Publications

High grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most aggressive subtype of ovarian cancer and HGSOC patients often appear with metastasis, leading to the poor prognosis. Up to date, the extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) have been shown to be involved in cancer genome remodeling but the roles of eccDNAs in metastatic HGSOC are still not clear. Here we explored eccDNA profiles in HGSOC by Circle-Sequencing analysis using four pairs of primary and metastatic tissues of HGSOC patients.

The effect of SARS-CoV-2 severity or the trimester of infection in pregnant mothers, placentas, and infants is not fully understood.A retrospective, observational cohort study in Chapel Hill, NC of 115 mothers with SARS-CoV-2 and singleton pregnancies from December 1, 2019 to May 31, 2021 via chart review to document the infants' weight, length, head circumference, survival, congenital abnormalities, hearing loss, maternal complications, and placental pathology classified by the Amsterdam criteria.Of the 115 mothers, 85.2% were asymptomatic (n = 37) or had mild (n = 61) symptoms, 13.0% had

The present study was to identify abnormal methylation genes implicated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Genomic methylation alterations in ESCC tissues were analyzed using laser-microdissection and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. CXCL14 promoter was frequently hypermethylated in ESCC tissues. The correlation of CXCL14 hypermethylation status and the mRNA and protein expression levels were validated using nested methylation-specific PCR (nMS-PCR), RNAscope in situ hybridization (RISH) and Western blot.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs generated by a specific type of RNA alternative splicing called backsplicing through various mechanisms. Recently, thousands of circRNAs have been identified by high-throughput RNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analysis. However, the functions of the majority have not been fully elucidated yet. Different tools, such as in situ hybridization, can help visualize the spatial temporal distribution of circRNA molecules, thus assisting the understanding of their biological and physiological functions.

Undernutrition limits reproduction through inhibition of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Since KNDy neurons coexpress neuropeptides that play stimulatory (kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB)) and inhibitory (dynorphin) roles in pulsatile GnRH/LH release, we hypothesized that undernutrition would inhibit kisspeptin and NKB expression, while increasing dynorphin expression. Fifteen ovariectomized lambs were either fed to maintain prestudy body weight (controls) or feed-restricted to lose 20% of pre-study body weight (FR) over 13 weeks.

Serum prevalence of Torque teno sus viruses (TTSuV1 and k2; family Anelloviridae) is known to be high in the porcine population worldwide but pathogenesis and associated pathomorphological lesions remain to be elucidated. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR for detection of TTSuV1 was performed in 101 porcine samples of brain tissue, with animals showing inflammatory lesions or no histological changes. Additionally, a pathomorphological and immunohistochemical characterization of possible lesions was carried out. Selected cases were screened by TTSuV1 in situ hybridization.

Melanoma belongs to cutaneous malignancy. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested as crucial effectors in modulating progression of different malignancies, including melanoma. However, novel lncRNA solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 4A1 antisense RNA 1 (SLCO4A1-AS1) was not reported in melanoma. Herein, SLCO4A1-AS1 was detected to be up-regulated in melanoma cell lines compared with human normal melanocytes (HEM-a).

Finding the link between behaviors and their regulatory molecular pathways is a major obstacle in treating neuropsychiatric disorders. The immediate early gene (IEG) EGR1 is implicated in the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, and is linked to gene pathways associated with social behavior. Despite extensive knowledge of EGR1 gene regulation at the molecular level, it remains unclear how EGR1 deficits might affect the social component of these disorders.

Exocrine glands in the submucosa of the proximal duodenum secrete alkaline fluid containing mucus to protect the intestinal mucosa from acidic stomach contents. These glands, known as Brunner's gland, express high glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) levels. Previous studies have suggested that activation of the GLP-1R induces expression of barrier protective genes in Brunner's glands. Still, the lack of a viable in vitro culture of Brunner's glands has hampered additional studies of the functional consequences of GLP-1R activation.

Perivascular mesenchymal cells (PMCs), which include pericytes, give rise to myofibroblasts that contribute to chronic kidney disease progression. Several PMC markers have been identified; however, PMC heterogeneity and functions are not fully understood. Here, we describe a novel subset of renal PMCs that express Meflin, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein that was recently identified as a marker of fibroblasts essential for cardiac tissue repair.