Circ_0027446 promotes malignant development of glioblastoma by interacting with miR-346 to up-regulate PGK1.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can play essential roles in tumor development, including glioblastoma (GBM). The current study was performed to explore the function and mechanism of circ_0027446 in GBM progression. Circ_0027446, microRNA-346 (miR-346) and Phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) levels were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Cell behaviors were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, EdU assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay. Glycolytic metabolism was analyzed by commercial kits. The protein level was determined via western blot. The target interaction was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Circ_0027446 function in vivo was explored by tumor xenograft assay. Circ_0027446 expression was significantly up-regulated in GBM samples and cells. Circ_0027446 down-regulation suppressed proliferation, invasion, glycolytic metabolism and enhanced apoptosis of GBM cells. MiR-346 was a target of circ_0027446, and circ_0027446 promoted GBM progression by sponging miR-346. PGK1 acted as a target gene of miR-346, and circ_0027446 interacted with miR-346 to regulate PGK1 expression. Overexpression of miR-346 inhibited malignant behaviors of GBM cells through down-regulating PGK1. Circ_0027446 contributed to tumor growth in vivo via miR-346/PGK1 axis. The current evidences demonstrated that circ_0027446 facilitated malignant progression of GBM through binding to miR-346 to up-regulate PGK1.

Analysis of the Development Level of Green Economy in Different Regions Based on the GA-BP Model.

The low-carbon economy is a green development mode of modern social and economic development. In this paper, an evaluation model of the green economy development level based on GA-BP is constructed, and the related parameters and network structure of the two algorithms are designed and optimized. The test results show that the predicted value of GA-BP has a high degree of fit to the actual value, and the data fitting performance is good. The prediction results are in good agreement with the objective reality, which is helpful to put forward appropriate development modes and development path suggestions for the regional development of the low-carbon economy.

S-scheme BiVO4/CQDs/ß-FeOOH photocatalyst for efficient degradation of ofloxacin: Reactive oxygen species transformation mechanism insight.

Photocatalysis technology exhibited promising application for advanced treatment of wastewater. Nevertheless, the design of efficient photocatalyst and the mechanism of free radicals in pollutant degradation still remained to be further investigated. Herein, BiVO4/CQDs/ß-FeOOH photocatalyst was fabricated by electrostatic self-assembly method, which exhibited the excellent photocatalytic performance. Under visible-light irradiation, the removal rate of ofloxacin by BiVO4/CQDs/ß-FeOOH (0.25 min-1) was 1.93 times than pristine BiVO4, and the removal efficiency in 15 min reached 99.21%. The perfect reusability of BiVO4/CQDs/ß-FeOOH was ascribed to the persistent catalytic active centers provided by the renewable surface oxygen vacancies on the ß-FeOOH. As electron transfer channels, CQDs facilitated the transfer of BiVO4 photogeneration electrons. The matched band structure allowed the construction of S-scheme heterojunctions, and the higher conduction band position was retained while the carrier separation was promoted. More importantly, this work firstly reported the phenomenon that the main reactive groups in the photocatalysis process would be directionally transformed with the change of pH conditions. Based on the analysis of capture and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments, ·O2- was the main free radicals to photodegrade OFL in neutral and alkaline conditions. However, when the solution pH turned into acidic, the photodegradation of OFL was dominated by 1O2. This innovative phenomenon was due to that acidic condition accelerated the reaction kinetics of spontaneous transformation of ·O2- to 1O2 and inhibited the direct oxidation of pollutants by ·O2-. Accordingly, this research could inspire theoretical study of free radical reaction and the design of S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts.

Mindfulness and Psychological Distress in Kindergarten Teachers: The Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence.

Kindergarten teachers are often exposed to great stress. Considering that, mindfulness has been demonstrated to act as a critical role in the psychological well-being of kindergarten teachers. The present study assessed mindfulness in teaching (MT), psychological distress and emotional intelligence (EI) among 511 kindergarten teachers in mainland China and investigated the mediating role of EI to explore the association mechanism between kindergarten teachers' MT and psychological distress. The major results suggested that kindergarten teachers' MT was negatively related to their psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress). Results of path analyses indicated that the total score of EI and dimension of regulation of emotion (ROE) could serve as significant mediators. The findings suggest that mindfulness might be beneficial to relieve kindergarten teachers' psychological distress through the mediating role of EI.

Spermidine Exhibits Protective Effects Against Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes permanent neurological and cognitive impairments. Effective pharmacological interventions remain elusive. Spermidine is a polyamine compound found in our body that may play a role in brain development and congenital function. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of spermidine for TBI. We employed experimental closed head injury (CHI) model to evaluate the protective function of spermidine on brain injury. We assessed the neurobehavioral function recovery using Neurologic Severity Score (NSS) and Morris water maze test. At histological level, we evaluated the improvement on brain edema, brain-blood barrier integrity, and cell apoptosis. We also measured inflammatory cytokines and brain injury biomarkers to monitor the treatment outcomes. Last, we correlated the level of spermidine with CHI animal model and TBI patients with different levels of severity. Spermidine administration post-CHI was found effectively to accelerate NSS improvement and shorten latency in maze test. We observed consistent improvements in brain edema, BBB function, and cell death in spermidine-treated group. Inflammatory cytokines and TBI biomarkers, e.g., S100B, MBP and CFAP were reduced significantly in treatment group. Interestingly, inhibiting spermidine synthesis influenced the neurobehavioral recovery in CHI mice. ODC1, a rate-limiting enzyme for spermidine synthesis, was found lower in CHI mice. Serum level of spermidine was significantly lower in TBI patients with severe pathological scores. Spermidine pathway may carry an endogenous role in pathophysiological process of CHI. For the first time, we demonstrated that administrating spermidine may provide a new treatment for TBI.

Catechin attenuates traumatic brain injury-induced blood-brain barrier damage and improves longer-term neurological outcomes in rats.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? We investigated the potential neuroprotective effects of catechin after traumatic brain injury and explored the underlying mechanisms. What is the main finding and its importance? Catechin treatment had neuroprotective effects in a rat model of traumatic brain injury, and these effects might be mediated by intervention in the self-perpetuating process of blood-brain barrier disruption and excessive inflammatory reaction. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from external force on the head usually leads to long-term deficits in motor and cognitive functions. Catechin has shown neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases and ischaemia models. We therefore investigated the potential neuroprotective effects of catechin after TBI and explored the underlying mechanisms. Male rats were subjected to controlled cortical impact injury and then treated with catechin. Brain damage, motor and cognitive functions, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and neuro-inflammation were examined. Catechin treatment ameliorated brain damage and motor and cognitive deficits after TBI. Catechin was shown to protect BBB integrity, alleviate the TBI-induced loss of the junction proteins occludin and zonula occludens protein-1 and suppress local inflammatory reactions. Catechin treatment had neuroprotective effects in a rat model of TBI, and these effects might be mediated by intervention in the self-perpetuating process of BBB disruption and excessive inflammatory reaction.