LncRNA NEAT1 mediates progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via VEGF-A and Notch signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: lncRNAs and VEGF have been shown to have close connections with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We explored the interaction between lncRNA NEAT1 and VEGF-A in OSCC. METHODS: RT-qPCR was implemented to measure levels of lncRNA NEAT1 and VEGF-A in OSCC cell lines and normal cell lines. Cell functions then were checked after regulating the expressions of lncRNA NEAT1 and VEGF-A separately. Cell viabilities were examined with CCK-8 and apoptosis rate was checked with flow cytometry. Meanwhile, EMT-related genes E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail and Notch signaling genes Notch1, Notch2, and Jagged were evaluated by RT-qPCR. IMR-1 was applied for impeding Notch signaling pathway. Later, cell viabilities, apoptosis, and EMT were assessed. RESULTS: Expressions of lncRNA NEAT1 and VEGF-A were both increased significantly in OSCC cell lines especially in TSCC1 cell line. Suppression of lncNRA NEAT1 was associated with lower cell viabilities and EMT and higher apoptosis rate in the TSCC1 cell line. Meanwhile, knockdown of VEGF-A significantly repressed cell viabilities and EMT in the TSCC1 cell line. Magnifying functions of inhibited lncRNA NEAT1 Notch signaling pathway was obviously activated with overexpressions of lncRNA NEAT1 and VEGF-A. Adding IMR-1 significantly downregulated cell viabilities and EMT and sharply increased apoptosis in the context of lncRNA NEAT1 and VEGF-A overexpression. CONCLUSION: LncRNA NEAT1 may upregulate proliferation and EMT and repress apoptosis through activating VEGF-A and Notch signaling pathway in vitro, suggesting an underlying regulatory factor in OSCC. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to gain a greater understanding of lncRNA NEAT1 and connections with VEGF-A in vivo and in clinical study.

Correction to: LncRNA NEAT1 mediates progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via VEGF-A and Notch signaling pathway.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Secoemestrin C Ameliorates Psoriasis-like Skin Inflammation in Mice by Suppressing the TNF-α/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Secoemestrin C (SC), an epitetrathiodioxopiperazine isolated from Aspergillus nidulans, has been previously reported to have immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective effects against acute autoimmune hepatitis. However, the effect of SC on regulating the inflammation and its underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of psoriasis remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of SC on inflammatory dermatosis both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: In vitro, HaCaT cells were induced with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α, 10 ng/mL) to establish an inflammatory injury model, and the expression of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway components was measured using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. An in vivo mouse model of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation was used to evaluate the effectiveness of SC in alleviating psoriasis. RESULTS: SC significantly blocked the activation of NF-κB signaling in TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT cells. In addition, systemic and local administration of SC improved psoriatic dermatitis in the IMQ-induced mouse model. SC reduced skin scale and significantly inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors in skin lesions. CONCLUSION: The protective effect of SC against psoriatic-associated inflammation reveals its potential therapeutic value for treating psoriasis.

Liver histological changes in untreated chronic hepatitis B patients in indeterminate phase.

BACKGROUND: Studies with large size samples on the liver histological changes of indeterminate phase chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were not previously conducted. AIM: To assess the liver histological changes in the indeterminate phase CHB patients using liver biopsy. METHODS: The clinical and laboratory data of 1532 untreated CHB patients were collected, and all patients had least once liver biopsy from January 2015 to December 2021. The significant differences among different phases of CHB infection were compared with t-test, and the risk factors of significant liver histological changes were analyzed by the multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 1532 untreated CHB patients, 814 (53.13%) patients were in the indeterminate phase. Significant liver histological changes (defined as biopsy score ≥ G2 and/or ≥ S2) were found in 488/814 (59.95%) CHB patients in the indeterminate phase. Significant liver histological changes were significant differences among different age, platelets (PLTs), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) subgroup in indeterminate patient. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age ≥ 40 years old [adjust odd risk (aOR), 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.97; P = 0.02], PLTs ≤ 150 × 109/L (aOR, 2.99; 95%CI: 1.85-4.83; P < 0.0001), and ALT ≥ upper limits of normal (aOR, 1.48; 95%CI: 1.08, 2.05, P = 0.0163) were independent risk factors for significant liver histological changes in CHB patients in the indeterminate phase. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that significant liver histological changes were not rare among the untreated CHB patients in indeterminate phase, and additional strategies are urgently required for the management of these patients.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 risks in female sex workers in the China-Vietnam border county of Hekou.

OBJECTIVE: To survey the prevalence and risk factors of HSV-2 among Chinese and Vietnamese female sex workers (FSW) in the border county of Hekou, Yunnan Province, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on demographics, sexual behavior, medical history, and drug use among FSWs. Laboratory samples were obtained to test for HSV-2 and other STIs such as HIV, Syphilis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Bacterial vaginosis, and Yeast infections. Cervicitis and genital warts were also diagnosed. RESULTS: Of the 345 FSWs who participated in this study, 112 (32.5%) were ethnic Chinese and 233 (67.5) were Vietnamese. Among FSWs in Hekou, the prevalence rates were 58.3% for HSV-2, 5.5% for HIV, and 4.1% for bacterial vaginosis (BV). Age<21 (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.8), duration of commercial sex work≤3 months (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.8), oral and vaginal sex with the last client (as opposed to only vaginal sex) (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.7), HIV (OR: 11.4; 95% CI: 1.5, 87.2), and bacterial vaginosis (BV) (OR: 5.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 26.9) were significantly correlated with HSV-2 infection. CONCLUSION: Multivariate analysis showed that several factors were significantly correlated with the high prevalence of HSV-2 in FSWs in the border area between China and Vietnam. Further studies and interventions are needed for HSV-2 epidemiology in the border area.

