[Etiological characterization of invasive non-typhoid Salmonella strains in Guangdong Province from 2018 to 2022]

Objective: To understand the serotype distribution, drug resistance and molecular characterization of invasive non-typhoid Salmonella (iNTS) in Guangdong Province from 2018 to 2022 and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of blood flow infection caused by Salmonella. Methods: Serological identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and whole genome sequencing were performed on Salmonella isolated from blood and stool samples in Guangdong from 2018 to 2022. Simultaneously, annotated the sequencing results for drug resistance genes and virulence factors by a microbial gene annotation system. Results: The 136 iNTS strains were divided into 25 serotypes, and Salmonella enteritidis accounted for 38.24% (52/136). The OR of other iNTS serotypes were calculated with Salmonella typhimurium as the control. The OR values of Oreninburg, Rysson, and Pomona serotypes were the highest, which were 423.50, 352.92, and 211.75, respectively. The drug resistance rate of iNTS was 0.74%-66.91%, which was lower than that of non-iNTS (3.90%-77.21%). The main iNTS of drug resistance were ampicillin and tetracycline, with resistance rates of 66.91% (91/136) and 50.00% (68/136), respectively, while the resistance rates to ciprofloxacin (5.88%,8/136), ceftazidime (5.88%,8/136), gentamicin (5.13%,7/136) and cefoxitin (0.74%, 1/136) were relatively low. iNTS carried a variety of drug-resistance genes and virulence factors, but no standard virulence factor distribution has been found. MLST cluster analysis showed that iNTS was divided into 26 sequence types, and ST11 accounted for 38.24% (52/136). Conclusions: The iNTS strains in Guangdong were dominated by Salmonella enteritidis, of which three serotypes, Oreninburg, Rison, and Pomona, may be associated with a higher risk of invasive infection during 2018 to 2022. iNTS was sensitive to clinical first-line therapeutic drugs (cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones), with highly diverse sequences and clear phylogenetic branches. ST11 was the local dominant clone group.

Bacteriophage LHE83 targeting OmpA as a receptor exhibited synergism with spectinomycin against Escherichia coli

Understanding the characteristics of bacteriophages is crucial for the optimization of phage therapy. In this study, the biological and genomic characteristics of coliphage LHE83 were determined and its synergistic effects with different types of antibiotics against E. coli E82 were investigated. Phage LHE83 displayed a contractile tail morphology and had a titer of 3.02 × 109 pfu/mL at an optimal MOI of 0.01. Meanwhile, phage LHE83 exhibited good physical and chemical factors tolerance. The 1-step growth analysis revealed a latent period of approx. 10 min with a burst size of 87 pfu/infected cell. Phage LHE83 belongs to the genus Dhakavirus. Its genome consists of 170,464 bp with a 40% GC content, and a total of 268 Open Reading Frames (ORF) were predicted with no detected virulent or resistant genes. ORF 213 was predicted to encode the receptor binding protein (RBP) and confirmed by the antibody-blocking assay. Furthermore, a phage-resistant strain E. coli E82R was generated by co-culturing phage LHE83 with E. coli E82. Genomic analysis revealed that OmpA served as the receptor for phage LHE83, which was further confirmed by phage adsorption assay using E. coli BL21ΔOmpA, E. coli BL21ΔOmpA: OmpA and E. coli BL21:OmpA strains. Additionally, a synergistic effect was observed between phage LHE83 and spectinomycin against the drug-resistant strain E. coli E82. These results provide a theoretical basis for understanding the interactions between phages, antibiotics, and host bacteria, which can assist in the clinical application of phages and antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria.

Analysis of four hereditary protein C deficiencies associated with vascular thromboembolism

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical features and gene mutations in four families with hereditary protein C (PC) deficiency and explore their association with vascular thromboembolism.

METHODS

The clinical data of four patients with PC deficiency were retrospectively analyzed. Venous blood samples were collected from the four affected patients and their family members, and relevant coagulation indexes and thrombin production and inhibition tests were performed. PCR was used to amplify and directly sequence the PROC gene of the probands. Software analysis was conducted to assess the conservativeness and pathogenicity of the mutated loci. Protein models were constructed to analyze the spatial structure before and after the mutation.

