Systematic evaluation of methods for iron-impregnation of biochar and effects on arsenic in flooded soils.

There is a need for innovative strategies to decrease the mobility of metal(loids) including arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils, including rice paddies, so as to minimize dietary exposure to these toxic elements. Iron (Fe)-modified biochars (FBCs) are used to immobilize As and Cd in soil-water systems, but there is a lack of clarity on optimal methods for preparing FBCs because there are only limited studies that directly compare BCs impregnated with Fe under different conditions. There is also a lack of information on the long-term performance of FBCs in flooded soil environments, where reductive dissolution of Fe (oxy)hydroxide phases loaded onto biochar surfaces may decrease the effectiveness of FBCs. This study uses material characterization methods including FTIR, SEM-EDX, BET, and adsorption isotherm experiments to investigate the effects of Fe-impregnation methods (pH, pyrolysis sequence, and sonication) on the morphology and mineralogy of Fe loaded onto the biochar surface, and to FBC adsorbent properties for arsenate (As(V)), arsenite (As(III)), and Cd. Acidic impregnation conditions favored the adsorption of As(III) onto amorphous Fe phases that were evenly distributed on the biochar surface, including within the biochar pore structure. The combination of sonication with acidic Fe-impregnation conditions led to the best adsorption capacities for As(V) and As(III) (4830 and 11,166 µg As g-1 biochar, respectively). Alkaline Fe-impregnation conditions led to the highest Cd adsorption capacity of 3054 µg Cd g-1 biochar, but had poor effectiveness as an As adsorbent. Amending soil with 5% (w/w) of an acid-impregnated and sonicated FBC was more effective than an alkaline-impregnated FBC or ferrihydrite in decreasing porewater As concentrations. The acid-impregnated FBC also had greater longevity, decreasing As by 54% and 56% in two flooded phases, probably due to the greater stability of Fe(III) within the biochar pore structure that may have a direct chemical bond to the biochar surface. This study demonstrates that FBCs can be designed with selectivity towards different As species or Cd and that they can maintain their effectiveness under anaerobic soil conditions. This is the first study to systematically test how impregnation conditions affect the stability of FBCs in soils under multiple drying-rewetting cycles.

Relationship between METS-IR and thyroid cancer incidence in Korea: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Several previous studies found a positive relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and thyroid cancer (TC) risk. However, there is no research that has studied the relationship between the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), a novel surrogate marker for IR, and TC incidence. Thus, we designed this retrospective cohort study to evaluate the relationship between the incidence of TC and METS-IR. Method: We analyzed a cohort of 314,321 Korean adults aged over 40 years who participated in the National Health Screening Program from 2009 to 2010. The individuals were divided into four groups based on METS-IR quartiles. Follow-up was until the diagnosis of TC or death, or until December 31, 2019, if neither. The relationship between METS-IR and TC incidence was analyzed using the Cox proportional-hazards model with multi-variable adjustments. Results: A total of 4,137 participants (1.3%) were diagnosed with TC during a mean follow-up of 9.5 ± 1.5 years. The population with Q1 METS-IR scores showed higher disease-free probabilities than those with Q4 METS-IR scores (p <0.001). The hazard ratio (95% confidential interval) for TC incidence in Q2, Q3, and Q4 METS-IR value were 1.14 (1.05 to 1.25), 1.21 (1.11 to 1.33), and 1.30 (1.18 to 1.42) compared with Q1 of METS-IR, respectively. The incidence of TC tended to increase with increasing METS-IR values in the total population, especially the male population in the restricted cubic spline. In subgroup analysis, the TC risk was more pronounced in the subgroups under 65 and with a BMI < 25 kg/m2. Conclusion: METS-IR was positively correlated with TC incidence in Korea.

Detection of chromosomal instability using ultrasensitive chromosomal aneuploidy detection in the diagnosis of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer.

