Multiple physical crosslinked highly adhesive and conductive hydrogels for human motion and electrophysiological signal monitoring.

Hydrogel-based flexible electronic devices serve as a next-generation bridge for human-machine interaction and find extensive applications in clinical therapy, military equipment, and wearable devices. However, the mechanical mismatch between hydrogels and human tissues, coupled with the failure of conformal interfaces, hinders the transmission of information between living organisms and flexible devices, which resulted in the instability and low fidelity of signals, especially in the acquisition of electromyographic (EMG) and electrocardiographic (ECG) signals. In this study, we designed an ion-conductive hydrogel (ICHgel) utilizing multiple physical interactions, successfully applied for human motion monitoring and the collection of epidermal physiological signals. By incorporating fumed silica (F-SiO2) nanoparticles and calcium chloride into an interpenetrating network (IPN) composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylamide (AAm)/acrylic acid (AA) chains, the ICHgel exhibited exceptional tunable stretchability (>1450% strain) and conductivity (10.58 ± 0.85 S m-1). Additionally, the outstanding adhesion of the ICHgel proved to be a critical factor for effective communication between epidermal tissues and flexible devices. Demonstrating its capability to acquire stable electromechanical signals, the ICHgel was attached to different parts of the human body. More importantly, as a flexible electrode, the ICHgel outperformed commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes in the collection of ECG and EMG signals. In summary, the synthesized ICHgel with its outstanding conformal interface capabilities and mechanical adaptability paves the way for enhanced human-machine interaction, fostering the development of flexible electronic devices.

Characteristics of the complete mitochondrial genome of Gerres limbatus (Cuvier, 1830) (Perciformes: Gerreidae).

The saddleback silver-biddy Gerres limbatus (Cuvier 1830) is distributed in Indo-West Pacific Oceans and associated with shallow coastal marine waters and estuaries. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of G. limbatus was firstly documented, which is 16,730 bp in length, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and 2 ribosomal RNA genes. The overall base composition of the mitochondrial genome is 26.42% A, 28.68% C, 27.32% T, and 17.58% G. The Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed based on COI gene of the 31 species from the family Gerreidae, with Heteroclinus puellarum and Hypopterus macropterus as outgroups. It revealed that G. erythrourus was placed as the sister group to G. limbatus.

Zinc finger Protein207 orchestrates glioma migration through regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

BACKGROUND: Glioma represents the predominant primary malignant brain tumor. For several years, molecular profiling has been instrumental in the management and therapeutic stratification of glioma, providing a deeper understanding of its biological complexity. Accumulating evidence unveils the putative involvement of zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) in cancer. This study aimed to elucidate the role and significance of ZNF207 in glioma. METHODS: Utilizing online data such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project, the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases, in conjunction with bioinformatics methodologies including GO, KEGG, GSEA, CIBERSORT immune cell infiltration estimation, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, enabled a comprehensive exploration of ZNF207's involvement in gliomagenesis. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR techniques were employed to validate the expression level of ZNF207 in glioma samples. Subsequently, the biological effects of ZNF207 on glioma cells were explored through in vitro assays. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate elevated expression of ZNF207 in gliomas, correlating with unfavorable patient outcomes. Stratification analyses were used to delineate the prognostic efficacy of ZNF207 in glioma with different clinicopathological characteristics. Immunocorrelation analysis revealed a significant association between ZNF207 expression and the infiltration levels of T helper cells, macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells. Utilizing ZNF207 expression and clinical features, we constructed an OS prediction model and displayed well discrimination with a C-index of 0.861. Moreover, the strategic silencing of ZNF207 attenuated glioma cell advancement, evidenced by diminished cellular proliferation, weakened cell tumorigenesis, augmented apoptotic activity, and curtailed migratory capacity alongside the inhibition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. CONCLUSIONS: ZNF207 may identify as a prospective biomarker and therapeutic candidate for glioma prevention, providing valuable insights into understanding glioma pathogenesis and treatment strategies.

Bimodal Intelligent Electronic Skin Based on Proximity and Tactile Interaction for Pressure and Configuration Perception.

