Global trends in deaths and disability-adjusted life years of diabetes attributable to second-hand smoke and the association with smoke-free policies.

OBJECTIVES: The diabetic burden attributable to second-hand smoke (SHS) is a global public health challenge. We sought to explore the diabetic burden attributable to SHS by age, sex, and socioeconomic status during 1990-2019 and to evaluate the health benefit of smoke-free policies on this burden. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The diabetic burden attributable to SHS was extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 dataset. Country-level smoke-free policies were obtained from the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory. The deaths or disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were quantified, and the average annual percentage changes were calculated. Hierarchical linear mixed models were applied to evaluate the health effects. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2019, the absolute number of global deaths and DALYs of diabetes attributable to SHS has doubled, and the age-standardised rate has significantly increased. The disease burden was higher in females than in males and increased with increasing age. The SHS-related diabetic burden varied across regions and countries. Age-standardised death or DALY rates first increased and then decreased with increased Socio-demographic Index (SDI), peaking in the 0.60-0.70 range. In low to low-middle, and middle to high-middle SDI countries, SHS-related diabetic deaths and DALYs were significantly lower in countries with more than 3 smoke-free public places than in countries with 0-2 smoke-free public places. CONCLUSIONS: More attention should be paid to females and the elderly, who bear a heavy SHS-related diabetic burden. Banning smoking in public places was associated with reduced burden of SHS-attributable diabetes, especially in low to middle social development countries.

Individual and area-level socioeconomic status, Life's Simple 7, and comorbid cardiovascular disease and cancer: a prospective analysis of the UK Biobank cohort.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the associations of individual and area-level socioeconomic status (SES) with incident cardiovascular diseases (CVD) alone, cancer alone, and comorbid CVD and cancer, and the mediation role of cardiovascular health score in these associations. STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based prospective cohort study. METHODS: We used data from the UK Biobank, a population-based prospective cohort study. Latent class analysis was used to create an individual-level SES index based on three indicators (household income, education level, and employment status), and the Townsend Index was defined as the area-level socioeconomic status. We used the American Heart Association's (AHA) Life's Simple 7 (smoking, body weight, physical activity, diet, blood pressure, blood glucose, and total cholesterol) to calculate the cardiovascular health score. We used Cox proportional hazard regression models to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) adjusted for demographic, environmental, and genetic factors. RESULTS: Compared with high SES, the HRs in participants with low individual and area-level SES were 1.33 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29 to 1.38) and 1.24 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.29) for incident CVD, 0.96 (95% CI 0.93 to 0.99) and 0.95 (95%CI 0.92 to 0.98) for incident cancer, 1.32 (95%CI 1.24 to 1.40) and 1.15 (95%CI 1.08 to 1.22) for incident comorbid CVD and cancer, respectively. Additionally, the mediation proportion of CVD score for individual and area-level SES was 47.93% and 48.87% for incident CVD, 44.83% and 59.93% for incident comorbid CVD and cancer. The interactions between individual-level SES and CVD scores were significant on incident CVD, and comorbid CVD and cancer, and the protective associations were stronger in participants with high individual-level SES. CONCLUSIONS: Life's Simple 7 significantly mediated the associations between SES and comorbid CVD and cancer, while almost half of the associations remained unclear.

[Joint association of sedentary behavior and physical activity on anxiety tendency among occupational population in China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status and influencing factors of anxiety tendency among occupational population in China and to examine the joint association between sedentary behavior and physical activity with anxiety tendency. METHODS: The data were from the 2021 Asia Best Workplace (Chinese mainland) program. The Generalized Anxiety Tendency scale was used to assess employees' anxiety status, and Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing anxiety tendency and calculate the odds ratio (OR) within different groups. The OR of sitting for each sitting-physical activity (PA) combination group and within PA strata were calculated to explore the joint association. RESULTS: A total of 11 903 workers with an average age of 32.9 years were included in this study. Among them, 3 562 workers had anxiety tendency (29.9%) and the prevalence of those under 40 years old (30.6%) was significantly higher than the other age group (26.7%). 41.0% of the respondents had the moderated to vigorous physical activity. Their average daily sitting time was 9.4 h, and the percentage of those who exceeded 8 h sitting reached 73.9% in the past week. The analysis of Logistic regression showed that smoking (OR=1.24, 95%CI: 1.23-1.39), longer sedentary time and lower physical activity level were risk factors for anxiety tendency, and longer average daily sleep time (OR=0.56, 95%CI: 0.51-0.61) was a protective factor. The joint association analysis and stratified analysis of physical activity and sedentary behavior with anxiety tendency showed that increased sedentary time combined with decreased physical activity intensity was significantly associated with increased risk of anxiety tendency (range of OR: 1.64-3.14). The threshold for sedentary time in total as a risk factor for anxiety tendency gradually decreased as physical activity intensity increased. CONCLUSION: The anxiety tendency and sedentary behavior among the occupational population should recieve more attention. Lack of physical activity and sedentary behavior are both risk factors for anxiety tendency, and strengthening the intensity of physical activity can attenuate the harmful effects of sedentary behavior on anxiety tendency.

