Restoration of aquatic macrophytes with the seed bank is difficult in lakes with reservoir-like water-level fluctuations: A case study of Chaohu Lake in China

Aquatic vegetation in lakes along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River has been seriously degraded by human disturbances such as river-lake disconnection and water eutrophication. Chaohu Lake is a typical lake with reservoir-like water-level fluctuations (WLFs). Since a sluice was built in 1962, the coverage of aquatic vegetation in Chaohu Lake has been very low (0.77%). In this study, field investigations of the aquatic vegetation and seed bank of Chaohu Lake were conducted, and aboveground vegetation diversity was found to be low. Forty-eight species were recorded, of which submerged, floating-leaved, and emergent macrophytes were 1, 5, and 10, respectively. Currently, artificially planted Phragmites australis and Salix communities have become the main community types. A total of 18 aquatic macrophytes were identified in the seed bank, of which the number of submerged, floating-leaved, and emergent macrophytes and hygrophytes were 2, 2, 3, and 11, respectively; the seed density was 2.05, 2.05, 16.93, and 9.30 ind./m², respectively. The seed density of aquatic macrophytes was much lower in Chaohu Lake than in the lakes with quasi-natural WLFs, and the seeds were mainly distributed in the estuary area. Only two emergent macrophyte species (Typha) germinated in the open water area. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the distance to bank was the main environmental factor that affected aquatic macrophyte diversity and seed density in the seed bank. It is not feasible to promote the natural reconstruction and restoration of aquatic macrophytes in Chaohu Lake by decreasing the water level or increasing water transparency, but the area near the estuary can be identified as a priority restoration area (PRA) for aquatic macrophytes. Artificial transformation of the micro-topography can be used to guide some hydrochorous seeds in the tributaries to the PRA and restore aquatic vegetation in the local area.

The antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity, and chemical composition of Paeonia delavayi petal

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the functional activity and phytochemical compositions in the flower petals of Paeonia delavayi with different colors.

Materials and Methods

P. delavayi petal extracts were prepared by maceration in methanol, including purple petal extract (PPE), red petal extract (RPE) and yellow petal extract (YPE), and their antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities were evaluated. To correlate these measured activities to phytochemicals in the petals, UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics method was applied to profile the compositions in the petals of different colors. Finally, the KEGG metabolic pathways database was used to identify the related metabolic pathways that are responsible for the production of these polyphenolic phytochemicals in the petals.

Results

The results showed that PPE had the highest total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and the strongest ABTS· + scavenging ability, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition ability in all three samples, while YPE showed the strongest DPPH· scavenging activity and α-glucosidase inhibition ability. A total of 232 metabolites were detected in the metabolomic analysis, 198 of which were flavonoids, chalcones, flavonols, and anthocyanins. Correlation analysis indicated that Peonidin-3-O-arabinoside and cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside were the major contributors to their antioxidant activity. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation between these three petals. In addition, a total of 38, 98, and 96 differential metabolites were identified in PPE, RPE, and YPE, respectively. Pathway enrichment revealed 6 KEGG pathways displayed significant enrichment differences, of which the anthocyanin biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis were the most enriched signaling pathways. It revealed the potential reason for the differences in metabolic and functional levels between different colors of P. delavayi petals.

Conclusions

P. delavayi petals of different colors have different metabolite contents and functional activities, of which the anthocyanin, flavone, and flavonol metabolites are critical in its functional activities, suggesting the anthocyanin biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathways be the key pathways responsible for both the petal color and bioactive phytochemicals in P. delavayi flowers.

FTO Regulates Arecoline-exposed Oral Cancer Immune Response through PD-L1

The high prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in South Asia is associated with habitual areca nut chewing. Arecoline, a primary active carcinogen within areca nut extract, is known to promote OSCC pathological development. Dysregulation of N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification has begun to emerge as a significant contributor to cancer development and progression. However, the biological effects and molecular mechanisms of m6A modification in arecoline‐promoted OSCC malignance remain elusive. We reveal that chronic arecoline exposure substantially induces upregulation of fat mass and obesity‐associated protein (FTO), MYC, and programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) in OSCC cells. Moreover, upregulation of PD‐L1 is observed in OSCC cell lines and tissues and is associated with areca nut chewing in OSCC patients. We also demonstrate that arecoline‐induced FTO promotes the stability and expression levels of PD‐L1 transcripts through mediating m6A modification and MYC activity, respectively. PD‐L1 upregulation confers superior cell proliferation, migration, and resistance to T‐cell killing to OSCC cells. Blockage of PD‐L1 by administration of anti‐PD‐L1 antibody shrinks tumor size and improves mouse survival by elevating T‐cell‐mediated tumor cell killing. Therefore, targeting PD‐L1 might be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating PD‐L1‐positive OSCC patients, especially those with habitual areca nut chewing.

Measurement of the Groomed Jet Radius and Momentum Splitting Fraction in pp and Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

This article presents groomed jet substructure measurements in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector. The soft drop grooming algorithm provides access to the hard parton splittings inside a jet by removing soft wide-angle radiation. We report the groomed jet momentum splitting fraction, z_{g}, and the (scaled) groomed jet radius, θ_{g}. Charged-particle jets are reconstructed at midrapidity using the anti-k_{T} algorithm with resolution parameters R=0.2 and R=0.4. In heavy-ion collisions, the large underlying event poses a challenge for the reconstruction of groomed jet observables, since fluctuations in the background can cause groomed parton splittings to be misidentified. By using strong grooming conditions to reduce this background, we report these observables fully corrected for detector effects and background fluctuations for the first time. A narrowing of the θ_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is seen, which provides direct evidence of the modification of the angular structure of jets in the quark-gluon plasma. No significant modification of the z_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is observed. These results are compared with a variety of theoretical models of jet quenching, and provide constraints on jet energy-loss mechanisms and coherence effects in the quark-gluon plasma.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00472 inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma via miR-4311/GNG7 axis

Emerging studies indicate that long non-coding RNAs play important roles in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the function of the majority of long non-coding RNAs is still unclear. Recently, LINC00472 has been reported to play crucial roles in multiple cancers. However, the role of LINC00472 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still not clear. This study found that LncRNA LINC00472 was significantly down-regulated in several squamous cell carcinoma cancer tissues and OSCC cell lines. Over-expression of LINC00472 in OSCC cells inhibited OSCC progression and alleviated OSCC immune responses. Additionally, we confirmed that LINC00472 functioned as an hsa-miR-4311 sponge and regulated the expression of GNG7 (guanine nucleotide-binding protein, gamma 7). Also, we found that LINC00472 over-expression could suppress xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Our study provides evidence that LINC00472 plays an essential role in inhibiting oral squamous cell carcinoma progression and affecting immune responses by directly binding to hsa-miR-4311 to regulate the expression of GNG7 positively.

Thinopyrum intermedium TiAP1 interacts with a chitin deacetylase from Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici and increases the resistance to Bgt in wheat

The biotrophic fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) is a crucial factor causing reduction in global wheat production. Wild wheat relatives, for example Thinopyrum intermedium, is one of the wild-used parents in wheat disease-resistant breeding. From T. intermedium line, we identified the aspartic protease gene, TiAP1, which is involved in resistance against Bgt. TiAP1 is a secreted protein that accumulates in large amounts at the infection sites of Bgt and extends to the intercellular space. Yeast two-hybrid, luciferase complementation imaging and bimolecular florescent complimentary analysis showed that TiAP1 interacted with the chitin deacetylase (BgtCDA1) of Bgt. The yeast expression, purification and in vitro test confirmed the chitin deacetylase activity of BgtCDA1. The bombardment and VIGS-mediated host-induced gene silencing showed that BgtCDA1 promotes the invasion of Bgt. Transcriptome analysis showed the cell wall xylan metabolism, lignin biosynthesis-related and defence genes involved in the signal transduction were up-regulated in the transgenic TiAP1 wheat induced by Bgt. The TiAP1 in wheat may inactivate the deacetylation function of BgtCDA1, cause chitin oligomers expose to wheat chitin receptor, then trigger the wheat immune response to inhibit the growth and penetration of Bgt, and thereby enhance the resistance of wheat to pathogens.

