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Abstract Background CSLCs(Cancer stem cell-like cells), which are central to tumorigenesis, are intrinsically influenced by epigenetic modifications. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanism involving the DNMT1/miR-152-3p/SOS1 axis in regulating the self-renewal and tumor growth of LCSLCs (lung cancer stem-like cells). Materials and methods Target genes of miR-152-3p were predicted using TargetScan Human 8.0. Self-renewal and tumor growth of LCSLC were compared in suspension-cultured non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines H460 and A549 cell-derived globe cells. Functional effects of the DNMT1/miR-152-3p/SOS1 axis were assessed through gain-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, luciferase reporter assays were employed to analyze the interaction among DNMT1, miR-152-3p, and SOS1. Results Our findings highlight a negative interaction between DNMT1 and miR-152-3p, resulting in reduced miR-152-3p level. This, in turn, leads to the alleviation of the inhibitory effect of miR-152-3p on the target gene SOS1, ultimately activating SOS1 and playing an essential role in self-renewal and tumor growth of LCSLC. However, the alteration of SOS1 does not affect DNMT1/miR-152-3p regulation. Therefore, it is reasonable to infer that the DNMT1/miR-152-3p negative feedback loop critically sustains self-renewal and tumor growth of LCSLC through SOS1. Conclusions This study reveals a novel mechanism underpinning self-renewal and tumor growth of CSLC (cancer stem cell) in NSCLC and identifies potential therapeutic targets for NSCLC treatment.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the baseline level of malaria awareness in residents in 20 malaria-endemic provinces from October 2010 to January 2011 at the beginning of the implementation of the China National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP). Methodology: A structured questionnaire about basic malaria knowledge was administrated to residents in rural areas from 20 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Results: A total of 182,085 residents no younger than 15 years of age took part in the cross-sectional investigation; 3,232 were excluded because of incomplete survey responses. Of the respondents, 56.86% were aware of malaria, 18.03% responded correctly to all five questions, and 5.57% answered all the questions incorrectly. Malaria awareness among different age groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001), males had a better understanding of malaria than did females (p < 0.001), and Type I counties had a better understanding than did Type II counties (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The level of malaria awareness was low among residents at the beginning of the NMEP, especially about malaria pathogenicity and preventive methods. Health education campaigns should be developed and implemented to increase the public perceptions about malaria prevention and treatment, and to promote malaria elimination in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To ascertain the trends and burden of malaria in China and the costs of interventions for 2011-2015. Methods We analysed the spatiotemporal and demographic features of locally transmitted and imported malaria cases using disaggregated surveillance data on malaria from 2011 to 2015, covering the range of dominant malaria vectors in China. The total and mean costs for malaria elimination were calculated by funding sources, interventions and population at risk. Findings A total of 17 745 malaria cases, including 123 deaths (0.7%), were reported in mainland China, with 15 840 (89%) being imported cases, mainly from Africa and south-east Asia. Almost all counties of China (2855/2858) had achieved their elimination goals by 2015, and locally transmitted cases dropped from 1469 cases in 2011 to 43 cases in 2015, mainly occurring in the regions bordering Myanmar where Anopheles minimus and An. dirus are the dominant vector species. A total of United States dollars (US$) 134.6 million was spent in efforts to eliminate malaria during 2011-2015, with US$ 57.2 million (43%) from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and US$ 77.3 million (57%) from the Chinese central government. The mean annual investment (US$ 27 million) per person at risk (574 million) was US$ 0.05 (standard deviation: 0.03). Conclusion The locally transmitted malaria burden in China has decreased. The key challenge is to address the remaining local transmission, as well as to reduce imported cases from Africa and south-east Asia. Continued efforts and appropriate levels of investment are needed in the 2016-2020 period to achieve elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]