BMI1 overexpression is correlated with a poor prognosis and immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background:Owing to the occurrence of primary or secondary tolerance,the efficacy of immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients is limited.Therefore,the mechanism underlying this tolerance needs to be further investigated.B cell–specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1(BMI1)is associated with cancer stem cell tumorigenesis,progression,and the maintenance of the self-renewal.However,the effect of BMI1 expression on immune infiltration and prognosis in HCC is still unclear.Methods:To assess the relationship between BMI1 expression and HCC prognosis and immune infiltration,the GEPIA database,TIMER database,and K-M plotter were used.TIMER database was used to determine the levels ofBMI1 in various tumor tissues and corresponding normal tissues,and examine the association between BMI1 expression and tumor-infiltrating immune cells.GEPIA database was applied to determine BMI1 expression in various tumor tissues and corresponding normal tissues.K-M Plotter was used to study the relationships among BMI1 expression,clinicopathological features,and survival rates.Results:BMI1 expression was markedly higher in various solid tumors compared with that in the respective normal tissues,including HCC,and high expression led to poor relapse-free survival and overall survival in HCC patients.BMI1 overexpression was also correlated with the infiltration of immune cells(eg,B cells,CD8+T cells,CD4+T cells,dendritic cells,neutrophils,and macrophages)and positively associated with different subsets of T cells,monocytes,and M1 macrophages,among others.Conclusions:This study demonstrates that high BMI1 expression is strongly correlated with immune infiltration and poor prognosis in HCC.Increased expression of BMI1 might thus be a potential mechanism of immune tolerance in this disease.

Emergence of High-Temperature Superconducting Phase in Pressurized La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7)Crystals

The recent report of pressure-induced structural transition and signature of superconductivity with T_(c)≈80 K above 14 GPa in La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7)crystals has garnered considerable attention.To further elaborate this discovery,we carried out comprehensive resistance measurements on La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7)crystals grown in an optical-image floating zone furnace under oxygen pressure(15 bar)using a diamond anvil cell(DAC)and cubic anvil cell(CAC),which employ a solid(KBr)and liquid(glycerol)pressure-transmitting medium,respectively.Sample 1 measured in the DAC exhibits a semiconducting-like behavior with large resistance at low pressures and gradually becomes metallic upon compression.At pressures P 13.7 GPa we observed the appearance of a resistance drop of as much as~50%around 70 K,which evolves into a kink-like anomaly at pressures above 40 GPa and shifts to lower temperatures gradually with increasing magnetic field.These observations are consistent with the recent report mentioned above.On the other hand,sample 2 measured in the CAC retains metallic behavior in the investigated pressure range up to 15 GPa.The hump-like anomaly in resistance around~130 K at ambient pressure disappears at P≥2 GPa.In the pressure range of 11–15 GPa we observed the gradual development of a shoulder-like anomaly in resistance at low temperatures,which evolves into a pronounced drop of resistance of 98%below 62 K at 15 GPa,reaching a temperature-independent resistance of 20μΩbelow 20 K.Similarly,this resistance anomaly can be progressively shifted to lower temperatures by applying external magnetic fields,resembling a typical superconducting transition.Measurements on sample 3 in the CAC reproduce the resistance drop at pressures above 10 GPa and realize zero resistance below 10 K at 15 GPa even though an unusual semiconducting-like behavior is retained in the normal state.Based on these results,we constructed a dome-shaped superconducting phase diagram and discuss some issues regarding the sample-dependent behaviors on pressure-induced hightemperature superconductivity in the La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7)crystals.

Relationship between apurinic endonuclease 1 Asp148Glu polymorphism and gastrointestinal cancer risk: An updated meta-analysis

AIM:To evaluate the relationship between apurinic endonuclease 1(APE1) Asp148 Glu polymorphism and the susceptibility to gastrointestinal(GI) cancers.METHODS:We searched Pub Med, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) databases updated on July 15, 2014 for relevant studies.Only case-control studies comparing APE1 Asp148 Glu polymorphism and GI cancer risk were included.We excluded studies reporting only standardized incidence ratios without control groups and those without detailed genotyping data.Meta-analysis was performed on 17 studies involving 4856 cancer patients and 6136 cancer-free controls.Review Manager version 5.1 was used to perform the meta-analysis.The pooled odds ratios(ORs) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were estimated under the allele contrast, homozygous, heterozygous, dominant and recessive genetic models.We also conducted subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity and cancer type.Publication bias was evaluated using Begg's test.RESULTS:The meta-analysis showed a significant association between APE1 Asp148Glu polymorphism and GI cancer risk in three genetic models in the overall population(G vs T:OR=1.18;95%CI:1.05-1.32;TG vs TT:OR=1.28;95%CI:1.08-1.52;TG+GG vs TT:OR=1.32;95%CI:1.10-1.57).Stratified analysis by ethnicity revealed a statistically increased GI cancer risk in Asians(G vs T:OR=1.27;95%CI:1.07-1.51;GG vs TT:OR=1.58;95%CI:1.05-2.38;TG vs TT:OR=1.30;95%CI,1.01-1.67;and TG+GG vs TT:OR=1.38;95%CI:1.07-1.78),but not in Caucasians.Furthersubgroup analysis by cancer type indicated that APE1Asp148Glu polymorphism may contribute to gastric cancer risk.However,Asp148Glu has no significant association with colorectal or esophageal cancer risk in any genetic model.CONCLUSION:This meta-analysis suggests that the APE1 Asp148Glu polymorphism G allele is associated with an increased GI cancer risk,especially in gastric cancer.

Emergence of Superconductivity on the Border of Antiferromagnetic Order in RbMn6Bi5 under High Pressure:A New Family of Mn-Based Superconductors

We report the discovery of superconductivity on the border of antiferromagnetic order in a quasi-one-dimensional material RbMn_(6)Bi_(5)via measurements of resistivity and magnetic susceptibility under high pressures.Its phase diagram of temperature versus pressure resembles those of many magnetism-mediated superconducting systems.With increasing pressure,its antiferromagnetic ordering transition with T_(N)=83K at ambient pressure is first enhanced moderately and then suppressed completely at a critical pressure of P_(c)≈13GPa,around which bulk superconductivity emerges and exhibits a dome-like T_(c)(P)with a maximal T_(c)^(onset)≈9.5K at about 15GPa.In addition,the superconducting state around P_(c) is characterized by a large upper critical fieldμ_(0)H_(c2)(0)exceeding the Pauli paramagnetic limit,implying a possible unconventional paring mechanism.The present study,together with our recent work on KMn_(6)Bi_(5)(the maximum T_(c)^(onset)≈9.3 K),makes AMn_(6)Bi_(5)(A=alkali metal)a new family of Mn-based superconductors with relatively high T_(c).

Flexible silver nanorods/carbon fiber felt metacomposites with epsilon-near-zero property adjusted by compressive deformation

Epsilon-near-zero(ENZ) materials exhibit great potentials in the practical applications of sensors,electronic skin,and wearable devices,when they own the properties of flexibility and compression.In this work,the silver nanorods(AgNRs)/carbon fiber felt(CFF) composites with ENZ property from 1 kHz to 1 MHz were achieved by adjusting the content of AgNRs and the compressed elastic deformation.