BACKGROUND Thyroid hormones are critical regulators of metabolism, development and growth in mammals. However, the genetic association of thyroid-related hormones in the Chinese Han population is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify the genetic loci associated with circulating thyroid-related hormones concentrations in the healthy Chinese Han population. METHODS Genotyping was performed

Background Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is well known as a fatal disease, first discovered at Wuhan in China, ranging from mild to death, such as shortness of breath and fever. Early diagnosis of COVID-19 is a crucial point in preventing global prevalence. Objective We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic competency and efficiency with the Allplex™ 2019-nCoV Assay kit and the Dr. PCR 20 K COVID-19

Background Although plants may be regularly exposed to various abiotic stresses, including drought, salt, cold, heat, heavy metals, and UV-B throughout their lives, it is not possible to actively escape from such stresses due to the immobile nature of plants. To overcome adverse environmental stresses, plants have developed adaptive systems that allow appropriate responses to diverse environmental

Background TP73-AS1 is a novel antisense long noncoding RNA and plays an important role in cell proliferation and cancer development. However, the link between TP73-AS1 and colorectal cancer (CRC) has not yet been reported. Objective To explore the association of genetic variants in TP73-AS1 and its expression with CRC susceptibility and prognosis. Methods A case–control study (including 507 CRC cases

Background Tibetan hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum), adjusting to the harsh environment on Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, is a good subject for analyzing drought tolerance mechanism. Several unannotated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified through our previous RNA-Seq study using two hulless barley accessions with contrasting drought tolerance. One of these DEGs, HVU010048.2, showed

Background The net ammonium fluxes differ among the different root zones of Populus, but the physiological and microRNA regulatory mechanisms are unclear. Objective To elucidate the physiological and miRNA regulatory mechanisms, we investigated the two root zones displaying significant differences in net NH4+ effluxes of P. × canescens. Methods Populus plantlets were cultivated with 500 μM NH4Cl for

Background Botrytis-induced Kinase 1 (BIK1) is a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase (RLCK) involved in the defense, growth, and development of higher plants. It interacts with various receptor-like kinases (RLKs) such as Brassinosteroid Insensitive 1 (BRI1), Flagellin Sensitive 2 (FLS2), and Perception of the Arabidopsis Danger Signal Peptide 1 (PEPR1), but little is known about signaling downstream

Backgroud Oxidative stress (OS) can affect the expression of key genes and destroy the intestinal structure. However, it is unclear how OS regulates the expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the expression of circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs exposed to OS. Methods Piglets were exposed to diquat (DQ), a herbicide, and the activity

Background Previously, we identified eight novel minisatellites in the MUC2, of which allelic variants in MUC2-MS6 were examined to influence susceptibility to gastric cancer. However, studies on the susceptibility to gastrointestinal cancer of other minisatellites in the MUC2 region still remain unprogressive. Objective In this study, we investigated whether polymorphic variations in the MUC2-MS8

Background Allele frequency using short tandem repeats (STRs) is used to calculate likelihood ratio for database match, to interpret DNA mixture and to estimate ethnic groups in forensic genetics. In Korea, three population studies for 23 STR loci have been conducted with different sample size for forensic purposes. Objective We performed comparative analysis to determine how the difference of sample

Background Rock bream iridovirus (RBIV) is one of the most dangerous pathogens that causes the highest mortality in the aquaculture of rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). Even though RBIV infection leads to huge economic loss, proteome studies on RBIV-infected rock bream have not been conducted to provide information about the differential protein expression pattern by the host protection system. Objective

Background In recent years, magnesium (Mg) has been extensively studied for manufacturing biodegradable orthopedic devices. Besides other advantages, researches have shown that magnesium-based implants can stimulate osteogenesis thus accelerating orthopedic trauma recovery, but its molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Meanwhile, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been found to play vital role

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibits high risks of morbidity and mortality. Objective To investigate the effect of scavenger receptor class A member 5 (SCRAR5) on CRC and its mechanism on modulation of cancer development. Methods The SCRAR5 expression in four kinds of CRC cell lines (SW620, SW480, HT29, and HCT116) was measured by quantitative PCR and western blotting, respectively. The effects

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen especially in nosocomial infections due to its easy adaptation to different environments; this characteristic is due to the great genetic diversity that presents its genome. In addition, it is considered a pathogen of critical priority due to the high antimicrobial resistance. Objectives The aim of this study was to characterize

Background Persistent inflammation induced by viral infection may contribute to the pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA). Moreover, CD4+ helper cells and CD8+ killer cells are the main effector cells involved in BA and intrahepatic bile duct injuries. Objective Thus, we aimed to explore the dynamics of inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammation-regulated pathways in liver-specific inflammatory

Background Long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) is the most abundant retrotransposons in the primate genome. They have approximately 520,000 copies and make up ~ 17% of the primate genome. Full-length L1s can mobilize to a new genomic location using their enzymatic machinery. Gorilla is the second closest species to humans after the chimpanzee, and human-gorilla split 7–12 million years ago.

