Expression and mechanisms of hsa_circ_087631 in patients with primary biliary cholangitis

AIM To explore the expression and mechanisms of circular RNA hsa_circ_087631 in the patients with primary biliary cholangitis （PBC）. METHODS RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of hsa_circ_087631 in PBC patients and healthy controls. Hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector pLenti-EF1a-EGFP-F2A-Puro-CMV-MCS was constructed and transfected into human acute T cell leukemia Jurkat cells， and then the expression levels of hsa_circ_087631， Bcl-6 mRNA and interleukin-21 （IL-21） mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify the interactions between hsa_circ_087631 and hsa-miR-346. RESULTS The expression of hsa_circ_087631 in the PBC patients was significantly increased compared with the healthy subjects. Hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector pLenti-EF1a-EGFP-F2A-Puro-CMV-MCS was successfully constructed. The expression of hsa-miR-346 was significantly increased after the hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector was transfected into the Jurkat cells， while the expression levels of hsa_circ_0087631， Bcl-6 mRNA and IL-21 mRNA were significantly decreased. After wild-type or mutant hsa_circ_087631 vector and hsa-miR-346 mimics were transfected into 293T cells， the results of dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that hsa-miR-346 significantly decreased the luciferase activity of wild-type hsa_circ_087631 （P<0.01）， but the regulation did not change significantly after mutation of the predicted binding site. CONCLUSION Peripheral blood hsa_circ_087631 level is elevated in the PBC patients. The hsa_circ_087631/hsa-miR-346/Bcl-6 signaling may take effect in human T cells. Hsa-miR-346 significantly reduces the expression of hsa_circ_087631， but it may not be regulated by predicted binding sites.     

Validation of a small-area method for estimating the spatial distribution of the degree of tree damage

This article presents a validation of a method, proposed in Podlaski (2003), for estimating the degree of tree damage. This method belongs to a group of small-area methods. To estimate the degree of tree damage in individual P₃ sub-blocks of the SINUS system of information on the natural environment, a classification based on the degree of defoliation was used. Spatial distribution of the degree of tree damage was estimated through unrestricted simple random sampling. The maximum total estimation error for proportions of fir and beech with a damage degree of zero, and also with second and third degrees jointly, reached a maximum of 35.6% for fir, and 33.8% for beech. P₃ sub-blocks characterised by the highest proportion of the healthiest trees (at least 15% being undamaged trees) occurred in patches in the case of fir, and in larger, compact areas in the case of beech. Because spatial diversification in the health of fir, and to a smaller degree in the case of beech, occurs at small scales, small-area methods for estimating tree condition are necessary. An analogous scheme, combining small-area with large-area methods (utilising sub-blocks of the network of large-area systems in a small-area inventory, and establishing a common database), could be used on a wider scale; for example, by supplementing the program of estimating tree health carried out by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (Lorenz et al. 2002) with local inventories.     

Comparison of selected statistical distributions for modelling the diameter distributions in near-natural <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus</Emphasis> forests in the Świętokrzyski National Park (Poland)

The aim of the study is to compare selected theoretical distributions (normal, lognormal, Weibull, gamma, logistic, and exponential) in describing the tree diameter (DBH) distributions of mixed near-natural forests consisting of fir Abies alba Mill. and beech Fagus sylvatica L. growing in various vertical structures. Tree DBH data were collected between 1997 and 2008 from 51 sample plots established in the Świętokrzyski National Park in Poland. The empirical data represent differentiated DBH distributions, ranging from almost symmetric to extremely asymmetric ones. The chi-square test and the modified Kolmogorov–Smirnov test were chosen for the goodness-of-fit testing. In addition to the test statistics, the bias (B), the root mean square error (RMSE) and the graphical method (quantile–quantile plots) were used. In one-storied stands, the most suitable distributions were the normal and logistic distributions; in two-storied and multilayered stands, the Weibull and gamma distribution were the most suitable; and in selection stands, the exponential distribution was the most appropriate to describe the DBH distribution. The order of precision of the tested distributions (from the highest to the lowest) was Weibull, gamma, logistic, normal, exponential, and lognormal. The normal and exponential distribution should be applied only to one-storied and selection forests, respectively. The least suitable distribution for DBH distribution modelling was the lognormal one.     

