Objective To explore the biological functions and mechanisms of PIWI-interacting RNA(piRNA)in cervical cancer(CC).Methods RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression level of piRNA-2732 in CC tissue,CaSki cells and End1/E6E7 cells.EpiQuik m6A RNA methylation quantification kit was used to detect the methylation level of m6A RNA in CaSki cells.The expression levels of methyltransferases(METTL3,METTL14 and WTAP)and demethylases(FTO,ALKBH5)mRNA in CaSki cells were detected by RT-qPCR.After culturing CaSki cells to logarithmic growth stage,they were divided into six groups:piRNA-2732 mimic negative control group(mi-NC group),piRNA-2732 mimic group(mi-2732 group),piRNA-2732 inhibitor negative control group(in-NC group),piRNA-2732 inhibitor group(in-2732 group),piRNA-2732 mimic+METTL3 knockdown control group(mi-2732+si-NC group),and piRNA-2732 mimic+METTL3 knockdown group(mi-2732+si-METTL3 group).The viability of CaSki cells was detected by CCK8 assay.Colony formation assay was used to detect the proliferation ability of CaSki cells.Transwell experiment was used to detect the migration and invasion ability of CaSki cells.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of methyltransferase like protein 3(METTL3).Transfected METTL3 wild-type(METTL3-WT)and METTL3 mutant(METTL3-MUT)in the mi-NC group,mi-2732 group,in-NC group,and in-2732 group respectively,and detected the effect of piRNA-2732 on METTL3 through dual luciferase reporter gene assay.Results Compared with the adjacent tissues,the expression of piRNA-2732(3.84±1.08 vs 1.32±0.53)was significantly higher in the cancer tissues of CC patients,and the difference was statistically significant(t=5.115,P<0.001).Compared with end1/E6E7 cells,the expression of piRNA-2732(1.00±0.13 vs 1.67±0.16)in CaSki cells was significantly higher,and the difference was statistically significant(t=5.632,P<0.01).Compared with mi-NC group,mi-2732 group promoted the viability,proliferation,migration and invasion of CaSki cells,and the differences were statistically significant(t=4.410～11.040,all P<0.01).Compared with mi-NC group,mi-2732 group increased m6A RNA methylation level and METTL3 mRNA and protein,the differences were statistically significant(t=6.176,9.211,12.550,all P<0.05).The results of dual luciferase reporter gene testing showed that compared with the mi-NC+METTL3-WT group,the relative luciferase activity of mi-2732+METTL3-WT group was significantly increased(t=11.850).Compared with mi-2732+METTL3-WT group,the relative luciferase activity of mi-2732+METTL3-MUT group was significantly lower(t=12.740),and the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.000 1).Compared with in NC+METTL3-WT group,the relative luciferase activity of in-2732+METTL3-WT group was significantly lower(t=7.828),compared with in-2732+METTL3-WT group,the relative luciferase activity of CaSki cells in in-2732+METTL3-MUT group was significantly increased(t=8.146),and the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.001).Compared with mi-2732+si-NC group,the expression level of m6A in mi-2732+si-METTL3 group was significantly lower,and the difference was statistically significant(t=7.630,P<0.01).Compared with mi-2732+si-NC group,the proliferation ability,colony number,cell migration and invasion ability of CaSki cells in mi-2732+si-METTL3 group were significantly decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(t=3.695～4.891,all P<0.001).Conclusion piRNA-2732 is overexpressed in CC tissues and cells,and piRNA-2732 promotes tumor development in CC through METTL3 mediated m6A methylation.

