Oral microbiota in the oral-genitourinary axis:identifying periodontitis as a potential risk of genitourinary cancers

Periodontitis has been proposed as a novel risk factor of genitourinary cancers:although periodontitis and genitourinary cancers are two totally distinct types of disorders,epidemiological and clinical studies,have established associations between them.Dysbiosis of oral microbiota has already been established as a major factor contributing to periodontitis.Recent emerging epidemiological evidence and the detection of oral microbiota in genitourinary organs indicate the presence of an oral-genitourinary axis and oral microbiota may be involved in the pathogenesis of genitourinary cancers.Therefore,oral microbiota provides the bridge between periodontitis and genitourinary cancers.We have carried out this narrative review which summarizes epidemiological studies exploring the association between periodontitis and genitourinary cancers.We have also highlighted the current evidence demonstrating the capacity of oral microbiota to regulate almost all hallmarks of cancer,and proposed the potential mechanisms of oral microbiota in the development of genitourinary cancers.

Targeting androgen receptor-independent pathways in therapy-resistant prostate cancer

Since androgen receptor(AR)signaling is critically required for the development of prostate cancer(PCa),targeting AR axis has been the standard treatment of choice for advanced and metastatic PCa.Unfortunately,although the tumor initially responds to the therapy,treatment resistance eventually develops and the disease will progress.It is therefore imperative to identify the mechanisms of therapeutic resistance and novel molecular targets that are independent of AR signaling.Recent advances in pathology,molecular biology,genetics and genomics research have revealed novel AR-independent pathways that contribute to PCa carcinogenesis and progression.They include neuroendocrine differentiation,cell metabolism,DNA damage repair pathways and immune-mediated mechanisms.The development of novel agents targeting the non-AR mechanisms holds great promise to treat PCa that does not respond to AR-targeted therapies.

Comparative Analyses and Phylogenetic Relationships between Cryptomeria fortunei and Related Species Based on Complete Chloroplast Genomes

Cryptomeria fortunei(Chinese cedar)is a highly adaptable woody species and one of the main forest plantation trees in subtropical high-altitude areas in China.However,there are few studies on its chloroplast(cp)genome.In this study,the complete cp genome of C.fortunei was sequenced and evaluated via comparative analyses with those of related species(formerly the Taxodiaceae)in Cupressaceae.The C.fortunei cp genome was 131,580 bp in length,and the GC content of the whole genome was 35.38%.It lost one relevant large inverted repeat and contained 114 unique genes,including 82 protein-coding genes,28 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs.The relative synonymous codon usage(RSCU)of codons ending with A/U was more than twice that of codons ending with G/C.Thirty long repeat structures(LRSs)and 213 simple sequence repeat(SSR)loci were detected in the C.fortunei cp genome.Comparative analyses of 10 cp genomes revealed that substantial rearrangements occurred in the gene organization.Additionally,6 cp hotspot regions(trnS-GGA,ycf1,trnP-GGG,trnC-GCA,psbZ and accD)were identified,and 4 genes(petL,psbM,rpl22 and psaM)had likely underwent positive selection.Phylogenetic analysis showed that Cupressaceae,Taxaceae and Cephalotaxaceae clustered to form a clade and that C.fortunei was most closely related to C.japonica(Japanese cedar),C.japonica cv.Wogon Hort and Taxodium distichum(baldcypress).These results provide references for future studies of population genetics,phylogenetic status and molecular markers among Cupressaceae species and for the cultivation of improved varieties.

MicroRNAs:new players in the DNA damage response

The DNA damage response(DDR)is a signal transduction pathway that decides the cell’s fate either to repair DNA damage or to undergo apoptosis if there is too much damage.Post-translational modifications modulate the assembly and activity of protein complexes during the DDR pathways.MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are emerging as a class of endogenous gene modulators that control protein levels,thereby adding a new layer of regulation to the DDR.In this review,we describe a new role for miRNAs in regulating the cellular response to DNA damage with a focus on DNA double-strand break damage.We also discuss the implications of miRNA’s role in the DDR to stem cells,including embryonic stem cells and cancer stem cells,stressing the potential applications for miRNAs to be used as sensitizers for cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Copper-sulfide cluster assembled architecture via in situ reaction

A new copper-thiolate cluster assembled framework[Cu2(μ4-SCH3)Cl]n(1),has been solvothermally synthesized through in situ reaction viz.,in situ ligand generation and metal reduction.Compound 1 represents the first 3 D framework based on Atlas-sphere functionalized by singleμ2-Cl groups.DOS calculation reveals the interaction of electronic structures.It is found that the HOMO is mainly distributed on Cl,Cu and S bonding orbitals,while the LUMO is dominated by Cu-Cl antibonding orbitals.