Background: The diagnosis of Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer (PLGC) is challenging in clinical practice. We conducted a clinical study by analyzing the information of relevant chromosome copy number variations (CNV) in the TCGA database followed by the UCAD technique to evaluate the value of Chromosomal Instability (CIN) assay in the diagnosis of PLGC. Methods: Based on the screening of gastric cancer related data in TCGA database, CNV analysis was performed to explore the information of chromosome CNV related to gastric cancer. Based on the gastroscopic pathology results, 12 specimens of patients with severe atrophy were screened to analyze the paraffin specimens of gastric mucosa by UCAD technology, and to explore the influence of related factors on them. Results: The results of CNV in TCGA database suggested that chromosome 7, 8, and 17 amplification was obvious in patients with gastric cancer. UCAD results confirmed that in 12 patients with pathologic diagnosis of severe atrophy, five of them had positive results of CIN, with a positive detection rate of 41.7%, which was mainly manifested in chromosome seven and chromosome eight segments amplification. We also found that intestinalization and HP infection were less associated with CIN. And the sensitivity of CIN measurement results was significantly better than that of tumor indicators. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the diagnosis of PLGC can be aided by UCAD detection of CIN, of which Chr7 and 8 may be closely related to PLGC.

Global research on RNA vaccines for COVID-19 from 2019 to 2023: a bibliometric analysis.

Background: Since the global pandemic of COVID-19 has broken out, thousands of pieces of literature on COVID-19 RNA vaccines have been published in various journals. The overall measurement and analysis of RNA vaccines for COVID-19, with the help of sophisticated mathematical tools, could provide deep insights into global research performance and the collaborative architectural structure within the scientific community of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. In this bibliometric analysis, we aim to determine the extent of the scientific output related to COVID-19 RNA vaccines between 2019 and 2023. Methods: We applied the Bibliometrix R package for comprehensive science mapping analysis of extensive bibliographic metadata retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. On January 11th, 2024, the Web of Science database was searched for COVID-19 RNA vaccine-related publications using predetermined search keywords with specific restrictions. Bradford's law was applied to evaluate the core journals in this field. The data was analyzed with various bibliometric indicators using the Bibliometrix R package. Results: The final analysis included 2962 publications published between 2020 and 2023 while there is no related publication in 2019. The most productive year was 2022. The most relevant leading authors in terms of publications were Ugur Sahin and Pei-Yong, Shi, who had the highest total citations in this field. The core journals were Vaccines, Frontiers in Immunology, and Viruses-Basel. The most frequently used author's keywords were COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and vaccine. Recent COVID-19 RNA vaccine-related topics included mental health, COVID-19 vaccines in humans, people, and the pandemic. Harvard University was the top-ranked institution. The leading country in terms of publications, citations, corresponding author country, and international collaboration was the United States. The United States had the most robust collaboration with China. Conclusion: The research hotspots include COVID-19 vaccines and the pandemic in people. We identified international collaboration and research expenditure strongly associated with COVID-19 vaccine research productivity. Researchers' collaboration among developed countries should be extended to low-income countries to expand COVID-19 vaccine-related research and understanding.

Association between Surrogate Markers of Insulin Resistance and the Incidence of Colorectal Cancer in Korea: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is assessed using surrogate markers such as the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, the triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio, and the metabolic score for IR (METS-IR). Limited studies investigated their association with colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, and no research has been conducted on their association with the METS-IR. Method: This study used claims data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, analyzing a cohort of 314,141 Koreans aged over 40 who participated in the National Health Screening Program from 2009 to 2010. The follow-up period was extended until 31 December 2019. Participants were divided into four groups based on quartiles (Q1-Q4) of the markers. Results: All surrogate markers of IR had sequentially statistically lower disease-free probabilities from Q1 to Q4. The Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated statistically significant positive associations between CRC incidence and Q3 and Q4 of the TyG index, as well as Q3 and Q4 of the TG/HDL-C ratio and Q4 of the METS-IR. The constrained cubic spline method revealed a nonlinear, positive dose-response relationship between the TyG index and the METS-IR in relation to CRC incidence. Conclusions: In conclusion, the TyG index, TG/HDL-C ratio, and METS-IR were positively correlated with CRC incidence in Koreans.

Association of oxcarbazepine concentration with seizure frequency in pregnant women with epilepsy.

