Integrative systematic review meta-analysis and bioinformatics identifies MicroRNA-21 and its target genes as biomarkers for colorectal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Advanced colorectal has poor survival and are difficult to treat. Therefore, there is an urgent need for biomarkers to diagnose this cancer at earlier manageable stages. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are amongst the most significant biomarkers that have shown promise in improving management and early detection of different types of cancers. However, since MiRNAs are non-coding, the main limitation of using them as biomarkers is that they do not have associated phenotype and therefore difficult to validate using other techniques. This makes it difficult to understand the mechanism of miRNA is disease initiation and progression, therefore any methodology that can provide semantics to miRNA expression would enhance the understanding of the role of miRNA in disease. METHODS: Here we report an integrative meta-analysis and bioinformatics methodology that showed microRNA21 and its associated target mRNA to be the most significant predictive biomarkers for colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma. After drawing key inferences by meta-analysis, the authors then developed a bioinformatics method to identify mir-21 gene targeting in a specific tissue using two different bioinformatics approaches; absolute GSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) and LIMMA (Linear Models for MicroArray data) to identify differentially expressed genes of miRNA-21. RESULTS: Results from GSEA intersection with mir-21 gene targets was a subset of longer gene list that was obtained from the GEO2R intersect. In our study, both of longer GEO2R gene target list and the more focused GSEA list established the fact that mir-21 target numerous functional pathways that are mostly interconnected. Our three steps bioinformatics approach identified ABCB1, HPGD, BCL2, TIAM1, TLR3, and PDCD4 as common targets for mir-21 in both of adenoma as well as adenocarcinoma suggesting they are biomarkers for early CRC. CONCLUSIONS: The approach in this study proposed combining the big data from the scientific literature together with novel bioinformatics to bring about a methodology that can be used to first identify which microRNAs are involved in a specific disease, and then to identify a panel of biomarkers derived from the microRNAs target genes, and from these target genes the functional significance of these microRNAs can be inferred providing better clinical value for the surgeon

L-tryptophan adsorption differentially changes the optical behaviour of pseudo-enantiomeric cysteine-functionalized quantum dots: Towards chiral fluorescent biosensors

Water-soluble chiral graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with a strong blue emission were synthesized by covalently immobilizing l-cysteine or d-cysteine onto the GQDs. Either the amine or the thiol group of cysteine was used to make the bond through amide coupling or thiol-ene click chemistry respectively. The functionalized chiral GQDs were the characterized by FT-IR and UV–vis. The enantiomeric pairs exhibit equal but opposite bands in circular dichroism spectra suggesting that there is no difference in the efficacy of conjugation. The fluorescent response of these chiral GQDs when exposed to l-tryptophan was then studied. The fluorescence of the amide-conjugated GQDs was quenched with the addition of l-Trp regardless of which enantiomer of cysteine was present on the surface. The thiol-linked d- Cys GQDs fluorescence was also quenched on exposure to l-Trp, but the fluorescence of the thiol-linked l-Cys GQDs was unaffected under the same conditions

Prolapsed Epiploica of the Sigmoid Colon After Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

A laparoscopic approach is recommended for the complication of prolapsed sigmoid colon epiploica after total laparoscopic hysterectomy

Relative growth of the fiddler crab, Uca sindensis(Crustacea: Ocypodidae) in a subtropical mangrove in Pohl Port, Iran

The relative growth of the fiddler crab Uca sindensis in Pohl Port was studied. Ten 0.5 m^2 quadrates were randomly sampled monthly during low tide periods from October 2009 to September 2010. A total of 840 crabs, 449 (53.45%) males and 391 (46.5%) ‌ females, were sampled. The Carapace width of males ranged from 5.5 to 13.5 mm (mean ± SD) (8.92 ± 2.04), and of females from 5.0 to 11.5 mm (mean ± SD) (7.95 ± 1.34). Carapace height (CH) and Carapace length (CL), height of the major cheliped (HMC) of males, abdomen width of females (AW), major cheliped length (LMC), dactiluse (D), feeding cheliped (CHF) and merouse (M) were employed as dependent variables and carapace width (CW) as independent variable. The relationship between CW × CH was positive in males and females. The equation (Log CH=Log-4.881+4.681LogCW) for males (P<0.05) and Log CH=Log-1.882+3.299LogCW for females (P<0.05). The females showed allometric positive growth for CW × AW relation to male (Log AW= Log0.784+1.217Log CW) (P<0.05). Also four male crabs were found with two major cheliped in this study. Remarkable ontogenetic changes were observed in the allometric growth of the male major cheliped and the female abdomen, indicating that these structures are closely connected to the timing of sexual maturity. The allometric growth of U. sindensis in Pohl Port mangrove differed from other Uca populations so far studied, indicating that growth could have been influenced by environment variables such as food availability, population density, distribution of vegetation, sex ratio, soil temperature , organic matter, different of surface and sediment

