Circadian regulation of sinoatrial nodal cell pacemaking function: Dissecting the roles of autonomic control, body temperature, and local circadian rhythmicity

Strong circadian (~24h) rhythms in heart rate (HR) are critical for flexible regulation of cardiac pacemaking function throughout the day. While this circadian flexibility in HR is sustained in diverse conditions, it declines with age, accompanied by reduced maximal HR performance. The intricate regulation of circadian HR involves the orchestration of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), circadian rhythms of body temperature (CRBT), and local circadian rhythmicity (LCR), which has not been fully understood. Here, we developed a mathematical model describing ANS, CRBT, and LCR in sinoatrial nodal cells (SANC) that accurately captures distinct circadian patterns in adult and aged mice. Our model underscores how the alliance among ANS, CRBT, and LCR achieves circadian flexibility to cover a wide range of firing rates in SANC, performance to achieve maximal firing rates, while preserving robustness to generate rhythmic firing patterns irrespective of external conditions. Specifically, while ANS dominates in promoting SANC flexibility and performance, CRBT and LCR act as primary and secondary boosters, respectively, to further enhance SANC flexibility and performance. Disruption of this alliance with age results in impaired SANC flexibility and performance, but not robustness. This unexpected outcome is primarily attributed to the age-related reduction in parasympathetic activities, which maintains SANC robustness while compromising flexibility. Our work sheds light on the critical alliance of ANS, CRBT, and LCR in regulating time-of-day cardiac pacemaking function and dysfunction, offering insights into novel therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

Intestinal Translocation of Live Porphyromonas gingivalis Drives Insulin Resistance

Periodontitis has been emphasized as a risk factor of insulin resistance-related systemic diseases. Accumulating evidence has suggested a possible "oral-gut axis" linking oral infection and extraoral diseases, but it remains unclear whether periodontal pathogens can survive the barriers of the digestive tract and how they play their pathogenic roles. The present study established a periodontitis mouse model through oral ligature plus Porphyromonas gingivalis inoculation and demonstrated that periodontitis aggravated diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance, while also causing P. gingivalis enrichment in the intestine. Metabolic labeling strategy validated that P. gingivalis could translocate to the gastrointestinal tract in a viable state. Oral administration of living P. gingivalis elicited insulin resistance, while administration of pasteurized P. gingivalis had no such effect. Combination analysis of metagenome sequencing and nontargeted metabolomics suggested that the tryptophan metabolism pathway, specifically indole and its derivatives, was involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance caused by oral administration of living P. gingivalis. Moreover, liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands, mainly indole acetic acid, tryptamine, and indole-3-aldehyde, were reduced in diet-induced obese mice with periodontitis, leading to inactivation of AhR signaling. Supplementation with Ficz (6-formylindolo (3,2-b) carbazole), an AhR agonist, alleviated periodontitis-associated insulin resistance, in which the restoration of gut barrier function might play an important role. Collectively, these findings reveal that the oral-gut translocation of viable P. gingivalis works as a fuel linking periodontitis and insulin resistance, in which reduction of AhR ligands and inactivation of AhR signaling are involved. This study provides novel insight into the role of the oral-gut axis in the pathogenesis of periodontitis-associated comorbidities.

Association of dietary carotenoid intake with the prevalence kidney stones among the general adult population

PURPOSE

This study was to examine whether higher dietary carotenoid intake levels were associated with a lower prevalence of kidney stones.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study analyzed data from 2007 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) project. Dietary carotenoid intake (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein/zeaxanthin) was assessed using two 24-h dietary recall interviews. Multiple logistic regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were applied to examine the associations between five dietary carotenoids alone, compounds, and the prevalence of kidney stones. The dose-response relationships were analyzed by restricted cubic spline regression.

RESULTS

A total of 30,444 adults (2909 participants with kidney stones) were included in the analysis. The mean age of the participants was 49.95 years and 49.2% of the participants were male. Compared with the first quartile, the fourth quartile of α-carotene (odds ratio [OR] = 0.82 [0.73-0.92]), β-carotene (OR = 0.79 [0.70-0.89]), β-cryptoxanthin (OR = 0.88 [0.79-0.99]), and lutein/zeaxanthin (OR = 0.80 [0.71-0.91]) were significantly and inversely associated with the prevalence of kidney stones after adjusting for confounders. The dose-response analysis showed a linear relationship between five dietary carotenoid intake levels and the prevalence of kidney stones. Further WQS analysis revealed that the combination of all five dietary carotenoids was negatively associated with and the prevalence of kidney stones, with the largest effect coming from β-carotene (weight = 0.538).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that higher dietary carotenoid intake levels were associated with decreased prevalence of kidney stones, and increasing the intake of foods rich in β-carotene may prevent the development of kidney stones.

Selective electrochemical acceptorless dehydrogenation reactions of tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives

Selective dehydrogenation reactions of tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives through electrochemical oxidation are disclosed. In the presence of nitric acid, the selective partial dehydrogenation of tetrahydroisoquinolines to form 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines was achieved via anodic oxidation. The results of CV (Cyclic Voltammograms) experiments and DFT calculations showed the 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines protonated by an external Brønsted acid to be less prone than their unprotonated counterparts to oxidation under electrochemical conditions, thus avoiding their further dehydrogenation. Moreover, a TEMPO-mediated electrochemical oxidation enabled a complete dehydrogenation to yield fully aromatized isoquinolines. Thus, tunable processes involving electrochemical dehydrogenation of tetrahydroisoquinolines could be used to selectively produce various 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and isoquinoline derivatives.

Case report: Significance of the large rhomboid lip in microvascular decompression: insights from two clinical cases

The rhomboid lip (RL) is a layer of neural tissue that extends outside the fourth ventricle and is connected to the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle. Although this anatomical structure has been rigorously studied, it is often overlooked in microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery. In this report, we present two cases, one of hemifacial spasm (HFS) and one of glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN), in which a large RL was observed during surgery. We found that a large RL is easily confused with arachnoid cysts, and accurate identification and dissection are important to protect the lower cranial nerves.

Adsorption of tetracycline from aqueous solution by ZIF-8: Isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics

In this study, ZIF-8 nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple method at room temperature. The ZIF-8 nanoparticles were then characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) specific surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and zeta potential. Subsequent batch adsorption experiments evaluated the adsorption performance of ZIF-8 on tetracycline, examining key pa-rameters like reaction time, pH, temperature, and adsorbent dosage. The results revealed a removal rate for TC of up to 90.59%. The adsorption data aligned with the Sips model, showcasing a maximum adsorption capacity of 359.61 mg/g at 303K. Further, the adsorption kinetics adhered to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with an equilibrium adsorption capacity of 90 mg/g at 303K. The considerable specific surface area of ZIF-8, standing at 1674.169 m2/g, likely enhances the adsorption efficacy. Analysis using XRD and FTIR confirmed the adsorption of TC on the ma-terial's surface. Overall, the predominant driving forces behind the adsorption process were identified as electrostatic interactions and π-π stacking interactions.

Measurement of CP Violation in B^{0}→ψ(→ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-})K_{S}^{0}(→π^{+}π^{-}) Decays

A measurement of time-dependent CP violation in the decays of B^{0} and B[over ¯]^{0} mesons to the final states J/ψ(→μ^{+}μ^{-})K_{S}^{0}, ψ(2S)(→μ^{+}μ^{-})K_{S}^{0} and J/ψ(→e^{+}e^{-})K_{S}^{0} with K_{S}^{0}→π^{+}π^{-} is presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 6  fb^{-1} collected at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the LHCb detector. The CP-violation parameters are measured to be S_{ψK_{S}^{0}}=0.717±0.013(stat)±0.008(syst) and C_{ψK_{S}^{0}}=0.008±0.012(stat)±0.003(syst). This measurement of S_{ψK_{S}^{0}} represents the most precise single measurement of the CKM angle β to date and is more precise than the current world average. In addition, measurements of the CP-violation parameters of the individual channels are reported and a combination with the LHCb Run 1 measurements is performed.

Study on Vertical Bearing Capacity of Pile Foundation with Distributed Geopolymer Post-Grouting on Pile Side

To study the applicability of the new geopolymer grouting material for super-long and large-diameter post-grouting bored piles in silty fine sand geology, this paper compares the bearing capacity of two grouting materials, geopolymer and normal Portland cement, and different grouting volume pile side-distributed grouting piles in silty fine sand based on field model tests are analyzed through the diffusion forms of the two materials in silty fine sand through the morphology of the grouted body after excavation. The results show that the ultimate bearing capacities of P0 (ungrouted pile), P1 (8 kg cement grouted pile), P2 (6 kg geopolymer-grouted pile), P3 (8 kg geopolymer-grouted pile) and P4 (10 kg geopolymer-grouted pile) are 5400 N, 8820 N, 9450 N, 11,700 N and 12,600 N, respectively, and that the ultimate bearing capacity of the grouted pile is improved compared with that of the ungrouted pile since, under the same grouting amount, the maximum bearing capacity of the pile using geopolymer grouting is increased by 133% compared with that of the pile with cement grouting. This further verifies the applicability of the geopolymer grouting material for the post-grouting of the pile foundation in silty fine sand. Under the action of the ultimate load, the pile side friction resistance of P1, P2, P3 and P4 is increased by 200%, 218%, 284% and 319% compared with that of P0. In addition, the excavation results show that the geopolymer post-grouting pile forms the ellipsoidal consolidation body at the pile side grouting location, which mainly comprises extrusion diffusion with a small amount of infiltration diffusion, and the cement grouting pile forms a sheet-like consolidation body at the lower grouting location, which primarily comprises split diffusion. This study can provide a reference basis for the theoretical and engineering application of post-grouting piles using geopolymers.