The management of epilepsy during pregnancy presents particular challenges for neurologists worldwide. Currently, there are no clear recommendations for oxcarbazepine (OXC) specific target concentration during pregnancy. We conducted this retrospective observational cohort study on pregnant women with epilepsy (WWE) who received OXC monotherapy or polytherapy, at the epilepsy outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in eastern China. Sixteen pregnancies of 16 WWE were split into the seizure-free group or the non-seizure-free group, according to whether they had been seizure free for more than one year prior to conception or not. There was a significantly decrease in OXC concentration throughout pregnancy, as indicated by the concentration/dose ratio and the ratio of target concentration (RTC). The second trimester of pregnancy was the period when seizure deterioration occurred the most, particularly in the non-seizure-free group. Lower RTC_OXC was identified to be a risk factor for increasing seizure frequency in both the total group and the non-seizure-free group in both univariate and multivariate analysis, with a threshold of 0.575 for differentiating patients at high-risk and low-risk for seizure deterioration. In conclusion, this study suggested an OXC concentration threshold of 0.575 during pregnancy for assisting neurologists in OXC drug monitoring and dose adaptation.

Proposal of a Novel Serological Algorithm Combining FIB-4 and Serum M2BPGi for Advanced Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background/Aims: Noninvasive methods have become increasingly critical in the diagnosis of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases. Herein, we compared the diagnostic performance of serum Mac2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) and other serological panels for fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and proposed an improved two-step diagnostic algorithm for advanced fibrosis. Methods: We enrolled 231 patients diagnosed with NAFLD who underwent a liver biopsy. We subsequently evaluated the diagnostic performance of serological panels, including serum M2BPGi, a fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), in predicting the stage of liver fibrosis. We then constructed a two-step algorithm to better differentiate advanced fibrosis. Results: The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of serum M2BPGi, FIB-4, APRI, and NFS for advanced fibrosis (≥F3) were 0.823, 0.858, 0.779, and 0.827, respectively. To reduce the performance of unnecessary liver biopsy, we propose a two-step algorithm using FIB-4 as an initial diagnostic tool and serum M2BPGi (≥0.6) as an additional diagnostic method for patients classified as intermediate (23%). Using the proposed algorithm, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 0.812, 0.814, 0.814, 0.600, and 0.927, respectively. Conclusions: Serum M2BPGi is a simple and effective test for advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. Application of the two-step algorithm based on FIB-4 and M2BPGi proposed here can improve diagnostic performance and reduce unnecessary tests, making diagnosis easily accessible, especially in primary medical centers.

Alcohol consumption and the risk of liver disease: a nationwide, population-based study.

Introduction: Although most patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) have a history of prolonged and heavy drinking, there is no clear threshold defining the level of alcohol consumption that leads to ALD. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between average alcohol consumption and the risk of liver disease and to determine the threshold for clinically significant alcohol consumption. Materials and methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance database, we identified participants who underwent a health-screening program in 2010 and 2011 and retrospectively analyzed their data until 2019. To diagnose and categorize the extracted participants, we used the International Classification of Diseases version 10 and Fatty Liver Index. The primary outcome was to determine the incidence of newly diagnosed liver-related diseases during the observation period and compare the incidence of liver-related diseases among non-drinkers and drinkers based on the amount of alcohol consumption. Results: A total of 53,006 patients were enrolled and followed-up for a median of 8.4 years, during which 1,509 cases of liver-related diseases occurred. The participants were divided into five groups: no alcohol consumption (n = 31,359), 1st quartile (n = 5,242), 2nd quartile (n = 5,704), 3rd quartile (n = 5,337), and 4th quartile (n = 5,364). The corresponding number of glasses of alcohol consumed per week for each quantile (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) was labeled 2.5 ± 1.1 standard units (1 standard unit = 8 g alcohol), 5.4 ± 1.9 standard units, 11.5 ± 3.3 standard units, and 27.9 ± 18.2 standard units, respectively. Compared with non-drinkers, the risk of liver-related disease was found to be higher in Q1 drinkers (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.09; 95% CI, 0.90-1.33), Q2 drinkers (aHR, 1. 10; 95% CI, 0.91-1.32), Q3 drinkers (aHR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.11-1.59), and Q4 drinkers (aHR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.24-1.75). Conclusion: We report that our study has shown that drinking more than 11.5 ± 3.3 standard units/week (92 ± 26.4 g/week) significantly increases the risk of developing liver-related diseases. Therefore, as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of developing liver disease, alcohol consumption should be limited beyond traditionally recommended levels.

