Protective effect of Cordycepin on blood-testis barrier against pre-puberty polystyrene nanoplastics exposure in male rats.

Plastic pollution is an emerging environmental issue, with microplastics and nanoplastics raising health concerns due to bioaccumulation. This work explored the impact of polystyrene nanoparticle (PS-NPs) exposure during prepuberty on male reproductive function post maturation in rats. Rats were gavaged with PS-NPs (80 nm) at 0, 3, 6, 12 mg/kg/day from postnatal day 21 to 95.

A Nomogram Including Sarcopenia for Predicting Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Localized Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Because of to the removal of subclassification of papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC), the survival prognostification of localized pRCC after surgical treatment became inadequate. Sarcopenia was widely evaluated and proved to be a predictive factor for prognosis in RCC patients. Therefore, we comprehensively investigated the survival prediction of the body composition parameters for localized pRCC.

Bif‑1 inhibits activation of inflammasome through autophagy regulatory mechanism.

Inflammasome activation is a crucial mechanism in inflammatory responses. Bax‑interacting factor 1 (Bif‑1) is required for the normal formation of autophagosomes, but its ability to exert an inflammatory regulatory effect remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of Bif‑1 in inflammation, possibly mediated through autophagy regulation.

Research Progress on Skin Aging and Active Ingredients.

With the advancement of living standards in modern society and the emergence of an aging population, an increasing number of people are becoming interested in the topic of aging and anti-aging. An important feature of aging is skin aging, and women are particularly concerned about skin aging. In the field of cosmetics, the market share of anti-aging products is increasing year by year.

Effects of management intensities on soil aggregate stability and carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus distribution in forests.

Soil aggregates are the main sites for the decomposition of soil organic matter and the formation of humus. The composition characteristics of aggregates with different particle sizes are one of the indicators for soil fertility. We explored the effects of management intensity (frequency of fertilization and reclamation) on soil aggregates in moso bamboo forests, including mid-intensity management (T, fertilization and reclamation every 4 years), high-intensity management (T, fertilization and reclamation every 2 years), and extensive management (CK).

Ecological strategy of oliver in the riparian zone based on ecological stoichiometry.

The abnormality of seasonal water level fluctuation in the riparian zone causes various ecological and environmental problems, such as vegetation degradation, biodiversity reduction, soil erosion, and landscape transformation, thereby critically modifying the ecosystem structure and functions. This necessitates the development of a dominant vegetation zone with competitive potential. In this study, we investigated the content and distribution pattern of nutrient elements in each organ of the dominant bamboo species, , in the riparian zone.

TNFα stimulates the proliferation of immature Sertoli cells by attenuating UPS-degradation of cyclin D1 and leads to the delay of BTB maturation in pubertal rats.

Backgrounds: The Sertoli cell that plays a vital role during spermatogenesis is a known target of physiological and pathological factors affecting testicular development. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) participates in the blood-testis barrier reconstruction, cell apoptosis, and inflammatory response by recognizing receptors on Sertoli cell. TNFα has also been shown to induce the proliferation of immature Sertoli cell in vitro, yet the mechanism still remains unclarified.

TGF-β3 induces lactate production in Sertoli cell through inhibiting the Notch pathway.

Backgrounds: In the testis, spermatocytes and spermatids rely on lactate produced by Sertoli cells (SCs) as energy source. Transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-β3) is one of the generally accepted paracrine regulatory factors of SC-created blood-testis barrier (BTB), yet its role in SC glycolysis and lactate production still remains unclear.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of TGF-β3 on glycolysis and lactate production in SCs and determine the role of lethal giant larvae 2 (Lgl2) and Notch signaling activity during this process.

Prognostic comparative genes predict targets for sorafenib combination therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma.

With the increasing incidence and mortality of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide, revealing innovative targets to improve therapeutic strategies is crucial for prolonging the lives of patients. To identify innovative targets, we conducted a comprehensive comparative transcriptome analysis of 5,410 human HCCs and 974 mouse liver cancers to identify concordantly expressed genes associated with patient survival. Among the 664 identified prognostic comparative HCC (pcHCC) genes, upregulated pcHCC genes were associated with prognostic clinical features, including large tumor size, vascular invasion and late HCC stages.

