[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.07.004.].

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism of Circ-MYOCD back-splicing and its regulatory role in myocardial hypertrophy. METHODS: Sanger sequencing and RNase R assays were performed to verify the circularity and stability of Circ-MYOCD, whose subcellular distribution was determined by nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation. Bioinformatics analysis and mass spectrometry from pull-down assays were conducted to predict the RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) interacting with Circ-MYOCD. In rat cardiomyocytes H9C2 cells, the effects of HNRNPH1 and HNRNPL knockdown and overexpression on Circ-MYOCD back-splicing were evaluated. In a H9C2 cell model of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced myocardial hypertrophy, the expression of HNRNPH1 was detected, the effects of HNRNPH1 knockdown and overexpression on progression of myocardial hypertrophy were assessed, and the regulatory effect of HNRNPH1 on Circ-MYOCD back-splicing was analyzed. RESULTS: Sanger sequencing confirmed that the junction primers could amplify the correct Circ-MYOCD sequence. RNase R and nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation assays showed that Circ-MYOCD was stable and predominantly localized in the cytoplasm. Bioinformatics analysis and mass spectrometry from the Circ-MYOCD pull-down assay identified HNRNPH1 and HNRNPL as the RBPs interacting with Circ-MYOCD. In H9C2 cells, HNRNPH1 knockdown significantly enhanced while its overexpression inhibited Circ-MYOCD back-splicing; HNRNPH1 overexpression obviously increased the expressions of myocardial hypertrophy markers ANP and BNP, while its knockdown produced the opposite effect. In Ang II-induced H9C2 cells, which exhibited a significant increase of HNRNPH1 expression and increased expressions of ANP and BNP, HNRNPH1 knockdown obviously increased Circ-MYOCD expression, decreased MYOCD expression and lowered both ANP and BNP expressions. CONCLUSIONS HNRNPH1 regulates Circ-MYOCD back-splicing to influence the progression of myocardial hypertrophy.
Animals ; Rats ; RNA, Circular/genetics* ; Cardiomegaly/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group F-H/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; RNA Splicing ; Angiotensin II ; RNA-Binding Proteins

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is one of the most lethal malignancies. Although gemcitabine (GEM) is a standard treatment for PAAD, resistance limits its application and therapy. Secoemestrin C (Sec C) is a natural compound from the endophytic fungus Emericella, and its anticancer activity has not been investigated since it was isolated. Our research is the first to indicate that Sec C is a broad-spectrum anticancer agent and could exhibit potently similar anticancer activity both in GEM-resistant and GEM-sensitive PAAD cells. Interestingly, Sec C exerted a rapid growth-inhibiting effect (80% death at 6 h), which might be beneficial for patients who need rapid tumor shrinkage before surgery. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) reverse assays show that Sec C sulfates cysteines to disrupt disulfide-bonds formation in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins to cause protein misfolding, leading to ER stress and disorder of lipid biosynthesis. Microarray data and subsequent assays show that ER stress-mediated ER-associated degradation (ERAD) ubiquitinates and downregulates YAP to enhance ER stress via destruction complex (YAP-Axin-GSK-βTrCP), which also elucidates a unique degrading style for YAP. Potent anticancer activity in GEM-resistant cells and low toxicity make Sec C a promising anti-PAAD candidate.

MicroRNA(miRNA) affect various biological processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis by inhibiting the translation of target genes after transcription and are widely involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses in organisms. Autoimmune liver diseases are a group of chronic inflammatory diseases of the hepatobiliary system mediated by abnormal immunity, and abnormal immune inflammatory response of liver tissue with the involvement of miRNA is closely associated with the development and progression of autoimmune liver diseases. This article reviews the current research advances in miRNA in autoimmune liver diseases.