Lobelia chinensis Lour inhibits the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via the regulation of the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lobelia chinensis Lour. (LCL) is a common herb used for clearing heat and detoxifying, and it has antitumor activity. Quercetin is one of its important components, which may play an important role in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

AIM OF THE STUDY

To study the active ingredients of LCL, their mechanism of action on HCC, and lay the foundations for the development of new drugs for the treatment of HCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology was used to examine the probable active ingredients and mechanisms of action of LCL in HCC treatment. Based on an oral bioavailability of ≥30% and a drug-likeness index of ≥0.18, relevant compounds were selected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database and TCM Database@Taiwan. HCC-related targets were identified using gene cards and the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. A Venn diagram was created to assess the relationship between the intersection of disease and medication targets by creating a protein-protein interaction network, and the hub targets were selected by topology. Gene Ontology enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID tool. Finally, in vivo and in vitro experiments (qRT-PCR, western blotting, hematoxylin and eosin staining, transwell assays, scratch tests, and flow cytometry assays) verified that LCL demonstrated notable therapeutic effects on HCC.

RESULTS

In total, 16 bioactive LCL compounds met the screening criteria. The 30 most important LCL therapeutic target genes were identified. Of these, AKT1 and MAPK1 were the most important target genes, and the AKT signaling pathway was identified as the key pathway. Transwell and scratch assays showed that LCL prevented cell migration, and flow cytometry tests revealed that the LCL-treated group showed a considerably higher rate of apoptosis than the control group. LCL reduced tumor formation in mice in vivo, and Western blot analysis of tumor tissues treated with LCL indicated variations in PTEN, p-MAPK and p-AKT1 levels. The results show that LCL may inhibit the progression of HCC through the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway to achieve the goal of treating HCC.

CONCLUSION

LCL is a broad-spectrum anticancer agent. These findings reveal potential treatment targets and strategies for preventing the spread of cancer, which could aid in screening potential traditional Chinese medicine for anticancer and clarifying their mechanisms.

Toxicological safety evaluation of zengye granule through acute and 30-day toxicity studies in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Zengye granule (ZYG), a traditional Chinese medicine formula composed of Radix Scrophulariae, Radix Ophiopogonis, and Radix Rehmanniae in the ratio of 1.0:0.8:0.8, is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for treating diseases associated with yin deficiency, such as inner heat, dry mouth and pharynx, and dry bound stool. However, little information is available on its toxicological safety.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of ZYG after oral administration in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the acute toxicity study, ZYG was orally administered to rats at a single dose of 10 g/kg/day. In the subacute toxicity study, ZYG was administered orally to rats at repeated daily doses of 2.5, 5.0, or 10 g/kg/day for 30 days. The toxicological effects were evaluated by assessing the rats' general behavior, body weight, food intake, water consumption, blood biochemical and hematological parameters, organ coefficients, and organ histopathology.

RESULTS

No obvious adverse reactions were found in the rats in the acute toxicity study, indicating that ZYG was non-toxic. In the subacute toxicity study, ZYG had no toxic effect on the rats at a dose of 2.5 g/kg/day but showed slight toxicity in the kidneys, and spleens of the rats at doses of 5 and 10 g/kg/day. Significant drug toxicity was observed in male and female rats at 5 and 10/kg/day; however, elevated WBCs counts, ALT, and LYMs levels were found in female rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The oral administration of ZYG at a dose of less than 10 g/kg/day for 1 day or 2.5 g/kg/day for 30 consecutive days can be considered safe, as these doses showed no distinct toxicity or side effects in the rats in this study. Therefore, the dosage should be set according to the clinically recommended dosage to ensure its safety.

Structural insights into branch site proofreading by human spliceosome

Selection of the pre-mRNA branch site (BS) by the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) is crucial to prespliceosome (A complex) assembly. The RNA helicase PRP5 proofreads BS selection but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here we report the atomic structures of two sequential complexes leading to prespliceosome assembly: human 17S U2 snRNP and a cross-exon pre-A complex. PRP5 is anchored on 17S U2 snRNP mainly through occupation of the RNA path of SF3B1 by an acidic loop of PRP5; the helicase domain of PRP5 associates with U2 snRNA; the BS-interacting stem-loop (BSL) of U2 snRNA is shielded by TAT-SF1, unable to engage the BS. In the pre-A complex, an initial U2-BS duplex is formed; the translocated helicase domain of PRP5 stays with U2 snRNA and the acidic loop still occupies the RNA path. The pre-A conformation is specifically stabilized by the splicing factors SF1, DNAJC8 and SF3A2. Cancer-derived mutations in SF3B1 damage its association with PRP5, compromising BS proofreading. Together, these findings reveal key insights into prespliceosome assembly and BS selection or proofreading by PRP5.

Observing π-Au Interaction between Aromatic Molecules and Single Au Nanodimers with a Subnanometer Gap by SERS

Interface interaction between aromatic molecules and noble metals plays a prominent role in fundamental science and technological applications. However, probing π-metal interactions under ambient conditions remains challenging, as it requires characterization techniques to have high sensitivity and molecular specificity without any restrictions on the sample. Herein, the interactions between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules and Au nanodimers with a subnanometer gap are investigated by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). A cleaner and stronger plasmonic field of subnanometer gap Au nanodimer structures was constructed through solvent extraction. High sensitivity and strong π-Au interaction between PAHs and Au nanodimers are observed. Additionally, the density functional theory calculation confirmed the interactions of PAHs physically absorbed on the Au surface; the binding energy and differential charge further theoretically indicated the correlation between the sensitivity and the number of PAH rings, which is consistent with SERS experimental results. This work provides a new method to understand the interactions between aromatic molecules and noble metal surfaces in an ambient environment, also paving the way for designing the interfaces in the fields of catalysis, sensors, and molecular electronics.

StRAB4 gene is required for filamentous growth, conidial development, and pathogenicity in Setosphaeria turcica

Setosphaeria turcica, the fungal pathogen responsible for northern corn leaf blight in maize, forms specialized infectious structures called appressoria that are critical for fungal penetration of maize epidermal cells. The Rab family of proteins play a crucial role in the growth, development, and pathogenesis of many eukaryotic species. Rab4, in particular, is a key regulator of endocytosis and vesicle trafficking, essential for filamentous growth and successful infection by other fungal pathogens. In this study, we silenced StRAB4 in S. turcica to gain a better understanding the function of Rab4 in this plant pathogen. Phenotypically, the mutants exhibited a reduced growth rate, a significant decline in conidia production, and an abnormal conidial morphology. These phenotypes indicate that StRab4 plays an instrumental role in regulating mycelial growth and conidial development in S. turcica. Further investigations revealed that StRab4 is a positive regulator of cell wall integrity and melanin secretion. Functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes highlighted primary enrichments in peroxisome pathways, oxidoreductase and catalytic activities, membrane components, and cell wall organization processes. Collectively, our findings emphasize the significant role of StRab4 in S. turcica infection and pathogenicity in maize and provide valuable insights into fungal behavior and disease mechanisms.

