EBV-miR-BART10-3p facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by targeting BTRC

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is closely associated with tumorigenesis and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. It has been recently reported that EBV encodes 44 mature miRNAs, some of which were found to promote tumor development by targeting virus-infected host genes or self-viral genes. However, few targets of EBV encoded-miRNAs that are related to NPC development have been identified to date. In this study, we revealed that in NPC cells, EBV-miR-BART10-3p directly targets BTRC gene that encodes βTrCP (beta-transducin repeat containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase). We found that EBV-miR-BART10-3p expression in clinical samples from a cohort of 106 NPC patients negatively correlated with BTRC expression levels. Over-expression of EBV-miR-BART10-3p and down-regulation of BTRC were associated with poor prognosis in NPC patients. EBV-miR-BART10-3p promoted the invasion and migration cabilities of NPC cells through the targeting of BTRC and regulation of the expression of the downstream substrates β-catenin and Snail. As a result, EBV-miR-BART10-3p facilitated epithelial-mesenchymal transition of NPC. Our study presents an unreported mechanism underlying EBV infection in NPC carcinogenesis, and provides a potential novel biomarker for NPC diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.     

MiR-610 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion in colorectal cancer by repressing hepatoma-derived growth factor

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as key regulators of gene expression and their dysregulation is linked to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. MiR-610 has been implicated as an anti-tumor miRNA in multiple types of cancers. However, its biological role and the underlying mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been well explored. In this study, we report that miR-610 expression is decreased in CRC samples while ectopic expression of miR-610 suppresses cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and influences the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins by up-regulating E-cadherin expression and down-regulating vimentin expression. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we reveal that miR-610 directly targets hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) by binding to its 3’UTR. A negative correlation was also observed between miR-610 and HDGF expression in CRC tissues. Further studies show that inhibition of HDGF recapitulates the anti-tumor function of miR-610, whereas re-expression of HDGF partially abrogates the inhibitory effects of miR-610. Collectively, our findings indicate that miR-610 exerts its function by directly targeting HDGF. The miR-610/HDGF axis is a novel therapeutic target for CRC.     

Characterization of a new SNP c767A/T (Arg222Trp) in the candidate TSG FUS2 on human chromosome 3p21.3: prevalence in Asian populations and analysis of association with nasopharyngeal cancer

The FUS2 gene, encoding a novel cytoplasmic acetyltransferase, resides in the tumor suppressor gene region on human chromosome 3p21.3 and is considered a promising candidate tumor suppressor gene. We have identified a new single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), c767A/T, in the coding region of the gene. The polymorphism leads to a non-conservative amino acid change (R222W) located between the acetyltransferase (GNAT) and the proline-rich domains of the protein. We have analyzed 254 subjects included in 14 sub-populations. The occurrence of the SNP varies with the ethnicity of the population, suggesting that this SNP could be a valuable biomarker for population genetics. It is most prevalent in various Asian populations (T allele frequency>0.54), followed by the Canadian polar Inuit (T allele frequency=0.3), African American (T allele frequency=0.17), and Caucasian population (T allele frequency=0.1). Since nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is frequent in Southern China, Taiwan, Borneo and polar Canada, we further tested for the possible association of the FUS2 SNP with this form of endemic cancer. Our analysis, albeit limited, suggests no likely association between NPC and the FUS2 gene polymorphism. Further large-scale case-control studies are necessary and warranted to prove the strength of this contention.     

A review of healthcare service and education provision of Autism Spectrum Condition in mainland China

Little is known about the current situation regarding Autism Spectrum Conditions in mainland China. Electronic databases and bibliographies were searched to identify literature on service provision for ASC in both English and Chinese databases. 14 studies and 6 reports were reviewed. The findings of identified papers on service provision were summarized according to four settings for ASC including healthcare, mainstream education, private special education, and state-run special education. The literature on the situation of the healthcare system and educational services for children with ASC in China was profoundly limited. There were great financial problems faced by the parents of autistic children which were partly due to the under-developed healthcare and educational system for ASC.     

脑梗死后认知功能障碍的相关因素分析

目的 探讨脑梗死后认知功能障碍的相关因素.方法 选取入住我院的127例脑梗死患者作为脑梗死组,83例正常人群为对照组,简易精神状态评分测定认知功能,分析脑梗死后影响认知功能障碍的相关因素.结果 对照组中,认知功能障碍者12例,发生率为14.5%.脑梗死组中,认知功能障碍者97例,发生率达76.3%,2组比较,差异有统计学意义.本研究中年龄、性别、高血压和冠心病与脑梗死后认知功能障碍无显著相关性.文化程度、运动与否、交流沟通与脑梗死后认知功能障碍呈负相关,而发病次数和并发糖尿病与脑梗死后认知功能障碍呈正相关性.结论 脑梗死后认知功能障碍与文化程度、运动、交流、发病次数和并发糖尿病密切相关.     

Associations of self-esteem,dysfunctional beliefs and coping style with depression in patients with schizophrenia: A preliminary survey

Psychological models of depression in schizophrenia have proposed that cognitive structures (e.g., self-esteem, dysfunctional beliefs) may have a role in the development and maintenance of depression. However, it has not been clear what the characteristics of these cognitive structures were in people with schizophrenia and whether they have an independent association with depression, especially in those from a Chinese cultural background. The present investigation examined 133 people with schizophrenia and 50 healthy controls and indicated that compared to the controls people with schizophrenia showed lower self-esteem, higher levels of dysfunctional beliefs and negative coping styles. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that only low frustration tolerance, problem solving and self-blame were found to be the independent correlates of depression in schizophrenia. Results are discussed with the view of clinical implications of cognitive formulation and therapy for schizophrenia in China.