EIF4A3-induced circCCNB1 (hsa_circ_0001495) promotes glioma progression by elevating CCND1 through interacting miR-516b-5p and HuR.

To explore the functions of circRNA cyclin B1 (circCCNB1) in glioma and its possible mechanisms. The expression of circCCNB1, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3), cyclin D1 (CCND1) and miR-516b-5p was determined by qRT-PCR, western blot or immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. The feature of circCCNB1 was analyzed by Actinomycin D (ActD), RNase R and subcellular fraction assays. The molecule relationships were analyzed by RIP, dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. CCK-8, EdU and colony formation assays were performed to analyze cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis was executed to estimate the cell cycle. Murine xenograft model assay was used for the role of circCCNB1 in vivo. CircCCNB1 was overexpressed in glioma tissues and cells. EIF4A3 positively regulated circCCNB1 expression. CircCCNB1 knockdown repressed glioma cell proliferation and cell cycle process in vitro and blocked tumor growth in vivo. CircCCNB1 knockdown reduced CCND1 expression in glioma cells and CCND1 overexpression bated the effect of circCCNB1 knockdown on glioma cell growth. CircCCNB1 interacted with HuR to elevate CCND1 expression. miR-516b-5p could interact with circCCNB1 and CCND1. CircCCNB1 regulated glioma cell progression and CCND1 expression by miR-516b-5p and HuR. CircCCNB1 aggravated glioma cell growth by elevating CCND1 through targeting miR-516b-5p and HuR.

Influence of butyphthalide combined with urinary kallikrein in ACI treatment on neuro-cytokines and vascular endothelial function and its clinical effect.

Objective: To study the influence of butyphthalide combined with urinary kallikrein in acute cerebral infarction (ACI) treatment on neuro-cytokines and indicators of vascular endothelial function, observe the curative effect and adverse effects, and discuss its safety and feasibility.Method: 110 ACI patients were chosen as the objects, and classified into observation group (55 cases) and control group (55 cases) according to the method of random number table. Butyphthalide injection combined with urinary kallikrein was adopted for the observation group based on conventional treatment, while cinepazide maleate injection combined with alprostadil injection was applied for the control group based on conventional treatment. The following indicators of both groups were compared before and after treatment: neurotrophic factor (NTF), nerve growth factor (NGF), neuron specific enolase (NSE); content of CXC chemotactic factor ligand 16 (CXCL16), soluble CD ligand (CD40L), Fibulin-5 and high mobility group box B1 (HMGB1); the content of indicators of vascular endothelial function including plasma endothelin -1 (ET-1) and no therapeutic effects and adverse effects were recorded.Results: NSE of both groups after treatment decreased obviously, and the content of NTF and NGF increased obviously. NSE content of observation group was lower than that of control group. NTF content and NGF content of observation group were higher than those of control group. The differences had statistical significance (p < 0.05). The levels of CXCL16, CD40L, Fibulin-5 and HMGB1 declined obviously, compared with pre-treatment, and the levels of observation groups were significantly lower than those of control grip. The differences had statistical significance (p < 0.05). ET-1 level rose significantly after treatment, and NO level declined obviously after treatment. ET-1 level of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group, and NO level of observation group was significantly lower than that of control group. The difference had statistical significance (p < 0.05). Clinical effect of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group. The difference had statistical significance (p < 0.05). The comparison difference of both groups in the occurrence rate of adverse effects had no statistical significance (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The application of butyphthalide combined with urinary kallikrein in ACI treatment can effectively inhibit secretion and release of neuro-cytokines, and improve patients' vascular endothelial function, with significant treatment effect and high safety. Therefore, it deserves to be promoted clinically.

