mRNA EXPRESSION OF PTEN AND VEGF GENES IN EPITHELIAL OVARIAN CANCER

Objective:To investigate the mRNA expression of PTEN and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes in ovarian cancer. Methods:We examined mRNA expression of PTEN and VEGF165 in normal ovary (n=5), ovarian cyst (n=5), ovarian borderline tumor (n=9), epithelial ovarian cancer (n=60) and ovarian cancer cell line (CAOV-3) by RT-PCR. Their expressions were compared with clinicopathological features of ovarian cancer. The relationship between their expressions was concerned in all ovarian samples as well. Results:mRNA expression level of PTEN gene was significantly lower in ovarian borderline tumor or ovarian cancer than that in normal ovary or ovarian cyst(P<0.05). It was negatively correlated with clinicopathological staging(P<0.05),whereas positively with histological differentiation (P<0.05). mRNA expression level of PTEN gene was significantly lower in ovarian endometrioid cancer than ovarian serous or mucinous cancer(P<0.05). mRNA expression level of VEGF165 gene was significantly higher in ovarian cancer than that in normal ovary or ovarian cyst(P<0.05). It was positively correlated with clinicopathological staging(P<0.05), whereas negatively with histological differentiation (P<0.05). mRNA expression level of VEGF165 gene was significantly higher in ovarian serous cancer than in other ovarian epithelial cancers (P<0.05). mRNA expression of VEGF165 gene was inversely correlated with mRNA expression level of PTEN gene. Conclusion:Down-regulated expression of PTEN and up-regulated expression of VEGF were considered as two important events in tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer and could be used as molecular markers to indicate the pathobiological behaviors of ovarian cancer. Decreased PTEN expression and increased VEGF expression were closely associated with tumorigenesis and pathobiological behaviors of ovarian endometrioid and serous cancer respectively. Reduced expression of PTEN gene might be involved in carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer by up-regulating the VEGF expression to enhance angiogenesis.

Reversal of Multidrug Resistance and Inhibition of Phosphorylation of AKT in Human Ovarian Cancer Cell Line by Wild-type PTEN Gene

The reversing effect of wild-type PTEN gene on resistance of C 13K cells to cisplatin and its inhibitory effect on the phosphorylation of protein kinase B （AKT） were studied. The expression of PTEN mRNA and protein in OV2008 cells and C13K cells were semi-quantitatively detected by using RT-PCR and Western blotting. Recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid containing human wild-type PTEN gene was transfected into C13K cells by lipofectamine2000. The expression of PTEN mRNA was monitored by RT-PCR and the expression of PTEN, Akt, p-Akt protein were ana- lyzed by Western blotting in PTEN-transfected and non-transfected C13K cells. Proliferation and chemosensitivity of cells to DDP were measured by MTT, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry after treatment with cisplatin. The expression of PTEN mRNA and protein in OV2008 cells were significantly higher than those in C13K cells. After transfection with PTEN gene for 48 h, the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein in C 13K cells were 2.04 ± 0.10, 0.94± 0.04 respectively and the expression of p-Akt protein （ 0.94± 0.07） was lower than those in control groups （1.68 ±0.14, 1.66± 0.10） （P〈 0.05）. The IC50 of DDP to C 13 K cells transfected with PTEN （7.2± 0.3 la mol/L） was obviously lower than those of empty-vector transfected cells and non-transfected cells （12.7±0.4 lamol/1, 13.0±0.3 lamol/L） （P〈0.05）. The apopototis ratio of wild-type PTEN-transfected, empty vector transfected and non-transfected C13K cells were （41.65___0.87）%, （18.61 ±0.70）% and （15.28±0.80）% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. PTEN gene plays an important role in ovarian cancer multidrug resistance. Transfection of PTEN could increase the expression of PTEN and restore drug sensitivity to cisplatin in human ovarian cancer cell line C 13K with multidrug-resistance by decreasing the expression of p-Akt.