ChREBP Deficiency Suppresses Renal Inflammation and Fibrosis Via Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Diabetic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most-common cause of chronic renal failure and end-stage renal disease (ERSD) in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Renal inflammation and glomerular or interstitial fibrosis are mainly associated with the progression of DKD. Carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) is activated and transcribed in a glucose dependent manner. This study is aimed at exploring the role and underlying mechanisms of ChREBP in DKD.

METHODS

ChREBP knockout mice, obtained by CRISPR Cas9 gene editing technology, were used to study the effects of ChREBP on inflammation and fibrosis in diabetic kidney of mice. Human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells were cultured in a medium containing normal or high glucose levels. Additionally, the role of ChREBP in high glucose (HG)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation was assessed.

RESULTS

We identified that renal inflammation, renal extracellular matrix deposition, and renal fibrosis were restored by ChREBP deficiency in diabetic mouse kidney. Consequently, ChREBP deficiency decreased the activation of nucleotide leukin-rich polypeptide 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, which later restrained hyperglycemia-induced renal fibrosis. Importantly, NLRP3 inflammasome aggravated the above-mentioned renal fibrosis via TGF-β1 expression and the signaling pathways of Smad2/3 and the p38 MAPK. Additionally, ChREBP deficiency inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation both in HG-induced HK-2 cells and diabetic mouse kidney.

CONCLUSION

Our findings establish a critical role of ChREBP in engaging inflammation and renal fibrosis by regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation in DKD.

Optimization of a technology-supported physical activity promotion intervention for breast cancer survivors: Results from Fit2Thrive

BACKGROUND

The benefits of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for breast cancer survivors are well established. However, most are insufficiently active. Fit2Thrive used the Multiphase Optimization Strategy methodology to determine the effect of 5 intervention components on MVPA in this population.

METHODS

Two hundred sixty-nine participants (mean age, 52.5 years; SD, 9.9 years) received a core intervention (the Fit2Thrive self-monitoring app and Fitbit) and were randomly assigned to 5 intervention components set to on/off in a full factorial experiment: support calls, deluxe app, buddy, online gym, and text messages. The intervention was delivered over 12 weeks with a 12-week follow-up. MVPA was measured via accelerometry at the baseline (T1), at 12 weeks (T2), and at 24 weeks (T3). The main effects and interaction effects at each time point were examined for all components.

RESULTS

Trial retention was high: 91.8% had valid accelerometer data at T2 or T3. Across all conditions, there were significant increases in MVPA (+53.6 min/wk; P < .001) and in the proportion of survivors meeting MVPA guidelines (+22.3%; P < .001) at T2 that were maintained but attenuated at T3 (MVPA, +24.6 min/wk; P < .001; meeting guidelines, +12.6%; P < .001). No individual components significantly improved MVPA, although increases were greater for the on level versus the off level for support calls, buddy, and text messages at T2 and T3.

CONCLUSIONS

The Fit2Thrive core intervention (the self-monitoring app and Fitbit) is promising for increasing MVPA in breast cancer survivors, but the components provided no additional increases in MVPA. Future research should evaluate the core intervention in a randomized trial and determine what components optimize MVPA behaviors in breast cancer survivors.

New management unit for conservation of the Endangered green turtle Chelonia mydas at the Xisha (Paracel) Islands, South China Sea

The Qilianyu cluster of the Xisha (Paracel) Islands has one of the few remaining green turtle Chelonia mydas rookeries in the China region. Genetic samples were obtained from dead green turtle embryos and hatchlings salvaged from post-hatched nests at Middle Island (n = 3), North Island (n = 9) and South Sand (n = 1) of the Qilianyu cluster in 2017-2019. The ~800 bp mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced from the samples, and 5 haplotypes were identified belonging to 2 documented clades (clades III and VIII), including 2 new haplotypes (CmP243.1 and CmP244.1) and 3 previously reported haplotypes (CmP18.1, CmP19.1, CmP20.1). These results were combined with previously published mtDNA data for the Qilianyu cluster and nearby (~93 km) Yongle Islands indicating a lack of differentiation based on truncated 384 bp control region sequences (exact test, p = 0.0997; FST = 0.015, p = 0.2760), to represent a single Xisha Islands rookery. The rookery at the Xisha Islands was significantly differentiated (p < 0.01) from all 19 management units (MUs) documented in the Indo-Pacific and Japan regions, supporting recognition of the Xisha Islands rookery as a new independent MU. The results will help inform national and international conservation action plans by China and the countries around the South China Sea to protect green turtles in the West Pacific Ocean.

Application of Amplicon-Based Targeted NGS Technology for Diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Using FFPE Specimens

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) enables rapid identification of common and rare drug-resistant genetic variations from tuberculosis (TB) patients' sputum samples and MTB isolates. However, whether this technology is effective for formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues remains unclear. An amplicon-based targeted NGS sequencing panel was developed to predict susceptibility to 9 antituberculosis drugs, including 3 first-line drugs, by directly detecting FFPE tissues. A total of 178 tissue samples from TB patients who underwent phenotypic drug susceptibility test were retrospectively tested from January 2017 to October 2019 in the Department of Pathology, Beijing Chest Hospital, China. Phenotypic drug susceptibility test results were used as the reference standard. We identified 22 high-quality mutations from 178 FFPE tissue samples, including 15 high+moderate+minimal confidence-level mutations associated with drug resistance (rpoB D435V, S450F/L; KatG S315T; inhA-fabG promoter c-15t; embB G406S, M306V; rpsL K43R, K88R, rrs a1401g, a514c; gyrA D94G/Y/A, A90V), 6 mutations not associated with resistance (rpoB D435Y, H445S, L430P, L452P; embB G406A/D), and one mutation site embB M306I defined as indeterminate. Compared to the phenotypic method, sensitivities (95% CI) for rifampicin, isoniazid, and ethambutol were 96% (79.65-99.90%), 93.55% (78.58-99.21%), and 71.43% (35.24-92.44%), respectively; while for second-line drugs, it varied from 23.53% (9.05-47.77%) for capreomycin to 86.84% (72.20-94.72%) for streptomycin. Specificities for all drugs were satisfactory (>94.51%). Therefore, important pathological FFPE tissue samples, despite partially degraded DNA, can be used as essential specimens for molecular diagnosis of drug resistant TB by amplicon-based targeted NGS technology. IMPORTANCE Amplicon-based targeted NGS technology focuses on a set of gene mutations of known or suspected associations with drug susceptibility in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). This method offers many benefits, such as low sequencing cost, easy customization, high throughput, shorter testing time and not culture dependent. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are important pathological specimen in diagnosing tuberculous disease because they are noninfectious and provide excellent preservation of tissue morphology with low storage cost. However, the performance of amplicon-based targeted NGS method on FFPE samples has not been reported yet. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of this method using FFPE samples collected from January 2017 to October 2019 in the Department of Pathology, Beijing Chest Hospital, China. We demonstrate that the amplicon-based targeted NGS method performs excellent on FFPE samples, and it can be applied to pathological diagnosis of drug resistant tuberculosis.

