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BACKGROUND: Elevated level of interleukin-8 (IL-8) promotes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and contributes to poor prognosis. Previously, we have proved that Dicer inhibits HCC progression. In this study, we evaluated the potential interaction between IL-8 and Dicer as well as their influence on HCC. METHODS: Hepatocellular carcinoma cells of SMMC-7721 were divided into 2 groups for subsequent analysis: pCMV-Dicer group for Dicer-overexpressing lentivirus transfected cells (pCMV-Dicer cells) and pCMV-NC group for empty lentivirus transfected cells (pCMV-NC cells). Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK8), wound healing, and transwell were used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Dicer overexpression on proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. The level of IL-8 was measured by flow cytometry bead-based immunoassays. Male nude BALB/c mice injected with pCMV-Dicer or pCMV-NC cell suspensions was used for transplant of HCC tumor. RESULTS: We found that the secretion of IL-8 was reduced in the medium of pCMV-Dicer cells (P = .027). Recombinant human IL-8 (rhIL-8) reversed the inhibitory effect of Dicer on proliferation (P < .01), migration (P = .003), and invasion (P = .001), whereas IL-8 inhibitor of reparixin enhanced inhibitory effect of Dicer on proliferation (P < .05), migration (P = .008), and invasion (P = .000). Lenvatinib downregulated the IL-8 level of HCC cells (P = .000) as well as promote Dicer-induced inhibition for HCC cells referring to proliferation (P < .05), migration (P = .000), and invasion (P = .000). Animal experiments also demonstrated that Dicer cooperated with lenvatinib to inhibit the growth of HCC tumors (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Dicer cooperated with lenvatinib to inhibit HCC growth via downregulating IL-8, and Dicer displayed its potential capability to enhance the anti-tumor effect of lenvatinib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To date, the repeated breakout of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across many regions in China has caused continuous physical and mental harm to health care workers. This study investigates the psychological burden of the pandemic and its associated risk factors among Chinese healthcare workers (HCWs) during a single wave of COVID-19. Methods: For this cross-sectional web-based survey conducted fromJanuary 16, 2022 to February 5, 2022, a total of 412 HCWs from Northwestern China were recruited. Their socio-demographic data and COVID-19 related survey variables were then collected using online self-rating questionnaires. In addition, the Chinese versions of well-validated instruments, including the 12- item General Health Questionnaire for psychiatric morbidity, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 for anxiety, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression and the Insomnia Severity Index-7 for insomnia, were used to assess the participants' mental health status. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was eventually performed to identify the risk factors associated with the psychological outcomes. Results: Of the 388 participants who were included in the final study (94.17% response rate), the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms were 25.3% (95% CI: 20.9-29.6%), 40.7% (95% CI: 35.8-45.6%), and 30.9% (95% CI: 26.3-35.5%), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that being a woman and having a perceived need for psychological support were risk factors for all psychological outcomes, while poor disease cognition and perceived susceptibility were risk factors for anxiety. Poor disease cognition and being unvaccinated against COVID-19 were risk factors for depression, with the latter also being an independent risk factor for insomnia. Conclusion: This study has identified a relatively lower prevalence rate of psychological disorders among Chinese HCWs during a single wave, deeper into the COVID-19 pandemic. Female HCWs, and those who had a perceived need for psychological support, had poor disease cognition, were perceived as susceptible to COVID-19 and had not been vaccinated against COVID-19 deserve more attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for producing biomass seedling trays with cow manure was developed based on heating to above the glass transition point of the lignin in cow dung. The maize seedling tray, manufactured through heat compression molding, could potentially meet the demand for transplanting maize seedlings. A scanning electron microscope and universal testing machine were used to compare the changes in the internal structure and mechanical properties of the seedling tray before and after the seeding period through a compression molding technique at normal temperature before seeding and a heat compression molding technique after seeding. The results showed that the strength of the seedling tray was mainly derived from the mechanical setting force of the fiber laminated in the seedling tray. Meanwhile, the moisture in the seedling tray hindered the lignin from filling in the gaps between the stem fibers in cow manure, as well as it reduced the protective effect of lignin on the laminated inlay structure of the stem fibers in cow manure. Therefore, under the