Circular RNA hsa_circ_0094976 modulates GPR155 to inhibit gastric adenocarcinoma malignant characteristics by targeting miR-223-3p.

BACKGROUND: The abnormal expression of circular RNA (circRNA) has been confirmed to be closely related to the development of many human diseases including gastric adenocarcinoma (GA). This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism and biological function of hsa_circ_0094976 (circ_0094976) in GA. METHODS: The expression of circ_0094976, miR-223-3p, and G protein-coupled receptor 155 (GPR155) mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability, cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion were estimated by cell counting kit-8 assay, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, colony formation assay, and transwell assay, respectively. The bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and RNA pull-down assay were used for predicting and verifying the interaction of the circ_0094976/miR-223-3p/GPR155 axis. A xenograft mouse model was performed in nude mice to reveal the role of circ_0094976 in vivo. RESULTS: Circ_0094976 was down-regulated in GA tissues and GA cell lines compared to normal controls. Overexpression of circ_0094976 inhibited the GA cell growth, migration, and invasion in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0094976 directly targeted miR-223-3p, and GPR155 was a direct target of miR-223-3p. Moreover, circ_0094976 sponging miR-223-3p to increase the expression of GPR155. CONCLUSION: We disclosed that circ_0094976 could act as a sponge of miR-223-3p to regulate the expression of GPR155, and further restrain the development of GA, which may provide new insight into the therapy of GA.

A new C19-diterpenoid alkaloid in Aconitum georgei Comber.

Nine diterpenoid alkaloids were isolated from Aconitum georgei Comber belonging to the genus Aconitum in Ranunculaceae family. Their structures were determinated by using HR-ESI-MS and 1 D/2D NMR spectra as geordine (1), yunaconitine (2), chasmanine (3), crassicauline A (4), forestine (5), pseudaconine (6), 14-acetylalatisamine (7), austroconitine B (8), and talatisamine (9). Among them, compound 1 is a previously undescribed aconitine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloid, and compounds 3, and 5-9 have not previously been isolated from this species. The results of in vitro experiments indicated that new compound 1 possesses mild anti-inflammatory activity, which inhibited the production of NO in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells with an inhibition ratio of 29.75% at 50 µM.

Circ_0084188 promotes colorectal cancer progression by sponging miR-654-3p and regulating kruppel-like factor 12.

To investigate the biological role and mechanism of circ_0084188 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay were used to detect RNA levels and protein levels in CRC cell lines (HCT116 and SW480), respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were measured by transwell assay. Sphere formation efficiency was determined by sphere formation assay. The interaction between microRNA-654-3p (miR-654-3p) and circ_0084188 or Kruppel-like factor 12 (KLF12) was confirmed by a dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assays. Xenograft in CRC mice model was utilized for exploring the role of circ_0084188 in vivo.Circ_0084188 was overexpressed in CRC tissues and cells. Circ_0084188 silencing suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and stemness and induced apoptosis in CRC cells. Circ_0084188 acted as a sponge for miR-654-3p, and circ_0084188 regulated CRC cell behaviors via sponging miR-654-3p. Moreover, KLF12 was a target of miR-654-3p, and miR-654-3p overexpression inhibited the malignant behaviors of CRC cells by downregulating KLF12. Mechanically, circ_0084188 sponged miR-654-3p to regulate KLF12 expression in CRC cells. In addition, circ_0084188 downregulation inhibited tumor growth in vivo.Circ_0084188 knockdown might repress CRC progression partially via regulating the miR-654-3p/KLF12 axis, providing a novel insight into the pathogenesis of CRC.

A New Highly Oxygenated Polyketide Derivative from Trichoderma sp. and Its Antifungal Activity.