Effects of lupeol and miR-145-5p on proliferation and apoptosis of prostate carcinoma cells

AIM To investigate the effect of lupeol combined with microRNA-145-5p (miR-145-5p) on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells. METHODS After hsa-miR-145-5p and lupeol were applied to LNCaP cells for 24, 48 and 72 h, the cell viability inhibitory rate was detected by MTT assay. PI single staining plus flow cytometry was used to detect the cycle distribution. The flow cytometry with annexin V/PI double staining and TUNEL experiment were used to detect apoptosis. Transwell method was used to detect cell migration and invasion abilities. Wound healing experiment was used to detect cell migration ability. The cell colony formation assay was used to calculate the colony formation inhibitory rate. RESULTS The cells in cell control group, non-specific control group and solvent group did not show effective LNCaP cell viability inhibition, migration inhibition and invasion inhibition, while the viability, migration and invasion abilities were significantly inhibited, and early apoptosis in vitro were induced in hsa-miR-145-5p group and lupeol group. In particular, the combination (hsa-miR-145-5p+lupeol) group showed more effective proliferation inhibition than the single-drug groups. CONCLUSION Both hsa-miR-145-5p and lupeol inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of LNCaP cells, and induce early apoptosis in vitro. Lupeol enhances the proliferation-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of hsa-miR-145-5p on LNCaP cells.     

湖南地区汉族人群hsa-miR-196a2基因多态性与鼻咽癌发病风险及临床病理因素的关系

目的 研究hsa-miR-196a2基因多态性位点rs11614913与鼻咽癌发病风险及临床病理因素的关系.方法 采用病例对照分析方法,对湖南地区162例汉族人鼻咽癌患者(病例组)及性别、年龄相匹配的135例正常人(对照组)的hsamiR-196a2基因多态性位点rs11614913的基因型进行PCR-RFLP检测,观察该位点多态性分布与鼻咽癌发病风险及临床病理特点的关系.结果 病例组和对照组hsa-miR-196a2基因多态性位点rs11614913基因型频率分布差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),且该位点基因型分布与鼻咽癌患者的临床病理因素无关(P＞0.05).结论 hsa-miR-196a2基因多态性位点rs11614913与湖南地区汉族人鼻咽癌发病风险及临床病理因素无关.     

The effect of climate on radial growth of horse chestnut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aesculus hippocastanum</Emphasis> L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park in central Poland

The objectives of this study were to construct a site tree-ring width chronology of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) growing in a single locality situated in the Świȩtokrzyski National Park, and to determine its sensitivity to the two main climatic elements of air temperature and precipitation. Fifteen horse chestnut trees, growing on a moist site and not attacked by the leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella Deschka et Dimić), were selected for the study. Relationships between monthly values of air temperature, precipitation, and width of tree rings during 1932–2003 were analyzed, in addition to using bootstrapped response and correlation functions for single and multiple time intervals (the computer program DENDROCLIM2002 was used). High air temperature of the previous winter, as well as the air temperature of August of a given growing season positively affected the radial growth of horse chestnut. The cambium activity was also favored by ample precipitation in December preceding a given growing season. Excessive precipitation in August, which raised the existing high water table, had a negative effect on tree-ring width. The tree-ring chronology, elaborated for horse chestnut during this study, may be a local growth standard of this species. Thus, the model of climate–tree radial increment relationships may depend on characteristics of the locality where the trees are growing. Therefore, it would be advisable to undertake comparative studies.     

自然流产胚胎绒毛组织hsa-miR-26a表达研究

以正常绒毛为对照,通过qRT-PCR检测自然流产胚胎绒毛组织中hsa-miR-26a的表达水平;利用基因表达谱芯片筛选自然流产胚胎绒毛的差异表达基因,并使用Targetscan预测这些差异表达基因中可能为hsa-miR-26a所调控的靶基因.结果显示hsa-miR-26a在自然流产胚胎绒毛中表达上调,差异表达基因中hsa-miR-26a可能调控的靶基因有2个:白血病抑制因子(LIF)和结缔组织生长因子(CTGF).hsa-miR-26a可能通过转录后调控着床相关基因LIF的表达,进而调节HCG水平,影响妊娠结局.