The flexible bimodal e-skin exhibits significant promise for integration into the next iteration of human-computer interactions, owing to the integration of tactile and proximity perception. However, those challenges, such as low tactile sensitivity, complex fabrication processes, and incompatibility with bimodal interactions, have restricted the widespread adoption of bimodal e-skin. Herein, a bimodal capacitive e-skin capable of simultaneous tactile and proximity sensing has been developed. The entire process eliminates intricate fabrication techniques, employing DLP-3D printing for the electrode layers and sacrificial templating for the dielectric layers, conferring high tactile sensitivity (1.672 kPa-1) and rapid response capability (∼30 ms) to the bimodal e-skin. Moreover, exploiting the "fringing electric field" effect inherent in parallel-plate capacitors has facilitated touchless sensing, thereby enabling static distance recognition and dynamic gesture recognition of varying materials. Interestingly, an e-skin sensing array was created to identify the positions and pressure levels of various objects of different masses. Furthermore, with the aid of machine learning techniques, an artificial neural network has been established to possess intelligent object recognition capabilities, facilitating the identification, classification, and training of various object configurations. The advantages of the bimodal e-skin render it highly promising for extensive applications in the field of next-generation human-machine interaction.

Perfluorobutane (Sonazoid) Contrast-enhanced ultrasound to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the precision of Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from focal liver lesions (FLLs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched and checked for studies using Sonazoid CEUS to characterize HCC. A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted, involving data pooling, subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and investigation of publication bias. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included fourteen studies. The overall diagnostic accuracy for characterizing HCC was as follows (all ranges show the 95% confidence interval): pooled sensitivity of 0.87 (0.80-0.92), pooled specificity of 0.95 (0.91-0.97), and a diagnostic odds ratio of 121 (61-241). The overall weighted area under the curve was 0.97 (0.95-0.98). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio for Sonazoid and Sonovue were 0.75 (0.63- 0.84), 0.97 (0.86-0.99), 82 (15-445); and 0.64 (0.51-0.76), 0.98 (0.91-0.99), 72 (17-311), respectively. The sources of heterogeneity were identified as the study location, prevailing risk factor, reference diagnosis standard, criteria of Sonazoid CUES, and the proportion of cases of HCC. We observed no potential publication bias. CONCLUSION: Sonazoid CEUS is efficient to distinguish HCC from FLLs, with good sensitivity and specificity. It is comparable to Sonovue CEUS to diagnose HCC.

Significance of homogeneous operation in light-assisted fixed-bed bioprocess under ammonia stress: Optimization, long-term operation and metagenomic analysis.

Activating microbes with light is a promising strategy for addressing ammonia-stressed anaerobic digestion (AD). However, as a critical in-process parameter, homogenous operation, in light-assisted AD amended by bio-fixed bed has received limited attention. This research endeavors to establish a uniform-illuminated biosystem and assess its practical feasibility through a 90-day semi-continuous operation at pilot scale under solar light illumination. With optimal stirring mode (intermittent stirring for 3 min every 15 min), robust methane yields were achieved across various organic loads, reaching 88.7-94.3% of theoretical yield under high ammonium stress (3500 mg/L). The metagenomic analysis unveiled that uniform illumination triggered synergistic effects in AD, fostering a diversified microbial consortium, enhancing carbohydrate and methane metabolism, and facilitating the formation of an electroactive bio-cluster. This study underscores the significance of homogenous illumination in AD systems for efficient waste-to-energy conversion, highlighting the implementation of solar light as a greener approach for scale-up application.

Deciphering the Epigenetic Landscape: Placental Development and Its Role in Pregnancy Outcomes.

The placenta stands out as a unique, transitory, and multifaceted organ, essential to the optimal growth and maturation of the fetus. Functioning as a vital nexus between the maternal and fetal circulatory systems, it oversees the critical exchange of nutrients and waste. This exchange is facilitated by placental cells, known as trophoblasts, which adeptly invade and remodel uterine blood vessels. Deviations in placental development underpin a slew of pregnancy complications, notably fetal growth restriction (FGR), preeclampsia (PE), recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA), and preterm birth. Central to placental function and development is epigenetic regulation. Despite its importance, the intricate mechanisms by which epigenetics influence the placenta are not entirely elucidated. Recently, the scientific community has turned its focus to parsing out the epigenetic alterations during placental development, such as variations in promoter DNA methylation, genomic imprints, and shifts in non-coding RNA expression. By establishing correlations between epigenetic shifts in the placenta and pregnancy complications, researchers are unearthing invaluable insights into the biology and pathophysiology of these conditions. This review seeks to synthesize the latest findings on placental epigenetic regulation, spotlighting its crucial role in shaping fetal growth trajectories and development. Through this lens, we underscore the overarching significance of the placenta in the larger narrative of gestational health.

