The role of miR-92b-3p in notch signaling and monitoring of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) influences diverse hallmarks of cancer, including proliferative signaling, metastasis, and resistance to cell death. We explored the contribution of miR-92b-3p in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its potential as a monitoring biomarker. Analysis of TCGA, GEO, and our own cohort revealed dysregulation of miR-92b-3p in OSCC, which correlated with aggressive tumor characteristics.

Multi-Band Emission of Pr-Doped CaAlO and the Effects of Charge Compensator Ions on Luminescence Properties.

Multi-band emission luminescence materials are of great significance owing to their extensive application in diverse fields. In this research, we successfully prepared a series of Pr-doped CaAlO multi-band emission phosphors via a high-temperature solid-state method. The phase structure, morphology, luminescence spectra and decay curves were investigated in detail.

The pathogenesis of post-stroke osteoporosis and the role oxidative stress plays in its development.

Cardiovascular disease and osteoporotic fractures (OF) are the main diseases affecting the health of middle-aged and elderly people. With the gradual increase of population aging in China and even the world, the incidence of the two and the prevalence of high-risk groups are also showing a continuous upward trend. The relationship between the two, especially the impact of cardiovascular disease on the risk and prognosis of OF, has attracted more and more attention.

Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein L14 Promotes Cell Growth and Invasion by Modulating Reactive Oxygen Species in Thyroid Cancer.

Objectives: The mitochondrial ribosomal protein L14 (MRPL14) is encoded by a nuclear gene and participates in mitochondrial protein translation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of MRPL14 in thyroid cancer.

Methods: We investigated the association between MRPL14 expression and clinicopathological features using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chungnam National University Hospital (CNUH) databases.

A circulating microRNA panel as a novel dynamic monitor for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has high recurrence and mortality rates despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers for early detection, efficient monitoring, and prognosis prediction. Since microRNA (miRNA) is stable and detectable in serum, it has been reported to inform the diagnosis and monitor disease progression through liquid biopsy.

Puerol and pueroside derivatives from Pueraria lobata and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Five undescribed puerols and puerosides and three known analogues were obtained from the roots of Pueraria lobata. Their structures were determined by comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data and chemical methods. Since puerol D and puerol C were racemic compounds, resolved into their enantiomers, and their absolute configurations were determined by experimental and calculated ECD spectra.

Key mutations on spike protein altering ACE2 receptor utilization and potentially expanding host range of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Increasing evidence supports inter-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants from humans to domestic or wild animals during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is posing great challenges to epidemic control. Clarifying the host range of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants will provide instructive information for the containment of viral spillover. The spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 is the key determinant of receptor utilization, and therefore amino acid mutations on S will probably alter viral host range.

Poly(rC) binding protein 1 benefits coxsackievirus B3 infection via suppressing the translation of p62/SQSTM1.

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a positive single-strand RNA virus causing myocarditis, pancreatitis and meningitis. During CVB3 infection, various host cellular components, including proteins and non-coding RNAs, interact with the virus and affect viral infection. Poly(rC) binding protein 1 (PCBP1) is a multifunctional RNA binding protein regulating transcription, translation and mRNA stability of a variety of genes.

Claudin-1 mediates progression by regulating EMT through AMPK/TGF-β signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Claudin-1 (CLDN1), a major component of tight junction complexes in the epithelium, maintains cellular polarity, and plays a critical role in cell-to-cell communication as well as epithelial cell homeostasis. Although the role of CLDN1 has been widely studied in cancer, its role in the progression and the exact regulatory mechanisms, remain controversial. Using next-generation sequencing, we first analyzed the expression profiles of tumor/non-tumor paired tissue in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) from public and local cohorts and found out that CLDN1 is upregulated in tumors compared to normal tissues.

Turn-on and blue-shift fluorescence sensor toward L-histidine based on stable Cd metal-organic framework with tetranuclear cluster units.

A novel Cd-based two-fold interpenetrated metal-organic framework (MOF), namely {[Cd(BTDB)(4,4-bpy)]·DMF} (JXUST-14), (H2BTDB = 4,4'-(benzo[][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,7-diyl)dibenzoic acid and 4,4-bpy = 4,4-bipyridine), has been prepared and characterized. Single-crystal structure determination reveals that JXUST-14 has a tetranuclear cluster based 6-connected topological network with Schlafli symbol {4·6}. When soaked in common organic solvents and aqueous solutions with diverse pH values of 2-12 for 48 h, JXUST-14 remains stable.