HervD Atlas: a curated knowledgebase of associations between human endogenous retroviruses and diseases

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), as remnants of ancient exogenous retrovirus infected and integrated into germ cells, comprise ∼8% of the human genome. These HERVs have been implicated in numerous diseases, and extensive research has been conducted to uncover their specific roles. Despite these efforts, a comprehensive source of HERV-disease association still needs to be added. To address this gap, we introduce the HervD Atlas (https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/hervd/), an integrated knowledgebase of HERV-disease associations manually curated from all related published literature. In the current version, HervD Atlas collects 60 726 HERV-disease associations from 254 publications (out of 4692 screened literature), covering 21 790 HERVs (21 049 HERV-Terms and 741 HERV-Elements) belonging to six types, 149 diseases and 610 related/affected genes. Notably, an interactive knowledge graph that systematically integrates all the HERV-disease associations and corresponding affected genes into a comprehensive network provides a powerful tool to uncover and deduce the complex interplay between HERVs and diseases. The HervD Atlas also features a user-friendly web interface that allows efficient browsing, searching, and downloading of all association information, research metadata, and annotation information. Overall, the HervD Atlas is an essential resource for comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge on HERV-disease research, potentially facilitating the development of novel HERV-associated diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Database Resources of the National Genomics Data Center, China National Center for Bioinformation in 2024

The National Genomics Data Center (NGDC), which is a part of the China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB), provides a family of database resources to support the global academic and industrial communities. With the rapid accumulation of multi-omics data at an unprecedented pace, CNCB-NGDC continuously expands and updates core database resources through big data archiving, integrative analysis and value-added curation. Importantly, NGDC collaborates closely with major international databases and initiatives to ensure seamless data exchange and interoperability. Over the past year, significant efforts have been dedicated to integrating diverse omics data, synthesizing expanding knowledge, developing new resources, and upgrading major existing resources. Particularly, several database resources are newly developed for the biodiversity of protists (P10K), bacteria (NTM-DB, MPA) as well as plant (PPGR, SoyOmics, PlantPan) and disease/trait association (CROST, HervD Atlas, HALL, MACdb, BioKA, BioKA, RePoS, PGG.SV, NAFLDkb). All the resources and services are publicly accessible at https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn.

Genome sequences and population genomics provide insights into the demographic history, inbreeding, and mutation load of two 'living fossil' tree species of Dipteronia

'Living fossils', that is, ancient lineages of low taxonomic diversity, represent an exceptional evolutionary heritage, yet we know little about how demographic history and deleterious mutation load have affected their long-term survival and extinction risk. We performed whole-genome sequencing and population genomic analyses on Dipteronia sinensis and D. dyeriana, two East Asian Tertiary relict trees. We found large-scale genome reorganizations and identified species-specific genes under positive selection that are likely involved in adaptation. Our demographic analyses suggest that the wider-ranged D. sinensis repeatedly recovered from population bottlenecks over late Tertiary/Quaternary periods of adverse climate conditions, while the population size of the narrow-ranged D. dyeriana steadily decreased since the late Miocene, especially after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). We conclude that the efficient purging of deleterious mutations in D. sinensis facilitated its survival and repeated demographic recovery. By contrast, in D. dyeriana, increased genetic drift and reduced selection efficacy, due to recent severe population bottlenecks and a likely preponderance of vegetative propagation, resulted in fixation of strongly deleterious mutations, reduced fitness, and continuous population decline, with likely detrimental consequences for the species' future viability and adaptive potential. Overall, our findings highlight the significant impact of demographic history on levels of accumulation and purging of putatively deleterious mutations that likely determine the long-term survival and extinction risk of Tertiary relict trees.

miR-141-3p Enhanced Radiosensitivity of CRC Cells

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is recognized as one of the frequently diagnosed malignancies, and numerous microRNAs (miRs) are identified to be active in CRC.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to clarify the effect of miR-141-3p on the radiosensitivity of CRC cells.

METHODS

Firstly, CRC cell lines were cultured and applied to construct radiation-resistant CRC cells via X-ray treatment. The expression levels of miR-141-3p and long non-coding RNA DLX6 antisense RNA 1 (lncRNA DLX6-AS1) in CRC cells were measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. After transfection with miR-141-3p mimics and 24 h treatment with 6- MV X-ray (0, 2, 4, 6 Gy), the survival fraction (SF) and the colony formation ability of CRC cells were determined using the cell counting kit-8 and colony formation methods. The interactions between miR-141-3p and DLX6-AS1 were analyzed using the dual-luciferase assay. The impact of miR-141-3p on DLX6-AS1 stability was detected after adding actinomycin-D. The role of DLX6- AS1 in the radiosensitivity of CRC cells was explored by transfecting oe-DLX6-AS1 into radiation- resistant CRC cells overexpressing miR-141-3p.

RESULTS

The relative expression levels of miR-141-3p were downregulated in CRC cells and further declined in radiation-resistant cells. Upregulation of miR-141-3p relative expression reduced SF and the colony formation ability while amplifying the radiosensitivity of radiation-resistant CRC cells. miR-141-3p directly bound to DLX6-AS1 to reduce DLX6-AS1 stability, and therefore downregulated DLX6-AS1 expression. DLX6-AS1 overexpression counteracted the role of miR- 141-3p overexpression in amplifying the radiosensitivity of radiation-resistant CRC cells.

CONCLUSION

miR-141-3p binding to DLX6-AS1 significantly decreased DLX6-AS1 stability and expression, promoting the radiosensitivity of CRC cells.

Comparison between washed microbiota transplantation and infliximab: Medical cost during long-term management in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Both infliximab (IFX) and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have shown the efficacy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there has no head-to-head study on the cost-value of the such treatments on IBD. This study aimed to compare the medical costs using IFX and the new method of FMT (washed microbiota transplantation [WMT]) in the long-term management for IBD under the current health economic condition in China.

METHODS

Patients with IBD who underwent initial WMT via upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, mid-gut tube, or colonic transendoscopic enteral tubing at a university hospital between April 2013 and August 2021 and achieved the long-term sustainment with WMT or WMT combined with mesalazine until August 2022 were recruited in the real-world. The costs and hospitalizations were analyzed among two therapies mentioned above and IFX standard therapy. The charge of WMT was stable in the long term at our center, and the charge of IFX came from virtual statistics publicized by China Healthcare Security.

RESULTS

Sixty eligible patients with IBD were included in the study. The long-term costs of patients using WMT monotherapy annually or per hospitalization were lower than those on WMT combined with mesalazine, respectively ( p < 0.001, respectively). The cumulative costs of IFX at the time of 0.52 and 0.85 years exceeded that of the above WMT, respectively ( p < 0.001, respectively). Besides, patients on WMT monotherapy paid 51.1 k CNY annually in the nonsustain phase but cut down the costs by 7.2 k CNY and duration of hospitalization by 5.1 days per hospitalization when reaching the goal of sustainment.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that WMT could dramatically reduce the cost and duration of hospitalizations in the long-term sustainment in the current Chinese IBD cohort. Compared with IFX, WMT could be a good way for the patients with IBD achieving long-term sustainment and saving medical costs.

Influencing factors of life satisfaction among medical staff of rehabilitation departments based on a structural equation model

Life satisfaction (LS) exhibited gender differences and was associated with age, income, and negative emotions. There is no research on the relationship between professional values and LS, although professional values are essential for medical staff and correlate with negative emotions. This study aimed to explore the relationship between professional values and LS, the action mechanism of influencing factors of LS, and gender differences among medical staff of rehabilitation departments in China. A total of 284 participants (108 men and 176 women) completed the questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS19.0 and Amos21.0. Age, length of service, and anxiety differed significantly between genders. Professional values had a direct effect on LS and an indirect effect on LS via anxiety and depression. Therefore, enhancing professional values and reducing anxiety and depression could increase the medical staff's LS. Moreover, the LS of female medical staff improved with age.

Analysis of Effect of Music and Art Combined with Kinect Game Therapy in Improving the Cognitive Function and Alleviating Negative Emotions of Alzheimer's Disease Patients in a Residential Aged Care Facilities

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major disease that affects neurological, cognitive, and memory functions in older adults, and care for AD patients needs to be more specialized and targeted.

Objective

To analyze the effect of music and art combined with Kinect game therapy as a special care on improving cognitive function and alleviating negative emotions in AD patients in a nursing facility.

Methods

One hundred AD patients admitted to a residential aged care facility in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, from December 2020 to December 2022, were selected as the study subjects. They were divided into the observation group (OG; n=50) for special care of music art combined with Kinect game therapy and the control group (CG; n=50) for conventional care. The activities of daily living scale (ADL) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were used to assess the neurological and cognitive functional changes in the two groups before and after the nursing intervention. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and self-rating scale of sleep (SRSS) were used to assess the quality of sleep in both groups, and the GQOL-74 scale was used to evaluate the quality of life before and after the intervention. The negative emotions were tested by the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS). Finally, patient satisfaction with the care was investigated.

Results

After the nursing intervention, scores of ADL, PSQI, SRSS, SAS and SDS of the OG were lower compared with the CG, while MMSE and GQOL-74 scores were higher (P < .05). The results of the nursing satisfaction survey were also higher in the OG than in the CG (P < .05).

Conclusion

The combined music and art therapy with Kinect game therapy in elderly institutions can effectively enhance AD patients' neurological and cognitive functions, improve their sleep and quality of life, and alleviate negative emotions.

