up were significantly improved in BS group than that in gelfoam group (both p < 0.01). The frequency of bleeding episodes from esophageal varices in both groups was significantly reduced after PSE (both p < 0.01), but the post-PSE bleeding episodes showed no remarkable differences between the two groups (p = 0.084). Post-embolization syndrome consisted mainly of fever, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain in the two groups. The incidence of grade II to III abdominal pain in BS group (82.8%, 27/33) was significantly higher than in gelfoam group (57.9%, 33/57) (p = 0.020). The mean survival time was 61.5 ± 9.1 (median 60, 1-157) months in gelfoam group and 63.4 ± 9.9 (median 52, 0-161) months in BS group, which showed no significant difference (p = 0.930). In conclusion, BS particles could be used as the embolic material in PSE. Compared to gelfoam used in PSE, BS can achieve even better efficacy in alleviating hypersplenism. It provides a long-term effect on the hematological parameters, bleeding from esophageal varices and good palliation, and improved clinical status contributing to symptomatic control.

[Evaluation of white lesions of vulva treated with focused ultrasound].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of focused ultrasound for the treatment of vulvar dystrophy, including squamous hyperplasia (SH) and lichen sclerosus (LS). METHODS: A total of 76 eligible patients with vulvar dystrophy (45 SH and 31 LS) were treated with focused ultrasound between 1999 and 2002. Before and after ultrasound therapy, both ultrasonography and biopsies of the lesions were performed to monitor and evaluate the changes of the lesion being treated. The positive expressions of CD34 (cluster of differentiation of endothelial cells), a marker of the epithelial cells of blood vessels and myelin basic protein (MBP), a marker of the oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells were tested using the streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry method before and after the ultrasound procedure to evaluate the effects of ultrasound treatment. RESULTS: In two years, follow-up, 49 of 76 cases (32 SH and 17 LS) were cured, 23 (11 SH and 12 LS) improved, and 4 (2 SH and 2 LS) persisted. The response rate was 94.7% (72/76). The positive expression of CD34 and MBP significantly increased at the treated region (P < 0.05). Grey-scale ultrasound imaging showed a localized hypoechoic region after the treatment, which recovered to normal appearance within 7 - 10 days. CONCLUSION: Vulvar dystrophy can be treated with focused ultrasound effectively and safely. This approach appears to be a new promising treatment method, although further studies are still needed.