[Research on equity and influencing factors of disability among Chinese middle-aged and old people].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate disability status and equity of the middle-aged and old population in China, and to explore the influencing factors contributing to the inequity of disability. METHODS: This study was based on data collected from the first wave survey (2007-2010) of World Health Organization Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE). Concentration index (CI) and concentration curve were calculated to measure the economic-related inequity of disability among the Chinese middle-aged and old people. The CI was further decomposed in which the attributions of social and individual determinants were calculated. RESULTS: The mean score of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Sche-dule (WHODAS) was 7.32 among the Chinese middle-aged and old people, 6.37 for males and 8.21 for females. The CI for the whole participants was -0.190 9, compared with -0.184 4 for the middle-aged and old men and -0.196 1 for the women. After decomposition of the CI, socioeconomic status contributed most to disability inequity among the Chinese middle-aged and old population. Financial status, educational level and work type contributed 66.41%, 16.45% and 13.10% respectively to inequity of disability. Individual lifestyle factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption and physical activities, contributed less to inequity of disability compared with social structural determinants. CONCLUSION: There was inequity of disability among Chinese middle-aged and old population, and those with better financial status were less likely to suffer from functional disability. Middle-aged and old males were less disabled than females, and had less inequity of disability. Financial status, educational level and work type took the highest contribution to inequity of disability among Chinese middle-aged and old population, suggesting that promoting healthy lifestyles alone cannot effectively reduce the inequity of disability. The government needs to continually strengthen and improve appropriate social and medical protection measures on the basis of the importance it attaches to the health of the middle-aged and old population, and makes reducing health inequities a policy priority. The government should pay attention to the provision of healthcare and other resources in areas where development is relatively lagging and where there is a relative concentration of middle-aged and old population. Meanwhile, there should be more significant support for research on health status and equity among the middle-aged and old population to obtain more evidence for proactive responses to rapid population aging in China and policy development.

[Reliability and validity of Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6) in Chinese occupational population].

Objective: To investigate the reliability and validity of Stanford attendance scale (sps-6) in the study of attendance among professional groups. Methods: In August, 2018, the 1455 employees from 81 workplaces in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Guangdong were randomly investigated as the subjects. The reliability and validity of sps-6 were analyzed by using the internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's coefficient) , half split half coefficient, content validity, integration validity, discrimination validity, cluster analysis and structural validity analysis. Results: Cronbach's coefficients of sps-6 scale, working process and work results were 0.692, 0.918 and 0.907, respectively; Guttman of scales and dimensions The split half coefficients were 0.792, 0.803 and 0.794, respectively; Pearson correlation coefficients of the total score of each item and scale were 0.526-0.673 (P<0.01) ; the qualification rate of set validity and differentiation validity were 100%; the results of cluster analysis supported the theoretical basis for the formation of the scale. The general non-standard fitting index (TLI) =0.982, approximate error mean square root mean square (RMSEA) =0.071, comparative fit index (CFI) =0.990, fit goodness index (GFI) =0.987, modified fit goodness index (AGFI) =0.965, Norm fit index (NFI) =0.990. The results showed that the scale had higher structural validity, and the results of sps-6 in the occupational population were (21.36±4.04) , and the distribution was normal (deviation was 0.053, peak was 0.023) . The scores of sps-6 scale were statistically different in various charactoristics of gender, age, education level, marital status, annual income, position, position level and industry (P< 0.01) . Conclusion: Stanford attendance scale has high reliability and validity, and can be applied to the study of attendance in professional groups.

