Dys-regulated Gene Expression Networks by Meta-Analysis of Microarray Data on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most common type of carcinoma worldwide. Development of OSCC is a multi-step process involving genes related to cell cycle, growth control, apoptosis, DNA damage response and other cellular regulators. The pathogenic pathways involved in this tumor are mostly unknown and therefore a better characterization of OSCC gene expression profile would represent a considerable advance. The availability of publicly available gene expression datasets has opened up new challenges especially for the integration of data generated by different research groups and different array platforms with the purpose of obtaining new insights on the biological process investigated.

Results: In this work we performed a meta-analysis on four microarray and four datasets of gene expression data on OSCC in order to evaluate the degree of agreement of the biological results obtained by these different studies and to identify common regulatory pathways that could be responsible of tumor growth. Sixteen dys-regulated pathways implicated in OSCC were mined out from the four published datasets, and most importantly three pathways were first reported. Those regulatory pathways and biological processes which are significantly enriched have been investigated by means of literatures and meanwhile, four genes of the maximally altered pathways, ECM-receptor interaction, were validated and identified by qRT-PCR as a possible candidate of aggressiveness of OSCC.

Conclusion: we have developed a robust method for analyzing pathways altered in OSCC using three expression array data sets. This study sets a stage for the further discovery of the basic mechanisms that may underlie a diseased state and would help in identifying critical nodes in the pathway that can be targeted for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. In addition, those who are interested in our approach can obtain the software package (MATLAB platform) by email freely

Current Situation and Measures of Environment Affected by Mine Water in Hunan Limin Coal Mine

The pump drainage of mine water in Hunan Limin Coal Mine has caused various problems including huge depression cone and collapse of goaf roof, resulting in serious leakage of surface water. Therefore, a great need of measures should be conducted. In this paper, the mine water properties and the hydrogeological characteristics were studied. The results indicate that the PH value of main shaft water of Limin Well is 2.21-3.81 (average: 2.90), Fe2+ is 178-1,308 mg/L, Mn2+ is 3.93-8.65 mg/L; the PH value of auxiliary shaft water is 3.45-4.08, Fe2+ is 876-1,264 mg/L, Mn2+ is 6.27-8.71 mg/L; the PH value of Shuikoushan old pithead water is 2.33-3.91, Fe2+ is 1,059-2,207 mg/L and Mn2+ is 23.00-34.00 mg/L, which indicates that the mine water in the area is strongly acidic, and Fe2+ and Mn2+ exceed the standard seriously. Based on the characteristics of mining tunnel in the area, the wellhead of artesian water in Limin Well should be closed with shaft without pressure so as to ensure that the mine water can be discharged out in a concentrated and orderly way. The sewage treatment facilities at the main shaft of Limin Well need to be expanded, and new sewage treatment facilities should be built at Shuikoushan old pithead. Through hydrologic survey and water balance analysis, Zhoutou Reservoir can be used as a water source to construct drinking water project, which can completely solve the problem of drinking water safety in the area. The study would solve the bad situation of Limin Coal mine by providing the corresponding measures, which could provide the references for the similar mines when facing these problems