Effects of wing geometry on wing-body-tail interference in subsonic flow

AbstractExtensive wind tunnel tests were performed on several wing- body-tail combinations in subsonic flow to study the effects of wing geometric parameters on the flow field over the tail. For each configuration, tail surface pressure distribution, as well as the velocity contour at a plane perpendicular to the flow direction behind the wing was measured. The results show a strong effect of wing to tail span ratio, as well as wing aspect ratio, on the flowfield downstream of the wing. For low sweep wings, as those considered here, wing and body interference effects on the tail are associated with the wing tip vortex and nose-body vortex

Modeling and control of flatness in cold rolling mill using fuzzy petri nets

Today, having a good flatness control in steel industry is essential to ensure an overall product quality, productivity and successful processing. Flatness error, given as difference between measured strip flatness and target curve, can be minimized by modifying roll gap with various control functions. In most practical systems, knowing the definition of the model in order to have an acceptable control is essential. In this paper, a fuzzy Petri net method for modeling and control of flatness in cold rolling mill is developed. The method combines the concepts of Petri net and fuzzy control theories. It focuses on the fuzzy decision making problems of the fuzzy rule tree structures. The method is able to detect and recover possible errors that can occur in the fuzzy rule of the knowledge-based system. The method is implemented and simulated. The results show that its error is less than that of a PI conventional controller.<br /

Enhanced Expression of Autoantigens During SARS-CoV-2 Viral Infection

Immune homeostasis is disturbed during severe viral infections, which can lead to loss of tolerance to self-peptides and result in short- or long-term autoimmunity. Using publicly available transcriptomic datasets, we conducted an in-silico analyses to evaluate the expression levels of 52 autoantigens, known to be associated with 24 autoimmune diseases, during SAR-CoV-2 infection. Seven autoantigens (MPO, PRTN3, PADI4, IFIH1, TRIM21, PTPRN2, and TSHR) were upregulated in whole blood samples. MPO and TSHR were overexpressed in both lung autopsies and whole blood tissue and were associated with more severe COVID-19. Neutrophil activation derived autoantigens (MPO, PRTN3, and PADI4) were prominently increased in blood of both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 viral infections, while TSHR and PTPRN2 autoantigens were specifically increased in SARS-CoV-2. Using single-cell dataset from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we observed an upregulation of MPO, PRTN3, and PADI4 autoantigens within the low-density neutrophil subset. To validate our in-silico analysis, we measured plasma protein levels of two autoantigens, MPO and PRTN3, in severe and asymptomatic COVID-19. The protein levels of these two autoantigens were significantly upregulated in more severe COVID-19 infections. In conclusion, the immunopathology and severity of COVID-19 could result in transient autoimmune activation. Longitudinal follow-up studies of confirmed cases of COVID-19 could determine the enduring effects of viral infection including development of autoimmune disease

Prediabetes and diabetes prevalence and risk factors comparison between ethnic groups in the United Arab Emirates

The economic growth has paralleled the rise of diabetes and its complications in multiethnic population of United Arab Emirates (UAE). Previous studies have shown that characteristics of diabetes is variable across different ethnicities. The objective of this study was to compare diabetes prevalence and risk factors between UAE nationals and different expatriate's ethnic groups in UAE using data from UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study (UAEDIAB). The UAE nationals made one-fourth (n = 797, 25%) of total cohort and the remaining 75% belonged to immigrants. Across different ethnicities, adjusted prevalence of prediabetes ranged from 8% to 17%, while adjusted prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes ranged from 3% to 13%. UAE nationals, Arabs non-nationals and Asians had the highest number of pre-diabetic as well as newly diagnosed diabetic patients. Adjusted prevalence of diabetes was highest in UAE nationals (male 21% and female 23%) as well as Asian non-Arabs (male 23% and female 20%), where 40% of both groups fell under the range of either prediabetes or diabetes conditions. Multivariate factors of diabetes versus non-diabetes included older age, ethnicities of Asian non-Arabs and local UAE nationals, family history of diabetes, obesity, snoring, decreased level of high density lipoprotein, elevated levels of triglycerides and blood pressure. In conclusion, diabetes prevalence and risk factors vary across the different ethnic groups in UAE, and hence interventions towards identification and prevention of diabetes should not treat all patients alike

Laparoscopic Hysteropexy in a Patient with Spina Bifida and Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Reduction of intraperitoneal pressure every 30 minutes during laparoscopic hysteropexy appears to be an effective management strategy to ensure intermittent catheter flow in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt and spina bifida

Detecting Mercury (II) and Thiocyanate Using “Turn-on” Fluorescence of Graphene Quantum Dots

In this work, 1.8 nm graphene quantum dots (GQDs), exhibiting bright blue fluorescence, were prepared using a bottom-up synthesis from citric acid. The fluorescence of the GQDs could be almost completely quenched (about 96%) by adding Hg2+. Quenching was far less efficient with other similar heavy metals, Tl+, Pb2+ and Bi3+. Fluorescence could be near quantitatively restored through the introduction of thiocyanate. This “turn-on” fluorescence can thus be used to detect both or either environmental and physiological contaminants mercury and thiocyanate and could prove useful for the development of simple point-of-care diagnostics in the future. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]