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Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as epigenetic regulators in the process of ferroptosis and iron metabolism. This study aimed to identify an iron metabolism-related lncRNA signature to predict osteosarcoma (OS) survival and the immune landscape.Methods: RNA-sequencing data and clinical information were obtained from the TARGET dataset. Univariate Cox regression and LASSO Cox analysis were used to develop an iron metabolism-related lncRNA signature. Consensus clustering analysis was applied to identify subtype-based prognosis-related lncRNAs. CIBERSORT was used to analyze the difference in immune infiltration and the immune microenvironment in the two clusters.Results: We identified 302 iron metabolism-related lncRNAs based on 515 iron metabolism-related genes. The results of consensus clustering showed the differences in immune infiltration and the immune microenvironment in the two clusters. Through univariate Cox regression and LASSO Cox regression analysis, we constructed an iron metabolism-related lncRNA signature that included seven iron metabolism-related lncRNAs. The signature was verified to have good performance in predicting the overall survival, immune-related functions, and immunotherapy response of OS patients between the high- and low-risk groups.Conclusion: We identified an iron metabolism-related lncRNA signature that had good performance in predicting survival outcomes and showing the immune landscape for OS patients. Furthermore, our study will provide valuable information to further develop immunotherapies of OS.

Photocatalytic technology for inactivating bacteria in water has received much attention. In this study, we reported a dark–light dual-mode sterilized g-C3N4/chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel (g-CP) prepared through freeze–thaw cycling and an in situ electron-beam radiation method. The structures and morphologies of g-CP were confirmed using Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), solid ultraviolet diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). Photocatalytic degradation experiments demonstrated that 1 wt% g-CP degraded rhodamine B (RhB) up to 65.92% in 60 min. At the same time, g-CP had good antimicrobial abilities for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) within 4 h. The shapes of g-CP were adjustable (such as bar, cylinder, and cube) and had good mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The tensile and compressive modulus of 2 wt% g-CP were 0.093 MPa and 1.61 MPa, respectively. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) test and Hoechst33342/PI double staining were used to prove that g-CP had good biocompatibility. It is expected to be applied to environmental sewage treatment and wound dressing in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To determine the composition of culturable bacteria, and screen cellulolytic bacteria, in the intestine of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae. [Methods] The traditional bacterial culture method and the 16S rDNA molecular marker were used to identify culturable bacteria in the intestine of S. frugiperda larvae. Congo red staining was used to screen cellulolytic bacteria, and cellulase activity was determined with the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method under different pH (5.0-9.0). [Results] Fourteen intestinal bacterial strains were isolated, including Glutamicibacter, Enterococcus, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Morganella, Enterobacter, Shigella, Cronobacter, Klebsiella, Serratia and Ochrobactrum, which belong to eleven genera of three phyla; Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Among these, two cellulolytic bacteria strains from the Bacillus genus of Firmicutes were identified. The results show that the cellulase activities of these two cellulolytic strains were relatively higher under pH 5.0-8.0 and peaked at pH 8.0. [Conclusion] The intestine of S. frugiperda larvae contains a diversity of bacteria. The cellulase activity of cellulolytic strains was significantly higher under alkaline than under acid conditions. These results provide new information on cellulolytic bacteria, and contribute to their use in feed production, food processing and chemical energy. In addition, beneficial intestinal bacteria are expected to become a new target for controlling S. frugiperda which is now a major global pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the predictive value of serum electrolyte combined with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) evaluation equation for prognosis of severe obstructive renal injury. Methods: A total of 69 patients with calculous obstructive renal impairment admitted to our hospital from May 2017 to December 2018 were selected as the research objects. Clinical data of the patients were collected, and according to the status of renal function impairment, they were divided into 37 cases of mild to moderate, 32 cases of severe, and 40 cases of health examination in the same period as the control group. The fasting serum of the subjects was separated in the morning, and the serum electrolytes and related indicators were detected by Olympus AV640 automatic biochemical analyzer, Scr-CysC GFR evaluation equation was used to calculate the GFR score of all subjects, the levels of serum sodium, potassium and GFR scores in patients with severe obstructive renal injury with different prognostic outcomes were analyzed, subject operating characteristic curve (ROC) of prognostic indicators in patients with severe obstructive renal impairment was drawn, and the prognostic values of serum Na+, K+, GFR score and their combination in patients with severe obstructive renal damage were analyzed. Results: Compared with the control group, the levels of UmAb, CysC, Scr, BUN, TC, serum sodium and potassium in mild to moderate group and severe group increased in turn, and the GFR score decreased in turn (P < 0.05). The serum sodium and potassium concentrations increased in turn and the GFR score decreased in turn at 1 month after operation (P < 0.05). Compared with the 1 day before operation, the serum sodium and potassium concentrations in mild group and severe group decreased and the GFR score increased 1 month after operation (P < 0.05). Compared with the good prognosis group, the serum sodium and potassium levels in patients with severe obstructive renal damage in the poor prognosis group increased significantly, and the GFR score decreased significantly (P<0.05). The results of ROC showed that the combined detection of Na + concentration, K+ concentration and GFR score had an AUC of 0.936 for predicting the prognosis and outcomes of patients with severe renal injury, which was significantly higher than that of the single detection (AUC of 0.796, 0.815 and 0.810, respectively). Conclusion: The serum sodium and potassium levels in patients with severe obstructive renal impairment are increased, and the GFR score is decreased. The combined detection of the three factors has certain reference value in predicting the poor prognosis of patients with severe obstructive renal impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and relevant autophagy Beclin-1 genes expression are critical biomarkers for tumorigenesis and tumor progress. Here we investigated the relationship of dynamic changes of CTCs and Beclin-1 expression of CTCs with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) prognosis. Materials and methods: A total of 69 patients with RCC were enrolled and divided into two groups based on the postoperative status of distant metastasis, including metastasis-free group (n = 58) and metastatic group (n = 11). Demographic characteristics of each patient were recorded in detail. All 69 enrolled patients had received multiple CTC tests and peripheral blood samples were obtained at three different time points (1 day before operation, 6 months and 12 months after operation). Peripheral blood samples were drawn before each time point and CTCs were separated by using Can Patrol CTC enrichment technique. CTCs were divided into epithelial, mesenchymal and mixed phenotype based on different surface biomarkers. RNA in situ hybridization assay was used to detect the expression of Beclin1 gene. Results: The percentages of epithelial, mesenchymal and mixed CTCs were 11.64%, 28.04% and 60.32%, respectively. There were no significant differences of initial CTCs counts between metastasis-free group (8.43 ± 5.15) and metastatic group (7.71 ± 3.82) (P > 0.05). As for metastatic group, the number of mixed CTCs at 12 months postoperatively was significantly higher than that of mixed CTCs preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). In the metastatic group, the number of Beclin1 positive CTCs was significantly higher than that of Beclin1 negative CTCs preoperatively (P < 0.05), moreover, there were several significantly changes of Beclin1 positive CTCs with different types and at different time points. Conclusion: The recurrence or metastasis of RCC was uncorrelated with initial CTCs counts, but probably related with the variation trend of CTCs, especially mesenchymal CTCs and Beclin1 positive CTCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]