Recent developments of cyclopropene chemistry.

This critical review discusses recent developments in the field of cyclopropene chemistry. Although several excellent reviews that mainly focused on the thermolysis and pyrolysis as well as metal-mediated reactions of cyclopropenes have been published, significant new developments have also been achieved in recent years. This brand new review provides an overview of the progress from 2007 to 2011 on the syntheses and transformations of cyclopropenes as well as their related mechanistic studies (238 references).

Design and synthesis of biphenyl derivatives as mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors.

Two new series of biphenyls, analogs of aglycone of natural product fortuneanoside E, were prepared using Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and selective magnesium iodide demethylation/debenzylation, and their mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity was evaluated. Most of the 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl biphenyl compounds (series II, 20-36) were in general more active than 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl biphenyl compounds (series I, 1-19). Structure-activity relationships study showed that monosaccharide substituents, such as glucose, were not necessary and the presence of 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl moiety was crucial for inhibitory activity. Among the compounds synthesised, compound 21 (IC50=0.02 mM) was found to be the most active one, which exhibited an activity that was 7 times higher than that of fortuneanoside E (IC50=0.14 mM) and 10 times higher than that of arbutin (IC50=0.21 mM), known as potent tyrosinase inhibitors. The inhibition kinetics analyzed by Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed that compound 21 was a competitive inhibitor (Ki=0.015 mM).

Lewis acid or Brønsted acid catalyzed reactions of vinylidene cyclopropanes with activated carbon-nitrogen, nitrogen-nitrogen, and iodine-nitrogen double-bond-containing compounds.

Lewis acid or Brønsted acid catalyzed reactions of vinylidene cyclopropanes (VDCPs), 1, with activated carbon-nitrogen, nitrogen-nitrogen, and iodine-nitrogen double-bond-containing compounds have been thoroughly investigated. We found that pyrrolidine and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives can be formed in good yields in the reactions of VDCPs 1 with ethyl (arylimino)acetates 2 by a [3+2] cycloaddition or intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction pathway. Based on these results, we found that activated carbon-nitrogen and nitrogen-nitrogen double-bond-containing compounds, such as N-toluene-4-sulfonyl (N-Ts) imines 5 and diisopropylazodicarboxylate (7), can also react with VDCPs 1 to give [3+2] cycloaddition products in moderate to good yields in the presence of a Lewis acid. When N-tert-butoxycarbonyl aldimine 9 was used as the substrate, six-membered cycloaddition products 10 and 11 were formed in moderate yields in the presence of a Brønsted acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH). The reactions of VDCPs 1 with N-Ts-iminophenyliodinane (12) were also carried out in the presence of (CuOTf)(2)C(6)H(6) and it was found that nitrogen-containing indene derivatives 13 were obtained, rather than the aziridination products. Plausible mechanisms for all of these transformations are discussed, based on the obtained results.

Acid-catalyzed cascade ring-opening and addition reactions of arylvinylcyclopropenes with alpha,beta-unsaturated substrates, scope and limitations.

Catalyzed by Al(III) catalyst, arylvinylcyclopropenes react with alpha,beta-unsaturated substrates smoothly to produce the Diels-Alder adducts in moderate to good yields through a cascade ring-opening reaction/Diels-Alder cycloaddition. On the other hand, strong Brønsted acid TfOH can promote the cascade intramolecular Friedel-Crafts/1,4-addition reaction to produce indene derivatives in moderate to good yields under mild conditions. The acidity of the catalysts plays a key role in these reactions.

Palladium(II)-catalyzed ring enlargement of 2-(arylmethylene)cyclopropylcarbinols: strong effect of substituent electronic nature on the reaction pathway.

In the presence of Pd(II) catalyst and copper(II) bromide, 2-(arylmethylene)cyclopropylcarbinols undergo ring enlargement to deliver (arylcyclobutenyl)carbinols or hydrogenated furans in good yields under mild conditions; mechanisms accounting for the distinct products have been proposed on the basis of control and deuterium labeling experiments.

Propargyl vinyl ethers as heteroatom-tethered enyne surrogates: diversity-oriented strategies for heterocycle synthesis.

This article presents recent progress in the conversion of propargyl vinyl ethers into heterocyclic scaffolds and how this goal can be reached in a diversity-oriented approach. The article also includes examples of transformations of propargyl vinyl ethers where the propargyl vinyl ether moieties are formed in situ. Furthermore, related reactions transforming propargyl vinyl amines to heterocycles are discussed.

Ruthenium-catalyzed tandem ring-opening/ring-closing/cross-metathesis of 1,6-cyclopropene-ynes and olefins for the construction of the 3-pyrroline skeleton.

Catalyzed by the first-generation Grubbs' ruthenium complex, tandem intramolecular/intermolecular metathesis of 1,6-enynes bearing a cyclopropene ring took place smoothly to produce 3-pyrroline derivatives in satisfactory yields via ring-opening/ring-closing/cross-metathesis processes.

Palladium(II) acetate catalyzed tandem cycloisomerization and oxidation of arylvinylcyclopropenes using p-benzoquinone as oxidant and pro-nucleophile.

Catalyzed by Pd(II)/p-BQ, a tandem cycloisomerization and oxidation of arylvinylcyclopropenes took place smoothly to produce methyleneindene derivatives stereoselectively in moderate to excellent yields, affording an unusual example of solo addition by p-hydroquinone generated by oxidation of Pd(0) to Pd(II) along with the formation of a new C-O bond.