premise that the material could be completely filled in the mold, the study concluded that a lower moisture content resulted in better strength and water resistance of the seedling tray. As such, this study provides an idea for the functional utilization of cow manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that circRNAs serve as critical roles in human cancer, including GC. In the present study, we focused on the detailed function and mechanism of circ 0000144 on GC progression. Methods: The levels of circ 0000144, miR-623 and G-protein-coupled receptor, family C, group 5, member A (GPRC5A) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Targeted relationships among circ 0000144, miR-623 and GPRC5A were confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Cell proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation, flow cytometry and transwell assays. Measurement of glutamine and α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) levels was performed using a corresponding assay kit. GPRC5A protein expression was detected using Western blot. In vivo assays were used to explore the impact of circ 0000144 on tumor growth. Results: Our data indicated that circ 0000144 was up-regulated and miR-623 was down-regulated in GC tissues and cells. Circ 0000144 interacted with miR-623 through directly binding to miR-623. Moreover, the knockdown of circ 0000144 weakened GC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion and glutaminolysis and accelerated cell apoptosis by up-regulating miR-623. GPRC5A was a direct target of miR-623 and circ 0000144 protected against GPRC5A repression through sponging miR-623. Furthermore, miR-623-mediated regulation on GC cell progression was reversed by the stored expression of GPRC5A. Additionally, circ 0000144 depletion inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion: Our study indicated that circ-0000144 knockdown repressed GC progression at least partly by regulating GPRC5A expression via sponging miR-623, illumining a novel therapeutic target for GC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Significant anxiety symptoms are associated with poor clinical course and outcome in major depressive disorder (MDD). This single-arm, open-label study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram treatment in patients with MDD and anxiety symptoms. Methods: Adult patients with MDD and anxiety symptoms (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale [MADRS] ≥22 and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale [HAM-A] ≥14) were enrolled and received escitalopram (10-20 mg/day) treatment for 24 weeks. Symptom status was assessed by MADRS, 17-item-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, HAM-A, and Clinical Global Impression Scale at baseline and the following visits. Quality of life was assessed by Short Form-12, and safety was evaluated by adverse events, laboratory investigations, vital signs, and physical findings. Results: Overall, 200 of 318 (66.2%) enrolled patients completed the 24-week treatment. The remission (MADRS ≤10 and HAM-A ≤7) rate in the full analysis set (N=285) was 73.3% (95% confidence interval: 67.80, 78.38) at week 24. Mean (± standard deviation) MADRS total score was 33.4 (±7.13) and HAM-A score was 27.6 (±7.26) at baseline, which reduced to 6.6 (±10.18) and 6.0 (±8.39), respectively, at week 24. Patients with higher baseline depression and anxiety level took longer to achieve similar remission rates. Overall, 80 of the 302 (26.5%) patients included in the safety set reported at least 1 treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE). Most frequently reported TEAEs (.2%) were headache (4.0%), nasopharyngitis (3.6%), nausea (3.0%), and dizziness (2.6%). Serious TEAEs were reported by 1.3% patients; no deaths were reported. Conclusion: Escitalopram 10-20 mg/day was effective and well-tolerated in the long-term treatment of MDD with anxiety symptoms in adult Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have multiple impairments in movement, learning, and the activities of daily living. Studies from other countries have associated these impairments with cognitive function, particularly executive functioning, but these findings have not been confirmed in China. Aim: Compare the executive functioning of children with DCD with that of normal children. Methods: The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was administered to 39 children who met DSM-IV criteria of DCD identified at the Seventh People's Hospital of Hangzhou from March 2008 through March 2010. The WCST was also administered to a control group of 39 randomly selected children from one elementary school in Hangzhou. Results: The total responses on the WCST and the number of non-perseverative errors for cases and controls were similar, but cases had significantly more errors, more perseverative responses and more perseverative errors; moreover, they completed fewer categories than controls and required more trials to complete the first category. Conclusion: Our study confirms previous studies which show significantly impaired executive functioning in patients with DCD. Collectively, these studies suggest that the deficits in executive functioning of children with DCD significantly impair their intellectual and social development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]