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Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is an enzyme that synthesizes endogenous fatty acids. FASN overexpressed in various cancers, which indicates the involvement of FASN in cancer progression. α-Linolenic acid (ALA) is an omega-3 fatty acid with many biological activities, including anti-cancer effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of ALA on fatty acid synthesis pathway and breast cancer cells apoptosis. We found FASN expression decreased significantly in ALA treated breast cancer cells. Compared with palmitic acid (PA), ALA reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. ALA showed a higher affinity with the TE domain than PA. ALA induced breast cancer cells apoptosis, which effects were similar with the knockdown of FASN. In addition, ALA inhibited the invasion and metastasis, and arrested cell cycle in breast cancer cells. We propose a hypothesis that ALA could contribute to the treatment of human breast cancer by inhibiting FASN.

Piglet enteritis is a major problem that needs to be solved urgently in modern pig production. Paeonol (Pae) has been used as a novel treatment option due to its good medicinal value. This study purported to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of Pae on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in weaned piglets. A total of 36 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) weaned piglets were stochastically split into six groups: the control group, DSS group, 0.2% Pae group, 0.4% Pae group, 0.8% Pae group, and mesalazine group. The control and DSS groups were fed with a basic diet, the three Pae and mesalazine groups were fed with 0.2, 0.4, 0.8%, and 2 g mesalazine per kilogram of basic diet throughout the study. On the 15th day of the test period, the control group was gavaged with 10 ml of normal saline, while the remaining five groups were gavaged with 10 ml 5% DSS solution for 13 days. The study lasted for 27 days. The results showed that the 0.8% Pae group significantly increased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and Occludin mRNA expression in the colon of piglets (P < 0.05). The 0.2% Pae group markedly increased the average daily gain (ADG) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) mRNA expression (P < 0.05). In the 0.2% and 0.4% Pae groups, the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) was significantly reduced and the mRNA expression levels of Caspase-8, respectively, markedly enhanced the mRNA expression levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukins-4 (IL-4) (P < 0.05). In the 0.8% Pae group, the relative abundance of Campilobacterota was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). In the 0.4% Pae group, the relative abundance of Firmicutes was notably increased (P < 0.05). In the 0.2 and 0.8% Pae groups, the relative abundance of Prevotella was markedly increased (P < 0.05). In the 0.2% Pae group, the contents of propionic acid, butyric acid, and valerate acid were markedly higher (P < 0.05). Thus, it is speculated that Pae may regulate the balance of anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory factors, improve intestinal tight junction expression, reduce apoptosis, and improve intestinal microflora structure and growth performance of piglets, thereby restoring intestinal barrier function and alleviating DSS-induced UC in piglets.

Objective: Our study aimed to evaluate the correlation of circular RNA SMARCA5 (circ-SMARCA5) and microRNA 432 (miR-432) with clinical characteristics and survival in bladder cancer patients. Methods: Preoperative clinicopathologic features and survival data of 156 bladder cancer patients were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 156 cases of tumor tissues, whereas 71 cases out of 156 available adjacent tissues were obtained from the Pathology Department for circ-SMARCA5 and miR-432 detections using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Circ-SMARCA5 was upregulated but miR-432 was downregulated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent tissues; meanwhile, circ-SMARCA5 expression was negatively correlated with miR-432 in bladder cancer tissues. Circ-SMARCA5 high expression was correlated with larger tumor size, higher tumor stage, and lymph node (LYN) metastasis. However, miR-432 high expression was correlated with single multiplicity, smaller tumor size, lower tumor stage, less LYN metastasis in bladder cancer patients. Regarding survival, circ-SMARCA5 high expression was correlated with shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS); whereas, miR-432 high expression was correlated with longer DFS and OS in bladder cancer patients. Further multivariate Cox's regression analysis displayed that circ-SMARCA5 high expression was an independent predictive factor for both worse DFS and OS in bladder cancer patients. Conclusion: Circ-SMARCA5 high expression but miR-432 low expression is correlated with advanced tumor features and poor survival of bladder cancer patients, which present as potential prognostic markers in bladder cancer.

Background. Previous studies have demonstrated that plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was the predictor for unstable coronary plaque. Patients with noncalcified plaque (NCP) or mixed plaque (MP) have a higher risk of poor outcomes. However, the association between hsCRP and the presence of NCP or MP (NCP/MP) in old adults remains unclear, and if present, whether there exist differences between young and old adults remain unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of hsCRP in predicting the presence of NCP/MP and evaluate whether age has any impact on this association. Methods. A total of 951 subjects were included in this study. Complete clinical and laboratory data were collected. According to the characteristics of the most stenotic plaque, we divided them into 2 groups: calcified plaque (CP) and NCP/MP. Subjects with no plaque were classified as the control group (CR). Subjects with age≥60 years were defined as older adults, and those with age2.70 mg/L group in older adults. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that hsCRP was an independent risk factor for the presence of NCP/MP (odds ratio OR=1.093, 95% CI 1.032–1.157, P=0.001) only in older adults. Conclusions. hsCRP is independently associated with the presence of NCP/MP in older adults but not in nonelderly people. These results suggest the potential significance of hsCRP-lowering regimens in older adults with NCP/MP.