Expression profiling of miR-96, miR-584 and miR-422a in colon cancer and their potential involvement in colon cancer pathogenesis

Purpose: To determine the correlation between miRNAs; miR-96, miR-422a and miR584, and colon cancer, and also to test whether any of these miRNAs can act as non-invasive biomarkers in colon cancerMethods: The tumor samples and the corresponding normal mucosa used in this study were collected from 60 patients diagnosed with colon cancer. HT-29, HCT-116 and SW-620 cell lines were used for miRNA expression profiling. Total RNA was extracted using kit-based methods with minor modifications, and specific miRNAs were detected and quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR].Results: The results indicate down-regulation of miR-96, miR-584 and miR-422a in colon cancer tissue and decreased expression levels in the three colon cancer cell lines (all p < 0.01). Lower miRNA expression levels are correlated with increased tumor size.Conclusion: This study shows that miR-96, miR-584 and miR-422a are down-regulated in colon cancer and are associated with tumor size. Thus, the ratio of miR-96/miR-638 in plasma is a potential noninvasive biomarker in colon cancer.Keywords: Colon cancer, miR-96, miR-422a, miR-584, Expression profiling, Biomarke

Energy-efficient active tag searching in large scale RFID systems

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has attracted much research attention in recent years. RFID can support automatic information tracing and management during the management process in many fields. A typical field that uses RFID is modern warehouse management, where products are attached with tags and the inventory of products is managed by retrieving tag IDs. Many practical applications require searching a group of tags to determine whether they are in the system or not. The existing studies on tag searching mainly focused on improving the time efficiency but paid little attention to energy efficiency which is extremely important for active tags powered by built-in batteries. To fill in this gap, this paper investigates the tag searching problem from the energy efficiency perspective. We first propose an Energy-efficient tag Searching protocol in Multiple reader RFID systems, namely ESiM, which pushes per tag energy consumption to the limit as each tag needs to exchange only one bit data with the reader. We then develop a time efficiency enhanced version of ESiM, namely TESiM, which can dramatically reduce the execution time while only slightly increasing the transmission overhead. Extensive simulation experiments reveal that, compared to state-of-the-art solution in the current literature, TESiM reduces per tag energy consumption by more than one order of magnitude subject to comparable execution time. In most considered scenarios, TESiM even reduces the execution time by more than 50%.This work is partially supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61103203, 61332004, 61402056 and 61420106009), NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme (Grant No. N_PolyU519/12), and the EU FP7 CLIMBER project (Grant Agreement No. PIRSES-GA-2012-318939)

Oscillation-specific nodal alterations in early to middle stages Parkinsons disease.

Background: Different oscillations of brain networks could carry different dimensions of brain integration. We aimed to investigate oscillation-specific nodal alterations in patients with Parkinsons disease (PD) across early stage to middle stage by using graph theory-based analysis. Methods: Eighty-eight PD patients including 39 PD patients in the early stage (EPD) and 49 patients in the middle stage (MPD) and 36 controls were recruited in the present study. Graph theory-based network analyses from three oscillation frequencies (slow-5: 0.01-0.027 Hz; slow-4: 0.027-0.073 Hz; slow-3: 0.073-0.198 Hz) were analyzed. Nodal metrics (e.g. nodal degree centrality, betweenness centrality and nodal efficiency) were calculated. Results: Our results showed that (1) a divergent effect of oscillation frequencies on nodal metrics, especially on nodal degree centrality and nodal efficiency, that the anteroventral neocortex and subcortex had high nodal metrics within low oscillation frequencies while the posterolateral neocortex had high values within the relative high oscillation frequency was observed, which visually showed that network was perturbed in PD; (2) PD patients in early stage relatively preserved nodal properties while MPD patients showed widespread abnormalities, which was consistently detected within all three oscillation frequencies; (3) the involvement of basal ganglia could be specifically observed within slow-5 oscillation frequency in MPD patients; (4) logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses demonstrated that some of those oscillation-specific nodal alterations had the ability to well discriminate PD patients from controls or MPD from EPD patients at the individual level; (5) occipital disruption within high frequency (slow-3) made a significant influence on motor impairment which was dominated by akinesia and rigidity. Conclusions: Coupling various oscillations could provide potentially useful information for large-scale network and progressive oscillation-specific nodal alterations were observed in PD patients across early to middle stages

