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MicroRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) have been demonstrated to participate in the progression of many cancers. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and aggressive malignant tumors worldwide, while the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC tumorigenesis are not completely clear. In this study, we showed that miR-92b was significantly upregulated in tumor tissue and plasma of HCC patients, and its expression level was highly correlated with gender and microvascular invasion. Functionally, miR-92b could promote cell proliferation and metastasis of HCC in vitro and in vivo . Mechanistic investigations suggested that Smad7, which exhibited an inverse relationship with miR-92b expression in HCC, was a direct target of miR-92b and could reverse its effects on HCC tumorigenesis. Furthermore, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) and miR-92b could directly interact with and repress each other, and XIST could inhibit HCC cell proliferation and metastasis by targeting miR-92b. Taken together, our study not only revealed for the first time the importance of XIST/miR-92b/Smad7 signaling axis in HCC progression but also suggested the potential value of miR-92b as a biomarker in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

AC9 is one of the adenylate cyclase (AC) isoforms, which catalyze the conversion of ATP to cAMP, an important second messenger. We previously found that the integration of cAMP/PKA pathway with nuclear receptor-mediated signaling was required during all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced maturation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells. Here we showed that AC9 could affect intracellular cAMP level and enhance the trans-activity of retinoic acid receptor. Knockdown of AC9 in APL cell line NB4 could obviously inhibit ATRA-induced differentiation. We also demonstrated that miR-181a could decrease AC9 expression by targeting 3′UTR of AC9 mRNA, finally controlling the production of intracellular cAMP. The expression of miR-181a itself could be inhibited by CEBP α , probably accounting for the differential expression of miR-181a in NB4 and ATRA-resistant NB4-R1 cells. Moreover, we found that AC9 expression was relatively lower in newly diagnosed or relapsed APL patients than in both complete remission and non-leukemia cases, closely correlating with the leukemogenesis of APL. Taken together, our studies revealed for the first time the importance of miR-181a-mediated AC9 downregulation in APL. We also suggested the potential value of AC9 as a biomarker in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of leukemia.

Hypertension and atrial fibrillation are closely related. However, hypertension is already prevalent in young adults, but atrial fibrillation usually occurs in the elderly. In the present analysis, we investigated incident atrial fibrillation in relation to new-onset hypertension in an elderly Chinese population. Our study participants were elderly (≥65 years) hypertensive residents, recruited from community health centers in the urban Shanghai (n = 4161). Previous and new-onset hypertension were defined as the use of antihypertensive medication or elevated systolic/diastolic blood pressure (≥140/90 mmHg), respectively, at entry and during follow-up on ≥ 2 consecutive clinic visits. Atrial fibrillation was detected by a 30-s single-lead electrocardiography (ECG, AliveCor® Heart Monitor) and further evaluated with a regular 12-lead ECG. During a median of 2.1 years follow-up, the incidence rate of atrial fibrillation was 7.60 per 1000 person-years in all study participants; it was significantly higher in patients with new-onset hypertension (n = 368) than those with previous hypertension (n = 3793, 15.76 vs. 6.77 per 1000 person-years, P = 0.02). After adjustment for confounding factors, the hazard ratio for the incidence of atrial fibrillation was 2.21 (95% confidence interval 1.15-4.23, P = 0.02) in patients with new-onset hypertension versus those with previous hypertension. The association was even stronger in those aged ≥ 75 years (hazard ratio 2.70, 95% confidence interval 1.11-6.56, P = 0.03). In patients with previous hypertension, curvilinear association (P for non-linear trend = 0.04) was observed between duration of hypertension and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation, with a higher risk in short- and long-term than mid-term duration of hypertension. Our study showed a significant association between new-onset hypertension and the incidence of atrial fibrillation in elderly Chinese. In an elderly Chinese population with previous and new-onset hypertension, we found that the new-onset hypertension during follow-up, compared with previous hypertension, was associated with a significantly higher risk of incident atrial fibrillation. In patients with previous hypertension, curvilinear association was observed between duration of hypertension and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation, with a higher risk in short- and long-term than mid-term duration of hypertension.

To study genetic diversity and relationships of wild relatives of rice, 58 accessions of Oryza rufipogon, Oryza nivara, Oryza sativa f. spontanea and the cultivated Oryza sativa, representing a wide range of their distribution, were analyzed using the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique. All 30-used RFLP probes detected polymorphisms among the Oryza accessions, with an average of 3.8 polymorphic fragments per probe. Considerable genetic diversity was scored among the Oryza accessions with a similarity coefficient ranging from 0.28 to 0.93; but the cluster analysis of the accessions did not show an apparent grouping based on the species classification, instead they were scattered randomly in different groups. Noticeably, the Oryza accessions from the same geographic region, or near-by geographic regions, tended to be clustered in the same groups. The indica rice varieties showed relatively high genetic diversity and were scattered in different groups of their wild relatives, but the japonica varieties showed a relatively low variation and formed an independent group. It is concluded from the molecular analytical result that: (1) the four Oryza taxa have a remarkably close relationship and their independent species status need to be carefully reviewed; (2) geographic isolation has played a significant role in the differentiation of the Oryza accessions; therefore, a wide geographic range needs to be covered in collecting wild rice germplasm for ex situ conservation; and (3) the conventional conclusion of indica rice being directly domesticated from its ancestral wild species, and japonica rice being derived from indica, gains support from our data.

