circNINL facilitates aerobic glycolysis, proliferation, invasion, and migration in lung cancer by sponging miR-3918 to mediate FGFR1 expression.

Previously characterized as an oncogenic player in breast cancer, the function of circular RNA NINL (circNINL) in lung cancer (LC) remained elusive. This study aimed to delineate the biological role of circNINL in LC and to unveil its potential molecular mechanisms. We discovered elevated expression levels of circNINL and Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1) concomitant with diminished expression of microRNA-3918 (miR-3918) in LC specimens.

Reading Ability in Patients With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Results of Chinese Character Reading and Reading Comprehension Tests.

Background: Most tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients have neurological disorders and are at high risk of academic difficulties. Among academic skills, reading ability is the most important academic skill. The study applied the Chinese character fluency test to measure the word recognition and reading comprehension of TSC children to observe whether they have the characteristics of reading disability, as an indicator of the spectrum of reading ability in TSC patients.

Continuous low-dose everolimus shrinkage tuberous sclerosis complex-associated renal angiomyolipoma: a 48-month follow-up study.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare disease that causes multisystem benign neoplasm, induced by dysregulation of the mammalian target of the rapamycin pathway (mTOR). This study aimed to examine the effects of continuous low-dose everolimus, a potent and selective inhibitor of mTOR, on the treatment of TSC-associated renal angiomyolipoma (AML). Between July 2013 and August 2017, 11 patients with TSC-AML were enrolled for an everolimus therapy protocol.

Trend of seizure remission in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex: A retrospective medical review.

Background: Seizures in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) tend to be intractable over time and become a subsequent psychological burden for the patients. The purpose of the current study was to describe the onset, phenotype, and factors associated with seizure remission in patients with TSC.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with TSC between 2009 and 2015 completed a questionnaire interview and underwent a systematic evaluation, including a medical review of their epilepsy history and neurobehavioral disorder assessment.

Ensifer shofinae sp. nov., a novel rhizobial species isolated from root nodules of soybean (Glycine max).

Two bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of soybean were characterized phylogenetically as members of a distinct group in the genus Ensifer based on 16S rRNA gene comparisons. They were also verified as a separated group by the concatenated sequence analyses of recA, atpD and glnII (with similarities ≤93.9% to the type strains for defined species), and by the average nucleotide identities (ANI) between the whole genome sequence of the representative strain CCBAU 251167 and those of the closely related strains in Ensifer glycinis and Ensifer fredii (90.

The ultrastructural characterization of mitochondria-rich cells as a response to variations in salinity in two types of teleostean pseudobranch: milkfish (Chanos chanos) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus).

The pseudobranchs of two euryhaline teleost species, the milkfish (Chanos chanos) and the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), were studied after acclimization to different salinities using optical and electron microscopy. The milkfish pseudobranch was the lamellae-free type, with separate lamellae along the filaments containing two groups of mitochondria (Mt)-rich cells: chloride cells (CCs) and pseudobranch type cells (PSCs). Conversely, the tilapia pseudobranch was the embedded type, covered with connective tissues and with only one group of Mt-rich PSCs.

Effects of everolimus on tuberous sclerosis complex-associated renal angiomyolipoma: A preliminary report.

Aim: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) presents with multisystem benign neoplasm induced by dysregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. This study aimed to examine the effects of oral everolimus at either 2.5 or 5.

Does Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency Increase the Risk of Preterm Birth: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

There are disagreements among researchers about the association between vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and preterm birth (PTB). Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies to evaluate this association. We performed a systematic literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library through August 2015 with the following keywords: "vitamin D" or "cholecalciferol" or "25-hydroxyvitamin D" or "25(OH)D" in combination with "premature birth" or "preterm birth" or "PTB" or "preterm delivery" or "PTD" or "prematurity".

Association between the growth rate of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma and age in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex.

Purpose: The most common neurological complications associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) include intractable seizures that begin in infancy and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) complicated by hydrocephalus with increasing age. Information on SEGA growth of TSC patients is limited. This study aimed to examine the TSC-SEGA growth rates by periodic neuroimaging.

Comparisons of two types of teleostean pseudobranchs, silver moony (Monodactylus argenteus) and tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), with salinity-dependent morphology and ion transporter expression.

There are essentially four different morphological types of pseudobranchs in teleosts, including lamellae-free, lamellae semi-free, covered, and embedded types. In the euryhaline silver moony (Monodactylus argenteus), the pseudobranch belongs to the lamellae semi-free type, which is characterized by one row of filaments on the opercular membrane and fusion on the buccal edge. The pseudobranchial epithelium of the moony contains two types of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase (NKA)-rich cells: chloride cells (CCs) and pseudobranch-type cells (PSCs).

[Symbiotic matching between soybean cultivar Luhuang No. 1 and different rhizobia].

Soybean plants could establish symbiosis and fix nitrogen with different rhizobial species in the genera of Sinorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. Studies on the symbiotic matching between soybean cultivars and different rhizobial species are theoretically and practically important for selecting effective strains used to inoculate the plants and improve the soybean production and quality. A total of 27 strains were isolated and purified from a soil sample of Huanghuaihai area by using the soybean cultivar Luhang No.