RESULTS

Thrombin generation and inhibition assays demonstrated impaired anticoagulation in all four probands. Proband 1 and 4 presented clinically with pulmonary embolism and lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), Proband 2 with cerebral infarction, and Proband 3 with DVT. Genetic analysis revealed the presence of the following mutations: c.541T > G heterozygous missense mutation, c.577-579delAAG heterozygous deletion mutation, c.247-248insCT heterozygous insertion mutation, c.659G > A heterozygous missense mutation, and a new variant locus c.1146_1146delT heterozygous deletion mutation in the four probands, respectively. In particular, c.1146_1146delT heterozygous deletion mutations not reported previously. Conservativeness and pathogenicity analyses confirmed that most of these amino acid residues were conserved, and all the mutations were found to be pathogenic. Analysis of protein modeling revealed that these mutations induced structural alterations in the protein or led to the formation of truncated proteins. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) classification criteria and guidelines for genetic variants, c.1146_1146delT was rated as pathogenic (PVS1 + M2 + PM4 + PP1 + PP3 + PP4).

CONCLUSION

The identified mutations are likely associated with decreased PC levels in each of the four families. The clinical manifestations of hereditary PC deficiency exhibit considerable diversity.

Asymmetric and parallel subgenome selection co-shape common carp domestication

BACKGROUND

The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) might best represent the domesticated allopolyploid animals. Although subgenome divergence which is well-known to be a key to allopolyploid domestication has been comprehensively characterized in common carps, the link between genetic architecture underlying agronomic traits and subgenome divergence is unknown in the selective breeding of common carps globally.

RESULTS

We utilized a comprehensive SNP dataset in 13 representative common carp strains worldwide to detect genome-wide genetic variations associated with scale reduction, vibrant skin color, and high growth rate in common carp domestication. We identified numerous novel candidate genes underlie the three agronomically most desirable traits in domesticated common carps, providing potential molecular targets for future genetic improvement in the selective breeding of common carps. We found that independently selective breeding of the same agronomic trait (e.g., fast growing) in common carp domestication could result from completely different genetic variations, indicating the potential advantage of allopolyploid in domestication. We observed that candidate genes associated with scale reduction, vibrant skin color, and/or high growth rate are repeatedly enriched in the immune system, suggesting that domestication of common carps was often accompanied by the disease resistance improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

In common carp domestication, asymmetric subgenome selection is prevalent, while parallel subgenome selection occurs in selective breeding of common carps. This observation is not due to asymmetric gene retention/loss between subgenomes but might be better explained by reduced pleiotropy through transposable element-mediated expression divergence between ohnologs. Our results demonstrate that domestication benefits from polyploidy not only in plants but also in animals.

Whole genome sequencing of Crassostrea ariakensis (Mollusca: Ostreidae) and C. hongkongensis expands understandings of stress resistance in sessile oysters

To understand the environmental adaptations among sessile bivalves lacking adaptive immunity, a series of analyses were conducted, with special emphasis on the widely distributed C. ariakensis. Employing Pacbio sequencing and Hi-C technologies, whole genome for each of a C. ariakensis (southern China) and C. hongkongensis individual was generated, with the contig N50 reaching 6.2 and 13.0 Mb, respectively. Each genome harbored over 30,000 protein-coding genes, with approximately half of each genome consisting of repeats. Genome alignment suggested possible introgression between C. gigas and C. ariakensis (northern China), and re-sequencing data corroborated this result and indicated significant gene flow between C. gigas and C. ariakensis. These introgressed candidates, well-represented by genes related to immunity and osmotic pressure, may be associated with environmental stresses. Gene family dynamics modeling suggested immune-related genes were well represented among the expanded genes in C. ariakensis. These outcomes could be attributed to the spread of C. ariakensis.

A Numerical Study of the Dynamic Crack Behavior of Brittle Material Induced by Blast Waves

Blast stress waves profoundly impact engineering structures, exciting and affecting the rupture process in brittle construction materials. A novel numerical model was introduced to investigate the initiation and propagation of cracks subjected to blast stress waves within the borehole-crack configuration. Twelve models were established with different crack lengths to simulate sandstone samples. The influence of crack length on crack initiation and propagation was investigated using those models. The linear equation of state was used to express the relationship between the pressure and density of the material. The major principal stress failure criterion was used to evaluate the failure of elements. A triangular pressure curve was adopted to produce the blast stress wave. The results indicated that the pre-crack length critically influenced the crack initiation and propagation mechanism by analyzing the stress history at the crack tip, crack propagation velocity, and distance. The inducement of a P-wave and S-wave is paramount in models with a short pre-crack. For long pre-crack models, Rayleigh waves significantly contribute to crack propagation.

