A \u3cem\u3eLIN28B\u3c/em\u3e Tumor-Specific Transcript in Cancer

The diversity and complexity of the cancer transcriptome may contain transcripts unique to the tumor environment. Here, we report a LIN28B variant, LIN28B-TST, which is specifically expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and many other cancer types. Expression of LIN28B-TST is associated with significantly poor prognosis in HCC patients. LIN28B-TST initiates from a de novo alternative transcription initiation site that harbors a strong promoter regulated by NFYA but not c-Myc. Demethylation of the LIN28B-TST promoter might be a prerequisite for its transcription and transcriptional regulation. LIN28B-TST encodes a protein isoform with additional N-terminal amino acids and is critical for cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Our findings reveal a mechanism of LIN28B activation in cancer and the potential utility of LIN28B-TST for clinical purposes

Cisplatin inhibits the proliferation of Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells via the miR-376c/TGFA pathway

The transforming growth factor alpha (TGFA) gene is involved in the proliferation and metastasis of various tumors, but its role in cell sensitivity to cisplatin chemotherapy is unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying inhibitory effects of cisplatin on growth and proliferation of osteosarcoma cells. Osteosarcoma and normal skeletal muscle tissues were collected from 26 patients by biopsy. TGFA was silenced or overexpressed in Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells by transfection with TGFA-shRNA or TGFA ORF clone, respectively. MiR-376c was inhibited or overexpressed by transfection of Saos-2 cells with miR-376c sponge or miR-376c mimics, respectively. Cell growth was analyzed by MTT assay and cell proliferation by BrdU assay. MiR-376c and TGFA mRNA expression was detected by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and TGFA protein expression by Western blot. The target relationship between miR-376c and TGFA was assessed by luciferase reporter assay. Both in osteosarcoma tissues and Saos-2 cells, miR-376c expression was significantly decreased and TGFA mRNA expression was significantly increased compared with control. Transfection of Saos-2 cells with TGFA-shRNA silenced TGFA expression and significantly inhibited cell growth and proliferation. TGFA mRNA and protein expression in Saos-2 cells significantly decreased with increasing cisplatin concentrations (2.5–10 mg/L). Transfection with TGFA ORF clone reversed the inhibitory effects of cisplatin on Saos-2 cell proliferation. Compared with cisplatin (10 mg/L) treatment alone, the combined treatment with cisplatin and miR-376c mimics inhibited the proliferation of Saos-2 cells more significantly. MiR-376c suppressed TGFA expression by directly interacting with its 3' UTR region. Overall, cisplatin inhibited the proliferation of Saos-2 cells by upregulating miR-376c and downregulating TGFA expression

Methylprednisolone as Adjunct to Endovascular Thrombectomy for Large-Vessel Occlusion Stroke

Importance It is uncertain whether intravenous methylprednisolone improves outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO) undergoing endovascular thrombectomy. Objective To assess the efficacy and adverse events of adjunctive intravenous low-dose methylprednisolone to endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke secondary to LVO. Design, Setting, and Participants This investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was implemented at 82 hospitals in China, enrolling 1680 patients with stroke and proximal intracranial LVO presenting within 24 hours of time last known to be well. Recruitment took place between February 9, 2022, and June 30, 2023, with a final follow-up on September 30, 2023.InterventionsEligible patients were randomly assigned to intravenous methylprednisolone (n = 839) at 2 mg/kg/d or placebo (n = 841) for 3 days adjunctive to endovascular thrombectomy. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary efficacy outcome was disability level at 90 days as measured by the overall distribution of the modified Rankin Scale scores (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]). The primary safety outcomes included mortality at 90 days and the incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 48 hours. Results Among 1680 patients randomized (median age, 69 years; 727 female [43.3%]), 1673 (99.6%) completed the trial. The median 90-day modified Rankin Scale score was 3 (IQR, 1-5) in the methylprednisolone group vs 3 (IQR, 1-6) in the placebo group (adjusted generalized odds ratio for a lower level of disability, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.96-1.25]; P = .17). In the methylprednisolone group, there was a lower mortality rate (23.2% vs 28.5%; adjusted risk ratio, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.71-0.98]; P = .03) and a lower rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (8.6% vs 11.7%; adjusted risk ratio, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.55-0.99]; P = .04) compared with placebo. Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with acute ischemic stroke due to LVO undergoing endovascular thrombectomy, adjunctive methylprednisolone added to endovascular thrombectomy did not significantly improve the degree of overall disability.Trial RegistrationChiCTR.org.cn Identifier: ChiCTR210005172

How Individual Investors React to Negative Events in the FinTech Era? Evidence from China’s Peer-to-Peer Lending

Inexperienced individual investors are the main players in the emerging FinTech industry, and also suffer from frequent negative events in the markets. With 3,110 negative events and 467,594 transaction data of China’s peer-to-peer lending market from 2015 to 2018, this paper analyzes how different types of platform negative events affect the decision-making of individual investors. We find that individual investors only have a significant negative reaction to moral hazard exposure events such as platforms absconding, with relatively ignorance of other types of negative events. The negative effect is rapid but short-lived, and shows differences among platforms of different background and attributes. By the mediation analysis, we find that public attention can be a mediator and explain the pattern of the impact that absconding events have on individual investors. Related risk prevention, regulation, investor education issues are discussed and further suggestions are also put forward for both individual investors and regulators