{μ-trans-N,N′-Bis[(diphenyl­phosphan­yl)meth­yl]benzene-1,4-diamine-κ2 P:P′}bis­{(acetonitrile-κN)[dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine-κ2 N 4,N 5]copper(I)} bis­(tetra­fluoridoborate)

In the centrosymmetric dinuclear title compound, [Cu2(C2H3N)2(C18H10N4)2(C32H30N2P2)](BF4)2, the CuI centre is coordinated by two N atoms from a dipyridophenazine ligand, one P atom from an N,N′-bis­[(diphenyl­phosphan­yl)meth­yl]benzene-1,4-diamine (bpbda) ligand, and one N atom from an acetonitrile mol­ecule in a distorted tetra­hedral geometry. The bpbda ligand, lying on an inversion center, bridges two CuI centres into a Z-shaped complex. Intra­molecular π–π inter­actions between the dipyridophenazine ligand and the benzene ring of the bpbda ligand are observed [centroid–centroid distance = 3.459 (3) Å]. The crystal structure also involves inter­molecular π–π inter­actions between the dipyridophenazine ligands [centroid–centroid distance = 3.506 (3) Å], which lead to a one-dimensional supra­molecular structure

Autocrine, Not Paracrine, Interferon-Gamma Gene Delivery Enhances Ex Vivo Antigen-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Stimulation and Killing

The adoptive transfer of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) shows promise in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. We utilize adeno-associated virus-(AAV-) based antigen gene-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) to stimulate such antigen-specific CTL. Yet further improvements in CTL stimulation and killing may result by gene delivery of various Th1-response interferons/cytokines, such as interferon γ (IFN-γ), as the delivered gene can continuously produce that interferon. However which immune cell type should optimally express IFN-γ is unclear as the phenotypes of both DC and T cells are enhanced by it. Here, we used AAV to compare and contrast IFN-γ gene delivery into DC or T cells, and versus the addition of exogenous IFN-γ, for stimulating carcinoembryonic antigen-(CEA-) specific CTL. It was found that AAV/IFN-γ delivery into T cells (autocrine) resulted in T cell populations with the highest CD8(+)/CD4(+) ratio, highest IFN-γ(+)/IL-4(+) ratio, highest CD69(+),CD8(+) levels, and lowest CD4(+)/CD25(+) levels, all consistent with the strongest Th1 response. Most importantly, AAV/IFN-γ transduction of T cells resulted in antigen-specific T cell populations with the highest killing capabilities, 49% above other treatments. These data strongly suggest that AAV/IFN-γ autocrine gene delivery into T cells is worthy of further study towards maximizing the generation of antigen-specific anticancer CTL killers

Microcrystalline Dolomite in a Middle Permian Volcanic Lake: Insights on Primary Dolomite Formation in a Non-Evaporitic Environment

Lacustrine dolomite nucleation commonly occurs in modern and Neogene evaporitic alkaline lakes. As a result, ancient lacustrine microcrystalline dolomite has been conventionally interpreted to be formed in evaporitic environments. This study, however, suggests a non-evaporitic origin of dolomite precipitated in a volcanic–hydrothermal lake, where hydrothermal and volcanic processes interacted. The dolomite occurs in lacustrine fine-grained sedimentary rocks in the middle Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Santanghu intracontinental rift basin, north-west China. Dolostones are composed mainly of nano-sized to micron-sized dolomite with a euhedral to subhedral shape and a low degree of cation ordering, and are interlaminated and intercalated with tuffaceous shale. Non-dolomite minerals, including quartz, alkaline feldspars, smectite and magnesite mix with the dolomite in various proportions. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.704528 to 0.705372, average = 0.705004) and δ26Mg values (−0.89 to −0.24‰, average = −0.55‰) of dolostones are similar to those of mantle rocks, indicating that the precipitates mainly originated from fluids that migrated upward from the mantle and were subject to water–rock reactions at a great depth. The δ18O values (−3.1 to −22.7‰, average = −14.0‰) of the dolostones indicate hydrothermal influence. The trace and rare earth element concentrations suggest a saline, anoxic and volcanic–hydrothermally-influenced subaqueous environment. In this subaqueous environment of Lucaogou lake, locally high temperatures and a supply of abundant Mg2+ from a deep source induced by volcanic–hydrothermal activity formed favourable chemical conditions for direct precipitation of primary dolomite. This study\u27s findings deepen the understanding of the origin and processes of lacustrine primary dolomite formation and provide an alternative possibility for environmental interpretations of ancient dolostones