Preparation of cellulose-based flexible SERS and its application for rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of thiram on fruits and vegetables.

In response to the prevalent issue of thiram as a common pesticide residue on the surface of fruits and vegetables, our research team employed an acidic hydrated metal salt low co-fusion solvent to dissolve cellulose lysis slurry. Subsequently, a regenerated cellulose membrane (RCM) was successfully prepared via sol-gel method. Uniformly sized Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on RCM utilizing the continuous ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. The resulting Ag NPs/RCM flexible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates exhibited a minimum detection limit of 5 × 10-9 M for Rhodamine 6G (R6G), demonstrating good uniformity (RSD = 4.86 %) and reproducibility (RSD = 3.07 %). Moreover, the substrate displayed a remarkable sensitivity of 10-10 M toward thiram standard solution. Given its inherent flexibility, the substrate proves advantageous for the detection of three-dimensional environments such as fruit and vegetable surfaces, and its practicality has been confirmed in the detection of thiram residue on apples, tomatoes, pears, and other fruits and vegetables.

Non-invasive methods for heart rate measurement in fish based on photoplethysmography.

Heart rate is a crucial physiological indicator for fish, but current measurement methods are often invasive or require delicate manipulation. In this study, we introduced two non-invasive and easy-to-operate methods based on photoplethysmography, namely reflectance-type photoplethysmography (PPG) and remote photoplethysmography (rPPG), which we applied to the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). PPG showed perfect synchronization with electrocardiogram (ECG), with a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.99999. For rPPG, the results showed good agreement with ECG. Under active provision of green light, the Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.966, surpassing the value of 0.947 under natural light. Additionally, the root mean square error was 0.810, which was lower than the value of 1.30 under natural light, indicating not only that the rPPG method had relatively high accuracy but also that green light may have the potential to further improve its accuracy.

Genomic Characterization and Molecular Evolution of Sapovirus in Children under 5 Years of Age.

Sapovirus (SaV) is a type of gastroenteric virus that can cause acute gastroenteritis. It is highly contagious, particularly among children under the age of 5. In this study, a total of 712 stool samples from children under the age of 5 with acute gastroenteritis were collected. Out of these samples, 28 tested positive for SaV, resulting in a detection rate of 3.93% (28/712). Samples with Ct < 30 were collected for library construction and high-throughput sequencing, resulting in the acquisition of nine complete genomes. According to Blast, eight of them were identified as GI.1, while the remaining one was GI.6. The GI.6 strain sequence reported in our study represents the first submission of the GI.6 strain complete genome sequence from mainland China to the Genbank database, thus filling the data gap in our country. Sequence identity analysis revealed significant nucleotide variations between the two genotypes of SaV and their corresponding prototype strains. Phylogenetic and genetic evolution analyses showed no evidence of recombination events in the obtained sequences. Population dynamics analysis demonstrated potential competitive inhibition between two lineages of GI.1. Our study provides insights into the molecular epidemiological and genetic evolution characteristics of SaV prevalent in the Nantong region of China, laying the foundation for disease prevention and control, as well as pathogen tracing related to SaV in this area.

Oncolytic virus Ad-TD-nsIL-12 inhibits glioma growth and reprograms the tumor immune microenvironment.

AIMS: Gliomas are the most common central nervous system malignancies, with limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis, which are primarily attributed to the "immune desert" microenvironment. Previously, we constructed a three-gene-deleted oncolytic adenovirus (Ad-TD) loaded with non-secreting interleukin-12 (nsIL-12), which could be amplified in tumor cells and induce immunity to suppress tumors. However, the effects of this oncolytic virus on gliomas and their immune microenvironment remain unclear. There is an urgent need for further research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We constructed a Syrian hamster brain tumor model and demonstrated the efficacy and mechanism of the novel oncolytic virus in treating brain tumors through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. We investigated the efficacy and safety (the number of hamsters in each group is either 5 or 10) of the oncolytic virus treatment in Syrian hamsters using a virus-treated group, a control virus-treated group, and a blank control group. KEY FINDINGS: In vitro assays showed that Ad-TD-nsIL-12 could specifically proliferate in brain tumor cells which induce tumor cell apoptosis and intracellular expression of interleukin (IL)-12. Moreover, in vivo experiments demonstrated that Ad-TD-nsIL-12 could effectively inhibit the progression of brain tumors and prolong survival. Ad-TD-nsIL-12 significantly enhanced T-cell infiltration in the brain tumor microenvironment. SIGNIFICANCE: Ad-TD-nsIL-12 can inhibit glioma progression and increase T-cell infiltration in the tumor tissue, particularly infiltration by cytotoxic T cells (CD8+). Ad-TD-nsIL-12 can amplify and produce IL-12, inducing anti-glioma immune responses to inhibit tumor progression.

