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Strand-selection is the final step of microRNA biogenesis in which functional mature miRNAs are generated from one or both arms of precursor. The preference of strand-selection is diverse during development and tissue formation, however, its pathological effect is still unknown. Here we find that two miRNA arms from the same precursor, miR-574-5p and miR-574-3p, are inversely expressed and play exactly opposite roles in gastric cancer progression. Higher-5p with lower-3p expression pattern is significantly correlated with higher TNM stages and poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients. The increase of miR-574-5p/-3p ratio, named miR-574 arm-imbalance is partially due to the dynamic expression of their highly complementary targets in gastric carcinogenesis, moreover, the arm-imbalance of miR-574 is in turn involved and further promotes gastric cancer progression. Our results indicate that miR-574 arm-imbalance contribute to gastric cancer progression and re-modification of the miR-574-targets homeostasis may represent a promising strategy for gastric cancer therapy.

Background Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a relatively good predictor of insulin resistance, an indicator that is associated with atherosclerosis. There are few studies on the correlation between TyG index and symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) . And there is no evidence definitely determining the relationship between TyG index and carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly. Objective To perform an analysis of the relationship of TyG index with coronary and carotid atherosclerosis, to assess its predictive value for large artery atherosclerosis. Methods A single-center retrospective design was used. Inpatients with suspected CAD in Lanzhou University Second Hospital were enrolled from January 2018 to January 2021. General clinical characteristics, carotid ultrasonography and coronary angiography results obtained from the electronic hospital information system, as well as calculated TyG index, Framingham Risk score, and Gensini score were collected. Results A total of 1 232 cases were enrolled. Correlation analysis showed that the Framingham Risk score, risk of CAD, obstructive CAD, and Gensini score increased with the growth of TyG index value (P0.05) ; CAD and obstructive CAD were positively correlated with carotid atherosclerosis, mean IMT, cPS and Framingham risk score (P

In this work, the effects of different functional groups on the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer behavior and fluorescent features of 3‐hydroxy‐2‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one (HFN) are explored in detail. Three new compounds (HFN‐1, HFN‐2, and HFN‐3) are designed based on the HFN by introducing the electron‐donating groups (–NH2, –N(CH3)2). The mainly geometrical parameters of optimized configuration showed that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the studied compounds are enhanced in the excited (S1) state, confirming by the ground (S0) and excited states infrared spectra, electron densities and reduced density gradient isosurfaces. The S0 → S1 transitions of HFN derivatives are dominated by ππ* charge transfer transition. The introduction of electron‐donating group (–NH2, –N(CH3)2) weakens the intramolecular hydrogen bond, increases the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer barrier and red‐shifts the absorption/fluorescence peak. The coexistence of –NH2 and –N(CH3)2 make the absorption and fluorescence wavelengths of HFN‐1/HFN‐2 red‐shift/blue‐shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is a complex and chronic disease characterized by lipid deposition in the vessel wall that leads to an inflammatory and proliferative cascade involving smooth muscle, endothelial, and immune cells. Despite substantial improvements in our understanding of mechanisms contributing to atherosclerosis and overall reduction in cardiovascular mortality, the absolute disease burden remains substantially high. The recent discovery of a new group of mediators known as long noncoding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) offers a unique opportunity for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools in atherothrombotic disease. A number of studies suggest that lncRNAs are important mediators in health and disease, and rapidly accumulating evidence implicates lncRNAs in regulatory circuits controlling atherosclerosis. In this review, the authors outline important contributions of lncRNAs to atherosclerosis and its associated risk factors, including hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

Nuclear receptors regulate gene expression in response to environmental cues, but the molecular events governing the cell type specificity of nuclear receptors remain poorly understood. Here we outline a role for a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in modulating the cell type-specific actions of liver X receptors (LXRs), sterol-activated nuclear receptors that regulate the expression of genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis and that have been causally linked to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We identify the lncRNA MeXis as an amplifier of LXR-dependent transcription of the gene Abca1, which is critical for regulation of cholesterol efflux. Mice lacking the MeXis gene show reduced Abca1 expression in a tissue-selective manner. Furthermore, loss of MeXis in mouse bone marrow cells alters chromosome architecture at the Abca1 locus, impairs cellular responses to cholesterol overload, and accelerates the development of atherosclerosis. Mechanistic studies reveal that MeXis interacts with and guides promoter binding of the transcriptional coactivator DDX17. The identification of MeXis as a lncRNA modulator of LXR-dependent gene expression expands understanding of the mechanisms underlying cell type-selective actions of nuclear receptors in physiology and disease.

Polar offshore engineering equipment provides a major platform and symbolizes the strength of China to participate in Arctic offshore oil and gas development. Currently, the design, construction, and support capacities of China’s polar offshore engineering equipment are not internationally recognized, which does not match with the large shipbuilding sector of China. In this article, we analyze the development demand for polar offshore engineering equipment in China, present the application status of these equipment, investigate the key technologies, and summarize the existing problems regarding these equipment in China. Furthermore, we propose the establishment of a research and application innovation project of common key technologies for Arctic offshore oil and gas exploration and development, an international research and development center for polar offshore oil and gas engineering technologies, and a China–Russia Arctic energy joint venture company. This study centers on the coordination of the Arctic development and environmental protection capabilities, and aims to provide a reference for developing the polar offshore engineering equipment in China and provide guidance for China’s participation in Arctic oil and gas development.

The binary nitride coatings corresponding to Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, and Ta have good thermal stability, hardening wear resistance, and high-temperature oxidation resistance. Therefore, the high-entropy alloy nitride coating composed of these five elements is expected to show excellent mechanical properties, and it is suitable for extending tool life in dry-cutting environments. In this paper, (TiZrNbMoTa)Nx high-entropy nitride films were synthesized using a multitarget nonequilibrium magnetron sputtering technique. The paper aimed at investigating the effects of different nitrogen flow rates (FN) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the films. The results show that, with the increase in FN, the deposition rate gradually decreased, the films exhibited a face-centered cubic structure, and the grain gradually changed from coarse columnar crystals to ultrafine grain structures. The hardness, elastic modulus, and binding force all showed a tendency to increase and then decreased with increasing FN. The hardness and elastic modulus reached their maximum values of 34.39 and 400.97 GPa, respectively, at an FN of 60 SCCM, and the formation of covalent bonds and grain refinement promoted the increase in hardness. This research provided a theoretical foundation for designing and preparing high-entropy ceramic coatings with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism and photophysical properties of three –CN-substituted (2-(4-(diethylamino)phenyl)- 3-mercapto-4H-chromen-4-one (3-NTF) compounds (3NTF-1, 3NTF-2, 3NTF-3) have been studied systematically based on density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) methods. We analysed the structural parameters, infrared frequencies and electron densities of the studied compounds, and found that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IHBs) at tautomer form are weakened in the excited (S1) state. The weaker IHB at tautomer form is beneficial to ESIPT process. The potential energy curves (PECs) were established and showed that the ESIPT processes of 3NTF-1 and 3NTF-2 are barrierless. The ESIPT process of 3NTF-3 needs to overcome a very low energy barrier. The electron-withdrawing group (–CN) increases the energy barrier of ground state intramolecular proton transfer (GSIPT) process in 3NTF. The order of GSIPT barrier is consistent with the order of their IHB strengths of normal forms. When the electron-withdrawing group (–CN) was introduced, the absorption and fluorescence peaks red-shifted. Two –CN groups resulted in the fluorescence peak of 3NTF red-shift more than one –CN group did. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]