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Background/purpose Rapid and accurate identification of pathogens and their antibiotic resistance directly from flagged blood cultures can aid clinicians in optimizing early antibiotic treatment and improve the clinical outcomes, especially in settings associated with high rates of bloodstream infection caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). We compared the results of the BioFire FilmArray Blood Culture Identification (BCID) panel with those of conventional methods for identifying the pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility status. Methods In total, 100 randomly selected positive blood cultures (BACTEC Plus Aerobic/F bottles or BACTEC Anaerobic Lytic/10 bottles) were analyzed. The pathogen detection efficiency of FilmArray BCID panel was compared with that of conventional method using MALDI-TOF MS system (Bruker MALDI Biotyper) and susceptibility testing by the Vitek 2 system. The sequencing analysis of antibiotic resistance genes was performed for discrepant results obtained from MALDI Biotyper and Vitek 2. Results Among the 100 positively flagged blood cultures, 94% of FilmArray BCID panel results were consistent with the MALDI Biotyper results. All five VRE isolates positive for vanA/vanB genes, 10 of 12 Staphylococcus species positive for mecA gene, and only one Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate positive for K. pneumoniae carbapenemase gene (blaKPC) detected in the FilmArray BCID panel were also concordant with results by the results by conventional susceptibility testing/molecular confirmation. Conclusions The FilmArray BCID panel results not only demonstrated good correlation with conventional blood culture identification and susceptibility results but also provided results rapidly, especially for the early detection of MRSA, VRE and blaKPC–mediated CRE.

Objective: Treatment of severe asthma exacerbation could be challenging, especially in the initial hours of acute attack when systemic corticosteroid is yet to take effect. In spite of using inhaled agents, the role of non-invasive ventilation (NIV), including Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP), had been addressed recently. Methods: We reviewed 5-year experience in our hospital for records of patients who were admitted to pediatric intensive care unit because of severe asthma attack. The included admission records from 2012 to 2017 were grouped according to BiPAP use (Yes/No). Clinical parameters (heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), SpO2 and serum pCO2) at selected time intervals of treatment were collected for both groups and analyzed. Results: We included data of 46 admissions from 33 different patients (24 with BiPAP and 21 without BiPAP.) The BiPAP group had significantly higher initial RR as well as higher severity scores compared with the other group (p < 0.001). The RR improved significantly in the following time intervals in BiPAP group. There was no significant difference in HR between groups in any of the time intervals. The serum pCO2 levels decreased significantly after initiation of ventilation support in the BiPAP group, and SpO2 levels improved significantly for both groups. Conclusion: BiPAP seemed efficient in improving respiratory rate and oxygenation in our study. It does not seem to cause additional irritation regarding that HR was not increased in BiPAP group compared with non-BiPAP group. Overall, BiPAP ventilation is safe and efficient in treating children with severe asthma attack.

Atherosclerosis is an immune inflammatory disease and a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is generally considered that a number of potent proinflammatory cytokines have a great influence on its pathogenesis, including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB. A growing amount of empirical evidence indicates that the mechanism of cardiac dysfunction caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the activation of inflammation, but the exact mechanism in atherosclerosis is still unclear. Previous studies have shown that interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (IFIT1) participates in inflammation, but the effects and possible mechanism of action of IFIT1 on proinflammatory response remain largely unexplained. We found that LPS induced upregulation of IFIT1 expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Overexpression of IFIT1 significantly upregulated LPS-induced expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB in HUVECs. IFIT1-siRNA treatment dramatically decreased LPS-induced expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB in HUVECs. The above results show that LPS induces expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB through upregulating IFIT1 expression in HUVECs, and suggested that IFIT1 could act as potential therapeutic target to ameliorate atherosclerosis-related diseases.

