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Introduction: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are important biological molecules associated with the pathogenesis of Multiple cancers. This work aimed to investigate the function and molecular mechanism of circ_0070203 in high-grade serous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma (HGSOC). Methods: CircRNA microarray was conducted to detect the circ_0070203 expression in HGSOC tissues. Bioinformatics analysis was used to find the binding sites between circ_0070203, miR-370-3p and TGFβR2. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-qPCR) was executed to detect the mRNA expressions of circ_0070203, miR-370-3p and TGFβR2 in HGSOC tissues and SKOV cells. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to validate the relationships between miR-370-3p and circ_0070203 or TGFβR2. Besides, transwell assays were conducted to assess the migrative, invasive abilities of ovarian cancer (OC) cells. Western blotting was adopted to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT)-related proteins. Results: Circ_0070203 and TGFβR2 were upregulated, while miR-370-3p was downregulated in FIGO stageⅢ-ⅣHGSOC tissues and SKOV-3 cell lines. Circ_0070203 overexpression changed the expression of other EMT-related proteins and enhanced the migrative, invasive abilities of OC cells, while silencing circ_0070203 worked oppositely. Mechanistically, circ_0070203 could upregulate TGFβR2 expression in OC cells via sponging miR-370-3p. Conclusion: Circ_0070203 could promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, invasion, and metastasis of HGSOC via regulating the miR-370-3p/TGFβR2 axis. Our findings provided a potential biomarker for HGSOC therapy.

Myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) has been significantly involved in a number of diseases. Nevertheless, the function of MYH9 in glioma is unclear. The article aims to investigate the effect of MYH9 and to determine if MYH9 is also implicated in temozolomide chemoresistance of glioma. Here, we first found that MYH9 increased cell proliferation and temozolomide resistance in glioma. Mechanistic studies showed that MYH9 bound to NAP1L1, a potential tumor promoter has been reported to promote the tumor proliferation, and further inhibited ubiquitination and degradation of NAP1L1 by recruiting USP14. The up-regulated NAP1L1 increased the binding with c-Myc and further activated c-Myc, which induce the expression of CCND1/CDK4, thereby promoting temozolomide resistance and cell proliferation in glioma. In addition, we found that up-regulated MYH9 level was strongly related to patient survival and should be demonstrated as a negative factor in patients with glioma. Taken together, our results offer a new perspective on the role of MYH9 in glioma progression by regulating NAP1L1 deubiquitination, targeting MYH9 will have the possible clinical application in glioma treatment going forward.

Background: Ovarian Cancer (OC) remains the first leading cause of gynecologic malignancy. The survival rate from Serous Ovarian Cancer (SOC) is very low, and the present prognostic predictors of SOC are not very sensitive or specific. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate Microtubule-Actin Cross-Linking Factor 1 (MACF1) expression in SOC tissues (including paraffin-embedded and fresh tissues) and to assess its expression and significant value in patients with SOC. Methods: A total of 18 fresh SOC tissues and their paired paratumor tissues were performed with reverse-transcription quantitative PCR analysis to detect MACF1 mRNA expression. Moreover, 175 paraffin embedded SOC tissues and 41 paratumor tissues were assessed for MACF1 expression using immunohistochemistry. Results: The mRNA and protein expression of MACF1 were both higher in cancer tissues than that in paratumor tissues, and MACF1 high expression was associated with shorter Recurrence Free Survival (RFS) and Overall Survival (OS) in patients with SOC. Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis showed that high MACF1 expression was an independent poor survival predictor of patients with SOC. Conclusion: MACF1 is upregualted in SOC, and it may be used as a useful patent of prognostic biomarker in SOC.

An efficient and catalyst-free method for the large-scale preparation of high-purity α-Si3N4 nanowires was demonstrated by annealing absorbent cotton and silicic acid in a flowing nitrogen atmosphere. The pyrolysis of absorbent cotton generated a fluffy structure constructed by carbon microfibers, which could promote the growth of α-Si3N4 nanowires. The nanowires were characterized by XRD and XRD Rietveld refinement, SEM and TEM. The results indicated that the nanowires have diameters of 50–100 nm and lengths of tens to hundreds of microns. Vapor-solid (VS) mechanism was proposed to be responsible for the formation of nanowires. The α-Si3N4 nanowires were then applied as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), exhibiting good rate capability and cycling property.

