microRNA-489 Plays an Anti-Metastatic Role in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting Matrix Metalloproteinase-7

Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is actively involved in the pathogenesis and tumorigenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). miR-489 was found to play either oncogenic or tumor suppressive roles in human cancers. Recent study reported that the levels of miR-489 in late recurrent HCC patients were evidently higher than that in early recurrent cases, suggesting that miR-489 may function as a tumor suppressive miRNA in HCC. Yet, the clinical value and biological function of miR-489 remain rarely known in HCC. Here, we presented that miR-489 level in HCC tissues was notably reduced compared to matched non-cancerous specimens. Its decreased level was evidently correlated with adverse clinical parameters and poor prognosis of HCC patients. Accordingly, the levels of miR-489 were obviously down-regulated in HCC cells. Ectopic expression of miR-489 in HCCLM3 and MHCC97H cells prominently inhibits the migration and invasion of tumor cells and reduced lung metastases in vivo, while miR-489 knockdown increased these behaviors of HepG2 and MHCC97L cells. Mechanically, miR-489 negatively regulated matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP7) abundance in HCC cells. Herein, MMP7 was found to be a downstream molecule of miR-489 in HCC. An inversely correlation between miR-489 and MMP7 was confirmed in HCC specimens. MMP7 knockdown prohibited cell migration and invasion while MMP7 overexpression showed opposite effects on HCC cells. Furthermore, restoration of MMP7 expression could abrogate the anti-metastatic effects of miR-489 on HCCLM3 cells with enhanced cell migration and invasion. Altogether, miR-489 potentially acts as a prognostic predictor and a drug-target for HCC patients.     

红细胞分布宽度血小板比率和中性粒细胞淋巴细胞比率在急诊PCI术后冠脉无复流评估中的应用价值

目的:探讨红细胞分布宽度血小板比率(RDW)和中性粒细胞淋巴细胞比率(NLR)预测急诊经皮冠状动脉介入(PCI)术后冠脉无复流的应用价值。方法:选取2016年1月~2016年12月于我院行急诊PCI手术治疗的患者66例为研究对象,检测其治疗前的RDW和NLR,统计其急诊PCI术后冠脉无复流现象的发生情况,比较冠脉无复流和正常血流患者的RDW和NLR,分析患者RDW和NLR与其冠脉无复流的关系及其对冠脉无复流的预测价值。结果:66例患者急诊PCI术后冠脉无复流发生率为30.30%(20/66)。与正常血流患者比较,冠脉无复流患者RDW和NLR均升高(P0.05)。Spearman相关分析结果显示患者RDW和NLR与其冠脉无复流均呈正相关(r=0.826,0.878,P0.05)。进一步ROC曲线分析结果显示急诊PCI术前RDW和NLR联合预测其术后冠脉无复流的的ROC曲线下面积高于二者单独预测。结论:急诊PCI患者RDW和NLR与其术后冠脉无复流密切相关且两者联合预测患者术后冠脉无复流的价值良好,可能作为急诊PCI术后冠脉无复流评估的参考指标。     

Preoperative Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Peripheral Blood Predicts Stages,Metastasis, and Histological Grades in Patients with Ovarian Cancer

PURPOSE: The monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) has been shown to be associated with the prognosis of various solid tumors. This study sought to evaluate the important value of the MLR in ovarian cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 133 ovarian cancer patients and 43 normal controls were retrospectively reviewed. The patients'' demographics were analyzed along with clinical and pathologic data. The counts of peripheral neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and platelets were collected and used to calculate the MLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). The optimal cutoff value of the MLR was determined by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. We compared the MLR, NLR, and PLR between ovarian cancer and normal control patients and among patients with different stages and different grades, as well as between patients with lymph node metastasis and non–lymph node metastasis. We then investigated the value of the MLR in predicting the stage, grade, and lymph node positivity by using logistic regression. The impact of the MLR on overall survival (OS) was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in the MLR were observed between ovarian cancer patients and normal controls. However, no difference was found for the NLR and PLR. Highly significant differences in the MLR were found among patients with different stages (stage I-II and stage III-IV), grades (G1 and >G1), and lymph node metastasis status. The MLR was a significant and independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis, as determined by logistic regression. The optimal cutoff value of the MLR was 0.23. We also classified the data according to tumor markers (CA125, CA199, HE4, AFP, and CEA) and conventional coagulation parameters (International Normalized Ratio [INR] and fibrinogen). Highly significant differences in CA125, CA199, HE4, INR, fibrinogen levels, and lactate dehydrogenase were found between the low-MLR group (MLR ≤ 0.23) and the high-MLR group (MLR > 0.23). Correspondingly, dramatic differences were observed between the two groups in OS. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the peripheral blood MLR before surgery could be a significant predictor of advanced stages, advanced pathologic grades, and positive lymphatic metastasis in ovarian cancer patients.     