In Taiwan, the vaccination program started in March 2021, with ChAdOx1-S being the first available WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine, followed by Moderna vaccine. This study aimed to investigate the immunogenicity and safety of homologous and heterologous prime-boost regimens with ChAdOx1-S and mRNA-1273.From March to November 2021, homologous or heterologous regimens with ChAdOx1-S and mRNA-1273 vaccination (ChAdOx1-S/ChAdOx1-S, mRNA-1273/mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1-S/mRNA-1273) were given to 945 healthy participants. Serum samples were collected at designated time points. The anti-RBD/S1 antibody titers and neutralizing ability were measured by three different immunoassays: Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), AdviseDx SARS-CoV-2 IgG II (Abbott Diagnostics Division, Sligo, Ireland), and cPass™ SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit (GenScript, New Jersey, USA).We found that heterologous vaccination with ChAdOx1-S/mRNA-1273 had an acceptable safety profile and induced higher total anti-RBD/S1 antibody production (p 0.0001), yet lower anti-RBD/S1 IgG titer (p 0.0001) and neutralizing ability (p = 0.0101) than mRNA-1273/mRNA-1273 group. Both regimens showed higher antibody titers and superior neutralizing abilities than ChAdOx1-S/ChAdOx1-S. An age-dependent antibody response to ChAdOx1-S/mRNA-1273 was shown after both the priming and the booster doses. Younger age was associated with higher antibody production and neutralizing ability.Heterologous ChAdOx1-S/mRNA-1273 vaccination regimen is generally safe and induces a robust humoral immune response that is non-inferior to that of mRNA-1273/mRNA-1273.

Atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases pose severe threats to human health worldwide. There is evidence to suggest that at least 50% of foam cells in atheromas are derived from vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs); the first step in this process involves migration to human atherosclerotic lesions. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play significant roles in diverse biological processes. The present study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNAs in VSMCs. The expression of lncRNAs or mRNAs was detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The Gene Expression Omnibus datasets in the NCBI portal were searched using the key words 'Atherosclerosis AND tissue AND Homo sapiens' and the {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE12288","term_id":"12288"}}GSE12288 dataset. Gene expression in circulating leukocytes was measured to identify patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or controls, and used to analyze the correlation coefficient and expression profiles. The protein level of ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 1 (ABCG1) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)3 was determined using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. The analysis of mouse aortic roots was performed using Masson's and Oil Red O staining. The expression of lncRNA {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL355711","term_id":"7799156","term_text":"AL355711"}}AL355711, ABCG1 and MMP3 was found to be higher in human atherosclerotic plaques or in patients with atherosclerotic CAD. The correlation analysis revealed that ABCG1 may be involved in the regulation between lncRNA {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL355711","term_id":"7799156","term_text":"AL355711"}}AL355711 and MMP3 in atherosclerotic CAD. The knockdown of lncRNA {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL355711","term_id":"7799156","term_text":"AL355711"}}AL355711 inhibited ABCG1 transcription and smooth muscle cell migration. In addition, lncRNA {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL355711","term_id":"7799156","term_text":"AL355711"}}AL355711 was found to regulate MMP3 expression through the ABCG1 pathway. The expression of ABCG1 and MMP3 was found to be high in an animal model of atherosclerosis. The results indicated that lncRNA {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL355711","term_id":"7799156","term_text":"AL355711"}}AL355711 promoted VSMC migration and atherosclerosis partly via the ABCG1/MMP3 pathway. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the inhibition of lncRNA {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL355711","term_id":"7799156","term_text":"AL355711"}}AL355711 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for atherosclerosis. lncRNA {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL355711","term_id":"7799156","term_text":"AL355711"}}AL355711 in circulating leukocytes may be a novel biomarker for atherosclerotic CAD.

Background and aims Many clinical trials have demonstrated that statins convey protective effects against atherosclerosis independent of cholesterol-lowering capacities. Other evidence indicates that pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death, is likely involved in atherosclerosis, but the effects and mechanisms of statins on pyroptosis must be further revealed. Methods Here, we explored the effects and mechanisms of atorvastatin on pyroptosis in human vascular endothelial cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Results Atorvastatin upregulated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEXN-AS1 and the expression of NEXN at both the mRNA and protein levels in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Atorvastatin inhibited pyroptosis by decreasing the expression levels of the canonical inflammasome pathway biomarkers NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18 at both the mRNA and protein levels. The promotion effects of atorvastatin on NEXN-AS1 and NEXN expression could be significantly abolished by knockdown of lncRNA NEXN-AS1 or NEXN, and its inhibitory effects on pyroptosis were also markedly offset by knock-down of lncRNA NEXN-AS1 or interference of NEXN. Conclusions These results demonstrated that atorvastatin regulated pyroptosis via the lncRNA NEXN-AS1-NEXN pathway, which provides a new insight into the mechanism of how atorvastatin promotes non-lipid-lower effects against the development of atherosclerosis and gives new directions on how to reverse atherosclerosis.