Background Vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) is an important virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). It was previously believed that VacA can trigger the cascade of apoptosis on mitochondria to lead to cell apoptosis. Recently, it was found that VacA can induce autophagy. However, the molecular mechanism by which VacA induces autophagy is largely unknown. Objective We aimed to explore the molecular

Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disease caused by excessive fat accumulation in the liver in addition to alcohol consumption and other pathological factors. The incidence of NAFLD is rapidly growing, currently affecting 25% of the world population. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles containing a variety of biological molecules, including microRNAs (miRNAs). Objective

BACKGROUND Metastasis and chemo-resistance are still important factors that limit the overall efficacy of colorectal cancer treatment. Understanding the detailed molecular mechanism and identifying potential biomarkers are of great value in prognosis prediction and risk stratification. OBJECTIVE We investigated the role of miR-582-5p in colorectal cancer pathogenesis, progression and chemo-resistance

Background Megalobrama is economically one of the most important freshwater fish genera in China. However, phylogenetic relationships among M. amblycephala, M. skolkovii, M. hoffmanni and M. pellegrini remain unresolved. Objective To explore the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of Megalobrama populations belonging to all four species. Methods The concatenated sequences of mitochondrial

Background Overexpression of the abiotic and biotic stress-resistance genes of the plant signaling pathway is well known for its significant role in the regulation of plant growth and enhancement of the productivity of agricultural land under changing climatic conditions. Objectives This research aimed to clone Populus davidiana × Populus bolleana PP2C (PdPP2C) gene and analyze its structure and function

Background As a mammal living at the highest altitude in the world, the yak has strong adaptability to the harsh natural environment (such as low temperature, scarce food, especially low oxygen) of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) after a long process of natural selection. Objective Here, we used Weighted Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA), a systematic biology method, to identify hypoxic adaptation-related

Background Calmodulin 1 (CALM1) mutations are involved in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the relationship of CALM1 rs3179089 polymorphism with CAD is unknown. Objective This study aimed to identify the relationship of CALM1 rs3179089 polymorphism with CAD susceptibility, CALM1 expression, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood coagulation and serum lipid levels of CAD patients

Background Mitochondrial unfolded protein response plays an important role in the occurrence and development of breast cancer. However, the role of mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) in the sensitivity of breast cancer to cisplatin chemotherapy has not yet been cleared. Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore the role of mitochondrial unfolded protein response in breast cancer

Background MiRNAs belong to non-coding RNAs that are involved in cancer development. Acting as a mediator, they could regulate the expression level of numerous gens. However, the expression and function of miR-1299 in gastric cancer (GC) are not clear. Objective To explore the role of miR-1299 in the process of GC. Methods We detected the levels of miR-1299 in clinical samples of GC and investigated

Background Blood insulin level is an important risk factor for numerous disorders. Individual blood insulin level is known to be substantially influenced by genetic factors. Several genetic association studies identified a number of genetic variants for blood insulin level, but none of them was from a sex-stratified population. Objective This study aimed to identify male- and female-specific genetic

Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease that seriously harms human health. Genetic factors seriously affect the CHD susceptibility. The CYP20A1, CYP4F2 and CYP2D6 are important drug metabolism enzymes in the human body. Objective We aimed to explore the association between CYP20A1, CYP4F2, CYP2D6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and CHD risk in the Chinese Southern Han population

Background In tooth bioengineering for replacement therapy of missing teeth, the utilized cells must possess an inductive signal-forming ability to initiate odontogenesis. This ability is called odontogenic potential. In mice, the odontogenic potential signal is known to be translocated from the epithelium to the mesenchyme at the early bud stage in the developing molar tooth germ. However, the identity

Background Lactucin, a naturally occurring active sesquiterpene lactone, is abundantly found in chicory and romaine lettuce. A recent study reported that lactucin could induce apoptosis in leukemia cells. However, its cytotoxicity and potential molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell death remain unclear. Objective Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the direct effect and underlying

