[Influence of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Polymorphism on High-Dose Methotrexate Toxicity in Pediatric Mature B-cell lymphoma Patients].

Objective: To investigate the effect of genetic polymorphism of (rs1801133) on methotrexate (MTX) related toxicity in pediatric mature B-cell lymphoma patients.

Methods: Fifty-eight intermediate and high risk patients under 18 years of age with mature B-cell lymphoma who received 5 g/m MTX (24 h intravenous infusion) in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from August 2014 to December 2021 were included, and their toxicity of high-dose MTX (HD-MTX) were monitored and analyzed.

Results: Among the 58 pediatric patients, the number of CC, CT, and TT genotypes for was 33, 19 and 6, respectively.

Proteomic characteristics of six snake venoms from the Viperidae and Elapidae families in China and their relation to local tissue necrosis.

Patients envenomed by snakes from the Viperidae and Elapidae families in China often have varying degrees of local tissue necrosis. Due to the relative clinical characteristics of local tissue necrosis and ulceration following envenoming, this study has analyzed the proteome of six snake venoms from the Viperidae and Elapidae family, and the toxin profiles of each snake were compared and correlated with the clinical manifestations that follow cytotoxic envenoming. Deinagkistrodon acutus and Naja atra envenomation induce severe ulceration, which is absent in Bungarus multicinctus envenomation and mild in the other three vipers.

Immune-Related LncRNAs as Prognostic Factors for Pediatric Rhabdoid Tumor of the Kidney.

Background: Immune-related long noncoding RNAs (IrlncRNAs) are recognized as important prognostic factors in a variety of cancers, but thus far, their prognostic value in pediatric rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (pRTK) has not been reported. Here, we clarified the associations between IrlncRNAs and overall survival (OS) of pRTK patients and constructed a model to predict their prognosis.

Methods: We accessed RNA sequencing data and corresponding clinical data of pRTK from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) database.

ebv-circRPMS1 promotes the progression of EBV-associated gastric carcinoma via Sam68-dependent activation of METTL3.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a tumor virus that is associated with a variety of neoplasms, including EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC). Recently, EBV was reported to generate various circular RNAs (circRNAs). CircRNAs are important regulators of tumorigenesis by modulating the malignant behaviors of tumor cells.

Comparative Transcriptome Provides a Systematic Perspective on Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Gastric Carcinoma Cell Lines.

Purpose: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is widely recognised to cause various tumours, and EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) is a special type of GC. It has obviously different clinical features and pathological manifestations from EBV-negative gastric carcinoma, but its progression remains elusive. The underlying cancer progression of viral infection detected by genome-wide transcriptome analysis has been demonstrated in numerous diseases.

Downregulated RPS-30 in Angiostrongylus cantonensis L5 plays a defensive role against damage due to oxidative stress.

Background: Eosinophilic meningitis, caused by fifth-stage larvae of the nematode (roundworm) Angiostrongylus cantonensis, is mainly attributed to the contribution of eosinophils to tissue inflammatory responses in helminthic infections. Eosinophils are associated with the killing of helminths via peroxidative oxidation and hydrogen peroxide generated by the dismutation of superoxide produced during respiratory bursts. In contrast, when residing in the host with high level of eosinophils, helminthic worms have evolved to attenuate eosinophil-mediated tissue inflammatory responses for their survival in the hosts.

Investigation and Strategic Analysis of Family Barriers to Organ Donation in China.

Background: Families play a prominent role in the eventual organ donation decision. Because the deceased cannot directly express their wishes, their families become the actual decision makers. In China, families are permitted to make decisions regarding organ donation that may not be in accordance with the wishes of the deceased family member, and objections by families are a main bottleneck in the donation process.