Long noncoding (lnc)RNAs have been implicated in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. However, the expression and mechanism of action of lncRNAs in atherosclerosis are still unclear. We implemented microarray analysis in human advanced atherosclerotic plaques and normal arterial intimae to detect the lncRNA and mRNA expression profile. Gene Ontology functional enrichment and pathway analyses were applied to explore the potential functions and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. A total of 236 lncRNAs and 488 mRNAs were selected for further Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Moreover, quantitative RT-PCR tests of most selected lncRNAs and mRNAs with high fold changes were consistent with the microarray data. We also performed ELISA to investigate the corresponding proteins levels of selected genes and showed that serum levels of SPP1, CD36, ATP6V0D2, CHI3L1, MYH11, and BDNF were differentially expressed in patients with coronary heart disease compared with healthy subjects. These proteins correlated with some biochemical parameters used in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic analysis showed a favorable diagnostic performance. The microarray profiling analysis and validation of differentially-expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in atherosclerosis not only provide new insights into the pathogenesis of this disease but may also reveal new biomarkers for its diagnosis and treatment.

Atherosclerosis is a complex inflammatory disease that involves disrupted cellular cholesterol levels and formation of foam cells. Studies about long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) have revealed its function in the development of atherosclerosis, by mediating reverse cholesterol transport and formation of foam cells. In this study, we found that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) markedly decreased lncRNA AC096664.3 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and THP-1 macrophages. We also found that ox-LDL reduced ATP-binding cassette (ABC) G1 through inhibiting lncRNA AC096664.3 in VSMCs. Further experiments showed that the downregulation of lncRNA AC096664.3 reduced ABCG1 expression through inhibiting the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) and that ox-LDL reduced ABCG1 expression through inhibiting the expression of PPAR-γ. Furthermore, we discovered that ox-LDL inhibited ABCG1 via the lncRNA AC096664.3/PPAR-γ/ABCG1 pathway, which led to an increase in total and free cholesterol in VMSCs. Thus, we confirmed that ox-LDL induces cholesterol accumulation via the lncRNA AC096664.3/PPAR-γ/ABCG1 pathway in VSMCs, indicating a promising novel therapy in protecting against atherosclerosis.

Background The aim of this study was to define the performance characteristics of the Mindray chemiluminescence assay for anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) detection. Designs and methods Intra‐assay and total imprecision, analytical sensitivity, linearity, and interference were compared between the Mindray and Roche assays using pools of human serum according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocols. Additionally, male and female reference intervals were established using serum specimens collected from otherwise healthy groups and patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Results The intra‐assay and total imprecision percent coefficients of variation for low and high AMH serum levels were 2.74%/ 3.01% and 5.41%/5.35% respectively. The limits of blank, detection, and quantitation were 0.007, 0.01, and 0.03 ng/ml, respectively. The assay displayed good linearity over the range of 0.01–23 ng/ml. The coefficient of determination (R 2) of the Mindray versus Roche assays was 0.9713 with 411 samples with AMH concentrations ranging from 0.014 to 22.1 ng/ml. The slope and intercept of the regression equation were 0.9687 and 0.3419, respectively. There was no significant interference from triglycerides (up to 3000 mg/dl), bilirubin (up to 50 mg/dl), hemoglobin (up to 500 mg/dl), or total protein (up to 10 g/dl). Reference intervals showed the expected decrease in serum AMH levels with age in healthy women and increased levels in women with PCOS. Conclusion The Mindray AMH assay demonstrated acceptable analytical performance under routine conditions and is suitable for determining AMH levels in serum samples., The median AMH value in healthy men was higher than that in healthy women. Women diagnosed with PCOS showed the highest median value of AMH. In healthy women, median AMH values declined with increasing age.