Information-based continuous nursing on pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a serious pregnancy complication, and women with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus can develop chronic hyperglycemia during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of information-based continuity of care on glucose levels, health awareness, and maternal and infant outcomes in pregnant women with GDM, thereby providing a basis for the clinical implementation of effective interventions for GDM to reduce or avoid adverse outcomes due to GDM.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and sixty cases of pregnant women with GDM who underwent treatment in the obstetrics and gynecology department of our hospital from June 2019 to September 2021 were randomly selected as the study population and divided into the control group (n=80) and the study group (n=80). Women in the control group were received with conventional nursing intervention, and those in the study group were obtained with information-based continuity of care on the basis of the control group. Basic clinical data were collected. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2h postprandial glucose (2hPG), knowledge of health education, treatment compliance scores, and changes in delivery outcomes were compared between the two groups. According to the maternal blood glucose control level, 160 pregnant women with GDM were divided into the better control group (143 cases) and the poor control group (17 cases). The risk factors affecting the level of maternal glycemic control in gestational diabetes were analyzed.

RESULTS

After the intervention, the levels of FBG and 2hPG were significantly lower in both groups than those before the intervention, while the levels of FBG and 2hPG in the study group were notably lower than those in the control group. The health education knowledge score and treatment compliance score after the intervention were significantly higher than those before the intervention, and the health education knowledge score and treatment compliance score in the study group were observably higher than those in the control group (p<0.01). The adverse pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women in the study group were significantly reduced compared with those in the control group (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), dietary control, literacy, and information-based continuity of care were all influential factors for maternal glycemic control level (p<0.05). Among the influencing factors, dietary control and continuity of care had clinical value in predicting maternal glycemic control levels in gestational diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous nursing based on informatization can effectively control the blood glucose level of pregnant women with GDM, improve the treatment compliance of pregnant women and the awareness rate of gestational diabetes knowledge so as to reduce the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes and improve the health level. In addition, BMI and dietary control are independent risk factors that affect the blood glucose control level of pregnant women. Relevant intervention measures should be formulated according to the relevant influencing factors to effectively control the blood glucose level of pregnant women with GDM and improve maternal and infant outcomes.

Association between inflammatory biomarkers and venous thromboembolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common thrombotic vascular disease that has a significant impact on people's well-being and quality of life. A plethora of clinical studies explore the relationship between inflammatory biomarkers and VTE but yield conflicting results. This article proposed to pool these studies to draw a more convincing conclusion.

METHODS

We searched several databases for studies before April 2023. Available data was processed using Stata software (version 15.0 SE) and R (version 4.1.2). This meta-analysis has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022321815). The VTE in this review encompassed pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and cerebral venous thrombosis.

RESULTS

A total of 25 articles were finally involved in this study. Our results revealed that higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, MD, 0.63, 95%CI, 0.21-1.05) and C-reactive protein (CRP)> 3ug/ml (OR, 1.52, 95%CI, 1.18-1.96) might be regarded as risk factors for future VTE occurrence. The elevated levels of monocyte (MD, 0.03, 95%CI, 0.00-0.05), hs-CRP (0.85, 0.61-1.08), CRP (0.66, 0.20-1.13) and IL-6 (0.47, 0.25-0.70) might represent the previous VTE; a series of markers such as white blood cell (1.43, 0.88-1.98), neutrophil (1.79, 1.02-2.56), monocyte (0.17, 0.14-0.21), hs-CRP (3.72, 1.45-5.99), IL-6 (5.99, 4.52-7.46), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (33.1, 24.45-41.78) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (1.34, 0.95-1.73) increased during the acute phase of VTE.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, activated inflammatory biomarkers might not only be correlated with an increased risk of VTE, but may also give a hint of the occurrence of VTE in clinical settings.

High prevalence and genomic characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from large-scale rivers in China