EFFECTS OF MUTATION AND EXPRESSION OF PTEN GENEmRNA ON TUMORIGENESIS AND PROGRESSION OFEPITHELIAL OVARIAN CANCER

Objective To investigate the mutation and expression of tumor suppressor gene-PTEN mRNA and explore their roles in tumorigenesis and progression of ovarian cancer. Methods Mutated exon 5 of PTEN gene was examined in normal ovary(n = 5), ovarian cyst (n =5), ovarian borderline tumor (n = 9), epithelial ovarian cancer(n = 60), and ovarian cancer cell line (n = 1)by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). mRNA expression of PTEN gene was evaluated in corresponding tissues and cell line by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The mutation and mRNA expression of PTEN gene were compared with clini-copathological features of ovarian cancer. Results Mutated exon 5 of PTEN gene was detected only in 5(7.1%)cases of epithelial ovarian cancer. mRNA expression level of PTEN gene in ovarian borderline tumor or ovarian cancer was lower than that in normal ovary or ovarian cyst(P < 0.05). The level of PTEN gene mRNA expression was negatively correlated with clinicopathological staging of ovarian cancer, whereas positively correlated with histological differentiation (P < 0.05). mRNA expression level of PTEN gene in ovarian endometrioid cancer was significantly lower than that in ovarian serous or mucinous cancer (P < 0.05=. Conclusions Mutation of PTEN gene occurs in ovarian cancer. Down-regulated expression of PTEN is probably an important molecular event in tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer. Abnormal expression of PTEN gene is involved in progression of ovarian cancer. Reduced expression of PTEN gene is closely associated with tumorigenesis and pathobiological behaviors of ovarian endometrioid cancer.

Expression and clinical significance of MN1 and PTEN gene in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Objective:The aim of our study was to explore the correlations between both the genes,evolution and prognosis of the disease by detecting the expression of MN1(meningioma 1) gene and PTEN(phosphatase and tensin homolog) gene in patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Method:MN1 and PTEN mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-PCR in mononuclear cells of 38 patients with AML and 13 patients with normal bone marrow.Results:Positive rates of MN1 and PTEN genes were 76.3% and 60.5% respectively in bone marrow mononuclear cells.The expression level of MN1 mRNA for the de novo group increased comparing with that for normal control group(P < 0.05),the expression level of PTEN mRNA for de novo group decreased obviously comparing with that for normal control group(P < 0.01),MN1 mRNA level decreased in remission group,while PTEN mRNA level increased comparing with that in de novo group(P < 0.05).MN1 mRNA level increased and PTEN mRNA decreased in relapsed group comparing with that in control group,and their difference was statistical significance(P < 0.05).The two genes' levels had negative correlations in acute myeloid leukemia(r =-0.314,P < 0.05).Conclusion:There is close correlations between expression of MN1 and PTEN genes and the prognosis and occurrence of acute myeloid leukemia,and their expression can be taken as significant indexes to access the de novo,relapse and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia.

Progress in clinical diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer with rare genetic variants

Targeted therapy is crucial for advanced colorectal cancer(CRC) positive for genetic drivers. With advances in deep sequencing technology and new targeted drugs, existing standard molecular pathological detection systems and therapeutic strategies can no longer meet the requirements for careful management of patients with advanced CRC. Thus, rare genetic variations require diagnosis and targeted therapy in clinical practice. Rare gene mutations, amplifications, and rearrangements are usually associated with poor prognosis and poor response to conventional therapy. This review summarizes the clinical diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic variations, in genes including erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2(ERBB2), B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase(BRAF), ALK receptor tyrosine kinase/ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase(ALK/ROS1), neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinases(NTRKs), ret proto-oncogene(RET), fibroblast growth factor receptor 2(FGFR2), and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), to enhance understanding and identify more accurate personalized treatments for patients with rare genetic variations.