Objective LGR4 expression in serous ovarian cancer paraffin-embedded tissues and fresh tissues were investigated, and its expression associated with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in serous ovarian cancer was explored. Methods From Dec, 2009 to Jan, 2020, 122 paraffin-embedded serous ovarian cancer patients and 41 paired paratumor tissues who were both diagnosed and operated at the memorial hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University were selected in this research, respectively, and all of these tissues were performed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with a polyclonal antibody for LGR4. Meanwhile, from Aug, 2013 to Mar, 2019, 15 cases of serous ovarian cancer fresh tissues and 15 cases of paratumor fresh tissues who were operated at Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University were performed with Quantitative Real-time PCR to detect the mRNA expression of LGR4, respectively. Results LGR4 expression was much higher both in paraffin-embedded and fresh cancer tissues than that in paratumor tissues, respectively, and its expression was associated with recurrence free survival and overall survival in serous ovarian cancer patients. Moreover, in a multivariate model LGR4 was an indeed independent predictor of poor survival in serous ovarian cancer patients. Conclusion LGR4 is upregulated in serous ovarian cancer, and LGR4 is an indeed useful independent prognostic predictor in serous ovarian cancer, and it may provide important clinical value of serous ovarian cancer.

Objective To investigate FOXO1 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and to explore its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of EOC. Methods Two hundred and sixteen cases of paraffin-embedded EOC and 41 paratumor tissues from 2009 to 2017 that had been pathologically confirmed at the memorial hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were included in this study, and the expression of FOXO1 was performed by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody specific for FOXO1. Results FOXO1 protein expression is associated with Recurrence free and overall survival in EOC patients; In addition, FOXO1 expression is associated with age, FIGO stage, intraperitoneal metastasis, intestinal metastasis, vital status, intraperitoneal recurrence and differentiation grade; Moreover, in a multivariate model FOXO1 overexpression was an independent predictor of poor survival in EOC. Conclusion FOXO1 may play a candidate oncogenic role in EOC, and FOXO1 is a useful independent prognostic marker in EOC, and it may provide a candidate target therapy in future.

The prognosis of glioma is poor as its pathogenesis and mechanisms underlying cisplatin chemoresistance remain unclear. Nucleosome assembly protein 1 like 1 (NAP1L1) is regarded as a hallmark of malignant tumors. However, the role of NAP1L1 in glioma remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular functions of NAP1L1 in glioma and its involvement in cisplatin chemoresistance, if any. NAP1L1 was found to be upregulated in samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Immunohistochemistry indicated that NAP1L1 and hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) were enhanced in glioma as compared to the para-tumor tissues. High expressions of NAP1L1 and HDGF were positively correlated with the WHO grade, KPS, Ki-67 index, and recurrence. Moreover, NAP1L1 expression was also positively correlated with the HDGF expression in glioma tissues. Functional studies suggested that knocking down NAP1L1 could significantly inhibit glioma cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, as well as enhance the sensitivity of glioma cells to cisplatin (cDDP) in vitro. Mechanistically, NAP1L1 could interact with HDGF at the protein level and they co-localize in the cytoplasm. HDGF knockdown in NAP1L1-overexpressing glioma cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation. Furthermore, HDGF could interact with c-Jun, an oncogenic transcription factor, which eventually induced the expressions of cell cycle promoters, CCND1/CDK4/CDK6. This finding suggested that NAP1L1 could interact with HDGF, and the latter recruited c-Jun, a key oncogenic transcription factor, that further induced CCND1/CDK4/CDK6 expression, thereby promoting proliferation and chemoresistance in glioma cells. High expression of NAP1L1 in glioma tissues indicated shorter overall survival in glioma patients.

Bioinspired intergranular mineral bridges were fabricated in alumina-based ceramics through in situ synthesis of Al2TiO5 whiskers. The effects of mineral bridges on the mechanical properties of ceramics were investigated. Results showed that the flexural strength and fracture toughness of the alumina-based ceramics increased by 33.97% and 33.52%, respectively, after introducing the mineral bridges under hot pressing. Moreover, the effects of the mineral bridges on the crack tip stress (CTS) of models were calculated by finite element method for the first time. The mineral bridge buds and mineral bridges reduced the CTS by 15.54% and 22.22%, respectively. This finding revealed the root cause of the crack deflection mechanism of the mineral bridges and directly confirmed their strengthening and toughening effects.