[Association of thrombocytopenia with mortality after surgery in patients with Standford type A aortic dissection]

Objective: To evaluate the association of thromboytopenia with mortality of Standford type A aortic dissection after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Methods: Total of 498 patients with Standford type A aortic dissection after surgery in Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from May 2017 to December 2018 were collected retrospectively. There were 350 males and 148 females, with a mean age of (51.7±12.0) years. The patients were divided into thrombocytopenia group (platelet count<75×10¹⁵/L, n=178) and normal platelet group (platelet count≥75×10¹⁵/L, n=320) according to the lowest platelet count within 72 hours after surgery. The perioperative in-hospital mortality and related complications were calculated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, and the secondary endpoints included secondary thoracotomy, pneumonia, postoperative continuous renal replacement therapy, paraplegia, heart failure, length of hospital stay and intensive care unit (ICU) stay time. Results: The morbidity of thrombocytopenia after Standford type A aortic dissection surgery was 35.7% (178/498). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative thrombocytopenia was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality and 7 secondary endpoints (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed thrombocytopenia after aortic dissection surgery was significantly associated with increased postoperative mortality (OR=12.57, 95%CI: 2.26-69.93, P=0.004), secondary thoracotomy (OR=6.21, 95%CI: 1.31-29.46, P=0.022), continuous renal replacement therapy (OR=7.51, 95%CI: 2.53-22.34, P<0.001), paraplegia (OR=23.99, 95%CI: 1.47-392.21, P=0.026), heart failure (OR=4.71, 95%CI: 1.19-18.62, P=0.027) and longer ICU stay time (OR=1.86, 95%CI: 1.11-3.12, P=0.019). Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia after Standford type A aortic dissection after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (the lowest platelet count within 72 hours) is strongly associated with postoperative in-hospital mortality. Trying to avoid the factors related to thrombocytopenia can prevent more complications at the same time.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored micronemal antigen (GAMA) interacts with the band 3 receptor to promote erythrocyte invasion by malaria parasites

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored micronemal antigen (GAMA) is an erythrocyte binding protein known to be involved in malarial parasite invasion. Although anti-GAMA antibodies have been shown to block GAMA attachment to the erythrocyte surface and subsequently inhibit parasite invasion, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which GAMA promotes the invasion process. In this study, LC-MS analysis was performed on the erythrocyte membrane to identify the specific receptor that interacts with GAMA. We found that ankyrin 1 and the band 3 membrane protein showed affinity for GAMA, and characterization of their binding specificity indicated that both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax GAMA bound to the same extracellular loop of band 3 (loop 5). In addition, we show the interaction between GAMA and band 3 was sensitive to chymotrypsin. Furthermore, antibodies against band 3 loop 5 were able to reduce the binding activity of GAMA to erythrocytes and inhibit the invasion of P. falciparum merozoites into human erythrocytes, whereas antibodies against P. falciparum GAMA (PfGAMA)-Tr3 only slightly reduced P. falciparum invasion. The identification and characterization of the erythrocyte GAMA receptor is a novel finding that identifies an essential mechanism of parasite invasion of host erythrocytes.

App based education programme to reduce salt intake (AppSalt) in schoolchildren and their families in China: parallel, cluster randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a smartphone application based education programme can lower salt intake in schoolchildren and their families.

DESIGN

Parallel, cluster randomised controlled trial, with schools randomly assigned to either intervention or control group (1:1).

SETTING

54 primary schools from three provinces in northern, central, and southern China, from 15 September 2018 to 27 December 2019.

PARTICIPANTS

592 children (308 (52.0%) boys; mean age 8.58 (standard deviation 0.41) years) in grade 3 of primary school (about 11 children per school) and 1184 adult family members (551 (46.5%) men; mean age 45.80 (12.87) years).

INTERVENTION

Children in the intervention group were taught, with support of the app, about salt reduction and assigned homework to encourage their families to participate in activities to reduce salt consumption.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome was the difference in salt intake change (measured by 24 hour urinary sodium excretion) at 12 month follow-up, between the intervention and control groups.

RESULTS

After baseline assessment, 297 children and 594 adult family members (from 27 schools) were allocated to the intervention group, and 295 children and 590 adult family members (from 27 schools) were allocated to the control group. During the trial, 27 (4.6%) children and 112 (9.5%) adults were lost to follow-up, owing to children having moved to another school or adults unable to attend follow-up assessments. The remaining 287 children and 546 adults (from 27 schools) in the intervention group and 278 children and 526 adults (from 27 schools) in the control group completed the 12 month follow-up assessment. Mean salt intake at baseline was 5.5 g/day (standard deviation 1.9) in children and 10.0 g/day (3.5) in adults in the intervention group, and 5.6 g/day (2.1) in children and 10.0 g/day (3.6) in adults in the control group. During the study, salt intake of the children increased in both intervention and control groups but to a lesser extent in the intervention group (mean effect of intervention after adjusting for confounding factors -0.25 g/day, 95% confidence interval -0.61 to 0.12, P=0.18). In adults, salt intake decreased in both intervention and control groups but to a greater extent in the intervention group (mean effect -0.82 g/day, -1.24 to -0.40, P<0.001). The mean effect on systolic blood pressure was -0.76 mm Hg (-2.37 to 0.86, P=0.36) in children and -1.64 mm Hg (-3.01 to -0.27, P=0.02) in adults.

CONCLUSIONS

The app based education programme delivered through primary school, using a child-to-parent approach, was effective in lowering salt intake and systolic blood pressure in adults, but the effects were not significant in children. Although this novel approach could potentially be scaled up to larger populations, the programme needs further strengthening to reduce salt intake across the whole population, including schoolchildren.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800017553.

SR-A neutralizing antibody: potential drug candidate for ameliorating osteoclastogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by proliferative synovitis with deterioration of cartilage and bone. Osteoclasts (OCs) are the active participants in the bone destruction of RA. Although with great advances, most current therapeutic strategies for RA have limited effects on bone destruction. Macrophage scavenger receptor A (SR-A) is a class of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) involved in bone metabolism and OC differentiation. More recently, our study revealed the critical role of SR-A in RA diagnosis and pathogenesis. Here, we further demonstrated that serum SR-A levels were positively correlated with bone destruction in patients with RA. Anti-SR-A neutralizing antibodies significantly inhibited OC differentiation and bone absorption in vitro in patients with RA, but not in healthy individuals, dampening the expression of OC-specific genes such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), cathepsin K (CTSK), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Similar results were also seen in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice in vitro. Moreover, the anti-SR-A neutralizing antibody could further ameliorate osteoclastogenesis in vivo and ex vivo in CIA mice, accompanied by decreased serum levels of C-terminal telopeptide and IL-6, exhibiting potential protective effects. These results suggest that blockade of SR-A using anti-SR-A neutralizing antibodies might provide a promising therapeutic strategy for bone destruction in the RA.