PCR-SSCP-DNA sequencing method in detecting PTEN gene mutation and its signifi cance in human gastric cancer

AIM: To discuss the possible effect of PTEN gene mutations on occurrence and development of gastric cancer. METHODS: Fifty-three gastric cancer specimens were selected to probe PTEN gene mutations in genome of gastric cancer and paracancerous tissues using PCR-SSCP-DNA sequencing method based on microdissection and to observe the protein expression by immunohistochemistry technique. RESULTS: PCR-SSCP-DNA sequencing indicated that 4 kinds of mutation sites were found in 5 of 53 gastric cancer specimens. One kind of mutation was found in exons. AA-TCC mutation was located at 40bp upstream of 3’ lateral exon 7 (115946 AA-TCC). Such mutations led to terminator formation in the 297th codon of the PTEN gene. The other 3 kinds of mutation were found in introns,including a G-C point mutation at 91 bp upstream of 5’ lateral exon 5(90896 G-C),a T-G point mutation at 24 bp upstream of 5’ lateral exon 5 (90963 T-G),and a single base A mutation at 7 bp upstream of 5’ lateral exon 5 (90980 A del). The PTEN protein expression in gastric cancer and paracancerous tissues detected using immunohistochemistry technique indicated that the total positive rate of PTEN protein expression was 66% in gastric cancer tissue,which was significantly lower than that (100%) in paracancerous tissues (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: PTEN gene mutation and expression may play an important role in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer.

Loss of heterozygosity on 10q23.3 and mutation of tumor suppressor gene PTEN in gastric cancer and precancerous lesions

AIM: To investigate the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and mutation of tumor suppressor gene PTEN in gastric cancer and precancerous lesions. METHODS: Thirty cases of normal gastric mucosa, advanced and early stage gastric cancer, intestinal metaplasia, atrophic gastritis, and atypical hyperplasia were analyzed for PTEN LOH and mutations within the entire coding region of PTEN gene by PCR-SSCP denaturing PAGE gel electrophoresis, and PTEN mutation was detected by PCR-SSCP sequencing followed by silver staining. RESULTS: LOH rate found in respectively atrophic gastritis was 10% (3/30), intestinal metaplasia 10% (3/30), atypical hyperplasia 13.3% (4/30), early stage gastric cancer 20% (6/30), and advanced stage gastric cancer 33.3% (9/30), None of the precancerous lesions and early stage gastric cancer showed PTEN mutations, but 10% (3/30) of the advanced stage gastric cancers, which were all positive for LOH, showed PTEN mutation. CONCLUSION: LOH of PTEN gene appears in precancerous lesions, and PTEN mutations are restricted to advanced gastric cancer, LOH and mutation of PTEN gene are closely related to the infiltration and metastasis of gastric cancer.

Relationship between promoter methylation and mRNA expression of PTEN gene and gastric carcinoma

Objective:To probe into the relationships between PTEN gene expression,the promoter methylation and gastric cancer and its clinical pathological specific features.Methods:We analyzed the PTEN gene promoter methylation and mRNA expression status in gastric cancer tissues and its adjacent normal tissues by methylation specific PCR(MSP) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) techniques.Results:PTEN promoters in 48.2%(27/56) gastric cancer tissues and 3.6(2/56) adjacent normal tissues were methylated and the PTEN promoter methylation rate in carcinoma tissues was obviously higher(P < 0.05).Of the 2 cases where the adjacent gastric tissues were methylated,the gastric cancer tissues were both methylated.Of the 29 gastric cancers with lymph node metastasis,19 had their PTEN gene promoters methylated and the PTEN gene promoter methylation in cases with lymph node metastasis was obviously higher than that without lymph node metastasis(P < 0.05).RT-PCR result showed that no expression of PTEN mRNA existed in any of the methylated gastric cancer tissues.Conclusion:The expression loss of PTEN gene mRNA in gastric cancers is related to their promoter methylation and might be one of the reasons for the generation,development and metastasis of gastric cancers.

