Visible wide-angle view imaging system for the first plasma on the HL-2M tokamak

The wide-angle view imaging system, in terms of a tangential view diagnostic with field of view (FOV) of 56.8° and a downward-looking diagnostic from the top of the machine with FOV of 94.7°, has been newly constructed for the first plasma of the HL-2M tokamak achieved in December 2020. Its mission in this stage is to monitor the plasma evolution during its startup, sustainment, and disruption in the visible spectral range as well as the plasma-wall interaction. For the latter ultrawide view diagnostic, nearly three-quarters of the divertor region and half the area of the inner wall are in the view range. Both the diagnostics are characterized by a similar optical structure, i.e., the light emission from the plasma is collected by a front-end lens and transferred through an imaging fiber bundle to the camera. This optical structure is suitable for application in the complex tokamak environment mainly because the fiber bundle is flexible. Photos of glow discharges are acquired prior to the first plasma for testing the FOVs in the vacuum vessel. The spatial resolution is ∼4mm for the tangential view diagnostic and ∼10mm for the downward-looking diagnostic. The temporal resolutions, ranging from 90 to 360 Hz by changing the region of interest or binning acquisition mode of the color camera, are applied to record the plasma evolutions and/or dust creation events during the first plasma campaign.

High glucose induces Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission via the Orai1 calcium channel to participate in diabetic cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

Mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired Ca2+ handling are involved in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Dynamic relative protein 1 (Drp1) regulates mitochondrial fission by changing its level of phosphorylation, and the Orai1 (Ca2+ release-activated calcium channel protein 1) calcium channel is important for the increase in Ca2+ entry into cardiomyocytes. We aimed to explore the mechanism of Drp1 and Orai1 in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy caused by high glucose (HG). We found that Zucker diabetic fat rats induced by administration of a high-fat diet develop cardiac hypertrophy and impaired cardiac function, accompanied by the activation of mitochondrial dynamics and calcium handling pathway-related proteins. Moreover, HG induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, accompanied by abnormal mitochondrial morphology and function, and increased Orai1-mediated Ca2+ influx. Mechanistically, the Drp1 inhibitor mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi-1) prevents cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by HG by reducing phosphorylation of Drp1 at serine 616 (S616) and increasing phosphorylation at S637. Inhibition of Orai1 with single guide RNA (sgOrai1) or an inhibitor (BTP2) not only suppressed Drp1 activity and calmodulin-binding catalytic subunit A (CnA) and phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2) expression but also alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy caused by HG. In addition, the CnA inhibitor cyclosporin A and p-ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 improved HG-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by promoting and inhibiting phosphorylation of Drp1 at S637 and S616, respectively. In summary, we identified Drp1 as a downstream target of Orai1-mediated Ca2+ entry, via activation by p-ERK1/2-mediated phosphorylation at S616 or CnA-mediated dephosphorylation at S637 in DCM. Thus, the Orai1-Drp1 axis is a novel target for treating DCM.

Effect of BTP2 on agonist-induced vasoconstriction in the mouse aorta in vitro

BTP2 is a potent inhibitor of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE), which plays a vital role in vasoconstriction. However, the direct effect of BTP2 on the contractile response remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of action of BTP2 in the mouse aorta. Isometric tension was measured using a Multi Myograph System with two stainless steel wires. Ca²⁺ transient was recorded by confocal laser scanning microscope. The results showed that BTP2 markedly suppressed vasoconstriction mediated by SOCE and Ca²⁺ influx mediated by SOCE. The cumulative concentration of BTP2 had no effect on the baseline of mouse aortic rings, whereas it increased vasoconstriction stimulated by 3 μmol/L Phenylephrine. BTP2 (1 μmol/L) significantly increased vasoconstriction induced by 3 μmol/L Phe or cumulative concentration. BTP2 also promoted noradrenaline-induced aortic contraction. However, Phe- and noradrenaline-induced contraction was not affected by 0.3 or 3 μmol/L BTP2, and BTP2 at 10 μmol/L significantly suppressed aortic contraction. BTP2 inhibited 5-HT-evoked contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. BTP2 at higher concentrations (>3 μmol/L) inhibited CaCl₂ -induced and 60 mmol/L K⁺ -induced contraction with progressive reduction of maximal contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that 1 μmol/L BTP2 increases contraction evoked by α1 adrenoreceptor activation. BTP2 at higher concentrations may inhibit Cav1.2 channels.