Objective To explore the biological functions and mechanisms of PIWI-interacting RNA(piRNA)in cervical cancer(CC).Methods RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression level of piRNA-2732 in CC tissue,CaSki cells and End1/E6E7 cells.EpiQuik m6A RNA methylation quantification kit was used to detect the methylation level of m6A RNA in CaSki cells.The expression levels of methyltransferases(METTL3,METTL14 and WTAP)and demethylases(FTO,ALKBH5)mRNA in CaSki cells were detected by RT-qPCR.After culturing CaSki cells to logarithmic growth stage,they were divided into six groups:piRNA-2732 mimic negative control group(mi-NC group),piRNA-2732 mimic group(mi-2732 group),piRNA-2732 inhibitor negative control group(in-NC group),piRNA-2732 inhibitor group(in-2732 group),piRNA-2732 mimic+METTL3 knockdown control group(mi-2732+si-NC group),and piRNA-2732 mimic+METTL3 knockdown group(mi-2732+si-METTL3 group).The viability of CaSki cells was detected by CCK8 assay.Colony formation assay was used to detect the proliferation ability of CaSki cells.Transwell experiment was used to detect the migration and invasion ability of CaSki cells.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of methyltransferase like protein 3(METTL3).Transfected METTL3 wild-type(METTL3-WT)and METTL3 mutant(METTL3-MUT)in the mi-NC group,mi-2732 group,in-NC group,and in-2732 group respectively,and detected the effect of piRNA-2732 on METTL3 through dual luciferase reporter gene assay.Results Compared with the adjacent tissues,the expression of piRNA-2732(3.84±1.08 vs 1.32±0.53)was significantly higher in the cancer tissues of CC patients,and the difference was statistically significant(t=5.115,P<0.001).Compared with end1/E6E7 cells,the expression of piRNA-2732(1.00±0.13 vs 1.67±0.16)in CaSki cells was significantly higher,and the difference was statistically significant(t=5.632,P<0.01).Compared with mi-NC group,mi-2732 group promoted the viability,proliferation,migration and invasion of CaSki cells,and the differences were statistically significant(t=4.410～11.040,all P<0.01).Compared with mi-NC group,mi-2732 group increased m6A RNA methylation level and METTL3 mRNA and protein,the differences were statistically significant(t=6.176,9.211,12.550,all P<0.05).The results of dual luciferase reporter gene testing showed that compared with the mi-NC+METTL3-WT group,the relative luciferase activity of mi-2732+METTL3-WT group was significantly increased(t=11.850).Compared with mi-2732+METTL3-WT group,the relative luciferase activity of mi-2732+METTL3-MUT group was significantly lower(t=12.740),and the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.000 1).Compared with in NC+METTL3-WT group,the relative luciferase activity of in-2732+METTL3-WT group was significantly lower(t=7.828),compared with in-2732+METTL3-WT group,the relative luciferase activity of CaSki cells in in-2732+METTL3-MUT group was significantly increased(t=8.146),and the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.001).Compared with mi-2732+si-NC group,the expression level of m6A in mi-2732+si-METTL3 group was significantly lower,and the difference was statistically significant(t=7.630,P<0.01).Compared with mi-2732+si-NC group,the proliferation ability,colony number,cell migration and invasion ability of CaSki cells in mi-2732+si-METTL3 group were significantly decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(t=3.695～4.891,all P<0.001).Conclusion piRNA-2732 is overexpressed in CC tissues and cells,and piRNA-2732 promotes tumor development in CC through METTL3 mediated m6A methylation.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate CEACAM6 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its regulatory effects on tumor cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). METHODS: CEACAM6 expression in NPC was analyzed using GEO datasets and validated by immunohistochemistry in NPC tissues and by Western blotting and RT-qPCR in NPC cell lines (HNE1, C666-1, HK1, 5-8F and CNE2Z) and normal nasopharyngeal epithelial NP69 cells. In the NPC cell lines, the effects of lentivirus-mediated CEACAM6 overexpression and knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cytoskeletal structures were evaluated using CCK-8 assay, Edu staining, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, and phalloidin staining. Western blotting was performed to determine the expressions of EMT-related proteins (FN1, ITGA5, ITGB1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin) in the NPC cells and the effect of FN1 overexpression on ITGA5 and ITGB1 protein expressions. RESULTS: Analysis of the data from the GEO datasets suggested that CEACAM6 was significantly downregulated in NPC, which was associated with poor patient prognosis. Immunohistochemistry also showed low expressions of CEACAM6 in clinical NPC tissues (P<0.05). In NPC cells, CEACAM6 overexpression significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion and reduced the fluorescence intensity of actin. CEACAM6 overexpression also resulted in significant downregulation of FN1, ITGA5, ITGB1, N-cadherin and vimentin expressions and upregulation of E-cadherin expression, and FN1 overexpression obviously attenuated the inhibitory effect of CEACAM6 overexpression on ITGA5 and ITGB1 expressions. CONCLUSIONS CEACAM6 inhibits NPC cell migration and invasion by inhibiting EMT via regulating FN1, ITGA5 and ITGB1 expressions.