Associations between Genetic Variants, Alcohol Consumption, and the Risk of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in an East Asian Population.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and alcohol flush syndrome are thought to be strongly influenced by genetic factors and are highly prevalent amongst East Asians. Diminished activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), a major enzyme in the alcohol-metabolizing pathway, causes the flushing syndrome associated with alcoholic consumption. The genetic effect of isoforms on NPC is unknown.

High Proton Conductivity of a Cadmium Metal-Organic Framework Constructed from Pyrazolecarboxylate and Its Hybrid Membrane.

A new type of metal-organic framework, [Cd(pdc)(HO)(DMA)] (pdc = 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylic acid; DMA = dimethylamine), named Cd-MOF, was synthesized and characterized. There are regular rectangular pore channels containing a large number of dimethylamine cations in the crystal structure. AC impedance test results show the proton conductivity of Cd-MOF reaches 1.

Busulfan impairs blood-testis barrier and spermatogenesis by increasing noncollagenous 1 domain peptide via matrix metalloproteinase 9.

Backgrounds: Sterility induced by anti-cancer treatments has caused significant concern, yet the mechanism and treatment exploration are little for male infertility after cancer therapy. Busulfan, the antineoplastic that was widely applied before bone marrow transplantation, was known to induce male reproductive disorder.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of busulfan on blood-testis barrier function in adult rats and determine whether noncollagenous 1 domain peptide, the biologically active fragment proteolyzed from the collagen α3 chain (IV) by matrix metalloproteinase 9, was involved during this process.

Genetic Mutation Analysis in Small Cell Lung Cancer by a Novel NGS-Based Targeted Resequencing Gene Panel and Relation with Clinical Features.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive and invasive malignancy that presents at advanced clinical stage with no more effective treatments. Development of a method for its early detection would be useful, also new therapeutic target need to be discovered; however, there is a lack of information about its oncogenic driver gene mutations.

Objectives: We aim to identify the SCLC-related genomic variants that associate with clinical staging and serum protein biomarkers observed in other types of lung cancer.

Plastic wrap combined with alcohol wiping is an effective method of preventing bacterial colonization on mobile phones.

Introduction: Using mobile phones for communication in emergency departments is a common practice; however, several studies have demonstrated that they may act as vectors for bacteria and viruses. This study evaluated the effectiveness of plastic wrapping in decreasing bacterial contamination on mobile phone surfaces.

Method: We used culture dishes and a luminometer to detect bacterial colonies and contamination on the phone surfaces.

Circulating Tumor DNA as a Prognostic Biomarker in Localized Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Routine clinical surveillance involves serial radiographic imaging following radical surgery in localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, such surveillance can detect only macroscopic disease recurrence and is frequently inconclusive. We investigated if detection of ctDNA before and after resection of NSCLC identifies the patients with risk of relapse, and furthermore, informs about response to management.

[Effects of management measures on organic carbon, nitrogen and chemical structure of different soil fractions in Phyllostachys edulis plantations.].

To examine the effects of management measures on carbon and nitrogen contents, as well as their distribution and structural characteristics of different soil fractions in Moso bamboo plantations, we compared three types of the bamboo forests (undisturbed, extensively managed, and intensively managed) and the control secondary broadleaved evergreen forest using the methods of physical fractionation, chemical and biological analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that soil total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) content, as well as free particulate organic carbon and nitrogen, soluble organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC, DON), and mineral-associated organic carbon and nitrogen in the undisturbed and extensively managed Moso bamboo plantations were significantly increased compared with that in the control. The distribution ratio of free particulate organic carbon and nitrogen in the undisturbed Moso bamboo plantation significantly increased, with mineral-associated organic carbon being the largest reservoir of soil organic carbon (67.

Cdc42 is involved in NC1 peptide-regulated BTB dynamics through actin and microtubule cytoskeletal reorganization.

