Long non-coding RNA BRE-AS1 inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma by downregulating miR-106b-5p

Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the involvement of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) BRE-AS1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and to explore its potential therapeutic role. Methods. The expression of BRE-AS1 and miR-106b-5p was determined by qRT-PCR. Overexpression of BRE-AS1 and miR-106b-5p were performed to study their relationship. Transwell assays were used to evaluate cell movement. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was performed to explore the role of BRE-AS1 in the methylation of the miR-106b-5p gene. Results. The results showed that the expression levels of BRE-AS1 were decreased, while those of miR-106b-5p were increased in ccRCC tissues. BRE-AS1 was found to be closely associated with the prognosis of patients with ccRCC. The expression of BRE-AS1 was inversely correlated with that of miR-106b-5p in tumor tissues. Overexpression of BRE-AS1 led to decreased expression levels of miR-106b-5p and increased methylation of the miR-106b-5p gene, whereas miR-106b-5p did not affect the expression of BRE-AS1. BRE-AS1 inhibited the movement and proliferation of ccRCC cell lines, while miR-106b-5p suppressed the role of BRE-AS1. Conclusion. BRE-AS1 may suppress ccRCC by downregulating the expression of miR-106b-5p

High-Quality Development of Chinese Agriculture under Factor Misallocation

Optimizing factor allocation is the premise of promoting high-quality development of agriculture. Based on the panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2004 to 2020, this paper examines the relationship between factor mismatch and high-quality agricultural development. We found that the high-quality development level of China’s agriculture shows a state of fluctuation and improvement, but the overall level is relatively low and the inter-provincial difference is expanding. Factor mismatch significantly inhibited the improvement of agricultural high-quality development, and the inhibition effect showed obvious temporal and spatial heterogeneity. We also found that the allocation of factors in extreme cases will lead to a 0.01% inter-provincial difference in the high-quality agricultural development. However, with the optimization and upgrading of the agricultural industrial structure and the improvement of the agricultural science and technology, the inhibitory effect of factor mismatch on high-quality agricultural development is constantly weakening. The above conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests. The conclusions of this paper enrich the theoretical literature on the influencing factors of high-quality agricultural development, and provide an empirical reference for the policy maker of reducing factor mismatch and promoting high-quality agricultural development

Novel leaflike Cu-O-Sn nanosheets as highly efficient catalysts for the Rochow reaction

In this work, we report the preparation of novel leaflike Cu-O-Sn nanosheet catalysts for the Rochow reaction. The catalysts were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach using CuSO4 center dot 3H(2)O and SnCl4 center dot 5H(2)O as the precursors, but without the use of any template. When used for the Rochow reaction to synthesize dimethyldichlorosilane (M2), the as-prepared 0.1 wt.% Cu-O-Sn nanosheet exhibited a much higher M2 selectivity (93.3%), Si conversion (68.4%), and stability than the catalysts of CuO or SnO2 alone, the Cu-O-Sn catalysts with different compositions, and the commercial catalysts. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction analyses. Surface segregation of Sn was observed, and the quantities of chemisorbed oxygen species and cation vacancies were well correlated with the activity of the catalysts. It is concluded that small crystal size, high chemisorbed oxygen species concentration, more cation vacancies, and strong interaction between Cu and Sn are responsible for the excellent catalytic performance of 0.1 wt.% Cu-O-Sn catalyst. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Extractive from Hypericum ascyron L promotes serotonergic neuronal differentiation in vitro

Background: Plant natural products have many different biological activities but the precise mechanisms underlying these activities remain largely unknown. Hypericum longistylum has long been recorded in Chinese medicine as a cure for depression and related disorders, but how it repairs neural lineages has not been addressed. Methods: We extracted compounds from Hypericum longistylum and determined their effect on neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro by using the Pax6-GFP reporter system. The amount of serotonin released during differentiation was measured by HPLC. The tail suspension test and forced swimming test was performed for determining the effect of compounds on depression-like behaviors in mice. Results: We found that one of the phloroglucinol derivatives not only facilitated differentiation of neural progenitor cells, but also increased the efficiency of differentiation into serotonergic neurons. This compound also improved the behaviors of mice placed in a stressful environment and reduced signs of depression. Conclusions: This is the first use of Chinese herb derived-natural products to promote neurogenesis of ESCs, including the generation of serotonergic neurons, and the first attempt to identify the active compound in Hypericum longistylum responsible for its beneficial effects on depressive diseases. Keywords: Cell differentiation, Chemical modification, Depression, Chinese medicine, Neural differentiation, Serotonergic neuro

Hit-to-Lead Optimization of the Natural Product Oridonin as Novel NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors with Potent Anti-Inflammation Activity

Targeting NLRP3 inflammasome with inhibitors is a novel strategy for NLRP3-driven diseases. Herein, hit compound 5 possessing an attractive skeleton was identified from our in-house database of oridonin, and then a potential lead compound 32 was obtained by optimization of 5, displaying two-digit nanomolar inhibition on NLRP3. Moreover, compound 32 showed enhanced safety index (SI) relative to oridonin (IC50 = 77.2 vs 780.4 nM, SI = 40.5 vs 8.5) and functioned through blocking ASC oligomerization and interaction of NLRP3-ASC/NEK7, thereby suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation. Furthermore, diverse agonists-induced activations of NLRP3 could be impeded by compound 32 without altering NLRC4 or AIM2 inflammasome. Crucially, compound 32 possessed tolerable pharmaceutical properties and significant anti-inflammatory activity in MSU-induced gouty arthritis model. Therefore, this work enriched the SAR of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors and provided a potential candidate for the treatment of NLRP3-associated diseases

Efficacy of Wearable low-intensity pulsed Ultrasound treatment in the Movement disorder in Parkinson’s disease (the SWUMP trial): protocol for a single-site, double-blind, randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative illness marked by the loss of dopaminergic neurons, causing motor symptoms. Oral levodopa replacement therapy remains the gold standard in the treatment of PD. It is, nevertheless, a symptomatic treatment. There is currently no effective treatment for PD. Therefore, new therapies for PD are highly desirable. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been shown to improve behavioral functions in PD animal models. It is a new type of neuromodulation approach that combines noninvasiveness with high spatial precision. The purpose of this study is to establish a new clinical protocol for LIPUS in the treatment of movement disorders in patients with PD. Methods This protocol is a single-site, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT). Forty-eight participants with clinically confirmed PD will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: LIPUS group or sham group. All of the participants continue to use pharmacological therapy as a fundamental treatment. The primary outcome is the difference between groups from baseline to 4 months in the change in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score (part III). The secondary outcomes include the rating scales such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and other three rating scales, and medical examinations including high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The primary safety outcome will be assessed at 4 months, and adverse events will be recorded. Discussion This study represents the clinical investigation into the efficacy of therapeutic LIPUS in the treatment of PD for the first time. If LIPUS is determined to be effective, it could offer a practical and innovative means of expanding the accessibility of ultrasound therapy by using a wearable LIPUS device within a home setting. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100052093. Registered on 17 October 2021