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Silicosis is a systemic disease caused by long-term inhalation of free SiO 2 and retention in the lungs. At present, it is still the most important occupational health hazard disease in the world. Existing studies have shown that non-coding RNA can also participate in complex fibrosis regulatory networks. However, its role in regulating silicotic fibrosis is still unclear. In this study, we constructed a NR8383/RLE-6TN co-culture system to simulate the pathogenesis of silicosis in vitro. Design of miR-204-3p mimics and inhibitors to overexpress or downregulate miR-204-3p in RLE-6TN cells. Design of short hairpin RNA (sh-RNA) to downregulate MRAK052509 in RLE-6TN cells. The regulatory mechanism of miR-204-3p and LncRNA MRAK052509 on EMT process was studied by Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, Immunofluorescence and Cell scratch test. The results revealed that miR-204-3p affects the occurrence of silica dust-induced cellular EMT process mainly through regulating TGF-βRΙ, a key molecule of TGF-β signaling pathway. In contrast, Lnc MRAK052509 promotes the EMT process in epithelial cells by competitively adsorbing miR-204-3p and reducing its inhibitory effect on the target gene TGF-βRΙ, which may influence the development of silicosis fibrosis. This study perfects the targeted regulation relationship between LncRNA MRAK052509, miR-204-3p and TGF-βRΙ, and may provide a new strategy for the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of silicosis., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Aim: To test the hypothesis that K8/K18 variants predispose humans to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression and its metabolic phenotypes., Methods: We selected a total of 373 unrelated adult subjects from our Physical Examination Department, including 200 unrelated NAFLD patients and 173 controls of both genders and different ages. Diagnoses of NAFLD were established according to ultrasonic signs of fatty liver. All subjects were tested for population characteristics, lipid profile, liver tests, as well as glucose tests. Genomic DNA was obtained from peripheral blood with a DNeasy Tissue Kit. K8/K18 coding regions were analyzed, including 15 exons and exon-intron boundaries., Results: Among 200 NAFLD patients, 10 (5%) heterozygous carriers of keratin variants were identified. There were 5 amino-acid-altering heterozygous variants and 6 non-coding heterozygous variants. One novel amino-acid-altering heterozygous variant (K18 N193S) and three novel non-coding variants were observed (K8 IVS5-9A→G, K8 IVS6+19G→A, K18 T195T). A total of 9 patients had a single variant and 1 patient had compound variants (K18 N193S+K8 IVS3-15C→G). Only one R341H variant was found in the control group (1 of 173, 0.58%). The frequency of keratin variants in NAFLD patients was significantly higher than that in the control group (5% vs 0.58%, P = 0.015). Notably, the keratin variants were significantly associated with insulin resistance (IR) in NAFLD patients (8.86% in NAFLD patients with IR vs 2.5% in NAFLD patients without IR, P = 0.043)., Conclusion: K8/K18 variants are overrepresented in Chinese NAFLD patients and might accelerate liver fat storage through IR., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

Aim: To evaluate the effects and safety of combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin (L-OHP) and S-1 (SOX regimen) in older patients with advanced gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA)., Methods: Seventy patients with advanced GCA were classified according to age into an older group (≥ 75 years) and a control group (< 75 years). The SOX regimen was administered to the two groups as follows: S-1 (40 mg/m² po bid) on days 1 to 14 followed by a 7-d off period, plus L-OHP (65 mg/m² iv) for 2 h on days 1 and 8 of a 21-d cycle. This regimen was repeated for four to six cycles. Response and swallow statuses were evaluated after two cycles (6 wk). Effects and toxicity were evaluated four weeks after chemotherapy was completed., Results: The response rate was 65.6% (21/32) in the older group and 68.4% (26/38) in the control group (χ² = 0.062 and P = 0.804). Improvement in swallowing was 78.1% (25/32) in the older group and 76.3% (29/38) in the control group (χ² = 0.032 and P = 0.857). Efficacy was 68.8% (22/32) in the older group and 65.8% (25/38) in the control group (χ² = 0.069 and P = 0.793). Toxicities were reversible and similar in both groups (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: The SOX regimen is an effective, safe and well-tolerated regimen for older patients with advanced GCA.

Background and Objective: The mechanism of tumor tissues selectively uptake the photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy (PDT) is still unclear. This study was to investigate the affinity of tumor cells to the photosensitizer photofrin-II., Methods: Ultraviolet spectrophotometer was applied to measure the absorption spectra of various cell culture media. The fluorescence spectrum of photofrin-II was determined by spectrofluorometer. The absorption and elimination condition of photofrin-II were detected in immortalized human esophageal epithelial cell line SHEE and its malignant transformation cell line SHEEC., Results: The maximum excitation wavelength of fluorescence for photofrin-II was (395.0+/-0.5) nm, and the maximum emission wavelength of that was (634.1+/-0.5) nm. The laser at the wavelength of 630 nm used in this experiment could permeate various types of cell culture media. There was no significant difference in the absorption and elimination of photofrin-II between SHEE and SHEEC at the same concentration and time. The absorption of photofrin-II in SHEE and SHEEC increased with the increase in photofrin-II concentration and duration, and reached the platform at the concentration of 30 microg/mL and a time point of 150 min, respectively. The photofrin-II contents of SHEE and SHEEC showed a slight change after 15-30 min, and diminished rapidly after 30 min., Conclusion: High photosensitizer concentration in tumor tissues may be not correlated with the affinity of tumor cells.