Reduced Claudin-12 Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer

Background: Within the claudin (CLDN) family, CLDN12 mRNA expression is altered in various types of cancer, but its clinicopathological relevance has yet to be established due to the absence of specific antibodies (Abs) with broad applications. Methods: We generated a monoclonal Ab (mAb) against human/mouse CLDN12 and verified its specificity. By performing immunohistochemical staining and semiquantification, we evaluated the relationship between CLDN12 expression and clinicopathological parameters in tissues from 138 cases of cervical cancer. Results: Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the established mAb selectively recognized the CLDN12 protein. Twenty six of the 138 cases (18.8%) showed low CLDN12 expression, and the disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly decreased compared with those in the high CLDN12 expression group. We also demonstrated, via univariable and multivariable analyses, that the low CLDN12 expression represents a significant prognostic factor for the DSS of cervical cancer patients (HR 3.412, p = 0.002 and HR 2.615, p = 0.029, respectively). Conclusions: It can be concluded that a reduced CLDN12 expression predicts a poor outcome for cervical cancer. The novel anti-CLDN12 mAb could be a valuable tool to evaluate the biological relevance of the CLDN12 expression in diverse cancer types and other diseases.     

MicroRNAs,Parkinson’s Disease,and Diabetes Mellitus

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects 1% of the population over the age of 60. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder that affects approximately 25% of adults over the age of 60. Recent studies showed that DM increases the risk of developing PD. The link between DM and PD has been discussed in the literature in relation to different mechanisms including mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and protein aggregation. In this paper, we review the common microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers of both diseases. miRNAs play an important role in cell differentiation, development, the regulation of the cell cycle, and apoptosis. They are also involved in the pathology of many diseases. miRNAs can mediate the insulin pathway and glucose absorption. miRNAs can also regulate PD-related genes. Therefore, exploring the common miRNA biomarkers of both PD and DM can shed a light on how these two diseases are correlated, and targeting miRNAs is a potential therapeutic opportunity for both diseases.     

Preliminary Evidence on the Diagnostic and Molecular Role of Circulating Soluble EGFR in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Assessment of biological diagnostic factors providing clinically-relevant information to guide physician decision-making are still needed for diseases with poor outcomes, such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a promising molecule in the clinical management of NSCLC. While the EGFR transmembrane form has been extensively investigated in large clinical trials, the soluble, circulating EGFR isoform (sEGFR), which may have a potential clinical use, has rarely been considered. This study investigates the use of sEGFR as a potential diagnostic biomarker for NSCLC and also characterizes the biological function of sEGFR to clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in the course of action of this protein. Plasma sEGFR levels from a heterogeneous cohort of 37 non-advanced NSCLC patients and 54 healthy subjects were analyzed by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The biological function of sEGFR was analyzed in vitro using NSCLC cell lines, investigating effects on cell proliferation and migration. We found that plasma sEGFR was significantly decreased in the NSCLC patient group as compared to the control group (median value: 48.6 vs. 55.6 ng/mL respectively; p = 0.0002). Moreover, we demonstrated that sEGFR inhibits growth and migration of NSCLC cells in vitro through molecular mechanisms that included perturbation of EGF/EGFR cell signaling and holoreceptor internalization. These data show that sEGFR is a potential circulating biomarker with a physiological protective role, providing a first approach to the functional role of the soluble isoform of EGFR. However, the impact of these data on daily clinical practice needs to be further investigated in larger prospective studies.     

HIGHER PLANT BIOMARKERS IN PALEOGENE CRUDE OILS FROM THE YUFUTSU OIL-AND GASFIELD AND OFFSHORE WILDCATS, JAPAN

Geochemical investigation of Paleogene oils from the onshore Yufutsu oil- and gasfield, southern Hokkaido, and from two nearby offshore wells, revealed the presence of numerous biomarkers of higher plant origin. Biomarkers in the oils belong to different groups of both angiosperm and gymnosperm origin; they include bicyclic sesquiterpanes, diterpanes, and triterpanes and their aromatized counterparts, which suggests a terrestrial origin for the oils. The oils were characterized as having a high wax content, a low content of organosulphur compounds, a high pristane/phytane ratio, and a low C₂₇/(C₂₇+C₂₉) sterane ratio.
Although the oils from on- and offshore Southern Hokkaido are similar in their geochemical composition, notable differences were observed in the biomarker signature of both saturate and aromatic fractions. The oils from the offshore wells appeared to have a greater abundance of higher plant biomarkers compared to those from the Yufutsu field, suggesting an enrichment in higher plant components. Differences in biomarker fingerprint could not be linked to the maturity effect, since the oils appeared to be of similar maturity levels, corresponding to the late stage of the oil window (0.9–1.2%, Rc). The differences in the biomarker signatures between the oils from the Yufutsu field and the offshore wells are likely to be due to facies variations in source organic matter, resulting from differences in the quantity and quality of land plant input.     

