Downregulation of Rap1GAP Expression Activates the TGF-ß/Smad3 Pathway to Inhibit the Expression of Sodium/Iodine Transporter in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cells.

OBJECTIVE: Rap1GAP is considered a tumor suppressor gene, but its regulatory mechanism in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has not been clearly elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore whether the regulation between Rap1GAP and sodium/iodine transporter (NIS) in tumorigenesis of PTC is mediated by TGF-ß1. METHODS: Western blotting (WB) and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed to analyze the relationships between TGF-ß1 concentration and NIS expression. After transfecting BCPAP cells with siRNAs, the Rap1GAP interference model was successfully established. Then, the expression and nuclear localization of TGF-ß1 and pathway-related proteins were detected. Flow cytometry was applied to analyze cell apoptosis and cycle. WB was performed to detect apoptotic-related proteins. Wound healing and transwell assays were used to measure cell migration and invasion. EDU was performed to detect cell proliferative activity. RESULTS: The results suggested that TGF-ß1 could significantly inhibit the expression of NIS in both mRNA and protein levels. In BCPAP cells transfected with siRNA-Rap1GAP, the expression levels of TGF-ß1, Foxp3, and p-Smad3 were significantly increased. By applying immunofluorescence assay, the nuclear localizations of TßR-1 and p-Smad3 were found to be activated. Moreover, anti-TGF-ß1 can reverse the decrease in NIS expression caused by downregulation of Rap1GAP. Additionally, the knockdown of Rap1GAP could alter the cell apoptosis, cycle, migration, invasion, and proliferation of BCPAP. CONCLUSION: The downregulation of Rap1GAP expression can activate the TGF-ß/Smad3 pathway to inhibit NIS expression and alter the tumor cell functions of PTC.

Analysis of T lymphocyte-related biomarkers in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze T cell-related biomarkers and their molecular network in pancreatic cancer. METHODS: RNAseq sequencing data and clinical data of pancreatic cancer were obtained from TCGA database. The STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumours using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm was used to screen the DEGs related to the tumor immune cells. The pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the relationships between DEGs and T cells. Additionally, the T cell-related DEGs were subjected to protein-protein interaction, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), and chemical small molecule-target network construction. Furthermore, the prognosis-associated DEGs were screened. RESULTS: A total of 412 stromal score-associated and 312 immune score-associated DEGs were obtained. From these DEGs, 50 CD4+ T cell-related genes and 13 CD8+ T cell-related genes were selected. The PPI networks associated with immune cell-related genes were constructed and found that CD22, SELL, and OLR1 had higher degrees in the PPI network. The number of ceRNA regulatory relation pairs obtained from CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells were 59 and 48, respectively. Additionally, both CD4+ T cell- and CD8+ T cell-related genes predicted 29 small molecules. CXCL9 and GIMAP7 were screened out from CD4+ T cell-related genes, which were related with the survival of pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSION: We mapped T cell-related gene profile in pancreatic cancer and constructed their potential regulatory network.

Effects of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and palliative chemotherapy on the gut microbiome in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome changes are related to the colorectal cancer (CRC). Chemotherapy is one of the main treatment methods for CRC. PURPOSE: To explore the effect of chemotherapy on the gut bacteria and fungi in CRC. METHODS: Total of 11 advanced CRC patients treated with the FOLFIRI regimen, 15 postoperative CRC patients treated with the XELOX regimen, and corresponding CRC patients without surgery and chemotherapy were recruited. The 16S ribosomal RNA and ITS sequences were sequenced, and bioinformatics analysis was executed to screen for the distinctive gut microbiome. RESULTS: The abundances of Veillonella, Humicola, Tremellomycetes and Malassezia were increased in postoperative CRC patients treated with the XELOX regimen. The abundances of Faecalibacterium, Clostridiales, phascolarctobacterium, Humicola and Rhodotorula were decreased, and the abundances of Candida, Magnusiomyces, Tremellomycetes, Dipodascaceae, Saccharomycetales, Malassezia and Lentinula were increased in advanced CRC patients treated with the FOLFIRI regimen. The abundances of Humicola, Rhodotorula, and Magnusiomyces were decreased, and the abundances of Candida, Tremellomycetes, Dipodascaceae, Saccharomycetales, Malassezia and Lentinula were increased in advanced CRC patients treated with the FOLFIRI regimen combined with cetuximab compared with those treated with the FOLFIRI regimen alone. CONCLUSIONS: The community structure of gut bacteria and fungi changes in chemotherapy on CRCs.

Correlation of anti-stress ability of nuclear power plant operators with physiological and psychological indexes / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To explore the correlation of the anti-stress ability of nuclear power plant operators with their heart rate,blood pressure and mental health.Methods A total of 136 male nuclear power plant operators received the continuous performance test (CPT) and mental health test (MHT),while 37 male senior students were used as the control group.Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded before and after the test.The nuclear power plant operators were divided to high score group and low score group by CPT scores.The correlation of the anti-stress ability and blood pressure,heart rate and their mental health was analyzedd.Results The scores of CPT and MHT test with the operators were significantly higher than those of the control group(t =- 1.25,6.25,P ＜ 0.05).After the test,the heart rate,systolic pressure and diastolic pressure of the operators were all significantly lower than those of the control group ( t =- 2.07,3.28,2.74,P ＜ 0.05 ).The CPT score of the high score group was lower in the heart rate,systolic pressure and diastolic pressure than the low score group(t=-3.15, -2.78, -2.54,P ＜0.05),while the scores of CPT and MHT were better(t =0.63,6.90,P ＜ 0.05).CPT scores were negatively correlated with the increasing range of the heart rate,systolic pressure and diastolic pressure( r =- 0.69,- 0.94,and - 0.62,P ＜ 0.05 ),and positively correlated with the MHT scores ( r =0.54,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions To a certain extent,CPT and MHT test can reflect the anti-stress ability and be used as one of the bases to select nuclear power plant operators and to assess their competence.

A preliminary study on related factors of mental health in nuclear power plant operators / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To explore the status of nuclear power plant operators in mental health and its correlation with emotional stability,liveliness,anxiety and urgency.Methods 255 male operators were randomly selected from three nuclear power bases,meanwhile 61 undergraduates were used as control group.The mental health and neurobehavioral evaluation system of Chinese nuclear power plant operators was developed by Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University,which was used to assess mental health of the subjects.The scores of mental health personality factors were recorded,together with four main personality factors including emotional stability,liveliness,anxiety and urgency.Results The score of lie was lower than 8 which showed all inspected groups were normal. 1.57％ (4/255) operators had psychological disorders,3.92％ ( 10/255 ) had poor mental health,27.84％ ( 71/255 ) had general mental health,66.7％ (170/255) had excellent mental health,whereas 9.84％ (6/61)for control group had psychological disorders.Obvious difference was observed in the final scores between the nuclear power plant operators and control group.The former gained higher scores on mental health,emotional stability,and lower scores on anxiety and urgency ( t =3.437,4.423,- 2.493,- 2.093,P ＜ 0.05 ).Both groups aged over 27 years and with length of service over 5 years were awarded higher scores on mental health,emotional stability( t =2.585,2.349 ; t =2.606,2.947,P ＜ 0.05 ),lower scores on anxiety and urgency (t =- 3.407,- 2.138 ; t =- 2.941,- 2.256,P ＜ 0.05).The mental health was positively correlated with emotional stability and liveliness ( r =0.721,0.650,P ＜ 0.05),but negatively correlated with anxiety and urgency(r =- 0.809,- 0.693,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions The majority of nuclear power plant operators had excellent psychological quality,but some factors should be paid more attention,such as different ages and length of service time.