Biological functions of LncRNA SNHG14 in the development of thyroid cancer cells via targeting miR-206.

This study aimed to determine lncRNA SNHG14 and miR-206 in Thyroid Cancer ( TC) and to explore the related mechanisms. Sixty-four samples of thyroid tissue were collected from patients with TC. TC cell lines and a normal human thyroid cell line (HTori-3) were bought. lncRNA SNHG14-siRNA (si-lncRNA SNHG14), lncRNA SNHG14-shRNA (sh-lncRNA SNHG14), blank plasmid (siRNA-NC), miR-206-inhibitor, miR-206-mimics were transfected into BHT101 and Ocut-2C cells. qRT-PCR quantified the expression of lncRNA SNHG14 and miR-206, and the expression of vimentin, Snail, N-cadherin, Slug, E-cadherin and ZO-1 proteins were identified via WB. MTT assay, flow cytometry, and Transwell were employed to determine cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion, separately. The high expression of lncRNA SNHG14 and low expression of miR-206 were exhibited in patients with TC. lncRNA SNHG14 and miR-206 were related to lymph node metastases, TNM staging, as well as differentiation of TC. Silencing lncRNA SNHG14 and over-expressing miR-206 inhibited cell EMT, proliferation, and invasion, but accelerated apoptosis. WB demonstrated that silencing lncRNA SNHG14 and over-expressing miR-206 suppressed the expression of Akt, p-ERK1/2, p-p38, p-4EBP1, p-Akt, PI3K, vimentin, Snail, N-cadherin, and Slugn, as well as up-regulated the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1. Rescue experiment showed that after BHT101 and Ocut-2C cells were transfected with either sh-lncRNA SNHG14+miR-206-mimics or si-lncRNA SNHG14+miR-206-inhibitor, the cellular proliferative, invasive, and apoptotic activities weren't different from those transfected with siRNA-NC. Suppression of lncRNA SNHG14 up-regulates miR-206 and affects EMT, as well as proliferative, invasive, and apoptotic activities of cells, which may become an underlying treatment target for TC.

miRNA-363-3p Hinders Proliferation, Migration, Invasion and Autophagy of Thyroid Cancer Cells by Controlling SYT1 Transcription to affect NF-κB.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer (TC) is a frequent endocrine malignant tumor with various pathologic types. miRNA-363-3p plays a pivotal part in the occurrence, development, prognosis, and treatment of cancer. OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of miRNA-363-3p in TC and provide a new idea for targeted therapy of TC. METHODS: Differential miRNAs and downstream target mRNAs in TC tissues were predicted with bioinformatics analysis. Expression levels of miRNA-363-3p and Synaptotagmin I (SYT1) in TC cells were ascertained by qRT-PCR. Cell migration, invasion, and proliferation were detected by wound healing assay, transwell assay, colony formation assay, CCK-8, and BrdU fluorescence experiment, respectively. Flow cytometry was utilized to detect the levels of apoptosis and necrosis. Immunofluorescence assay was used for detecting autophagosome formation in cells, and the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins, as well as NF-κB related proteins, were measured by western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was applied for detecting the interaction between miRNA-363-3p and SYT1. RESULTS: miRNA-363-3p was prominently down-regulated in TC cells. miRNA-363-3p overexpression suppressed migration, invasion, and proliferation, promoting apoptosis and necrosis of TC cells. As the downstream target of miRNA-363-3p, SYT1 was up-regulated in TC cells. SYT1 overexpression reversed the inhibition of TC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and autophagy mediated by miRNA-363-3p overexpression. In addition, miRNA-363-3p overexpression inhibited the activation of the NF-κB pathway in cells, while further overexpression of SYT1 weakened the inhibition of miRNA-363-3p overexpression on the NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSION: miRNA-363-3p affected the NF-κB signaling pathway by down-regulating SYT1 expression to inhibit the malignant progression of TC cells, providing theoretical support for the treatment of TC.