[Effects of adenovirus-mediated shRNA down-regulates PTEN expression on fibril-binding proteins vinculin, filamin A and cortactin in activated hepatic stellate cells]

Objective: To investigate the effect of adenovirus-mediated shRNA down-regulating phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) expression on vinculin, filamin A, and cortactin in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods: Activated rats hepatic stellate cell line (HSC-T6) was cultured in vitro. Recombinant adenovirus Ad-shRNA/PTEN carrying PTEN targeted RNA interference sequence [short hairpin RNA (shRNA)] and empty control virus Ad-GFP were transfected into HSCs. The PTEN mRNA and protein expression of HSCs in each group were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot. The expressional change of vinculin, filamin A and cortactin in HSCs of each group were detected by confocal laser scanning immunofluorescence microscope. Image-pro plus 6.0 software was used for image analysis and processing. The integrated optical density (IOD) of the fluorescence protein expression was measured. The experiment was divided into three groups: control group (DMEM instead of adenovirus solution in the adenovirus transfection step), Ad-GFP group (transfected with empty virus Ad-GFP only expressing green fluorescent protein), and Ad-shRNA/PTEN group (recombinant adenovirus Ad-shRNA/PTEN carrying shRNA targeting PTEN and expressing green fluorescent protein). One-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of mean value among the three groups, and LSD-test was used for comparison between the groups. Results: shRNA targeted PTEN was successfully transfected and the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein in HSC (P < 0.05) was significantly down-regulated. HSCs vinculin was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm. HSCs vinculin fluorescence IOD in the Ad-shRNA/PTEN group (19 758.83 ± 1 520.60) was higher than control (7 737.16 ± 279.93) and Ad-GFP group (7 725.50 ± 373.03) (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between control group and Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the fluorescence IOD of Filamin A among the three groups (P > 0.05), but the subcellular distribution of Filamin A among the three groups were changed. Filamin A in the Ad-shrNA /PTEN HSC group was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. Filamin A HSC was mainly located in the nucleus.The filamin A HSC in the control group and Ad-GFP group was mainly located in the nucleus. The nucleocytoplasmic ratio of Filamin A in the AD-shrNA /PTEN group (0.60 ± 0.15) was significantly lower than control group (1.20 ± 0.15) and Ad-GFP group (1.08 ± 0.23), P < 0.05. but there was no statistically significant difference in filamin A nucleocytoplasmic ratio of HSC between the control group and the Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). Cortactin HSCs in the three groups was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. The cortactin fluorescence IOD of HSCs in the Ad-shRNA/PTEN group was significantly higher than control group (22 959.94 ± 1 710.42) and the Ad-GFP group (22 547.11 ± 1 588.72 ) (P < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in the IOD of cortactin fluorescence in HSCs between the control group and the Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The down-regulation of PTEN expression raises the expression of microfilament-binding protein vinculin and cortactin, and changes the subcellular distribution of another microfilament binding protein filamin A, that is, translocation from nucleus to the cytoplasm in activated HSC in vitro.

Measurement of Prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) Production in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The p_{T}-differential production cross sections of prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) charmed hadrons are measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV. This is the first measurement of Σ_{c}^{0,++} production in hadronic collisions. Assuming the same production yield for the three Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} isospin states, the baryon-to-meson cross section ratios Σ_{c}^{0,+,++}/D^{0} and Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} are calculated in the transverse momentum (p_{T}) intervals 2<p_{T}<12 and 1<p_{T}<24  GeV/c. Values significantly larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions are observed, indicating for the first time that baryon enhancement in hadronic collisions also extends to the Σ_{c}. The feed-down contribution to Λ_{c}^{+} production from Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} is also reported and is found to be larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions. The data are compared with predictions from event generators and other phenomenological models, providing a sensitive test of the different charm-hadronization mechanisms implemented in the models.

Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Chronic Carotid Artery Occlusion on High-Resolution MR Vessel Wall Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Chronic carotid artery occlusion remains a poorly understood risk factor for subsequent stroke, and potential revascularization is dependent on understanding the anatomy and nature of the occlusion. Luminal imaging cannot assess the nature of an occlusion, so the internal structure of the occlusion must be inferred. The present study examines the signal characteristics of symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid occlusion that may point to management differentiation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prospectively recruited patients who were diagnosed with chronic carotid artery occlusion defined as longer than 4 weeks and confirmed by DSA. All patients underwent high-resolution MR vessel wall imaging examinations after enrollment. Baseline characteristics, vessel wall imaging features, and DSA features were collected and evaluated. The vessel wall imaging features included segment involvement, signal intensity, contrast enhancement, and vessel wall thickness. The symptomatic and asymptomatic chronic carotid artery occlusions were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 44 patients with 48 lesions were included in this study from February 2020 to December 2020. Of the 48 lesions, 35 (72.9%) were symptomatic and 13 (27.1%) were asymptomatic. There was no difference in baseline and DSA features. On vessel wall imaging, C1 and C2 were the most commonly involved segments (91.7% and 68.8%, respectively). Compared with symptomatic lesions, asymptomatic lesions were more often isointense (69.2%) in the distal segment (P = .03). Both groups had diffuse wall thickening (80% and 100%).

CONCLUSIONS

Signal characteristics between those with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery occlusions differ in a statistically significant fashion, indicating a different structure of the occlusion.

Aluminum inhibits non-amyloid pathways via retinoic acid receptor

BACKGROUND

Aluminium neurotoxicity has been widely confirmed and mainly manifests as cognitive impairment. Al³⁺ can inhibit the expression of ADAM10, a key enzyme of the nonamyloid pathway, but its mechanism of toxicity has not been fully elucidated. Studies have shown that RARs can regulate ADAM10 expression.

METHODS

We explored whether Al³⁺ affects the expression of ADAM10 through RARs, thereby affecting the nonamyloid pathway.

RESULTS

Al³⁺ reduced the expressions of RARα, RARβ and ADAM10. The expression levels of the RARα, RARβ and ADAM10 proteins were upregulated in the RA group compared with the control group. In the RA + 200 μmol Al(mal)₃ group, the downregulation of RARα, RARβ and ADAM10 was weaker than that of the 200 μmol Al(mal)₃ group, which indicated that RA participated in and upregulated the expression of ADAM10 through RARα and RARβ.

CONCLUSION

Al³⁺ inhibits ADAM10 expression through RARα and RARβ and results in a decrease in the nonamyloid pathway.

Associations of Sarcopenic Parameters with Dysphagia in Older Nursing Home Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia and dysphagia in nursing homes and to analyze the associations between sarcopenic parameters and dysphagia.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Nursing homes in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 365 participants (122 men and 243 women) aged 60 years or older who could walk independently or with walking aids for at least 50 meters.

MEASUREMENTS

Dysphagia was defined by the water swallow test and sarcopenia and its components were evaluated by the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia, 2019. The values and percentages of sarcopenia associated parameters in relation to dysphagia were analyzed in both male and female residents. The Benjamini-Hochberg method was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. The relationship between sarcopenic components and dysphagia was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis by sex.

RESULTS

A total of 365 residents (mean age: 84.28 years; 122 men and 243 women) were included in the study. Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 63.0% (n=230) and dysphagia in 75.3% (n = 275) of residents. For men, the percentage of sarcopenia was higher in residents with dysphagia. However, the sarcopenia percentage did not differ significantly between women with and without dysphagia. In both men and women, the handgrip strength (HGS) values were significantly lower in the dysphagic residents. The calf circumference (CC) value and appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) were significantly lower in dysphagic men, while the SARC-CalF scores were higher. In women, the SPPB score was lower in residents with dysphagia. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that low calf circumference (OR 4.415, 95% CI 1.561-12.490) and sarcopenia (OR 2.968, 95% CI 1.121-7.858) were significantly associated with dysphagia in men after adjusting for co-factors.

CONCLUSION

There is a high percentage of both dysphagia and sarcopenia in nursing home residents in West China. Low calf circumference and sarcopenia had strong associations with dysphagia among male nursing home residents.