Safety and efficacy of thalidomide in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia: a randomized clinical trial.

Thalidomide induces γ-globin expression in erythroid progenitor cells, but its efficacy on patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) remains unclear. In this phase 2, multi-center, randomized, double-blind clinical trial, we aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of thalidomide in TDT patients. A hundred patients of 14 years or older were randomly assigned to receive placebo or thalidomide for 12 weeks, followed by an extension phase of at least 36 weeks.

Patterns of Occult Metastasis to Level Va and Vb in Clinically Lateral Node-Positive Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: The optimal extent of therapeutic lateral neck dissection (ND) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) continues to be debated. We analyzed the frequency, patterns, and predictive factors of occult level Va and Vb metastasis in clinically lateral node-positive PTC patients.

Methods: We reviewed the data of PTC patients who underwent thyroidectomy and therapeutic lateral ND from level II to V between May 2008 and August 2020.

Innate Immunity Evasion Strategies of Highly Pathogenic Coronaviruses: SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2.

In the past two decades, coronavirus (CoV) has emerged frequently in the population. Three CoVs (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2) have been identified as highly pathogenic human coronaviruses (HP-hCoVs). Particularly, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 warns that HP-hCoVs present a high risk to human health.

The effect of Curcumin on multi-level immune checkpoint blockade and T cell dysfunction in head and neck cancer.

Background: Despite recent advances in understanding the complex immunologic dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment (TME), fewer than 20% of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Thus, it is important to understand how inhibitory IC receptors maintain the suppressed dysfunctional TME, and to develop more effective combination immunotherapy. This study evaluated the immune-modulating effects of Curcumin, which has well-established anti-cancer and chemopreventive properties, and its long-term safety as a phytochemical drug.

Water resources allocation model based on ecological priority in the arid region.

Based on the characteristics of arid regions in the central and southern Ningxia，firstly we constructed the theoretical framework about rational allocation of water resources based on ecological priority, which supplemented and improved the theoretical system on rational allocation of water resources for sustainable development. On the basis of theoretical research, depending on its characteristic of water resources：pumping water from Yellow River in the north, piloting water from Jing River in the south and regional water resources, which formed a mixing water supply pattern of "pumping, piloting, storage". The theory of water resource allocation system was perfected.

Exosomes Released From Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Attenuate Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Mice.

Objective: Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived exosomes have been applied for the treatment of several immune diseases. This study aimed to explore the effect of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hBMSC)-derived exosomes on acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: hBMSC were cultured, and the culture supernatants were then collected to prepare exosomes using total exosome isolation reagent from Invitrogen.

Cytotoxic and Anti-Inflammatory Sesquiterpenes from the Whole Plants of .

Sixteen new sesquiterpene lactones (-) along with 13 known analogues (-) were isolated from the whole plants of . The structures of - were delineated by the combination of NMR spectroscopic experiments, HRESIMS, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, and ECD spectra. Compounds - showed potent cytotoxicity against Hela, HCT-116, and HepG2 cells with IC values of 0.

EGR1/GADD45α Activation by ROS of Non-Thermal Plasma Mediates Cell Death in Thyroid Carcinoma.

(1) Background: Nonthermal plasma (NTP) induces cell death in various types of cancer cells, providing a promising alternative treatment strategy. Although recent studies have identified new mechanisms of NTP in several cancers, the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effect on thyroid cancer (THCA) have not been elucidated. (2) Methods: To investigate the mechanism of NTP-induced cell death, THCA cell lines were treated with NTP-activated medium -(NTPAM), and gene expression profiles were evaluated using RNA sequencing.

The 442th amino acid residue of the spike protein is critical for the adaptation to bat hosts for SARS-related coronaviruses.

Bats carry diverse severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs). The suspected interspecies transmission of SARSr-CoVs from bats to humans has caused two severe CoV pandemics, the SARS pandemic in 2003 and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The receptor utilization of SARSr-CoV plays the key role in determining the host range and the interspecies transmission ability of the virus.

Prevalence and risk factors of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in a Chinese population.

Studies on the risk factors for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) in a population-based cohort are lacking. We assess the prevalence and risk factors of ICP in a Chinese population. In this study, a cohort study was conducted that included 12,200 eligible pregnant women.