[Investigation on population dynamics and Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human settlement in Yushu City, Qinghai Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the population dynamics and Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human settlement in Yushu City, Qinghai Province. METHODS: Rodents were captured using the mouse trap method in pastures from Batang Township and Longbao Township of Yushu City, Qinghai Province on May, August and October, 2018. The body weight and snout-vent length of all captured rodents were measured, and the species was identified according to the rodent morphology. Genomic DNA was extracted from rodent liver specimens and lesion specimens, and the mitochondrial cox1 gene of Echinococcus was amplified using PCR assay for identification of parasite species. In addition, the tissue specimens positive for PCR assay were sampled for pathological examinations. The prevalence of Echinococcus infections was estimated in rodents, and a phylogenetic tree was created based on Echinococcus cox1 gene sequences. RESULTS: A total of 285 small rodents were captured, including 143 Ochotona curzoniae (50.2%), 141 Lasiopodomys fuscus (49.5%), and 1 Neodon irene (0.3%), and there was a remarkable variation in habitat selection among these three rodent species. The number of L. fuscus correlated positively with vegetation coverage (r = 0.350, P = 0.264), with the greatest number seen in August, and the number of O. curzoniae negatively with vegetation coverage (r = -0.371, P = 0.235), with the highest number seen in August and the lowest number in May. The female/male ratios of O. curzoniae and voles were 1:0.96 and 0.82:1, respectively. The body weight (r = 0.519, P < 0.01) and snout-vent length (r = 0.578, P < 0.01) of O. curzoniae showed a tendency towards a rise with month, while the body weight (r = -0.401, P < 0.01) and snout-vent length (r = -0.570, P < 0.01) of voles presented a tendency towards a reduction with month. No Echinococcus infection was detected in voles, while 2.1% prevalence of E. shiquicus infection was seen in O. curzoniae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed consistent sequences of cox1 gene from E. shiquicus in Yushu City of Qinghai Province and Shiqu County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province. CONCLUSIONS: The small rodents around the human settlement in Yushu City of Qinghai Province mainly include O. curzoniae and L. fuscus, with the greatest numbers seen in May and August, respectively. Following the concerted efforts for echinococcosis control, the prevalence of Echinococcus infections is low in small rodents around the human settlement in Yushu City; however, there is still a risk of echinococcosis transmission.

Circular RNA_LARP4 inhibits cell migration and invasion of prostate cancer by targeting FOXO3A.

OBJECTIVE: The importance of circular RNAs in malignant tumors causes more attention in researchers. Circular RNA_LARP4 is identified as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer, but the role of circular RNA_LARP4 in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. Our work aims to uncover whether and how circular RNA_LARP4 functions in the PCa development. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to determine the level of circular RNA_LARP4 in PCa tissues and cell lines. The patients' prognosis was analyzed. Circular RNA_LARP4 lentivirus was constructed for transfection of PCa cells. Cell migrated and invaded ability was detected through wound healing assay and transwell assay. Western blot assay was performed to analyze the protein level of FOXO3A. RESULTS: The low circular RNA_LARP4 expression was associated with poor prognosis of PCa patients. The circular RNA_LARP4 was lowly expressed in PCa tissues compared with adjacent samples. The expression of circular RNA_LARP4 was downregulated in PCa cell lines. The cell migrated and invaded ability of PCa cells was inhibited after circular RNA_LARP4 was overexpressed. Furthermore, FOXO3A expression was increased via the overexpression of circular RNA_LARP4. CONCLUSIONS: Circular RNA_LARP4 could suppress cell migration and invasion of PCa by upregulating FOXO3A.

[In vitro effects of ionic and non-ionic contrast media on erythrocyte aggregation]. / Effets in vitro de produits de contraste ionique et non ioniques sur l'agrégation érythrocytaire.

An in vitro model was designed to examine the effect of three contrast media (CM): two non ionic (Iohexol, Iopamidol) and one ionic (Ioxaglate) molecules on erythrocyte aggregation. Red blood cells were suspended in a chemically defined medium (Albumin: 10 g/l), Immunoglobulins: 12 g/l, Fibrinogen: 1.5 g/l) supplemented with various proportions of CM (10-25% V/V). Control samples contained NaCl or Saccharose solutions with a nearly similar osmolality. Erythrocyte aggregation at constant hematocrit (HT = 40%) was determined by the analysis of the light backscattered by blood suspension during the aggregation process. As compared to control samples, non ionic CM induced a weak decrease in erythrocyte aggregation, when the ionic molecule caused a marked increase in the aggregation, which was related to CM concentration. A different interaction of ionic and non ionic CM with erythrocyte membranes has been shown by fluorescence studies. After addition of CM, it was noted a fluorescence quenching of lipophilic probes (TMA-DPH and DPH) embedded in erythrocyte membranes. This quenching probably due to benzene ring and iodine atoms of contrast media markedly varied according to the used fluorescent probe and the CM. In the presence of ionic CM, the fluorescence quenching is more important than that induced by non ionic CM. Thus, besides osmolality and viscosity of CM which play a role in erythrocyte aggregation, some intrinsic properties of CM such as the ionic or non ionic nature could influence erythrocyte membrane-contrast medium interactions and consequently erythrocyte aggregation.