Effects of an urban forest healing program on cancer-related fatigue in cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effects of an eight-session structured urban forest healing program for cancer survivors with fatigue. BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a complex and multifactorial common symptom among cancer survivors that limits quality of life (QoL). Although health benefits of forest healing on physiological, physical, and psychological aspect as well as on the immune system have been reported in many studies, there is limited evidence on the efficacy of specialized forest program for cancer survivors. METHOD: A single-blinded, pre-test and post-test control group clinical trial was conducted with -75 cancer survivors assigned to either the forest healing group or the control group. The intervention was an eight-session structured urban forest program provided at two urban forests with easy accessibility. Each session consists of three or four major activities based on six forest healing elements such as landscape, phytoncides, anions, sounds, sunlight, and oxygen. Complete data of the treatment-adherent sample (≥ 6 sessions) was used to examine whether sociodemographic, clinical, physiological (respiratory function, muscle strength, balance, 6-min walking test) and psychological (distress, mood state, sleep quality, QoL) characteristics at baseline moderated the intervention effect on fatigue severity at 9 weeks. RESULTS: Significant time-group interactions were observed muscle strength, balance, 6-min walking test, distress, fatigue, moods, and QoL. The mean difference in fatigue between pre- and post-forest healing program was 9.1 (95% CI 6.2 to 11.9), 11.9 (95% CI 7.6 to 16.1) in moods, and -93.9 (95% CI -123.9 to -64.0) in QoL, showing significant improvements in forest healing group, but no significant improvements in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a forest healing program positively impacts the lives of cancer survivors, by addressing both physical and psychological challenges associated with CRF. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: KCT0008447 (Date of registration: May 19, 2023).

Hyperelatolides A-D, Antineuroinflammatory Constituents with Unusual Carbon Skeletons from Hypericum elatoides.

Four new δ- and γ-lactone derivatives, hyperelatolides A-D (1-4, respectively), were discovered from the aerial portions of Hypericum elatoides R. Keller. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of NMR spectra, HRESIMS, quantum chemical calculations of NMR and ECD spectra, and X-ray crystallographic data. Hyperelatolides A (1) and B (2) represent the first examples of δ-lactone derivatives characterized by a (Z)-(5,5-dimethyl-2-(2-oxopropyl)cyclohexylidene)methyl moiety and a benzoyloxy group attached to the ß- and γ-positions of the δ-lactone core, respectively, while hyperelatolides C (3) and D (4) are unprecedented γ-lactone derivatives featuring substituents similar to those of 1 and 2. All compounds were tested for their inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-activated BV-2 cells. Lactones 1 and 2 exhibited considerable antineuroinflammatory activity, with IC50 values of 5.74 ± 0.27 and 7.35 ± 0.26 µM, respectively. Moreover, the mechanistic study revealed that lactone 1 significantly suppressed nuclear factor kappa B signaling and downregulated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-induced cells, which may contribute to its antineuroinflammatory activity.

A Case of Transverse Myelitis Following Treatment with Atezolizumab for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The results of the IMbrave150 study have led to widespread use of the combination therapy of atezolizumab and bevacizumab as a first-line treatment for unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Compared to traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors show a spectrum of side effects ranging from mild side effects such as skin rash to potentially severe systemic effects such as myocarditis. We present a case of transverse myelitis diagnosed during the treatment of HCC with atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy.

Climate change effects on denitrification performance of woodchip bioreactors treating agricultural tile drainage.