A new highly oxygenated polyketide derivative, trichodersine (1), together with fourteen known compounds (2-15) were isolated from Trichoderma sp. MWTGP-04. The structure of trichodersine (1) was established based on comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, and biogenesis argument. The results of double culture experiments indicated that the strain exhibited potential antifungal activity. The antifungal activities of all isolated compounds were evaluated, among them compound 1 exhibited remarkable antifungal activities against Fusarium solani, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Alternaria panax, and Aspergillus niger, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 4, 4, 16, and 32 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, the antifungal experiments of polyketide derivatives (1-3) disclosed that their degree of oxidation was a key factor affecting the antifungal activity.

Design, synthesis and photophysical studies of BODIPY-o, m, p-phenylenediamine-based probes: Insights into their responsiveness under different pH conditions.

In this paper, a series of novel phenylenediamine-fluoroboron pyrrole fluorescent derivatives were prepared which have distinct responsiveness under different hydrogen ion concentration (pH) conditions. It is noticed that the products showed excellent fluorescence properties in different solvents, especially in tetrahydrofuran and dichloromethane, with the most prominent fluorescence intensity, while the fluorescence in methanol, acetonitrile, and dimethyl sulfoxide was weaker. Responsiveness under different hydrogen ion concentration conditions in aqueous solutions were also observed, where the fluorescence intensity is quenching when the pH is 4.0. With regard to cells imaging investigation, the products showed the prominent fluorescence in HeLa cells. Further acidic cell imaging results showed that under acidic conditions made of formic acid or acetic acid, the intracellular fluorescence of the compounds was clustered around the cells and intensive enough different from without acidity control group. Especially, the compounds have unique fluorescence in acidic environment and has great potential and research value as acidic probes.

A dual-label time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay for the simultaneous determination of carcinoembryonic antigen and squamous cell carcinoma antigen.

Among women worldwide, cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer, and cervical smears and DNA detection have low sensitivity or are too expensive. The concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the serum were detected using a sandwich immunoassay. The CEA and SCC in the serum were captured by anti-CEA and anti-SCC antibodies. After combining other anti-CEA- and anti-SCC-labeled antibodies with europium (III) (Eu3+ ) and samarium (III) (Sm3+ ) chelates, CEA and SCC were detected with time-resolved fluorometry (TRF). The linear correlation coefficients (R2 ) of the CEA and SCC standard curves were 0.9997 and 0.9997, respectively. The minimum detection level for CEA was 1.15 ng/mL (the linear dynamic range was 3.24-543.67 ng/mL), and the average recovery was 100.83%. The sensitivity for SCC detection was 0.54 ng/mL (the linear dynamic range was 2.47-96.58 ng/mL), and the average recovery was 101.02%. High R2 between the results of commercial assays and this method were obtained (R2  = 0.9983 for CEA, R2   = 0.9878 for SCC). These findings indicated that the dual-label TRFIA invented in this study has high sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity in clinical analysis, which indicates that this method could be used for the early diagnosis and follow-up surveillance of cervical cancer.

Prevalence and characteristics of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from pediatric inpatients with respiratory tract infections at a teaching hospital in China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in the pediatric setting in China. A total of 201 non-duplicate K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from 432 pediatric inpatients suffering from respiratory tract infections. One hundred and thirty-eight K. pneumoniae isolates were determined to be extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producers. Of all ESBL-producing isolates, 138 (100%) were resistant to piperacillin, ampicillin, cefazolin, and aztreonam, 136 (98.4%) to cefuroxime, 126 (91.2%) to ceftriaxone and co-trimoxazole, 120 (87.4%) to cefoperazone, 91 (65.8%) to ceftazidime, 78 (56.5%) to gentamicin, and 72 (52.4%) to cefepime. TEM was the main type of beta-lactamase among ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae, followed by SHV and CTX-M-1. Of the 30 isolates harboring CTX-M-producers, 53.3% co-produced TEM, 36.7% co-produced SHV, and the remaining isolates co-produced SHV and TEM. The data show that there is a high prevalence of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae infections among pediatric inpatients in the region.