Study on the therapeutic mechanism of HJ granules in a rat model of urinary tract infection caused by Escherichia coli

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are globally prevalent infectious diseases, predominantly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). The misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of several drug-resistant strains. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has its own advantages in the treatment of UTIs. HJ granules is a herbal formula used for the treatment of UTIs. However, its mechanism of action is not clear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action of HJ granules in a rat model of UTI caused by Escherichia coli (E coli) CFT073.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SD rats were selected to establish a rat UTI model by injecting UPEC strain CFT073 into the bladder using the transurethral placement method. HJ granules were administered to rats after modelling and the efficacy of HJ granule was investigated by measuring urinary decanalogue, inflammatory factors in bladder tissue and pathological changes in the bladder after 3d of administration. Expression of sonic hedgehog (SHH), NOD-like receptor thermoprotein domain 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) and activation of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1) were detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining in rat bladder tissue. NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1, a cysteine-containing aspartic protein, were expressed and activated.

RESULTS

The results showed that infection of rats with UPEC resulted in increased pH and erythrocytes in bladder irrigation fluid; increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and SHH and decreased expression of IL-10 in bladder tissue; and significant upregulation of the expression of both SHH and NLRP3 inflammasom and significant activation of NLRP3 inflammasom. HJ granules significantly increased the concentration of IL-10 in the bladder, inhibited the expression of SHH and NLRP3 inflammasom in bladder tissue, and suppressed the activation of NLRP3 inflammasom, thereby reducing inflammatory lesions in bladder tissue.

CONCLUSION

HJ granules may improve bladder injury and treat UTIs by inhibiting the expression and activation of NLRP3 inflammasom.

Sustainable cellulose foams for all-weather high-performance radiative cooling and building insulation

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) as a zero-energy-consumption cooling technique offers rich opportunities in reducing global energy consumption and mitigating CO2 emissions. Developing high-performance PDRC coolers with practical applicability based on sustainable materials is of great significance, but remains a big challenge. Herein, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and esterified cellulose (EC) extracted from sawdust were used as raw materials to construct foams by using a dual-crosslinking assisted-unidirectional freeze-drying strategy followed by hydrophobic surface modification. The resultant PVA/EC (PEC) foams with ideal hierarchical macropore structure displayed various excellent features, such as low thermal conductivity (26.2 mW·m-1·K-1), high solar reflectance (95 %) and infrared emissivity (0.97), superhydrophobicity as well as high mechanical properties. The features allowed the PEC foams to be used as radiative coolers with excellent PDRC performance and thermal insulating materials. A maximum sub-ambient temperature drops of 10.2 °C could be achieved for optimal PEC foams. Building simulations indicated that PEC foams could save 55.8 % of the energy consumption for Xi'an. Our work would give inspiration for designing various types of PDRC coolers, including but certainly not limited to foams-based radiative coolers.

Shenyu ningshen tablet reduced neuronal damage in the hippocampus of chronic restraint stress model rat by inhibiting A1-reactive astrocytes

Context

Shenyu Ningshen (SYNS) tablet is the first pure Chinese medicinal small compound preparation approved for clinical trials for the treatment of depression in China. Clinical experiments confirmed that the formulation had a significant Improvement effect against depression due to the deficiency of both qi and yin. It has been shown to exhibit noticeable anti-inflammatory effect in an animal model of depression. Our previous study showed that SYNS could effectively inhibit the inflammatory response in a depression model.

Aim of the study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of SYNS on neurons and explore whether the underlying mechanism was associated with A1s.

Materials and methods

The depression model of solitary raising-chronic restraint stress (CRS) rats was established; body weight examination, sugar water preference test, open field test, and histological analysis were performed to preliminarily verify the efficacy of the formulation. Subsequently, neuronal nucleus (NeuN) and synaptic-associated proteins (MAP2 and PSD95) were labeled, and the protective effect of SYNS on hippocampal neurons was observed based on the fluorescence intensity of the above indicators. Western blotting, histological examination, and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the inhibitory effects of SYNS on neuroinflammation and activation of A1s in CRS depression model.

Results

SYNS improved behavioral indicators such as weight loss, pleasure loss, and reduced exercise volume in CRS rat model. SYNS restored the CRS-induced histopathological changes in the hippocampus. SYNS showed a certain degree of protective effect on synapses. Further, SYNS inhibited the activation of A1s by inhibiting neuroinflammatory factors in the hippocampus.

Conclusion

Our results showed that SYNS had a certain degree of neuroprotective effect, which might be related to its inhibition of the inflammatory response and A1s.

The antagonism mechanism of astilbin against cadmium-induced injury in chicken lungs via Treg/Th1 balance signaling pathway

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Treg/Th1 imbalance in cadmium-induced lung injury and the potential protective effect of astilbin against cadmium-induced lung injury in chicken. Cadmium exposure significantly decreased T-AOC and GSH-Px levels and SOD activity in the chicken lung tissues. In contrast, it significantly increased the MDA and NO levels. These results indicate that cadmium triggers oxidative stress in lungs. Histopathological analysis revealed that cadmium exposure further induced infiltration of lymphocytes in the chicken lungs, indicating that cadmium causes pulmonary damage. Further analysis revealed that cadmium decreased the expression of IL-4 and IL-10 but increased those of IL-17, Foxp3, TNF-α, and TGF-β, indicating that the exposure of cadmium induced the imbalance of Treg/Th1. Moreover, cadmium adversely affected chicken lung function by activating the NF-kB pathway and inducing expression of genes downstream to these pathways (COX-2, iNOS), associated with inflammatory injury in the lung tissue. Astilbin reduced cadmium-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and restoring Treg/Th1 balance. In conclusion, our results suggest that astilbin treatment alleviated the effects of cadmium-mediated lung injury in chickens by restoring the Treg/Th1 balance.

In vivo EPID-based daily treatment error identification for volumetric-modulated arc therapy in head and neck cancers with a hierarchical convolutional neural network: a feasibility study

We proposed a deep learning approach to classify various error types in daily VMAT treatment of head and neck cancer patients based on EPID dosimetry, which could provide additional information to support clinical decisions for adaptive planning. 146 arcs from 42 head and neck patients were analyzed. Anatomical changes and setup errors were simulated in 17,820 EPID images of 99 arcs obtained from 30 patients using in-house software for model training, validation, and testing. Subsequently, 141 clinical EPID images from 47 arcs belonging to the remaining 12 patients were utilized for clinical testing. The hierarchical convolutional neural network (HCNN) model was trained to classify error types and magnitudes using EPID dose difference maps. Gamma analysis with 3%/2 mm (dose difference/distance to agreement) criteria was also performed. The F1 score, a combination of precision and recall, was utilized to evaluate the performance of the HCNN model and gamma analysis. The adaptive fractioned doses were calculated to verify the HCNN classification results. For error type identification, the overall F1 score of the HCNN model was 0.99 and 0.91 for primary type and subtype identification, respectively. For error magnitude identification, the overall F1 score in the simulation dataset was 0.96 and 0.70 for the HCNN model and gamma analysis, respectively; while the overall F1 score in the clinical dataset was 0.79 and 0.20 for the HCNN model and gamma analysis, respectively. The HCNN model-based EPID dosimetry can identify changes in patient transmission doses and distinguish the treatment error category, which could potentially provide information for head and neck cancer treatment adaption.

Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5-Based All-Solid-State Battery with a Silver Nanoparticle-Modified Graphite Anode for Improved Resistance to Overcharging and Increased Energy Density

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) are attracting tremendous attention due to their improved safety and higher energy density. However, the use of a metallic lithium anode poses a major challenge due to its low stability and processability. Instead, the graphite anode exhibits high reversibility for the insertion/deinsertion of lithium ions, giving ASSLBs excellent cyclic stability but a lower energy density. To increase the energy density of ASSLBs with the graphite anode, it is necessary to lower the negative/positive (N/P) capacity ratio and to increase the charging voltage. These strategies bring new challenges to lithium metal plating and dendrite growth. Here, a nano-Ag-modified graphite composite electrode (Ag@Gr) is developed to overcome these shortcomings for Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5-based ASSLBs. The Ag@Gr composite exhibits a strong ability to inhibit lithium metal plating and fast lithium-ion transport kinetics. Ag nanoparticles can accommodate excess Li, and the as-obtained Li-Ag alloy enhances the kinetics of the composite electrode. The ASSLB with the Li(Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1)O2 cathode and Ag@Gr anode achieves an energy density of 349 W h kg-1. The full cell using Ag@Gr with an N/P ratio of 0.6 also highlights the rate performance. This work provides a simple and effective method to regulate the charge transport kinetics of graphite anodes and improve the cyclic performance and energy density of ASSLBs.

Construction and validation of a folate metabolism-related gene signature for predicting prognosis in HNSCC

PURPOSE

Metabolic reprogramming is currently considered a hallmark of tumor and immune development. It is obviously of interest to identify metabolic enzymes that are associated with clinical prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

METHODS

Candidate genes were screened to construct folate metabolism scores by Cox regression analysis. Functional enrichment between high- and low-folate metabolism groups was explored by GO, KEGG, GSVA, and ssGSEA. EPIC, MCPcounter, and xCell were utilized to explore immune cell infiltration between high- and low-folate metabolism groups. Relevant metabolic scores were calculated and visually analyzed by the "IOBR" software package.

