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To investigate the biological role of MFAP5 in endometrial cancer (EC). HEC-1-A and Ishikawa cells overexpressing MFAP5 were created. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were evaluated using CCK8, colony formation, flow cytometry, and transwell assays. A western blot was used to analyze the expression of markers affiliated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process and AKT/mTOR pathway. As a result, MFAP5 was found to be down-regulated in EC. Overexpression of MFAP5 suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HEC-1-A and Ishikawa cells, as evidenced by the inhibition of cell viability and colony formation, and the increase in cell apoptosis rate. Besides, overexpression of MFAP5 attenuated the abilities of cell migration and invasion, as well as reduced MMP2 and MMP9 protein expression. Furthermore, E-cadherin protein level was elevated, while N-cadherin and α-SMA protein levels were decreased, and the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR was reduced in cells overexpressing MFAP5. Our findings indicate that MFAP5 overexpression inhibits the malignant behaviors of EC cells, possibly by blocking the AKT/mTOR pathway, suggesting that MFAP5 may be a new therapeutic target for EC.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0746.].

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor characterized by a high degree of invasiveness, and since zinc-α2 glycoprotein (ZAG) has been implicated in the progression of several malignancies, this study was designed to investigate the role of ZAG in CRC. Its expression was assessed using the GEPIA database, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) interference was conducted to create ZAG knockdown in CRC cell lines. We also conducted lipid synthesis, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) experiments to elucidate the effects of ZAG expression on CRC, as well as explored the potential underlying mechanistic pathways. Our findings reveal that ZAG is overexpressed in CRC. In vitro, ZAG knockdown resulted in the suppression of lipid production, cell division, and EMT while concurrently promoting apoptosis. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway was found to mediate the effects of ZAG on CRC cells. In conclusion, the downregulation of ZAG can inhibit CRC cell survival, EMT, and lipid production via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Bladder cancer (BC) is the tenth most common tumor worldwide, characterized by high incidence rates and mortality. This study aimed to explore the role of Methyltransferase like 13 (METTL13) in BC cells. J82 and T24 cells were cultured for in vitro experiments. Cell viability, migration, and invasion were assessed using CCK-8 and transwell assays. Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) levels were detected using a β-galactosidase staining kit. METTL13 and cell cycle-related protein levels were quantified using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. The results showed that METTL13 was upregulated in BC cells. Silencing METTL13 decreased cell viability, migration, and invasion in BC cells, whereas METTL13 overexpression increased these parameters. Additionally, METTL13 knockdown inhibited the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR. Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway reversed the effects of METTL13 on cell viability, migration, invasion, and cell cycle-related proteins in BC cells. In vivo experiments showed that METTL13 knockdown inhibited tumor growth and development. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that METTL13 promoted the malignant behaviors of BC cells through activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. METTL13 may be a promising therapeutic target for BC in the future.

Both irreversible electroporation (IRE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are viable ablation methods for localized treatment of liver tumors. We conducted a meta-analysis to access the efficacy and safety of IRE and RFA in liver cancer treatment. Clinical studies on IRE and RFA for the treatment of liver cancer were collected from PubMed and CNKI until June 2023. We screened the literature for ablation success rates at 1 month post-operation, extracting keywords such as "ablation success rate," "technical success rate," "recurrence rate," and "complication" for meta-analysis. A total of 37 articles were included: 24 related to RFA involving 1,685 cases and 13 related to IRE involving 524 cases. The results demonstrate that ablation success rates at post-operative 1 month for IRE and RFA were 86% (95% CI: 82-89%) and 87% (95% CI: 81-92%), respectively. Technical success rates were 96% (95% CI: 88-100%) and 99% (95% CI: 96-100%). In addition, the recurrence rate was 16% (95% CI: 12-22%) in RFA group and 16% (95% CI: 9-23%) in IRE group. In terms of safety, the RFA had a complication rate of 28% (95% CI: 10-50%) and the IRE had a rate of 26% (95% CI: 13-43%). In conclusion, IRE and RFA exhibit similar ablation success rates at 1 month post-operation and comparable complication rates, making them both safe and effective treatment options.

Mucinous carcinoma is a rare clinical disease. Although well described in the literature, a mucinous carcinoma diagnosis is often difficult due to its atypical clinical presentation. We report a female patient with a right inguinal mass and ileocecal myxo carcinoma who was misdiagnosed as having a right incarcerated inguinal hernia invading the peritoneum incarcerated inguinal hernia and ileocecal myxo carcinoma. Intraoperative exploration of the mucous material occupying the patient's right lower abdominal cavity and exclusion of right inguinal incarcerated hernia revealed the misdiagnosis. The first clinical manifestations of ileocecal mucinous carcinoma are often not readily apparent and may be misdiagnosed as an incarcerated inguinal hernia. When a color ultrasonography suggests an incarcerated inguinal hernia, an abdominal CT should be considered, and an enhanced CT should be performed as needed to observe the abdominal cavity. Ileocecal mucinous carcinoma should also be distinguished from other diseases with similar clinical manifestations. The patient had received conservative treatment for acute appendicitis, and it is recommended to conduct a B-ultrasound, CT, and other reviews after surgery. Clinicians should be aware of missed surgical opportunities following appendicitis caused by mucinous adenoma.

