Genomic analysis reveals a cryptic pangolin species.

Eight extant species of pangolins are currently recognized. Recent studies found that two mitochondrial haplotypes identified in confiscations in Hong Kong could not be assigned to any known pangolin species, implying the existence of a species. Here, we report that two additional mitochondrial haplotypes identified in independent confiscations from Yunnan align with the putative species haplotypes supporting the existence of this mysterious species/population.

Preoperative prediction of early recurrence of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (≤5 cm) by visceral adipose tissue index.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether visceral adipose tissue index (VATI) is a significant risk factor for the early recurrence (ER) of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (≤5 cm) after hepatectomy.

Methods: The recruited cohort patients who were positive for hepatitis B virus, presented with surgically confirmed HCC (≤5 cm) from Army Medical University (internal training cohort:  = 192) and Chongqing Medical University (external validation group:  = 46). We measured VATI, subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI) computed tomography (CT).

Can a molecular switch exist in both superalkali electride and superalkalide forms?

To combine both electride and alkalide characteristics in one molecular switch, it is shown herein that the phenalenyl radical and the M ring (M-PHY, M = Li, Na, and K) stacked with parallel and vertical geometries are good candidates. The former geometry is the superalkali electride e⋯M-PHY while the latter geometry is the superalkalide M-M-PHY. The superalkalide M-M-PHY may isomerize to the superalkali electride e⋯M-PHY (M = Li, Na, and K) using suitable long-wavelength irradiation, while the latter may isomerize to the former with suitable short-wavelength irradiation.

A cohort autopsy study defines COVID-19 systemic pathogenesis.

Severe COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is frequently accompanied by dysfunction of the lungs and extrapulmonary organs. However, the organotropism of SARS-CoV-2 and the port of virus entry for systemic dissemination remain largely unknown. We profiled 26 COVID-19 autopsy cases from four cohorts in Wuhan, China, and determined the systemic distribution of SARS-CoV-2.

Inhibition of the ALDH18A1-MYCN positive feedback loop attenuates -amplified neuroblastoma growth.

-amplified neuroblastoma (NB) is characterized by poor prognosis, and directly targeting MYCN has proven challenging. Here, we showed that aldehyde dehydrogenase family 18 member A1 (ALDH18A1) exerts profound impacts on the proliferation, self-renewal, and tumorigenicity of NB cells and is a potential risk factor in patients with NB, especially those with amplification. Mechanistic studies revealed that ALDH18A1 could both transcriptionally and posttranscriptionally regulate MYCN expression, with MYCN reciprocally transactivating ALDH18A1 and thus forming a positive feedback loop.

Hepatic monotypic epithelioid angiomyolipoma with concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatic monotypic epithelioid angiomyolipoma (AML) is a rare lesion in which the predominant population of an epithelioid component can mimic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The hepatic epithelioid AML with concomitant HCC is extremely uncommon. In this study, we present the clinical and pathologic features of a case of hepatic monotypic epithelioid AML with concomitant HCC in a 63-year-old man.

AIE-Active Fluorene Derivatives for Solution-Processable Nondoped Blue Organic Light-Emitting Devices (OLEDs).

A series of fluorene derivatives end-capped with diphenylamino and oxadiazolyl were synthesized, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties are reported. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effects were observed for the materials, and bipolar characteristics of the molecules are favored with measurement of carrier mobility and calculation of molecular orbitals using density functional theory (DFT). Using the fluorene derivatives as emitting-layer, nondoped organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) have been fabricated by spin-coating in the configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS(35 nm)/PVK(15 nm)/PhN-OF(n)-Oxa(80 nm)/SPPO13(30 nm)/Ca(8 nm)/Al(100 nm) (n = 2-4).

miR-663 Suppresses Oncogenic Function of CXCR4 in Glioblastoma.

Purpose: To identify the miRNA regulators of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and the underlying mechanism as well as the therapeutic and prognostic values in human glioblastoma (GBM).

Experimental Design: miRNA profile analyses and bioinformatics predictions were used to identify the mediators of CXCR4, which were confirmed by luciferase reporter assay, Western blot assay and immunohistochemistry. The effects of miR-663 on CXCR4-mediated GBM malignancy were investigated by gain-of-function experiments.

Primate-specific miR-663 functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting PIK3CD and predicts the prognosis of human glioblastoma.

Purpose: To determine the prognostic significance of miR-663 in glioblastoma, its effect in tumor progression, and the underlying mechanism.

Experimental Design: Specimens from 256 cases of patients with glioma, including 239 patients with follow-up information, were used to analyze the association between miR-663 and patients' prognosis by Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The effects of miR-663 on glioblastoma cell proliferation and invasion were examined both in vitro and in vivo.

Proteome analysis of silkworm, Bombyx mori, larval gonads: characterization of proteins involved in sexual dimorphism and gametogenesis.