The establishment of stable transfection of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MD-468 with exogenous PTEN gene

To investigate exogenous PTEN gene transfected human breast cancer cell line MDA-MD-468.Methods Using the lipofectamine 2000 transfection technique,wild type PTEN gene was transducted into an in vitro cultured highly metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MD-468.After transfection,the cells were selected by G418.The resistant clones were chosen and expanded in DMEM culture medium.RT-PCR,immunohistochemical method and western blot were used to determine the expression of target genes.Results An anti-G418 cell clone was established and expanded in culture.The transfected PTEN gene MDA-MD-468 cells showed expression of PTEN mRNA and PTEN protein.Conclusion Human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 established in this study expresses consistently exogenous PTEN genes.4 refs,6 figs.

DOWN-REGULATED EXPRESSION OF PTEN GENE AND LOH OF ITS EPIGENETIC MICROSATELLITES IN GASTRIC CARCINOMA

Objective.To investigate PTEN expression and loss of heterozygosity(LOH)of its epigenetic microsatel-lites in gastric carcinoma and explore their roles in tumorigenesis and progression of gastric carcinoma.Methods.LOH of epigenetic microsatellites of PTEN(D10S541,D10S583and D10S1687)was exam-ined in advanced gastric carcinomas(n=56)by PCR-SSCP.The mRNA and protein expressions of PTEN gene were evaluated in normal mucosa(n=56),early(n=11)and advanced carcinomas(n=56)of the stomach using RT?PCR and immunohistochemoistry respectively.PTEN mRNA and protein expressions were compared with clinicopathological staging and lymph node metastasis of tumors.The relationship be-tween PTEN mRNA expression and LOH of microsatellites was discussed,as well as relationship between PTEN mRNA and protein expression.Results.LOH of D10S541,D10S583and D10S1687was found in28.6%(16/56)of advanced gas-tric carcinomas.The positive rates of PTEN expression were80.4%(45/56),45.5%(5/11)and32.1%(18/56)in normal gastric mucosa,early and advanced gastric carcinomas at mRNA level,while78.6%(44/56),36.4%(4/11)and28.6%(16/56)at protein level.PTEN mRNA and protein were less fre-quently expressed in early and advanced gastric carcinomas than normal gastric mucosa(P<0.05).There was negative correlation between PTEN mRNA expression and LOH of microsatellites(P<0.05).PTEN protein expression paralleled to its mRNA expression(P<0.05).The PTEN mRNA and protein expres-sions were negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis of advanced gastric carcinomas(P<0.05).Conclusion.Down?regulated expression of PTEN and frequent LOH of its epigenetic microsatellites might play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis.Reduced PTEN mRNA expression was closely as-sociated with LOH of its epigenetic microsatellites.Altered expression of PTEN might contribute to lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma by decreasing cell adhesion and apoptosis,increasing angiogenesis and cell mobility.

The effects of antisense PTEN gene transfection on the growth and invasion of glioma cells

Objective:To study the effects of antisense PTEN gene on the growth and invasion of glioma cells. Methods:A pcDNA3. 1/Hygro (-) recombinant plasmid containing antisense PTEN gene fragment was constructed. Glioma cells of primary culture were transfected with antisense PTEN gene vector and stably transfected clones were selected. Then, the different growth and invasion abilities and the different MMP9 mRNA expressions of three kinds of cells were observed, including the transfected cells, untransfected cells and the cells transfected with empty vector. Results :The abilities of growth and invasion of the transfected cells and the expressions of MMP9 mRNA were obviously enhanced. Conclusion: Antisense PTEN gene could have a negative impact on the growth and invasion of primary culture glioma cells.