Efficacy of Modified Nonpneumatic Transaxillary Approach in the Treatment of Thyroid Cancer and Its Effect on Immune Function and Parathyroid Function.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of modified nonpneumatic transaxillary approach in the treatment of thyroid cancer and its effect on immune function and parathyroid function. Methods: A total of 96 patients with thyroid cancer who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected and randomly divided into the control group of 48 cases and the observation group of 48 cases. The control group was given open surgery, and for the observation group, modified nonpneumatic transaxillary approach was used for treatment. The perioperative related indicators, the incidence of complications, as well as the changes of immune function indicators, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and calcium before and after surgery were compared between the two groups. Results: The time of flap separation and cavity construction, operation time, and hospital stay in the observation group were significantly longer than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After operation, CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ in the two groups were lower than those before operation (P < 0.05), but the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The serum PTH and calcium at 1 h, 1 d, 3 d and 7 d after operation were lower than those before operation in this group (P < 0.05), but the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the incidence of complications in the observation group (4.17% vs. 6.25%) was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with open surgery, the modified nonpneumatic transaxillary approach in the treatment of thyroid cancer is more effective in reducing immune function decline, hypoparathyroidism, and hypocalcemia; although the operation time and recovery time are longer, and it is safe. Sex is also high.

How livelihood capital affects farmers' willingness to pay for farmland non-market value? Evidence from Jianghan Plain, China.

Farmland not only provides human being with food and industrial materials, but also has non-market value. However, few studies have explored the impact of livelihood capital configuration and their willingness to pay (WTP) for the farmland non-market value, from farmers' perspective. Based on the field survey data of 434 households in Jianghan Plain, China, this paper divided the research process into two stages to explore the impact of farmers' livelihood capital on their WTP by using binary logistics model and qualitative comparative analysis method of fuzzy sets (fsQCA). The results show that (1) The total livelihood capital of farmers was 2.667, with psychological capital 0.649, natural capital 0.621, social capital 0.127. 79.49% of the households were willing to pay for the farmland non-market value, and the most concentrated range of it is 50-200 yuan/hm2. (2) Both social capital and psychological capital had positive impacts on farmers' WTP for the non-market value of farmland protection. (3) There were two livelihood capital configurations that could improve the WTP of farmers. When lacking of human capital, physical capital and psychological capital, the improvement in farmers' financial capital and social capital will improve farmers' WTP. When the natural, financial, and psychological capital are poor, the rich human capital, physical capital and social capital will also increase farmers' WTP. In view of the results, policy implications on livelihood capital structure optimization and ecological compensation system differentiation were proposed.

miRNA-144-5p/ITGA3 Suppressed the Tumor-Promoting Behaviors of Thyroid Cancer Cells by Downregulating ITGA3.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the mechanism of miRNA-144-5p and ITGA3 in thyroid cancer (TC). METHODS: From The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), RNA expression profiles were obtained for the expression analysis of miRNAs and mRNAs in TC. qRT-PCR and western blot were utilized to measure the expression of miRNA-144-5p and ITGA3 at RNA and protein levels, respectively. The association between miRNA-144-5p and ITGA3 was validated by the dual-luciferase assay. CCK-8, scratch healing, transwell, and flow cytometry assays were employed to evaluate tumor-related cell behaviors. RESULTS: Low-expressed miRNA-144-5p and high-expressed ITGA3 were found in TC cells relative to normal cells. miRNA-144-5p expression was positively associated with suppressive effects on proliferative, invasive, and migratory ability of TC cells while negatively associated with cell apoptosis. miRNA-144-5p inhibited ITGA3 expression in TC, and its overexpression remarkably reversed the tumor-promoting effects of overexpressed ITGA3 on the biological functions of TC. CONCLUSION: It is verified in our study that cell growth of TC is inhibited by the miRNA-144-5p/ITGA3 axis, which represents an underlying target for TC. This research proposed a new insight into the strategy of TC treatment.

How Does Part-Time Farming Affect Farmers' Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Jianghan Plain, China?

Part-time farming has been suggested by scholars to play an important part in farmers' decision making, but seldom empirical evidence has been done on the field of conservation agriculture (CA) technology adoption worldwide. Based on the field survey data of 433 farmers in Jianghan Plain, China, this paper estimate the impact of part-time farming on farmers' adoption of CA technology by applying the multivariate logistic model. The results show that 91.92% of the farmers adopted CA technology. Part-time farming had a highly significant positive influence on the likelihood of adoption. Moreover, the impact degree increased along with the deepening of part-time farming. In addition, farmers' adoption behaviors were affected by gender, contracted land area, economic welfare cognition and social welfare cognition. Our results help to understand farmers' complex decision-making on farmland and to promote the sustainable development of agriculture in Jianghan Plain. A somewhat targeted approach to design policies to support technological, policy and institutional interventions to encourage farmers to engage in part-time farming are recommended, especially in areas that share similar edaphic and climatic characteristics with Jianghan Plain.