Background: The role of circular RNA (circRNA) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is largely unknown. This study aims to determine the function and mechanism of circPRMT5 in the regulation of PTC development. Methods: PTC tissues and cell lines were used to determine circPRMT5 expression via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was utilized to knock down circPRMT5. Proliferation was analyzed through CCK8 and colony formation assays. Transwell assay was performed to determine cell migration and invasion. Luciferase assay and RIP assay were carried out to analyze the interaction between circPRMT5 and miR-30c. Results: CircPRMT5 expression was upregulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. And circPRMT5 level was positively linked with advanced stage and lymph node metastasis. CircPRMT5 knockdown inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion while inducing apoptosis. CircPRMT5 worked as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-30c. By inhibiting miR-30c, circPRMT5 promoted the expression of E2F3. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that circPRMT5 acts as an oncogenic circRNA to promote PTC progression via regulating miR-30c/E2F3 axis.

The genus Aquilegia is emerging as the new model system for plant development, ecology, and evolution studies. Previous research showed that pollinator shift might drive the diversification of North American Aquilegia species, and natural selection on the length of petal nectar spur might play a crucial role. In this genus, A. ecalcarata Maxim. is the only taxon that has lost nectar spurs. Previous phylogenetic results indicated that A. ecalcarata, A. yabeana Kitag., A. oxysepala var. kansuensis Bruhl., and A. rockii Munz comprised a monophyletic group. However, their pattern of genetic diversity remains unknown. In addition, little is known about the evolutionary relationship among the four species on the population level. We carried out a population genetics study with 21 representative populations based on 10 single‐copy nuclear gene fragments and found that: (i) A. yabeana conserved the highest genetic diversity (both πsil and θsil) and A. oxysepala var. kansuensis had the lowest level; (ii) A. ecalcarata split into two groups, with one population clustered with A. rockii and the other five populations clustered with A. oxysepala var. kansuensis; and (iii) the allele frequency spectrum showed an excess of low frequency alleles in all four species, implying that they may undergo the mutation‐drift equilibrium. Our findings provide the first investigation of genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships in A. yabeana, A. oxysepala var. kansuensis, A. rockii, and A. ecalcarata. They lay the foundation for future evolutionary studies, such as speciation mediated by pollinators.

Aquilegia ecalcarata Maxim. is the only spurless species within the genus Aquilegia and comprises a monophyletic clade with A. yabeana Kitag., A. kansuensis Brühl, and A. rockii Munz. Our previous study on the genetic diversity of those four species revealed that the populations of A. ecalcarata can be divided into two groups, indicating possible genetic difference within A. ecalcarata. However, it is not clear whether the genetic difference is related to the morphological variation among species and groups of A. ecalcarata populations. To answer that question, the morphological variation patterns based on 22 floral and 19 vegetative traits from 42 populations, covering the entire distribution of A. ecalcarata and its relatives, were analyzed in the present study. The result showed that: (i) the differences among the four species were reflected in the floral rather than the vegetative traits; (ii) populations of A. yabeana and A. rockii fell into one cluster each, and each of the six clusters occupied its own distribution range; (iii) one of two A. ecalcarata clusters fell into a subgroup and shared common floral traits with A. rockii; (iv) the individuals of A. ecalcarata form. ecalcarata and form. semicalcarata were often mixed in the same population; and (v) the populations of A. kansuensis were split into two clusters, which differed obviously in floral traits. These results will provide an important morphological basis for the redefinition of species and lay a foundation for the further exploration of the "spurless" A. ecalcarata.

Background. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is commonly adopted in pain management programs for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, the benefits of CBT are still unclear. Objectives. This review investigated the effectiveness of CBT on pain, disability, fear avoidance, and self-efficacy in patients with CLBP. Methods. Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO were searched. RCTs examining the effects of CBT in adults with CLBP were included. The data about the outcome of pain, disability, fear avoidance, and self-efficacy were retained. Subgroup analysis about the effects of CBT on posttreatment was conducted according to CBT versus control groups (waiting list/usual care, active therapy) and concurrent CBT versus CBT alone. A random-effects model was used, and statistical heterogeneity was explored. Results. 22 articles were included. The results indicated that CBT was superior to other therapies in improving disability (SMD −0.44, 95% CI −0.71 to −0.17, P < 0.05 ), pain (SMD −0.32, 95% CI −0.57 to −0.06, P < 0.05 ), fear avoidance (SMD −1.24, 95% CI −2.25 to −0.23, P < 0.05 ), and self-efficacy (SMD 0.27, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.40, P < 0.05 ) after intervention. No different effect was observed between CBT and other therapies in all the follow-up terms. Subgroup analysis suggested that CBT in conjunction with other interventions was in favor of other interventions alone to reduce pain and disability ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. CBT is beneficial in patients with CLBP for improving pain, disability, fear avoidance, and self-efficacy in CLBP patients. Further study is recommended to investigate the long-term benefits of CBT. This meta-analysis is registered with Prospero (registration number CRD42021224837).

Synechococcus is one of the most important contributors to global primary productivity, and ocean warming is predicted to increase abundance and distribution of Synechococcus in the ocean. Here, we investigated molecular response of an oceanic Synechococcus strain WH8102 grown in two nitrogen sources (nitrate and urea) under present (25°C) and predicted future (28°C) temperature conditions using an isobaric tag (IBT)-based quantitative proteomic approach. Rising temperature decreased growth rate, contents of chlorophyll a, protein and sugar in the nitrate-grown cells, but only decreased protein content and significantly increased zeaxanthin content of the urea-grown cells. Expressions of CsoS2 protein involved in carboxysome formation and ribosomal subunits in both nitrate- and urea-grown cells were significantly decreased in rising temperature, whereas carbohydrate selective porin and sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) were remarkably up-regulated, and carbohydrate degradation associated proteins, i.e., glycogen phosphorylase kinase, fructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, were down-regulated in the urea-grown cells. Rising temperature also increased expressions of three redox-sensitive enzymes (peroxiredoxin, thioredoxin, and CP12) in both nitrate- and urea-grown cells. Our results indicated that rising temperature did not enhance cell growth of Synechococcus ; on the contrary, it impaired cell functions, and this might influence cell abundance and distribution of Synechococcus in a future ocean.