RESULTS

To investigate the mechanism behind metabolic reprogramming of HNSCC, 2886 human genes associated with 86 metabolic pathways were selected. Folate metabolism is significantly enriched in HNSCC, and that the six-gene (MTHFD1L, MTHFD2, SHMT2, ATIC, MTFMT, and MTHFS) folate score accurately predicts and differentiates folate metabolism levels. Reprogramming of folate metabolism affects CD8T cell infiltration and induces immune escape through the MIF signaling pathway. Further research found that SHMT2, an enzyme involved in folate metabolism, inhibits CD8T cell infiltration and induces immune escape by regulating the MIF/CD44 signaling axis, which in turn promotes HNSCC progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identified a novel and robust folate metabolic signature. A folate metabolic signature comprising six genes was effective in assessing the prognosis and reflecting the immune status of HNSCC patients. The target molecule of folate metabolic reprogramming, SHMT2, probably plays a very important role in HNSCC development and immune escape.

Advances in DNA-based electrochemical biosensors for the detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria

The detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria is critical in preventing foodborne diseases. DNA-based electrochemical biosensors, with the merits of high sensitivity and short detection time, provide an effective detecting method for foodborne pathogens, attracting significant interest for the past few years. This review mainly describes the important research progress of DNA-based electrochemical biosensors for the detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria through four perspectives: representative foodborne pathogens detection using electrochemical approaches, DNA immobilization strategies of aptamers, DNA-based signal amplification strategies used in electrochemical DNA sensors, and functional DNA used in electrochemical DNA sensors. Finally, perspectives and challenges are presented in this field. This review will contribute to DNA-based electrochemical biosensor in enhancing the nucleic acid signal amplification.

Spatial-temporal drivers and incidence heterogeneity of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome transmission in Shandong Province, China, 2016-2022

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) signals a recurring risk in Eurasia in recent years owing to its continued rise in case notifications and the extension of geographical distribution. This study was undertaken to investigate the spatiotemporal drivers and incidence heterogeneity of HFRS transmission in Shandong Province.

METHODS

The epidemiological data for HFRS, meteorological data and socioeconomic data were obtained from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System, and Shandong Statistical Yearbook, respectively. The spatial-temporal multicomponent model was employed to analyze the values of spatial-temporal components and the heterogeneity of HFRS transmission across distinct regions.

RESULTS

The total effect values of the autoregressive, epidemic, and endemic components were 0.451, 0.187, and 0.033, respectively, exhibiting significant heterogeneity across various cities. This suggested a pivotal role of the autoregressive component in propelling HFRS transmission in Shandong Province. The epidemic component of Qingdao, Weifang, Yantai, Weihai, and Jining declined sharply at the onset of 2020. The random effect identified distinct incidence levels associated with Qingdao and Weifang, signifying regional variations in HFRS occurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The autoregressive component emerged as a significant driver in the transmission of HFRS in Shandong Province. Targeted preventive measures should be strategically implemented across various regions, taking into account the predominant component influencing the epidemic.

Nitric oxide sensor NsrR is the key direct regulator of magnetosome formation and nitrogen metabolism in Magnetospirillum

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an essential role as signaling molecule in regulation of eukaryotic biomineralization, but its role in prokaryotic biomineralization is unknown. Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1, a model strain for studies of prokaryotic biomineralization, has the unique ability to form magnetosomes (magnetic organelles). We demonstrate here that magnetosome biomineralization in MSR-1 requires the presence of NsrRMg (an NO sensor) and a certain level of NO. MSR-1 synthesizes endogenous NO via nitrification-denitrification pathway to activate magnetosome formation. NsrRMg was identified as a global transcriptional regulator that acts as a direct activator of magnetosome gene cluster (MGC) and nitrification genes but as a repressor of denitrification genes. Specific levels of NO modulate DNA-binding ability of NsrRMg to various target promoters, leading to enhancing expression of MGC genes, derepressing denitrification genes, and repressing nitrification genes. These regulatory functions help maintain appropriate endogenous NO level. This study identifies for the first time the key transcriptional regulator of major MGC genes, clarifies the molecular mechanisms underlying NsrR-mediated NO signal transduction in magnetosome formation, and provides a basis for a proposed model of the role of NO in the evolutionary origin of prokaryotic biomineralization processes.

Understanding, diagnosing, and treating pancreatic cancer from the perspective of telomeres and telomerase

Telomerase is associated with cellular aging, and its presence limits cellular lifespan. Telomerase by preventing telomere shortening can extend the number of cell divisions for cancer cells. In adult pancreatic cells, telomeres gradually shorten, while in precancerous lesions of cancer, telomeres in cells are usually significantly shortened. At this time, telomerase is still in an inactive state, and it is not until before and after the onset of cancer that telomerase is reactivated, causing cancer cells to proliferate. Methylation of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter and regulation of telomerase by lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) is the mechanism of telomerase reactivation in pancreatic cancer. Understanding the role of telomeres and telomerase in pancreatic cancer will help to diagnose and initiate targeted therapy as early as possible. This article reviews the role of telomeres and telomerase as biomarkers in the development of pancreatic cancer and the progress of research on telomeres and telomerase as targets for therapeutic intervention.

Bioinformatic Identification of Signaling Pathways and Hub Genes in Vascular Dementia

BACKGROUND

Vascular dementia (VaD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairment due to cerebrovascular factors, affecting a significant portion of the aging population and highlighting the critical need to understand specific targets and mechanisms for effective prevention and treatment strategies. We aimed to identify pathways and crucial genes involved in the progression of VaD through bioinformatics analysis and subsequently validate these findings.

METHODS

We conducted differential expression analysis, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analysis. We utilized pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells to create an in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model. We investigated the impact of overexpression and interference of adrenoceptor alpha 1D (ADRA1D) on OGD PC12 cells using TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot (WB), and Fluo-3-pentaacetoxymethyl ester (Fluo-3 AM) analysis.

RESULTS

We found 187 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the red module that were strongly associated with VaD and were primarily enriched in vasoconstriction, G protein-coupled amine receptor activity, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and cell adhesion. Among these pathways, we identified ADRA1D as a gene shared by vasoconstriction, G protein-coupled amine receptor activity, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. The TUNEL assay revealed a significant decrease in PC12 cell apoptosis with ADRA1D overexpression (p < 0.01) and a significant increase in apoptosis upon silencing ADRA1D (p < 0.01). RT-qPCR and WB analysis revealed elevated ADRA1D expression (p < 0.001) and decreased phospholipase C beta (PLCβ) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) expression (p < 0.05) with ADRA1D overexpression. Moreover, the Fluo-3 AM assessment indicated significantly lower intracellular Ca2+ levels with ADRA1D overexpression (p < 0.001). Conversely, interference with ADRA1D yielded opposite results.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides a new perspective on the pathogenic mechanisms of VaD and potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. The results highlight the role of ADRA1D in modulating cellular responses to OGD and VaD, suggesting its potential as a target for VaD treatment.

Fabrication and Application of Ag@SiO2/Au Core-Shell SERS Composite in Detecting Cu2+ in Water Environment

A sensitive and simple method for detecting Cu2+ in the water source was proposed by using surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS) based on the Ag@SiO2/Au core-shell composite. The Ag@SiO2 SERS tag was synthesized by a simple approach, in which Ag nanoparticles were first embedded with Raman reporter PATP and next coated with a SiO2 shell. The Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles had strong stability even in a high-concentration salty solution, and there were no changes to their properties and appearance within one month. The Ag@SiO2/Au composite was fabricated through a controllable self-assemble process. L-cysteine was decorated on the surface of a functionalized Ag@SiO2/Au composite, as the amino and carboxyl groups of it can form coordinate covalent bond with Cu2+, which shows that the Ag@SiO2/Au composite labelled with L-cysteine has excellent performance for the detection of Cu2+ in aqueous media. In this study, the SERS detection of Cu2+ was carried out using Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles, and the limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.1 mg/L was achieved.

The Role of H3K27me3-Mediated Th17 Differentiation in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common chronic progressive inflammatory autoimmune disease. T helper 17 (Th17) cells are the major effector cells mediating AS inflammation. Histone 3 Lys 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) is an inhibitory histone modification that silences gene transcription and plays an important role in Th17 differentiation. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of H3K27me3 in patients with AS and to explore its epigenetic regulation mechanism of Th17 differentiation during AS inflammation. We collected serum samples from 45 patients with AS at various stages and 10 healthy controls to measure their Interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels using ELISA. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the mRNA levels of RORc and the signaling molecules of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, JMJD3, and EZH2. Additionally, Western blot analysis was performed to quantify the protein levels of H3K27me3, RORγt, JAK2, STAT3, JMJD3, and EZH2 in cell protein extracts. The results showed that H3K27me3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was significantly lower in patients with active AS compared to both the normal control groups and those with stable AS. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between H3K27me3 expression and the characteristic transcription factor of Th17 differentiation, RORγt. We also discovered that patients with active AS exhibited significantly higher levels of JMJD3, an inhibitor of H3K27 demethylase, compared to the normal control group and patients with stable AS, while the expression of H3K27 methyltransferase (EZH2) was significantly lower. These findings suggest that H3K27me3 may be a dynamic and important epigenetic modification in AS inflammation, and JMJD3/EZH2 regulates the methylation level of H3K27me3, which may be one of the key regulatory factors in the pathogenesis of AS. These findings contribute to our understanding of the role of epigenetics in AS and may have implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for AS.

