Establishment of a prognostic risk prediction model incorporating disulfidptosis-related lncRNA for patients with prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the major tumor diseases that threaten men's health globally, and biochemical recurrence significantly impacts its prognosis. Disulfidptosis, a recently discovered cell death mechanism triggered by intracellular disulfide accumulation leading to membrane rupture, is a new area of research in the context of PCa. Currently, its impact on PCa remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the correlation between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with disulfidptosis and the prognosis of PCa, seeking potential connections between the two. METHODS: Transcriptomic data for a PCa cohort were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DDRLs) were identified through differential expression and Pearson correlation analysis. DDRLs associated with biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) were precisely identified using univariate Cox and LASSO regression, resulting in the development of a risk score model. Clinical factors linked to BRFS were determined through both univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. A prognostic nomogram combined the risk score with key clinical variables. Model performance was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, Decision Curve Analysis (DCA), and calibration curves. The functional impact of a critical DDRL was substantiated through assays involving CCK8, invasion, migration, and cell cloning. Additionally, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for the disulfidptosis-related protein SLC7A11 was conducted. RESULTS: The prognostic signature included AC026401.3, SNHG4, SNHG25, and U73166.1 as key components. The derived risk score from these signatures stood as one of the independent prognostic factor for PCa patients, correlating with poorer BRFS in the high-risk group. By combining the risk score with clinical variables, a practical nomogram was created, accurately predicting BRFS of PCa patients. Notably, silencing AC026401.3 significantly hindered PCa cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and colony formation. IHC staining revealed elevated expression of the dithiosulfatide-related protein SLC7A11 in tumor tissue. CONCLUSIONS: A novel prognostic signature for PCa DDRLs, possessing commendable predictive power, has been constructed, simultaneously providing potential therapeutic targets associated with disulfidptosis, among which AC026401.3 has been validated in vitro and demonstrated inhibition of PCa tumorigenesis after its silencing.

Pre-breeding of spontaneous Robertsonian translocations for density planting architecture by transferring Agropyron cristatum chromosome 1P into wheat.

KEY MESSAGE: We developed T1AL·1PS and T1AS·1PL Robertsonian translocations by breakage-fusion mechanism based on wheat-A. cristatum 1P(1A) substitution line with smaller leaf area, shorter plant height, and other excellent agronomic traits Agropyron cristatum, a wild relative of wheat, is a valuable germplasm resource for improving wheat genetic diversity and yield. Our previous study confirmed that the A. cristatum chromosome 1P carries alien genes that reduce plant height and leaf size in wheat. Here, we developed T1AL·1PS and T1AS·1PL Robertsonian translocations (RobTs) by breakage-fusion mechanism based on wheat-A. cristatum 1P (1A) substitution line II-3-1c. Combining molecular markers and cytological analysis, we identified 16 spontaneous RobTs from 911 F2 individuals derived from the cross of Jimai22 and II-3-1c. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to detect the fusion structures of the centromeres in wheat and A. cristatum chromosomes. Resequencing results indicated that the chromosomal junction point was located at the physical position of Triticum aestivum chromosome 1A (212.5 Mb) and A. cristatum chromosome 1P (230 Mb). Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) in pollen mother cells showed that the produced translocation lines could form stable ring bivalent. Introducing chromosome 1PS translocation fragment into wheat significantly increased the number of fertile tillers, grain number per spike, and grain weight and reduced the flag leaf area. However, introducing chromosome 1PL translocation fragment into wheat significantly reduced flag leaf area and plant height with a negative effect on yield components. The pre-breeding of two spontaneous RobTs T1AL·1PS and T1AS·1PL was important for wheat architecture improvement.

A bimodal time-gated luminescence-magnetic resonance imaging nanoprobe based on a europium(III) complex anchored on BSA-coated MnO2 nanosheets for highly selective detection of H2O2.