Humans ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics* ; Antigens, CD/metabolism* ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; Integrin alpha5/metabolism* ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Cadherins/metabolism* ; Fibronectins ; Integrins

Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotype, sperm morphological characteristics and assisted reproductive therapy efficiency in patients with total globozoospermia.Methods:Four male patients with total globozoospermia were collected during November 2019 to May 2022 from Reproductive Medical and Genetic Center, the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Peripheral blood samples were collected for genetic detection and the whole exome sequencing to explore the pathogenic genes. Semen characteristics, sperm morphology and ultrastructure were analyzed. Four patients were treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) combined with artificial oocyte activation (AOA). Conventional ICSI cycles ( n=9) were selected as control group, and the development dynamic parameters were monitored by Time-lapse. The fertilization and embryo development parameters, developmental dynamic parameters and clinical outcomes were analyzed between the two groups. Results:Four patients were complicated with low sperm motility and increased sperm DNA fragmentation. Sperm morphology analysis and acrosome fluorescence staining represented that all the spermatozoas were with a small round head lacked of acrosome. By the transmission electron microscope, it was observed that round-headed spermatozoas were lacked of acrosome completely, loose chromatin structure, vacuolation and other abnormal changes in the head, mitochondrial sheath in neck were reduced arranged in disorder, and the structure of "9+2" of the flagellar axial filament was incomplete. Of the 4 patients, 1 was homozygous deletion of DPY19L2 gene and 1 was homozygous frameshift mutation of DPY19L2 gene. There were no significance differences in fertilization rate, two pronuclei fertilization rate, day 3 high-quality embryo rate, day 6 blastocyst formation rate and day 6 high-quality blastocyst formation rate between total globozoospermia group and control group (all P>0.05). The developmental dynamic parameters as the time at which the second polar body is extruded, the time when both (or the last) PN disappear, two to six discrete cells in the total globozoospermia group were significantly earlier than those in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the embryo cleavage patterns between the two groups ( P>0.05). Among the 4 patients with total globozoospermia, 2 live births with signal healthy male baby were achieved by fresh embryo transfer, and 2 live births with one signal healthy male baby and one healthy female baby were achieved by frozen-thawed embryo transfer respectively. Conclusion:Abnormal morphology characteristics of spermatozoas from patients with total globozoospermia are obvious, patients with total globozoospermia could have favorable clinical outcomes following ICSI combined with AOA.

Inducing the degradation of KRAS represents a novel strategy to combat cancers with KRAS mutation. In this study, we identify ubiquitin-specific protease 2 (USP2) as a novel deubiquitinating enzyme of KRAS in multiple myeloma (MM). Specifically, we demonstrate that gambogic acid (GA) forms a covalent bond with the cysteine 284 residue of USP2 through an allosteric pocket, inhibiting its deubiquitinating activity. Inactivation or knockdown of USP2 leads to the degradation of KRAS, resulting in the suppression of MM cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, overexpressing USP2 stabilizes KRAS and partially abrogates GA-induced apoptosis in MM cells. Furthermore, elevated USP2 levels may be associated with poorer prognoses in MM patients. These findings highlight the potential of the USP2/KRAS axis as a therapeutic target in MM, suggesting that strategically inducing KRAS degradation via USP2 inhibition could be a promising approach for treating cancers with KRAS mutations.

Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotype, sperm morphological characteristics and assisted reproductive therapy efficiency in patients with total globozoospermia.Methods:Four male patients with total globozoospermia were collected during November 2019 to May 2022 from Reproductive Medical and Genetic Center, the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Peripheral blood samples were collected for genetic detection and the whole exome sequencing to explore the pathogenic genes. Semen characteristics, sperm morphology and ultrastructure were analyzed. Four patients were treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) combined with artificial oocyte activation (AOA). Conventional ICSI cycles ( n=9) were selected as control group, and the development dynamic parameters were monitored by Time-lapse. The fertilization and embryo development parameters, developmental dynamic parameters and clinical outcomes were analyzed between the two groups. Results:Four patients were complicated with low sperm motility and increased sperm DNA fragmentation. Sperm morphology analysis and acrosome fluorescence staining represented that all the spermatozoas were with a small round head lacked of acrosome. By the transmission electron microscope, it was observed that round-headed spermatozoas were lacked of acrosome completely, loose chromatin structure, vacuolation and other abnormal changes in the head, mitochondrial sheath in neck were reduced arranged in disorder, and the structure of "9+2" of the flagellar axial filament was incomplete. Of the 4 patients, 1 was homozygous deletion of DPY19L2 gene and 1 was homozygous frameshift mutation of DPY19L2 gene. There were no significance differences in fertilization rate, two pronuclei fertilization rate, day 3 high-quality embryo rate, day 6 blastocyst formation rate and day 6 high-quality blastocyst formation rate between total globozoospermia group and control group (all P>0.05). The developmental dynamic parameters as the time at which the second polar body is extruded, the time when both (or the last) PN disappear, two to six discrete cells in the total globozoospermia group were significantly earlier than those in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the embryo cleavage patterns between the two groups ( P>0.05). Among the 4 patients with total globozoospermia, 2 live births with signal healthy male baby were achieved by fresh embryo transfer, and 2 live births with one signal healthy male baby and one healthy female baby were achieved by frozen-thawed embryo transfer respectively. Conclusion:Abnormal morphology characteristics of spermatozoas from patients with total globozoospermia are obvious, patients with total globozoospermia could have favorable clinical outcomes following ICSI combined with AOA.

Objective:To explore the consistency of MRI-based ovarian-adnexal report and data system (O-RADS) score and its diagnostic value for ovarian adnexal masses.Methods:The MRI data of 309 patients with ovarian adnexal masses confirmed by pathology were retrospectively collected from January 2017 to August 2021 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, including 327 lesions consisted of 250 benign lesions, 21 borderline lesions, and 56 malignant lesions confirmed by pathology. Borderline and malignant lesions were classified into the malignant group ( n=77) and benign lesions were classified as benign group ( n=250). Two radiologists scored all lesions according to the MRI-based O-RADS, and scored again after 6 months. The proportion of borderline/malignant lesions in each MRI-based O-RADS score was calculated. The weighted Kappa test was used to assess the intra-reader and inter-reader consistency of the image interpretation results. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of MRI-based O-RADS classification for distinguishing benign and malignant ovarian adnexal masses. Results:The weighted Kappa value of the MRI-based O-RADS score between the two radiologists was 0.810 (95%CI 0.764-0.855), and the weighted Kappa values of the two radiologists′ scores at different times were 0.848 (95%CI 0.806-0.889) and 0.875 (95%CI 0.835-0.914), respectively. The borderline/malignant lesions accounted for 0/16, 0.8% (1/127), 10.1% (10/99), 76.0% (57/75), 9/10 and 0/17, 0 (0/122), 8.0% (8/100), 76.2% (48/63), and 84.0% (21/25) of the lesions in the two radiologists based on the MRI O-RADS score of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. When adopting O-RADS score>3 as a cut-off value, the area under the ROC curve of the two radiologists for distinguishing benign and malignant ovarian adnexal masses was 0.928 (95%CI 0.895-0.954) and 0.942 (95%CI 0.911-0.965), respectively. The sensitivity was 0.857 and 0.896, the specificity was 0.924 and 0.924, and the accuracy was 0.908 and 0.917 respectively.Conclusion:The MRI-based O-RADS yields high diagnostic efficiency in the evaluation of benign and malignant ovarian adnexal masses, and the intra-reader and inter-reader consistency of the image interpretation is strong.