The Molecular Mechanism of EPO Regulates the Angiogenesis after Cerebral Ischemia through AMPK-KLF2 Signaling Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the molecular mechanism by which EPO regulates the angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia through AMPK-KLF2 signaling pathway was investigated. METHODS: Sixty healthy, male, C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups of 20 mice: a sham group, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group, and a MCAO+EPO treatment group. The MCAO model was established using a modified ZeaLonga method. Mice in the EPO treatment group were injected with EPO immediately after reperfusion (5000 IU/kg), and EPO was injected the following day. The number of mouse deaths and neurologic function scores were recorded during the experiment. On day 7 after cerebral ischemia, brain tissue proteins were extracted. The following proteins expressions were detected by western blot assay: EPO, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGE), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (KDR), adenosine activated protein kinase (AMPK), and alpha HIF-1α alpha (HIF-1α), KLF2 and nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). RESULTS: Compared with the MCAO group, the survival rate of mice in the EPO group was significantly improved and neurological function was significantly improved (P < 0.01). Western blot results showed that the content of EPO in brain tissue in MCAO group significantly increased compared with sham group. The content of EPO in the brain tissue of mice in the MCAO+EPO treatment group was significantly higher than in that of the MCAO group, which indicates that EPO increased the content of EPO in mouse brain tissue. Compared with the sham group, the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGE) and its receptor (KDR) in brain tissue of the MCAO group significantly decreased. However, the protein expression of VEGE and its receptor KDR in brain tissue of rats treated with MCAO+EPO was significantly higher than in that of the MCAO group. Thus, in this study, EPO was associated with vascular endothelial differentiation after cerebral ischemia in mice. The results of AMPK and KLF2 showed that the expression levels of AMPK and KLF2 in brain tissues of MCAO group mice significantly decreased compared with the sham group. However, the expression levels of AMPK and KLF2 in brain tissues of mice treated with MCAO+EPO were significantly higher than those in the MCAO group. Thus, EPO can activate AMPK and upregulate the expression of the transcription factor KLF2. The protein expression of HIF-1α in the brain tissue of mice in the MCAO group significantly increased compared with the sham group. However, the expression of HIF-1α in mice brain tissues in the MCAO+EPO treatment group was significantly lower than in that of the MCAO group, indicating that EPO was involved in regulating HIF-1α expression. The eNOS results showed that, compared with Sham group, the protein expression of eNOS in brain tissue of MCAO group mice significantly decreased. In the MCAO+EPO treatment group, the protein expression of eNOS was significantly higher in the brain tissue of the mice than in that of the MCAO group, indicating that EPO was involved in the synthesis of NO and promoted the angiogenesis. CONCLUSION: EPO promotes VEGE and its receptor (KDR) expression and participates in the regulation of HIF-1α and eNOS protein expression through the activation of AMPK-KLF2 signaling pathways to promote new vascular development after cerebral ischemia.

Comparative studies on the effects of different doses of atorvastatin combined with aspirin on inflammatory cytokines and carotid plaques in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Objective: To make comparative studies on the effects of different doses of atorvastatin combined with aspirin on inflammatory cytokines, blood lipids, blood glucose, other biochemical indexes and carotid plaques in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) and carotid plaques. Method: One hundred and twenty patients with ICVD and carotid plaques admitted by Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine Hospital from December 2016 to December 2017 were selected and randomly divided into experimental group and control group, 60 cases in each group. Patients in the control group was asked to orally take standard dose of atorvastatin (20 mg/d) combined with aspirin enteric-coated tablets (100 mg/d). Patients in the experimental group was asked to orally take high-dose atorvastatin (40 mg/d) combined with the same amount of aspirin enteric-coated tablets. Patients in two groups were treated for 6 months averagely. The levels of inflammatory factors, changes in blood biochemical parameters and carotid plaque degrees of patients in two groups before and after treatment were inspected and compared. Results: The levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and homocysteine (Hcy) in patients of the experimental group after treatment were higher than those in the control group, difference with statistical significance (p < .05). The total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients of the experimental group after treatment were lower than those in the control group and before treatment. The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was higher than that of the control group and before treatment, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBS) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAIc) in patients of the experimental group significantly increased compared to those before treatment, difference with statistical significance (p < .05). There was no significant change in the control group. The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque area in patients of the experimental group were lower than those in the control group and before treatment, difference with statistical significance (p < .05). Conclusion: High-dose atorvastatin combined with aspirin for treatment of patients with ICVD can effectively reduce inflammatory inflammatory cytokine levels in serum and reduce IMT and carotid plaque area. With more obvious effect than lower dose of atorvastatin combined with aspirin, it is easy to cause blood glucose abnormality. So, it is necessary to pay attention to monitoring blood sugar during medication period.

Evidence for Layered Quantized Transport in Dirac Semimetal ZrTe5.

ZrTe5 is an important semiconductor thermoelectric material and a candidate topological insulator. Here we report the observation of Shubnikov-de Hass (SdH) oscillations accompanied by quantized Hall resistance in bulk ZrTe5 crystal, with a mobility of 41,000 cm2V-1s-1. We have found that the quantum oscillations does not originate from the surface states, but from the bulk states. Each single layer ZrTe5 acted like an independent 2D electron system in the quantum Hall regime having the same carrier density and mobilities, while the bulk of the sample exhibits a multilayered quantum Hall effect.

Effect of dihydroartemisinin on UHRF1 gene expression in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

As the second most common cancer in men around the world, prostate cancer is increasingly gaining more attention. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been proven to be a promising anticancer agent in vitro as well as in vivo in accumulating data. However, the detailed mechanisms of how DHA action in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DHA, a novel anticancer agent, by inhibiting the expression of ubiquitin like containing PHD and ring finger 1 (UHRF1) in PC-3 cells. The apoptosis and cell-cycle distribution were detected by flow cytometry. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to examine both UHRF1 and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) expressions at mRNA levels, whereas the expressions of UHRF1, DNMT1, and p16 proteins at protein levels were detected by Western blotting. Methylation levels of p16 CpG islands were determined by bisulfite genomic sequencing. We showed that DHA induced the downregulation of UHRF1 and DNMT1, accompanied by an upregulation of p16 in PC-3 cells. Decreased p16 promoter methylation levels in DHA-treated groups were also observed in PC-3 cells. Furthermore, DHA significantly induced apoptosis and G1/S cell-cycle arrest in PC-3 cells. Our results suggested that downregulation of UHRF1/DNMT1 is upstream to many cellular events, including G1 cell arrest, demethylation of p16, and apoptosis. Together, our study provides new evidence that DHA may serve as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Engineering optical mode ferromagnetic resonance in FeCoB films with ultrathin Ru insertion.

Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) in soft magnetic films (SMFs) to a large extent determines the maximum working frequency of magnetic devices. The FMR frequency (fr) in an optical mode is usually much higher than that in the corresponding acoustic mode for exchange coupled ferromagnet/nonmagnet/ferromagnet (FM/NM/FM) trilayers. In this study, we prepared a 50 nm FeCoB film with uniaxial magnetic anisotropy (UMA), showing a high acoustic mode fr of 4.17 GHz. When an ultrathin Ru spacer was inserted in the very middle of the UMA-FeCoB film, the zero-field FMR was abruptly switched from an acoustic mode to an optical one with fr dramatically enhanced from 4.17 GHz to 11.32 GHz. Furthermore, the FMR mode can be readily tuned to optical mode only, acoustic mode only, or double mode by simply varying the applied filed, which provides a flexible way to design multi-band microwave devices.

Mechanism of dihydroartemisinin-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer PC3 cells: An iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis.

AIMS: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in men in the world. Advanced PCa, especially castration-resistant PCa (CRPC), is difficult to cure. There is an urgent need to develop novel agents for CPRC. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is a semisynthetic derivative of artemisinin and is a well-known antimalarial drug. DHA has been documented to be a potential anticancer agent for PCa. However, the mechanisms underlying the anticancer activity of DHA are still unknown. MAIN METHODS: Proteomics analysis based on iTRAQ technology was performed to determine the protein profile changes in human prostate cancer PC3 cells treated by DHA, and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. KEY FINDINGS: DHA induced obvious apoptosis in PC3 cells. Using iTRAQ technology, we found 86 differentially expressed proteins linked to the cytotoxicity of DHA in PC3 cells. Gene ontology analysis showed the differentially expressed proteins were mainly associated with the protein synthesis and translation. Protein interaction network analysis and KEGG pathway analysis revealed altered aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and metabolic pathways. Moreover, one candidate protein, heat shock protein HSP70 (HSPA1A), was identified by western blot analysis. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that multiple mechanisms involved in the anticancer activity of DHA in PC3 cells. Decreased HSP70 expression may have an important role in DHA-induced apoptosis in PC3 cells. Our data also provide novel insights into the anticancer mechanisms of DHA.

Intrinsic topological insulator Bi(1.5)Sb(0.5)Te(3-x)Se(x) thin crystals.

The quaternary topological insulator (Bi,Sb)2(Te,Se)3 has demonstrated topological surface states with an insulating bulk. Scientists have identified an optimized composition of Bi(1.5)Sb(0.5)Te(1.7)Se(1.3) with the highest resistivity reported. But the physics that drive to this composition remains unclear. Here we report the crystal structure and the magneto-transport properties of Bi(1.5)Sb(0.5)Te(3-x)Se(x) (BSTS) series. A correlation between the structure and the physical properties has been revealed. We found out that within the rhombohedral structure, the composition with most Te substituting Se has the highest resistivity. On the other hand, segregation of other composition phases will introduce much higher bulk concentration.

Application of computed tomography for differential diagnosis of glioma stoke and simple cerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis of glioma stroke and simple cerebral hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 patients with glioma stroke and stroke as the initial symptom in our hospital from Jun., 2009 to Oct., 2013 were selected along with 50 individuals with simple cerebral hemorrhage in the same period randomly collected as a control group. The CT results in both groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: In the observation group, there were 25 patients with astrocytoma (55.6%), 11 with oligodendroglioma (24.4%), 8 with ependymoma (17.2%) and 1 with glioblastoma multiforma (GBM, 2.22%). Additionally, the major CT manifestation was coexistence of hemorrhage and tumor signs. By comparison, it could be found that the proportions of patients respectively with peripheral edema and space- occupying effect in the observation group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Application of CT examination combined with medical history in patients has very important clinical value in the differential diagnosis of glioma stroke and simple cerebral hemorrhage.

Direct observation of rotatable uncompensated spins in the exchange bias system Co/CoO-MgO.

We have observed a large exchange bias field HE ≈ 2460 Oe and a large coercive field HC ≈ 6200 Oe at T = 2 K for Co/CoO core-shell nanoparticles (~4 nm diameter Co metal core and CoO shell with ~1 nm thickness) embedded in a non-magnetic MgO matrix. Our results are in sharp contrast to the small exchange bias and coercive field in the case of a non-magnetic Al2O3 or C matrix materials reported in previous studies. Using soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the Co-L2,3 edge, we have observed a ferromagnetic signal originating from the antiferromagnetic CoO shell. This gives direct evidence for the existence of rotatable interfacial uncompensated Co spins in the nominally antiferromagnetic CoO shell, thus supporting the uncompensated spin model as a microscopic description of the exchange bias mechanism.