Background Ovarian cancer is the most common female gynecological malignancy. SNHG20, as a long non-coding RNA, has been proven to be an important regulator in the occurrence and development of various tumors. However, the potential mechanism of SNHG20 in ovarian cancer is unclear. Objective The present study was aimed to investigate the functions and mechanisms of SNHG20 in ovarian cancer. Methods

Background Several studies have evaluated the possible association between polymorphisms or variants in Corticotropin-releasing hormone 1 receptor gene (CRHR1) with depression; however, results remain contradictory and heterogeneous. Objective To our knowledge, we conducted the first comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the association of the CRHR1 gene and the risk of depression

Background Determining the ages of polymorphic sites in human genomes needs to be carried out in a careful balance between the degree of complexity of the approach and the desired accuracy. Objective We provide evidence that a simpler approach where age determination is based upon the degree to which the alternative allele is spread among the population can be competitive with more complex methods

Background COVID-19, as a novel coronavirus disease caused by new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, spreads all over the world, and brings harm to human in many countries. Humans suffered a lot from both SARS-CoV-2 now and by SARS-CoV in the year 2003. It is important to understand the differences and the relationships between these two types of viruses. Objective To compare relative synonymous codon usage of

Background Salicylic acid (SA) is an important regulator of genes involved in plant defense and pathogen-triggered systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Coconut is an important crop affected by several pathogens. Reported evidence suggests SA involvement in defense responses, including SAR in coconut. Objective To identified differentially expressed genes in leaf and root tissues of coconut plantlets

Background The Gram-negative intracellular bacterium Mycoplasma anatis is a pathogen of respiratory infectious diseases in ducks and has caused significant economic losses in the poultry industry. Objective This study, as the first report of the structure and function of the pan-genome of Mycoplasma anatis, may provide a valuable genetic basis for many aspects of future research on the pathogens of

Background The inherent correlations among gene expressions have received attention. Recently, it was reported that a set of approximately 1000 landmark genes can be utilized for prediction of expression of other genes (target genes). Objective The objective of this study is to predict expression values of target genes based on expression values of landmark genes. Methods A cluster-based regression

Background Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a highly conserved actin binding protein associated with the metastatic potential of tumor cells by stimulating cell migration. The role of Tβ4 and its derived fragment peptides in migration of ovarian cancer cells has not been studied. Objective To analyze the effects of Tβ4 and its derived fragment peptides on ovarian cancer cell migration and invasion, we applied

Background The Northeast Plain of China, which is an important region for the production of high grain quality rice in China. However, the grain quality of the rice produced varies across this region, even for the same cultivar. Objective In order to explore the meteorological factors that have the greatest influence on quality and the transcriptional level differences between different cultivars and

Background Gliomas are common malignant tumors in the nervous system, known for poor prognosis and low survival rate. Objective This study aims to explore functions of miR-137 in glioma progression and identify messenger RNAs (mRNA) regulated by miR-137, which provides new ideas for further exploration of glioma therapeutic targets. Methods Gene expression data were downloaded from the Cancer Genome

Background Several reports on the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 mutations and variations in Indonesia COVID-19 cases led to genomic dysregulation with the first pandemic cases in Wuhan, China. MicroRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in this genetic regulation and contributes to the enhancement of viral RNA binding through the host mRNA. Objective This research is aimed to detect miRNA targets of SARS-CoV-2

Background Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common primary forms of glomerulonephritis, while IgA vasculitis (IgAV) is the most common systemic vasculitis in children. Objective Herein we aimed to uncover single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with these two related diseases by applying association tests and Sanger sequencing. Methods Within the discovery stage

Background Cloning and characterizing the drought-inducible promoters is essential for their use in crop resistance's genetic improvement. Previous studies have shown that the TaNRX1-D gene participates in regulating the response of wheat to drought stress. However, its promoter has not yet been identified. Objective In this study, we aimed to characterize the promoter of the TaNRX1-D gene. Methods

Background Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C proteins mediate environmental stress responses in many plants. However, the potential of PI-PLC genes involved with abiotic stress tolerance in wheat remains un-explored. Objective To study TaPLC1 genetic relation with wheat drought and heat resistance. Methods The seedlings were treated with PI-PLC inhibitor U73122 at the single leaf stage. The

Background Recently, many researchers focus on the best way to produce high-quality meat, as the trend in food consumption today is to focus on quality. In general, consumers’ preferences in beef differ depending on taste and meatiness. Therefore, researchers are interested in how the marbling score affects the flavors of meat or the various factors that make up the meatiness to captivate the consumers’

Background Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most prevalent primary intraocular malignancy, which commonly occurs during infant and childhood. Objective Our study aimed to investigate whether microRNA-9 (miR-9) could regulate RB cells and its mechanism. Methods qRT-PCR analysis was used to detect the expression of miR-9. In addition, to detect the migration of RB cells, wound healing assay was conducted.

