These results illuminated that FAL1 may work as a ceRNA to modulate AKT1 expression via competitively binding to miR-637 in HSCR, suggesting that it may be clinically valuable as a biomarker of HSCR.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age and also an important metabolic disorder associated with insulin resistance (IR). Hyperandrogenism is a key feature of PCOS. However, whether hyperandrogenism can cause IR in PCOS remains largely unknown. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and its regulated autophagy are closely associated with IR. In the present study, we investigated the role of mTORC1-autophagy pathway in skeletal muscle IR in a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS mouse model. DHEA-treated mice exhibited whole-body and skeletal muscle IR, along with the activated mTORC1, repressed autophagy, impaired mitochondria, and reduced plasma membrane glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression in skeletal muscle of the mice. In cultured C2C12 myotubes, treatment with high dose testosterone activated mTORC1, reduced autophagy, impaired mitochondria, decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and induced IR. Inhibition of mTORC1 or induction of autophagy restored mitochondrial function, up-regulated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and increased insulin sensitivity. On the contrary, inhibition of autophagy exacerbated testosterone-induced impairment. Our findings suggest that the mTORC1-autophagy pathway might contribute to androgen excess-induced skeletal muscle IR in prepubertal female mice by impairing mitochondrial function and reducing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. These data would help understanding the role of hyperandrogenism and the underlying mechanism in the pathogenesis of skeletal muscle IR in PCOS.

It has been suggested that circular RNAs play critical roles in natural growth and disease development. Nevertheless, whether the circular RNAs were related in Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) remains unknown. Thus, we discovered the cir‐CCDC66 was downregulated in HSCR compared with the normal gut tissues. The cir‐CCDC66 reduction might inhibit cells’ proliferation and migration in vitro. Then, we found that DCX transcript was putative cir‐CCDC66 competing endogenous RNA. Furthermore, the function of cir‐CCDC66 as a sponge for miR‐488‐3p to regulate DCX RNA expression was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. In conclusion, this is the first report revealing that cir‐CCDC66 modulates DCX expression through sponging miR‐488‐3p and thus participates in the onset of HSCR.

In this study, a high-flux organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane with the permeance of 66.7 Lm −2 h −1 bar −1 in methanol and 38.0 Lm −2 h −1 bar −1 in ethanol was successfully prepared from nanoporous PAN by phase inversion and hydrolyzation in sodium hydroxide solution. The polymer concentration and hydrolysis time were varied to control the final morphology and performance. The ternary phase diagram and viscosity measurements were used to describe precipitation thermodynamics and kinetics of the phase inversion process. The prepared membranes had a typical asymmetric structure, which could be observed from images of the cross section, comprising a dense skin layer and a porous substructure in the sublayer. It was found that the polymer concentration has an apparent influence on the morphology, selectivity and permeability of the prepared membranes. FTIR analysis, ζ-potential and water contact angle measurements confirm a molecular chain rearrangement as hydrogen bonds were formed between CONH 2 and COOH groups during the carboxyl modification process. Moreover, an increase of the surface hydrophilicity was obtained by hydrolysis. A good solvent resistance and a satisfactory separation performance in the nanofiltration range were achieved with hydrolyzed PAN membranes in polar as well as nonpolar solvents. The relationship between solvent permeation and combined solvent properties (viscosity, molar diameter and solubility parameter) indicated a strong interaction of selected solvents with polymers except alkanes. The hydrolyzed PAN membrane was applied to fractionation of dyes and Na 2 SO 4 solution compared to commercial NF membrane. The high dye rejection and salt permeance remained constant with the salt addition for high flux hydrolyzed PAN showing the fractionation potential for dyes and divalent salts, and establishing the strong advantage over commercial NF membranes.