A novel nanocomposite, [Eu(BTD)3(DPBT)]-BSA@MnO2, is reported to serve as an effective nanoprobe for bimodal time-gated luminescence (TGL) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of H2O2in vitro and in vivo. The nanoprobe was fabricated by immobilizing visible-light-excitable Eu3+ complexes in bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated lamellar MnO2 nanosheets. The TGL of the Eu3+ complex was effectively quenched by the MnO2 nanosheets. Upon exposure to H2O2, the MnO2 nanosheets underwent reduction to Mn2+, which simultaneously triggered rapid, selective and sensitive "turn-on" responses toward H2O2 in both TGL and MR detection modes. The presence of a protective "corona" formed by BSA enables the nanoprobe to withstand high concentrations of glutathione (GSH), a strong reducing agent of MnO2 nanosheets. This capability allows the nanoprobe to be utilized for detecting H2O2 in living biosamples. The combined utilization of TGL and MR detection modes enables the nanoprobe to image H2O2 across a wide range of resolutions, from the subcellular level to the whole body, without any depth limitations. The results obtained from these modes can be cross-validated, enhancing the accuracy of the detection. The capability of the nanoprobe was validated by TGL imaging of endogenous and exogenous H2O2 in live HeLa cells, as well as bimodal TGL-MR imaging of H2O2 in tumor-bearing mice. The research achievements suggest that the integration of luminescent lanthanide complexes with protein-coated MnO2 nanosheets offers a promising bimodal TGL-MR sensing platform for H2O2in vitro and in vivo.

Enhanced properties of the mid-infrared superluminescent emitter with a composite waveguide.

This study reports on a composite structure composing tilted taper, and tilted and curved waveguides with the aim of enhancing the spectral width and output power of mid-infrared quantum cascade superluminescent emitters (QC-SLEs). The computational results indicate that a tilt angle of 10° and a curved angle of 20° can avoid the selectivity of a certain wavelength due to interference effects at tilt angles of 6° and 8°, resulting in the minimum reflectivity of 1.3×10-4 and 4.4×10-4 for each wide and narrow cavity surface. Simultaneously, the modes propagating perpendicular to the cavity surface exist the least. The corresponding experimental results show a significant enhancement in the spectral width to 168.5c m -1 and a high power output of 5.1 mW for the device. This study presents what we believe to be a novel concept for the designing of superluminescent emitters with both a broadband and high power output.

Mechanism of prognostic marker SPOCK3 affecting malignant progression of prostate cancer and construction of prognostic model.

BACKGROUND: SPOCK3 is a secreted extracellular matrix proteoglycan. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SPOCK3 on the malignant progression of prostate cancer and to construct a prognostic model to predict DFS of patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: Clinical and transcriptome sequencing data for prostate cancer were download from the TCGA and GEO databases. The survival curve showed that SPOCK3 has prognostic significance. GO, KEGG, and GSEA enrichment analysis were used to investigate how SPOCK3 affects the malignant progression of prostate cancer. Based on ESTIMATE and ssGSEA, the relationship between SPOCK3 and immune cell infiltration in prostate cancer tissue was clarified. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis was used to identify the independent prognostic factors of prostate cancer OS and to construct a nomogram. The calibration curve and ROC curves were drawn to assess the nomogram's predictive power. RESULTS: The survival curve revealed that patients in the low-expression group of SPOCK3 had a poor prognosis. According to enrichment analysis, SOPCK3-related genes were enriched in collagen-containing extracellular matrix, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK signaling pathway. ESTIMATE analysis revealed that SPOCK3 expression was positively correlated with the interstitial score, immune score, and ESTIMATE score. The results of ssGSEA analysis revealed that the infiltration levels of Mast cells, NK cells, and B cells were higher in the SPOCK3 high expression group. Cox regression analysis showed that SPOCK3 expression level, T and Gleason score were independent risk factors of patient prognosis, and a nomogram was constructed. The ROC curve showed the AUCs of DFS at 2, 3, and 5 years. CONCLUSION: SPOCK3 is a protective factor for DFS in prostate cancer patients. SPOCK3 is significantly associated with immune cell infiltration. The prognostic model constructed based on SPOCK3 has excellent predictive performance.

Output characteristics of distributed feedback 3.0 terahertz quantum cascade lasers.

Distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers lased at 3.0 THz were prepared and their output performance was analyzed. The optimized grating parameters were obtained by theoretical analyses. Single-mode emission was obtained and a maximum output power of more than 166 mW at 15 K was achieved. The corresponding threshold current density was 257A/c m 2, and the side-mode suppression ratio was more than 15 dB. By changing the input voltage, the frequency was stable with a variation of less than 3 GHz. A beam with obviously fast and slow axis features was observed. Further improvement and the potential application of distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers are discussed.

Genetic landscape and autoimmunity of monocytes in developing Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is a systemic autoimmune disorder affecting multiple organs, including eyes, skin, and central nervous system. It is known that monocytes significantly contribute to the development of autoimmune disease. However, the subset heterogeneity with unique functions and signatures in human circulating monocytes and the identity of disease-specific monocytic populations remain largely unknown. Here, we employed an advanced single-cell RNA sequencing technology to systematically analyze 11,259 human circulating monocytes and genetically defined their subpopulations. We constructed a precise atlas of human blood monocytes, identified six subpopulations-including S100A12, HLA, CD16, proinflammatory, megakaryocyte-like, and NK-like monocyte subsets-and uncovered two previously unidentified subsets: HLA and megakaryocyte-like monocyte subsets. Relative to healthy individuals, cellular composition, gene expression signatures, and activation states were markedly alternated in VKH patients utilizing cell type-specific programs, especially the CD16 and proinflammatory monocyte subpopulations. Notably, we discovered a disease-relevant subgroup, proinflammatory monocytes, which showed a discriminative gene expression signature indicative of inflammation, antiviral activity, and pathologic activation, and converted into a pathologic activation state implicating the active inflammation during VKH disease. Additionally, we found the cell type-specific transcriptional signature of proinflammatory monocytes, ISG15, whose production might reflect the treatment response. Taken together, in this study, we present discoveries on accurate classification, molecular markers, and signaling pathways for VKH disease-associated monocytes. Therapeutically targeting this proinflammatory monocyte subpopulation would provide an attractive approach for treating VKH, as well as other autoimmune diseases.

Overall diagnostic accuracy of different MR imaging sequences for detection of dysplastic nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the overall diagnostic accuracy of different MR imaging sequences in the detection of the dysplastic nodule (DN). METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched. Study selection and data extraction were conducted by two authors independently. Quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) 2 in RevMan software was used to score the included studies and assess their methodological quality. A random-effects model was used for statistical pooling by Meta-Disc. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were used to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Fourteen studies (335 DN lesions in total) were included in our meta-analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) of summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) of T2WI was 0.87. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of DWI were 0.81 (95%CI, 0.73-0.87), 0.90 (95%CI, 0.86-0.93), 7.04 (95%CI, 4.49-11.04), and 0.24 (95%CI, 0.17-0.33) respectively. In the arterial phase, pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, and NLR were 0.89 (0.84-0.93), 0.75 (0.72-0.79), 3.72 (2.51-5.51), and 0.17 (0.12-0.25), respectively. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, and NLR of the delayed phase were 0.78 (0.72-0.83), 0.60 (0.55-0.65), 2.19 (1.55-3.10), and 0.36 (0.23-0.55) separately. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, and NLR of the hepatobiliary phase were 0.77 (0.71-0.82), 0.92 (0.89-0.94), 8.74 (5.91-12.92), and 0.24 (0.14-0.41) respectively. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and PLR were higher on DWI and hepatobiliary phase in diagnosing LGDN than HGDN. CONCLUSION: MR sequences, particularly DWI, arterial phase, and hepatobiliary phase imaging demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy for DN. KEY POINTS: • MRI has dramatically improved the detection and accurate diagnosis of DNs and their differentiation from hepatocellular carcinoma. • Overall diagnostic accuracy of different MRI sequences in the detection of DN has not been studied before. • Our meta-analysis demonstrates that MRI achieves a high diagnostic value for DN, especially when using DWI, arterial phase imaging, and hepatobiliary phase imaging.

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Evaluation of the Cell Density and Angiogenesis of Cirrhosis-Related Nodules in an Experimental Rat Model: Comparison and Correlation With Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI.