[Analysis of advanced fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease patients with chronic hepatitis B]

Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), as well as associations with advanced fibrosis. Methods: CHB patients who underwent liver biopsy at Tianjin Second People's Hospital from June 2016 to September 2019 were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether they had concomitant MAFLD; a CHB group and a MAFLD-CHB group. t-tests and Chi-square tests were used to compare pathological characteristics and basic features in the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze factors associated with advanced fibrosis. Results: The CHB group included 110 patients, and the MAFLD-CHB group included 272 patients. There were significant differences in smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension incidence, body metabolic index, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, fasting plasma glucose, and platelets (PLT) between the two groups (all P<0.05). The MAFLD-CHB group had a higher incidence of advanced fibrosis than the CHB group (P<0.05). In logistic regression analysis MAFLD [odds ratio (OR)=2.204, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.018-4.774, P=0.045], GGT (OR=1.008, 95%CI 1.002-1.013, P=0.005), and PLT (OR=0.995, 95%CI 0.991-0.999, P=0.019) were associated with advanced fibrosis (all P<0.05). In the MAFLD-CHB group type 2 diabetes (OR=3.281, 95%CI 1.375-7.832, P=0.007), GGT (OR=1.011, 95%CI 1.003-1.018, P=0.005), and PLT (OR=0.993, 95%CI 0.988-0.998, P=0.004) were associated with advanced fibrosis (P<0.05). Conclusion: Patients with MAFLD-CHB are more likely to develop advanced fibrosis than patients with CHB alone. In the MAFLD-CHB group type 2 diabetes mellitus was associated with advanced fibrosis. It is important to strictly control relevant risk factors in MAFLD-CHB patients, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Safety of Sonazoid in Assisting High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation Therapy for Advanced Liver Malignant Lesions: A Single-Arm Clinical Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study described here was to evaluate the safety of Sonazoid-assisted high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of advanced malignant liver lesions.

METHODS

A single-arm study was designed to enroll participants who were diagnosed with advanced primary liver cancer or liver metastases and proposed to receive Sonazoid assistance during HIFU treatment. Serological examination was conducted within 1 wk, and side effects in each patient were monitored for 1 mo. To evaluate therapeutic efficacy, the contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was performed 1 mo after treatment, and short-term follow-up was conducted a year later.

RESULTS

A total of 17 participants (12 male, 5 female) with an average age of 58 y (range: 46-73 y) were enrolled, including 11 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 patients with hepatic metastasis and 4 patients with cholangiocarcinoma. The total volume of tumor mass was 111.82 (11.01-272.30) cm3. The average total ablation time for a patient was 2021 ± 1030 s, and the energy efficiency factor was 5979.7 (3108.0, 45634.5) J/cm3. Immediately after HIFU treatment, 1 patient (5.9%) achieved complete response (CR), 4 patients (23.5%) had a moderate response, 8 patients (47.1%) had partial reperfusion and 4 patients (23.5%) had stable disease (SD). The average ablation rate for all the tumors was 51.5 ± 26.7%. The level of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) was mildly increased in 71.6% (12/17) of patients after HIFU therapy. Mean ALT values before and after treatment were 22 (14, 35) U/L and 36 (25, 41) U/L, respectively (Z = 1.947, p = 0.051). Mild or obvious edema in skin and subcutaneous soft tissues were observed in 76.5% of patients, but no serious side effects were found. Twelve months after treatment, the follow-up results revealed that 1 patient (5.8%) achieved a CR, 8 patients (47.1%) had SD and 8 patients (47.1%) had progressive disease. The estimated median time to progression was 11 mo after treatment, with a 95% confidence interval of 6, 11 for all involved patients.

CONCLUSION

Use of Sonazoid is safe and feasible for improving HIFU ablation efficiency during the treatment of advanced malignant liver lesions. The therapeutic efficacy of Sonazoid-assisted HIFU needs to be explored in additional controlled clinical investigations.

Targeting FGFR3 signaling and drug repurposing for the treatment of SLC26A2-related chondrodysplasia in mouse model

Background

Mutations in Slc26a2 cause a spectrum of autosomal-recessive chondrodysplasia with a significant and negligible influence on the quality of life. It has been reported that Slc26a2 deficiency triggers the ATF6 branch of the UPR, which may, in turn, activate the negative regulator of the FGFR3 signaling pathway. However, the correlation between the deletion of Slc26a2 and the augmentation of downstream phosphorylation of FGFR3 has not been investigated in vivo.

Methods

First, we constructed Slc26a2 and Fgfr3 double knockout mouse lines and observed gross views of the born mice and histological staining of the tibial growth plates. The second approach was to construct tamoxifen-inducible Cre-ERT2 mouse models to replicate SLC26A2-related non-lethal dysplastic conditions. Pharmacological intervention was performed by administering the FGFR3 inhibitor NVP-BGJ398. The effect of NVP-BGJ398 on chondrocytes was assessed by Alcian blue staining, proliferation, apoptosis, and chondrocyte-specific markers and then verified by western blotting for variations in the downstream markers of FGFR3. The growth process was detected using X-rays, micro-CT examination, histomorphometry staining of growth plates, and immunofluorescence.

Results

Genetic ablation of Fgfr3 in embryonic Slc26a2-deficient chondrocytes slightly attenuated chondrodysplasia. Subsequently, in the constructed mild dysplasia model, we found that postnatal intervention with Fgfr3 gene in Slc26a2-deficient chondrocytes partially alleviated chondrodysplasia. In chondrocyte assays, NVP-BGJ398 suppressed the defective phenotype of Slc26a2-deficient chondrocytes and restored the phosphorylation downstream of FGFR3 in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, in vivo experiments showed significant alleviation of impaired chondrocyte differentiation, and micro-CT analysis showed a clear improvement in trabecular bone microarchitectural parameters.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that inhibition of FGFR3 signaling pathway overactivation and NVP-BGJ398 has promising therapeutic implications for the development of SLC26A2-related skeletal diseases in humans.

The translational potential of this article

Our data provide genetic and pharmacological evidence that targeting FGFR3 signaling via NVP-BGJ398 could be a route for the treatment of SLC26A2-associated skeletal disorders, which promisingly advances translational applications and therapeutic development.

Significance of carcinoembryonic antigen detection in the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignant tumor involving adenomas that develop into malignant lesions. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a non-specific serum biomarker upregulated in CRC. The concentration of CEA is modulated by tumor stage and grade, tumor site in the colon, ploidy status, and patient smoking status. This study aimed to evaluate current evidence regarding the diagnostic power of CEA levels in the early detection of CRC recurrence in adults.

AIM

To evaluate current evidence regarding the diagnostic power of CEA levels in the early detection of CRC recurrence in adults.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed using four databases: MEDLINE, Cochrane Trials, EMBASE, and the Web of Science. The inclusion criteria were as follows: Adult patients aged ≥ 18 years who had completed CRC curative treatment and were followed up postoperatively; reporting the number of CRC recurrences as an outcome; and randomized, clinical, cohort, and case-control study designs. Studies that were not published in English and animal studies were excluded. The following data were extracted by three independent reviewers: Study design, index tests, follow-up, patient characteristics, and primary outcomes. All statistical analyses were performed using the RevMan 5.4.1.

RESULTS

A total of 3232 studies were identified, with 73 remaining following the elimination of duplicates. After screening on predetermined criteria, 12 studies were included in the final analysis. At a reference standard of 5 mg/L, CEA detected only approximately half of recurrent CRCs, with a pooled sensitivity of 59% (range, 33%-83%) and sensitivity of 89% (range, 58%-97%).

CONCLUSION

CEA is a significant marker for CRC diagnosis. However, it has insufficient sensitivity and specificity to be used as a single biomarker of early CRC recurrence, with an essential proportion of false negatives.

[Clinical analysis of 86 cases of acute fatty liver of pregnancy]

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and maternal and fetal prognosis of pregnant women with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). Methods: The clinical data of 86 AFLP pregnant women admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from September 2017 to August 2022 were collected, and their general data, clinical characteristics, laboratory tests and maternal and fetal outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: (1) General information: the age of the 86 pregnant women with AFLP was (30.8±5.4) years, and the body mass index was (21.0±2.5) kg/m2. There were 50 primiparas (58.1%, 50/86) and 36 multiparas (41.9%, 36/86). There were 64 singleton pregnancies (74.4%, 64/86) and 22 twin pregnancies (25.6%, 22/86). (2) Clinical characteristics: the main complaints of AFLP pregnant women were gastrointestinal symptoms, including epigastric pain (68.6%, 59/86), nausea (47.7%, 41/86), anorexia (46.5%, 40/86), vomiting (39.5%, 34/86). The main non-gastrointestinal symptoms were jaundice of skin and/or scleral (54.7%, 47/86), edema (38.4%, 33/86), fatigue (19.8%, 17/86), bleeding tendency (16.3%, 14/86), polydipsia or polyuria (14.0%, 12/86), skin itching (8.1%, 7/86), and 17.4% (15/86) AFLP pregnant women had no obvious symptoms. (3) Laboratory tests: the incidence of liver and kidney dysfunction and abnormal coagulation function in AFLP pregnant women was high, and the levels of blood ammonia, lactate dehydrogenase and lactic acid were increased, and the levels of hemoglobin, platelet and albumin decreased. However, only 24 cases (27.9%, 24/86) of AFLP pregnant women showed fatty liver by imageology examination. (4) Pregnancy outcomes: ① AFLP pregnant women had a high incidence of pregnancy complications, mainly including renal insufficiency (95.3%, 82/86), preterm birth (46.5%, 40/86), hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (30.2%, 26/86), gestational diabetes mellitus (36.0%, 31/86), fetal distress (24.4%, 21/86), pulmonary infection (23.3%, 20/86), disseminated intravascular coagulation (16.3%, 14/86), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (16.3%, 14/86), hepatic encephalopathy (9.3%, 8/86), and intrauterine fetal death (2.3%, 2/86). ② Treatment and outcome of AFLP pregnant women: the intensive care unit transfer rate of AFLP pregnant women was 66.3% (57/86). 82 cases were improved and discharged after treatment, 2 cases were transferred to other hospitals for follow-up treatment, and 2 cases (2.3%, 2/86) died. ③ Neonatal outcomes: except for 2 cases of intrauterine death, a total of 106 neonates were delivered, including 39 cases (36.8%, 39/106) of neonatal asphyxia, 63 cases (59.4%, 63/106) of neonatal intensive care unit admission, and 3 cases (2.8%, 3/106) of neonatal death. Conclusions: AFLP is a severe obstetric complication, which is harmful to mother and fetus. In the process of clinical diagnosis and treatment, attention should be paid to the clinical manifestations and laboratory tests of pregnant women, early diagnosis and active treatment, so as to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Diffusion MRI correlation with p16 status and prediction for tumor progression in locally advanced head and neck cancer