Epstein-Barr virus-derived circular RNA LMP2A induces stemness in EBV-associated gastric cancer.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are cancer-initiating cells that are not only a source of tumorigenesis but also the cause of tumour progression, metastasis and therapy resistance. EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) is a distinct subtype of gastric cancer with unique clinicopathological and molecular features. However, whether CSCs exist in EBVaGC, and the tumorigenic mechanism of EBV, remains unclear.

Improving pathological early diagnosis and differential biomarker value for hepatocellular carcinoma via RNAscope technology.

Background: The diagnostic and prognostic values of glypican3 (GPC3) and glutamine synthetase (GS) proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been reported, but their specificity and sensitivity remain low. Here, we applied RNAscope to improve HCC early pathological and differential diagnosis by estimating GPC3 and GS mRNAs.

Methods: We performed RNAscope and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect GPC3 and GS biomarkers on the tissue sections of 194 cases, including high- and low-grade liver dysplastic nodules; highly, moderately, and poorly differentiated HCCs; intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICCs); metastatic HCC; and carcinomas from other organs.

Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes and Sequelae Between Children and Adult Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Our purpose was to compare long-term survival outcomes and sequelae between child and adult nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the era of intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Methods And Materials: Data on 285 patients with NPC aged ≤18 years at diagnosis and treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy between January 2004 and November 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. A propensity score matching method was adopted to screen matched adult patients with NPC at a ratio of 1:3.

The roles of EBV-encoded microRNAs in EBV-associated tumors.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is believed to be a pathogen causing a number of human cancers, but the pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. An increasing number of studies have indicated that EBV-encoded microRNAs (EBV miRNAs) are expressed in a latency type- and tumor type-dependent manner, playing important roles in the development and progression of EBV-associated tumors. By targeting one or more genes of the virus and the host, EBV miRNAs are responsible for the deregulation of a variety of viral and host cell biological processes, including viral replication, latency maintenance, immune evasion, cell apoptosis and metabolism, and tumor proliferation and metastasis.

Identification of virus-encoded circular RNA.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNA molecules in eukaryotic organisms that have potentially important roles in gene regulation. Nevertheless, whether viruses can encode circRNA is still uncertain. To examine whether large genome DNA viruses can generate circRNA during the infection of human cells, we performed RNA sequencing of ribosomal RNA-depleted total RNA from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected cell lines, including SNU-719, AGS-EBV, C666-1 and Akata.

Brain metastasis in children with stage 4 neuroblastoma after multidisciplinary treatment.

Introduction: Brain metastasis is common in relapsed neuroblastoma patients, but the characteristics of brain metastasis remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the status of brain metastasis with neuroblastoma in South China.

Methods: In this retrospective case-based study, 106 patients with stage 4 neuroblastoma from the Department of Pediatric Oncology in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2004 and May 2013 were included.

Inflammation scores predict survival for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients after transarterial chemoembolization.

Aim: To compare the prognostic ability of inflammation scores for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods: Data of 224 consecutive patients who underwent TACE for unresectable HBV-related HCC from September 2009 to November 2011 were retrieved from a prospective database. The association of inflammation scores with clinicopathologic variables and overall survival (OS) were analyzed, and receiver operating characteristic curves were generated, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the discriminatory ability of each inflammation score and staging system, including tumor-node-metastasis, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer, and Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) scores.

Rationality and effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization as an initial treatment for BCLC B stage HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended as standard care for intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We analyse the rationality and effectiveness of TACE with BCLC B stage HBV-related HCC in a large cohort.

Methods: A total of 1516 patients with BCLC B stage from 7724 HBV-related HCCs who received TACE as initial treatment were retrospectively studied.

Neuroprotective effect of Jatrorrhizine on hydrogen peroxide-induced cell injury and its potential mechanisms in PC12 cells.

The neuroprotective effects of Jatrorrhizine from Coptidis Rhizoma against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced rat pheochromocytoma line PC12 injury and its potential mechanisms were evaluated in the present study. When cells were exposed to H(2)O(2) (200 μM) for 12h, there was a significant reduction in cell survival and activity of antioxidant enzyme (SOD and HO-1) and LDH release. In addition, increased ROS production, declined MMP and increased production of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed.