Physiological sensing system integrated with vibration sensor and frequency gel dampers inspired by spider.

Recent advances in bioelectronics in mechanical and electrophysiological signal detection are remarkable, but there are still limitations because they are inevitably affected by environmental noise and motion artifacts. Thus, we develop a gel damper-integrated crack sensor inspired by the vibration response of the viscoelastic cuticular pad and slit organs in a spider. Benefitting from the specific crack structure design, the sensor possesses excellent sensing behaviors, including a low detection limit (0.05% strain), ultrafast response ability (3.4 ms) and superior durability (>300 000 cycles). Such typical low-amplitude fast response properties allow the ability to accurately perceive vibration frequency and waveform. In addition, the gel damper exhibits frequency-dependent dynamic mechanical behavior that results in improved stability and reliability of signal acquisition by providing shock resistance and isolating external factors. They effectively attenuate external motion artifacts and low-frequency mechanical noise, resulting in cleaner and more reliable signal acquisition. When the gel damper is combined with the crack-based vibration sensor, the integrated sensor exhibits superior anti-interference capability and frequency selectivity, demonstrating its effectiveness in extracting genuine vocal vibration signals from raw voice recordings. The integration of damping materials with sensors offers an efficient approach to improving signal acquisition and signal quality in various applications.

Membrane-Based Preparation Process and Antioxidant and Anti-AGEs Activities of a Novel Propolis Ultrafiltrate.

Propolis is one functional supplement with hundreds of years of usage. However, it's rarely consumed directly for its resinous property. Herein, a pre-treated process which can remove the impurity while preserve its bioactivities is needed to maximise its therapeutic opportunities. In the present study, a membrane-based ultrafiltration process was developed on a KM1812-NF experimental instrument. Using Brazilian green propolis as testing material, all experimental steps and parameters were sequentially optimized. In addition, a mathematical model was developed to fit the process. As a result, the optimum solvent was 60 % ethanol adjusted to pH 8-9, while the optimum MWCO (molecular weight cut-off) value of membrane was 30 KDa. The membrane filtration dynamic model fitted with the function y=(ax+b)/(1+cx+dx2 ). The resulting propolis ultrafiltrate from Brazilian green propolis, termed P30K, contains the similar profile of flavonoids and phenolic acids as raw propolis. Meanwhile, the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value of P30K is 11429.45±1557.58 µM TE/g and the IC50 value of inhibition of fluorescent AGEs (advanced glycation end products) formation is 0.064 mg/mL. Our work provides an innovative alternative process for extraction of active compounds from propolis and reveals P30K as an efficient therapeutic antioxidant.

Downregulation of PDZK1 by TGF-ß1 promotes renal fibrosis via inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition of renal tubular cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular cells promotes renal fibrosis and the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). PDZ domain-containing 1 (PDZK1) is highly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells; however, its role in TGF-ß1-induced EMT remains poorly understood. The present study showed that PDZK1 expression was extremely downregulated in fibrotic mouse kidneys and its negative correlation with TGF-ß1 expression and the degree of renal fibrosis. In addition, TGF-ß1 downregulated the mRNA expression of PDZK1 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in vitro. The downregulation of PDZK1 exacerbated TGF-ß1-induced EMT upon oxidative stress, while the overexpression of PDZK1 had the converse effect. Subsequent investigations demonstrated that TGF-ß1 downregulated PDZK1 expression via p38 MAPK or PI3K/AKT signaling in vitro, but independently of ERK/JNK MAPK signaling. Meanwhile, inhibition of the p38/JNK MAPK or PI3K/AKT signaling using chemical inhibitors restored the PDZK1 expression, mitigated renal fibrosis, and elevated renal levels of endogenous antioxidants carnitine and ergothioneine in adenine-induced CKD mice. These findings provide the first evidence suggesting a negative correlation between PDZK1 and renal fibrosis, and identifying PDZK1 as a novel suppressor of renal fibrosis in CKD through ameliorating oxidant stress.

Incidence, prevalence and characteristics of multimorbidity in different age groups among urban hospitalized patients in China.