Association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of pri-miR-34b/c and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. MicroRNA-34 (miR-34) gene plays a key role in altering the apoptotic cycle and pathways of downstream cells, and therefore influences carcinogenesis. In this case-control study, we assessed the role of the pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism in HCC risk. The pri-miR-34b/c polymorphic genotype was determined in 286 patients with HCC and 572 controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The male gender (X2 = 12.95, P < 0.001), regular alcohol consumption (X2 = 16.81, P < 0.001), and a family history of cancer (X2 = 11.88, P = 0.001) were associated with HCC risk. However, the age (t = 1.19, P = 0.12) and tobacco smoking habit (X2 = 0.64, P = 0.42) of HCC patients were comparable to those of the controls. The TC (adjusted OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.06-2.01) and CC (adjusted OR = 3.07, 95%CI = 1.77-5.34) genotypes of pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 were correlated with a higher risk of HCC compared to the TT genotype. Moreover, the TC+CC genotype was correlated with an increased risk of HCC compared to the TT genotype (adjusted OR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.21-2.22). In the recessive model, the CC genotype of pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 was significantly correlated with an elevated risk of HCC compared to the TT+TC genotype (adjusted OR = 2.50, 95%CI = 1.49-4.22). Further large-scale and multi-center studies are required to confirm these results.

Association of TUSC3 gene polymorphisms with non-syndromic mental retardation based on nuclear families in the Qinba mountain area of China.

TUSC3 interacts with the protein phosphatase 1 and magnesium ion transport system, which plays an important role in learning and memory. Abnormal conditions of learning and memory are common clinical characteristics of mental retardation (MR). However, the association of TUSC3 genetic polymorphisms with MR remains unknown. A total of 456 DNA samples including 174 nuclear families containing MR were collected in the Qinba mountain area of China. The genotypes of eight tag single nucleotide polymorphisms of TUSC3 were evaluated with traditional genetic methods. Family-based association tests, transmission disequilibrium tests (TDTs), and haplotype relative risk (HRR) analyses were performed to investigate the association between genetic variants of the TUSC3 gene and MR. The genetic polymorphisms rs10093881, rs6530893, and rs6994908 were associated with MR (all P values <0.05) based upon the results of single-site TDT and HRR analyses. The haplotype block consisting of rs6530893 and rs6994908, harboring the sixth exon of TUSC3, was also associated with MR (all P values <0.05). This study demonstrated an association between genetic polymorphisms of the TUSC3 gene and MR in the Qinba mountain area, the sixth exon of which might contribute to the risk of MR. However, further studies are needed on the causal mechanisms in this association.

Global Burden of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias Attributed to High Fasting Plasma Glucose from 1990 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias have grown rapidly over the decades, and high fasting plasma glucose (HFPG) was one of the well-established risk factors. It is urgently needed to estimate the global burden of AD and other dementias attributable to high fasting plasma glucose between regions, countries, age groups, and sexes to inform development of effective primary disease prevention strategies and intervention policies. METHODS: The burden of AD and other dementias attributable to HFPG was estimated based on a modeling strategy using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 dataset. The disease burden and time trend globally and by region, country, development level, age group, and sex were evaluated. RESULTS: The number of AD and other dementias-related deaths attributable to HFPG increased from 42,998.23 (95% uncertainty interval, UI: 4459.86-163,455.78, the year of 1990) to 159,244.53 deaths (95% UI 18,385.23-583,514.15, the year of 2019). The age-standardized death rate increased from 1.69 (95% UI 0.18-6.54) in 1990 to 2.24 (95% UI 0.26-8.24) in 2019. The burden was higher in more developed regions. The burden in women was double that in men, that HFPG-attributable AD and other dementias caused 99,812.79 deaths (95% UI 9005.67-387,160.60) in women and 59,431.74 deaths (95% UI 5439.02-214,819.23) in men, with age-standardized death rate of 2.27 (95% UI 0.20-8.79) per 100,000 population in women and 2.20 (95% UI 0.20-8.00) in men. CONCLUSION: Findings from the current study emphasizes the urgent requirement for targeted interventions in high-development regions, as well as the importance of proactive measures in middle-development countries in protection of AD and other dementias. The gender disparity necessitates the integration of gender-specific considerations in targeted approaches in prevention of AD and other dementias.

[Analysis of healthy life expectancy and related socioeconomic influencing factors among the middle-aged and elderly in China, the United States, and the European Union].