Objectives To investigate TCF4 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer, and to explore its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and clinical prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods From 2009 to 2017, 188 cases of paraffin-embedded epithelial ovarian cancer tissues and 41 paratumor ovarian tissues which had been confirmed at the memorial hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were collected in this study, and the expression of TCF4 was performed by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody specific for TCF4. Results The expression of TCF4 protein was associated with disease progression free survival and overall survival in epithelial ovarian cancer patients; and TCF4 overexpression was associated with age, FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, intraperitoneal metastasis, intestinal metastasis, vital status, intraperitoneal recurrence, and serum CA153. Moreover, in a multivariate Cox regression analysis TCF4 overexpression was an indeed independent prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian cancer. Conclusions TCF4 may play an oncogenic role in epithelial ovarian cancer, and TCF4 is a useful independent prognostic biomarker of epithelial ovarian cancer, and it may provide a candidate target therapy treatment in future.

The pathogenesis and cisplatin chemoresistance of ovarian cancer (OC) are still unclear. Vacuolar protein sorting‐associated 33B (VPS33B) has not been reported in OC to date. In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to detect VPS33B protein expression between OC and ovarian tissues. MTT, EdU, colony formation, cell cycle, in vivo tumorigenesis, western blot, ChIP, EMSA, co‐immunoprecipitation (CoIP), qRT‐PCR, and microconfocal microscopy were used to explore the function and molecular mechanisms of VPS33B in OC cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that VPS33B protein expression was obviously reduced in OC compared with that in ovarian tissues. Overexpressed VPS33B suppressed cell cycle transition, cell growth, and chemoresistance to cisplatin in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of the mechanism indicated that overexpressed VPS33B regulated the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/PI3K/AKT/c‐Myc/p53/miR‐133a‐3p feedback loop and reduced the expression of the cell cycle factor CDK4. Nasopharyngeal epithelium‐specific protein 1 (NESG1) as a tumor suppressor not only interacted with VPS33B, but was also induced by VPS33B by the attenuation of PI3K/AKT/c‐Jun‐mediated transcription inhibition. Overexpressed NESG1 further suppressed cell growth by mediating VPS33B‐modulated signals in VPS33B‐overexpressing OC cells. Finally, NESG1 induced VPS33B expression by reducing the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/c‐Jun‐mediated transcription. Our study is the first to demonstrate that VPS33B serves as a tumor suppressor, and VPS33B can interact with NESG1 to suppress cell growth and promote cisplatin sensitivity by regulating the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/c‐Myc/p53/miR‐133a‐3p feedback loop in OC cells., VPS33B can interacts with NESG1 to suppress cell growth and promote cisplatin sensitivity by regulating the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/c‐Myc/p53/miR‐133a‐3p feedback loop in OC cells.

Background: The prognosis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) is poor, but the prognostic biomarkers are neither sensitive nor specific. Therefore, it is very important to search novel prognostic biomarkers for EOC. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate Myosin Light Chain 9(MYL9) expression in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) tissues (including paraffin-embedded and fresh tissue samples) and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics, as well as its potential prognostic value in patients with EOC. Methods: Between March 2009 and December 2018, all of 184 paraffin-embedded cancer tissues from patients with EOC and 41 paratumor tissues, pathologically confirmed at the Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, were collected for the present study and were assessed for MYL9 protein expression patterns using Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Furthermore, from August 2013 to November 2019, 16 fresh EOC tissues and their paired paratumor tissues, pathologically confirmed at the Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University were analyzed using Reverse-Transcription Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to detect MYL9 mRNA expression levels. Results: The results showed that MYL9 expression was higher in cancer tissues compared with that in paratumor tissues, and MYL9 overexpression was associated with shorter Recurrence Free Survival (RFS) and Overall Survival (OS) of EOC patients. Furthermore, multivariate Cox model analysis indicated that MYL9 overexpression was an independent poor survival prediction in patients with EOC. Conclusion: MYL9 is upregulated in EOC and may serve as a useful patent of prognostic biomarker in EOC, and it may demonstrate an important value for the clinical treatment and supervision of patients with EOC.

In this paper, the effects of tube feet pores on the mechanical properties of Sea Urchin Skeleton (SUS) have been studied. The pore structure of drop-like Tripnenstes gratilla (a sea urchin) skeleton is characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Based upon the data, the finite element method has been employed to analyze the Maximum Tensile Stress (MTS) of SUS models with different pore positions, accompanied by compressive tests on SUS-like ceramics. Results indicate that for a drop-like SUS, the MTS keeps a linear relationship with the maximum load applied on the SUS. More importantly, the mechanical performances of some perforated SUSs are better than their non-perforated counterparts due to their lower MTS values, e.g. the maximum load can thus be increased by 35% when the pore is perforated at −10°. The strengthening is attributed to the introduced pore that causes the redistribution of stress and partly reduces the stress intensity on the original MTS position. By contrast, the pore only increases the MTS value of a spherical shell under isostatic pressure or unidirectional pressing. This is a strong hint that the drop-like shape of SUS has evolved to work with the tube feet pores to better protect their bodies.