The widespread presence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and mcr-positive Escherichia coli (MCREC) poses a huge threat to both animal and human health. River water environments are vital reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes, however, the prevalence and characteristics of CRE and MCREC from large-scale rivers in China have not been reported. In the current study, we sampled 86 rivers from four cities in Shandong Province, China in 2021 and analyzed the prevalence of CRE and MCREC. The bla_NDM/bla_KPC-2/mcr-positive isolates were characterized with methods including PCR, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation, replicon typing, whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. We found that the prevalence of CRE and MCREC in 86 rivers was 16.3% (14/86) and 27.9% (24/86), respectively and eight rivers carried both mcr-1 and bla_NDM/bla_KPC-2. A total of 48 Enterobacteriaceae isolates (10 ST11 Klebsiella pneumoniae with bla_KPC-2, 12 bla_NDM-positive E. coli and 26 MCREC carrying only mcr-1) were obtained in this study and 47 displayed multidrug resistance (MDR). Notably, 10 of the 12 bla_NDM-positive E. coli isolates also harbored the mcr-1 gene. The bla_KPC-2 gene was located within mobile element ISKpn27-bla_KPC-2-ISKpn6 on novel F33:A-:B- non-conjugative MDR plasmids in ST11 K. pneumoniae. The dissemination of bla_NDM was mediated by transferable MDR IncB/O plasmids or IncX3 plasmids while mcr-1 was primarily disseminated by highly similar IncI2 plasmids. Notably, these waterborne IncB/O, IncX3 and IncI2 plasmids were all highly similar to previously identified plasmids from animal and human isolates. A phylogenomic analysis revealed that the CRE and MCREC isolates from water environments might be derived from animals and trigger infections in humans. The high prevalence of CRE and MCREC in large-scale environmental rivers is alarming and needs sustained surveillance due to the potential risk for transmission to humans via the food chain (irrigation) or direct contact.

The BET PROTAC inhibitor dBET6 protects against retinal degeneration and inhibits the cGAS-STING in response to light damage

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammation significantly contributes to photoreceptor death in blinding retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins are epigenetic readers that act as key proinflammatory factors. We recently found the first-generation BET inhibitor JQ1 alleviated sodium iodate-induced retinal degeneration by suppressing cGAS-STING innate immunity. Here, we investigated the effects and mechanism of dBET6, a proteolysis‑targeting chimera (PROTAC) small molecule that selectively degrades BET by the ubiquitin‒proteasome system, in light-induced retinal degeneration.

METHODS

Mice were exposed to bright light to induce retinal degeneration, and the activation of cGAS-STING was determined by RNA-sequencing and molecular biology. Retinal function, morphology, photoreceptor viability and retinal inflammation were examined in the presence and absence of dBET6 treatment.

RESULTS

Intraperitoneal injection of dBET6 led to the rapid degradation of BET protein in the retina without detectable toxicity. dBET6 improved retinal responsiveness and visual acuity after light damage (LD). dBET6 also repressed LD-induced retinal macrophages/microglia activation, Müller cell gliosis, photoreceptor death and retinal degeneration. Analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing results revealed cGAS-STING components were expressed in retinal microglia. LD led to dramatic activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, whereas dBET6 suppressed LD-induced STING expression in reactive macrophages/microglia and the related inflammatory response.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates targeted degradation of BET by dBET6 exerts neuroprotective effects by inhibiting cGAS-STING in reactive retinal macrophages/microglia, and is expected to become a new strategy for treatment of retinal degeneration.

A Europium Nanosphere-Based Time-Resolved Fluorescent Immunochromatographic Assay for the Rapid Screening of 4,4'-Dinitrocarbanilide: Aiming at Improving Strip Method Performance

Considering that the strip method is simple and convenient for users, a Europium nanosphere-based time-resolved fluorescent immunochromatographic assay (TRFICA) for the rapid screening of 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) was developed to improve the performance of strip assays. After optimization, TRFICA showed IC₅₀, the limit of detection, and cut-off values of 0.4, 0.07, and 5.0 ng mL^-1, respectively. No significant cross-reactivity (CR < 0.1%) with 15 DNC analogs was observed in the developed method. TRFICA was validated for DNC detection in spiked chicken homogenates, and recoveries ranged from 77.3% to 92.7%, with coefficients of variation of <14.9%. Moreover, the time needed for the detection procedure, including the sample pre-treatment, was less than 30 min for TRFICA, which had never been achieved before in other immunoassays. The newly developed strip test is a rapid, sensitive, quantitative, and cost-effective on-site screening technique for DNC analysis in chicken muscle.

