miR-19a-3p promotes the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating p53/SOX4.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the potential functions of miR-19a-3p in HCC. Method: We collected serum samples to analyze miR-19a-3p expression. We utilized CCK8 and Transwell assays to access miR-19a-3p's influence on HCC cells malignancy. We used dual-luciferase reporter and western blotting to validate the impact of p53/miR-19 on miR-19/SOX4. Results: The results demonstrated that miR-19a-3p was highly expressed in pre-operative serum samples and HCC cells, which can promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC under in vitro conditions. Additionally, there was a p53 binding site on the upstream of miR-19a-3p, which was inhibited by p53. SOX4 was the direct gene targeted by miR-19a-3p. The imbalance of p53-miR-19-SOX4 loop was one reason for the progress of HCC. Conclusion: Our findings validate the mechanisms of miR-19a-3p and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target in HCC.

Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer receiving neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy: A large-scale, multicenter, real-world study (NeoR-World).

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy has ushered in a new era of perioperative treatment for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, large-scale data for verifying the efficacy and optimizing the therapeutic strategies of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy in routine clinical practice are scarce. METHODS: NeoR-World (NCT05974007) was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study involving patients who received neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone in routine clinical practice from 11 medical centers in China between January 2010 and March 2022. Propensity score matching was performed to address indication bias. RESULTS: A total of 408 patients receiving neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and 684 patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy were included. The pathologic complete response (pCR) and major pathologic response (MPR) rates of the real-world neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy cohort were 32.8% and 58.1%, respectively. Notably, patients with squamous cell carcinoma exhibited significantly higher pCR and MPR rates than those with adenocarcinoma (pCR, 39.2% vs 16.5% [P < .001]; MPR, 66.6% vs 36.5% [P < .001]), whereas pCR and MPR rates were comparable among patients receiving different neoadjuvant cycles. In addition, the 2-year rates of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rate were 82.0% and 93.1%, respectively. Multivariate analyses identified adjuvant therapy as an independent prognostic factor for DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.89; P = .018) and OS (HR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.13-0.58; P < .001). A significantly longer DFS with adjuvant therapy was observed in patients with non-pCR or 2 neoadjuvant cycles. We observed significant benefits in pCR rate (32.4% vs 6.4%; P < .001), DFS (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.38-0.68; P < .001) and OS (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.40-0.94; P = .024) with immunotherapy plus chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone both in the primary propensity-matched cohort and across most key subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The study validates the superior efficacy of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy over chemotherapy alone for NSCLC. Adjuvant therapy could prolong DFS in patients receiving neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy, and patients with non-pCR or those who underwent 2 neoadjuvant cycles were identified as potential beneficiaries of adjuvant therapy.

Forebrain excitatory neuron-specific loss of Brpf1 attenuates excitatory synaptic transmission and impairs spatial and fear memory.

Bromodomain and plant homeodomain (PHD) finger containing protein 1 (Brpf1) is an activator and scaffold protein of a multiunit complex that includes other components involving lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) 6A/6B/7. Brpf1, KAT6A, and KAT6B mutations were identified as the causal genes of neurodevelopmental disorders leading to intellectual disability. Our previous work revealed strong and specific expression of Brpf1 in both the postnatal and adult forebrain, especially the hippocampus, which has essential roles in learning and memory. Here, we hypothesized that Brpf1 plays critical roles in the function of forebrain excitatory neurons, and that its deficiency leads to learning and memory deficits. To test this, we knocked out Brpf1 in forebrain excitatory neurons using CaMKIIa-Cre. We found that Brpf1 deficiency reduced the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents and downregulated the expression of genes Pcdhgb1, Slc16a7, Robo3, and Rho, which are related to neural development, synapse function, and memory, thereby damaging spatial and fear memory in mice. These findings help explain the mechanisms of intellectual impairment in patients with BRPF1 mutation.

Multienzyme-Mimicking LaCoO3 Nanotrigger for Programming Cancer-Cell Pyroptosis.

Pyroptosis, a distinct paradigm of programmed cell death, is an efficient strategy against cancer by overcoming resistance to apoptosis. In this study, LaCoO3 (LCO) lanthanide-based nanocrystals with multienzyme characteristics are rationally designed and engineered to trigger the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of lanthanum ions, ultimately inducing lung cancer cell pyroptosis. The peroxidase- and oxidase-mimicking activities of LCO nanocrystals endow LCO with ROS production capacity in tumor tissues with an acidic pH and high hydrogen peroxide content. Concurrently, the LCO nanoenzyme exhibits catalase- and glutathione peroxidase-like activities, reversing the hypoxic microenvironment, destroying the activated antioxidant system of tumor cells, and amplifying the sensitivity of tumor cells to ROS. The use of ultrasound further accelerates the enzymatic kinetic rate. Most importantly, the La3+ ions released by LCO robustly destroy the lysosomal membrane, finally inducing canonical pyroptotic cell death, together with ROS. LCO-nanocrystal-triggered programmed cell pyroptosis amplifies the therapeutic effects both in vitro and in vivo, effectively restraining lung cancer growth and metastasis. This study paves a new avenue for the efficient treatment of lung cancer and metastasis through US-enhanced lanthanum-based nanoenzyme platforms and pyroptotic cell death.