Sexual dimorphism is initialed by the components of the sex determination pathway and is most evident in gonads and germ cells. Although striking dimorphic expressions have been detected at the transcriptional level between the silkworm larval testis and the ovary, the sex-dimorphic expressions at the protein level have not yet been well characterized. The proteome of silkworm larval gonads was investigated using a shotgun-based identification.

Genome-wide analysis of OCT4 binding sites in glioblastoma cancer cells.

OCT4, a member of the POU family of gene products, is an octamer motif-binding transcription factor. As it is known to play a crucial role in cancer processes including proliferation, invasion, and chemoradioresistance, it is important to identify the direct targets of OCT4 in living cancer cells. Here, chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) was used to identify OCT4 binding sites in glioblastoma cancer cells.

Expression profiling and regulation of genes related to silkworm posterior silk gland development and fibroin synthesis.

The posterior silk gland (PSG) is the most important suborgan responsible for the synthesis and secretion of silk core fibroin proteins in silkworm. Here, we performed genome-scale expression profiling analysis of silkworm PSG at the fourth molting (M4) and at day 1 (V1), day 3 (V3), day 5 (V5), and wandering stage (W) of the fifth instar by microarray analysis with 22 987 probes. We found that the five genes of silk proteins secreted from PSG including fibroin heavy (H) and light (L) chains, P25, seroin 1, and seroin 2 basically showed obvious up-regulation at V3 which lasted to V5, while slight down-regulation at W.

Human malignant glioma cells expressing functional formylpeptide receptor recruit endothelial progenitor cells for neovascularization.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are involved in tumor neovascularization with undefined mechanisms. In this study, we explored the role of formylpeptide receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor, expressed by human malignant glioma cells in neovascularization of malignant glioma. EPCs were isolated from human umbilical cord blood and their migratory capability and tubulogenesis induced by the supernatant of U87 glioblastoma (GBM) cell line were examined.

Proteomic analysis of seminal plasma from asthenozoospermia patients reveals proteins that affect oxidative stress responses and semen quality.

Asthenozoospermia (AS) is a common cause of human male infertility. In one study, more than 80% of the samples from infertile men had reduced sperm motility. Seminal plasma is a mixture of secretions from the testis, epididymis and several male accessory glands, including the prostate, seminal vesicles and Cowper's gland.

Downregulating FPR restrains xenograft tumors by impairing the angiogenic potential and invasive capability of malignant glioma cells.

G-protein-coupled formylpeptide receptor (FPR) has recently been found to be functionally expressed in gliomas and are probably involved in their malignant biological behavior. In an attempt to explore the therapeutic significance of FPRs, we used wild-type human glioblastoma cells (U87), the corresponding FPR short-interfering RNA transfected (siRNA U87) cells, and mock-transfected U87 cells (mock U87) to establish xenografts in mice brains. Compared to wild-type and mock transfected cells, siRNA U87 cells formed smaller and more well-differentiated xenografts with fewer mitotic figures and more glial filaments within their cytoplasm.

Incorporation of endothelial progenitor cells into the neovasculature of malignant glioma xenograft.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are important initiators of vasculogenesis in the process of tumor neovascularization. However, it is unclear how circulating EPCs contribute to the formation of tumor microvessels. In this study, we isolated CD34(+)/CD133(+) cells from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) and obtained EPCs with the capacities of forming colonies, uptaking acetylated low-density lipoprotein (ac-LDL), binding lectins and expressing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 2 (VEGFR-2, KDR), CD31 and von Willebrand factor (vWF).

[Vasculogenic potential of endothelial progenitor cells derived from human umbilical cord blood and their roles in neovascularization of malignant glioma].

Objective: To investigate vasculogenic potential of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from human umbilical cord blood and their contribution to the neovascularization of malignant glioma in vivo.

Methods: EPCs were isolated from human umbilical cord blood by density gradient centrifugation. After 7-10 days of culture, EPCs were investigated for CD34 and VEGFR-2 expression by direct immunofluoresent staining.

[Effect of nordy on the function of endothelial progenitor cells from human umbilical cord blood induced by vascular endothelial growth factor].

This study is to investigate whether the synthesized chiral compound Nordy has influence on the function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from human umbilical cord blood induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). EPCs were isolated from human umbilical cord blood by density gradient centrifugation. After cultured for 7 -10 days, EPCs were prepared for detecting effect of Nordy on proliferation, migration and tubule-forming activity in Matrigel induced by VEGF.

[Studies on construction of artificial mutants of Cucumber mosaic virus satellite RNA and their biological activity].

Based on the full length cDNA clone of a Cucumber mosaic virus satellite RNA, which was 369nt in size, artificial mutants were developed by the method of error-prone PCR and DNA shuffling. The new satellite cDNAs were transcribed in vitro into ssRNA and pseudo-recombined with a helper Cucumber mosaic virus, which contains no satellite RNA. Sequence analysis showed that A to T/G or G to A replacement all the four mutants, named MS1, MS5, MS6 and MS11 respectively, and there is no C to G or G to C replacement, but amongst, only the mutants MS11 could replicated when recombined with the helper virus strain.