Objective: Noncoding RNAs are emerging as important players in gene regulation and cardiovascular diseases. Their roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the role played by a previously uncharacterized long noncoding RNA, RP11-728F11.4, in the development of atherosclerosis and the mechanisms by which it acts. Approach and Results: Expression microarray analysis revealed that atherosclerotic plaques had increased expression of RP11-728F11.4 as well as the cognate gene FXYD6 (FXYD domain containing ion transport regulator 6), which encodes a modulator of Na + /K + -ATPase. In vitro experiments showed that RP11-728F11.4 interacted with the RNA-binding protein EWSR1 (Ewings sarcoma RNA binding protein-1) and upregulated FXYD6 expression. Lentivirus-induced overexpression of RP11-728F11.4 in cultured monocytes-derived macrophages resulted in higher Na + /K + -ATPase activity, intracellular cholesterol accumulation, and increased proinflammatory cytokine production. The effects of RP11-728F11.4 were enhanced by siRNA-mediated knockdown of EWSR1 and reduced by downregulation of FXYD domain containing ion transport regulator 6. In vivo experiments in apoE knockout mice fed a Western diet demonstrated that RP11-728F11.4 increased proinflammatory cytokine production and augmented atherosclerotic lesions. Conclusions: RP11-728F11.4 promotes atherosclerosis, with an influence on cholesterol homeostasis and proinflammatory molecule production, thus representing a potential therapeutic target. Graphic Abstract: A graphic abstract is available for this article.

We evaluated simple laboratory variables to discriminate COVID-19 from bacterial pneumonia or influenza and for the prospective grading of COVID-19. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were used to estimate the diagnostic performance of the significant discriminating variables. A comparative analysis was performed with different severity. The leukocytosis (P = 0.017) and eosinopenia (P = 0.001) were discriminating variables between COVID-19 and bacterial pneumonia with AUC of 0.778 and 0.825. Monocytosis (P = 0.003), the decreased lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) (P, Highlights • Laboratory features help differential diagnosis and the grade of COVID-19. • Leukocytosis and eosinopenia discriminate COVID-19 from bacterial pneumonia. • Monocytosis, NLR, and LMR distinguish COVID-19 from influenza. • Age, NLR, SAA, LDH, CD3+ cells, and FDP assist the stratification of COVID-19.

Atherosclerosis is a progressive, chronic inflammation in arterial walls. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in inflammation, but the exact mechanism in atherosclerosis is unclear. Our microarray analyses revealed that the levels of lncRNA-FA2H-2 were significantly decreased by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL). Bioinformatics analyses indicated that mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) might be regulated by lncRNA-FA2H-2. In vitro experiments showed that lncRNA-FA2H-2 interacted with the promoter of the MLKL gene, downregulated MLKL expression, and the binding sites between −750 and 471 were necessary for lncRNA-FA2H-2 responsiveness to MLKL. Silencing lncRNA-FA2H-2 and overexpression of MLKL could activate inflammation and inhibited autophagy flux. Both lncRNA-FA2H-2 knockdown and overexpression of MLKL could significantly aggravate inflammatory responses induced by OX-LDL. We found that the 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and Atg7-shRNA enhanced inflammatory responses induced by knockdown of lncRNA-FA2H-2 and overexpression of MLKL. We demonstrated that the effects of MLKL on autophagy might be associated with a mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent signaling pathways. In vivo experiments with apoE knockout mice fed a western diet demonstrated that LncRNA-FA2H-2 knockdown decreased microtubule-associated expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 II and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1, but increased expression of sequestosome 1 (p62), MLKL, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and interleukin-6 in atherosclerotic lesions. Our findings indicated that the lncRNA-FA2H-2-MLKL pathway is essential for regulation of autophagy and inflammation, and suggested that lncRNA-FA2H-2 and MLKL could act as potential therapeutic targets to ameliorate atherosclerosis-related diseases.