The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence, prevalence and characteristics of multimorbidity in urban inpatients of different age groups. This study used data from the National Insurance Claim for Epidemiology Research (NICER) to calculate the overall incidence, prevalence, geographic and age distribution patterns, health care burden, and multimorbidity patterns for multimorbidity in 2017. According to our study, the overall prevalence of multimorbidity was 6.68%, and the overall prevalence was 14.87% in 2017. The prevalence of multimorbidity increases with age. The pattern of the geographic distribution of multimorbidity shows that the prevalence of multimorbidity is relatively high in South East China. The average annual health care expenditure of patients with multimorbidity increased with age and rose rapidly, especially among older patients. Patients with cancer and chronic kidney disease have higher treatment costs. Patients with hypertension or ischemic heart disease had a significantly higher relative risk of multimorbidity than other included noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Hyperlipidemia has generated the highest number of association rules, which may suggest that hyperlipidemia may be both a risk factor for other NCDs and an outcome of them.

A cooperative control method for safer on-ramp merging process in heterogeneous traffic flow.

The on-ramp area is a high-risk conflict zone where traffic accidents frequently occur. Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) have the potential to enhance the safety of the merging process through appropriate cooperative control methods. This paper proposes a cooperative control method for safer on-ramp merging processes in heterogeneous traffic flow. Firstly, the gap selection process of ramp vehicles is described, thus all feasible virtual platoon results can be summarized. Next, the vehicle bond (VB) is used to describe the connection mode between vehicles within the virtual platoon. A two-layered gap selection function is proposed to ensure a safer merging process. The first layer aims to minimize the number of empty VBs, while the second layer considers fairness with respect to delay. To evaluate the control effectiveness, time exposed time-to-collision (TET), cumulative risk (CR), and conflict-potential mergence ratio (CPMR) are selected as the safety evaluation indicators. The simulation results show that the gap selection control moves the merging positions of ramp vehicles forward, resulting less risk of merging. It significantly enhances the safety of on-ramp merging without compromising traffic efficiency. At a flow rate of 650 veh/h for both the mainline and ramp, and a CAV penetration rate of 0.1-0.9, the gap selection control group achieves a decrease rate of about 0.3-0.6 for average TET and CR compared to the non-control group. In the pure CAV environment, the decrease rate can reach about 0.9. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the gap selection control is effective across varying flow rates and steady speeds. The optimal control effect is achieved when the length of the communication area ranges from 100 to 200 m.

Self-Powered Integrated System with a Flexible Strain Sensor and a Zinc-Air Battery.

At present, self-powered, lightweight, and flexible sensors are widely applied, especially in the fields of wearable devices and human health monitoring. Nevertheless, conventional self-powered flexible sensor systems rely on power supply components such as supercapacitors, nanofriction generators, and solar cells, which present certain limitations, such as high dependence on external environmental factors and the inability to provide long-term stable energy supply. Thus, a paramount exigency emerges for the development of wearable sensors endowed with enduring battery life to enable continuous monitoring of human motion for extended periods. In our academic study, we present an innovative self-powered sensing system that seamlessly combines a pliable zinc-air battery with a strain sensor. This approach offers a stable output signal over extended periods without an external energy device, which is crucial for long-term, continuous human motion monitoring. Through the incorporation of various carbon materials, we realized the multifunction of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) dual network hydrogels and prepared zinc-air battery electrolytes and strain sensors. Notably, the batteries exhibit impressive power density (82.5 mW cm-2), high open-circuit voltage (1.42 V), and remarkable environmental stability. Even when subjected to puncture and breakage, the batteries remain operational without suffering from electrolyte leakage. Similarly, our strain sensor boasts a broad working range spanning from 0 to 1400%, coupled with a remarkable sensitivity (GF = 2.99) and exceptional capacity to accurately detect various mechanical deformations. When integrated into a single system, the integrated system can monitor human movement for up to 10 h, which has broad prospects in wearable sensor applications.