APP palmitoylation is involved in the increase in Aβ1-42 induced by aluminum

The increase in Aβ_1-42 is a neurotoxic effect induced by aluminum which can lead to impairment of learning and memory, but its mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. Studies have shown that APP palmitoylation is appears to be involved in the production process of Aβ_1-42. Here, we investigated whether APP palmitoylation is related to the increase in Aβ caused by aluminum and its specific mechanism of action. In this study, APP palmitoylation was studied in the setting of aluminum-induced increases in Aβ_1-42 from two perspectives: whole animal experiments and in vitro cell experiments. First, the learning and memory of rats were impaired and the number of rat cortical neurons was decreased after staining with aluminum. Second, the expression of palmitoyl APP, APP in lipid rafts and palmitoyl acyltransferase zDHHC7 both in rat cerebral cortex and PC12 cells increased with the production of Aβ_1-42 induced by aluminum in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, the intervention with the palmitoylation inhibitors 2-BP and siRNA zDHHC7 in PC12 cells reduced levels of palmitoyl APP, the expression of APP in lipid rafts and the content of Aβ_1-42 induced by aluminum to a certain extent. Our results indicate that increased APP palmitoylation levels may be related to the increase in Aβ_1-42 caused by aluminum, and the mechanism may involve APP palmitoylation promoting the accumulation of APP protein on lipid rafts and the cleavage of APP by BACE1 in amyloidogenic pathway. The increase in expression of zDHHC7 may be one of the reasons for the increase in levels of APP palmitoylation caused by aluminum.

A novel observation platform for determining the micro-dispersion performance in practical reaction systems

A novel observation platform by placing the downstream observation window vertically has been constructed, and the actual micro-dispersion state can be exactly reflected in the observation window.

A novel 8-genome instability-associated lncRNAs signature predicting prognosis and drug sensitivity in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Genome instability lncRNA (GILnc) is prevalently related with gastric cancer (GC) pathophysiology. However, the study on the relationship GILnc and prognosis and drug sensitivity of GC remains scarce.

METHOD

We extracted expression data of 375 GC patients from TCGA cohort and 205 GC patients from GSE26942 cohort. Then, lncRNA was separated from expression data, and systematically characterized the 8 marker lncRNAs using the LASSO method. Next, we constructed a GILnc model (GILnc score) to quantify the GILnc index of each GC patient. Finally, we analyzed the relationship between GILnc score and clinical traits including survival outcomes, TP53, and drug sensitivity of GC.

RESULTS

Based on a computational frame, 205 GILncs in GC has been identified. Then, a 8 GILncs was successfully established to predict overall survival in GC patients based on LASSO analysis, divided GC samples into high GILnc score and low GILnc score groups with significantly different outcome and was validated in multiple independent patient cohorts. Furthermore, GILnc model is better than the prediction performance of two recently published lncRNA signatures, and the high GILnc score group was more sensitive to mitomycin. Besides, the GILnc score has greater prognostic significance than TP53 mutation status alone and is capable of identifying intermediate subtype group existing with partial TP53 functionality in TP53 wild-type patients. Finally, GILnc signature as verified in GSE26942.

CONCLUSION

We applied bioinformatics approaches to suggest that a 8 GILnc signature could serve as prognostic biomarkers, and provide a novel direction to explore the pathogenesis of GC.

Kinetic study of o-nitrotoluene nitration in a homogeneously continuous microflow

Determination of nitration kinetics of o-nitrotoluene with a homogeneously continuous microflow system.

Measurement of the Cross Sections of Ξ_{c}^{0} and Ξ_{c}^{+} Baryons and of the Branching-Fraction Ratio BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})/BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+}) in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The p_{T}-differential cross sections of prompt charm-strange baryons Ξ_{c}^{0} and Ξ_{c}^{+} were measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in proton-proton (pp) collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The Ξ_{c}^{0} baryon was reconstructed via both the semileptonic decay (Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e}) and the hadronic decay (Ξ^{-}π^{+}) channels. The Ξ_{c}^{+} baryon was reconstructed via the hadronic decay (Ξ^{-}π^{+}π^{+}) channel. The branching-fraction ratio BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})/BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+})=1.38±0.14(stat)±0.22(syst) was measured with a total uncertainty reduced by a factor of about 3 with respect to the current world average reported by the Particle Data Group. The transverse momentum (p_{T}) dependence of the Ξ_{c}^{0}- and Ξ_{c}^{+}-baryon production relative to the D^{0} meson and to the Σ_{c}^{0,+,++}- and Λ_{c}^{+}-baryon production are reported. The baryon-to-meson ratio increases toward low p_{T} up to a value of approximately 0.3. The measurements are compared with various models that take different hadronization mechanisms into consideration. The results provide stringent constraints to these theoretical calculations and additional evidence that different processes are involved in charm hadronization in electron-positron (e^{+}e^{-}) and hadronic collisions.

[The impact of occupational aluminum exposure on workers' overall cognitive function and various cognitive fields]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of occupational aluminum exposure on workers' overall cognitive function and cognitive fields. Methods: From July to August 2019, using the method of cluster sampling, 101 and 117 workers were selected from the electrolytic aluminum workshop of an aluminum plant in a region and the maintenance workshop of a plant in the same region. The venous blood of the subjects was collected, the plasma was extracted, and the blood aluminum concentration was measured by ICP-MS. According to the blood aluminum concentration and type of work, 93 workers who were lower than the median blood aluminum concentration and in the maintenance workshop of a factory were divided into low aluminum exposure group, and 85 workers who were higher than the median blood aluminum concentration and in the electrolytic aluminum workshop of an aluminum factory were divided into high aluminum exposure group. The basic information of the respondents, was collected through the employee physical examination form. The overall cognitive function of workers was evaluated by Beijing Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) . Multiple linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were used for multiple statistical analysis. Results: Compared with the low aluminum exposure group (25.42±1.808) , the total score of MoCA in the high aluminum exposure group (23.84±2.919) was significantly lower, and the scores of visual space, executive function, abstract and delayed recall were significantly lower (P<0.05) . Linear regression analysis showed that the total score of MoCA, visual space and executive function, naming and delayed recall were negatively correlated with blood aluminum concentration (β=-0.018、-0.008、-0.003、-0.008, P<0.05) .MOCA total score, visual space and executive function, attention, language, abstraction, orientation were positively correlated with educational level (β=0.853、0.310、0.216、0.171、0.412、0.122, P<0.05) . Logistic regression analysis showed that adjusting for age, smoking, drinking and education, blood aluminum was a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (OR=1.017, P<0.05) ; Education level was the protective factor of mild cognitive impairment (OR=0.419, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Occupational aluminum exposure can affect the overall cognitive function of workers, and occupational aluminum exposure increases the risk of MCI.

Time-resolved Rayleigh scattering measurements of methane clusters for laser-cluster fusion experiments

We present a time-resolved analysis of Rayleigh scattering measurements to determine the average size of methane clusters and find the optimum timing for laser-cluster fusion experiments. We measure Rayleigh scattering and determine the average size of methane clusters varying the backing pressure (P₀) from 11 bar to 69 bar. Regarding the onset of clustering, we estimate that the average size of methane clusters at the onset of clustering is N_c0≅20 at 11 bar. According to our measurements, the average cluster radius r follows the power law of r∝P₀^1.86. Our ion time-of-flight measurements indicate that we have produced energetic deuterium ions with kT = 52±2 keV after laser-cluster interaction using CD₄ gas at 50 bar. We find that this ion temperature agrees with the predicted temperature from CD₄ clusters at 50 bar with r = 14 nm assuming the Coulomb explosion model.

Effect of cognitive behavioral therapy and WeChat-based health education on patients underwent peripherally inserted central catheter line placement

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and WeChat-based health education on patients underwent peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line placement.