Electroreduction of CO2 toward High Current Density

Carbon dioxide (CO2) electroreduction offers an attractive pathway for converting CO2 to valuable fuels and chemicals. Despite the existence of some excellent electrocatalysts with superior selectivity for specific products, these reactions are conducted at low current densities ranging from several mA cm−2 to tens of mA cm−2, which are far from commercially desirable values. To extend the applications of CO2 electroreduction technology to an industrial scale, long-term operations under high current densities (over 200 mA cm−2) are desirable. In this paper, we review recent major advances toward higher current density in CO2 reduction, including: (1) innovations in electrocatalysts (engineering the morphology, modulating the electronic structure, increasing the active sites, etc.); (2) the design of electrolyzers (membrane electrode assemblies, flow cells, microchannel reactors, high-pressure cells, etc.); and (3) the influence of electrolytes (concentration, pH, anion and cation effects). Finally, we discuss the current challenges and perspectives for future development toward high current densities

Advanced detection and analysis of inclined shaft passing through aquifer in the mine of western China

The thick sandstone aquifer of the Cretaceous Yijun formation is rich in water and poor in predictability. Under this circumstance, the issue of the main inclined shaft of the mine in western China has been studied. Then, the comprehensive geophysical method is used in the field for advanced exploration and prediction. Based on the mine transient electromagnetic method and direct current resistivity method, the comprehensive advanced detection is carried out. Furthermore, the low resistance area in front is determined, the geological anomaly position and characteristics in front of the head are judged, and the water rich area of the detection is qualitatively evaluated, which provides support for the formulation of production technology scheme. The driving construction verification shows that the result of comprehensive geophysical exploration is basically consistent with the actual one of the shaft, and the detection accuracy of the relatively rich water area reaches over 80% which demonstrates that the comprehensive geophysical exploration method can be effectively applied into the construction of inclined shaft driving

Phase selection controlled by sodium ions in the synthesis of FAU/LTA composite zeolite

Zeolite faujasite (FAU), Linde type A (LTA) and FAU/LTA composite have been synthesized using tetramethylammonium cation (TMA +) as template, by adjusting only the concentration of Na + ions in the initial solution (1.00 Al2 O3 4.36 SiO2 : 2.39 (TMA)2 O : β Na2 O : 249.00H2 O). Na + ions alter the phase composition of the product more than TMA+ or OH− ions. When Na2 O concentration [Na2 O] increases from 0.024 to 0.168, the product gradually changes from pure FAU to pure LTA via the formation of FAU/LTA composite with increasing LTA fraction. Interestingly, the induction periods of FAU and LTA in the FAU/LTA composite zeolite ([Na2 O] is 0.072) are both 13 h, quite different from the induction periods of their individual pure phases—45 h for FAU and 4 h for LTA. During the crystallization, the LTA/(FAU + LTA) fraction in the composite zeolite decreases in a nearly linear fashion. Scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis indicate some difference between the properties of the FAU/LTA composite zeolite and of the mechanical mixture

A Unique Four-Point Approach for Removal of Giant Breast Fibroadenoma With Marked Asymmetry: A Modified Round Block Technique

Purpose: The removal of the giant breast fibroadenoma (GFA) with esthetic repair of the severe deformed breast is a surgical challenge. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of data of 10 patients with GFAs who treated with a modified round block technique at the Department of Breast Surgery, Hangzhou First People’s Hospital (Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China) from March 2014 to June 2017. Preoperatively, according to the degree of excess skin and asymmetry, a four-point approach was designed. The area between the inner and outer circles was de-epidermized. The tumors were entirely stripped off along the capsule through an incision on a part of the outer circle. To avoid the nipple–areola complex widening, purse-string suture technique was used. Results: Patients’ age ranged from 12 to 32 years (mean age, 23 years), and the largest tumor weighed 2 kg, with a diameter of 16.5 cm. After a mean follow-up of 25 months (range, 9–32 months), no local recurrences were found. Cosmetic results were satisfactory with breast symmetry and minimal scarring. Complications were minimal and widening of the periareolar scar was slight as well. Conclusion: The modified round block technique is recommended to resect GFA in order to improve the cosmetic results with minimal scar

Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to CO on Hydrophobic Zn Foam Rod in a Microchannel Electrochemical Reactor

Due to CO2 mass transfer limitation as well as the competition of hydrogen evolution reaction in electroreduction of CO2 in the aqueous electrolyte, Zn-based electrodes normally exhibit unsatisfying selectivity for CO production, especially at high potentials. In this work, we introduced a zinc myristate (Zn [CH3(CH2)12COO]2) hydrophobic layer on the surface of zinc foam electrode by an electrodeposition method. The obtained hydrophobic zinc foam electrode showed a high Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 91.8% for CO at −1.9 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode, SCE), which was a remarkable improvement over zinc foam (FECO = 81.87%) at the same potentials. The high roughness of the hydrophobic layer has greatly increased the active surface area and CO2 mass transfer performance by providing abundant gas-liquid-solid contacting area. This work shows adding a hydrophobic layer on the surface of the catalyst is an effective way to improve the electrochemical CO2 reduction performance