Objective To establish a solvent desorption inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for determination of iodine in workplace air. Methods Iodine in workplace air was collected with alkaline activated carbon tube and desorbed with 10.0 mL pure water or 20 mmol/L sodium bicarbonate solution. Rhenium-185 was used as an internal standard for quantification. The sample was determined in standard mode and kinetic energy discrimination collision (KED) mode by ICP-MS. Results In standard mode, iodine showed a good linear range in the concentration of 9.0 to 1 100.0 μg/L, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 3 and a detection limit of 2.7 μg/L. In KED mode, iodine showed a good linear range in the concentration of 24.3 to 800.0 μg/L, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 1 and a detection limit of 7.3 μg/L. The average desorption efficiency using pure water ranged from 99.1% to 106.7%, with within-run relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.1% to 8.0% and between-run RSD of 4.9% to 9.3%. The average desorption efficiency using sodium bicarbonate solution ranged from 96.5% to 105.3%, with within-run RSD of 4.9% to 8.6% and between-run RSD of 2.5% to 9.9%. There were no statistical significant differences in the main effects of desorption solution, ICP-MS detection mode, their interaction on average desorption efficiency and within-run RSD (all P>0.05). Samples could be stored at room temperature for at least 7 days. Conclusion This method is highly sensitive, accurate, and suitable for the determination of iodine in workplace air. The sample pretreatment is simple and rapid.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of new oral anticoagulants （NOACs） and warfarin in the treatment of left ventricular thrombus （LVT）， and to provide evidenced-based reference for rational drug use in clinic. METHODS Retrieved from PubMed， Cochrane Library， Embase， Ovid Medline， CNKI， Wanfang and VIP during the inceptions to March 2022， after screening the literature and extracting data， the quality of randomized controlled trials （RCTs） was evaluated by using bias risk evaluation tool recommended by Cochrane systematic evaluator manual. Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of cohort studies， and RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis and bias risk analysis. RESULTS A total of 13 studies were included in the analysis， including 2 RCTs， 11 cohort studies and 2 261 patients； results of meta-analysis showed that there was no statistical significance in the incidence of complete LVT resolution [OR＝1.05， 95%CI（0.81，1.37）， P＝0.71]， the incidence of stroke/systemic embolism [OR＝0.89， 95%CI（0.67，1.18）， P＝0.42]， the incidence of massive haemorrhage [OR＝ 0.61， 95%CI（0.19，1.97）， P＝0.41]， the incidence of rehospitalization [OR＝0.84， 95%CI（0.49，1.46）， P＝0.54] or all-cause mortality [OR＝0.93， 95%CI（0.56，1.56）， P＝0.79] between 2 groups. The incidence of any bleeding event in trial group was significantly lower than that control group[OR＝ 025-80863493。0.65， 95%CI（0.45，0.93）， P＝0.02]. Subgroup analysis showed that complete LVT resolution of patients with follow-up ≤6 months in trial group was significantly higher than control group， and the incidence of any bleeding event was significantly lower in patients with follow-up ＞6 months and in the European region than control group （P＜0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of complete LVT resolution in patients with follow-up＞6 months， the incidence of any bleeding event in patients from Asia and America， or the incidence of any bleeding event in the two groups included in the RCT or the cohort study （P＞0.05）. The publication bias analysis showed that publication bias was less likely in the rate of complete LVT resolution but more likely in the incidence of any bleeding event. CONCLUSIONS NOACs can eliminate thrombus faster in the early stage， but with the prolongation of anticoagulation time， the efficacy of NOACs is comparable to warfarin， and the safety of NOACs in any bleeding event is better than warfarin.

Understanding the connection between brain and behavior in animals requires precise monitoring of their behaviors in three-dimensional (3-D) space. However, there is no available three-dimensional behavior capture system that focuses on rodents. Here, we present MouseVenue3D, an automated and low-cost system for the efficient capture of 3-D skeleton trajectories in markerless rodents. We improved the most time-consuming step in 3-D behavior capturing by developing an automatic calibration module. Then, we validated this process in behavior recognition tasks, and showed that 3-D behavioral data achieved higher accuracy than 2-D data. Subsequently, MouseVenue3D was combined with fast high-resolution miniature two-photon microscopy for synchronous neural recording and behavioral tracking in the freely-moving mouse. Finally, we successfully decoded spontaneous neuronal activity from the 3-D behavior of mice. Our findings reveal that subtle, spontaneous behavior modules are strongly correlated with spontaneous neuronal activity patterns.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods* ; Mice ; Neuroimaging ; Rodentia