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Circular RNA (circ)_0000326 has been reported in bladder cancer and cervical cancer and is concerned to be involved with the development of cancerous cells. Whereas, there have been no reports concentrating on the influences of circ_0000326 in breast cancer (BC). Therefore, the latent modulatory mechanisms of circ_0000326 in BC are researched. circ_0000326 expression in BC tissues and correlative cells was evaluated via RT-qPCR, and the relevance between circ_0000326 expression and overall survival and the clinicopathological feature was also investigated. After a series of transfection, the effects of circ_0000326, microRNA-9-3p (miR-9-3p), and Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) in BC cell growth, invasion, and stemness were studied by CCK-8, flow cytometry, Transwell, and sphere-forming assays. The binding sites and correlation of circ_0000326, miR-9-3p, and YAP1 were certified via starBase website, luciferase reporter assay, and Pearson's Χ2 test. The in vivo experiment was evaluated by establishing a subcutaneous tumorigenesis model. High-expressed circ_0000326 in BC tissues and cells was discovered, which was connected with an undesirable prognosis. Silencing of circ_0000326 visibly inhibited MCF-7 and BT549 cell growth, invasion, stemness, meanwhile declining the protein levels of SRY-related high-mobility group box gene 2 (SOX2) and octamer binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4). miR-9-3p was a sponger of circ_0000326, which was negatively regulated by circ_0000326. Moreover, YAP1 was confirmed as a target gene of miR-9-3p. circ_0000326 affected BC cell behaviors via mediating miR-9-3p and YAP1. Furthermore, circ_0000326 silencing prohibited tumor growth of BC in vivo. The research uncovered that circ_0000326 facilitated BC development via mediating the miR-9-3p/YAP1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the spatial-temporal differentiation of urban eco-efficiency and its driving factors is the primary task of achieving green and sustainable development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Based on the urban panel data from 2003 to 2018, this paper used the MinDS model to measure the eco-efficiency of cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, revealed the specific sources of urban ecological inefficiency from the perspective of input-output, and further used the Theil Index and geographic detectors to empirically investigate the spatial-temporal differentiation characteristics and driving factors of its urban eco-efficiency. The study found that: (1) During the sample period, the overall eco-efficiency of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the cities in the upper, middle and lower reaches showed a rising trend of fluctuation, and the downstream area was always higher than the middle and upstream areas. Insufficient expected output and undesired output redundancy were the root causes of urban ecological inefficiency. (2) Intra-regional differences were the main source of spatial differences in urban eco-efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Before 2011, the differences in internal eco-efficiency in the downstream regions had the greatest impact on the overall differences; after 2011, the differences in the downstream and upstream regions alternately ranked first and second in the contribution list. (3) The absolute difference in urban eco-efficiency in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River had decreased significantly, but the upstream area expanded slightly. Except for the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, urban eco-efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt demonstrated a certain gradient effect, and polarization in the downstream area was the most obvious. (4) The spatial differentiation of urban eco-efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt was affected by a variety of factors. From the perspective of structural factors, the difference in economic development had always been the most decisive factor for the spatial differences in the urban eco - efficiency of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The difference in energy input and pollution emissions had a relatively small effect; from the perspective of socioeconomic factors, the difference between population density and the spatial differentiation of urban eco-efficiency was significantly stronger than other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problems that screw cannot be inserted may occur in screw-rod fixation techniques such as Harms technique. We compared the biomechanical stability imparted to the C-2 vertebrae by four designed posterior screw and rod fixation techniques for the management of odontoid fractures. A three-dimensional finite element model of the odontoid fracture was established by subtracting several unit structures from the normal model from a healthy male volunteer. 4 different fixation techniques, shown as follows: ① C-1 lateral mass and C-2 pedicle screw fixation (Harms technique); ② C-1 lateral mass and unilateral C-2 pedicle screw fixation combined with ipsilateral laminar screw fixation; ③ Unilateral C-1lateral mass combined with ipsilateral C-1 posterior arch, and C-2 pedicle screw fixation; and ④ Unilateral C1 lateral mass screw connected with bilateral C2 pedicle screw fixation was performed on the odontoid fracture model. The model was validated for axial rotation, flexion, extension, lateral bending, and tension for 1.5 Nm. Changes in motion in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation were calculated. The finite element model of the odontoid fracture was established in this paper. All of the four screw-rod techniques significantly decreased motion in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, as compared with the destabilized odontoid fracture complex (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in stability among the four screw techniques. We concluded that the first three fixation techniques are recommended to be used as surgical intervention for odontoid fracture, while the last can be used as supplementary for the former three methods.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of different concentrations of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC) proliferation and osteogenic differentiation activity so as to provide basis for future application of dental pulp stem cells and PRP in tissue engineering and bone repair therapy., Methods: hDPSC were isolated and cultivated in vitro. Flow cytometric analysis was carried out to test the expression of STRO-1.hDPSC were cultured in various concentrations of PRP (1%, 5%, 10%, 20%). At the 2nd and 6th day 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) was tested. Osteogenic differentiation of hDPSC was assessed using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and Alizarin Red staining at the 7th and 14th day., Results: Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that 14.82% of hDPSC were STRO-1 positive. One percent to 20% PRP showed significant effect of promoting hDPSC proliferation. One percent to 10% PRP showed significant effect of promoting hDPSC osteogenic differentiation., Conclusions: Certain concentrations of PRP can promote hDPSC proliferate and osteogenic differentiate, and this finding suggests future application of dental pulp stem cells and PRP in bone tissue engineering.