MiR-937-3p promotes metastasis and angiogenesis and is activated by MYC in lung adenocarcinoma

Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still one of the diseases with the highest mortality and morbidity, and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accounts for more than half of all NSCLC cases in most countries. miRNA can be used as a potential biological marker and treatment for lung adenocarcinoma. However, the effect of miR-937-3p to the invasion and metastasis of LUAD cells is not clear. Methods miRNA microarray is used to analyze the expression of miRNA in lung adenocarcinoma tissue. Transwell migration, Wound-healing assay and Western blot analysis are used to analyze cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) capabilities. Tube formation is used to assess angiogenesis ability. In addition, dual luciferase reporter gene detection is used to identify the potential binding between miRNA and target mRNA. In vivo experiments were performed on male NOD/SCID nude mice by tail vein injection to establish a transplanted tumor model. The CHIP experiment is used to verify the transcription factors of miRNA. Result In our study, miR-937-3p was high-regulated in LUAD cell lines and tissues, and its expression level was related to tumor progression. We found that miR-937-3p high-expression has an effect on cell invasion and metastasis. In molecular mechanism, miR-937-3p causes SOX11 reduction by directly binding to the 3′-UTR of SOX11.In addition, MYC affects miR-937-3p transcription by binding to its promoter region. Conclusions Our research shows that miR-937-3p is mediated by MYC and can control the angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis of LUAD by regulating SOX11, thereby promoting the progress of LUAD. We speculate that miR-937-3p can be used as a therapeutic target and potential biomarker for LUAD.

Assessment of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and interlukin-6 as diagnostic aid for neonatal infections at a tertiary care center

Introduction and Aim: Neonatal infections are the leading cause of mortality among neonates after prematurity. The importance determining biological markers to be used as a diagnostic test to detect neonatal infections the in early stage of the disease is a challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness & sensitivity of various serological markers such as serum Procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and chemokine IL-6 for diagnosis of neonatal infections leading to sepsis in new born infants. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among newborns admitted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and meeting the selection criteria. Samples were collected for blood culture and ELISA was performed for detection of CRP, PCT & IL-6. Results: A total of 300 newborns were included in this study from NICU of which 132 (44%) neonates was found to be blood culture positive. The most frequently isolated organisms were Klebsiella pneumoniae (26.5%), followed by Candida albicans (18.1%). In case of confirmed neonatal sepsis, significant higher levels of CRP, PCT and IL-6 were detected than in cases of probable sepsis. Serum procalcitonin levels exhibit highest sensitivity and specificity as 65.91% and 91.67% respectively. Conclusion: Serum procalcitonin has better diagnostic utility in terms of biological marker for the diagnosis of neonatal infections than C- reactive protein and Interleukin-6.

Antihyperuricemia Activity of the Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Bilimbi Leaves (Averrhoa bilimbi L.)

Hyperuricemia is a condition where there is an increase in uric acid levels above normal. An increase in the number of leukocytes is also a biological marker of hyperuricemia. The leaves of bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) are one of the traditional medicinal plants which contain alkaloids, tannins, steroids, and flavonoid compounds. Flavonoid compounds are thought to inhibit the formation of uric acid in the body. This study investigates the antihyperuricemia activity of the ethyl acetate fraction of bilimbi leaves. The animals were male white mice grouped into six groups: the normal group, negative control, positive control (allopurinol), and the group was given the ethyl acetate fraction of bilimbi leaves at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW. Hyperuricemia induction is by giving high-purine diets and potassium oxonate. The results showed that the variation of the ethyl acetate fraction of bilimbi leaves significantly reduce uric acid levels and the number of leukocyte cells (sig <0.05). Giving ethyl acetate fraction at a dose of 400 mg/kg BW showed the best reduction in uric acid and leukocyte levels.

Production of Human Pancreatitis-Associated Protein (hPAP) in Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris)

Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) is a pancreatic stress protein that is not produced in a healthy pancreas but is highly synthesized in pancreatic acinar cells in response to acute and chronic pancreatitis, hypoxia, toxins, diabetes, lipopolysaccharides hypotransferrinemia and organ transplantation. Changes in the PAP levels in serum are an important biological marker in the early stage of pancreatic diseases. In this study, the recombinant human PAP protein, which has the potential to be used as a diagnostic marker and as research material in proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration, cell invasion, and immunoassay studies, was expressed efficiently under the control of the AOX1 gene promoter in the Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris) (K. phaffii) X33 strain. We describe the conditions required for the efficient production of PAP protein by methanol induction and its use without purification. The produced unpurified protein was tested in sandwich ELISA and showed consistent results with the commercial product. These results are encouraging that the protein produced can be used as a biomarker standard in ELISA tests without the cost and labor of purification.

