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Clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) is a highly heterogeneous disease, making it challenging to predict prognosis and therapy efficacy. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA modification in ccRCC and its potential as a predictor for therapy response and overall survival (OS). We established a novel 5-methylcytosine RNA modification-related gene index (M5CRMRGI) and studied its effect on the tumor microenvironment (TME) using single-cell sequencing data for in-depth analysis, and verified it using spatial sequencing data. Our results showed that M5CRMRGI is an independent predictor of OS in multiple datasets and exhibited outstanding performance in predicting the OS of ccRCC. Distinct mutation profiles, hallmark pathways, and infiltration of immune cells in TME were observed between high- and low-M5CRMRGI groups. Single-cell/spatial transcriptomics revealed that M5CRMRGI could reprogram the distribution of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Moreover, significant differences in tumor immunogenicity and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) were observed between the two risk groups, suggesting a better response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy of the high-risk group. We also predicted six potential drugs binding to the core target of the M5CRMRGI signature via molecular docking. Real-world treatment cohort data proved once again that high-risk patients were appropriate for immune checkpoint blockade therapy, while low-risk patients were appropriate for Everolimus. Our study shows that the m5C modification landscape plays a role in TME distribution. The proposed M5CRMRGI-guided strategy for predicting survival and immunotherapy efficacy, we reported here, might also be applied to more cancers other than ccRCC.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to identify the ferroptosis induced tumor microenvironment (FeME) landscape in bladder cancer (BCa) for mRNA vaccine development and selecting suitable patients for precision treatment. Methods Gene expression profiles and clinical information of 1216 BCa patients were extracted from TCGA-BLCA, three GEO databases and IMvigor210 cohort. We comprehensively established the FeME landscape of 1216 BCa samples based on 290 ferroptosis related genes (FRGs), and systematically correlated these regulation patterns with TME cell-infiltrating characteristics. Besides, we identified the patients’ ferroptosis risk index (FRI) to predict the prognosis of BCa for precise treatment. Results Six over-expressed and mutated tumor antigens associated with poor prognosis and infiltration of antigen presenting cells were identified in BCa. Furthermore, we demonstrated the evaluation of FeME within individual tumors could predict stages of tumor inflammation, subtypes, genetic variation, and patient prognosis. Then, 5-lncRNA signature was mined to produce the FRI. Low FRI was also linked to increased mutation load, better prognosis and enhanced response to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. Besides, an immunotherapy cohort confirmed patients with lower FRI demonstrated significant therapeutic advantages and clinical benefits. Conclusions TFRC, SCD, G6PD, FADS2, SQLE, and SLC3A2 are potent antigens for developing anti-BCa mRNA vaccine. Establishment of FRI will contribute to enhancing our cognition of TME infiltration characterization and guiding more effective immunotherapy strategies and selecting appropriate patients for tumor vaccine therapy.

Abstract Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been indicated as potentially critical mediators in various types of tumor progression, generally acting as microRNA (miRNA) sponges to regulate downstream gene expression. However, the aberrant expression profile and dysfunction of circRNAs in human clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) need to be further investigated. This study mined key prognostic circRNAs and elucidates the potential role and molecular mechanism of circRNAs in regulating the proliferation and metastasis of ccRCC. Methods circCHST15 (hsa_circ_0020303) was identified by mining two circRNA microarrays from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and comparing matched tumor versus adjacent normal epithelial tissue pairs or matched primary versus metastatic tumor tissue pairs. These results were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis. We demonstrated the biological effect of circCHST15 in ccRCC both in vitro and in vivo. To test the interaction between circCHST15 and miRNAs, we conducted a number of experiments, including RNA pull down assay, dual-luciferase reporter assay and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results The expression of circCHST15 was higher in ccRCC tissues compared to healthy adjacent kidney tissue and higher in RCC cell lines compared to normal kidney cell lines. The level of circCHST15 was positively correlated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics, and circCHST15 served as an independent prognostic indicator for overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with ccRCC after surgical resection. Our in vivo and in vitro data indicate that circCHST15 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ccRCC cells. Mechanistically, we found that circCHST15 directly interacts with miR-125a-5p and acts as a microRNA sponge to regulate EIF4EBP1 expression. Conclusions We found that sponging of miR-125a-5p to promote EIF4EBP1 expression is the underlying mechanism of hsa_circ_0020303-induced ccRCC progression. This prompts further investigation of circCHST15 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ccRCC.