METHODS

The clinical data of 113 patients with PICC line placement in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected and the patients were divided into two groups according to the intervention methods. Group A (n=56) received routine care of PICC line placement, while group B (n=57) received CBT and WeChat-based health education. The social support, Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores, Quality of Life Scale (QLQ-C30) scores, catheter care compliance, complications and score of self-care ability were compared between the two groups before and after intervention.

RESULTS

After intervention, group B had higher social support utilization, subjective and objective support scores, social support scores, quality of life scores, lower SAS and SDS scores, and higher catheter maintenance compliance than group A (P < 0.05). The complication rate was 3.51% in group B, which was significantly lower than 25.00% in group A (P < 0.05). The score of self-care ability in group B was higher than that in group A after intervention (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

CBT and WeChat-based health education have significant effects on improving patients' catheter maintenance compliance, score of self-care ability, social support and quality of life, which can alleviate dysphoria and reduce the incidence of complications.

Pan-Cancer Analysis Reveals the Signature of TMC Family of Genes as a Promising Biomarker for Prognosis and Immunotherapeutic Response

Transmembrane Channel-like (TMC) genes are critical in the carcinogenesis, proliferation, and cell cycle of human cancers. However, the multi-omics features of TMCs and their role in the prognosis and immunotherapeutic response of human cancer have not been explored. We discovered that TMCs 4-8 were commonly deregulated and correlated with patient survival in a variety of cancers. For example, TMC5 and TMC8 were correlated with the relapse and overall survival rates of breast cancer and skin melanoma, respectively. These results were validated by multiple independent cohorts. TMCs were regulated by DNA methylation and somatic alterations, such as TMC5 amplification in breast cancer (523/1062, 49.2%). Six algorithms concordantly uncovered the critical role of TMCs in the tumor microenvironment, potentially regulating immune cell toxicity and lymphocytes infiltration. Moreover, TMCs 4-8 were correlated with tumor mutation burden and expression of PD-1/PD-L1/CTLA4 in 33 cancers. Thus, we established an immunotherapy response prediction (IRP) score based on the signature of TMCs 4-8. Patients with higher IRP scores showed higher immunotherapeutic responses in five cohorts of skin melanoma (area under curve [AUC] = 0.90 in the training cohort, AUCs range from 0.70 to 0.83 in the validation cohorts). Together, our study highlights the great potential of TMCs as biomarkers for prognosis and immunotherapeutic response, which can pave the way for further investigation of the tumor-infiltrating mechanisms and therapeutic potentials of TMCs in cancer.

A synonymous mutation in IGF-1 impacts the transcription and translation process of gene expression

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is considered to be a crucial gene in the animal development of bone and body size. In this study, a unique synonymous mutation (c.258 A > G) of the IGF-1 gene was modified with an adenine base editor to observe the growth and developmental situation of mutant mice. Significant expression differences and molecular mechanisms among vectors with different alanine synonymous codons were explored. Although modification of a single synonymous codon rarely interferes with animal phenotypes, we observed that the expression and secretion of IGF-1 were different between 8-week-old homozygous (Ho) and wild-type (WT) mice. In addition, the IGF-1 with optimal codon combinations showed a higher expression content than other codon combination modes at both transcription and translation levels and performed proliferation promotion. The gene stability and translation initiation efficiency also changed significantly. Our findings illustrated that the synonymous mutation altered the IGF-1 gene expression in individual mice and suggested that the synonymous mutation affected the IGF-1 expression and biological function through the transcription and translation processes.

Ni-Fe oxide-PEDOT modified anode coupled with BAF treating ammonia and nitrite in recirculating seawater of aquaculture system

Efficient ammonia and nitrite removal in low nutrient recirculating seawater of recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is critical for healthy cultivation. However, it is hard for conventional biological aerated filters (BAFs) to meet this demand under short hydraulic retention time (HRT). The electrooxidation-BAFs (E-BAFs) were constructed for efficient seawater treatment in a RAS of Sebastes schlegelii, with high activity anodic catalyst Ni-Fe oxide-PEDOT. Satisfactory ammonia removal (88.2% in E-BAFs, 33.7% higher than the control, stage 3) and nitrite removal (69.9 % in E-BAFs, 45.3% in the control) were achieved at HRT of 50 min. The proportion of nitrifying bacteria (Nitrospira, Nitrosomonas and Nitrosopumilus) and nitrification/denitrification genes (amoCAB, nxrAB, narGHI, et. al) were higher in E-BAFs than the control, suggesting better potential in functional bacteria enrichment. Aerobic colony number in RAS with E-BAFs was lower and specific growth rate (SGR) of Sebastes schlegelii (3.79%) was significantly higher, indicating a better culture effect.

Whole-transcriptome analysis of aluminum-exposed rat hippocampus and identification of ceRNA networks to investigate neurotoxicity of Al

Aluminum is a known neurotoxin that can induce Aβ deposition and abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein, leading to Alzheimer disease (AD)-like damages such as neuronal damage and decreased learning and memory functions. In this study, we constructed a rat model of subchronic aluminum maltol exposure, and the whole-transcriptome sequencing was performed on the hippocampus of the control group and the middle-dose group. A total of 167 miRNAs, 37 lncRNAs, 256 mRNAs, and 64 circRNAs expression changed. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes showed that PI3K/AKT pathway was the most enriched pathway of DEGs, and IRS1 was the core molecule in the PPI network. circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks of all DEGs, DEGs in the PI3K/AKT pathway, and IRS1 were constructed by Cytoscape. Molecular experiment results showed that aluminum inhibited the IRS1/PI3K/AKT pathway and increased the content of Aβ and tau. In addition, we also constructed an AAV intervention rat model, proving that inhibition of miR-96-5p expression might resist aluminum-induced injury by upregulating expression of IRS1. In general, these results suggest that the ceRNA networks are involved in the neurotoxic process of aluminum, providing a new strategy for studying the toxicity mechanism of aluminum and finding biological targets for the prevention and treatment of AD.

Sleep Disturbance Trajectories in Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Sleep disturbance is common among adults with osteoarthritis (OA), but little is known about patterns over time. In this cohort study, we identified restless sleep trajectories and associated factors in adults with or at high risk for knee OA.

METHODS

Longitudinal (2004-2014) restless sleep (≥3 nights/week) annual reports over 8 years from 4359 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants were analyzed. Group-based trajectory modeling identified heterogeneous temporal patterns. Logistic regression identified baseline health and behavioral predictors of trajectory membership.

RESULTS

Four restless sleep trajectory groups were identified: good (69.7%, persistently low restless sleep probabilities), worsening (9.1%), improving (11.7%), and poor (9.5%, persistently high). Among 2 groups initially having low restless sleep prevalence, the worsening trajectory group had an increased likelihood of baseline cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-2.33), pulmonary disease (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.07-2.05), lower physical activity (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03-1.61), knee pain (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07), depressive symptoms (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06), and a decreased likelihood of better mental health (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.98) at baseline. Among 2 groups initially having high restless sleep prevalence, the poor group had an increased likelihood of baseline depressive symptoms (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Four trajectories of restless sleep over 8 years were identified using data collected from over 4000 older adults aged 45 to 79 years with or at higher risk for knee OA. The presence of depressive symptoms, less physical activity, knee pain, poor mental health, cardiovascular disease, or pulmonary disease was each associated with unfavorable trajectories.

