AURKB promotes tumorigenesis and carboplatin resistance by regulating the ERK pathway in neuroblastoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has revealed that activation or aberrant expression of kinases can lead to tumorigenesis of various cancers, including neuroblastoma (NB). Suppression of kinase expression can reduce drug resistance. We explored the potential role and mechanism of the aurora kinase B (AURKB) gene in the acquisition of carboplatin resistance in NB. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qRT-PCR were used to explore the AURKB expression in NB patients. Subsequently, we structured Carboplatin-resistant NB cells. The potential biological functions of AURKB in carboplatin resistance were examined through knockdown of AURKB combined with CCK8, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and western blot. Finally, overexpression of AURKB combined with ERK inhibitor (U0126) was carried out to explore the role of downstream signaling pathways. RESULTS: Overexpression of AURKB was closely correlated to poor prognosis in NB patients. In vitro, knockdown of AURKB could lead to a decline in IC50 value and restrain the invasion and the expression of MRP1 and Ki67, while promotes apoptosis in carboplatin-resistant cells (IMR-32-R and SK-N-AS-R). Additionally, AURKB overexpression could potentiate the invasion and the expression of MRP1 and Ki67, while suppresses apoptosis in SK-N-AS-R and IMR-32-R, whereas ERK inhibitor U0126 could reverse the phenomenon caused by AURKB overexpression. CONCLUSION: AURKB overexpression was strongly associated with poor prognosis and carboplatin resistant acquisition. Additionally, suppression of AURKB-ERK axis might be a potential therapy for carboplatin resistance in NB patients.

Clinical Application of Serum Inflammatory Factors Combined with Dynamic Detection in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neonatal Sepsis.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical application value of the combination of the inflammatory factors and dynamic detection in the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal sepsis by detecting serum inflammatory factor C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels before and after treatment of neonatal infection. METHODS: A total of 138 neonates with different degrees of infection were randomly enrolled, including 88 cases in the sepsis group and 50 cases in the virus infection group. Another 50 non-infected newborns in the same period were enrolled as the normal control group. Venous blood of all subjects for CRP, PCT, IL-6 detection, and send bacterial blood culture for sepsis and virus infection groups were collected at the same time. In the recovery period, venous blood of children in sepsis group was collected again to review CRP, PCT, IL-6, and differences in each test index of each group were compared. RESULTS: The serum CRP, PCT, IL-6 levels in the sepsis group were significantly higher than those in the virus infection group (all P <0.05); serum CRP, PCT, IL-6 levels in the sepsis group were significantly lower than before treatment (P <0.05); the sensitivity and accuracy of the combined detection of indicators for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis were significantly improved. CONCLUSION: The inflammatory factors CRP, PCT, and IL-6 are closely related to the occurrence and development of neonatal sepsis. Combined detection can effectively improve the diagnostic accordance rate, which is beneficial to the early diagnosis and early clinical intervention of neonatal sepsis.

XIST promotes cell proliferation and invasion by regulating miR-140-5p and SOX4 in retinoblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common intraocular malignancy in children. Long non-coding RNA X-inactive specific transcript (lncRNA XIST) has been reported to be associated with RB, but research on the mechanism of XIST is not well studied. METHODS: Expressions of XIST, microRNA-140-5p (miR-140-5p), and sex-determining region Y-related high-mobility group box 4 (SOX4) were analyzed by qRT-PCR or Western blot. Relationships of XIST, SOX4, and miR-140-5p were evaluated by dual-luciferase reporter assay and Spearman's analysis. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assay were performed to assess the function of XIST on RB cell proliferation and invasion. RESULTS: In RB tissues, XIST and SOX4 expressions were obviously increased, but the miR-140-5p expression was markedly reduced. XIST expression was positively related to SOX4 expression while negatively correlated with miR-140-5p expression, and negative correlation was exhibited between miR-140-5p and SOX4 expression in RB tissues. XIST was confirmed to directly bind to miR-140-5p, and SOX4 was one target of miR-140-5p. XIST knockdown could impede RB cell proliferation and invasion, while miR-140-5p inhibition reversed the effects. In addition, XIST overexpression or miR-140-5p inhibition could abrogate the inhibition of SOX4 silencing on cell proliferation and invasion of RB cells. CONCLUSIONS: XIST was obviously increased in RB tissues and cells, and XIST inhibition repressed the proliferation and invasion of RB cells by miR-140-5p/SOX4 axis, which may provide new understandings of the XIST molecular mechanism in RB.

[An experimental study on human bitemarks digital analysis and its accuracy].