[Incidence and management of cesarean scar pregnancies after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer]

Objective: To explore the incidence, clinical characteristics, management strategies and reproductive outcomes of cesarean scar pregnancies (CSP) after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods: The patients who were diagnosed with CSP followed IVF/ET in the Center for Reproductive Medicine of Peking University Third Hospital between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2020 were included. The clinical data of each patient were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There were a total of 1 441 patients with secondary infertility complicated with a history of cesarean section and achieved clinical pregnancy after IVF-ET treatments, of which CSP accounted for 1.94% (28/1 441). The average age of CSP patients was (34±3) years old, and 50.0% (14/28) of the patients had a history of artificial abortion. The incidence of CSP in embryo transfers at the cleavage stage had no significantly difference from transfers at the blastocyst stage (1.74% vs 2.20%, χ(2)=0.408, P=0.523), and the incidence of CSP in fresh embryo transfers had no significantly difference from frozen-thawed embryo transfers (1.77% vs 2.23%, χ(2)=0.372, P=0.542). The average gestational age at diagnosis was (47±6) days. According to the classification based on imaging examination during early pregnancy, a case of type Ⅰ CSP received expectant treatment and achieved live birth at third trimester of pregnancy. Two cases of heterotopic cesarean scar pregnancy underwent transvaginal selective reduction of CSP, and intrauterine pregnancies were followed by live births at third trimester of pregnancy. One case of type Ⅲ CSP underwent laparoscopic CSP excision and uterine repair, and 24 patients with type Ⅰ or type Ⅱ CSP underwent hysteroscopic CSP excision with/without uterine artery embolization. After CSP treatment, 5 patients achieved clinical pregnancy through embryo transfer, all of which were normal intrauterine pregnancy followed by term live birth. Conclusions: Color ultrasonography should be performed during early pregnancy to confirm the occurrence of CSP in patients receiving IVF-ET after previous cesarean section. Treatment of CSP should be individualized, and patients with Type Ⅰ CSP who are strictly selected have the opportunity for expectant treatment.

High-efficiency promoter-driven coordinated regulation of multiple metabolic nodes elevates lipid accumulation in the model microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum

BACKGROUND

Microalgal metabolic engineering holds great promise for the overproduction of a wide range of commercial bioproducts. It demands simultaneous manipulation of multiple metabolic nodes. However, high-efficiency promoters have been lacking.

RESULTS

Here we report a strong constitutive promoter Pt211 in expressing multiple target genes in oleaginous microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Pt211 was revealed to contain significant cis-acting elements. GUS reporter and principal genes glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) involved in triacylglycerol biosynthesis were tested under driven of Pt211 in P. tricornutum. GUS staining and qPCR analysis showed strong GUS expression. DGAT2 and GPAT linked with a designed 2A sequence exhibited higher transcript abundances than WT, while algal growth and photosynthesis were not impaired.

CONCLUSION

The total lipid content increased notably by 2.6-fold compared to WT and reached up to 57.5% (dry cell weight). Overall, our findings report a strong promoter and a strategy for coordinated manipulation of complex metabolic pathways.

Genetic variability of ERCC1 and ERCC2 genes involved in the nucleotide excision repair pathway influences the treatment outcome of gastric cancer

We conducted a prospective study to investigate whether ERCC1 rs11615 and rs3212986 and ERCC2 rs13181 and rs1799793 gene polymorphisms could serve as potential biomarkers for the prognosis of gastric cancer. Between January 2010 and December 2012, 246 patients with pathologically proven gastric cancer who were receiving platinum-based chemotherapy were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. The genotyping of the gene polymorphisms was conducted using the polymerase chain reaction coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism. By logistic regression analysis, we found that the AA genotype of ERCC1 rs3212986 was associated with lower rates of complete remission and partial remission following chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients, and the OR (95%CI) was 0.19 (0.06-0.60). We found that the AA genotype of rs3212986 was correlated with higher risk of death from gastric cancer according to the Cox proportional hazards model, and the adjusted HR (95%CI) was 1.60 (0.81-3.16). However, we found no association between ERCC1 rs11615, ERCC2 rs13181, and ERCC2 rs1799793 and overall survival of gastric cancer. In conclusion, the results of the present retrospective study indicate that the ERCC1 rs3212986 gene polymorphism has a significant effect on the pharmacokinetics and treatment outcome of gastric cancer.

Description of Pella sichuanensis sp. n. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) from Micang Mountain, Sichuan, China

Pella sichuanensis Zheng & Zhao, sp. n. of the P. cognata group is described, illustrated, and distinguished from similar congeners.

Review of nitidotachinus campbell (staphylinidae, tachyporinae) from mainland china

The genus Nitidotachinus Campbell of Mainland China is reviewed with descriptions of five new species: Nitidotachinusanhuiensissp. n. (Anhui), Nitidotachinusbinisp. n. (Zhejiang), Nitidotachinusbrunneussp. n. (Zhejiang), Nitidotachinuscapillosussp. n. (Zhejiang), and Nitidotachinusxiangisp. n. (Hubei). Nitidotachinusexcellensconcolor Schülke is synonymized with Nitidotachinusexcellenssyn. n. All treated species are described with their major diagnostic characters illustrated. An identification key to the species is given.

A new species of genus Tetrasticta Kraatz (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Xishuangbanna, Southwest China

Tetrasticta bobbii Zheng & Zhao, sp. n., collected in Nangongshan, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, is described and illustrated.