焉耆盆地原油物理化学特征及油源对比研究

在焉耆盆地侏罗系三工河组和八道湾组均发现原油,目前关于侏罗系产层原油的油源问题存在不同的认识。对研究区原油的物理、化学性质进行系统的研究,认为侏罗系三工河组和八道湾组原油不仅在物理性质上有一定的差别,而且在地球化学组成及生物标记化合物上也有一定的差异,应具有不同的来源。侏罗系三工河组原油属于典型腐殖型干酪根成因,而侏罗系八道湾组原油除了具有腐殖型干酪根成因的某些特征外,还具有湖相泥岩生烃的特点。通过原油与各类源岩生物标志物进一步对比分析发现,侏罗系三工河组原油与西山窑、三工河组烃源岩及石炭系、三叠系烃源岩地球化学特征均存在明显差异,与侏罗系八道湾组烃源岩对比性较好。侏罗系八道湾组原油与八道湾组、三叠系源岩有一定相似性,因此认为八道湾组源岩为其主要源岩,三叠系源岩也有一定的贡献。目前勘探生产主要以八道湾组烃源岩为目标,下一步应加强对三叠系烃源岩贡献区带的勘探部署。      

库车坳陷煤生物标志物组成随成熟度的变化特征

对塔里木盆地库车坳陷三叠系和侏罗系的11个岩心与露头煤样的地球化学分析表明，煤的生物标志物组成随演化程度的增加而有规律的变化：成熟早期（镜质组反射率Ro／1．0％）煤的生物标志物组成反映了沉积环境和生源的特征；成熟晚期（1．10％＜Ro＜1．30％）煤的生物标志物特征受成熟度的控制作用十分明显，生物标志物参数随Ro的增大而增加或减小；高－过成熟阶段（Ro＞1．30％)所有煤样的生物标志物组成已基本趋于一致，而且和湖相泥岩的生物标志物特征相似，该阶段的生物标志物参数不能用来进行油源对比。     

利用催化加氢热解技术提取沉积 有机质中生物标志化合物

利用催化加氢热解技术提取了高演化沉积有机质中共价键结合的生物标志化合物,探讨了干酪根催化加氢热解反应机理,并考察了反应产物分布和影响反应的关键变量.实验表明,程序升温固定床催化加氢热解反应条件:温度上限为520℃,升温速率为5℃/min,氢压大于10MPa,氢气流量为5L/min,分散型催化剂为MoS₂(Mo的质量分数为1%).实验结果表明,催化加氢热解对提取高产率、结构重排少的干酪根中共价键结合的生物标志化合物有独特作用,该方法可以应用于有机地球化学领域.     

塔里木盆地塔河油区原油生物标志化合物在运移方面的应用探讨

塔河油区奥陶系原油的成熟度较高,且受生物严重降解.不同的生物标志化合物成熟度参数仅对有机质生成原油的不同阶段起到标尺作用,需优选既能较好地抗生物降解且适用于较宽的成熟度范围的指标来分析塔河油气运移的可能途径.三环萜烷/17α(H)-藿烷、重排甾烷/规则甾烷及Ts/(Ts+Tm)的比值是比较适用于塔河油区这种特殊性质的原油的生物标志化合物.根据研究,奥陶系原油油气存在两个注入通道,早期主要是由南向北方向运移,油气成熟度相对较低,成藏较早;晚期由东向西运移,原油成熟度相对于早期的较高,原油成藏稍晚.     

Accumulation and Mixing of Oils in Jinghu Sag of Subei Basin： Constraints from Thermal Maturity Parameters

Oils in Jinghu sag are abundant with high content of polar compounds and have a low ratio of saturate to aromatic hydrocarbons and a high ratio of resin to asphaltene. The gross composition of oils in the Jinghu sag suggests typical immature to low mature characteristics. Some compounds with low thermal stability were identified. Light hydrocarbons, a carbon preference index, an odd even index, n-alkane and hopane maturity parameters show mature features and little differences in the maturity level among oils. Sterane isomerization parameters indicate an immature to low mature status of oil. Transfer of the sedimentary center during sedimentation has led to different thermal histories among subsags and thus generated oils with different maturities. On the basis of source analyses, four migration and accumulation patterns with different maturity can be classified. Combined with available information on mergers of source, reservoir and long distance oil lateral migration, mixing conditions were present in the Jinghu sag. Experimental results indicate that maturity variations are caused by mixtures of hydrocarbons with different maturity.