A dual-band on-body antenna targeting body sensor network is proposed at Medical Device Radiocommunications (MedRadio, 401-406 MHz) band and Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM, 2.4-2.48 GHz) band. A none-shorted monopole structure is adopted to reserve the possibility of application in body channel communication (BCC). The dimension of the antenna is first optimized at ISM band, and two sets of stubs are additionally attached to the ground plane to obtain wideband performance at MedRadio band. Moreover, the bending sensitivity of the proposed antenna is discussed. Measurement result shows good agreement with the simulation one, and the measured bandwidths at two bands are 21% and 12.4%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Pharmacological studies have shown that the active components in Dendranthema morifolium exhibit protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion injury; however, its pharmacological action on blood vessels has not yet been investigated. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of the total flavones extracted from D. morifolium (Ramat.) Tzvel. cv. Hangju (FDM) on the vasocontraction and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The tension of rat thoracic aortic rings was measured using a mechanical force transducer attached to a recording system. FDM induced a dose-dependent relaxation of rings with endothelium pre-contracted by either phenylephrine (PE; 10-6 mol/l) or a high concentration of potassium chloride (KCl; 60 mmol/l). FDM did not significantly affect the vasorelaxant effects on mechanically removed endothelium. In endothelium-denuded aortic rings depolarized by 60 mmol/l KCl, FDM inhibited the contraction induced by Ca2+. FDM reduced the transient contraction caused by PE in a Ca2+-free solution, but did not affect the contraction induced by phorbol ester. Furthermore, FDM inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs with or without growth stimulation by insulin. In conclusion, that the vasorelaxation induced by FDM in rat aortic rings is not dependent on the endothelium but is mediated via a reduction of the influx of extracellular Ca2+ through the voltage-dependent and receptor-operated channels and via the inhibition of the release of intracellular Ca2+ in VSMCs. The anti-proliferative activity of FDM suggests that it may be beneficial in inhibiting atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new design of electromagnetic band gap (EBG) waveguide low-pass filter (LPF) loaded with double-array is described to improve the stopband characteristics. Broader gapband width, about 2-GHz broader than the traditional filters, greater stopband attenuation, and moderate passband insert loss (0.5 dB) can be obtained. Theoretical and measured results are in good agreement. The filter can be employed for the out-of-passband clutter rejection of traditional filters. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 2090–2093, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23608 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact dual-mode dual-band bandpass filter (BPF) for WLAN applications is presented. On the basis of a primary passband formed by a ring resonator, a second passband is introduced by taking advantage of its tightly coupled input and output structures. Therefore, a dual-band performance is achieved without increasing the overall circuit size. Shorting vias and spurlines are adopted separately to realise the dual-mode excitation of each passband. Finally, a compact dual-mode BPF centred at 2.4 and 5.2 GHz is designed and fabricated, along with four transmission zeros, leading to sharp skirts and a wide stopband. Experimental results reveal good agreement with simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the surveillance data after schistosomiasis transmission interruption from 1985 to 2018, so as to provide scientific basis for the future prevention and control of schistosomiasis., Methods: The data pertaining to snail survey, surveillance of schistosomiasis in humans and livestock, and health education were collected and analyzed in Songjiang District after schistosomiasis transmission interruption from 1985 to 2018., Results: From 1985 to 2018, there were 8 townships, 68 villages and 1 462 settings with snails in Songjiang District, covering an area of 96.399 hm 2 . There were 4 townships and 59 villages with snails newly identified in previously schistosomiasis non-endemic areas, with emerging snail habitats of 60.161 hm 2 . A total of 26 148 snails were captured, and no infections were detected. The snail habitats were mainly distributed in the river course, ditches and farmlands, which accounted for 45.28%, 33.17% and 21.55% of total snail habitats, respectively. A total of 245 955 humans were subjected to the serological test, with a positive rate of 0.03%, and 37 humans were subjected to the parasitological test, with 3 positives detected. These three egg-positives were all imported chronic cases with schistosomiasis. A total of 9 109 livestock were detected using the serological test, and no infection was found. Most of the awareness rate of schistosomiasis control knowledge and the rate of correct behavior formation were over 80% in residents and students., Conclusions: The achievements of schistosomiasis control are consolidated in Songjiang District; however, there are still risk factors of schistosomiasis transmission, including residual snails, snail diffusion and importation of external source of infection. The future surveillance of schistosomiasis should focus on snails and sources of infection.