Targeting of surface alpha-enolase inhibits the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by rapid progression, invasiveness and resistance to treatment. We have previously demonstrated that most PDAC patients have circulating antibodies against the glycolytic enzyme alpha-enolase (ENO1), which correlates with a better response to therapy and survival. ENO1 is a metabolic enzyme, also expressed on the cell surface where it acts as a plasminogen receptor.

Five new phorbol esters with cytotoxic and selective anti-inflammatory activities from Croton tiglium.

Five new phorbol esters, (four phorbol diesters, 1-4, and one 4-deoxy-4α-phorbol diester, 5), as well as four known phorbol esters analogues (6-9) were isolated and identified from the branches and leaves of Croton tiglium. Their structures were elucidated mainly by extensive NMR spectroscopic, and mass spectrometric analysis. Among them, compound (1) was the first example of a naturally occurring phorbol ester with the 20-aldehyde group.

Comparison of the detection rates of RT-PCR and virus culture using a combination of specimens from multiple sites for enterovirus-associated encephalomyelitis during enterovirus 71 epidemic.

Enterovirus (EV) 71 may cause severe neurological illness in the pediatric population. The present study aimed to compare the detection rates of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with pan-EV/EV71 type- specific primers and virus culture (VC) for the identification of EV and EV71 using specimens from multiple sites. In total, specimens from throat/rectal swabs, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and blood from 66 patients diagnosed with EV encephalomyelitis were subjected to both RT-PCR and VC for detecting the presence of pan-EV and EV71.

Characterization and biological evaluation of six new dimeric lignans with an unusual α,β-unsaturated ketone motif from Zanthoxylum simulans.

Investigation of the bark of Zanthoxylum simulans afforded six new dimeric lignans zanthpodocarpins C-H (1-6) bearing an unusual α,β-unsaturated ketone group. The new structures of 1-6 were determined by using detailed spectroscopic analysis. All of the isolated compounds were examined for their inhibitory effects against rat joint synovial cell and splenocyte proliferation.

[Study on chemical constituents of Zanthoxyli cortex's ethyl acetate extract].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Zanthoxyli Cortex.

Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel and HP-20, MCI gel, Sephadex LH -20 column chromatography, RP-18 and PTLC. Their structures were elucidated by the analysis of spectral data and chemical properties.

The lamellae-free-type pseudobranch of the euryhaline milkfish (Chanos chanos) is a Na(+), K(+)-ATPase-abundant organ involved in hypoosmoregulation.

In teleosts, the pseudobranch is hemibranchial, with a gill-like structure located near the first gill. We hypothesized that the pseudobranch of the milkfish might exhibit osmoregulatory ability similar to that of the gills. In this study, the obtained Na(+), K(+)-ATPase (NKA) activity and protein abundance profiles showed that these parameters were higher in the pseudobranchs of the seawater (SW)- than the freshwater (FW)-acclimated milkfish, opposite the situation in the gills.

Progression of periodontal inflammation in adolescents is associated with increased number of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the change of related subgingival periodontopathogens among different stage of gingivitis in adolescent and assess the relationship between periodontopathogens and the progression of periodontal inflammation.

Methods: A total of 77 subgingival plaque samples from 35 adolescent individuals were divided into three groups including gingivitis group (mild, 15 samples; moderate, 16 samples; severe, 15 samples), chronic periodontitis group (15 samples) and healthy group (15 samples). Real-time PCR was used to quantitate Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum in subgingival plaque samples.

[Recombinant plasmid ZLW/pEGFP-C2 transfection into schistosomula of Schistosoma japonicum].

Objective: To study the efficiency of ZLW/pEGFP-C2 plasmid transfection into Schistosoma japonicum schistosomula and observe its in vitro effect of anti-schistosomula.

Methods: Recombinant plasmid ZLW/pEGFP-C2 was transfected into mechanically transformed schistosomula by immersion in 0.75% DMSO and high concentration of plasmid.

[Screening and characterization of peptides specifically binding to the schistosomulum tegument of Schistosoma japonicum].

Objective: To screen and analyze the peptides in 12 phage-display peptide library specifically binding to the schistosomulum tegument of Schistosoma japonicum.

Methods: A 12 phage-display peptide library was screened with the S. japonicum schistosomula as the target cells for biopanning by degrees, positive clones picked randomly were deduced by DNA sequencing.

[Construction of the hemagglutinin-2-deficient mutant of Porphyromonas gingivalis].

Objective: To construct and identify the Porphyromonas gingivalis(Pg)ATCC33277 hemagglutinin-2(HA-2)-deficient mutant.

Methods: The genomic DNA of Pg was isolated from PgATCC33277. The up/down stream genes of HA-2-HA(u), HA(l) were amplified by PCR, and inserted into pSY118 separately which contains a 2.

[Sequence analysis of hemin-binding peptide derived from recombinant hemagglutinin-2 of Porphyromonas gingivalis].

Objective: To determine the sequence of the active peptide derived from recombinant hemagglutinin (rHA-2) of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg).

Methods: The HA-2 gene from PgATCC33277 was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli (Ec) BL21 (DE3), and purified. The purified recombinant protein was evaluated for its ability to bind hemin-linked agarose.

[Exploratory thinking on the control technologies of Schistosomiasis japonica].

In this paper, the authors elaborated the difficulties of schistosomiasis control and analyzed shortages and problems of the skills currently used. In order to consolidate the progress in schistosomiasis control and reach the transmission-blocking target, research priorities on the disease control technologies are proposed.