Single-cell integrative analysis reveals consensus cancer cell states and clinical relevance in breast cancer

High heterogeneity and complex interactions of malignant cells in breast cancer has been recognized as a driver of cancer progression and therapeutic failure. However, complete understanding of common cancer cell states and their underlying driver factors remain scarce and challenging. Here, we revealed seven consensus cancer cell states recurring cross patients by integrative analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data of breast cancer. The distinct biological functions, the subtype-specific distribution, the potential cells of origin and the interrelation of consensus cancer cell states were systematically elucidated and validated in multiple independent datasets. We further uncovered the internal regulons and external cell components in tumor microenvironments, which contribute to the consensus cancer cell states. Using the state-specific signature, we also inferred the abundance of cells with each consensus cancer cell state by deconvolution of large breast cancer RNA-seq cohorts, revealing the association of immune-related state with better survival. Our study provides new insights for the cancer cell state composition and potential therapeutic strategies of breast cancer.

Feasibility study of multiple-energy Bragg peak proton FLASH on a superconducting gantry with large momentum acceptance

BACKGROUND

While the Bragg peak proton beam (BP) is capable of superior target conformity and organs-at-risk sparing than the transmission proton beam (TB), its efficacy in FLASH-RT is hindered by both a slow energy switching process and the beam current. A universal range shifter (URS) can pull back the high-energy proton beam while preserving the beam current. Meanwhile, a superconducting gantry with large momentum acceptance (LMA-SC gantry) enables fast energy switching.

PURPOSE

This study explores the feasibility of multiple-energy BP FLASH-RT on the LMA-SC gantry.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

A simultaneous dose and spot map optimization algorithm was developed for BP FLASH-RT treatment planning to improve the dose delivery efficiency. The URS was designed to be 0-27 cm thick, with 1 cm per step. BP plans using the URS were optimized using single-field optimization (SFO) and multiple-field optimization (MFO) for ten prostate cancer patients and ten lung cancer patients. The plan delivery parameters, dose, and dose rate metrics of BP plans were compared to those of TB plans using the parameters of the LMA-SC gantry.

RESULTS

Compared to TB plans, BP plans significantly reduced MUs by 42.7% (P < 0.001) with SFO and 33.3% (P < 0.001) with MFO for prostate cases. For lung cases, the reduction in MUs was 56.8% (P < 0.001) with SFO and 36.4% (P < 0.001) with MFO. BP plans also outperformed TB plans by reducing mean normal tissue doses. BP-SFO plans achieved a reduction of 56.7% (P < 0.001) for prostate cases and 57.7% (P < 0.001) for lung cases, while BP-MFO plans achieved a reduction of 54.2% (P < 0.001) for the prostate case and 40.0% (P < 0.001) for lung cases. For both TB and BP plans, normal tissues in prostate and lung cases received 100.0% FLASH dose rate coverage (>40 Gy/s).

CONCLUSIONS

By utilizing the URS and the LMA-SC gantry, it is possible to perform multiple-energy BP FLASH-RT, resulting in better normal tissue sparing, as compared to TB plans.

Interaction of landslide spatial patterns and river canyon landforms: Insights into the Three Parallel Rivers Area, southeastern Tibetan Plateau

The interaction and mechanism of landslide spatial patterns and river canyon landforms are significant for understanding geomorphic evolution in intensive tectonic alpine environments. This study focuses on the Three Parallel Rivers Area (TPRA) in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau encompassing three parallel rivers (the Nujiang, Lancang, and Jinsha Rivers), to examine the synergistic evolution of geomorphic features and landslides. The analysis revealed a pattern of landslide aggregation in the river valley characterized by the sequence Nujiang > Lancang > Jinsha Rivers. This pattern aligns closely with the distribution of geomorphic indices (local relief, surface erosion index, and threshold slope gradient) in the valleys. As local relief, normalized surface erosion index and normalized threshold slope gradient increase, the mean values of normalized landslide area density (NLAD) rise from around 0.11 to 0.39, 0.16 to 0.48, and 0.10 to 0.21, respectively. Concurrently, the mean values of normalized frequency of landslide dams (NFLD) increase from around 0.05 to 0.24, 0.12 to 0.22, and 0.02 to 0.17, respectively. Additionally, knickpoints could induce upstream suppression and downstream promotion of landslides showcasing the feedback of landslides on the valley landscape. Our findings indicate that the landform formation process in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau orogen is intricately linked to a substantial landsliding response and the observed mass movements vividly mirror the landform formation pattern. These results hold potential implications for understanding the dynamic equilibrium between uplift and surface erosion in the region. This study enhances our understanding of the interaction and mechanisms of landslides and valley landforms.

The role of Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 3 (CDKN3) in promoting human tumors: Literature review and pan-cancer analysis

Background

Although many experiments and clinical studies have proved the link between the expression of CDKN3 and human tumors, we have not been able to identify any bioinformatics study in which the extensive tumor-promoting effect of CDKN3 was systematically analyzed.

Objective

Explore the extensive tumor-promoting effects of CDKN3 and review the research progress of CDKN3 in cancer.

Methods

We systematically reviewed the literature on CDKN3 and tumors. We explored the potential tumor-promoting effects of CDKN3 on different tumors in the TCGA database and the GTEx database using multiple platforms and websites. We studied the expression level of CDKN3, survival, prognosis, diagnosis, genetic variation, immune infiltration, and enrichment analysis using databases such as TIMER 2.0, GEPIA2, cBioPortal, and STRING.

Results

We found that CDKN3 is highly expressed in most tumors. The expression of CDKN3 is closely related to the prognosis of some tumors. And CDKN3 may have diagnostic value. The conclusion of our literature review is roughly the same, but there are differences, which are worthy of further study. Moreover, CDKN3 may be related to immune cell infiltration in tumor tissues. The genetic alteration of LUAD, STAD, SARC, PCPG, and ESCA with "Amplification" as the main type. In addition, through enrichment analysis, we found that CDKN3 affects tumors mainly through the control of the cell cycle and mitosis.

Conclusion

CDKN3 is highly expressed in most tumor tissues and has a statistical correlation with survival prognosis. It has extensive tumor-promoting effects that may be related to mechanisms such as immune infiltration.

Sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid cell-free DNA facilitated early differential diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord tumors

Pre-surgery differential diagnosis is valuable for personalized treatment planning in intramedullary spinal cord tumors. This study assessed the performance of sequencing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for differential diagnosis of these tumors. Prospectively enrolling 45 patients with intramedullary spinal cord lesions, including diffuse midline glioma (DMG), H3K27-altered (14/45), glioblastoma (1/45), H3-wildtype-astrocytoma (10/45), ependymoma (11/45), and other lesions (9/45), CSF samples were collected via lumbar puncture (41/45), intraoperative extraction (3/45), and Ommaya reservoir (1/45). Then, these samples underwent targeted sequencing along with paired tissue DNA. DMG, H3K27-altered patients exhibited a higher ctDNA positivity (85.7%, 12/14) compared to patients with H3-wildtype-astrocytoma (0/8, P = 0.0003), ependymoma (2/10, P = 0.003), and glioneuronal tumor (0/3, P = 0.009). The histological-grade-IV (P = 0.0027), Ki-67 index ≥10% (P = 0.014), and tumor reaching spinal cord surface (P = 0.012) are also associated with higher ctDNA positivity. Interestingly, for patients with TERT promoter mutant tumors, TERT mutation was detectable in the CSF cfDNA of one DMG case, but not other five cases with histological-grade-II tumors. Shared copy number variants were exclusively observed in DMG, H3K27-altered, and showed a strong correlation (Correlation = 0.95) between CSF and tissue. Finally, H3K27M mutations in CSF exhibited high diagnostic efficiency for DMG, H3K27-altered (Sensitivity = 85.7%, Specificity = 100.0%, AUC = 0.929). Notably, H3K27M was detectable in CSF from patients with recurrent tumors, making it easily applicable for postoperative monitoring. In conclusion, the molecular profile from ctDNA released into CSF of malignant tumors was more frequently detected compared to relatively benign ones. Sequencing of ctDNA in CSF exhibited high efficiency for the differential diagnosis of DMG, H3K27-altered.