Mechanism by Which Aluminum Regulates the Abnormal Phosphorylation of the Tau Protein in Different Cell Lines

Aluminum (Al) is an environmental neurotoxin to which humans are extensively exposed; however, the molecular mechanism of aluminum toxicity is unclear. Several studies have indicated that exposure to aluminum can cause abnormal phosphorylation of the tau protein. The purpose of this study was to investigate respectively the special molecular mechanism of abnormal regulation on synthesis and degradation of the tau protein induced by AlCl₃ in cells of different species. The results of tau protein showed that the sites of abnormal tau phosphorylation induced by AlCl₃ are Thr231, Ser262, and Ser396 in N2a cells. Meanwhile, the expressions of Thr181, Thr231, and Ser262 increased abnormally in SH-SY5Y cells. The result of the study showed that PP2A expression was high in N2a cells, while GSK-3β and PP2A in SH-SY5Y cells were involved in the synthesis process of abnormal tau phosphorylation induced by AlCl₃. In N2a cells, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) mainly regulated tau phosphorylation at Ser262 and Ser396. Meanwhile, in SH-SY5Y cells, the UPP mainly regulated tau phosphorylation at Thr231 and Ser396. In summary, the UPP is involved in the degradation of Tau that is abnormally phosphorylated induced by AlCl₃, but this process is site-specific and differs in cells of different species.

The Prepropalustrin-2CE2 and Preprobrevinin-2CE3 Gene from Rana Chensinensis: Gene Expression, Genomic Organization, and Functional Analysis of the Promoter Activity

BACKGROUND

Palustrin-2CE2 and brevinin-2CE3 are antimicrobial peptides from Rana chensinensis. In R. chensinensis tadpoles, the expression of prepropalustrin-2CE2 and preprobrevinin-2CE3 increased with the developmental stage. In addition, the expression of the two genes was dramatically upregulated with stimulation by Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and the chemical lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The genomic organization of the two antimicrobial peptide genes was confirmed. Both prepropalustrin-2CE2 and preprobrevinin-2CE3 contain three exons separated by two large introns. Additionally, several presumed transcription factor binding sites were identified in the promoter sequence. Functional analysis of the promoter was performed using a luciferase reporter system, and further confirmed by yeast one-hybrid experiment and EMSA assay. The results indicated that the transcription factors NF-κB and RelA are involved in regulating the expression of prepropalustrin-2CE2 and preprobrevinin-2CE3. As amphibian populations decline globally, this study provides new data demonstrating how frogs defend against pathogens from the environment by regulating AMP expression. For amphibians, antimicrobial peptides are innate immune molecules that resist adverse external environmental stimuli. However, the regulation mechanism of antimicrobial peptide gene expression in frogs is still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The two antimicrobial peptides, palustrin-2CE2 and brevinin-2CE3, are produced under external stimulation in Rana chensinensis. Using this model, we analyzed the gene structure and regulatory elements of the two antimicrobial peptide genes and explored the regulatory effects of related transcription factors on the two genes.

METHOD

Different stimuli such as E. coli, S. aureus, and chemical substance lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were applied to Rana chensinensis tadpoles at different developmental stages, and antimicrobial peptide expression levels were detected by RT-PCR. Bioinformatics analysis and 5'-RACE and genome walking technologies were employed to analyze the genome structure and promoter region of the antimicrobial peptide genes. With dual-luciferase reporter gene assays, yeast one-hybrid experiment and EMSA assays, we assessed the regulatory effect of the endogenous regulators of the cell on the antimicrobial peptide promoter.

RESULTS

The transcription levels of prepropalustrin-2CE2 and preprobrevinin-2CE3 were significantly upregulated after different stimulations. Genomic structure analysis showed that both genes contained three exons and two introns. Promoter analysis indicated that there are binding sites for regulatory factors of the NF-κB family in the promoter region, and experiments showed that endogenous NF-κB family regulatory factors in frog cells activate the promoters of the antimicrobial peptide genes. Yeast one-hybrid experiment and EMSA assay demonstrated that RelA and NF-κB1 might interact with specific motifs in the prepropalustrin-2CE2 promoter.

CONCLUSION

In this paper, we found that the gene expression levels of the antimicrobial peptides, palustrin-2CE2 and brevinin-2CE3, in R. chensinensis will increase under environmental stimuli, and we verified that the changes in gene expression levels are affected by the transcription factors RelA and NF-κB1. The yeast one-hybrid experiment and EMSA assay confirmed that RelA and NF-κB1 could directly interact with the frog antimicrobial peptide gene promoter, providing new data for the regulatory mechanism of antimicrobial peptides in response to environmental stimuli.

Gallstone disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and gallstone disease (GSD) often coexist in the general population owing to shared risk factors. This study explored the relationship between NAFLD and GSD in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 4325 patients with type 2 diabetes. GSD and NAFLD were confirmed using ultrasonography. GSD was defined as either asymptomatic gallstones or previous cholecystectomy, and each was analyzed separately.

RESULT

There was no significant difference in the prevalence of GSD between patients with and without NAFLD (23.8% vs. 21.2%, P = 0.15). After case-control matching (1:1) of baseline data such as age, sex, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c between patients with and without NAFLD, there was still no significant difference in the prevalence of GSD (25.5% vs. 23.6%, P = 0.15). The prevalence of NAFLD in patients with asymptomatic gallstones was lower than that of patients without GSD (38.6% vs. 47.3%, P < 0.001), whereas the prevalence in those who had undergone cholecystectomy was much higher (61.2% vs. 47.3%, P < 0.001). The ratio of cholecystectomy to asymptomatic gallstone in patients with or without NAFLD was 1.97 and 0.79, respectively. The rate of cholecystectomy was higher in the patients with NAFLD than in those without NAFLD (15.8% vs. 9.3%, P < 0.001), consistent with the result after case-control matching (17.3% vs. 11.2%, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for numerous potential confounding factors, revealed that GSD (OR = 1.241, 95%CI: 1.036-1.488, P = 0.002) and cholecystectomy (OR = 1.946, 95%CI: 1.546-2.445, P < 0.001) were both strongly associated with NAFLD. However, asymptomatic gallstone (OR = 0.663, 95%CI: 0.513-0.856, P = 0.002) seemed to be negatively correlated with NAFLD.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of GSD was similar in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without NAFLD. The higher proportion of cholecystectomy and lower proportion of asymptomatic gallstones in patients with NAFLD suggests that NAFLD may increase the risk of complications of GSD.

Λ_{c}^{+} Production and Baryon-to-Meson Ratios in pp and p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV at the LHC

The prompt production of the charm baryon Λ_{c}^{+} and the Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} production ratios were measured at midrapidity with the ALICE detector in pp and p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. These new measurements show a clear decrease of the Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} ratio with increasing transverse momentum (p_{T}) in both collision systems in the range 2<p_{T}<12  GeV/c, exhibiting similarities with the light-flavor baryon-to-meson ratios p/π and Λ/K_{S}^{0}. At low p_{T}, predictions that include additional color-reconnection mechanisms beyond the leading-color approximation, assume the existence of additional higher-mass charm-baryon states, or include hadronization via coalescence can describe the data, while predictions driven by charm-quark fragmentation processes measured in e^{+}e^{-} and e^{-}p collisions significantly underestimate the data. The results presented in this Letter provide significant evidence that the established assumption of universality (colliding-system independence) of parton-to-hadron fragmentation is not sufficient to describe charm-baryon production in hadronic collisions at LHC energies.