In this study, the effects of SiC content, sintering temperature and Al2O3/SiO2 ratio on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hot-pressed alumina–mullite–zirconia–silicon carbide (Al2O3–mullite–ZrO2–SiC) composite ceramics were investigated systematically. The research results indicate that the composite ceramics have excellent combined properties when SiC content is 20 vol% and sintering temperature is 1530 °C, with Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and flexural strength of 17.5 GPa, 12.3 MPa m1/2 and 970 MPa, respectively. The fracture toughness and flexural strength are higher than those of monolithic Al2O3 ceramics and Al2O3-based composites, which are fairly attributed to the refined microstructures of composites and the synergistic effects of crack deflection, pull-out, branching, and phase transformation toughening mechanisms induced by short columnar Al2O3 grains and SiC platelets formed in the ceramics, as well as the ZrO2 particles existed in the ceramics.

In this study, silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) ceramics added with and without boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were fabricated by hot-pressing method. The influence of sintering temperature and BNNTs content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Si 3 N 4 ceramics were investigated. It was found that both flexural strength and fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 were improved when sintering temperature increases. Moreover, α-Si 3 N 4 phase could transform into β-Si 3 N 4 phase completely when sintering temperature rises to 1800 °C and above. BNNTs can enhance the fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 dramatically, which increases from 7.2 MPa m 1/2 (no BNNTs) to 10.4 MPa m 1/2 (0.8 wt% BNNTs). However, excessive addition of BNNTs would reduce the fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 . Meanwhile, the flexural strength and relative density of Si 3 N 4 decreased slightly when BNNTs were added. The related toughening mechanism was also discussed.

The aim of the present study was to investigate kinesin family member 7 (KIF7) expression in epithelial ovarian cancer tissues (paraffin-embedded tissues and fresh) and to explore its expression, association with clinicopathological parameters and prognostic value in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. A total of 113 paraffin-embedded tumor tissues of epithelial ovarian cancer patients diagnosed and operated at the memorial hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Between December 2009 and March 2017 and 41 paratumor tissues were collected for the present study and were assessed for KIF7 expression using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, 22 fresh epithelial ovarian cancer tissues and their matched paratumor tissues were collected from the Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, between August 2013 and March 2019 and subjected to reverse-transcription quantitative PCR analysis to detect the mRNA expression of KIF7. The expression of KIF7 was lower in cancer tissues than in paratumor tissues, and KIF7 expression was associated with recurrence-free survival and overall survival in epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that low KIF7 expression was an independent predictor of poor survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. In conclusion, KIF7 has a tumor suppressor role in epithelial ovarian cancer and is a useful independent prognostic predictor. It may hold important value for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.

The vanadium-based amorphous electrode material can realize the valence state conversion and increase its specific capacity through the multi-electron reaction. We have obtained V2O5–Li3PO4 glass with a strong reducing agent CaC2, realizing a multi-electron reaction of V5+ to V4+ and then to V3+ in the model system. Moreover, we have explored the relationship between valence state, crystallinity, and conductivity limit to compare the cycle performances of amorphous glass batteries. The CaC2 content of 20%, V4+ presented the dominating valence state with a content of 77.5%. VP-C20% exhibited a maximum specific capacity of 319.3 mAh g−1, and the specific capacity after 100 cycles was 280.3 mAh g−1, corresponding to a retention capacity of 87.8%. The electrochemical performance of amorphous vanadium oxide decreased with the increase of the LiV2O5’s nanocrystallinity. Crystallinity and the controllable multi-electron reaction could provide an important reference for designing other new electrode materials with high capacity and long cycle life.

A green and efficient route to the synthesis of boron carbonitride (BCN) nanoribbons was demonstrated using waste coconut shells, boric acid and urea as the raw materials. The BCN nanoribbons were then applied as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The BCN nanoribbons possessed high specific surface area and porosity because of the inherent characteristics of the coconut shells, providing multiple active sites and diffusion channels for Li+ ions. High specific capacity, excellent rate capability and cycling stability were achieved especially when the carbon content in BCN is relatively high. The average reversible capacity and the retention rate reached 800 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and 98% after 1000 cycles, respectively. This route not only paved a new way to the synthesis of BCN nanoribbons, but also realized the reuse of waste natural resources for fabricating LIBs anode materials with excellent performance.