小麦—中间偃麦草抗条锈衍生系的分子细胞遗传学研究

应用缺体回交法,以部分阿勃缺体为母本,中4为父本,培育出1个对目前条锈病优势小种和新小种高抗至免疫的小麦－－中间偃麦草衍生系N9025－3－3－2－1－1。研究表明,该选系在形态学和细胞学上已经基本稳定,染色体构型为2n=42=21“,抗病性来自中间偃麦草（Thinopyron intermedium）。以中间偃麦草DNA为探针,对N9025－3－3－2－1－1进行基因组原位杂交分析结果证明,它为小麦－中间偃麦草异代换－易位系。     

冬小麦原生质体培养的胚状体直接发生

冬小麦品种“京花一号”胚性愈伤组织在改良的N₆培养基(NBD培养基)上继代得到易碎型胚性愈伤组织,转入改良MS液体培养基(MSDL培养基)后得到胚性悬浮系,分离的原生质体在改良的MS培养基(MSDP培养基)上培养,再生细胞直接产生体细胞胚胎,并再生出完整植株。体细胞胚胎形成过程与小麦合子胚的形成过程十分相似。     

Large-scale search of SNPs for type 2 DM susceptibility genes in a Japanese population

The etiology of type 2 diabetes (DM) is polygenic. We investigated here genes and polymorphisms that associate with DM in the Japanese population. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 398 derived from 120 candidate genes were examined for association with DM in a population-based case-control study. The study group consisted of 148 cases and 227 controls recruited from Funagata, Japan. No evident subpopulation structure was detected for the tested population. The association tests were conducted with standard allele positivity tables (chi(2) tests) between SNP genotype frequency and case-control status. The independent association of the SNPs from serum triglyceride levels and body mass index was examined by multiple logistic regression analysis. A value of P<0.01 was accepted as statistically significant. Six genes (met proto-oncogene, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, fatty acid binding protein 2, LDL receptor defect C complementing, aldolase B, and sulfonylurea receptor) were shown to be associated with DM.     

Bovine babesiosis: Cattle protected in the field with a frozen vaccine containing Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina cultured in vitro with a serum-free medium

An attenuated live vaccine containing Babesia bovis and B. bigemina cultured in vitro with a serum-free medium was assessed for its clinical protection conferred of naïve cattle, under natural tick-challenge in a high endemicity zone to Babesia spp. Three groups of six animals were treated as follows: group I (GI) received a vaccine derived from parasites cultured with a free-serum medium; group II (GII) were immunized with the standard vaccine, with parasites cultured in a medium supplemented with 40% (v/v) bovine serum; and a control group (GIII) inoculated with non-infected bovine erythrocytes. Inocula were administered by IM route. Experimental animals were kept during 23 days after vaccination in a cattle farm free of ticks and Babesia spp. Thereafter, cattle were moved to a high endemicity farm for natural exposure to Babesia spp. transmitted by Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. Protection against clinical babesiosis was observed in bovines belonging to GI (100%) and GII (83.33%), while the control animals (GIII) were not protected, and showed severe clinical signs, closely related to babesiosis, were observed for at least three consecutive days during the challenge. These were fever, anemia, which were measured simultaneously, and circulating parasites were detected by optic light microscopy. All cattle showed B. bovis and B. bigemina in stained blood films during the challenge; B. bovis antibody titers were higher than those to B. bigemina in GI and GII, and lower titers were determined in GIII. The protective capacity of the vaccine derived from B. bovis and B. bigemina cultured in vitro in a serum-free medium was demonstrated.     

Production of fuels and chemicals from renewable resources using engineered Escherichia coli

Biotechnological production of fuels and chemicals from renewable resources is an appealing way to move from the current petroleum-based economy to a biomass-based green economy. Recently, the feedstocks that can be used for bioconversion or fermentation have been expanded to plant biomass, microbial biomass, and industrial waste. Several microbes have been engineered to produce chemicals from renewable resources, among which Escherichia coli is one of the best studied. Much effort has been made to engineer E. coli to produce fuels and chemicals from different renewable resources. In this paper, we focused on E. coli and systematically reviewed a range of fuels and chemicals that can be produced from renewable resources by engineered E. coli. Moreover, we proposed how can we further improve the efficiency for utilizing renewable resources by engineered E. coli, and how can we engineer E. coli for utilizing alternative renewable feedstocks. e.g. C1 gases and methanol. This review will help the readers better understand the current progress in this field and provide insights for further metabolic engineering efforts in E. coli.     

海洋真菌Xylaria sp.(No.2508)生产xyloketal B的发酵优化

对海洋真菌Xylariasp．（No．2508）生产xyloketa]B的摇瓶发酵过程进行了初步优化。结果表明,Xylariasp．（No．2508）在培养120h时xyloketalB产量最高,当培养168h后菌体进入衰亡期且xyloketalB迅速降解,因此Xylariasp．（No．2508）生产xyloketalB的最适发酵周期为120h;Xylariasp．（No．2508）合成xyloketalB的过程及用乙酸乙酯萃取xyloketalB的过程对pH非常敏感,其中最适xyloketalB生产的发酵液初始pH为5．7,利用乙酸乙酯萃取xyloketalB时的发酵液最适pH为3。0;最适接种量为10％（v／v）;接种前发酵液中加入10g／L的大孔树脂XAD-16可以降低某些代谢产物对xyloketalB合成的抑制作用,从而使产量提高2倍左右,而菌体进入稳定期以后加入大孔树脂XAD-16对产物产量没有影响。