Serum miR-224 Reflects Stage of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Predicts Survival

Background. In our previous study, we conducted a systematic screening of miRNA to identify potential serum biomarkers for predicting venous metastasis and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). miR-224 was one of the differentially expressed miRNAs. This study aimed to confirm whether serum miR-224 level is associated with the presence of venous metastasis and survival. Methods. TaqMan miRNA probe was used to perform qRT-PCR assays to evaluate the expression of serum miR-224 in a cohort of 182 HCC patients. Results. Patients with high miR-224 serum level showed poor survival compared to that with low miR-224 serum level (HR 1.985; 95% CI, 1.08, 3.65, = 0.027). The serum miR-224 levels were significantly higher in the BCLC stage C patients compared with the stage B patients ( = 0.005). In further analysis, significant difference of serum miR-224 expression level was observed when patients grouped by the status of PVTT but not the status of extra-liver metastasis ( = 0.013 and = 0.091). Serum levels of miR-224 showed significant relation with parameters of liver damage and serum AFP. Conclusion. Serum miR-224 might be BCLC stage dependent. It can reflect the status of tumor and liver damage. It was an independent predictor for the survival of HCC patients

Depressive Neurosis Treated by Acupuncture for Regulating the Liver —A Report of 176 Cases

ObjectiveTo observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture for regulating the liver on depressive neurosis.MethodsIn a multi-center randomized controlled trial, 440 patients were divided into 3 groups: Acupuncture group for regulating the liver (Acup., 176 cases) was treated by acupuncture at Siguan Points, i.e. bilateral Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) plus ear-acupuncture, Prozac group (P., 176 cases) by oral administration of Prozac, and Non-acupoint needling group (NAN, 88 cases) by acupuncture at non-acupoints as acupuncture placebo. Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) was examined before treatment, and one month, two and three months after treatment respectively to evaluate therapeutic effect, and Rating Scale for Side Effects (SERS) was used to evaluate the safety.ResultsAfter one month of treatment, SDS scores in Acup. Group were significantly lower than that in P. Group (P<0.05) and than that in NAN Group (P<0.01), and SDS scores in P. Group were lower than that in NAN Group (P<0.05), showing the SDS scores in Acup. Group <P. Group <NAN Group. After 2 months of treatment, SDS scores in Acup. Group were also significantly lower than that in P. Group (P<0.01) and than that in NAN Group (P<0.01), and SDS scores in P. Group were also lower than that in NAN Group (P<0.05), showing the SDS scores in Acup. Group <P. Group <NAN Group. After 3 months of treatment, SDS scores in Acup. Group were also significantly lower than that in P. Group (P<0.01) and than that in NAN Group (P<0.01), and SDS scores in P. Group were also lower than that in NAN Group (P<0.01), showing the SDS score in Acup. Group <P. Group <NAN Group. After treatment, SERS scores were 0.16±0.95, 6.51±5.09 and 0.23±1.36 in Acup. Group, P. Group and NAN Group respectively. A significant difference existed between Acup. Group and P. Group (P<0.05), but no significant difference between Acup. Group and NAN Group (P>0.05), showing the SERS scores in Acup. Group <NAN Group <P. Group. No side effect was found in Acup. and NAN groups.ConclusionThe therapeutic effect of acupuncture on depressive neurosis is better than or similar to that of Prozac but with less side effect

Genomic and oncogenic preference of HBV integration in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can integrate into the human genome, contributing to genomic instability and hepatocarcinogenesis. Here by conducting high-throughput viral integration detection and RNA sequencing, we identify 4,225 HBV integration events in tumour and adjacent non-tumour samples from 426 patients with HCC. We show that HBV is prone to integrate into rare fragile sites and functional genomic regions including CpG islands. We observe a distinct pattern in the preferential sites of HBV integration between tumour and non-tumour tissues. HBV insertional sites are significantly enriched in the proximity of telomeres in tumours. Recurrent HBV target genes are identified with few that overlap. The overall HBV integration frequency is much higher in tumour genomes of males than in females, with a significant enrichment of integration into chromosome 17. Furthermore, a cirrhosis-dependent HBV integration pattern is observed, affecting distinct targeted genes. Our data suggest that HBV integration has a high potential to drive oncogenic transformation

Overview to the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT) Satellite

As China's first X-ray astronomical satellite, the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT), which was dubbed as Insight-HXMT after the launch on June 15, 2017, is a wide-band (1-250 keV) slat-collimator-based X-ray astronomy satellite with the capability of all-sky monitoring in 0.2-3 MeV. It was designed to perform pointing, scanning and gamma-ray burst (GRB) observations and, based on the Direct Demodulation Method (DDM), the image of the scanned sky region can be reconstructed. Here we give an overview of the mission and its progresses, including payload, core sciences, ground calibration/facility, ground segment, data archive, software, in-orbit performance, calibration, background model, observations and some preliminary results.Comment: 29 pages, 40 figures, 6 tables, to appear in Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1910.0443

Phylogenomic analyses provide insights into primate evolution

Comparative analysis of primate genomes within a phylogenetic context is essential for understanding the evolution of human genetic architecture and primate diversity. We present such a study of 50 primate species spanning 38 genera and 14 families, including 27 genomes first reported here, with many from previously less well represented groups, the New World monkeys and the Strepsirrhini. Our analyses reveal heterogeneous rates of genomic rearrangement and gene evolution across primate lineages. Thousands of genes under positive selection in different lineages play roles in the nervous, skeletal, and digestive systems and may have contributed to primate innovations and adaptations. Our study reveals that many key genomic innovations occurred in the Simiiformes ancestral node and may have had an impact on the adaptive radiation of the Simiiformes and human evolution