Radioiodine Refractory Follicular Thyroid Cancer and Surgery for Cervical Relapse

Compared to its more common counterpart papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) has a less favorable outcome, due to its higher incidence of distant metastases and advanced stages at diagnosis. Despite radioiodine (RAI) avidity, metastatic FTC often progresses after radioiodine treatment (RAIT). We aimed at evaluating the indications and outcomes of surgery for cervical relapse of radioiodine refractory FTC. Patients receiving RAIT between 2005 and 2015 at the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, were screened. Patients with FTC were identified. Demographics, clinic-pathologic characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients diagnosed with RAI refractory FTC, who underwent cervical surgery in the course of disease, were analyzed. FTC accounted for 8.8% of all thyroid carcinomas undergoing RAIT. In 35.2% of FTC patients, disease persisted or recurred despite a cumulative mean RAI activity of 18.7 GBq ± 11.6 (follow-up 83.5 ± 56.7 months). Distant metastases were diagnosed in 75% of these patients, as bone (57.6%), lung (54.6%), and liver metastases (12.1%). Cervical relapse occurred in 63.6% of these patients and was treated in 57.1% with surgery with, and without, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Despite surgery and EBRT, in 75% of patients, cervical relapse recurred again. In conclusion, surgery for cervical radioiodine refractory FTC relapse is often performed in metastatic setting. With and without EBRT, cure is rare, although metastases can appear radioiodine avid. Early biological marker and systemic treatments for these patients are still needed.

AI-based Analysis on Relationship between Genes and Personality

AI can be applied in various ways to the measurement of personality in psychology. Measuring the impact of a single gene on personality can be handled by AI technologies, at least technically, i.e., using supervised learning models of machine learning. The ABO blood type is a relatively easy biological marker to examine; therefore, people in many countries know their type, and its impact on the relationship with personality has been the subject of a large amount of research. In this study, we selected the ABO blood type as the target gene, examined its association with personality, and cross-checked the results with previous works. Two scales were used to measure personality: a) blood type personality traits extracted from previous studies, and b) the TIPI-J, a simplified version of the Big Five personality test. In the former, the AI was able to predict the respondents’ blood types with a higher probability than chance, while in the latter, the accuracy was within the range of chance. These obtained results were also discussed.

Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Acquired Thrombophilia: A Biological Marker for Recurrent Miscarriage

Background: Repeated miscarriage can cause tissue injury can lead to the formation of antibodies to the phospholipids. Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is considering the one of the most common cause of sterility. Which has received more attention in recent years as a result of an increase in the number of reproductive-aged women. Materials and Methods: Plasma samples were tested for antiphospholipid antibodies using ELISA, and platelet count using Sysmex (KX21) Heamatology analyzer and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time using semi-automated machine (STAGO PT31039352 (for coagulation). Results: The prevalence of Anti phospholipid antibodies (APL) was 30.5% in Sudanese patients with recurrent miscarriage, the prevalence of (Anti phospholipid Antibodies-IgM and IgG) was found to be 23.6% in patients with recurrent miscarriage compared to (Anti phospholipid Antibodies-IgG) was found to be 11.1% ((P value≤0.001), low platelets count (<50×109/l) observed in 10 (13.5%), as well as prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) among studied group were detected among 19 (26.1%). Conclusion: Higher prevalence of antiphospolidids antibodies, and acquired thrombophilia was detected among Sudanese women with recurrent abortion; The findings are concerning because they link an increased risk of thrombosis and a hypercoagulable state lead to recurrent miscarriage in pregnant women.

m6A Regulator-Mediated Methylation Modification Patterns and Tumor Microenvironment Infiltration Characterization in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Recent studies have demonstrated epigenetic regulation of immune responses. Nevertheless, the underlying effect of RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications on tumor microenvironment cell infiltration remains elusive. In this study, we thoroughly assessed m6A modification patterns of 255 myeloid leukemia specimens based on 23 m6A regulators. Consensus clustering of the 23 m6A regulators was performed to determine three distinct m6A modification patterns that were remarkably consistent with three immunophenotypes of tumors: immunorejection, immune activation, and immune inertness. Further evaluation and prognostic analysis of the m6A modification patterns of individual tumors revealed that low m6A score was characterized by increased mutational burden, immune activation, and survival rates, whereas high m6A score was characterized by poorer survival rates and the absence of effective immune infiltration. In addition, this study investigated the association between m6A regulators and antitumor immune responses and discovered higher expression of the immune regulators PD-L1, PD-L2, MRP1, and MRP2 in low m6A scores. Generally, the expression pattern of m6A regulators was remarkably associated with prognostic results and antitumor immune responses in acute myeloid leukemia and may be an underlying target and biological marker for immune therapies.