Pharmacological effects and mechanism of Maxing Shigan decoction in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Maxing Shigan Decoction (MXSG) is a traditional Chinese Medicine effectively used in respiratory infections and bacterial pneumonia. However, the mechanism of MXSG treating acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) pneumonia is still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of MXSG on acute P. aeruginosa pneumonia and explore its potential mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HPLC-MS analysis was performed to analyze the chemical composition. Antibacterial effects in vitro were evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Forty-five male BALB/c mice were divided into control group, model group, levofloxacin group, MXSG-L (7.7 g/kg/d), and MXSG-H group (15.4 g/kg/d). Mice were intranasal instillation with P. aeruginosa to induce acute P. aeruginosa pneumonia model. Levofloxacin and MXSG were administered by oral gavage once a day. After 3 days of treatment, the lung index measurement, micro-CT, arterial blood gas analysis, bacteria load determination, and HE staining were performed. Network pharmacological analysis and transcriptome sequencing were employed to predict the potential mechanisms of MXSG on bacterial pneumonia. The expressions of relating genes were detected by immunofluorescence, Western blot, and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

In vitro, MIC of P. aeruginosa is greater than 500 mg/mL. In the treatment of acute P. aeruginosa pneumonia model, MXSG significantly improved body weight loss, lung index, and pulmonary lesions. MXSG treatment also reduced the bacterial load and ameliorated oxygen saturation significantly. Transcriptomes, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and RT-PCR analysis showed MXSG treating acute P. aeruginosa pneumonia through the IL-17 signaling pathway and HIF-1α/IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated the efficacy and mechanism of MXSG in the treatment of acute P. aeruginosa pneumonia, which provides a scientific basis for its clinical application.

Exploring the relations of NLR, hsCRP and MCP-1 with type 2 diabetic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study

Type 2 diabetic kidney disease (T2DKD) is a common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and its incidence is significantly increasing. Microinflammation plays an important role in the development of T2DKD. Based on this, this study investigated the value of inflammatory markers including neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the prediction of T2DKD. This was a cross-sectional survey study. A total of 90 patients with T2DM, who were hospitalized in the nephrology and endocrinology departments of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2021 to January 2022, were included and divided into three groups (A1, A2, A3) according to the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Observe and compare the basic information, clinical and laboratory data, and the inflammatory markers NLR, hs-CRP, MCP-1. Results revealed that high levels of NLR (OR = 6.562, 95% CI 2.060-20.902, P = 0.001) and MCP-1 (OR = 1.060, 95% CI 1.026-1.095, P < 0.001) were risk factors in the development of T2DKD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under curve of NLR and MCP-1 in diagnosing T2DKD were 0.760 (95% CI 0.6577-0.863, P < 0.001) and 0.862 (95% CI 0.7787-0.937, P < 0.001). Therefore, the inflammatory markers NLR and MCP-1 are risk factors affecting the development of T2DKD, which of clinical value may be used as novel markers of T2DKD.

On-site detection of Sporothrix globosa using immunoglobulin Y, magnetic separation and loop-mediated isothermal amplification

BACKGROUND

Sporothrix globosa (S. globosa) is an agricultural activity-related but neglected pathogenic fungus responsible for sporotrichosis. Timely detection is crucial for managing and preventing its spread. However, due to the lack of efficient recognition elements for enriching S. globosa, the current approaches for detecting S. globosa are not simple and/or sensitive enough. This hinders their wider application of fast screening.

RESULTS

Herein, we successfully prepared immunoglobulin Y (IgY) targeting S. globosa, and developed a rapid and accurate detection method, improving upon current limited and inadequate detection approaches. Our method combined the use of IgY and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to enhance detection sensitivity and specificity simultaneously. The IgY was fabricated on magnetic beads to specifically concentrate S. globosa in samples, while LAMP amplified the captured target after simple boiling DNA extraction. By using our method, as low as 4.66 × 102 Cells mL-1S. globosa was accurately detected in soil and corn straw samples. We further integrated this assay into a portable toolbox for sample-to-result detection in resource-limited areas. By using this toolbox, we have colorimetrically detected soil and corn straw samples contaminated by S. globosa, suggesting the promising on-site detection potential.

SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY

A new IgY recognizing S. globosa was prepared. Through the combination of IgY enrichment and LAMP amplification, the detection sensitivity and specificity were improved simultaneously. This method eliminated thermal cycling, simplified the operation, and reduced the analysis time. Compared to existing methods, our approach is more suitable for on-site detection and can significantly improve public health responses to sporotrichosis outbreaks.

Association Between Circulating Zinc and Risk for Childhood Asthma and Wheezing: A Meta-analysis on 21 Articles and 2205 Children

Asthma is one of the most frequent chronic diseases in children, and growing focus is placed on the exploration of attributable risk factors. Currently, no consensus has been reached on the implication of circulating zinc in the development of asthma. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to examine the association between circulating zinc and risk for childhood asthma and wheezing. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar from inception until December 1, 2022. All procedures were performed independently and in duplicate. Random-effects model was adopted to derive standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Statistical analyses were completed using the STATA software. Twenty-one articles and 2205 children were meta-analyzed. Overall, there was a statistically significant association between circulating zinc and risk for childhood asthma and wheezing (SMD: -0.38; 95% CI: -0.60 to -0.17; I2=82.6%, p<0.001), without evidence of publication bias as revealed by Begg's (p=0.608) and Egger (p=0.408) tests. Subgroup analyses showed that children with asthma or wheezing in Middle Eastern countries had significantly lower circulating zinc levels than controls (SMD: -0.42; 95% CI: -0.69 to -0.14; p<0.001; I2=87.1%). Additionally, average circulating zinc levels in asthma children were 0.41 μg/dl lower than that in controls, and the difference was statistically significant (SMD: -0.41; 95% CI: -0.65 to -0.16; p<0.001; I2=83.7%). By contrast, children with wheezing were 0.20 μg/dl lower than that in controls, and no between-group difference was noted (SMD=-0.20; 95% CI: -0.58 to 0.17; p=0.072; I2=69.1%). Our findings indicated that circulating zinc was associated with a significant risk for childhood asthma and its related symptom wheezing.

Prevalence and molecular characteristics of Shewanella infection in diarrhea patients in Beijing, China 2017-2019

Introduction

Shewanella is an important opportunistic pathogen distributed in marine environments that has caused an increasing number of clinical infections. However, there are few reports on the distribution and characteristics of Shewanella in the diarrheal pathogen spectrum. In this study, we have systematically described the prevalence of Shewanella infections in diarrhea patients in Beijing, China 2017-2019, and genome characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of Shewanella isolates.

Methods

Stool samples were collected from diarrhea patients in a surveillance project from 2017 to 2019. Shewanella strains were isolated, and identified using VITEKR 2 COMPACT and MALDI-TOF MS. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), phylogenetic analysis, virulence-associated genes and antimicrobial resistance genes analysis were used for genome characteristics description. The antibiotic susceptibility test was performed with microbroth dilution method.

Results

1104 fecal samples were collected, and the Shewanella detection rate was 2.36% (26/1104). The main manifestations of infection caused by Shewanella spp. were diarrhea (100%, 26/26), abdominal pain (65.38%, 17/26), and vomiting (38.46%, 10/26). The 26 isolates were classified into 3 species (S. algae (n = 18), S. indica (n = 5), and S. chilikensis (n = 3)) and 22 sequence types. Core genome single nucleotide polymorphism-based evolutionary tree identified three clone groups corresponding to three infection events in the same months in 2017 and 2019. The putative virulence-associated gene pool consisted of 56 potential virulence genes, including 19 virulence gene factors. The resistance rates of the 26 isolates to 17 antibiotics from high to low were as follows: polymyxin E (76.92%), cefotaxime (57.69%), ampicillin (50%), ampicillin-sulbactam (34.62%), nalidixic acid (15.38%), ciprofloxacin (11.54%), selectrin (3.846%,1/26), and tetracycline (3.846%, 1/26). The rate of multidrug resistance was 38.46% (10/26).

Discussion

Monitoring for Shewanella spp. should be added to the routine surveillance of infectious diarrhea during the epidemic season.

Antibody and transcription landscape in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of elderly adults over 70 years of age with third dose of COVID-19 BBIBP-CorV and ZF2001 booster vaccine

BACKGROUND

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and extensive vaccination, it is important to explore the immune response of elderly adults to homologous and heterologous booster vaccines of COVID-19. At this point, we detected serum IgG antibodies and PBMC sample transcriptome profiles in 46 participants under 70 years old and 25 participants over 70 years old who received the third dose of the BBIBP-CorV and ZF2001 vaccines.

RESULTS

On day 7, the antibody levels of people over 70 years old after the third dose of booster vaccine were lower than those of young people, and the transcriptional responses of innate and adaptive immunity were also weak. The age of the participants showed a significant negative correlation with functions related to T-cell differentiation and costimulation. Nevertheless, 28 days after the third dose, the IgG antibodies of elderly adults reached equivalence to those of younger adults, and immune-related transcriptional regulation was significantly improved. The age showed a significant positive correlation with functions related to "chemokine receptor binding", "chemokine activity", and "chemokine-mediated signaling pathway".