This study is focused on the evolution of coastal erosion during the past two decades in the Yangtze River estuary, a complicated river mouth area. Based on the analyses of geological data obtained in the coast during 1980s using the GIS(Geography Information System) and DEM (Digital Elevation Model) methods, we made a preliminary study on the newest distribution pattern of coastal erosion and growth in the estuary. The results demonstrate that the north branch of the estuary is disappearing under erosion while the south branch is growing. In a selected typical erosional area, we studied the beach profiles in different times. In accordance with the shapes of profiles, they can be divided into different types such as smooth and straight coast, wide and steep coast, and sharp and steep coast. In accordance with the variation of profile features, they can be divided into types of parallel and retreating, from concave to convex upward, and from wide and steed to shard and steep.

A linkage map consisting of 158 DNA markers were constructed by using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the indica-indica rice cross Zhenshan 97B x Milyang 46. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conditioning grain yield and five yield component traits were determined at the one-locus and two-locus levels, and genotype-by-environment (GE) interactions were analyzed. Thirty-one QTLs were detected to have significant additive effects for yield traits, of which 12 also exhibited significant epistatic effects. Sixteen significant additive-by-additive (AA) interactions were detected, of which nine occurred between QTLs with own additive effects (M(ep)QTLs), four occurred between QTLs showing epistatic effects only (epQTLs), and three occurred between M(ep)QTLs and epQTLs. Significant GE interactions were found for six QTLs with additive effects and one AA interaction. Generally, the contributions to the phenotypic variation were higher due to QTL main effects than to epistatic effects. The detection of additive effects and AA effects of a QTL interfered with each other, indicating that the detection of QTLs with main effects, as well as the magnitude and directions of the additive effects, might vary depending on their interactions with other loci.

Microcystic adenoma and cysts of the pancreas occur sporadically or as a part of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. The pathology of pancreatic cystic disease in VHL patients has not been well characterized. Furthermore, it is presently unknown whether the alteration of the VHL gene is responsible for the development of the entire spectrum of pancreatic serous cystic lesions. We performed a histopathological analysis of 21 cysts and 98 microcystic adenomas in nine VHL patients with a known germline mutation. In addition, PCR-amplified DNA from 27 pancreatic cystic lesions in three informative patients was studied for allelic deletions with polymorphic markers spanning the VHL gene locus. In all patients, pancreatic lesions were multiple: 21 benign serous cysts, 63 microscopic microcystic adenomas (size <0.4 cm), and 35 macroscopic microcystic adenomas (size >0.5 cm). The average number of lesions per patient was 2.1 benign cysts (range, 0–8), 7.7 (1–37) microscopic microcystic adenomas, and 3 (0–21) macroscopic microcystic adenomas. All lesions showed similar histology and contained prominent fibrous stroma, clear and/or amphophilic, glycogen-rich epithelial cells, endothelial and smooth muscle cells. VHL deletions were detected in all types of pancreatic cystic lesions. The presence of VHL gene allelic deletions in the spectrum of multifocal pancreatic cystic lesions provides direct molecular evidence of their neoplastic nature and integral association with VHL disease. The histopathological and molecular data establish a serous cyst-microcystic adenoma continuum in the development of pancreatic cystic neoplasia in VHL disease.

Based on the measuring data of landforms, high-resolution seismic profiles, drilling cores, etc, a diapir body was found in the north of the modem Yellow River delta. The diapir body with a length of 5 km and a width of 1 km is distributed on the middle to low part of the slope of an abandoned delta lobe. Its formation is related to the deformity of the soft stratum which is deposited in the prodelta and covered by the stratum of the mouth bar sediments. Research results show that its formation is very different from the Mississippi River delta’s diapirs but related to the erosion of the seabed and occurs on the location with a large eroded quantity. The soft stratum and its diapir body can result in a great hazard to marine buildings.

A novel coronavirus (SCoV) is the etiological agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). SCoV-like viruses were isolated from Himalayan palm civets found in a live-animal market in Guangdong, China. Evidence of virus infection was also detected in other animals (including a raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides) and in humans working at the same market. All the animal isolates retain a 29-nucleotide sequence that is not found in most human isolates. The detection of SCoV-like viruses in small, live wild mammals in a retail market indicates a route of interspecies transmission, although the natural reservoir is not known.

High oil and protein content make tetraploid peanut a leading oil and food legume. Here we report a high-quality peanut genome sequence, comprising 2.54 Gb with 20 pseudomolecules and 83,709 protein-coding gene models. We characterize gene functional groups implicated in seed size evolution, seed oil content, disease resistance and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The peanut B subgenome has more genes and general expression dominance, temporally associated with long-terminal-repeat expansion in the A subgenome that also raises questions about the A-genome progenitor. The polyploid genome provided insights into the evolution of Arachis hypogaea and other legume chromosomes. Resequencing of 52 accessions suggests that independent domestications formed peanut ecotypes. Whereas 0.42–0.47 million years ago (Ma) polyploidy constrained genetic variation, the peanut genome sequence aids mapping and candidate-gene discovery for traits such as seed size and color, foliar disease resistance and others, also providing a cornerstone for functional genomics and peanut improvement.