Denitrifying woodchip bioreactors (WBRs) are a nature-based technology that are increasingly used to control nonpoint source nitrate (NO3-) pollution in agricultural catchments. The treatment effectiveness of WBRs depends on temperature and hydraulic retention time (HRT), both of which are affected by climate change. Warmer temperatures will increase microbial denitrification rates, but the extent to which the resulting benefits to treatment performance may be offset by intensified precipitation and shorter HRTs is not clear. Here, we use three years of monitoring data from a WBR in Central New York State to train an integrated hydrologic-biokinetic model describing links among temperature, precipitation, bioreactor discharge, denitrification kinetics, and NO3- removal efficiencies. Effects of climate warming are assessed by first training a stochastic weather generator with eleven years of weather data from our field site, and then adjusting the distribution of precipitation intensities according to the Clausius-Clapeyron relationship between water vapor and temperature. Modeling results indicate, in our system, faster denitrification rates will outweigh the influence of intensified precipitation and discharge under warming, leading to net improvements in NO3- load reductions. Median cumulative NO3- load reductions at our study site from May - October are projected to increase from 21.7% (interquartile range 17.4%-26.1%) under baseline hydro-climate to 41.0% (interquartile range 32.6-47.1%) with a + 4 °C change in mean air temperature. This improved performance under climate warming is driven by strong nonlinear dependence of NO3- removal rates on temperature. Temperature sensitivity may increase with woodchip age and lead to stronger temperature-response in systems like this one with a highly aged woodchip matrix. While the impacts of hydro-climatic change on WBR performance will depend on site-specific properties, this hydrologic-biokinetic modeling approach provides a framework for assessing climate impacts on the effectiveness of WBRs and other denitrifying nature-based systems.

Retrospective State Medicaid Claims Analysis of Children and Adults With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: With a lifetime U.S. prevalence of 2.3%, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic condition often producing reduced quality of life and disability when left untreated. Little is known about the prevalence or treatment of diagnosed OCD in public behavioral health systems. METHODS: Using a claims analysis of 2019 New York State Medicaid data (N=2,245,084 children; N=4,274,100 adults), the authors investigated the prevalence and characteristics of children and adults with OCD. The authors also examined whether these individuals received treatment with medication or psychotherapy. RESULTS: The prevalence of OCD was 0.2% among children and 0.3% among adults. Fewer than half of children (40.0%) and adults (37.5%) received U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications (with or without psychotherapy); another 19.4% of children and 11.0% of adults received 45- or 60-minute psychotherapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the need for public behavioral health systems to increase their capacity to identify and treat OCD.

Analysis of Perceptions, Preferences, and Participation Intention of Urban Forest Healing Program among Cancer Survivors.

It is important to manage the health of cancer survivors who have returned to their daily lives. An increasing number of cancer survivors are undertaking health care in forests near their residences. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the perceptions of forest healing and the program preferences of adult cancer survivors. Data were collected from 388 female cancer survivors through an online survey. Breast cancer survivors comprised 66.2%, and 63.6% of the study participants were diagnosed with cancer within 2 to 5 years prior to the study. The subjective health status was 2.68 ± 0.61 out of 4 points. Of the participants, 62.1% had heard of forest healing and 65.7% intended to participate in the forest healing program. Participants who frequently visited the forest were more likely to participate in the forest healing program in the future than those who rarely visited the forest. A survey among 255 people on specific preferences for the program found that the regular visit type was preferred over the one-time visit type. These results are meaningful because they can be used as a basis for the development of a forest treatment program that reflects the needs of cancer survivors.

Comparison of adenoma detection rate between high-definition colonoscopes with different fields of view: 170 degrees versus 140 degrees.

In newer generation colonoscopes, the field of view (FOV) varies approximately between 170° and 140°, depending on the type of colonoscopy. To the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated whether the visual field difference of the colonoscope affects quality indicators, such as the adenoma detection rate (ADR), without using additional devices to expand the FOV in colonoscopes with the same resolution. This study aimed to investigate the difference in quality indicators, such as ADR, between 170° and 140° FOV in colonoscopes with the same high-definition resolution. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent screening or surveillance colonoscopy at the Dong-A University Hospital in Busan, South Korea, between March 2021 and February 2022. We calculated the overall ADR ratios for patients who underwent colonoscopy with 140° and 170° FOV. Polyp detection rate (PDR), sessile serrated PDR, and advanced neoplasia detection rate were calculated for each group. Factors associated with adenoma detection were identified using a logistical regression analysis. A total of 1711 patients were included in the study (838 patients in the 170° group and 873 patients in the 140° group). ADR (43.79 vs 41.92%, P = .434) did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. The generational differences were not statistically significant either for PDR (56.44 vs 53.49%, P = .220), sessile serrated PDR (1.19 vs 0.92%, P = .575), or advanced neoplasia detection rate (5.00 vs 4.58%, P = .735). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that, age, male sex, and long withdrawal time were the most significant factors affecting adenoma detection. This study revealed that there were no differences in ADR while employing high definition colonoscopes with a 170° FOV and a 140° FOV.