CONCLUSIONS

Our results document that the response of elderly adults to the third dose of the vaccine was delayed, but still able to achieve comparable immune effects compared to younger adults, in regard to antibody responses as well as at the transcript level.

Exploring the memory: existing activity-dependent tools to tag and manipulate engram cells

The theory of engrams, proposed several years ago, is highly crucial to understanding the progress of memory. Although it significantly contributes to identifying new treatments for cognitive disorders, it is limited by a lack of technology. Several scientists have attempted to validate this theory but failed. With the increasing availability of activity-dependent tools, several researchers have found traces of engram cells. Activity-dependent tools are based on the mechanisms underlying neuronal activity and use a combination of emerging molecular biological and genetic technology. Scientists have used these tools to tag and manipulate engram neurons and identified numerous internal connections between engram neurons and memory. In this review, we provide the background, principles, and selected examples of applications of existing activity-dependent tools. Using a combination of traditional definitions and concepts of engram cells, we discuss the applications and limitations of these tools and propose certain developmental directions to further explore the functions of engram cells.

Molecules in the hippo pathway that regulate Th17 differentiation reveal the severity of ankylosing spondylitis

AIM

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive, and inflammatory autoimmune disease of unknown origin that affects the axial skeleton and sacroiliac joints, resulting in pain and loss of function. AS is characterized by the overdifferentiation of T helper 17 (Th17) cells, which contribute to the development of the disease. The Hippo signaling pathway is an important regulator of Th17 differentiation, but its role in patients with AS is unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of key molecules of the Hippo signaling pathway in inflammatory Th17 differentiation in patients with AS and to examine their correlation with disease stages.

METHODS

We examined the activity of the Hippo pathway in patients with AS and the regulation of Th17 differentiation during AS-mediated inflammation. Blood samples were collected from 60 patients with AS at various stages and 30 healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation. The Serum Interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels in patients with AS and healthy controls were quantified by ELISA. The key molecules of Hippo pathway were assessed by real-time PCR for their mRNA expression, and protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Elevated serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels were observed in patients with AS compared with healthy controls. The protein and mRNA levels of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), transcriptional coactivator with a PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), and key upstream transcription factors in the Hippo signaling pathway were measured. The expression of RORγt and TAZ was increased in the blood of patients with AS, whereas the expression of other Hippo pathway proteins, such as MST1/2 and NDR1/2, was significantly decreased. Increased levels of IL-17 and TAZ were significantly associated with disease activity. In addition, MST1, MST2, and NDR1 levels were negatively correlated with TAZ, RORγt, and IL-17 levels.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the Hippo pathway plays a significant role in the regulation of Th17 differentiation and disease activity in patients with AS. The upregulation of TAZ and downregulation of key Hippo pathway proteins, such as MST1/2 and NDR1/2, may contribute to AS pathogenesis. These proteins may serve as biomarkers and may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for AS.

Infections and Influencing Factors of Pathogens in Rattus norvegicus along the Zengjiang River in Guangzhou, China

Background: Rattus norvegicus can carry and transmit various zoonotic pathogens. Some studies were conducted to investigate a few zoonotic pathogens in Guangzhou, China, but no coinfections were investigated or specifically mentioned. Studies on the infections and the influencing factors of various zoonotic pathogens in R. norvegicus along the Zengjiang River in Guangzhou have not been carried out. Materials and Methods: In this study, R. norvegicus was captured in November 2020 and September 2021 along the Zengjiang River, and was tested for Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., Orientia tsutsugamushi, Borrelia burgdorferi, Hantavirus (HV), Ehrlichia spp., and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) by the RT-PCR. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the impact of habitat and demographic factors on the infections and coinfections of the surveyed pathogens. Results: In 119 R. norvegicus, the detection rates of Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., O. tsutsugamushi, B. burgdorferi, and HV were 46.2%, 31.9%, 5%, 0.8%, and 18.5%, respectively. Ehrlichia spp. and SFTSV were negative. The triple coinfection rate of Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., and HV was 11.8%. In addition, the coinfection of Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., and B. burgdorferi was 0.8%. Dual coinfection of Bartonella spp. and Leptospira spp., Leptospira spp. and HV, Bartonella spp. and O. tsutsugamushi, Leptospira spp. and O. tsutsugamushi, and HV and O. tsutsugamushi was 9.2%, 3.4%, 1.7%, 1.7%, and 0.8%, respectively. Infections of these pathogens in R. norvegicus were found in habitats of banana plantation, grassland, and bush. Weight affected the infection of Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., or HV in R. norvegicus. Conclusions: R. norvegicus along the Zengjiang River not only carried various potentially zoonotic pathogens but also had a variety of coinfections. Surveillance of the density and pathogens in R. norvegicus should be strengthened to reduce the incidence of relevant zoonotic diseases.

The alternation of halobenzoquinone disinfection byproduct on toxicogenomics of DNA damage and repair in uroepithelial cells

Halobenzoquinones (HBQs) were recently discovered as an emerging class of drinking water disinfection byproducts with carcinogenic concern. However, the molecular mechanism underlying HBQs-induced DNA damage is not clear. In this study, we integrated in vitro genotoxicity, computational toxicology, and the quantitative toxicogenomic analysis of HBQs on DNA damage/repair pathways in human bladder epithelial cells SV-HUC-1. The results showed that HBQs could induce cytotoxicity with the descending order as 2,6-DIBQ > 2,6-DCBQ ≈ 2,6-DBBQ. Also, HBQs can increase DNA damage in SV-HUC-1 cells and thus generate genotoxicity. However, there is no significant difference in genotoxicity among the three HBQs. The results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation further confirmed that HBQs had high binding fractions and stability to DNA. Toxicogenomic analysis indicated that HBQs interfered with DNA repair pathways, mainly affecting base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination repair. These results have provided new insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of HBQs-induced DNA damage, and contributed to the understanding of the relationship between exposure to DBPs and risks of developing bladder cancer.

Toward well-defined colloidal particles: Efficient fractionation of lignin by a multi-solvent strategy

Colloidal lignin particles (CLPs) have sparked various intriguing insights toward bio-polymeric materials and triggered many lignin-featured innovative applications. Here, we report a multi-solvent sequential fractionation methodology integrating green solvents of acetone, 1-butanol, and ethanol to fractionate industrial lignin for CLPs fabrication. Through a rationally designed fractionation strategy, multigrade lignin fractions with variable hydroxyl group contents, molecular weights, and high purity were obtained without altering their original chemical structures. CLPs with well-defined morphology, narrow size distribution, excellent thermal stability, and long-term colloidal stability can be obtained by rational selection of lignin fractions. We further elucidated that trace elements (S, N) were reorganized onto the near-surface area of CLPs from lignin fractions during the formation process in the form of -SO42- and -NH2. This work provides a sustainable and efficient strategy for refining industrial lignin into high-quality fractions and an in-depth insight into the CLPs formation process, holding great promise for enriching the existing libraries of colloidal materials.

Electroacupuncture pretreatment alleviates spasticity after stroke in rats by inducing the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and the gut-brain axis

OBJECTIVE

Spasticity is one of the most prevalent ischemic stroke sequelae and the leading cause of disability after stroke. Although electroacupuncture pretreatment has been shown to be effective in the treatment of ischemic stroke, its therapeutic effect and mechanism on post-stroke spasm remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to look into the potential mechanism of electroacupuncture pretreatment in inducing the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and the gut-brain axis in the therapy of spasm after stroke.

METHODS

After electroacupuncture treatment at Baihui (DU20) and Qubin (G87), the rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was first established. HE, Nissl, and TUNEL staining were used to detect pathological alterations in the rat brain. The relative levels of IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, and TMAO were determined by ELISA. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to evaluate the mRNA and protein levels of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, caspase3 and caspase9. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in rat gut.

RESULTS

Hippocampal cells from rats with spasticity following stroke in the MCAO group were chaotic and loosely distributed with an unclear border, a blurred nucleolus, and vanished cytoplasm when compared to those from the sham operation group. Furthermore, the number of surviving neurons decreased while the number of apoptotic cells increased. In the I/R group, relative levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and TMAO increased considerably, while NF-κB p65, NLRP3, caspase3, and caspase9 were dramatically downregulated. The intestinal contents of n-propyl acetate and propyl butyrate were lowered in rats with spasticity following stroke. Electroacupuncture treatments miraculously remedied all of the foregoing pathogenic alterations.

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment with electroacupuncture relieves spasticity after stroke by decreasing the inflammatory response, suppressing the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway, and modulating the gut-brain axis by increasing n-propyl acetate and propyl butyrate levels in the bowel. Our findings establish a new molecular mechanism and theoretical foundation for electroacupuncture therapy of ischemic stroke.