Objective: To calculate and compare the healthy life expectancy (HLE) of the middle-aged and elderly in China, the United States, and developing and developed countries in the European Union(EU) and analyze the impact of socioeconomic factors on HLE in different countries or regions. Methods: Four surveys from 2010 to 2019 were brought into the research. The data were collected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, Health and Retirement Study, and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Developed and developing countries in the EU were divided into two groups for calculation. Education level, total family wealth, and work retirement status were selected to measure socioeconomic status, and activities of daily living were used as health status indicators. We used the multi-state life cycle table method to calculate the transition probability between different health states and estimate life expectancy and HLE. Results: A total of 69 544 samples were included in the study. In terms of age, the middle-aged and elderly in the United States and developed countries of the EU have higher HLE in all age groups. In terms of gender, only Chinese women have lower HLE than men. Regarding socioeconomic factors, the middle-aged and elderly with higher education levels and total family wealth level have higher HLE. In China, working seniors have higher HLE, while for USA women and developed countries of the EU, retired or unemployed seniors have higher HLE. Conclusions: Demographic and socioeconomic factors impact HLE in different countries or regions. China should pay more attention to the health of women and the middle-aged and elderly retired with lower education and less total family wealth.

Calponin expression in laryngeal myoepithelial carcinoma and its prognostic implications: a case report and literature review.

A case report of laryngeal myoepithelial carcinoma (MEC) is presented and the literature concerning prognostic factors in MEC is reviewed. A 61-year old man was admitted to hospital with hoarseness and progressive dyspnoea. On examination, both vocal cords were fixed in the midline with a glottic fissure of only 3 mm. No tumour was seen, but the subglottis was not completely visible. A computed tomography scan showed a soft mass below the right vocal cord obstructing two-thirds of the larynx. On suspension laryngoscopy, a dull mass (1.5 x 1.5 cm) was seen below the right vocal cord, which was malignant on frozen biopsy. A total laryngectomy was performed and the patient received radiotherapy. He died of recurrence 25 months later. The tumour was positive for cytokeratin 14, S-100 protein and calponin. MEC of the larynx is extremely rare. The clinical behaviour of MEC is variable and prognostic factors have been poorly analysed. Calponin expression may be a prognostic factor, but other factors also affect the outcome in MEC.

Prognosis and expression of lambda light chains in solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the head and neck: two case reports and a literature review.

Two cases of extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) of the head and neck, an uncommon plasma cell neoplasm, were studied. Both patients had good outcomes and have been followed for 17 and 12 years without recurrence or systemic disease. In these two cases, the tumours measured were 4 cm and 0.3 cm, and both cases were positive for lambda light chain restriction on immunohistochemistry. Prognostic factors were considered, based on a review of EMP of the head and neck, including published reports and the authors' clinical experience. Of all plasma cell tumours, EMP has the best prognosis, especially when located in the head and neck region. Variation in the biological behaviour of EMP and the limited number of documented cases make it difficult to determine prognostic factors. Some series have found that age, tumour size, site of origin (extramedullary versus bone), grade, M-protein, light chains and radiotherapy dose all influence the outcome in EMP patients.

LncRNA SNHG17 promotes proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through up-regulating FOXA1.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the specific mechanism through which long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG17 promotes the proliferative capacity and invasiveness of ovarian tumor cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) detected the expressions of SNHG17 and FOXA1 in 30 pairs of ovarian cancer tissue specimens and corresponding adjacent ones. Meanwhile, in ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780, OVCAR3, SKOV3, CAOV3) and normal ovarian epithelial cell line (IOSE80), SNHG17 and FOXA1 mRNA levels were also examined. In in vitro experiment, si-SNHG17, si-FOXA1, and their corresponding negative controls were transfected into ovarian cancer cell lines, respectively. After that, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and plate cloning experiments were carried out to examine cell proliferation ability, while transwell assay was performed for cell invasiveness detection. Lastly, the interplay between SNHG17 and FOXA1 was further assessed via qRT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: qRT-PCR results indicated that SNHG17 expression was remarkably enhanced in ovarian cancer tissue samples compared with that in adjacent ones. In addition, ovarian cancer cells also contained higher expression of SNHG17 than the normal ovarian epithelial cells. However, down-regulating SNHG17 attenuated the cell proliferation and invasive ability. At the same time, compared with that in adjacent tissue samples, FOXA1 also showed a higher expression in ovarian cancer tissues, which was positively correlated with SNHG17. Silencing SNHG17 markedly downregulated FOXA1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, downregulation of FOXA1 expression was found to be able to inhibit cell proliferation and invasion as well. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA SNHG17 can promote ovarian tumor cell proliferative ability and invasiveness by upregulating FOXA1, and serve as a potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

[Clinical effect of bi-layered artificial dermis and autologous skin graft in repairing bone and/or tendon exposed wounds].