Background Baicalin has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, blood platelet aggregation-inhibiting, free oxygen radical-clearing, and endotoxin-decreasing properties. However, its molecular mechanism involved in the treatment of Adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome (NS) is still unclear. Objective This study aimed to explore the effects of baicalin on Adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome (NS) and to

Background Lonicera macranthoides is an important woody plant with high medicinal values widely cultivated in southern China. WRKY, one of the largest transcription factor families, participates in plant development, senescence, and stress responses. However, a comprehensive study of the WRKY family in L. macranthoides hasn’t been reported previously. Objective To establish an extensive overview of

Background Population stratification modeling is essential in Genome-Wide Association Studies. Objective In this paper, we aim to build a fine-scale population stratification model to efficiently infer individual genetic ancestry. Methods Kernel Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and random forest are adopted to build the population stratification model, together with parameter optimization. We explore

Background Breast cancer (BC) is a common malignancy with a high mortality rate. Malignant cell transformation is associated with metabolic changes. One group of proteins that are affected is the monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs-SLC16A). The MCTs comprise 14 members, and they play an important role in the growth, proliferation, and metabolism of cancer cells by transporting monocarboxylates such

Background Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is associated with poor clinical prognosis and lacks available targeted therapy. Given that the major threat of cancer is metastasis, delineation of the molecular mechanism underlying it would help devise therapeutic strategies. Objective To investigate the functional role of protocadherin alpha 3 (PCDHA3) in LUSC, as well as investigate the underlying

Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in the progression of various cancers, including breast cancer (BC). However, the role of circ_0001666 in BC remains unclear. Objective To explore the role of circ_0001666 in the progression of BC and reveal its potential molecular mechanism. Methods Real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to determine the expression of circ_0001666

Background The folate metabolism that converts homocysteine to methionine is closely related to the accumulation of homocysteine. Increased homocysteine levels lead to an impaired antithrombotic function of the vascular endothelium and uterine-placental circulation, resulting in abnormal pregnancy outcomes. Previous studies have reported that gene polymorphisms in folate metabolism are associated with

Background Glabridin (GB), a bio-available phytoestrogen, displays various biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral. Objective To explore the role of GB in the process of atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods CCK8 was used to detect the therapeutic effect of Glabridin in HaCat and NHEK cell inflammatory models. And evaluated the effect on cell proliferation and cell viability

Background Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a complex cardiovascular disease whose development involves the dysregulation of adaptive immune responses. Though it has been proven that T cells associate with inflammation in the development of ACS, the function of B cells in disease remains unclear. Objective The aim of this study was to reveal the diversity of the B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire of

Background Disheveled-associated activator of morphogenesis (DAAM) family, including DAAM1 and DAAM2, is key regulators in Wnt signaling pathway. Although the oncogenic role of Wnt signaling pathway in colorectal cancer (CRC) was investigated in several lines, the expression and function of DAAM in CRC are still obscure. Objective To investigate the expression and function of DAAM in CRC. Methods DAAM1

Background PGPR has substituted chemical fertilizers to enhance the nutrient profile of the soil. Although gene encoding for PGP activity is present in PGPB their activity changes in response to conditions. Objective To study comparative genomics for three Klebsiella strains and their PGPR activity in response to in vitro and soil condition. Methods We evaluated the activity of three Klebsiella spp

Background Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an economically important crop for vegetable oil and protein production, and yield is a critical trait for grain/vegetable uses of soybean. However, our knowledge of the genes controlling the vegetable soybean yield remains limited. Objective To better understand the genetic basis of the vegetable soybean yield. Methods The 100-pod fresh weight (PFW),

Background Tumor-treating fields (TTFields) is an emerging non-invasive cancer-treatment modality using alternating electric fields with low intensities and an intermediate range of frequency. TTFields affects an extensive range of charged and polarizable cellular factors known to be involved in cell division. However, it causes side-effects, such as DNA damage and apoptosis, in healthy cells. Objective