Photosynthetic and Self-Draining Biohybrid Dressing for Accelerating Healing of Diabetic Wound

Wound healing is a well-orchestrated progress associated with angiogenesis, epithelialization, inflammatory status, and infection control, whereas these processes are seriously disturbed in diabetic wounds. In this study, a biohybrid dressing integrating the inherent ability of Bromeliad leaf (photosynthesis and self-draining) with the therapeutic effect of artificial materials (glucose-degrading and ROS-scavenging) is presented. The dressing consists of double-layered structures as follows: 1) Outer layer, a Bromeliad leaf substrate full of alginate hydrogel-immobilized glucose oxidase (GOx@Alg@Bromeliad substrate, abbreviated as BGA), can generate oxygen to guarantee the GOx-catalyzed glucose oxidation by photosynthesis, reducing local hyperglycemia to stabilize hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) for angiogenesis and producing hydrogen peroxide for killing bacteria on the surface of wound tissue. The sophisticated structure of the leaf drains excessive exudate away via transpiration-mimicking, preventing skin maceration and impeding bacterial growth. 2) Inner layer, microneedles containing catalase (CAT-HA MNs, abbreviated as CHM), reduces excessive oxidative stress in the tissue to promote the proliferation of fibroblasts and inhibits proinflammatory polarization of macrophages, improving re-epithelialization of diabetic wounds. Together, the biohybrid dressing (BGA-CHM, abbreviated as BCHM) can enhance angiogenesis, strengthen re-epithelialization, alleviate chronic inflammation, and suppress bacterial infection, providing a promising strategy for diabetic wound therapy.

Advances and challenges in biotechnological production of chondroitin sulfate and its oligosaccharides

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a member of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and has critical physiological functions. CS is widely applied in medical and clinical fields. Currently, the supply of CS relies on traditional animal tissue extraction methods. From the perspective of medical applications, the biggest drawback of animal-derived CS is its uncontrollable molecular weight and sulfonated patterns, which are key factors affecting CS activities. The advances of cell-free enzyme catalyzed systems and de novo biosynthesis strategies have paved the way to rationally regulate CS sulfonated pattern and molecular weight. In this review, we first present a general overview of biosynthesized CS and its oligosaccharides. Then, the advances in chondroitin biosynthesis, 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) synthesis and regeneration, and CS biosynthesis catalyzed by sulfotransferases are discussed. Moreover, the progress of mining and expression of chondroitin depolymerizing enzymes for preparation of CS oligosaccharides is also summarized. Finally, we analyze and discuss the challenges faced in synthesizing CS and its oligosaccharides using microbial and enzymatic methods. In summary, the biotechnological production of CS and its oligosaccharides is a promising method in addressing the drawbacks associated with animal-derived CS and enabling the production of CS oligosaccharides with defined structures.

MXene/Cellulose Composite Cloth for Integrated Functions (if-Cloth) in Personal Heating and Steam Generation

Given the abundant solar light available on our planet, it is promising to develop an advanced fabric capable of simultaneously providing personal thermal management and facilitating clean water production in an energy-efficient manner. In this study, we present the fabrication of a photothermally active, biodegradable composite cloth composed of titanium carbide MXene and cellulose, achieved through an electrospinning method. This composite cloth exhibits favorable attributes, including chemical stability, mechanical performance, structural flexibility, and wettability. Notably, our 0.1-mm-thick composite cloth (RC/MXene IV) raises the temperature of simulated skin by 5.6 °C when compared to a commercially available cotton cloth, which is five times thicker under identical ambient conditions. Remarkably, the composite cloth (RC/MXene V) demonstrates heightened solar light capture efficiency (87.7%) when in a wet state instead of a dry state. Consequently, this cloth functions exceptionally well as a high-performance steam generator, boasting a superior water evaporation rate of 1.34 kg m-2 h-1 under one-sun irradiation (equivalent to 1000 W m-2). Moreover, it maintains its performance excellence in solar desalination processes. The multifunctionality of these cloths opens doors to a diverse array of outdoor applications, including solar-driven water evaporation and personal heating, thereby enriching the scope of integrated functionalities for textiles.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42765-023-00345-w.

New prediction equations for knee isokinetic strength in young and middle-aged non-athletes

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to develop alternative prediction equations to predict isokinetic muscle strength at 60°/s based on anthropometric characteristics, including body mass, height, age, and sex for young and middle-aged non-athlete populations.

METHODS

Three hundred and thirty-two healthy non-athletic participants (174 females, 158 males) between 20 and 59 years underwent a 60°/s isokinetic knee joint concentric contraction test. Forty people were randomly selected for retesting to assess the reliability of the isokinetic instrument. Multivariate linear regression was used to establish extension peak torque (EPT) and flexion peak torque (FPT) prediction equations. Sixty extra participants were used individually to validate the prediction equations, and Bland Altman plots were constructed to assess the agreement of predicted values with actual measurements.

RESULTS

The result demonstrated that the instrument we used has excellent reliability. The multivariable linear regression model showed that body mass, age, and sex were significant predictors of PT (EPT: Adjusted R2 = 0.804, p < 0.001; FPT: Adjusted R2 = 0.705, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the equations we established had higher prediction accuracy than those of Gross et al. and Harbo et al. CONCLUSION: The equations developed in this study provided relatively low bias, thus providing a more suitable reference value for the knee isokinetic strength of young and middle-aged non-athletes.

Kinematic characteristics of gait with different myopia: a cross-sectional study

Background

Myopia, a condition affecting approximately one-quarter of the world' s population, has been projected to double in prevalence by the year 2050. It can have an impact on postural control during walking and can increase the risk of falls and injuries.

Objective

(1) To examine the abnormal performance of postural control during walking in male college students who used convex lenses for myopia intervention from a kinematic perspective; (2) to establish theoretical foundation for preventing falls and injuries in the myopic population.

Methods

A total of 22 male college students participated in this study. The center of gravity (COG), the percentage of gait cycle (PGC) and the joint angle(JT) were collected as indications of postural control during walking. A quantitative analysis was conducted using a One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA to examine the variations among the three groups.

Results

During myopic interventions, (1) the range of vertical COG changes is significant to be greater compared with normal vision (P < 0.05). (2) there was an significant increase in the PGC in single-legged support, accompanied by a decrease in the PGC in double-legged support, compared with normal vision (P < 0.05). (3) The myopic intervention leads to increased variability in JT of the hip and the knee during the single-leg support and swing, as compared to individuals with normal vision (P < 0.05). Severe myopic interventions result in more changes in JT of ankle.

Conclusion

Myopia has been found to have a negative impact on postural control during walking, leading to changes in balance, increased instability, and an elevated risk of injury.

Spatiotemporal distribution and environmental influences of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Shandong Province, China

BACKGROUND

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease discovered in China in 2009. The purpose of this study was to describe the spatiotemporal distribution of SFTS and to identify its environmental influencing factors and potential high-risk areas in Shandong Province, China.

METHODS

Data on the SFTS incidence from 2010 to 2021 were collected. Spatiotemporal scan statistics were used to identify the time and area of SFTS clustering. The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to analyse environmental influences and predict high-risk areas.

RESULTS

From 2010 to 2021, a total of 5705 cases of SFTS were reported in Shandong. The number of SFTS cases increased yearly, with a peak incidence from April to October each year. Spatiotemporal scan statistics showed the existence of one most likely cluster and two secondary likely clusters in Shandong. The most likely cluster was in the eastern region, from May to October 2021. The first secondary cluster was in the central region, from May to October 2021. The second secondary cluster was in the southeastern region, from May to September 2020. The MaxEnt model showed that the mean annual wind speed, NDVI, cattle density and annual cumulative precipitation were the key factors influencing the occurrence of SFTS. The predicted risk map showed that the area of high prevalence was 28,120 km2, accounting for 18.05% of the total area of the province.

CONCLUSIONS

The spatiotemporal distribution of SFTS was heterogeneous and influenced by multidimensional environmental factors. This should be considered as a basis for delineating SFTS risk areas and developing SFTS prevention and control measures.

Dissecting cellular states of infiltrating microenvironment cells in melanoma by integrating single-cell and bulk transcriptome analysis

BACKGROUND

Cellular states of different immune cells can affect the activity of the whole immune microenvironment.

METHODS

Here, leveraging reference profiles of microenvironment cell states that were constructed based on single-cell RNA-seq data of melanoma, we dissected the composition of microenvironment cell states across 463 skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) bulk samples through CIBERSORT-based deconvolution of gene expression profiles and revealed high heterogeneity of their distribution. Correspondence analysis on the estimated cellular fractions of melanoma bulk samples was performed to identify immune phenotypes. Based on the publicly available clinical survival and therapy data, we analyzed the relationship between immune phenotypes and clinical outcomes of melanoma.

RESULTS

By analysis of the relationships among those cell states, we further identified three distinct tumor microenvironment immune phenotypes: "immune hot/active", "immune cold-suppressive" and "immune cold-exhausted". They were characterized by markedly different patterns of cell states: most notably the CD8 T Cytotoxic state, CD8 T Mixed state, B non-regulatory state and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), depicting distinct types of antitumor immune response (or immune activity). These phenotypes had prognostic significance for progression-free survival and implications in response to immune therapy in an independent cohort of anti-PD1 treated melanoma patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed strategy of leveraging single-cell data to dissect the composition of microenvironment cell states in individual bulk tumors can also extend to other cancer types, and our results highlight the importance of microenvironment cell states for the understanding of tumor immunity.