Department of Regenerative Medicine of Tongji University School of Medicine intro-duced the standardized question library construction-based separation of teaching from testing system into integrated life science course. By establishing the question library, professional teachers in the assessment center are responsible for making and correcting test papers of final exam for students. In addition to the separation of teaching and testing, regular quiz during the semester is also involved in the final grades of students. The results show that high-quality question library effectively promotes implementation of separation of teaching from testing. The question library construction is a dynamic and long-term task that requires real-time updates along with knowledge updates. This preliminary practice of separation of teaching from testing system in the integrated life sciences curriculum has proved to be useful for improving teaching style and the style of study significantly.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To observe the effect of active components from Lycii cortex on the proliferation of high glucose?in-duced glomerular mesangial cells GMCs and the secretion of extracellular matrix ECM.To investigate the protective mechanism of diabetic nephropathy.METHODS GMCs were cultured and divided into high glucose groupfinal glucose con-centration of 30 mmol/Lblank groupfinal glucose concentration of 5.5 mmol/Lbetaine and kaempferol groups of 5 dif-ferent concentrations of 0.010.1110100 μmol/L.The proliferation of high glucose?induced GMCs were observed by MTT method and secretion of ECM was detected by ELISA assay.RESULTS Different doses of betaine and kaempferol inhib-ited the proliferation of GMCsand decreased the content of ECMcompared with high glucose group P < 0.05 ~ 0.01. CONCLUSION Betaine and kaempferol can protect the high glucose?induced GMCs through inhibiting the proliferation of GMCs and decreasing the content of ECM.

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of second trimester screenings for Down syndrome using alpha-fetoprotein and β-human chorionic gonadotropin duplex.MethodsPregnant women of south Zhejiang were screened for Down syndrome fetuses by maternal alpha-fetoprotein and β-human chorionic gonadotropin duplex during second trimester.The high-risk women underwent prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis,cell culture and chromosome analysis.The newborns followed up by the maternal and child tertiary health care network and suspected to have Down syndrome were diagnosed by peripheral blood chromosome analysis.Statistical analysis was performed using two-sample t test and x2 test.Risk probability of Down Syndrome was calculated by random screening software. Results From Oct.2007 to May 2009,1130 of 32 188 singleton pregnant women in second trimester received prenatal screening were discovered with high risk(≥1 ∶ 270).Prenatal diagnosis was performed in 90.79％ cases (1026/1130) of high risk women and seven fetuses were diagnosed as Down syndrome by amniotic fluid chromosome analysis,and the pregnancies were terminated.Among the other 104 cases without prenatal diagnosis one Down syndrome baby was delivered.Six of 31 058 pregnancy women with low risk delivered Down syndrome babies with the incidence of Down syndrome of 0.19‰ (6/31 058).Detection rate of second trimester screenings for Down syndrome using alpha-fetoprotein and β-human chorionic gonadotropin duplex was 57.14％(8/14).False positive rate was 3.48％ (1122/32 188).Positive predictive value was 7.08‰(8/1130).During the same period,there were 23 813 pregnant women who didn't receive screening and 15 fetuses with Down syndrome were diagnosed after birth.There was no statistical difference in the prevalence rate of Down syndrome between those pregnant women who received prenatal screening or not [0.43‰ (14/32 188) vs 0.63‰ (15/23 813),x2 =1.004,P＞0.05].The prevalence of Down syndrome was 0.52‰ (29/56 001) in this area. ConclusionsThe prenatal screening and diagnosis could reduce the birth rate of Down syndrome patients.However,detection rate,false positive rate and positive predictive value of which were lower than reports in other studies.It's possible that the reference data might be not suitable for Chinese.

Objective To screen monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for early diagnosis of invisive Aspergillus. Methods Monoclonal antibodies against different antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus were produced. The two pairs of combinations of monoclonal antibodies were selected accoring the distinct epitopes and double-antibody sandwich ELISA based on mAbs above were established. The sensitivity and specificity of the methods were analyzed by detecting culture supernatants of clinical isolates and environmental isolatesof Aspergillus. spp, Penicillium Marneffei, Candidas, and serum from animal models and patients. The epitopes recognized by mAbs were identified by immunobotting. Results A total of 32 hybridoma cell lines that stably produced MAbs were obtained. Two double- antibody sandwich ELISAs were established. One method was specific for 19 clinical isolates and environmental isolates of Aspergillus. spp, whereas the other one was specific for the clinical and environmental isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus without cross-reation with other Aspergillus. spp. For the same kind of medium of Aspergillus fumigatus, the sensitivity of the first method was 10 fold higher than the second method. Conclusions The specific mAbs for early diagnosis of invisive Aspergillus were obtained. Antigen recognized by the specific mAbs was mannoprotein with molecular weights of approximately 25 000-75 000. This antigen was potential early diagnostic marker for invasive Aspergillus.