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of bi-layered artificial dermis combined with autologous skin graft in the repair of wounds with exposed bone and/or tendon. Methods: The medical records of 25 patients (aged 3 to 79 years, including 21 males and 4 females) with bone and/or tendon exposed wounds caused by various reasons, admitted to Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from May 2014 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Of the 25 patients, 7 patients had exposed bone only, 13 patients had exposed tendon only, and 5 patients had exposure of both bone and tendon. The total wound area was 78.0 (53.4, 103.2) cm(2). The widths of bone exposure and tendon exposure were 3.2 (3.0, 3.6) cm and 2.0 (1.7, 2.4) cm, respectively. All wounds were implanted with bi-layered artificial dermis in the first stage after thorough wound debridement. After 2 to 3 weeks of vascularization of artificial dermis, autologous thin-to-medium-thickness skins or split-thickness skins were grafted to repair the wounds in the second stage. The vascularization of artificial dermis and its time, whether or not producing hematoma, the skin graft survival rate on day 7 post autologous skin grafting, whether or not repeating skin grafting, and the time of complete wound healing were observed and recorded. The patients were further followed up and observed for 3 or more months after discharge. Results: The vascularization of artificial dermis was achieved in 24 patients after the first transplantation with vascularization time being 11-21 (16±4) days. No hematoma was observed in the transplanted artificial dermis. Failed vascularization of grafted artificial dermis was observed in one patient who was later treated with negative pressure drainage and skin grafting alone, and was discharged with wound healing. The skin graft survival rate on day 7 post autologous skin grafting was 92.2%-100.0% ( (99.3±1.3)%), with the remaining wound areas recovered later by themselves or healed by dressing changes without repeated skin grafting. The complete wound healing time was 7-19 (11.9±2.8) days after autologous skin grafting. The patients were followed up for 3 to 60 months after discharge. Except for the pigmentation in skin graft area, the skin grafts survived well, being soft in texture and with no repeated ulceration, obvious hypertrophic scar, or contracture deformity. Conclusions: Artificial dermis combined with autologous skin grafting can effectively repair wounds with bone and/or tendon exposure, providing a repair strategy for this type of wounds.

[Efficacy and safety of eltrombopag in aplastic anemia: A multi-center survey in China].

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of eltrombopag combined with immunosuppressive therapy in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) in China. Methods: We investigated and analyzed the clinical data of AA patients from 14 hematological treatment centers who were treated with oral eltrombopag for at least 3 mon. Results: We enrolled 56 AA patients, including 19 treatment-naïve patients and 37 IST-refractory patients. The median administration period for eltrombopag was 7 (3-31) months, and the median maximum stable dosage was 75 mg/d (50-150 mg/d) . The 3-month hematological response (HR) rate was 60%, and the complete response (CR) rate was 30% in 10 SAA patients who were treated with first-line eltrombopag and standard IST (ATG+CsA) . Eight of 9 eltrombopag and CsA ± androgen first-line treated SAA patients responded (8/9, 89%) and 4 (44%) gave CR. The overall HR and CR rates were 79% and 52.6%, respectively, among these 19 patients by the end of the follow-up period. Of the 19 AA patients who were refractory to CsA ± androgen, 11 achieved HR (57.9%) at 3 mon, and the best HR rate was 44% in standard IST (ATG+CsA) refractory 18 patients after eltrombopag treatment. Fifty-one percent of the patients experienced mild or moderate adverse events, and gastrointestinal discomfort was the most common adverse effect reported by the study subjects. Conclusion: Adding Eltrombopag in first-line IST can accelerate the acquisition and improve the quality of hematological responses in AA patients. AA with relatively more residual hematopoietic cells may be well treated with eltrombopag and non-ATG IST. Eltrombopag can be used as salvage therapy for CsA±androgen refractory patients. Eltrombopag was generally safe and well tolerated by AA patients in China.

[COVID-19 pandemic: global epidemiological trends and China's subsequent preparedness and responses].