Adenovirus-mediated PTEN gene transfection suppresses growth and promotes chemosensitivity of endometrial carcinoma

Objective： To determine the potential of sustained transgene expression by intratumoral injection of Ad-PTEN in the nude mouse model of endometrial carcinoma. Methods and Results： We constructed recombinant adenovirus carrying the wild-type PTEN gene （Ad-PTEN）. RL95-2 cells, an endometrial carcinoma cell line lacking PTEN function, was infected with Ad-PTEN and showed increased expression of PTEN and chemosensitivity to doxorubicin, decreased proliferation rate, and elevated apoptosis and Go/G1 arrest. Furthermore, the tumorigenicity of these cells was also completely suppressed. These results indicated that gene therapy with Ad-PTEN could significantly inhibit the endometrial carcinoma xenografts growth in nude mice by intratumoral injection, induce apoptosis of tumor cells, and reduce expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）. Immunohistochemistry analysis also showed that the expression of progesterone receptors （PR） in Ad-PTEN treated tumor cells were induced, while P-glycoproteins （P-gp） and estrogen receptors （ER） decreased significantly. Conclusion： PTEN may play an important role in the development of endometrial carcinoma. Our findings cast new lights for treatment ofendometrial carcinoma.

Key genes and regulatory networks for diabetic retinopathy based on hypoxia-related genes:a bioinformatics analysis

AIM:To prevent neovascularization in diabetic retinopathy(DR)patients and partially control disease progression.METHODS:Hypoxia-related differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified from the GSE60436 and GSE102485 datasets,followed by gene ontology(GO)functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis.Potential candidate drugs were screened using the CMap database.Subsequently,a protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed to identify hypoxia-related hub genes.A nomogram was generated using the rms R package,and the correlation of hub genes was analyzed using the Hmisc R package.The clinical significance of hub genes was validated by comparing their expression levels between disease and normal groups and constructing receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)curves.Finally,a hypoxia-related miRNA-transcription factor(TF)-Hub gene network was constructed using the NetworkAnalyst online tool.RESULTS:Totally 48 hypoxia-related DEGs and screened 10 potential candidate drugs with interaction relationships to upregulated hypoxia-related genes were identified,such as ruxolitinib,meprylcaine,and deferiprone.In addition,8 hub genes were also identified:glycogen phosphorylase muscle associated(PYGM),glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase spermatogenic(GAPDHS),enolase 3(ENO3),aldolase fructose-bisphosphate C(ALDOC),phosphoglucomutase 2(PGM2),enolase 2(ENO2),phosphoglycerate mutase 2(PGAM2),and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3(PFKFB3).Based on hub gene predictions,the miRNA-TF-Hub gene network revealed complex interactions between 163 miRNAs,77 TFs,and hub genes.The results of ROC showed that the except for GAPDHS,the area under curve(AUC)values of the other 7 hub genes were greater than 0.758,indicating their favorable diagnostic performance.CONCLUSION:PYGM,GAPDHS,ENO3,ALDOC,PGM2,ENO2,PGAM2,and PFKFB3 are hub genes in DR,and hypoxia-related hub genes exhibited favorable diagnostic performance.

RPLP0/TBP are the most stable reference genes for human dental pulp stem cells under osteogenic differentiation

BACKGROUND Validation of the reference gene(RG)stability during experimental analyses is essential for correct quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)data normalisation.Commonly,in an unreliable way,several studies use genes involved in essential cellular functions[glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydro-genase(GAPDH),18S rRNA,andβ-actin]without paying attention to whether they are suitable for such experimental conditions or the reason for choosing such genes.Furthermore,such studies use only one gene when Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments guidelines recom-mend two or more genes.It impacts the credibility of these studies and causes dis-tortions in the gene expression findings.For tissue engineering,the accuracy of gene expression drives the best experimental or therapeutical approaches.We cultivated DPSCs under two conditions:Undifferentiated and osteogenic dif-ferentiation,both for 35 d.We evaluated the gene expression of 10 candidates for RGs[ribosomal protein,large,P0(RPLP0),TATA-binding protein(TBP),GAPDH,actin beta(ACTB),tubulin(TUB),aminolevulinic acid synthase 1(ALAS1),tyro-sine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein,zeta(YWHAZ),eukaryotic translational elongation factor 1 alpha(EF1a),succinate dehydrogenase complex,subunit A,flavoprotein(SDHA),and beta-2-micro-globulin(B2M)]every 7 d(1,7,14,21,28,and 35 d)by RT-qPCR.The data were analysed by the four main algorithms,ΔCt method,geNorm,NormFinder,and BestKeeper and ranked by the RefFinder method.We subdivided the samples into eight subgroups.RESULTS All of the data sets from clonogenic and osteogenic samples were analysed using the RefFinder algorithm.The final ranking showed RPLP0/TBP as the two most stable RGs and TUB/B2M as the two least stable RGs.Either theΔCt method or NormFinder analysis showed TBP/RPLP0 as the two most stable genes.However,geNorm analysis showed RPLP0/EF1αin the first place.These algorithms’two least stable RGs were B2M/GAPDH.For BestKeeper,ALAS1 was ranked as the most stable RG,and SDHA as the least stable RG.The pair RPLP0/TBP was detected in most subgroups as the most stable RGs,following the RefFinfer ranking.CONCLUSION For the first time,we show that RPLP0/TBP are the most stable RGs,whereas TUB/B2M are unstable RGs for long-term osteogenic differentiation of human DPSCs in traditional monolayers.