BACKGROUND: Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) are sensitive imaging modalities for detecting liver lesions, but their value in evaluating cirrhosis-related nodules remains unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate whether IVIM-DWI and DCE-MRI can differentiate different types of cirrhosis-related nodules, and whether these modalities can monitor changes in cell density and angiogenesis during the malignant transformation of cirrhosis-related nodules in a rat model STUDY TYPE: Prospective. ANIMAL MODEL: Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats with 106 cirrhosis-related nodules (19 regenerative nodules [RNs], 47 dysplastic nodules [DNs], and 40 hepatocellular carcinomas [HCCs]). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: IVIM-DWI and DCE sequence at 3.0T MRI. ASSESSMENT: IVIM-DWI parameters (D, D*, f, and apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC]) and DCE-MRI parameters (Ktrans , Kep , and Ve ) were calculated by two radiologists using postprocessing software. The "cell density" and "unpaired arterial ratio" were analyzed with a microscope by two pathologists. STATISTICAL TESTS: MRI parameters were compared among the different types of nodules by one-way analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis test. The Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the correlation of MRI parameters with the pathological types of nodules, cell density, and unpaired arterial ratio. RESULTS: The Ktrans , Kep , and Ve values of HCCs were significantly higher than those of DNs and RNs. D and ADC values were significantly lower in HCCs than in DNs and RNs. There were moderate positive correlations of Ktrans with the pathological types of nodules and the unpaired arterial ratio. Moderate negative correlations were observed among D, ADC, and the pathological types of nodules, between D and cell density, and between ADC and cell density. DATA CONCLUSION: IVIM-DWI and DCE-MRI are valuable in differentiating different types of cirrhotic-related nodules. D and ADC are correlated with changes in cell density during the malignant transformation of cirrhosis-related nodules, while Ktrans is correlated with increased angiogenesis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:812-823.

Aortic Remodeling Following Sun's Procedure for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND Sun's procedure is a surgical technique widely used in type A aortic dissection. The purpose of this study was to analyze clinical outcomes and morphologic changes in true and false lumen by computed tomography (CT) angiography after Sun's procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 51 patients who underwent Sun's procedure for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection extending down to iliac bifurcation between January 2013 and December 2014. The images of preoperative, one-month, three-month, and six-month follow-up were analyzed by CT angiography to measure the area and diameter of true and false lumen. RESULTS Four patients died before surgical intervention and postoperative deaths occurred in five patients (in-hospital mortality rate 10.6%). Only 42 patients (36 male, 6 female; mean age, 45.9±9.8 years; range, 24-65 years) with acute type A aortic dissection were involved in our study. Thirty-five patients (83.3%) suffered from chest or abdominal pain and only one patient (2.4%) was asymptomatic. Thirty-seven patients (88.1%) had hypertension as the most common comorbidity. In the ascending aorta, false lumen was eliminated and the change of true lumen was not significant (p>0.05). In the descending aorta, complete and partial thrombosis of false lumen were observed in eight patients (19.0%) and 33 patients (78.6%) by one-month follow-up CT scan, respectively. After the six-month follow-up, the rate of complete thrombosis increased to 36.1% and partial thrombosis decreased to 61.9%. The area and maximal diameter of true lumen were increased significantly (p<0.05), whereas significant decreases were found in the area and maximal diameter of false lumen (p<0.05). In the abdominal aorta, thrombosis was found in 52.4% patients at one-month follow-up CT. Furthermore, there were no significant changes in both true and false lumen within three months (p>0.05). Nevertheless, the false luminal area and maximal diameter decreased significantly (p<0.05) after six months, while these changes of true lumen were not significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS After Sun's procedure, aortic remodeling was a continuous process and occurred in a predictable model, and the extent of aortic remodeling varied at different levels. Remodeling in descending thoracic aorta was earlier than it was in abdominal aorta.

Apelin attenuates the osteoblastic differentiation of aortic valve interstitial cells via the ERK and PI3-K/Akt pathways.