Association of land urbanization and type 2 diabetes mellitus prevalence and mediation of greenness and physical activity in Chinese adults.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is higher in urban than in rural areas. Limited information is available on the association between T2D and Land urbanization (LU) while LU influences not only greenness and Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) but also inhabitant behavior. We aimed to explore the association between the LU level and T2D prevalence, as well as whether greenness, PM2.5, or conscious physical activity mediated any of the observed associations. This study encompassed 27,633 adult participants from Shandong Province who completed the sixth National Health Service Survey in 2018. Ambient LU exposure was estimated by spatial characteristics, including the existing impervious surface area (ISA), road density (RD), and annual night light (NL). Exposures were estimated using satellite images and OpenStreetMap, with 1000 m used as the main analysis buffer. Two-level logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between the LU metrics and T2D. Additionally, we explored potential mechanisms of the association through mediation analysis. The prevalence of T2D among participants was 5.14%, with average exposures to ISA_1000m of 1.441 km2, RD_1000m of 3.856 km/km2, and NL_1000m of 9.821 nW/cm2/sr. Higher levels of LU exposure were associated with higher T2D ORs [for each interquartile of ISA_1000m, RD_1000m, and NL_1000m, the adjusted OR (95% CI) for the T2D prevalence were 1.29 (1.19-1.4), 1.25 (1.15-1.36), and 1.25 (1.15-1.36), respectively]. This relationship persisted in several sensitivity analyses including use of different buffer sizes. We observed stronger associations among participants younger than 65 years or in men. Greenness mediated a 20.78%-65.36% of the estimated associations, conscious physical activity mediated a 10.35%-15.85%, while PM2.5 mediated insignificantly. These results suggest a deleterious association between higher levels of LU and T2D among adult residents in a developing country. Greenness and conscious physical activity mediate the association.

Cuproptosis-related gene SLC31A1 expression correlates with the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment in glioma.

Cuproptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death. It is regulated by a string of genes. The genes are identified to influence the tumor progression, but in glioma, the cuproptosis-related genes are little studied. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) were used to screen for SLC31A1 gene expression in glioma and healthy tissue samples. The results were validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) and the National Cancer Institute's Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) were used to validate our results at the protein level. Multivariable analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to examine the relationship among SLC31A1 gene expression, clinical parameters, and survival rates. The online Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) was used to find the genes and proteins that correlate to SLC31A1. The immune infiltration analysis was performed using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) databases. Small interfering RNA was used to knock down the SLC31A1 expression, and the cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were analyzed using cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, and transwell. The glioma patients have higher SLC31A1 expression levels, which increase as the World Health Organization (WHO) grade escalates. The survival analysis illustrates that the SLC31A1 gene expression negatively correlates with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS). The immune infiltration analysis shows the SLC31A1 gene positively correlates with T helper 2 (Th2) cells, macrophages, and M2-type macrophages and negatively correlates with plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), natural killer (NK) CD56bright cells, and CD8 T cells. The in vitro KD experiment shows the SLC31A1 knockdown depressed the glioma cell proliferation and migration and promoted the apoptosis rate. The SLC31A1 gene expression can shorten the survival time of glioma patients. In vitro study shows that SLC31A1 can promote cell proliferation, and migration, and depress the cell apoptosis of glioma cells. It also can promote the formation of a tumor-suppressive microenvironment.

Mutation-derived, genomic instability-associated lncRNAs are prognostic markers in gliomas.

Background: Gliomas are the most commonly-detected malignant tumors of the brain. They contain abundant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are valuable cancer biomarkers. LncRNAs may be involved in genomic instability; however, their specific role and mechanism in gliomas remains unclear. LncRNAs that are related to genomic instability have not been reported in gliomas. Methods: The transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were analyzed. The co-expression network of genomic instability-related lncRNAs and mRNA was established, and the model of genomic instability-related lncRNA was identified by univariate Cox regression and LASSO analyses. Based on the median risk score obtained in the training set, we divided the samples into high-risk and low-risk groups and proved the survival prediction ability of genomic instability-related lncRNA signatures. The results were verified in the external data set. Finally, a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to validate the signature. Results: The signatures of 17 lncRNAs (LINC01579, AL022344.1, AC025171.5, LINC01116, MIR155HG, AC131097.3, LINC00906, CYTOR, AC015540.1, SLC25A21.AS1, H19, AL133415.1, SNHG18, FOXD3.AS1, LINC02593, AL354919.2 and CRNDE) related to genomic instability were identified. In the internal data set and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) external data set, the low-risk group showed better survival than the high-risk group (P < 0.001). In addition, this feature was identified as an independent risk factor, showing its independent prognostic value with different clinical stratifications. The majority of patients in the low-risk group had isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations. The expression levels of these lncRNAs were significantly higher in glioblastoma cell lines than in normal cells. Conclusions: Our study shows that the signature of 17 lncRNAs related to genomic instability has prognostic value for gliomas and could provide a potential therapeutic method for glioblastoma.