BRPF1-KAT6A/KAT6B Complex: Molecular Structure, Biological Function and Human Disease.

The bromodomain and PHD finger-containing protein1 (BRPF1) is a member of family IV of the bromodomain-containing proteins that participate in the post-translational modification of histones. It functions in the form of a tetrameric complex with a monocytic leukemia zinc finger protein (MOZ or KAT6A), MOZ-related factor (MORF or KAT6B) or HAT bound to ORC1 (HBO1 or KAT7) and two small non-catalytic proteins, the inhibitor of growth 5 (ING5) or the paralog ING4 and MYST/Esa1-associated factor 6 (MEAF6). Mounting studies have demonstrated that all the four core subunits play crucial roles in different biological processes across diverse species, such as embryonic development, forebrain development, skeletal patterning and hematopoiesis. BRPF1, KAT6A and KAT6B mutations were identified as the cause of neurodevelopmental disorders, leukemia, medulloblastoma and other types of cancer, with germline mutations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders displaying intellectual disability, and somatic variants associated with leukemia, medulloblastoma and other cancers. In this paper, we depict the molecular structures and biological functions of the BRPF1-KAT6A/KAT6B complex, summarize the variants of the complex related to neurodevelopmental disorders and cancers and discuss future research directions and therapeutic potentials.

[Clinical application of thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps].

OBJECTIVE: To analyses the clinical application of thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps (TAP). METHODS: We used free or pedicled TAP flaps in 7 patients from Aug 2006 to April 2007, The age ranged from 7 to 42 years old, the perforator arteries was detected and labeled with a hand held Doppler flowmeter, the size of flaps ranged from 6 cm x 9 cm - 12 cm x 16 cm, the flaps designed with perforator artery included, all the flaps are based on the first perforator artery. RESULTS: All the flaps survived well, no complication occurred with lowest donor site morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: The thoracodorsal artery flap with latissimus dorsal muscle saved is a thin and reliable flaps with robust of blood supply, the flap can reduce significantly donor site morbidity and is a good choice for reconstructive surgery.

Reversed anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap for knee and proximal calf defects.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of defects involving the knee and proximal one third of the lower leg presents a challenging problem in plastic surgery. AIM: To evaluate the reversed anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap for covering such defects. METHODS: Between September 2006 and May 2007, one man and four women with defects around the knee and upper calf underwent reconstruction with reversed anterolateral thigh adipofascial flaps. The patients' average age was 45 years (25-72 years). The size of the transferred flap ranged from 6 cm x 8 cm to 12 cm x 13 cm. RESULTS: Four flaps with overlying skin grafts healed uneventfully; one skin graft showed minor necrosis due to haematoma, but the adipofascial flap survived well. Postoperatively the appearance of the reconstructive flap was acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The reversed anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap is an effective option for covering defects of the knee and proximal calf.

[The reverse first dorsal metatarsal artery flap for the defects of the distal foot].

OBJECTIVE: To explore a new method to reconstruct the defect of the distal foot. METHODS: A distally based dorsum pedis island flap pedicled with the first dorsal metatarsal artery was designed and transferred to the defect of the distal foot. RESULTS: Five patients were treated with this flap, which ranged from 2 cm x 4 cm to 6 cm x 7 cm in size. Four flaps survived completely, one flap had marginal necrosis and healed after conservative therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The reverse first dorsal metatarsal artery flap, with good blood circulation and easy manipulation, is a good option for the defects of the distal foot.

[Microvessel counts and the expressions of chemotactic factors in the pathological scar tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the microvessel counts and the expressions of interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 ( MIP-1) alpha mRNA in the pathological scar tissues. METHODS: Immunohistochemical method of avidin-biotin complex was used for microvessel counts on the routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of specimens of hypertrophic scars, keloids, normal skin, and surgical scar, and in situ hybridization for the expressions of IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha mRNA. RESULTS: The microvessel counts as well as the positive rates and the scorings of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1alpha mRNA were significantly higher in pathological scars than those in the normal skin and surgical scar (all P < 0.05). The microvessel counts were significantly higher in the positive cases of IL-8, MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha mRNA than those in the negative ones (P < 0.05). The close positive correlations were found among the microvessel counts and the expressive scorings of 3 factors (P < 0.05). The close positive correlations were also found among the expressive scorings of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1alpha mRNA in pathological scars. Microvessel counts were significantly higher in hypertrophic scars with the course less than 1 year than those with the course more than 1 year. CONCLUSION: IL-8, MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha play important roles in promoting the neovascularization of pathological scars.