Comprehensive analysis of the potential pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection and liver cancer

BACKGROUND A growing number of clinical examples suggest that coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)appears to have an impact on the treatment of patients with liver cancer compared to the normal population,and the prevalence of COVID-19 is significantly higher in patients with liver cancer.However,this mechanism of action has not been clarified.Gene sets for COVID-19(GSE180226)and liver cancer(GSE87630)were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.After identifying the common differentially expressed genes(DEGs)of COVID-19 and liver cancer,functional enrichment analysis,protein-protein interaction network construction and scree-ning and analysis of hub genes were performed.Subsequently,the validation of the differential expression of hub genes in the disease was performed and the regulatory network of transcription factors and hub genes was constructed.RESULTS Of 518 common DEGs were obtained by screening for functional analysis.Fifteen hub genes including aurora kinase B,cyclin B2,cell division cycle 20,cell division cycle associated 8,nucleolar and spindle associated protein 1,etc.,were further identified from DEGs using the“cytoHubba”plugin.Functional enrichment analysis of hub genes showed that these hub genes are associated with P53 signalling pathway regulation,cell cycle and other functions,and they may serve as potential molecular markers for COVID-19 and liver cancer.Finally,we selected 10 of the hub genes for in vitro expression validation in liver cancer cells.CONCLUSION Our study reveals a common pathogenesis of liver cancer and COVID-19.These common pathways and key genes may provide new ideas for further mechanistic studies.

The role of tazarotene-induced gene 1 in carcinogenesis:is it a tumor suppressor gene or an oncogene?

Tazarotene-induced gene 1(TIG1)is induced by a derivative of vitamin A and is known to regulate many important biological processes and control the development of cancer.TIG1 is widely expressed in various tissues;yet in many cancer tissues,it is not expressed because of the methylation of its promoter.Additionally,the expression of TIG1 in cancer cells inhibits their growth and invasion,suggesting that TIG1 acts as a tumor suppressor gene.However,in some cancers,poor prognosis is associated with TIG1 expression,indicating its protumor growth characteristics,especially in promoting the invasion of inflammatory breast cancer cells.This review comprehensively summarizes the roles of the TIG1 gene in cancer development and details the mechanisms through which TIG1 regulates cancer development,with the aim of understanding its various roles in cancer development.

Peripheral blood RNA biomarkers can predict lesion severity in degenerative cervical myelopathy