Water quality analysis based on LSTM and BP optimization with a transfer learning model

In the urban water environmental management, a fast and effective method for water quality analysis should be established with the rapid urbanization. In this study, the Beijing's sub-center was chosen as a case study, and long short-term memory (LSTM) and back propagation (BP) models were built, then a transfer learning model was proposed and applied to optimize the two models on the base of the upstream and downstream relationships in the rivers. The results indicated that the proposed deep learning model could improve NSE by 7% and 9% for LSTM and BP at the Dongguan Bridge gauge, respectively. At the Xugezhuang gauge in the Liangshui River, NSE was improved by 11% and 17%, respectively. At the Yulinzhuang gauge, it was improved by 16% and 13%, respectively. Because the upstream and downstream relationships were considered in the learning model, the model performance was obviously better. In brief, this method would provide an idea for the effective water quality model construction in the ungauged basins or regions.

Susceptibility of immature spiral ganglion neurons to aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity is mediated by the TRPV1 channel in mice

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are among the most common agents that can cause sensorineural hearing loss. From clinical experience, premature babies, whose inner ear is still developing, are more susceptible to aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity, which is echoed by our previous study carried out in organotypic cultures. This study aimed to investigate whether a nonselective cation channel, TRPV1, contributes to the susceptibility of immature spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) to the damage caused by aminoglycosides. Through western blotting and immunofluorescence, we found that the TRPV1 expression levels were much higher in immature SGNs than in their mature counterparts. In postnatal day 7 cochlear organotypic cultures, AMG-517 reduced reactive oxygen species generation and inhibited SGN apoptosis under aminoglycoside challenge. However, in adult mice, AMG-517 did not ameliorate the ABR threshold increase at high frequencies (16 kHz and 32 kHz) after aminoglycoside administration, and the SGNs within the cochleae had no morphological changes. By further regulating the function of TRPV1 in primary cultured SGNs with its inhibitor AMG-517 and agonist capsaicin, we demonstrated that TRPV1 is a major channel for aminoglycoside uptake: AMG-517 can significantly reduce, while capsaicin can significantly increase, the uptake of GTTR. In addition, TRPV1 knockdown in SGNs can also significantly reduce the uptake of GTTR. Taken together, our results demonstrated that aminoglycosides can directly enter immature SGNs through the TRPV1 channel. High expression of TRPV1 contributes to the susceptibility of immature SGNs to aminoglycoside-induced damage. The TRPV1 inhibitor AMG-517 has the potential to be a therapeutic agent for preventing aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity in immature SGNs.

Research progress and value of albumin-related inflammatory markers in the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer: a review of clinical evidence

Inflammatory markers have a wide range of predictive values in the prognosis of non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). Poor nutritional status usually means a poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC, which is widely recognized by oncologists and nutritionists. Serum albumin has a certain value in evaluating the prognosis of patients. Several inflammatory albumin-related markers have been proposed, but they have not been widely used in predicting the prognosis of NSCLC in clinical practice. We aim to systematically review the published clinical evidence of albumin-related inflammatory markers in predicting the prognosis of NSCLC and to describe their progress and value. The results showed that the markers included in the review could be prognostic indicators in patients with NSCLC. However, we found that the cut-off value of albumin-related inflammatory markers with quantitative nature was very chaotic and needed to be defined by recognized standards. We summarized and compared the advantages and disadvantages of these markers, but a prospective cohort study with long-term follow-up after adjustment for important confounders is still necessary. Whether the results and conclusions could be directly applied in clinical practice needs to be identified and evaluated. There is an urgent need to classify and standardize the albumin-related inflammatory markers that play an important role in the prognosis of NSCLC, which is the key to ensuring the transformation from clinical study to clinical application.

Distributed genotyping and clustering of Neisseria strains reveal continual emergence of epidemic meningococcus over a century

Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) is commonly used to classify bacterial strains into different types, for taxonomical and epidemiological applications. However, cgMLST schemes require central databases for the nomenclature of new alleles and sequence types, which must be synchronized worldwide and involve increasingly intensive calculation and storage demands. Here, we describe a distributed cgMLST (dcgMLST) scheme that does not require a central database of allelic sequences and apply it to study evolutionary patterns of epidemic and endemic strains of the genus Neisseria. We classify 69,994 worldwide Neisseria strains into multi-level clusters that assign species, lineages, and local disease outbreaks. We divide Neisseria meningitidis into 168 endemic lineages and three epidemic lineages responsible for at least 9 epidemics in the past century. According to our analyses, the epidemic and endemic lineages experienced very different population dynamics in the past 100 years. Epidemic lineages repetitively emerged from endemic lineages, disseminated worldwide, and apparently disappeared rapidly afterward. We propose a stepwise model for the evolutionary trajectory of epidemic lineages in Neisseria, and expect that the development of similar dcgMLST schemes will facilitate epidemiological studies of other bacterial pathogens.

Identifying the driver miRNAs with somatic copy number alterations driving dysregulated ceRNA networks in cancers

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in cancer initiation and progression, which were critical components to maintain the dynamic balance of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) in the cancer genome could disturb the transcriptome level of miRNA to deregulate this balance. However, the driving effects of SCNAs of miRNAs were insufficiently understood.

METHODS

In this study, we proposed a method to dissect the functional roles of miRNAs under different copy number states and identify driver miRNAs by integrating miRNA SCNAs profile, miRNA-target relationships and expression profiles of miRNA, mRNA and lncRNA.

RESULTS

Applying our method to 813 TCGA breast cancer (BRCA) samples, we identified 29 driver miRNAs whose SCNAs significantly and concordantly regulated their own expression levels and further inversely dysregulated expression levels of their targets or disturbed the miRNA-target networks they directly involved. Based on miRNA-target networks, we further constructed dynamic ceRNA networks driven by driver SCNAs of miRNAs and identified three different patterns of SCNA interference in the miRNA-mediated dynamic ceRNA networks. Survival analysis of driver miRNAs showed that high-level amplifications of four driver miRNAs (including has-miR-30d-3p, has-mir-30b-5p, has-miR-30d-5p and has-miR-151a-3p) in 8q24 characterized a new BRCA subtype with poor prognosis and contributed to the dysfunction of cancer-associated hallmarks in a complementary way. The SCNAs of driver miRNAs across different cancer types contributed to the cancer development by dysregulating different components of the same cancer hallmarks, suggesting the cancer specificity of driver miRNA.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate the efficacy of our method in identifying driver miRNAs and elucidating their functional roles driven by endogenous SCNAs, which is useful for interpreting cancer genomes and pathogenic mechanisms.

Identifying the personalized driver gene sets maximally contributing to abnormality of transcriptome phenotype in glioblastoma multiforme individuals

High heterogeneity in genome and phenotype of cancer populations made it difficult to apply population-based common driver genes to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer individuals. Characterizing and identifying the personalized driver mechanism for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) individuals were pivotal for the realization of precision medicine. We proposed an integrative method to identify the personalized driver gene sets by integrating the profiles of gene expression and genetic alterations in cancer individuals. This method coupled genetic algorithm and random walk to identify the optimal gene sets that could explain abnormality of transcriptome phenotype to the maximum extent. The personalized driver gene sets were identified for 99 GBM individuals using our method. We found that genomic alterations in between one and seven driver genes could maximally and cumulatively explain the dysfunction of cancer hallmarks across GBM individuals. The driver gene sets were distinct even in GBM individuals with significantly similar transcriptomic phenotypes. Our method identified MCM4 with rare genetic alterations as previously unknown oncogenic genes, the high expression of which were significantly associated with poor GBM prognosis. The functional experiments confirmed that knockdown of MCM4 could significantly inhibit proliferation, invasion, migration, and clone formation of the GBM cell lines U251 and U118MG, and overexpression of MCM4 significantly promoted the proliferation, invasion, migration, and clone formation of the GBM cell line U87MG. Our method could dissect the personalized driver genetic alteration sets that are pivotal for developing targeted therapy strategies and precision medicine. Our method could be extended to identify key drivers from other levels and could be applied to more cancer types.

Comparison and evaluation of different deep learning models of synthetic CT generation from CBCT for nasopharynx cancer adaptive proton therapy

BACKGROUND

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning is used for patient setup in image-guided radiotherapy. However, its inaccurate CT numbers limit its applicability in dose calculation and treatment planning.

PURPOSE

This study compares four deep learning methods for generating synthetic CT (sCT) to determine which method is more appropriate and offers potential for further clinical exploration in adaptive proton therapy for nasopharynx cancer.

METHODS

CBCTs and deformed planning CT (dCT) from 75 patients (60/5/10 for training, validation and testing) were used to compare cycle-consistent Generative Adversarial Network (cycleGAN), Unet, Unet+cycleGAN and conditionalGenerative Adversarial Network (cGAN) for sCT generation. The sCT images generated by each method were evaluated against dCT images using mean absolute error (MAE), structural similarity (SSIM), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), spatial non-uniformity (SNU) and radial averaging in the frequency domain. In addition, dosimetric accuracy was assessed through gamma analysis, differences in water equivalent thickness (WET), and dose-volume histogram metrics.

