LncRNA WWTR1-AS1 upregulates Notch3 through miR-136 to increase cancer cell stemness in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This Study investigated the role of WWTR1-AS1 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). RESULTS: WWTR1-AS1 expression was upregulated in CSCC tissues. WWTR1-AS1 was predicted to interact with miR-136, whereas correlation analysis revealed that there was no close correlation between WWTR1-AS1 and miR-136 across CSCC samples. Moreover, WWTR1-AS1 and miR-136 did not regulate the expression of each other. In addition, overexpression of WWTR1-AS1 increased the expression levels of Notch3, which could be targeted by miR-136. Cell stemness analysis indicated that the overexpression of WWTR1-AS1 and Notch3 increased CSCC cell stemness and the capacity of CSCC cell to grow as spheroids. Overexpression of miR-136 decreased CSCC cell stemness and reversed the effects of overexpression of WWTR1-AS1 on Notch3 in CSCC cells. CONCLUSION: Therefore, WWTR1-AS1 may upregulate Notch3 through miR-136 to increase cancer cell stemness in CSCC.

Prediction of prognosis and immune landscape in cervical cancer based on heat shock protein-related genes.

Objective: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play key roles in the malignant transformation and progression of many tumors. However, the effectiveness of using HSP-related genes to predict the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer (CC) remains elusive. We aimed to delineate the prognosis and biological significance of HSP-related genes in CC. Methods: We collected the transcriptional and clinical data of CC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and searched for HSP-related genes in the literature. LASSO and univariate/multivariate Cox regression analyses were utilized to screen genes; 12 genes were found to be related to CC survival, and a prediction model was built. The effectiveness of the model was confirmed using TCGA and GEO, and it was found to be an independent predictor of CC. The nomogram is plotted. The prognostic model was further visualized using calibration curves, which showed good agreement with the predicted outcomes at 1-, 3, and 5 years. Results: We found that low-risk patients had higher immune cell infiltration and stronger immune function, and according to the immunophenoscore and TIDE scores, the low-risk group tended to respond more to immunotherapy. Additionally, we used the GDSC database to predict drug sensitivity in patients with different prognostic risks. Conclusion: In summary, we built a good model to help predict the prognosis of CC patients and provide a reference for personalized treatment and medication for different patients.

Oral contraceptives (OCs) in combination with metformin versus OCs alone on metabolism in nonobese polycystic ovary syndrome: A meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: To compare OCs(oral contraceptives) + metformin and OCs alone for metabolic effects in nonobese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. METHODS: The search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and clinicaltrials.gov for all published studies up to 30 April 2022 and was limited to English-language articles. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing OCs + metformin and OCs alone for reproductive-age women with PCOS were included. Data were processed using Revman 5.3 software. RESULTS: Of 396 studies identified, 14 RCTs were included for analysis comprising 707 women. OCs+metformin significantly modified fasting glucose (MD = -0.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.31, -0.12], p < .00001) and fasting insulin (MD = -2.54 [95%CI = -4.04, -1.04], p = .0009) at study completion compared with OCs alone in nonobese PCOS subjects. There was no statistic difference in the homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol or triglycerides at study end between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin, via its positive effects on insulin clearance, in combination with OCs, improved glucose metabolism and offered a good treatment alternative in nonobese women with PCOS.

Electrospinning preparation and anti-infrared radiation performance of silica/titanium dioxide composite nanofiber membrane.

Silica/titanium dioxide (SiO2/TiO2) composite nanofiber membranes with different TiO2 content were prepared with the technology of electrospinning using ethyl orthosilicate, butyl titanate and polyvinyl pyrrolidone as silicon titanium sources and spinning aids. TGA, XRD, SEM and FT-IR were used to analyze the thermal decomposition process, phase composition, microscopic morphology and infrared properties of the products. The study showed that with the increase of the calcination temperature, the TiO2 phase gradually changed from amorphous to anatase structure. Above 900 °C, a sample containing rutile TiO2 with a higher refractive index was obtained. Simultaneously, the continuity of the sample deteriorated, and the mechanical properties deteriorated. The study found that after calcination at 900 °C, the fiber membrane with a TiO2 content of 12% had the lowest cost and the best overall performance, with tensile strength being 3.09 MPa, and thermal conductivity at 500 °C being 0.0899 W m-1 K-1, which is 20% lower than that of pure SiO2 fiber membrane. This research provides a reference for the development of high temperature insulation materials with good flexibility.

Electrospinning preparation and near-infrared absorption properties of a silica/cesium tungsten bronze micro-nano fiber membrane.

Silica/cesium tungsten bronze (SiO2/Cs x WO3) composite micro-nano fiber membranes were prepared by the co-precursor electrostatic spinning method using cesium chloride, tungsten powder and tetraethyl orthosilicate as raw materials. TGA, XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM and ultraviolet-visible-near red spectrophotometry were used to analyze the thermal decomposition process, phase composition, microscopic morphology and near-infrared absorption properties of the product. Studies have shown that as the ratio of Cs/W of raw materials increases, the crystallinity of Cs x WO3 in the product increases first and then decreases. When n(Cs)/n(W) reaches 0.5, its crystallinity is the most complete; similarly, calcination also contributes to the crystallization of Cs0.33WO3, but high temperatures above 800 °C will also destroy its crystal structure. The study found that after calcination at 700 °C, the fiber membrane with a Cs/W atomic ratio of 0.5 has the best infrared absorption performance. The average absorbance of near-infrared light at 780-2500 nm is 1.5, which is 5.56 times that of the pure SiO2 fiber membrane. The tensile strength reaches 2.4 MPa, which can meet practical requirements. This research provides a basis for the development of flexible solar shading materials under complex outdoor conditions.

Resveratrol regulates the silent information regulator 1-nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

AIM: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a pregnancy-specific liver disease characterized by raised serum bile acids and adverse fetal outcomes. In this study, we aimed to explore the molecular and biochemical mechanism of resveratrol in regulating the silent information regulator 1-nuclear factor-κB (SIRT1-NF-κB) signaling pathway and bile acid biosynthesis in ICP. METHODS: We analyzed serum and placenta samples from 30 normal and ICP pregnancy women. Then we treated HTR-8/SVneo cells with taurocholic acid (TCA) to mimic ICP conditions before treating these cells with resveratrol, as an activator of SIRT1, and EX-57, as an inhibitor of SIRT1. We established an ICP rat model to analyze the therapeutic effect of resveratrol. RESULTS: The expression of SIRT1 protein was higher in normal placenta tissues than in ICP, and the expression of NF-κB was lower in the normal group than in the ICP group. We found that SIRT1 was downregulated, whereas NF-κB and tuor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were upregulated, in syncytiotrophoblast HTR-8 cells treated with TCA. This phenomenon could be reversed by resveratrol, and these effects could be blocked by Ex-527. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that resveratrol might protect syncytiotrophoblast against TCA-induced inflammatory injury by upregulation of SIRT1 and downregulation of NF-κB and TNF-α. Resveratrol could be a potential therapeutic target for ICP.