Degenerative cervical myelopathy is a common cause of spinal cord injury,with longer symptom duration and higher myelopathy severity indicating a worse prognosis.While numerous studies have investigated serological biomarkers for acute spinal cord injury,few studies have explored such biomarkers for diagnosing degenerative cervical myelopathy.This study involved 30 patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy(51.3±7.3 years old,12 women and 18 men),seven healthy controls(25.7±1.7 years old,one woman and six men),and nine patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(51.9±8.6 years old,three women and six men).Analysis of blood samples from the three groups showed clear differences in transcriptomic characteristics.Enrichment analysis identified 128 differentially expressed genes that were enriched in patients with neurological disabilities.Using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis,we constructed a five-gene model(TBCD,TPM2,PNKD,EIF4G2,and AP5Z1)to diagnose degenerative cervical myelopathy with an accuracy of 93.5%.One-gene models(TCAP and SDHA)identified mild and severe degenerative cervical myelopathy with accuracies of 83.3%and 76.7%,respectively.Signatures of two immune cell types(memory B cells and memory-activated CD4^(+)T cells)predicted levels of lesions in degenerative cervical myelopathy with 80%accuracy.Our results suggest that peripheral blood RNA biomarkers could be used to predict lesion severity in degenerative cervical myelopathy.

A Theory of Bio-Quantum Genetics

The physical mechanism of heredity or inheritance of genes is a quantum mechanical and/or quantum computational process. A theory of bio-quantum genetics is established in this paper. Principle of Bio-quantum Genetics is suggested. I propose and define the soft-genes of genetics controlling the processes of heredity or inheritance of genes. This research deals with the quantum mechanisms of Mendel plant heredity and family inheritance as examples of bio-quantum genetics, deepening our understanding of heredity or inheritance. I believe that more contributions will be made to promote researches of bio-quantum genetics or quantum biology at large.

Morphogenesis and Molecular Phylogeny of a Marine Urostylid Ciliate Apokeronopsis wrighti(Protista, Ciliophora, Hypotrichia)

Hypotrichs are one of the highly differentiated ciliated lineages which play important roles in ecological, environmental,evolutionary and basic biological studies. In the present study, we investigated the living characteristics, infraciliature, nuclear apparatus, ontogenesis and phylogenetic position of a marine hypotrichous ciliate, Apokeronopsis wrighti Long et al., 2008, which was isolated from coastal waters in Shenzhen, China. The new isolate resembles the type population in terms of morphological characteristics, morphometrics, and SSU rRNA gene sequence that is with a 99.7% similarity. Ontogenesis of A. wrighti is characterized by oral primordium for the proter as well as marginal and dorsal kineties anlagen in both filial products formed de novo, and the cirral row arranged along the paroral and endoral arises from several anterior frontoventral-transverse cirral streaks. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU and concatenated gene data suggest that five species of Apokeronopsis form a monophyletic clade, and the genus Apokeronopsis is closely related to Thigmokeronopsis and Metaurostylopsis.

Epidemiological Surveillance: Genetic Diversity of Rotavirus Group A in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong, China in 2019

Objective This study aimed to understand the epidemic status and phylogenetic relationships of rotavirus group A(RVA)in the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong Province,China.Methods This study included individuals aged 28 days–85 years.A total of 706 stool samples from patients with acute gastroenteritis collected between January 2019 and January 2020 were analyzed for 17 causative pathogens,including RVA,using a Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel,followed by genotyping,virus isolation,and complete sequencing to assess the genetic diversity of RVA.Results The overall RVA infection rate was 14.59%(103/706),with an irregular epidemiological pattern.The proportion of co-infection with RVA and other pathogens was 39.81%(41/103).Acute gastroenteritis is highly prevalent in young children aged 0–1 year,and RVA is the key pathogen circulating in patients 6–10 months of age with diarrhea.G9P[8](58.25%,60/103)was found to be the predominant genotype in the RVA strains,and the 41 RVA-positive strains that were successfully sequenced belonged to three different RVA genotypes in the phylogenetic analysis.Recombination analysis showed that gene reassortment events,selection pressure,codon usage bias,gene polymorphism,and post-translational modifications(PTMs)occurred in the G9P[8]and G3P[8]strains.Conclusion This study provides molecular evidence of RVA prevalence in the Pearl River Delta region of China,further enriching the existing information on its genetics and evolutionary characteristics and suggesting the emergence of genetic diversity.Strengthening the surveillance of genotypic changes and gene reassortment in RVA strains is essential for further research and a better understanding of strain variations for further vaccine development.