Aortic valve calcification (AVC), which used to be recognized as a passive and irreversible process, is now widely accepted as an active and regulated process characterized by osteoblastic differentiation of aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs). Apelin, the endogenous ligand for G-protein-coupled receptor APJ, was found to have protective cardiovascular effects in several studies. However, the effects and mechanisms of apelin on osteoblastic differentiation of AVICs have not been elucidated. Using a pro-calcific medium, we devised a method to produce calcific human AVICs. These cells were used to study the relationship between apelin and the osteoblastic calcification of AVICs and the involved signaling pathways. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity/expression and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) expression were examined as hallmark proteins in this research. The involved signaling pathways were studied using the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor, PD98059, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor, LY294002. The results indicate that apelin attenuates the expression and activity of ALP, the expression of Runx2, and the formation of mineralized nodules. This protective effect was dependent on the dose of apelin, reaching the maximum at 100 pM, and was connected to activity of ERK and Akt (a downstream effector of PI3-K). The activation of ERK and PI3-K initiated the effects of apelin on ALP activity/expression and Runx2, but PD98059 and LY294002 abolished the effect. These results demonstrate that apelin attenuates the osteoblastic differentiation of AVICs via the ERK and PI3-K/Akt pathway.

Developing and validating a nomogram for penile cancer survival: A comprehensive study based on SEER and Chinese data.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to create a nomogram for predicting survival outcomes in penile cancer patients, utilizing data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) and a Chinese organization. METHODS: Our study involved a cohort of 5744 patients diagnosed with penile cancer from the SEER database, spanning from 2004 to 2019. In addition, 103 patients with penile cancer from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were included during the same period. Based on the results of regression analysis, a nomogram is constructed and validated internally and externally. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated by concordance index (c-index), area under the curve, decision curve analysis, and calibration curve, in internal and external datasets. Finally, the prediction efficiency is compared with the TNM staging model. RESULTS: A total of 3154 penile patients were randomly divided into the training group and the internal validation group at a ratio of 2:1. Nine independent risk factors were identified, including age, race, marital status, tumor grade, histology, TNM stage, and the surgical approach. Based on these factors, a nomogram was constructed to predict OS. The nomogram demonstrated relatively better consistency, predictive accuracy, and clinical relevance, with a c-index over 0.73 (in the training cohort, the validation cohort, and externally validation cohort.) These evaluation indexes are far better than the TNM staging system. CONCLUSION: Penile cancer, often overlooked in research, has lacked detailed investigative focus and guidelines. This study stands as the first to validate penile cancer prognosis using extensive data from the SEER database, supplemented by data from our own institution. Our findings equip surgeons with an essential tool to predict the prognosis of penile cancer better suited than TNM, thereby enhancing clinical decision-making processes.

Post-endoscopic submucosal dissection phlegmonous enteritis: A case report and literature review.

Background: This study presents the initial case of phlegmonous enteritis following endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), a rare and potentially fatal complication. Additionally, a comprehensive review of relevant literature is provided. Case report: A 66-year-old female patient, diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and thrombocytopenia, underwent ESD to address a laterally spreading tumor located in the ascending colon. After the procedure, the patient manifested abdominal pain and a high fever, was diagnosed with peritonitis, necessitating an emergency exploratory laparotomy and right hemicolectomy. Subsequent histological examination indicated a significant presence of neutrophil infiltration across all layers of the intestines. The ascites culture yielded the growth of Escherichia coli. Literature review: A search was conducted in the PubMed database to identify case reports conforming to the definition of phlegmonous enteritis proposed by Rokitansky et al. We retrieved about 30 studies regarding phlegmonous enteritis from 1951 to 2022, with around 39 cases. Among these, only 28 patients had comprehensive medical data available. Subsequently, an examination of the literature was undertaken to explore the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of phlegmonous enteritis. Conclusion: The possibility of phlegmonous enteritis should be taken into consideration in cases of unexplained acute abdomen, particularly in patients with compromised immunity, in order to provide active surgical and antibiotic interventions.

The predictive significance of chromobox family members in prostate cancer in humans.

