Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are identified as new crucial regulators of diverse cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and cancer cells metastasis. Accumulating evidence has revealed that aberrant lncRNA expression plays important roles in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. However, the expression pattern and biological function of lncRNAs in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain largely unknown. In this study, we performed comprehensive analysis of lncRNA expression in human NSCLC samples by using microarray data from Gene Expression Omnibus. After validation in a cohort of 80 pairs of NSCLC tissues, we identified a differentially expressed novel oncogenic lncRNA termed as AGAP2-AS1. The AGAP2-AS1 expression level was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and negatively correlated with poor prognostic outcomes in patients. In vitro loss- and gain-of-function assays revealed that AGAP2-AS1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. In vivo assays also confirmed the ability of AGAP2-AS1 to promote tumor growth. Furthermore, mechanistic investigation showed that AGAP2-AS1 could bind with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 and lysine (K)-specific demethylase 1A, and recruit them to KLF2 and LATS2 promoter regions to repress their transcription. Taken together, our findings indicate that AGAP2-AS1 may act as an oncogene by repressing tumor-suppressor LATS2 and KLF2 transcription. By clarifying the AGAP2-AS1 mechanisms underlying NSCLC development and progression, these findings might promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies for this disease.

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Metal–organic framework (MOF) has been extensively explored in a number of fields due to its diverse properties. In this work, we demonstrated the potential of MOF in the establishment of a self-assembled fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system for developing ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe. For this purpose, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) was selected as a MOF model to entrap carbon dot (CD) and curcumin (CCM) during its self-assembly, which produces CD/CCM@ZIF-8. Benefiting from the confinement effect of ZIF-8, the loaded CD and CCM can be brought in close proximity for energy transfer to occur. Under optimal conditions, a high FRET efficiency of 68.7% can be obtained. Importantly, compared with traditional FRET systems, the fabrication process of CD/CCM@ZIF-8 is much more simple and straightforward, which does not involve the elaborate design and complicated synthesis of molecular linkers. However, in the presence of hypochlorous acid (HClO), the FRET process from CD to CCM will be disrupted, rendering CD/CCM@ZIF-8 to display a ratiometric response to HClO. This finding led to a method for ratiometric fluorescent detection of HClO with a detection limit of 67 nM and excellent selectivity over other reactive oxygen species. We believe that this study can give a new insight into the rational design and application of FRET-based nanoprobes.

BackgroundWe examined the usefulness of the nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) BladderChek test for detecting bladder cancer.Materials and MethodsA literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The diagnostic accuracy of the NMP22 BladderChek test was evaluated via pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under curve (AUC). Inter-study heterogeneity was explored using meta-regression and subgroup analyses.ResultsWe included 23 studies in the systematic review and 19 in the quantitative meta-analysis. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 56% (52–59%) and 88% (87–89%), respectively; pooled PLR and NLR were 4.36 (3.02–6.29) and 0.51 (0.40–0.66), respectively; DOR was 9.29 (5.55–15.55) with an AUC of 0.8295. The mean sensitivity for Ta, T1, ≥ T2, Tis, G1, G2, and G3 disease was 13.68%, 29.49%, 74.03%, 34.62%, 44.16%, 56.25%, and 67.34%, respectively.ConclusionsThe NMP22 BladderChek test shows good discrimination ability for detecting bladder cancer and a high-specificity algorithm that can be used for early detection to rule out patients with higher bladder cancer risk. It also has better potential for screening higher-grade and higher-stage tumors, and better diagnostic performance in Asians.

9,9-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)xanthene (BHPX), a bisphenol monomer, was synthesized in 82% yield from xanthenone in a one-pot, two-step synthetic procedure. Four novel aromatic poly(ether ketone)s (PEKs) based on BHPX were prepared via a nucleophilic aromatic substitution polycondensation with four difluorinated aromatic ketones. The polycondensation proceeded in tetramethylene sulfone in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate and afforded the new cardo PEKs in nearly quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.77-0.85 dL/g. High molecular weight PEKs having number-average molecular weights (M n 's) in the range of 38,900-40,600 g/mol with the polydispersity index ranged from 1.97 to 2.06 are all amorphous and show high glass transition temperatures ranging from 210 C to 254 C, excellent thermal stability, and the temperatures at the 5% weight loss are over 538 C with char yields above 60% at 700 C in nitrogen. These new PEKs are all soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and N, N 0 -dimethylacetamide and could also be dissolved in chloroform and tetrahydrofuran. All the polymers formed transparent, strong, and flexible films with tensile strengths of 78-84 MPa, Young's moduli of 2.54-3.10 GPa, and elongations at break of 14-18 %.