High-resolution imaging of lipids within the artery is of great value to obtain fundamental knowledge about their roles in atherosclerosis, but ideal probes are still lacking. In this study, we report a smart probe, namely, IND with aggregation-induced emission property for two-photon visualization of lipids within cell lines and arteries. Taking advantage of high lipid specificity, deep tissue penetrability, and excellent two-photon imaging performance, IND is capable of high-resolution imaging of lipids in cultured cells and in situ mapping of three-dimensional lipid distributions in mouse atherosclerotic plaques without tedious histological preparations. Importantly, we find that IND exhibits distinct emissive properties in the molecular monomer and dimer states; also, we uncover its remarkable applications for single-excitation dual-color imaging of lipid/water in the tissue microenvironment to reveal the ultra-structure of atherosclerotic plaques. The findings described herein provide a simple tool with minimal disruptive procedures for studying atherosclerosis at the tissue level and a powerful strategy for the development of imaging-based diagnostic techniques with color switching capability.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the leading chronic skin inflammatory disease and the initial manifestation of atopic march. Available evidence supports the notion that primary prevention early in life leads to a decreased incidence of AD, thus possibly decreasing the subsequent occurrence of atopic march. Nutritional status is essential to a proper functioning immune system and is valued for its important role in AD. Essential nutrients, which include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals, are transferred from the mother to the fetus through the placenta during gestation. Various nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and vitamin D, were studied in relation to maternal status and offspring allergy. However, no strong evidence indicates that a single nutrient or food in mothers’ diet significantly affects the risk of childhood AD. In the light of current evidence, mothers should not either increase nor avoid consuming these nutrients to prevent or ameliorate allergic diseases in their offspring. Each essential nutrient has an important role in fetal development, and current government recommendations suggest specific intake amounts for pregnant women. This review discusses evidence on how various nutrients, including lipids (monounsaturated fatty acids, PUFAs, saturated fatty acids, and short-chain fatty acids), carbohydrates (oligosaccharides and polysaccharides), proteins, vitamins (A, B, C, D, and E), and trace minerals (magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, and strontium) in maternal status are associated with the development of AD and their possible mechanisms.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of widespread endogenous noncoding RNAs, have been involved in the development of various diseases, including atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and several types of cancers, but there is little knowledge about their associations with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study is aimed to identify the expression profiles of circRNAs in 6 paired SLE and normal participants plasma samples by using a circRNA microarray. The microarray analysis showed that 207 circRNAs were differentially expressed between these two groups, including 113 upregulated and 94 downregulated circRNAs. Then, we selected 8 circRNAs as candidate biomarkers from the microarray analysis and further verified them in another group of subjects consisting of 24 SLE patients and 24 normal controls using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays (qRT-PCR). Finally, we confirmed four circRNAs that were consistent with the microarray results. In addition, bioinformatics was employed to predict the interaction between validated circRNAs and potential miRNA targets. Taken together, we firstly illustrate the comprehensive expression profiles of circRNAs in SLE patients plasma and lay the foundations to develop circRNAs as novel non-invasive biomarkers for SLE disease in the future.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular inflammatory disease that involves diverse cell types and circulating regulatory factors, including intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, a proinflammatory cytokine. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) increase ICAM-1 expression and promote cell adhesion, but the mechanism is not clear. We found that LPS induced time- and dose-regulated upregulation of ICAM-1 expression and downregulation of forkhead box protein C2 (Foxc2) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Overexpression of Foxc2 significantly inhibited both LPS-induced ICAM-1 expression in HUVECs and LPS-induced adhesion of THP-1 cells to HUVECs. Foxc2 siRNA dramatically increased both LPS-induced ICAM-1 expression and LPS-induced adhesion of THP-1 human monocytes cells to HUVECs. We conclude that Foxc2 inhibited LPS-induced adhesion of THP-1 cells to HUVECs by suppressing ICAM-1 expression in HUVECs.

Noncoding RNAs are emerging as important players in gene regulation and disease pathogeneses. Here, we show that a previously uncharacterized long noncoding RNA, nexilin F-actin binding protein antisense RNA 1 (NEXN-AS1), modulates the expression of the actin-binding protein NEXN and that NEXN exerts a protective role against atherosclerosis. An expression microarray analysis showed that the expression of both NEXN-AS1 and NEXN was reduced in human atherosclerotic plaques. In vitro experiments revealed that NEXN-AS1 interacted with the chromatin remodeler BAZ1A and the 5' flanking region of the NEXN gene and that it also upregulated NEXN expression. Augmentation of NEXN-AS1 expression inhibited TLR4 oligomerization and NF-κB activity, downregulated the expression of adhesion molecules and inflammatory cytokines by endothelial cells, and suppressed monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. These inhibitory effects of NEXN-AS1 were abolished by knockdown of NEXN. In vivo experiments using ApoE-knockout mice fed a Western high-fat diet demonstrated that NEXN deficiency promoted atherosclerosis and increased macrophage abundance in atherosclerotic lesions, with heightened expression of adhesion molecules and inflammatory cytokines, whereas augmented NEXN expression deterred atherosclerosis. Patients with coronary artery disease were found to have lower blood NEXN levels than healthy individuals. These results indicate that NEXN-AS1 and NEXN represent potential therapeutic targets in atherosclerosis-related diseases.