Noncollagenous domain 1 (NC1)-peptide is a biologically active peptide derived from the C-terminal region of collagen α3(IV) chain, a structural constituent protein at the basement membrane in the rat testis, likely proteolytic cleavage of matrix metalloproteinase 9. Studies have shown that this NC1 peptide regulates testis function by inducing Sertoli cell blood-testis barrier (BTB) remodeling and is also capable of inducing elongate spermatid exfoliation through its disruptive effects on the organization of actin- and microtubule (MT)-based cytoskeletons at these cell adhesion sites. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown.

X-chromosome association study reveals genetic susceptibility loci of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: The male predominance in the incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) suggests the contribution of the X chromosome to the susceptibility of NPC. However, no X-linked susceptibility loci have been examined by genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for NPC by far.

Methods: To understand the contribution of the X chromosome in NPC susceptibility, we conducted an X chromosome-wide association analysis on 1615 NPC patients and 1025 healthy controls of Guangdong Chinese, followed by two validation analyses in Taiwan Chinese (n = 562) and Malaysian Chinese (n = 716).

Mutations in and nucleotide excision repair genes are correlated with prognosis of hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality because of its poor prognosis. Therefore, identifying targetable genetic mutations and mutational signatures associated with prognosis and treatment strategies are needed. Ultra-deep sequencing of 409 cancer genes using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from 33 male patients with hepatitis B virus-associated HCC was performed to identify mutational signatures associated with the prognosis of HCC.

MiR-142-3p Inhibits TGF-β3-Induced Blood-Testis Barrier Impairment by Targeting Lethal Giant Larvae Homolog 2.

Background/aims: Transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3) has been proved to perturb the blood-testis barrier (BTB) by accelerating junction protein endocytosis in Sertoli cells (SCs) to accommodate the traversing of preleptotene spermatocytes across the BTB around stage VIII in rat. Yet the molecular network underlying the impairment of TGF-β3 on BTB integrity is not fully elucidated. Our study herein was designed to investigate the participation of microRNA-142-3p (miR-142-3p), which has been reported to affect TGF-β3 signaling via different pathways, during BTB dynamics and the corresponding mechanisms.

Aroclor1254 disrupts the blood-testis barrier by promoting endocytosis and degradation of junction proteins via p38 MAPK pathway.

The blood-testis barrier (BTB) constituted by coexisting junction apparatus between Sertoli cells (SCs) plays an important role in spermatogenesis, which is a known target of various environmental toxicants. The commercial polychlorinated biphenyls mixture, Aroclor1254, has been shown to impair male reproduction by decreasing sperm count and affecting SC metabolism. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Aroclor1254 on the BTB integrity and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Association Between Telomere Length and Risk of Cancer and Non-Neoplastic Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Importance: The causal direction and magnitude of the association between telomere length and incidence of cancer and non-neoplastic diseases is uncertain owing to the susceptibility of observational studies to confounding and reverse causation.

Objective: To conduct a Mendelian randomization study, using germline genetic variants as instrumental variables, to appraise the causal relevance of telomere length for risk of cancer and non-neoplastic diseases.

Data Sources: Genomewide association studies (GWAS) published up to January 15, 2015.

Bleomycin Suppresses the Proliferation and the Mobility of Human Gastric Cancer Cells Through the Smad Signaling Pathway.

Background/aims: Extensive studies have demonstrated that Bleomycin (BLM) is a glycopeptide antibiotic that has been used as an anticancer chemotherapeutic reagent. It can induce both single- and double-strand DNA damage, inhibit synthesis of DNA, suppress proliferation, and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Smad signaling transducers are considered as important molecules in tumor development and progression, and may closely be related to the biological behaviors of some malignant carcinomas, including gastric cancer.

A GWAS Meta-analysis and Replication Study Identifies a Novel Locus within CLPTM1L/TERT Associated with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Individuals of Chinese Ancestry.

Background: Genetic loci within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) have been associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancer, in several GWAS. Results outside this region have varied.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of four NPC GWAS among Chinese individuals (2,152 cases; 3,740 controls).