GWAS and network analysis of co-occurring nicotine and alcohol dependence identifies significantly associated alleles and network.

Alcohol dependence (AD) and nicotine dependence (ND) co-occur frequently (AD+ND). We integrated SNP-based, gene-based, and protein-protein interaction network analyses to identify shared risk genes or gene subnetworks for AD+ND in African Americans (AAs, N = 2,094) and European Americans (EAs, N = 1,207). The DSM-IV criterion counts for AD and ND were modeled as two dependent variables in a multivariate linear mixed model, and analyzed separately for the two populations.

Effects of tumor metabolic microenvironment on regulatory T cells.

Recent studies have shown that on one hand, tumors need to obtain a sufficient energy supply, and on the other hand they must evade the body's immune surveillance. Because of their metabolic reprogramming characteristics, tumors can modify the physicochemical properties of the microenvironment, which in turn affects the biological characteristics of the cells infiltrating them. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subset of T cells that regulate immune responses in the body.

FOXA1 reprograms the TGF-β-stimulated transcriptional program from a metastasis promoter to a tumor suppressor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a unique subtype of head and neck squamous carcinoma that is notorious for its high metastatic potential. In this study, we reported that FOXA1 protein was decreased in NPC cells. Loss of FOXA1 is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.

Long non-coding RNA LOC284454 promotes migration and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma via modulating the Rho/Rac signaling pathway.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a unique malignant cancer with high metastasis. Because the early symptoms of NPC patients are not obvious, most patients have distant metastases when diagnosed, which makes treatment difficult. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators in human carcinogenesis.

Long noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 acts as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-423-5p to facilitate nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis through regulating the Rho/Rac pathway.

Background: Actin filament-associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1), a long noncoding RNA, is significantly highly expressed and associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in many cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we aim to identify the role of AFAP1-AS1 acting as an oncogenic lncRNA to promote NPC metastasis.

Methods: The role of AFAP1-AS1, miR-423-5p, and FOSL2 in NPC metastasis was investigated in vitro and in vivo.

Infant progressive colonic stenosis caused by antibiotic-related Clostridium difficile colitis - a case report and literature review.

Background: Colonic stenosis is a rare cause of pediatric intestinal obstruction. The root cause underlying colonic stenosis is unclear and there is no fixed operation.

Case Presentation: We reported on a male infant with progressive colonic stenosis caused by antibiotic-related colitis.

Thoracoscopic Treatment of Late-Presenting Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in Infants and Children.

Purpose: Given that the application of thoracoscopic surgery to late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in infants and children is controversial, we summarized our experiences with patients at two medical centers and aimed to discuss the safety and feasibility of thoracoscopic repair.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of late-presenting CDH cases involving patients who underwent thoracoscopic repair from October 2010 to June 2017 was performed. Data, including patients' demographic characteristics, manipulative details, and postoperative complications, were extracted and analyzed.

Incidence of pediatric metachronous contralateral inguinal hernia and the relationship with contralateral patent processus vaginalis.

Background: The management of contralateral patent processus vaginalis (CPPV) in children with unilateral inguinal hernia is still controversial. The objective of this study was to verify the relationship between metachronous contralateral inguinal hernia (MCIH) and CPPV, and the risk factors of MCIH.

Methods: Children with unilateral inguinal hernia from three medical centers underwent either open or laparoscopic repairs.

Cardiac Fgf-16 Expression Supports Cardiomyocyte Survival and Increases Resistance to Doxorubicin Cytotoxicity.

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 16 gene is preferentially expressed by cardiomyocytes after birth with levels increasing into adulthood. Null mice and isolated heart studies suggest a role for FGF-16 in cardiac maintenance and survival, including increased resistance to doxorubicin (DOX)-induced injury. A single treatment with DOX was also shown to rapidly deplete endogenous rat FGF-16 mRNA at 6 h in both adult heart and neonatal cardiomyocytes.

Non-thermal plasma induces immunogenic cell death in murine CT26 colorectal tumors.

Immunogenic cell death is characterized by the emission of danger signals that facilitate activation of an adaptive immune response against dead-cell antigens. In the case of cancer therapy, tumor cells undergoing immunogenic death promote cancer-specific immunity. Identification, characterization, and optimization of stimuli that induce immunogenic cancer cell death has tremendous potential to improve the outcomes of cancer therapy.

Combination of oral nonabsorbable and intravenous antibiotics versus intravenous antibiotics alone in the prevention of surgical site infections after elective colorectal surgery in pediatric patients: A retrospective study.

We conducted this study to compare the effectiveness of combined oral nonabsorbable and intravenous antibiotics versus intravenous antibiotics alone in reducing the incidence of surgical site infections following elective colorectal surgery in pediatric patients.Between January 2010 and December 2016, patients from 0 to 14 who underwent elective colorectal surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Based on intravenous antibiotics with and without oral antibiotics, the patients were grouped as OA group (combination of oral nonabsorbable and intravenous antibiotics) or A group (the intravenous antibiotics alone).

Mid1ip1b modulates apical reorientation of non-centrosomal microtubule organizing center in epithelial cells.

In most kinds of animal cells, the centrosome serves as the main microtubule organizing center (MTOC) that nucleates microtubule arrays throughout the cytoplasm to maintain cell structure, cell division and intracellular transport. Whereas in epithelial cells, non-centrosomal MTOCs are established in the apical domain for generating asymmetric microtubule fibers and cilia in epithelial cells for the organ morphogenesis during embryonic development. However, the mechanism by which MTOCs localize to the apical domain in epithelial cells remains largely unknown.

LncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 promotes tumor growth and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting let-7c-5p/NAP1L1 axis.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) show great potential as therapeutic targets in many diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance and function of lncRNA CDKN2B antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1) in HCC. Here, we identified a novel oncogenic lncRNA CDKN2B-AS1, which was highly expressed in HCC and positively associated with large tumor size, microvascular invasion, high tumor grade, advanced tumor stage and reduced survival of HCC patients.

The emerging role of Epstein-Barr virus encoded microRNAs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an oncogenic herpes virus that is closely associated with the initiation and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), lymphoma and other malignant tumors. EBV encodes 44 mature miRNAs that regulate viral and host cell gene expression and plays a variety of roles in biological functions and the development of cancer. In this review, we summarized the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded microRNAs (EBV miRNAs) in tumor immune evasion, proliferation, anti-apoptosis, invasion, metastasis and as a potential biomarker for NPC diagnosis and prognosis.

Identification of genomic alterations in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma-derived Epstein-Barr virus by whole-genome sequencing.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common tumor in southern China with marked ethnic and geographic distributions and concomitant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. However, the molecular basis of NPC remains largely unknown, and the role of EBV genomic variations in the pathogenesis of NPC is unclear. Whole-genome sequencing of a collection of 12 EBV-positive paired NPC tumor/peripheral blood samples from Hunan Province was performed, and the FBXO11 gene was subjected to further functional analyses.

Let there be light: stability of palmitic acid monolayers at the air/salt water interface in the presence and absence of simulated solar light and a photosensitizer.

Long-chain fatty acid monolayers are known surfactants present at air/water interfaces. However, little is known about the stability of these long-chain fatty acid monolayers in the presence of solar radiation. Here we have investigated, for the first time, the stability of palmitic acid monolayers on salt water interfaces in the presence and absence of simulated solar light with and without a photosensitizer in the underlying salt subphase.

Dual-functionality of RASSF1A overexpression in A375 cells is mediated by activation of IL-6/STAT3 regulatory loop.

The RASSF1A, a microtubule associated protein, is a well-known tumor suppressor silenced in various cancer via promoter hypermethylation. RASSF1A is implicated in the regulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis. However, its role in melanoma A375 cells invasion and metastasis remain unclear.

Correction to: Emerging role of lipid metabolism alterations in Cancer stem cells.

In the publication of this article [1], there is an error in the Figure caption of Figs. 2, 3 and 4. This has now been included in this correction.

Thermoelectric Performance of SbTe-Based Alloys is Improved by Introducing PN Junctions.

Interface engineering has been demonstrated to be an effective strategy for enhancing the thermoelectric (TE) performance of materials. However, a very typical interface in semiconductors, that is, the PN junction (PNJ), is scarcely adopted by the thermoelectrical community because of the coexistence of holes and electrons. Interestingly, our explorative results provide a definitively positive case that appropriate PNJs are able to enhance the TE performance of p-type SbTe-based alloys.

Emerging role of lipid metabolism alterations in Cancer stem cells.

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs) represent a small population of cancer cells with self-renewal and tumor-initiating properties. Unlike the bulk of tumor cells, CSCs or TICs are refractory to traditional therapy and are responsible for relapse or disease recurrence in cancer patients. Stem cells have distinct metabolic properties compared to differentiated cells, and metabolic rewiring contributes to self-renewal and stemness maintenance in CSCs.

Theory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy of Vibrational Polaritons.

Molecular polaritons have gained considerable attention due to their potential to control nanoscale molecular processes by harnessing electromagnetic coherence. Although recent experiments with liquid-phase vibrational polaritons have shown great promise for exploiting these effects, significant challenges remain in interpreting their spectroscopic signatures. We develop a quantum-mechanical theory of pump-probe spectroscopy for this class of polaritons based on the quantum Langevin equation and the input-output theory.

Tight glycemic control in critically ill pediatric patients: a meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: There still are controversies in the impact of tight glycemic control (TGC) in critically ill children. The aim of this study was to assess the benefits and risks of TGC compared with conventional glycemic control (CGC) in critically ill pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) by using data retrieved from randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Method: EMBASE, CNKI, PubMed, and the Cochrane Database were searched for RCTs comparing TGC with CGC in critically ill children in PICU.

Degradation of bisphenol A through transition metals activating persulfate process.

In this study, the process of transition metals (Fe, Fe, NiO) activating persulfate was attempted to degrade aqueous bisphonel A (BPA). Compared with thermal activation mode, significant degradation can be achieved at normal atmospheric temperature in transition metal activation mode. BPA removal in the transition metal-PS system can be divided into rapid phase (0-5 min) and slow phase (5-60 min).

Role of metabolism in cancer cell radioresistance and radiosensitization methods.

Background: Radioresistance is a major factor leading to the failure of radiotherapy and poor prognosis in tumor patients. Following the application of radiotherapy, the activity of various metabolic pathways considerably changes, which may result in the development of resistance to radiation.

Main Body: Here, we discussed the relationships between radioresistance and mitochondrial and glucose metabolic pathways, aiming to elucidate the interplay between the tumor cell metabolism and radiotherapy resistance.

Risk factors for recurrence of intussusception in pediatric patients: A retrospective study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors associated with recurrence of intussusception after operative or nonoperative reduction in children.

Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2012, patients with intussusception treated with nonoperative and operative reduction were retrospectively analyzed. We included the patients who were diagnosed with intussusception from the age of 0 year to 18 years who received nonoperative and operative reduction as an initial treatment.