This experiment was designed to study the method of human bitemarks digital analysis and its accuracy. The human bitemarks were made on the dog skin by human dentition. The related parameters of human bitemarks and suspects criminal dentitions were digitally recorded and managed. The digital picture of human bitemark was obtained, and the dental study model, bite in wax and bitemark on pig skin of suspected criminal were scanned. The overlay was prepared with Adobe Photoshop 5. 5 and the parameters were measured with AutoCAD R14, then their matches were compared. The result shows that the human bitemarks digital analysis is a more accurate approach to human bitemarks identification. Three methods for collecting evidence dental study model, bite in wax and bitemark on pig skin all can be used as aids in forensic sciences. Dental study model is the most accurate one of all the three methods mentioned above.

[A biomechanical study on the morphological changing process of human bitemarks].

This is a biomechanical research in the morphological changing process of human bitemarks on the skin of dogs. The human bitemarks were made on the live and dead dogs by different tooth and occlusal force. The changing process of the bitemarks were recorded for a long time and its related morphological parameters were measured. Then multiple stepwise regression analysis was made to disclose the relationship of the shape of the bitemarks to occlusal force, time, and tooth area, tooth width and thickness. The mathematic relationship of the morphological changing process of the bitemark with occlusal force, time and tooth shape was established.

[A study on sarcosaphagous insects species variety with seasons in Chengdu].

OBJECTIVE: To study the species of sarcosaphagous insects. METHODS: Rabbits were killed and placed outdoors from March to November. Flies that appeared the cadavers were observed and identified. RESULTS: There are five main flies, i.e., Muscadomesticauicina, Lucilia sericata, C. Megacephala, S. fuscicauda, Aldrichiragrahormi. From midtime of April to the beginning of October, Muscadomesticauicina could be seen on the cadvers, however, Aldrichiragrahormi only could be seen before the beginning of May. Otherwise, Lucilia sericata, C. Megacephala, S. fuscicauda could be seen on the cadvers from March to the end of October. After the midtime of November, none of sarcosaphagous flies could be seen on the cadvers. On the other hand, maggots of sarcosaphagous flies could be seen often on the cadvers after adults of sarcosaphagous flies intruding 1 to 4 days, relating to temperature of environment. CONCLUSION: If these flies history of life be studied. it is useful for estimating postmortem interval in Chengdu.

[A study of forensic DNA databases].

OBJECTIVE: The forensic DNA databases are very important for individual identification. In order to evaluate the genetic markers used for a forensic DNA databases and the compatibility between the manual DNA typing system and the automatic DNA typing system, a testing DNA database should be constructed. Also, constructing a testing DNA database can increase our understanding of the issue for forensic DNA databases. METHODS: A total of 1000 specimens, including samples of blood, blood stains, salvia stains, semen stains, mixture stains and muscle tissues, were collected from the public security bureau of Chengdu. The DNA of each specimen was extracted by Chelex method and analyzed using Amp-FLP technique. A total of 8 STR loci, including D3S1358, D9S1118, vWA, D5S818, D16S539, D8S1179, CSF1PO and D20S161 were chosen and employed for DNA typing. Each STR locus was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction PCR and the PCR products were typed with the polyacryamide gel electrophoresis. Typing DNA was carried out by comparing with a human allele ladder. A total of 8 human allele ladders for D3S1358, D9S1118, vWA, D5S818, D16S539, D8S1179, CSF1PO and D20S161 were made in-house. Managing software of the testing DNA database was designed using Microsoft Access. RESULTS: The results of DNA typing in 1000 specimens showed that the total discrimination power of 8 STR loci was over 0.99999999. CONCLUSION: This study show that a forensic DNA database should be useful for search purpose. The total discrimination power over 0.99999999 imply that in principle there is no identical genotype at whole 8 STR loci between two persons from a population with 10000000 individuals. This means that 8 STR loci used in this study are suitable to construct forensic DNA databases in Chengdu of China. The result of DNA typing can be repeated and the data have compatibility between the manual DNA typing system and the automatic DNA typing system. The data search in our testing DNA database can be carried out using only some loci of the set of 8 STR markers. Also, the volume of our testing DNA databases could be enlarged easily. The implication from this study is that the legislation should not be negligent before establishing a forensic DNA database. This DNA database provides a model for establishing the forensic DNA databases in China.

Typing Y chromosome STR haplotypes using redesigned primers.

A panel of Y-specific STR loci, including DYS19, DYS389, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393 was analyzed using horizontal nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a discontinuous buffer system (horizontal disk-PAGE). In order to obtain correct results for the larger DYS389 and DYS392 alleles, it was necessary to design new primers that bind closer to the repeat region and lead to a significant reduction of the amplified fragment size. Using the modified primer sets the horizontal disk-PAGE results were consistent with a nondenaturing approach using fluorescent primers and a 377 automated sequencer. The modified procedure also amplifies the second repeat stretch at the duplicated DYS389 locus as a single fragment, which results in an immediate allele identification. The results indicate that horizontal disk-PAGE with silverstaining is a simple approach to type the recommended Y-specific STR markers.