The pathogenesis of ovarian cancer remains to be elucidated. Our previous study demonstrated that myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) overexpression was associated with poor prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. However, the mechanism of MYH9 and its regulation by microRNA (miR) is not clear. The results of the present study demonstrated that miR-6089 was one of the microRNAs targeting MYH9, and miR-6089 overexpression suppressed ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistic studies confirmed that miR-6089 directly targeted MYH9 to inactivate the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway and its downstream epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell-cycle factors and c-Jun, whereas overexpression of MYH9 reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-6089 overexpression in ovarian cancer cells by upregulating the Wnt/β-catenin and its downstream EMT, cell-cycle factors and c-Jun. Interestingly, miR-6089 was transcriptionally inhibited by c-Jun, a transcription factor which could be induced by MYH9 via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Thus miR-6089/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun formed a negative feedback loop in ovarian cancer. In clinical samples, miR-6089 negatively correlated with MYH9 expression. Our study is the first to demonstrate that miR-6089 serves as a tumor-suppressive miRNA, and miR-6089/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Jun negative feedback loop inhibits ovarian cancer carcinogenesis and progression.

In this study, annealing carbon fibres with boron and FeCl3·6H2O at elevated temperatures was demonstrated as a novel route to coat carbon fibres with boron nitride (BN) nanosheets. The effect of annealing temperature on the thickness and microstructure of BN coating was investigated. Results showed that BN coating hardly formed at 1000 °C, and uniform BN coating was achieved at 1100 °C and 1200 °C. However, further increasing the temperature to 1250 °C triggered the formation of discretely distributed BN particles on the surface of the BN coating in addition to the formation of a uniform BN coating. The BN coating and particles were constructed by numerous BN nanosheets with a bending and crumpling morphology. The thickness of the BN coating increased with increasing annealing temperature. The oxidation resistance of the carbon fibres dramatically enhanced after BN nanosheets were coated onto the carbon fibre surface. Moreover, given the low dielectric loss tangent of BN, the BN coating can improve the impedance matching of carbon fibres and enhance the microwave-absorbing property of carbon fibres significantly.

To explore the relationship between aldehye dehydrogenase-1 (ALDH-1) and biological characteristics of the stable ALDH-1 knock-down Hela cell lines.Transfected Hela cells with lentiviral vector were utilized and puromycin was used to screen and achieve the stable cell lines. The interference efficiency was calculated by performing qRT-PCR to detect the expression of ALDH-1 of three groups including the interfering group, the negative control (NC) group, and the normal Hela group. CCK-8 assays were used to detect the OD value of each group. The coloning formation rate of each group was detected by colony formation assay. cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of each group were also detected by employing cell cycle and apoptosis experiments. Results: The stable ALDH-1 knock-down Hela cell lines were successfully obtained after two weeks' screening; compared with the NC and Hela group, the ALDH-1 expression level of interfering group was 1.05 ± 0.10 (both p0.05), whose silencing efficiency was 80.59%. CCK-8 assays verified that the mean OD value of interfering group was lower than that of NC and Hela group. Additionally, colony formation assays showed that the coloning efficiency of interfering group was lower than that of NC and Hela group. Cell cycle experiments proved that the proportion of G0/G1 phase of interfering group was higher than that of the other two groups, while the proportion of S phase was lower. Cell apoptosis assays indicated that the apoptosis rate of interfering group was the highest.Constructing stable interfering Hela cell lines with lentiviral vectors was successful and worthy of promotion. ALDH-1 plays an important role in promoting cell growth and proliferation, maintaining cell cycle and inhibiting Hela cell apoptosis.

Background Multiple studies proved that miRNAs have a causal role in tumorigenesis. Some miRNAs are regulated by epigenetic alterations in their promoter regions and can be activated by chromatin- modifying drugs. Methods We treated cervical cancer cells with 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine and get a microarray analysis. Dysregulation of miRNAs was measured by qPCR in cervical cell lines and methylation status of them in cervical cancer tissue were performed with MeDIP-qPCR assay. Results We found hypermethylation of miR-432, miR-1286, miR-641, miR-1290, miR-1287 and miR-95 may have some relationship with HPV infection in cervical cell lines. In primary tumors of cervix with paired normal tissue, expression levels of miRNAs were inversely correlated with their DNA methylation status in the cervical cancer cell lines treated with 5-AZA. Conclusions Our results indicate that miRNAs might play a role in the pathogenesis of human cervical cancer with HPV and identify altered miRNA methylation as a possible epigenetic mechanism involved in their aberrant expression.