EFEMP1 expression promotes angiogenesis and accelerates the growth of cervical cancer in vivo.

Objective: The study was to investigate the role of EFEMP1 in angiogenesis and growth of cervical carcinoma in vivo.

Methods: Effects of EFEMP1 on proliferation of Hela cells and HUVECs, invasion of Hela cells and migration of HUVECs, and adhesion of Hela cells to HUVECs were evaluated by MTT, Transwell chamber assay and adhesion assay, respectively. EFEMP1 overexpression in Hela cells was achieved by stable EFEMP1 gene transfection into Hela cells by Lipofectamin™ 2000 and the effectiveness of transfection was verified with western-blotting.

[Adsorption and sustained release of epirubicin from carbon-coated iron nanocrystals].

Objective: To evaluate the adsorption and desorption of epirubicin (EADM) by carbon-coated iron nanocrystals (CCIN).

Methods: EADM standard curve was generated. After thorough mixture of CCIN and EADM with sonication, the mixture solution was centrifuged at high speed to obtain dissociated EADM for evaluating the adsorption capacity of CCIN.

In vivo analysis of fibroin heavy chain signal peptide of silkworm Bombyx mori using recombinant baculovirus as vector.

In order to investigate the functional signal peptide of silkworm fibroin heavy chain (FibH) and the effect of N- and C-terminal parts of FibH on the secretion of FibH in vivo, N- and C-terminal segments of fibh gene were fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene. The fused gene was then introduced into silkworm larvae and expressed in silk gland using recombinant AcMNPV (Autographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus) as vector. The fluorescence of EGFP was observed with fluorescence microscope.

Loss of posterior silk gland transcription specificity of fibroin light chain promoter due to absence of 41 bp sequence containing possible inhibitor binding sites.

The gene encoding fibroin light chain protein (FibL) is specifically expressed in the posterior silk gland of silkworm and repressed in other tissues. The binding sites of several transcription factors involved in the silk gland transcription specificity of fibl promoter have been recognized, including SGFB, PSGF and BMFA. Here we report the leak expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene in tissues other than the posterior silk gland in vivo when under the control of a shortened fibl promoter with deletion of the 5' terminal 41 bp sequence, which is located at -650 nt to -610 nt upstream of the fibl transcription starting site.

Transformation of Neomycin Resistance Gene (neo(R)) into Silkworm (Bombyx mori.L.).

Neomycin resistance gene (neo(R)) flanked by 5' and 3' regions of fibroin H-chain gene of silkworm (Bombyx mori.L.) was transferred into eggs of silkworm by gene gun in the early period of fertilization.

Fluorescent Transgenic Silkworm.

The replacement of fibroin heavy chain gene in silkworm by site directed homologous recombination was studied The DNA fragment consisting of an IE promoter driving green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene as reporter flanked by pieces of the 5' and 3' sequences of the fibroin heavy chain gene of silkworm at two sides was transferred into silkworm eggs by electroporation Green fluorescent flecks were seen on three silkworms fifth instar among five thousand silkworms under UV light PCR analysis proved that the GFP gene was integrated into the genome of silkworm Southern hybridization of genomic DNA of one transgenic silkworm showed that the fibroin heavy chain gene was successfully knocked out and replaced by the reporter gene The transgenic silkworms could grow up to the fifth instar as normal but they could not spin silk while control ones do.

Transgenic Silkworm of Anti-NPV Ribozyme.

The plasmid pGL2Rz including ribozyme gene was linearized and introduced into early eggs of silkworm (G(0)) by gene gun. The luciferase activity in blood of the G(1) generation was detected, then the resistant silkworm was selected by NPV infection from G(2) generation. The transgenic silkworm resistant against NPV 10 times more than control ones was got at the G(4) generation.