Purpose

To investigate p16 effects on diffusion image metrics and associations with tumor progression in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers.

Methods

Diffusion images pretreatment and after 20 Gy (2wk) of RT were analyzed in patients with cT4/N3 p16+ oropharynx cancer (OPSCC) (N=51) and locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) (N=28), enrolled onto a prospective adaptive RT trial. Mean ADC values, subvolumes with ADC <1.2 um2/ms (TVLADC), and peak values of low (µL) and high (µH) components of ADC histograms in primary and total nodal gross tumor volumes were analyzed for prediction of freedom from local, distant, or any progression (FFLP, FFDP or FFLRDP) using multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model with clinical factors. P value with false discovery control <0.05 was considered as significant.

Results

With a mean follow up of 36 months, 18 of LAHNSCC patients and 16 of p16+ OPSCC patients had progression. After adjusting for p16, small µL and ADC values, and large TVLADC of primary tumors pre-RT were significantly associated with superior FFLRDP, FFLP and FFDP in the LAHNSCC (p<0.05), but no diffusion metrics were significant in p16+ oropharynx cancers. Post ad hoc analysis of the p16+ OPSCC only showed that large TVLADC of the total nodal burden pre-RT was significantly associated with inferior FFDP (p=0.05).

Conclusion

ADC metrics were associated with different progression patterns in the LAHNSCC and p16+ OPSCC, possibly explained by differences in cancer biology and morphology. A deep understanding of ADC metrics is warranted to establish imaging biomarkers for adaptive RT in HNSCC.

Modification of the distribution of humic acid complexations by introducing microbubbles to membrane distillation process for effective membrane fouling alleviation

Membrane fouling caused by inorganic ions and natural organic matters (NOMs) has been a severe issue in membrane distillation. Microbubble aeration (MB) is a promising technology to control membrane fouling. In this study, MB aeration was introduced to alleviate humic acid (HA) composited fouling during the treatment of simulative reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) by vacuum membrane distillation (VMD). The objective of this work was to explore the HA fouling inhibiting effect by MB aeration and discuss its mechanism from the interfacial point of view. The results showed that VMD was effective for treating ROC, followed by a severe membrane fouling aggravated with the addition of 100 mg/L HA in feed solution, resulting in 45.7% decline of membrane flux. Analysis using the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory and zeta potential distribution of charged particles proved the coexistence of HA and inorganic cations (especially Ca2+), resulting in more serious membrane fouling. The introduction of MB aeration exhibited excellent alleviating effect on HA-inorganic salt fouling, with the normalized flux increased from 19.7% to 37.0%. The interfacial properties of MBs played an important role, which altered the zeta potential distributions of charged particles in HA solution, indicating that MBs adhere the HA complexations. Furthermore, this mitigating effect was limited at high inorganic cations concentration. Overall, MBs could change the potential characteristics of HA complexes, which also be used for other similar membrane fouling alleviation.

[Effect of early tocilizumab intervention on patients with cytokine release syndrome following chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of early tocilizumab intervention to relieve cytokine release syndrome (CRS) following chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy. Methods: Twenty-two patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who received tocilizumab to relieve CRS response after CAR-T cell infusion in our research center from October 2015 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the timing of tocilizumab intervention, patients were divided into the conventional and early intervention groups. Patients who received tocilizumab treatment after sustained high fever for 4 h were included in the early intervention group. The clinical data, CRS grade, and event-free survival (EFS) between the two groups were evaluated. Results: Compared with patients who used tocilizumab after severe CRS, no patients in the early intervention group died from CRS, and there was no increased risk of neurotoxicity. Eleven patients (84.62%) achieved complete remission with minimal residual lesions. The median EFS of patients in the early intervention and conventional groups was 2 (95% CI 0-5) and 7 (95% CI 3-11) months, respectively. Conclusion: Early tocilizumab intervention in patients with CRS reduces severe CRS and provides a more optimized therapeutic strategy for CRS caused by CAR-T cell therapy.

The Septin Gene StSep4 Contributes to the Pathogenicity of Setosphaeria turcica by Regulating the Morphology, Cell Wall Integrity, and Pathogenic Factor Biosynthesis

Septins are a conserved group of GTP-binding proteins found in all eukaryotes and are the fourth-most abundant cytoskeletal proteins. Septins of some pathogenic fungi are involved in morphological changes related to infection. Our previous studies have identified four core septins (StSep1-4) in Setosphaeria turcica, the causal agent of northern corn leaf blight, while only StSep4 is significantly upregulated during the invasive process. We therefore used forchlorfenuron (FCF), the specific inhibitor of septin, and ΔStSep4 knockout mutants to further clarify the role of septins in S. turcica pathogenicity. FCF treatment caused a dose-dependent reduction in S. turcica colony growth, delayed the formation of infection structures, and reduced the penetration ability. ΔStSep4 knockout mutants displayed abnormal mycelium morphology, slow mycelial growth, conidiation deficiency, delayed appressorium development, and weakened pathogenicity. StSep4 deletion also broke cell wall integrity, altered chitin distribution, decreased the melanin content, and disrupted normal nuclear localization. A transcriptomic comparison revealed that genes differentially expressed between ΔStSep4 and WT were enriched in terms of ribosomes, protein translation, membrane components, and transmembrane transport activities. Our results demonstrate that StSep4 is required for morphology and pathogenicity in S. turcica, making it a promising target for the development of novel fungicides.

Expression of water-soluble nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 and analysis of its immunogenicity

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to be a major public health concern. Nucleocapsid (N) protein is the most abundant structural protein on SARS-CoV-2 virions and induces the production of antibodies at the early stage of infection. Large-scale preparation of N protein is essential for the development of immunoassays to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and the control of virus transmission. In this study, expression of water-soluble N protein was achieved through inducing protein expression at 25°C with 0.5 mM IPTG for 12 h. Western blot and ELISA showed that recombinant N protein could be recognized by sera collected from subjects immunized with Sinovac inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Four monoclonal antibodies namely 2B1B1, 4D3A3, 5G1F8, and 7C6F5 were produced using hybridoma technology. Titers of all four monoclonal antibodies in ELISA reached more than 1.28×10 6.0. Moreover, all monoclonal antibodies could react specifically with N protein expressed by transfection of pcDNA3.1-N into BHK-21 cells in IPMA and IFA. These results indicated that water-soluble N protein retained high immunogenicity and possessed the same epitopes as that of native N protein on virions. In addition, the preparation of water-soluble N protein and its monoclonal antibodies laid the basis for the development of immunoassays for COVID-19 detection.

Intraspecific phylogeny and genomic resources development for an important medical plant Dioscorea nipponica, based on low-coverage whole genome sequencing data

Dioscorea nipponica Makino, a perennial twining herb with medicinal importance, has a disjunctive distribution in the Sino-Japanese Floristic Region. It has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine, with demonstrated efficacy against various health conditions. However, the limited genomic data and knowledge of genetic variation have hindered its comprehensive exploration, utilization and conservation. In this study, we undertook low-coverage whole genome sequencing of diverse D. nipponica accessions to develop both plastome (including whole plastome sequences, plastome-derived SSRs and plastome-divergent hotspots) and nuclear genomic resources (including polymorphic nuclear SSRs and single-copy nuclear genes), as well as elucidate the intraspecific phylogeny of this species. Our research revealed 639 plastome-derived SSRs and highlighted six key mutational hotspots (namely CDS ycf1, IGS trnL-rpl32, IGS trnE-trnT, IGS rps16-trnQ, Intron 1 of clpP, and Intron trnG) within these accessions. Besides, three IGS regions (i.e., ndhD-cssA, trnL-rpl32, trnD-trnY), and the intron rps16 were identified as potential markers for distinguishing D. nipponica from its closely related species. In parallel, we successfully developed 988 high-quality candidate polymorphic nuclear SSRs and identified 17 single-copy nuclear genes for D. nipponica, all of which empower us to conduct in-depth investigations into phylogenetics and population genetics of this species. Although our phylogenetic analyses, based on plastome sequences and single-copy nuclear genes revealed cytonuclear discordance within D. nipponica, both findings challenged the current subspecies classification. In summary, this study developed a wealth of genomic resources for D. nipponica and enhanced our understanding of the intraspecific phylogeny of this species, offering valuable insights that can be instrumental in the conservation and strategic utilization of this economically significant plant.