Atherosclerosis is a common pathological basis of cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of mortality. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are newly studied non-protein-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation, but how lncRNAs exert regulatory effect on atherosclerosis remains unclear. In this study, we found that lncRNA HOXC cluster antisense RNA 1 (HOXC-AS1) and homeobox C6 (HOXC6) were downregulated in carotid atherosclerosis by performing microarray analysis. The results were verified in atherosclerotic plaques and normal arterial intima tissues by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blot analysis. Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of HOXC-AS1 induced HOXC6 expression at mRNA and protein levels in THP-1 macrophages. Besides, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) decreased expression of HOXC-AS1 and HOXC6 in a time-dependent manner. Induction of cholesterol accumulation by Ox-LDL could be partly suppressed by overexpression of HOXC-AS1.

The trichothiodystrophy group A protein (TTDA) functions in nucleotide excision repair and basal transcription. TTDA plays a role in cancers and serves as a prognostic and predictive factor in high-grade serous ovarian cancer; however, its role in human glioma remains unknown. Here, we found that TTDA was overexpressed in glioma tissues. In vitro experiments revealed that TTDA overexpression inhibited apoptosis of glioma cells and promoted cell growth, whereas knockdown of TTDA had the opposite effect. Increased TTDA expression significantly decreased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio and the level of cleaved-caspase3. TTDA interacted with the p53 gene at the -1959 bp and -1530 bp region and regulated its transcription, leading to inhibition of the p53-Bax/Bcl2 mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in glioma cells. These results indicate that TTDA is an upstream regulator of p53-mediated apoptosis and acts as an oncogene, suggesting its value as a potential molecular target for the diagnosis and treatment of glioma.

Glioma is the most prevalent and fatal primary tumor of the central nervous system in adults, while the development of effective therapeutic strategies in clinical practice remain a challenge. Nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich family pyrin-containing 3 (NLRP3) has been reported to be associated with tumorigenesis and progression; however, its expression and function in human glioma remain unclear. The present study was designed to explore the biological role and potential mechanism of NLRP3 in human glioma. The results demonstrated that overexpression of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC), caspase‑1 and interleukin (IL)‑1β protein in human glioma tissues were significantly correlated with higher World Health Organization grades. The in vitro biological experiments demonstrated that NLRP3 downregulation significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of SHG44 and A172 glioma cell lines. Furthermore, western blot assays revealed that the downregulation of NLRP3 significantly reduced the expression of ASC, caspase‑1 and IL‑1β protein. Furthermore, NLRP3 knockdown caused the inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) and phosphorylation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). Consistently, the upregulation of NLRP3 significantly increased the expression of ASC, caspase‑1, IL‑1β and phosphorylated-PTEN, promoted proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT, inhibited apoptosis, and activated the AKT signaling pathway. The data of the present study indicate that NLRP3 affects human glioma progression and metastasis through multiple pathways, including EMT and PTEN/AKT signaling pathway regulation, enhanced inflammasome activation, and undefined inflammasome-independent mechanisms. Understanding the biological effects of NLRP3 in human glioma and the underlying mechanisms may offer novel insights for the development of glioma clinical therapeutic strategies.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide. PHD finger protein 19 (PHF19) encodes a member of the polycomb group (PcG) of proteins that functions by maintaining the repressive transcriptional states of many developmental regulatory genes. In addition, it has been shown that miR-195 plays an important role in the molecular etiology of HCC; however, the effect and possible mechanism of PHF19 on HCC is unclear, and the association between PHF19 and miR-195 has seldom been addressed. In the present study, we investigated the carcinogenic activity and mechanism of PHF19 on HCC in vivo and in vitro. Our results showed that PHF19 is a potential target of hsa-miR-195-5p based on a bioinformatic analysis and results of a luciferase reporter assay. PHF19 was downregulated after transfection with hsa-miR-195-5p mimics. Moreover, we demonstrated that overexpression of PHF19 promoted hepatoma cell migration, invasion and proliferation in vitro. In contrast, overexpression of hsa-miR-195-5p in hepatoma cells reduced PHF19 expression, leading to suppression of hepatoma cell invasion, migration and proliferation in vitro. In addition, PHF19 markedly promoted the growth of xenograft tumors, while hsa-miR-195-5p markedly suppressed the growth of xenograft tumors in nude mice. These results provide evidence that PHF19 promotes HCC and is regulated by the tumor-suppressor, miR-195-5p.