Methanolic extract from Salsola imbricata was investigated for its phytochemical content, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties against phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponin, tannins, and alkaloids with 1.25%, 18.8 mg catechin/g of extract, and 9.12%, respectively. Total flavonoid content was 20.8 mg quercetin equivalent/g while total phenolic content was 202 mg gallic acid equivalent/g. Antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay resulted in an IC₅₀ value of 48.61 µg/mL, while the phosphomolybdenum method yielded a value of 215.43 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g of extract. The highest phenolic acids detected in the extract were gallic acid (712.97 µg/g), syringic acid (742.7 µg/g), and caffeic acid (474.70 µg/g) according to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Palmitic acid (28.38%) dominated the fatty acids identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, while stigmasterol (8.34%) was the most abundant steroid. At a concentration of 3 mg/mL, the extract showed strong antibacterial activity against Pectobacterium carotovorum (10.50 mm), Ralstonia solanacearum (9.93 mm), and Pectobacterium atrosepticum (8.37 mm). Additionally, the extract significantly suppressed fungal growth of Rhizoctonia solani (38.22%) and Fusarium oxysporum (33.56%) but showed lower activity toward Botrytis cinerea (13.33%) at 5 mg/mL. In conclusion, S. imbricata extract exhibited promising antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, making it a potential candidate for further exploration in agricultural applications.

This study aims to comprehensively investigate the role of coagulation factor II thrombin receptor (F2R) in breast cancer (BC) and to evaluate its potential as a biomarker in this context. Data on female BC were retrieved from the TCGA database. Comparative analyses were performed, including enrichment analysis, tumor immune microenvironment analysis, drug sensitivity testing, molecular docking, and cell-based experiments, to assess the expression and function of F2R in BC. Statistical analyses and graphical representations were conducted using R software. The study confirmed a significant upregulation of F2R in BC, which was associated with a more favorable prognosis. Clinical correlation analysis revealed a strong association between F2R expression and key clinical parameters, such as estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status. Additionally, genes co-expressed with F2R were significantly linked to various biological processes, including cell cycle regulation, oxidative phosphorylation, ribosomal function, and extracellular matrix interactions. F2R also showed associations with immune modulators, particularly CD200 and NRP1. Drug sensitivity analysis, molecular docking, and cell experiments consistently demonstrated positive correlations between F2R expression and sensitivity to dasatinib. This study underscores the potential of F2R as a valuable biomarker in BC, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of various tumors, yet radioresistance often leads to treatment failure and tumor recurrence. Several factors contribute to this resistance, including hypoxia, DNA repair mechanisms, and cancer stem cells. This review explores the diverse elements that drive tumor radiotherapy resistance. Historically, resistance has been attributed to cellular repair and tumor repopulation, but recent research has expanded this understanding. The tumor microenvironment - characterized by hypoxia, immune evasion, and stromal interactions - further complicates treatment. Additionally, molecular mechanisms such as aberrant signaling pathways, epigenetic modifications, and non-B-DNA structures play significant roles in mediating resistance. This review synthesizes current knowledge, highlighting the interplay of these factors and their clinical implications. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies to overcome resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes in cancer patients.

Peripheral blood samples from 15 septic patients admitted within 24 h and 8 healthy volunteers were used to conduct RNA-seq. Quantitative PCR of THP1 cells was performed to investigate the expression levels of the selected key genes. A total of 1,128 differential genes were identified, 721 of which were upregulated and 407 were downregulated. These genes are mainly involved in neutrophil activation, T cell regulation, immune effector process regulation, cytokine receptor activity, and cytokine binding. The six target genes were ELANE, IL1R2, RAB13, RNASE3, FCGR1A, and TLR5. In the sepsis group, FCGR1A and TLR5 were positively associated with survival compared to ELANE, IL1R2, RAB13, and RNASE3, which were adversely associated with survival. Furthermore, a meta-analysis based on public databases revealed an increased expression of these six target genes in the peripheral blood of patients with sepsis. In addition, we discovered that monocytes primarily express these genes. Using qPCR, we confirmed that these six important genes were highly expressed in lipopolysaccharide-treated THP1 cells. In summary, these findings suggest that ELANE, IL1R2, RAB13, RNASE3, FCGR1A, and TLR5 may influence the prognosis of patients with sepsis and provide novel insights and potential avenues for the treatment of sepsis.