TRIM11, a new target of p53, facilitates the migration and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Although tripartite motif-containing protein 11 (TRIM11) is known to be associated with a variety of cancers, its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the role of TRIM11 in NPC, TRIM11 was stably overexpressed in 6-10B and CNE2 cells with lentiviral vectors and knocked down in S18 and 5-8F cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Transwell assays and wound-healing assays revealed that TRIM11 facilitated the migration and invasion of NPC cells. Mechanistically, we found that p53 inhibits TRIM11 expression by binding to its promoter. CONCLUSIONS: TRIM11 may serve as a potential diagnostic marker for NPC and has a certain therapeutic value.

A Case of Transverse Myelitis Following Treatment with Atezolizumab for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한소화기학회지

The results of the IMbrave150 study have led to widespread use of the combination therapy of atezolizumab and bevacizumab as a first-line treatment for unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Compared to traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors show a spectrum of side effects ranging from mild side effects such as skin rash to potentially severe systemic effects such as myocarditis. We present a case of transverse myelitis diagnosed during the treatment of HCC with atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy.

RhoB Promotes Endometrial Stromal Cells Decidualization Via Semaphorin3A/PlexinA4 Signaling in Early Pregnancy.

Endometrial decidualization refers to a series of morphological changes and functional remodeling of the uterine endometrium to accept the embryo under the effect of estrogen and progesterone secreted by ovaries after ovulation. During decidualization, endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) proliferate and differentiate into decidual stromal cells, undergoing cytoskeletal rearrangement-mediated morphological changes and expressing decidualization markers, such as insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 and prolactin. Ras homology (Rho) proteins, a family of small G proteins, are well known as regulators of cellular morphology and involved in multiple other cellular processes. In this study, we found ras homolog family member B (RHOB) was the most significantly upregulated gene in the Rho protein family after the in vitro decidualization of human primary ESCs. RhoB expression was induced mainly by 3',5'-cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) / protein kinase A (PKA) / cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element binding protein signaling and partly by progesterone signaling. Knockdown of RhoB in ESCs greatly inhibited actin cytoskeletal rearrangement, cell morphological transformation, and upregulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1, suggesting an indispensable role of RhoB in decidualization. Mechanistically, the downstream target of RhoB was semaphorin3A (Sema3A), which mediated its signaling via interacting with the receptor, plexinA4. More importantly, decreased expression of RhoB, Sema3A, and plexinA4 were detected in deciduas from patients with unexplained spontaneous miscarriage. Collectively, our results indicate that RhoB/Sema3A/plexinA4 signaling plays a positive role in endometrial decidualization and relates to unexplained spontaneous miscarriage, which is worthy of further exploration so as to provide new insights into therapeutic strategies for pregnancy diseases associated with poor decidualization.

The interaction between ETS transcription factor family members and microRNAs: A novel approach to cancer therapy.

In cancer biology, ETS transcription factors promote tumorigenesis by mediating transcriptional regulation of numerous genes via the conserved ETS DNA-binding domain. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as posttranscriptional regulators to regulate various tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressing factors. Interactions between ETS factors and miRNAs regulate complex tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing networks. This review discusses the progress of ETS factors and miRNAs in cancer research in detail. We focused on characterizing the interaction of the miRNA/ETS axis with competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and its regulation in posttranslational modifications (PTMs) and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Finally, we explore the prospect of ETS factors and miRNAs in therapeutic intervention. Generally, interactions between ETS factors and miRNAs provide fresh perspectives into tumorigenesis and development and novel therapeutic approaches for malignant tumors.