Ginsenoside Rh2 (G‑Rh2), the main bioactive component in American ginseng, is known to exert a wide variety of biological activities. Accumulating evidence suggests that G‑Rh2 inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis of tumor cells. However, the possible mechanism through which G‑Rh2 exerts its action on malignant glioma cells have not been completely elucidated. The findings of the present study demonstrated that G‑Rh2 decreased the viability of glioma cells in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner, and induced cell cycle arrest. G‑Rh2‑induced cell cycle arrest was accompanied by the downregulation of cyclin‑dependent kinase 4 and Cyclin E. In addition, G‑Rh2 markedly reduced the expression of total‑ RAC‑α serine/threonine‑protein kinase (Akt) and the levels of phosphorylated‑Akt. These findings provide mechanistic details of how G‑Rh2 acts on glioma cells and suggest that G‑Rh2 may function as a potential anti‑cancer drug for glioma treatment.

Current glioma therapies allow in situ delivery of cytotoxic drugs to the tumour; however, gliomas show early recurrence due to their highly proliferative character. Long non‐coding (lnc)RNAs play critical roles in tumorigenesis by controlling cell proliferation and cycling. However, the mechanism of action of lncRNAs in glioma development remains unclear. Here, we report that the lncRNA PLAC2 induces cell cycle arrest by targeting ribosomal protein (RP)L36 in glioma. RPL36 promoted cell proliferation and G1/S cell cycle progression. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1 interacted with both lncRNA PLAC2 and the RPL36 promoter. We also found that the nucleus PLAC2 bind with STAT1 and interact with RPL36 promoters but the cytoplasmic lncRNA PLAC2 inhibited STAT1 nuclear transfer, thereby decreasing RP36 expression, inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing cell cycle arrest. These results provide evidence for a novel cell cycle regulatory network in glioma comprising the lncRNA PLAC2 along with STAT1 and RPL36 that can serve as a therapeutic target for glioma treatment.

Early reports suggest that nuclear factor IA (NFIA) is important in the pathogenesis of glioma. Our previous study demonstrated that the long non‑coding RNA (lncRNA), RP5‑833A20.1, suppressed the expression of NFIA in THP‑1 macrophage-derived foam cells. However, the effect and possible mechanism of RP5‑833A20.1 on glioma remains to be fully elucidated, and whether the NFIA-dependent pathway is involved in its progression has not been investigated. In the present study, the mechanisms by which RP5‑833A20.1 regulates the expression of NFIA in glioma were investigated. The expression levels of RP5‑833A20.1 and NFIA were determined in U251 cells and clinical samples using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The effects of RP5‑833A20.1 on cell proliferation, invasion, cell cycle and apoptosis were evaluated using in vitro assays. The potential changes in protein expression were investigated using western blot analysis. The methylation status of the CpG island in the NFIA promoter was determined using bisulfite PCR (BSP) sequencing. It was found that the expression of RP5‑833A20.1 was downregulated, whereas the expression of NFIA was upregulated in glioma tissues, compared with corresponding adjacent nontumor tissues from 20 patients with glioma. The overexpression of RP5‑833A20.1 inhibited proliferation and cell cycle progression, and induced apoptosis in the U251 cells. The mRNA and protein levels of NFIA were markedly inhibited by overexpression of RP5‑833A20.1 in the U251 cells. The overexpression of RP5‑833A20.1 increased the expression of microRNA‑382‑5p in the U251 cells. The BSP assay revealed that the overexpression of RP5‑833A20.1 enhanced the methylation level of the NFIA promoter. These results demonstrated that RP5‑833A20.1 inhibited tumor cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and inhibited cell‑cycle progression by suppressing the expression of NFIA in U251 cells. Collectively, these results indicated RP5‑833A20.1 as a novel therapeutic target for glioma.

Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is a crucial cholesterol transporter and plays a central role in the high density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol metabolism and lipid clearance from the foam cell. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is an endogenous lipid mediator that requires cell-cell interaction or cell-platelet interaction for its synthesis. The roles of LXA4 on inflammatory responses are well described, while its effects on mediating ABCA1 and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we showed that LXA4 significantly increases expression of ABCA1 and LXRα in a dose-dependent manner in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. Cellular cholesterol content was decreased while cholesterol efflux was increased by LXA4 treatment. However, after short interfering RNA of LXRα, the effects of LXA4 on ABCA1 expression and cholesterol metabolism were significantly abolished. These results provide evidence that LXA4 increases ABCA1 expression and promotes cholesterol efflux through LXRα pathway in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.