Micropathogen community analysis in Hyalomma rufipes via high-throughput sequencing of small RNAs

Ticks are important vectors in the transmission of a broad range of micropathogens to vertebrates, including humans. Because of the role of ticks in disease transmission, identifying and characterizing the micropathogen profiles of tick populations have become increasingly important. The objective of this study was to survey the micropathogens of Hyalomma rufipes ticks. Illumina HiSeq2000 technology was utilized to perform deep sequencing of small RNAs (sRNAs) extracted from field-collected H. rufipes ticks in Gansu Province, China. The resultant sRNA library data revealed that the surveyed tick populations produced reads that were homologous to St. Croix River Virus (SCRV) sequences. We also observed many reads that were homologous to microbial and/or pathogenic isolates, including bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. As part of this analysis, a phylogenetic tree was constructed to display the relationships among the homologous sequences that were identified. The study offered a unique opportunity to gain insight into the micropathogens of H. rufipes ticks. The effective control of arthropod vectors in the future will require knowledge of the micropathogen composition of vectors harboring infectious agents. Understanding the ecological factors that regulate vector propagation in association with the prevalence and persistence of micropathogen lineages is also imperative. These interactions may affect the evolution of micropathogen lineages, especially if the micropathogens rely on the vector or host for dispersal. The sRNA deep-sequencing approach used in this analysis provides an intuitive method to survey micropathogen prevalence in ticks and other vector species

Correlation between HbA1c and macular foveal retinal thickness in diabetic patients after cataract surgery

AIM: To investigate the correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)level and macular fovea retinal thickness after cataract surgery in diabetic patients. METHODS: By a randomized sampling and retrospective study, from September 2013 to June 2016, a total of 119 cases(119 eyes)of diabetic retinopathy in our hospital were selected and divided into low HbA1c group(HbA1c≤7.0%)of 60 cases(60 eyes)and high HbA1c group(7.0%RESULTS: At preoperative 1d, HbA1c in the high HbA1c group and the low HbA1c group were 8.29%±2.19% and 5.38%±1.49% respectively, and the differences between two groups were statistically significant(PPPPPCONCLUSION: HbA1c levels in diabetic patients are significantly correlated with preoperative and postoperative macular foveal retinal thickness. It has important clinical significance for monitoring the occurrence and development of macular edema after cataract surgery

Anti-inflammatory nuclear receptor superfamily in multiple sclerosis patients from Sardinia and Sweden

Several nuclear hormone receptors have been associated with inflammatory reactions. Particularly, liver X receptors (LXRs) have recently been identified as key transcriptional regulators of genes involved in lipid homeostasis and inflammation. LXRs are negative regulators of macrophage inflammatory gene expression. Multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system of unknown cause, is characterized by recurrent inflammation involving macrophages and their inflammatory mediators. Sweden belongs to the countries with a high MS incidence. In Italy, the MS incidence is lower, except on the island of Sardinia where the incidence is even higher than in Sweden. Subjects from Sardinia are ethnically more homogeneous, and differ from Swedes also regarding genetic background and environment. We studied mRNA expression of several nuclear hormone receptors in blood mononuclear cells (MNC) from female patients with untreated relapsing-remitting MS from Sassari, Sardinia, and Stockholm, Sweden. Sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HC) were from both areas. mRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. We found altered mRNA expression of LXRs, estrogen receptors (ERs), and androgen receptor (AR) in MS. mRNA expression of both LXRα and LXRβ is lower in MS from Stockholm but not from Sassari. In particular, LXRα mRNA expression was significantly lower in MS from Stockholm as compared with all groups in the study including MS from Sassari. Low levels of ERα mRNA are seen in MS from both Stockholm and Sassari. The splice variant ERβcx showed significantly higher mRNA expression in MS from Sassari and Stockholm as compared with corresponding HC. In particular, ERβcx mRNA in MS from Sassari was remarkably higher as compared with all other groups in the study. Higher levels of AR mRNA are present in HC from Sassari. The findings indicate that the expression levels of anti-inflammatory nuclear receptor superfamily genes in MS appear to reflect both ethnic and environmental influences