PURPOSE: The Chromobox (CBX) family proteins are crucial elements of the epigenetic regulatory machinery and play a significant role in the development and advancement of cancer. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding regarding the role of CBXs in development or progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Our objective is to develop a unique prognostic model associated with CBXs to improve the accuracy of predicting outcomes of patients with PCa. METHODS: Data from TCGA and GEO databases were analyzed to assess differential expression, prognostic value, gene pathway enrichment, and immune cell infiltration. COX regression analysis was utilized to identify the independent prognostic factors that impact disease-free survival (DFS). The expression of CBX2 and FOXP3+ cells infiltration was verified by immunohistochemical staining of clinical tissue sections. In vitro proliferation, migration and invasion assay were conducted to examine the function of CBX2. RNA-seq was employed to examine the CBX2 related pathway enrichment. RESULTS: CBX2, CBX3, CBX4, and CBX8 were upregulated, while CBX6 and CBX7 were downregulated in PCa tissues. CBXs expression varied by stage and grade. Elevated expression of CBX1, CBX2, CBX3, CBX4 and CBX8 is correlated with poor outcome. CBX2 expression, T stage, and Gleason score were independent prognostic factors. The expression level of CBX2 in PCa tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues. More Treg infiltration was observed in the group with high CBX2 expression. CBX2 expression affected PCa cell growth, migration, and invasion. CONCLUSIONS: CBX2 is involved in the development and advancement of PCa, suggesting its potential as a reliable prognostic indicator for PCa patients.

A novel function and mechanism of ischemia-induced retinal astrocyte-derived exosomes for RGC apoptosis of ischemic retinopathy.

Retinal ischemia is a common clinical event leading to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, resulting in irreversible vision loss. In the retina, glia-neuron communication is crucial for multiple functions and homeostasis. Extracellular vesicles, notably exosomes, play a critical role. The functions and mechanisms of retinal astrocyte-secreted exosomes remain unclear. Here, we isolated astrocyte-derived exosomes under hypoxia or normoxia and explored their role in an in vivo retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) model. We found that hypoxia triggered astrocytes to produce a significantly increased number of exosomes, which could be internalized by RGCs in vivo or in vitro. Also, in the RIR model, the hypoxia-induced exosomes ameliorated the RIR injury and suppressed the RGC apoptosis. Furthermore, microRNA sequencing of retinal astrocyte-secreted exosomes revealed different patterns of exosomal miRNAs under hypoxia, particularly enriched with miR-329-5p. We verified that miR-329-5p was specifically bound to mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 mRNA, and subsequent JNK-pathway molecules were downregulated. We anticipated that the miR-329-5p/JNK pathway is a key to suppressing RGC apoptosis and preventing RIR injury. Such findings provided insights into the therapeutic potential of hypoxia-induced astrocyte-secreted exosomes and the miR-329-5p for treating retina ischemic diseases.

Can angiogenesis inhibitor therapy cause changes in imaging features of hepatic hemangioma- Initial study.

Background: To observe whether anti-angiogenesis therapy can induce changes in size and enhancement characteristics of hepatic hemangioma. Method: 133 patients with hepatic hemangioma lesions were analyzed and classified into a Bevacizumab group (n=65) and the control group (n=68). The parameters (Volume, CT enhancement ratio, enhancement patterns) of pre-and post-treatment in the bevacizumab and control groups independently calculated and compared by two radiologists. Correlation among the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate with the hemangioma volume was evaluated using Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: The hepatic hemangioma volume was significantly decreased after treatment in the Bevacizumab group (8.6 ± 18.7mL vs.7.3 ± 16.3mL, P<0.05), and there was no significant change in the control group (15.1 ± 19.8mL vs.15.4 ± 20.7mL, P = 0.504). A significant difference in enhancement patterns of hepatic hemangiomas was observed after treatment with Bevacizumab (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in arterial phase (AP)enhancement rate and arterial phase-portal venous phase (AP-PVP) enhancement ratios after treatment in the Bevacizumab and control groups (Ps>0.05).The Pearson correlation results showed that blood pressure, heart rate, and hemangioma volume were unrelated or weakly related before and after bevacizumab treatment under the control of factors including weight, contrast injection scheme and CT scanning scheme. Conclusions: Anti-angiogenesis therapy can cause changes in enhancement pattern and volume of hepatic hemangioma. Radiologists should pay more attention to the reexamination of tumor patients treated with anti-angiogenesis therapy.

The effects of childhood abuse, depression, and self-compassion on adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury: A moderated mediation model.