[Evolution and regional differences in the supportive environment for influenza vaccination among the elderly population in China]

Seasonal influenza leads to a significant disease burden, and older people infected with influenza are susceptible to various complications. Influenza immunization can prevent infection effectively and significantly reduce the risk of complications and severe cases. Creating a supportive environment for vaccination is crucial in advancing the influenza vaccination rate among the elderly population. In China, the present environment for supporting influenza vaccinations among the elderly is primarily comprised of policies for free vaccination and expense reimbursement, which exhibit noteworthy regional variations across cities and regions. This study systematically analyses the supportive environment and regional disparities associated with influenza vaccination among the elderly in China. It aims to comprehend the opportunities for influenza prevention and control resulting from the current background of influenza vaccination and to identify potential health inequality challenges caused by regional differences. The findings should inform the introduction of relevant national policies and programs to protect the health and well-being of the elderly population.

Advantage effect of Dalbergia pinnata on wound healing and scar formation of burns

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Dalbergia pinnata, as a natural and ethnic medicine in China, has been used for burns and wounds with a long history, which has the effect of invigorating blood and astringent sores. However, there were no reports on the advantage activity of burns.

AIM OF STUDY

The purpose of this study was to screen out the best active extract part of Dalbergia pinnata and investigate its therapeutic effect on wound healing and scar resolution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rat burn model was established and the healing effects of extracts from Dalbergia pinnata on burn wounds were evaluated by the percentage of wound contraction and period of epithelialization. Histological observation, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and ELISA were used for the examination of inflammatory factors, TGF-β1, neovascularization and collagen fibers through the period of epithelialization. In addition, the effect of the optimal extraction site on fibroblast cells was evaluated by cell proliferation and cell migration assays. The extracts of Dalbergia pinnata were analyzed by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS or GC-MS technique.

RESULTS

Compared to the model group, there were better wound healing, suppressed inflammatory factors, more neovascularization as well as newly formed collagen in the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) and petroleum ether extract (PEE) treatment groups. The ratio of Collagen I and Collagen III was lower in the EAE and PEE treatment groups, suggesting a potential for reduced scarring. Furthermore, EAE and PEE could repair wounds by up-regulating TGF-β1 in the early stage of wound repair and down-regulating TGF-β1 in the late stage. In vitro studies showed that both EAE and PEE were able to promote NIH/3T3 cells proliferation and migration compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, EAE and PEE were found to significantly accelerate wound repair and might have an inhibitory effect on the generation of scars. It was also hypothesized that the mechanism might be related to the regulation of TGF-β1 secretion. This study provided an experimental basis for the development of topical drugs for the treatment of burns with Dalbergia pinnata.

Acceleration of high-quality Raman imaging via a locality enhanced transformer network

Raman imaging (RI) is an outstanding technique that enables molecular-level medical diagnostics and therapy assessment by providing characteristic fingerprint and morphological information about molecules. However, obtaining high-quality Raman images generally requires a long acquisition time, up to hours, which is prohibitive for RI applications of timely cytopathology and histopathology analyses. To address this issue, image super-resolution (SR) based on deep learning, including convolutional neural networks and transformers, has been widely recognized as an effective solution to reduce the time required for achieving high-quality RI. In this study, a locality enhanced transformer network (LETNet) is proposed to perform Raman image SR. Specifically, the general architecture of the transformer is adopted with the replacement of self-attention by convolution to generate high-fidelity and detailed SR images. Additionally, the convolution in the LETNet is further optimized by utilizing depth-wise convolution to improve the computational efficiency of the model. Experiments on hyperspectral Raman images of breast cancer cells and Raman images of a few channels of brain tumor tissues demonstrate that the LETNet achieves superior 2×, 4×, and 8× SR with fewer parameters compared with other SR methods. Consequently, high-quality Raman images can be obtained with a significant reduction in time, ranging from 4 to 64 times. Overall, the proposed method provides a novel, efficient, and reliable solution to expedite high-quality RI and promote its application in real-time diagnosis and therapy.

Investigation of Potential Crucial Genes and Key Pathways in Keratoconus: An Analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus Data

Keratoconus is one of the most common causes leading to visual impairment in young adult population. The pathogenesis of keratoconus remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify the potential key genes and pathways associated with keratoconus and to further analyze its molecular mechanism. Two RNA-sequencing datasets of keratoconus and paired normal corneal tissues from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were obtained. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the DEGs was established, and the hub genes and significant gene modules of PPI were further constructed. Lastly, the GO and KEGG analyses of the hub gene were performed. In total, 548 common DEGs were identified. GO enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were primarily associated with regulation of cell adhesion, the response to molecule of bacterial origin, lipopolysaccharide and biotic stimulus, collagen-containing extracellular matrix, extracellular matrix, and structure organization. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly involved in the TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, Rheumatoid arthritis, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. The PPI network was constructed with 146 nodes and 276 edges, and 3 significant modules are selected. Finally, top 10 hub genes were identified from the PPI network. The results revealed that extracellular matrix remodeling and immune inflammatory response could be the key links of keratoconus, TNF, IL6, IL1A, IL1B, CCL3, MMP3, MMP9, MMP1, and TGFB1 may be potential crucial genes, and TNF signaling pathway and IL-17 signaling pathway were the potential pathways accounting for pathogenesis and development of keratoconus.

Genomic epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of Serratia marcescens neurosurgical site infections associated with contaminated haircutting toolkits in a hospital barber shop

BACKGROUND

Nine surgical site infections caused by Serratia marcescens were diagnosed in neurosurgical patients in a 3500-bed hospital between 2nd February and 6th April 2022.

OBJECTIVE

To trace the source of infections caused by S. marcescens to expedite termination of the outbreak and prevent future epidemics.

METHODS

A review of all surgical procedures and cultures yielding S. marcescens since February 2022 was conducted. Samples were collected from patients and environmental sources. S. marcescens isolates were characterized by antibiotic susceptibility testing. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to investigate genetic relationships. Resistance genes, virulence genes and plasmid replicons were identified.

RESULTS

S. marcescens was isolated from patients' puncture fluid, cerebrospinal fluid and other secretions, and was also cultured from the barbers' haircutting tools, including leather knives, slicker scrapers and razors. In total, 15 isolates were obtained from patients and eight isolates were obtained from haircutting tools. All isolates exhibited identical antibiotic resistance patterns. WGS revealed close clustering among the 23 isolates which differed significantly from previous strains. Three resistance genes and nine virulence-associated genes were detected in all isolates, and 19 of 23 isolates harboured an MOBP-type plasmid. The results confirmed an outbreak of S. marcescens, which was traced to contaminated haircutting tools in the hospital barber shop. The outbreak ended after extensive reinforcement of infection control procedures and re-education of the barbers.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the risk of postoperative infections related to pre-operative skin preparation, and demonstrate the value of next-generation sequencing tools to expedite outbreak investigations.

Probiotic-fermented Qushi decoction alleviates reserpine-induced spleen deficiency syndrome by regulating spleen function and gut microbiota dysbiosis

BACKGROUND

Spleen deficiency syndrome (SDS) is associated with elevated inflammatory factors and dysregulation of gastrointestinal motility hormones and intestinal microbiota. Qushi decoction (QD), a traditional formula, has not been reported using modern scientific research methods for changes in its probiotic fermented QD (FQD) composition and its potential mechanisms to alleviate SDS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the splenic protection of FQD in SDS rats by modulating gastrointestinal motility hormones and intestinal microbiota.

RESULTS

The results showed that FQD increased total polysaccharides, total protein, total flavonoids and the other active ingredients compared to QD, effectively improved splenic inflammation and apoptosis in SDS rats, and modulated gastrointestinal motility hormones to alleviate diarrhea and other symptoms. In addition, the dysregulation of the gut microbiota was reversed by increasing the levels of Bifidobacterium and decreasing the levels of Escherichia-Shigella and Proteobacteria, which may be related to the regulation of bacterial metabolites to alleviate SDS.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that FQD is an effective formula for improving SDS. Our findings show that FQD beneficial to the implications for the treatment of SDS. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Does Cognitive Attitude Matter When Affective Attitude Is Negative in Physical Activity Behavior Change?