RESULTS

The cGAN model has demonstrated optimal performance in the four models across various indicators. In terms of image quality under global condition, the average MAE has been reduced to 16.39HU, SSIM has increased to 95.24%, and PSNR has increased to 28.98. Regarding dosimetric accuracy, the gamma passing rate (2%/2 mm) has reached 99.02%, and the WET difference is only 1.28 mm. The D95 value of CTVs coverage and Dmax value of spinal cord, brainstem show no significant differences between dCT and sCT generated by cGAN model.

CONCLUSIONS

The cGAN model has been shown to be a more suitable approach for generating sCT using CBCT, considering its characteristics and concepts. The resulting sCT has the potential for application in adaptive proton therapy.

SDC1 and ITGA2 as novel prognostic biomarkers for PDAC related to IPMN

The existing biomarkers are insufficient for predicting the prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is a precursor to PDAC; therefore, identifying biomarkers from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of PDAC and IPMN is a new and reliable strategy for predicting the prognosis of PDAC. In this study, four datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and standardized using the R package 'limma.' A total of 51 IPMN and 81 PDAC samples were analyzed, and 341 DEGs in PDAC and IPMN were identified; DEGs were involved in the extracellular matrix and tumor microenvironment. An acceptable survival prognosis was demonstrated by SDC1 and ITGA2, which were highly expressed during in vitro PDAC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. SDC1high was enriched in interferon alpha (IFN-α) response and ITGA2high was primarily detected in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which was verified using western blotting. We concluded that SDC1 and ITGA2 are potential prognostic biomarkers for PDAC associated with IPMN. Downregulation of SDC1 and ITGA2 expression in PDAC occurs via a mechanism involving possible regulation of IFN-α response, EMT, and immunity, which may act as new targets for PDAC therapy.

Potential chemoprotective effects of active ingredients in Salvia miltiorrhiza on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: a systematic review of in vitro and in vivo studies

Background

Recently, attention has been paid to the protective properties of active ingredients in Salvia miltiorrhiza (AISM) against organ toxicity induced by chemotherapy drugs. Purpose of the present systematic review is to evaluate the chemoprotective effects and mechanisms of AISM on in vitro and in vivo models of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC).

Methods

According to the PRISMA guideline, the current systematic review was conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to collect all relevant in vitro and in vivo studies on "the role of AISM on DIC" published up until May 2023. The SYRCLE's tool was used to identify potential risk of bias.

Results

Twenty-two eligible articles were included in this systematic review. Eleven types of active ingredients in Salvia miltiorrhiza were used for DIC, which have the following effects: improvement of physical signs and biochemical indicators, reduction of cardiac function damage caused by DIC, protection of heart tissue structure, enhancement of myocardial cell viability, prevention of cardiomyocyte apoptosis, increase of the chemosensitivity of cancer cells to Doxorubicin, etc. The cardioprotective mechanism of AISM involves inhibiting apoptosis, attenuating oxidative stress, suppressing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, decreasing inflammation, improving mitochondrial structure and function, affecting cellular autophagy and calcium homeostasis. The quality scores of included studies ranged from 4 to 7 points (a total of 10 points), according to SYRCLE's risk of bias tool.

Conclusion

This systematic review demonstrated that AISM have chemoprotective effects on DIC in vivo and in vitro models through several main mechanisms such as anti-apoptosis, antioxidant effects, anti-ER stress, and anti-inflammatory.

Identifying predictors of glioma evolution from longitudinal sequencing

Clonal evolution drives cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Recent studies have revealed divergent longitudinal trajectories in gliomas, but early molecular features steering posttreatment cancer evolution remain unclear. Here, we collected sequencing and clinical data of initial-recurrent tumor pairs from 544 adult diffuse gliomas and performed multivariate analysis to identify early molecular predictors of tumor evolution in three diffuse glioma subtypes. We found that CDKN2A deletion at initial diagnosis preceded tumor necrosis and microvascular proliferation that occur at later stages of IDH-mutant glioma. Ki67 expression at diagnosis was positively correlated with acquiring hypermutation at recurrence in the IDH-wild-type glioma. In all glioma subtypes, MYC gain or MYC-target activation at diagnosis was associated with treatment-induced hypermutation at recurrence. To predict glioma evolution, we constructed CELLO2 (Cancer EvoLution for LOngitudinal data version 2), a machine learning model integrating features at diagnosis to forecast hypermutation and progression after treatment. CELLO2 successfully stratified patients into subgroups with distinct prognoses and identified a high-risk patient group featured by MYC gain with worse post-progression survival, from the low-grade IDH-mutant-noncodel subtype. We then performed chronic temozolomide-induction experiments in glioma cell lines and isogenic patient-derived gliomaspheres and demonstrated that MYC drives temozolomide resistance by promoting hypermutation. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that, by binding to open chromatin and transcriptionally active genomic regions, c-MYC increases the vulnerability of key mismatch repair genes to treatment-induced mutagenesis, thus triggering hypermutation. This study reveals early predictors of cancer evolution under therapy and provides a resource for precision oncology targeting cancer dynamics in diffuse gliomas.

Pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation identify ndc1 as a potential immunological, prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in pancreatic cancer

NDC1 is a transmembrane nucleoporin that participates in cell mitosis. In the field of oncology, NDC1 has shown its potential as a prognostic marker for multiple tumors. However, pan-cancer analysis of NDC1 to fully explore its role in tumors has not been performed and little is reported on its role in pancreatic cancers. In the present study, a pan-cancer analysis of NDC1 was performed using a bioinformatic approach. Survival analysis was performed by univariate Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Subsequently, the relationship between NDC1 and immune cell infiltration, TMB/MSI and drug sensitivity was analyzed. Moreover, the mechanism of NDC1 in pancreatic cancer were further analyzed by GSEA, GSVA. Finally, we conducted in vitro experiments including MTT, scratch, EdU, and apoptosis assays to explore the function of NDC1 in pancreatic cancer cells. High expression of NDC1 was demonstrated in 28 cancer types. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that NDC1 expression was closely associated with the survival outcome of 15 cancer types, and further Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed negative associations with the progression-free survival in 14 cancers. In addition, a significant association between the NDC1 expression and immune cell infiltration in tumor microenvironment, immune-related genes, common tumor-regulatory and drug sensitivity was observed. Furthermore, NDC1 is abnormally expressed in pancreatic cancer, and is closely related to the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients and chemosensitivity. The study reveals that NDC1 could be used as a potential immunological, prognostic and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.

Assembly and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome of endangered medicinal plant Huperzia crispata

Huperzia crispata is a traditional Chinese herb plant and has attracted special attention in recent years for its products Hup A can serve as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI). Although the chloroplast (cp) genome of H. crispata has been studied, there are no reports regarding the Huperzia mitochondrial (mt) genome since the previously reported H. squarrosa has been revised as Phlegmariurus squarrosus. The mt genome of H. crispata was sequenced using a combination of long-read nanopore and Illumina sequencing platforms. The entire H. crispata mt genome was assembled in a circular with a length of 412,594 bp and a total of 91 genes, including 45 tRNAs, 6 rRNAs, 37 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 3 pseudogenes. Notably, the rps8 gene was present in P. squarrosus and a pseudogene rps8 was presented in H. crispata, which was lacking in most of Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae. Intron-encoded maturase (mat-atp9i85 and mat-cobi787) genes were present in H. crispata and P. squarrosus, but lost in other examined lycophytes, ferns, and Gymnospermae plants. Collinearity analysis showed that the mt genome of H. crispata and P. squarrossus is highly conservative compared to other ferns. Relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) analysis showed that the amino acids most frequently found were phenylalanine (Phe) (4.77%), isoleucine (Ile) (4.71%), lysine (Lys) (4.26%), while arginine (Arg) (0.32%), and histidine (His) (0.42%) were rarely found. Simple sequence repeats (SSR) analysis revealed that a total of 114 SSRs were identified in the mt genome of H. crispata and account for 0.35% of the whole mt genome. Monomer repeats were the majority types of SSRs and represent 91.89% of the total SSRs. In addition, a total of 1948 interspersed repeats (158 forward, 147 palindromic, and 5 reverse repeats) with a length ranging from 30 bp to 14,945 bp were identified in the H. crispata mt genome and the 30-39-bp repeats were the most abundant type. Gene transfer analysis indicated that a total of 12 homologous fragments were discovered between the cp and mt genomes of H. crispata, accounting for 0.93% and 2.48% of the total cp and mt genomes, respectively. The phylogenetic trees revealed that H. crispata was the sister of P. squarrosus. The Ka/Ks analysis results suggested that most PCGs, except atp6 gene, were subject to purification selection during evolution. Our study provides extensive information on the features of the H. crispata mt genome and will help unravel evolutionary relationships, and molecular identification within lycophytes.