BACKGROUND: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a widespread public health issue in adolescents. Exploring the risk and protective variables of NSSI is critical for prevention and intervention. Based on the experiential avoidance model (Chapman et al., 2006) and Nock's (2009) integrated model of NSSI, the current study tested a moderated mediation model to examine the impact of two risk factors, childhood abuse and depression, and one protective factor, self-compassion, on NSSI. METHODS: Self-report measures were conducted among 758 Chinese adolescents (329 females and 429 males, mean age = 14.16 years, SD = 1.92) in Hong Kong, China regarding childhood abuse, depression, self-compassion, and NSSI. RESULTS: Childhood abuse was found to be positively linked to NSSI, and this connection was mediated by depression. Self-compassion weakened the strength between childhood abuse and NSSI, along with that between childhood abuse and depression. CONCLUSIONS: These results assist in understanding how NSSI develops and facilitate future studies to investigate how the risk and protective variables for NSSI interact. The clinical application of these findings was also discussed.

Automatic assessment of patient eligibility by utilizing NLP and rule-based analysis.

Assessment of patient eligibility is an essential process in the clinical trial but there are a lot of manual processes involved. Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a promising technique to automate analysing of the massive volume of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) hence it can assist in the assessment of patient eligibility, especially in clinical trials that require complex inclusion/exclusion criteria. In this paper, we proposed a hybrid model which utilized both rule-based and NLP technologies to automate the assessment of patient eligibility. The result showed that the hybrid model had a better trade-off between sensitivity and precision compared to the rule-based model and NLP similarity model. Moreover, the accuracy of the hybrid model was validated on the larger dataset and it reached an accuracy of 87.3%. Therefore, this technique potentially can improve the efficiency of patient recruitment by eliminating the manual processes that involve in the assessment of patient eligibility.

HMMR promotes prostate cancer proliferation and metastasis via AURKA/mTORC2/E2F1 positive feedback loop.

Although dysregulated HMMR is linked to prostate cancer (PCa) prognosis, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we sought to elucidate the role of HMMR in PCa progression as well as underlying mechanism. Herein, we found that upregulation of HMMR frequently observed in PCa samples and was associated with poor prognosis. Additionally, HMMR significantly promoted PCa proliferation and metastasis through gain- and loss-of function approaches in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, HMMR may interact with AURKA and elevated AURKA protein level through inhibiting ubiquitination-mediated degradation, which subsequently activated mTORC2/AKT pathway to ensure the reinforcement of PCa progression. Moreover, upregulated E2F1 caused from sustained activation of mTORC2/AKT pathway in turn function as transcription factor to promote HMMR transcription, thereby forming a positive feedback loop to trigger PCa progression. Importantly, administration of the mTOR inhibitor partially antagonised HMMR-mediated PCa progression in vivo. In summary, we not only reveal a novel possible post-translation mechanism mediated by HMMR involved in AURKA regulation, but also describe a positive feedback loop that contributes to PCa deterioration, suggesting HMMR may serve as a potential promising therapeutic target in PCa.

Altered cortical gyrification, sulcal depth, and fractal dimension in the autism spectrum disorder comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder than the autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently occurs accompanied by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which catches increasing attention. The comorbid diagnosis of ASD with ADHD (ASD + ADHD) is permitted in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). However, compared to autism spectrum disorder without other symptoms (ASD-only), the special neural underpinnings in ASD+ADHD remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to uncover the differences in cortical complexity between ASD + ADHD and ASD-only patients. A total of 114 ASD participants (i.e. containing 40 ASD + ADHD and 74 ASD-only participants) with T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were collected from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange II. Afterward, a surface-based morphometry method was carried out to compare the cortical complexity (i.e. gyrification index, fractal dimension, and sulcal depth) between the ASD + ADHD and ASD-only cohorts. Results showed the increased fractal dimension in the right fusiform gyrus of the ASD + ADHD cohort in comparison to the ASD-only cohort. Moreover, the ASD + ADHD cohort exhibited increased sulcal depth in the left middle temporal gyrus/inferior temporal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus compared to the ASD-only cohort. Last but not least, the increased gyrification index in the insula/postcentral gyrus was observed in the ASD + ADHD cohort in comparison to the ASD-only cohort. Overall, the present study contributes to the delineation of particular structural abnormalities in ASD + ADHD than ASD-only, enriching the evidence of the combined phenotype of ASD + ADHD.