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine the moderation effects of affective attitude on the effects of cognitive attitude and intention on leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: A total of 2100 undergraduate students completed validated instruments measuring their affective and cognitive attitude, intention to do MVPA, and leisure-time MVPA. Hierarchical regression analyses and Hayes' Process program (model 1 and model 58) were used to address the research questions. Results: The results showed that affective attitude significantly moderated the effects of cognitive attitude on MVPA. It suggested that when affective attitude was negative, the effect of cognitive attitude on MVPA was not significant; when it was positive, the higher the value of affective attitude score, the larger the effects of cognitive attitude on MVPA. The results also showed that affective attitude significantly moderated the effect of intention on MVPA and the indirect effects of cognitive attitude on MVPA through intention. It suggested that the higher the value of the affective attitude, the larger the effects of intention on MVPA and the larger the indirect effects of cognitive attitude on MVPA through intention. Conclusions:These results indicate that the moderating role of affective attitude in behavior change is important and should be considered for future theory development on the relationship between attitude and behavior. Practically, it suggests that people's affective attitude should be first understood and addressed when designing PA promotion programs.

Peptide fractions from Sacha inchi induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells via P53 activation and a mitochondria-mediated pathway

BACKGROUND

Sacha inchi is known for its high protein content and medicinal properties. Bioactive peptides have been reported to have therapeutic potential in various human diseases. However, there is a lack of research evaluating the pharmacological value of peptides derived from Sacha inchi. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-hepatoma effect of Sacha inchi peptides (SPs) and their underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

The study found that treatment with SPs significantly reduced the proliferation of HepG2 cells by inducing apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase. SPs also induced HepG2 cell apoptosis by increasing the levels of proteins such as Bax, Caspase-3 and P53. The study identified nine novel peptides in SPs, of which LLEPDVR, ALVEKAKAS and TGDGSLRPY exhibited higher cell proliferative inhibition rates compared to other peptides.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that Sacha inchi peptides have potential pharmacological effects in the treatment of liver cancer. SPs effectively suppress the cell cycle and facilitate cell apoptosis, indicating their anti-hepatoma effect. The novel peptides identified in SPs may have therapeutic value for liver cancer treatment. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

LINC02253 promote the malignant phenotype of Colon adenocarcinoma cells by up-regulating WWP1-mediated SMAD3 ubiquitination

OBJECTIVES

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) represents a type of common malignant tumor originating in the digestive tract. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to engage in regulating the initiation and development of COAD. LncRNA LINC02253 has been reported abnormal expressed in COAD, but the underlying mechanism has not been discussed so far. This study aimed to determine the role and the molecular biology mechanism of LINC02253 in COAD progression and unearthed its specific molecular mechanism.

MATERIALS AND RESULTS

RT-qPCR and Western blot assays were conducted to detect gene expression. Function assays were performed to evaluate the effect of gene expression on COAD cell phenotype. Mechanism analyses were done to verify the association among genes after bioinformatics analysis. The obtained data revealed that LINC02253 demonstrated a high expression in COAD tissues and cells. This gene served as an oncogene, permitting to stimulate proliferation and suppress apoptosis of COAD cells. Mechanically, it was found that LINC02253 recruited FUS to stabilize WWP1 mRNA and WWP1 could mediate SMAD3 ubiquitination, thereby promoting the malignant phenotype formation of COAD cells.

CONCLUSIONS

LINC02253 was uncovered to exert an oncogenic role, enhancing the proliferation of COAD cells and repressing the cell apoptosis by recruiting FUS and encouraging WWP1-mediated SMAD3 ubiquitination.

Structure characteristics and adsorption performance of graphene oxide prepared by spent carbon cathode-an ultra-low temperature graphitized carbon material

Spent carbon cathode (SCC) is a hazardous waste from the aluminum electrolysis industry. It is commonly used as a carbon source in the current disposal and recovery strategies, such as combustion, or as a reductant for smelting. The novelty of this study is to propose a strategy for recycling SCC as a graphite resource and to investigate the unique structural characteristics and adsorption properties of graphene oxide produced from this low temperature graphitized carbon. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of SCC-GO on methylene blue (MB) were studied and compared with the GO prepared from natural flake graphite (NFG) and artificial graphite (AG). The results show that SCC-GO exhibits the highest adsorption rate and adsorption capacity (647.83 mg/g) for MB, which is much higher than NFG-GO (451.22 mg/g) and AG-GO (533.12 mg/g). The analysis of the spectroscopy and morphology confirmed that SCC-GO has a high degree of crystal defects, oxidation, and surface wrinkle. Overall, this study reveals the unique structure of SCC-GO and highlights its significant scientific and application potential as an ultra-low temperature graphitized carbon. This research is also significant for recycling aluminum electrolytic cathode solid waste in the form of a graphite source.

Risk factors for failure of conversion from epidural labor analgesia to cesarean section anesthesia and general anesthesia incidence: an updated meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Ongoing controversies persist regarding risk factors associated with the failure of transition from epidural labor analgesia to cesarean section anesthesia, including the duration of labor analgesia, gestational age, and body mass index (BMI). This study aims to provide an updated analysis of the incidence of conversion from epidural analgesia to general anesthesia, while evaluating and analyzing potential risk factors contributing to the failure of this transition to cesarean section anesthesia.

METHODS

We conducted an extensive literature search utilizing databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WANGFANG, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) up to September 30, 2022. The meta-analysis was performed using STATA 15.1 software. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the 11-item quality assessment scale recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

RESULTS

A total of 9,926 studies were initially retrieved, and after rigorous selection, 19 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall incidence of conversion from epidural analgesia to general anesthesia was found to be 6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5-8%). Our findings indicate that, when compared to patients in the successful conversion group, those in the failure group tended to be younger (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -1.571, 95% CI: -1.116 to -0.975) and taller (WMD = 0.893, 95% CI: 0.018-1.767). Additionally, the failure group exhibited a higher incidence of incomplete block in epidural anesthesia, received a higher dosage of additional epidural administration, experienced a greater rate of emergency cesarean sections, and received anesthesia more frequently from non-obstetric anesthesiologists. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in gestational age, depth of the catheter insertion into the skin, epidural catheter specifics, duration of epidural analgesia, infusion rate of epidural analgesia, primiparity status, cervical dilatation during epidural placement, BMI, or weight.

CONCLUSION

Our study found that the incidence of conversion from epidural analgesia to cesarean section under general anesthesia was 6%. Notably, the failure group exhibited a higher rate of incomplete block in epidural anesthesia, a greater incidence of emergency cesarean sections, a more frequent provision of anesthesia by non-obstetric anesthesiologists, a higher dosage of epidural administration, and greater height when compared to the success group. Conversely, women in the failure group were younger in age compared to their counterparts in the success group.

Influence of l-NAME -induced hypertension on spermatogenesis and sperm tsRNA profile in mice

Sperm is the key media between the father's aberrant exposure and the offspring's phenotype. Whether paternal hypertension affects offspring through sperm epigenetics remains to be explored. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we constructed a hypertensive mice model induced by drinking l-NAME and found that spermatocytes and spermatids in the testis were increased significantly after l-NAME treatment. The sequencing of sperm showed that tsRNA profiles changed with 315 tsRNAs (195 up-regulated and 120 down-regulated) altered. Meanwhile, KEGG pathway analysis showed that the target genes of these altered tsRNAs were involved in influencing some important signaling pathways, such as the cAMP signaling path, the mTOR signaling path, the Hippo signaling path, and the Ras signaling path. Bioinformatics of tsRNA-miRNA-mRNA pathway interactions revealed several ceRNA mechanisms, such as tsRNA-00051, the ceRNA of miR-128-1-5p, co-targeting Agap1. This study provides evidence for enriching and further understanding the pathophysiology and paternal epigenetic mechanisms of testicular reproduction, as well as contributing to a rethinking of the transgenerational reprogramming mechanisms of paternal exposure in hypertension.