The outbreak of COVID-19 has spread quickly across 114 countries/territories/areas in six continents worldwide and has been announced as a pandemic by WHO. This study analyzed global COVID-19 epidemiological trends, examined impact of the pandemic on global health security, diplomacy, and social environment in China, and provided short- and long-term strategic policy recommendations for China's subsequent preparedness and responses.

Lack of association between the paraoxonase 1 Q/R192 single nucleotide polymorphism and stroke in a Chinese cohort.

BACKGROUND: Serum paraoxonase (PON1) is an HDL-associated esterase that hydrolyzes products of lipid peroxidation and prevents the oxidation of LDL. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) was implicated in susceptibility to stroke in previous studies. We investigated the correlation between the paraoxonase Gln-Arg 192 polymorphism (PON1Q/R192) and stroke including cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction. METHOD: The association between the paraoxonase Gln-Arg 192 polymorphism (PON1Q/R192) and stroke was investigated in 1019 subjects, which involved 305 cases with cerebral hemorrhage, 375 cases with cerebral infarction and 339 healthy controls. RESULTS: The PON1Q/R192 genotype distribution in the cerebral hemorrhage group was QQ13.1%, QR48.2% and RR38.7% and in the cerebral infarction group was QQ13.6%, QR44.0% and RR42.4% respectively. There was no significant difference in PON1Q/R192 allele and genotype distribution between the patient group and the control group (P > 0.05). The PON1 polymorphism was not associated with cerebral hemorrhage or infarction. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that serum paraoxonase (PON1) is not associated with cerebral hemorrhage or infarction, although it is a lipolactonase which is associated with HDL-apolipoprotein A-I (HDL-apoA-I) and plays a role in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

EGF-IL-18 fusion protein as a potential anti-tumor reagent by induction of immune response and apoptosis in cancer cells.

We report here the generation and characterization of EGF-IL-18 fusion protein as an anti-tumor reagent. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) fusion protein was shown to induce interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) expression and secretion in KG-1 cells, and to promote PBMNC proliferation. It also stimulated activation of CD4+ T cells, and increased other immune responses. Moreover, EGF-IL-18 could induce significant tumor regression in SMMC-7721-xenografted Balb/c nude mice when administered together with peritumoral injection of X-ray-irradiated NK-92 cells, and this regression is associated with arresting of the tumor cells in G1 phase and induction of apoptosis.

Unfolding core asymmetries with x-ray emission images in symmetry diagnostic experiments.

A novel inversion technique is proposed to unfold core asymmetries at the source with x-ray emission images, which were obtained from imploded surrogate capsules in symmetry diagnostic experiments. The axisymmetrical core emission can be expanded as a Fourier series, with Legendre polynomials and spherical Bessel functions as bases concerned with polar angle and radius, respectively. A least-squares estimator is employed to obtain the unknown coefficients from its two-dimensional image data. The unfolded Legendre coefficients can be further used to test modeling of drive asymmetries in hohlraums. This technique is also demonstrated with a proof-of-principle experiment performed on the Shenguang II laser facility [L. Zunqi et al., Chin. J. Lasers B10, 6 (2001)].

Upregulation of long noncoding RNA MRCCAT1 predicts poor prognosis and functions as an oncogene in glioma.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the expressions, clinical significances, roles, and mechanism of action of MRCCAT1 in glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression of MRCCAT1 in 103 glioma tissues with different grades and 21 normal brain tissues was measured by qPCR. The prognostic value of MRCCAT1 was investigated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The biological roles of MRCCAT1 on glioma cell proliferation were assessed by Glo cell viability assays and ethynyl deoxyuridine incorporation assays. The roles of MRCCAT1 on glioma cell migration were evaluated by transwell assays. The effects of MRCCAT1 on p38-MAPK signaling were assessed by Western blot. RESULTS: MRCCAT1 is upregulated in glioma tissues and positively associated with glioma grades. Increased expression of MRCCAT1 confers poor prognosis of glioma patients independent of glioma grades. Ectopic expression of MRCCAT1 promotes glioma cell proliferation and migration. Knockdown of MRCCAT1 inhibits glioma cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, we found that MRCCAT1 activates p38-MAPK signaling in glioma. CONCLUSIONS: MRCCAT1 is upregulated in glioma. Increased expression of MRCCAT1 predicts poor outcome of glioma patients. MRCCAT1 promotes glioma cell proliferation and migration via activating p38-MAPK signaling. MRCCAT1 may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for glioma.