Circular RNA circCTNNA1 is downregulated in osteoarthritis and sponges miR-29a to suppress LPS-induced apoptosis of synoviocytes

OBJECTIVE

CircRNA circCTNNA1 has been characterized as a critical player in cancer biology, while its role in other human diseases is unknown. This study was carried out to study the role of circCTNNA1 in osteoarthritis (OA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RNA was extracted from synovial fluid samples donated by OA patients (n = 62). RT-qPCRs were then performed to determine the expression of circCTNNA1 and miR-29a in these synovial fluid samples. The interaction between circCTNNA1 and miR-29a was predicted using an online program IntaRNA 2.0 and confirmed by RNA pull-down assay. Overexpression of circCTNNA1 and miR-29a was achieved in synoviocytes to analyze their effects on each other's expression. The role of circCTNNA1 and miR-29a in regulating synoviocyte apoptosis was explored by cell apoptosis assay.

RESULTS

CircCTNNA1 was downregulated in OA, while miR-29a was overexpressed in OA. CircCTNNA1 and miR-29a were not significantly correlated. RNA pull-down assay illustrated the direct interaction between circCTNNA1 and miR-29a. In synoviocytes, overexpression of circCTNNA1 and miR-29a failed to regulate the expression of each other. CircCTNNA1 overexpression suppressed the enhancing effects of miR-29a overexpression on cell apoptosis induced by LPS.

CONCLUSIONS

CircCTNNA1 is downregulated in OA, and its overexpression suppresses synoviocyte apoptosis via sponging miR-29a.

Analysis of Genome-Wide Alternative Splicing Profiling and Development of Potential Drugs in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Alternative splicing (AS) is significantly related to tumor development as well as a patient’s clinical characteristics. This study was designed to systematically analyze the survival-associated AS signatures in Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Among 30,735 AS events in 9,635 genes, we found that there were 1,429 AS in 1,125 genes which were conspicuously related to the overall survival of LUAD patients. Then, according to the seven types of AS events, we established AS signatures and constructed a new combined prognostic model. The Kaplan-Meier curve results showed that seven types of AS signatures and the combined prognostic model could divide patients into distinct prognoses. The ROC curve shows that all eight AS signatures had powerful predictive properties with different AUCs ranging from 0.708 to 0.849. Additionally, the elevated risk scores were positively related to higher TNM stage and metastasis. Interestingly, AS events and splicing factors (SFs) network shed light on a meaningful connection between prognostic AS genes and corresponding SFs. Moreover, we found that the combined prognostic model signature has a higher predictive ability than the mRNA signature. Furthermore, tumors at high risk might evade immune recognition by decreasing the expression of antigen presentation genes. Finally, we predicted the three most significant small molecule drugs to inhibit LUAD. Among them, NVP-AUY922 had the lowest IC50 value and might become a potential drug to prolong a patient’s survival. In conclusion, our study established a potential prognostic signature for LUAD patients, revealed a splicing network between AS and SFs and possible immune escape mechanism, and provided several small-molecule drugs to inhibit tumorigenesis.

Circular RNA Mitochondrial Translation Optimization 1 homologue (CircMTO1) induced by Zinc Finger Protein 460 (ZNF460) promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma progression through the microRNA miR-320a / Alpha Thalassemia/Mental Retardation, X-linked (ATRX) axis

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common cancer types of head and neck cancer, accounting for 95% of all cases. However, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of OSCC remain unclear. Circular RNA (CircRNA) has been extensively studied in the past decades and is a promising direction for the development of OSCC therapeutic targets. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of circMTO1 in OSCC progression. First, we validated the characterization and expression of circMTO1 in OSCC. It was found that circMTO1 was upregulated in OSCC tumor tissues and cells. Subsequently, we conducted biological experiments. It was found that circMTO1 knockdown inhibited OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, we conducted a series of experiments to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. A novel circMTO1/miR-320a/ATRX axis was identified. Our results suggest that circMTO1 modulates ATRX expression to accelerate OSCC progression by sponging miR-320a. Moreover, we found that circMTO1 expression in OSCC was transcriptionally regulated by Zinc Finger Protein 460 (ZNF460). Our study showed a novel ZNF460/circMTO1/miR-320a/ATRX signaling in OSCC development.

In Situ Perovskitoid Engineering at SnO2 Interface toward Highly Efficient and Stable Formamidinium Lead Triiodide Perovskite Solar Cells

The black-phase formamidinium lead triiodide (α-FAPbI₃) perovskite has turned out to be one of the most efficient light harvesting materials. However, the phase stability of FAPbI₃ is a long-standing issue. Herein, we introduce a layer of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) on SnO₂, which would form an in situ layer of TBAPbI₃ perovskitoid at the SnO₂/FAPbI₃ interface by interacting with PbI₂. The results show that this strategy could improve the conductivity of SnO₂, passivate the defects in perovskite, improve the phase stability of α-FAPbI₃, and retard the nonradiative recombination in the device. As a result, we obtain a champion device with a power conversion efficiency of 23.1% under AM 1.5 G illumination of 100 mW/cm². The unencapsulated devices can maintain excellent stability under illumination, thermal stress, and humidity conditions, respectively.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of Polyamine Uptake Transporter gene family in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)

Polyamine uptake transporter (PUT) plays important roles in polyamine homeostasis, but knowledge regarding PUT family genes in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) remains elusive. Herein, our study aimed to perform a genome-wide identification of the PUT gene family in C. sinensis. A total of eight putative PUT genes (CsPUT1-CsPUT8) were identified in the sweet orange genome and distributed on three chromosomes. The CsPUT genes were divided into two major groups according to the phylogenetic tree analysis, with high similarities in protein domains and gene structure organization. The CsPUT genes were differentially expressed in different tissues, with the highest transcript levels being in the flowers and roots. Interestingly, the CsPUT genes were significantly induced by polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, indicating that CsPUT were possibly associated with intracellular polyamine transport and uptake. In addition, CsPUT showed differential expression in callus treated with ABA, cold, salt or osmotic shock. CsPUT4 was selected as a candidate for functional analysis of PUT. Overexpression of CsPUT4 elevated endogenous polyamine content and led to enhanced cold tolerance in transgenic callus cultures. Overall, these data provide valuable information for better understanding the potential biological functions of PUT genes in future.

Optimal application of compressive palatal stents following mesiodens removal in pediatric patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

There is no scientific evidence supporting the choice of a palatal stent in patients who underwent removal of an impacted supernumerary tooth. We aimed to investigate the effects of palatal stents in patients who underwent supernumerary tooth removal through a palatal approach and to suggest the optimal stent thickness and material.

Material and Methods

We recruited 144 patients who underwent extraction of a supernumerary tooth between the maxillary anterior teeth. Subjects were assigned to a control group (CG) or one of four compressive palatal stent groups (CPSGs) classified by the thickness and material of the thermoplastic acrylic stent used. Palatal gingival swelling and objective indices (healing, oral hygiene, gingival, and plaque) were evaluated before surgery and on postoperative days (PODs) 3, 7, and 14; pain/discomfort and the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) were assessed as subjective indices of the effects of the stent.

Results

The CPSGs showed faster healing than did the CG on PODs 7 (P<0.001) and 14 (P=0.043); swelling was measured by 1.64±0.88 mm and 4.52±0.39 mm, respectively. Although swelling was least in the 4-mm hard group (0.92±0.33 mm), the difference compared with that in the 2-mm hard group (1.01±0.18 mm) was not significant (P=0.077). The CPSGs showed better COHIP (P<0.001-0.036) and pain scores (P<0.001) than did the CG on PODs 1-3.

Conclusions

Compressive palatal stents reduce discomfort by decreasing pain and alleviating swelling. Although a stent is effective regardless of its thickness and material, 2-mm hard stents maximized such positive effects with minimal discomfort.

Key words:Supernumerary tooth, tooth Extraction, postoperative care, oral Health, pediatric dentistry.