[Establishment of a nomogram prediction model using common preoperative indicators for early weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy]

Objectives: To construct a nomogram prediction model using common preoperative indicators for early weight loss (EWL) 1 year after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods: Relevant data of obese patients who had undergone LSG from January 2015 to May 2022 in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital and Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated Fujian Medical University were analyzed. Patients with a history of major abdominal surgery, severe gastroesophageal reflux disease, pregnancy within 1 year after surgery, or who were lost to follow-up were excluded, resulting in a total of 200 patients in the study (190 from Fujian Medical University Union Hospital and 10 from Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated Fujian Medical University). The participants were 51 men and 149 women of a mean age 29.9±8.2 years and a body mass index (BMI) 38.7±6.5 kg/m2. All patients in this group underwent standardized LSG procedure. Achieving ideal weight (BMI≤25 kg/m2) 1 year after LSG was defined as goal of EWL. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors that independently influenced EWL. These factors were incorporated into the nomogram model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (the larger the area under the curve [AUC], the better the predictive ability and accuracy of the model), likelihood ratio test (higher likelihood ratio indicates greater model homogeneity), decision curve analysis (higher net benefit indicates a better model), Akaike information criterion (AIC; smaller AIC indicates a better model), and Bayesian information criterion (BIC; smaller BIC indicates a better model) were used to validate the predictive ability of the column line diagram model. Results: In this study of 200 obese patients who underwent LSG surgery, 136 achieved EWL goal, whereas the remaining 64 did not. The rate of EWL goal achievement of the entire group was 68.0%. Compared with patients who did not achieve EWL goal, those who did had lower BMI, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, triglycerides, and higher cholesterol. Additionally, the proportion of female was higher and the proportions of patients with fatty liver and hypertension lower in those who achieved EWL goal (all P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative BMI (OR=0.852, 95%CI: 0.796-0.912, P<0.001), alanine transaminase (OR=0.992, 95%CI: 0.985-0.999, P=0.024), presence of fatty liver (OR=0.185, 95%CI: 0.038-0.887, P=0.035) and hypertension (OR=0.374, 95%CI: 0.144-0.969, P=0.043) were independently associated with failure to achieve EWL goal. Cholesterol (OR=1.428, 95%CI: 1.052-1.939, P=0.022) was independently associated with achieving EWL goal. We used the above variables to establish an EWL nomogram model. ROC analysis, the likelihood ratio test, decision curve analysis, and AIC all revealed that the predictive value of the model was better than that of BMI alone (nomogram model vs. BMI: area under the curve 0.840 vs. 0.798, P=0.047; likelihood ratio: 58.785 vs. 36.565, AIC: 193.066 vs. 207.063, BIC: 212.856 vs. 213.660). Conclusion: Our predictive model is more accurate in predicting EWL after LSG compared with using BMI.

Copper-Catalyzed Fluoroalkylphosphorothiolation of Alkynes for the Synthesis of (E)-β-Fluoroalkyl Vinyl Phosphorothioates

A convenient copper-catalyzed three-component radical-based fluoroalkylphosphorothiolation of terminal alkynes with (iPrO)2P(O)SH and fluoroalkylation reagent for the synthesis of a variety of (E)-β-fluoroalkyl vinyl phosphorothioates with excellent regioselectivity and stereoselectivity has been developed. All the starting materials used in this reaction are highly stable and readily available. Thus, this process features with mild reaction conditions, simple operation and good functional group tolerance (>40 examples). Furthermore, this modular reaction system allows the late-stage functionalization of bioactive molecules.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals peripheral immune responses in non-segmental vitiligo

Background

Vitiligo is a common autoimmune depigmented dermatology due to destruction of melanocytes. Much evidence suggests that vitiligo is associated with systemic immune activation. Previous studies have focused on immune cell infiltration in and around lesion areas, but few studies have investigated the cell types and function of circulating immune cells in peripheral blood. Here, single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to investigate the mechanisms of peripheral immune responses in vitiligo patients.

Methods

Peripheral blood was collected from five patients with progressive non-segmental vitiligo and three healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained by Ficoll-Paque density gradient centrifugation, and scRNA-seq was performed on isolated cell populations to obtain single cell transcriptomes and characterize important genes and intracellular signaling pathways. The key findings were validated with qPCR and flow cytometry assays.

Results

We identified 10 major cell types by scRNA-seq. Among these cell types, neutrophils were specifically observed in our scRNA-seq data from PBMCs. Peripheral blood effector CD8+ T cells from vitiligo patients did not show significant differences at the transcriptome level compared with healthy controls, whereas regulatory T cells showed pro-inflammatory TH1-like properties. Innate immune cells, including natural killer cells and dendritic cells, showed increased antigen processing and presentation as well as upregulated interferon responses. B cells, monocytes, and neutrophils all showed activation. B cells, especially memory B cells, had upregulated expression of genes related to humoral immunity. Monocytes showed production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Neutrophils showed strong chemokine ligand-receptor (L-R) pair (CXCR8-CXCR2) autocrine signaling pathway.

Conclusion

This study revealed the genetic profile and signaling pathway characteristics of peripheral blood immune cells in vitiligo patients, providing new insights into its pathogenesis, which may facilitate identification of potential therapeutic targets.

Targeting the PD-L1 cytoplasmic domain and its regulatory pathways to enhance cancer immunotherapy

As a significant member of the immune checkpoint, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) plays a critical role in cancer immune escape and has become an important target for cancer immunotherapy. Clinically approved drugs mainly target the extracellular domain of PD-L1. Recently, the small cytoplasmic domain of PD-L1 has been reported to regulate PD-L1 stability and function through multiple pathways. Therefore, the intracellular domain of PD-L1 and its regulatory pathways could be promising targets for cancer therapy, expanding available strategies for combined immunotherapy. Here, we summarize the emerging roles of the PD-L1 cytoplasmic domain and its regulatory pathways. The conserved motifs, homodimerization, and posttranslational modifications of the PD-L1 cytoplasmic domain have been reported to regulate the membrane anchoring, degradation, nuclear translocation, and glycosylation of PD-L1, etc. This summary provides a comprehensive understanding of the functions of the PD-L1 cytoplasmic domain and evaluates the broad prospects for targeted therapy.

Emerging roles of nuclear bodies in genome spatial organization

Nuclear bodies (NBs) are biomolecular condensates that participate in various cellular processes and respond to cellular stimuli in the nucleus. The assembly and function of these protein- and RNA-rich bodies, such as nucleoli, nuclear speckles, and promyelocytic leukemia (PML) NBs, contribute to the spatial organization of the nucleus, regulating chromatin activities locally and globally. Recent technological advancements, including spatial multiomics approaches, have revealed novel roles of nucleoli in modulating ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and adjacent non-rDNA chromatin activity, nuclear speckles in scaffolding active genome architecture, and PML NBs in maintaining genome stability during stress conditions. In this review, we summarize emerging functions of these important NBs in the spatial organization of the genome, aided by recently developed spatial multiomics approaches toward this direction.

Regional homogeneity in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression: A resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

OBJECTIVE

To explore the brain functional impairment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with and without depressive symptoms and analyze the correlation between the degree of impairment and the severity of symptoms.

METHOD

Fourteen patients with OCD who met the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for OCD were included. The group having OCD with depression (OCDd) consisted of 15 patients, and 17 healthy controls (HC) matched for age and education were also included. The Yale-Brown OCD Scale (Y-BOCS) and the 24-item Hamilton Assessment of Depression Scale (HAMD) were administered to the OCD and OCDd groups. Resting-state functional brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed in the three groups of participants.

RESULT

The OCDd group had lower scores on the HAMD, Y-BOCS, and obsessive-compulsive thinking subscales compared with the OCD group (P < 0.05). The scores on the OCDd subscale were negatively correlated with the HAMD scores (R =  - 0.568, P = 0.027). The OCDd group had higher regional homogeneity (ReHo) values in the lingual gyrus than the OCD group. The OCDd group had higher ReHo values in the lingual gyrus than the HC group, and the OCDd group had higher ReHo values than the HC group. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). After correction for multiple comparisons, significant difference was observed between the OCDd and HC groups (P＜0.05). In the OCD group, the ReHo value of the lingual gyrus was negatively correlated with the Y-BOCS total score and the compulsive behavior subscale score (R =  - 0.609, -0.552; P = 0.016, 0.033).

CONCLUSION

Abnormal ReHo values in the lingual gyrus and right medial superior frontal gyrus were found in the patients with OCDd. In the OCDd group, the ReHo values of the lingual gyrus were negatively correlated with the scores on the Y-BOCS total and obsessive-compulsive subscales, suggesting that abnormal local coherence of the lingual gyrus may be related to the severity of OCD.

Cloning and functional characterization of porcine AACS revealing the regulative roles for fat deposition in pigs

Fat deposition is a quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes in pigs. Using transcriptome sequencing, we previously reported that AACS is differentially expressed in the subcutaneous fat tissue of Dingyuan pigs with divergent backfat thickness. Therefore, with the aim of further characterizing this gene and its protein, we cloned the entire 3286-bp mRNA sequence of the porcine AACS, and the encoded AACS protein is a hydrophilic protein without a signal peptide or transmembrane sequence. Our findings suggested that among various tissues and pig breeds, AACS was highly expressed in subcutaneous fat. We have identified three completely linked SNP loci in the AACS gene: A-1759C, C-1683T, and A-1664G. The double luciferase activity test in the 5' flanking region indicated that the flanking region of AACS contained several active regulatory elements. The three linked SNPs that were identified in one of the critical active elements, and might serve as important molecular markers regulating backfat thickness. Finally, we observed that AACS overexpression inhibited the proliferation and differentiation of subcutaneous preadipocytes. Collectively, our results suggest that AACS inhibits subcutaneous fat deposition in pigs. This study provides a new molecular marker for understanding the mechanism of porcine fat deposition.