Prevalence and risk factors of erectile dysfunction in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Studies have found that erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a short-term or long-term complication in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, but no relevant studies have completed a pooled analysis of this claim. The purpose of the review was to comprehensively search the relevant literature, summarize the prevalence of ED in COVID-19 patients, assess risk factors for its development, and explore the effect of the COVID-19 infection on erectile function.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was performed from database inception until April 14, 2022. Heterogeneity was analyzed by χ² tests and I² was used as a quantitative test of heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses were used to analyze sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Our review included 8 studies, 4 of which functioned as a control group. There were 250,606 COVID-19 patients (mean age: 31-47.1 years, sample size: 23-246,990). The control group consisted of 10,844,200 individuals (mean age: 32.76-42.4 years, sample size 75-10,836,663). The prevalence of ED was 33% (95% CI 18-47%, I² = 99.48%) in COVID-19 patients. The prevalence of ED based on the international coding of diseases (ICD-10) was 9% (95% CI 2-19%), which was significantly lower than the prevalence of ED diagnosed based on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) (46%, 95% CI 22-71%, I² = 96.72%). The pooling prevalence of ED was 50% (95% CI 34-67%, I² = 81.54%) for articles published in 2021, significantly higher than that for articles published in 2022 (17%, 95% CI 7-30%, I² = 99.55%). The relative risk of developing ED was 2.64 times in COVID-19 patients higher than in non-COVID-19 patients (RR: 2.64, 95% CI 1.01-6.88). The GRADE-pro score showed that the mean incidence of ED events in COVID-19 patients was 1,333/50,606 (2.6%) compared with 52,937/844,200 (0.4%) in controls; the absolute impact of COVID-19 on ED was 656/100,000 (ranging from 4/100,000 to 2352/100,000). Anxiety (OR: 1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.26, I² = 0.0%) in COVID-19 patients was a risk factor for ED.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 patients have a high risk and prevalence of ED, mainly driven by anxiety. Attention should be paid to patient's erectile functioning when treating COVID-19.

Inflammatory Markers Differentiate Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis from Mimics

Imaging tests always misdiagnose anatomical variants of cerebral sinuses as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). Anatomical variants of cerebral sinuses are called CVST mimics. This study aimed to identify the role of inflammatory markers in differentiating CVST from mimics. A total of 146 patients diagnosed as CVST and 93 patients with mimics were recruited in this study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of inflammatory markers for diagnosing CVST. Rank logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the association of markers to CVST severity and prognosis. CVST presented higher inflammatory reactions compared with mimics, demonstrated by the neutrophil count (5.11 [3.97-6.80] vs. 3.06 [2.34-3.86]), interleukin (IL)-6 (7.42 [3.85-14.22] vs. 2.47 [1.50-4.00]), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR; 3.19 [2.18-4.62] vs. 1.66 [1.16-2.22]). ROC analysis showed markers with area under the curve (AUC) >0.8, including IL-6 (optimal cutoff: 3.790; kappa value: 0.499), neutrophil count (3.975; 0.522), and NLR (2.070; 0.476). After propensity score matching, only IL-6 had an AUC >0.8, with an optimal cutoff of 3.060 and a kappa value of 0.636. Ranked logistic regression showed that IL-6 (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 1.063, 1.026-1.101; 1.029, 1.009-1.050), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immunoglobulin (Ig) A (0.279, 0.110-0.706; 0.398, 0.162-0.974), CSF IgM (22.399, 3.004-167.001; 9.545, 1.382-65.928), and CSF IgG (1.287, 1.124-1.473; 1.232, 1.091-1.392) were independently correlated with the baseline and follow-up mRS. In conclusion, inflammatory markers in CVST were different from those in mimics. These markers, especially IL-6, could not only differentiate CVST from its mimics, but also evaluate CVST severity and prognosis.

Mineral residue accelerant-enhanced anaerobic digestion of cow manure: An evaluation system of comprehensive performance

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an efficient technology for treating biowaste and generating biogas. A reasonable evaluation of AD performance is crucial to its development. Herein, a comprehensive evaluation system covering five dimensions (energy output, process stability, degradation efficiency, digestate fertility, and digestate safety) was established to assess AD performance. Each dimension in the evaluation system was assigned a specific indicator defined by a threshold or range. Additionally, the proposed evaluation system was applied to assess a case study of batch-mode mesophilic AD that employed three industrial waste residues as mineral accelerants (nickel‑iron slag, steel slag, and fly ash). The mineral accelerants enhanced the energy output (methane yield by 66.55 %-87.54 %) and the feedstock degradation (chemical oxygen demand removal ratio by 11.23 %-32.42 %). The digestates also retained promising safety (heavy metal contents of 190-1260 mg/kg) and fertility (total nutrient contents of 3.71 %-4.69 %). The evaluation system reasonably appraised the comprehensive performance of accelerant-enhanced AD systems with cow manure. This work provides a reliable methodology for evaluating and comparing the performance of different novel accelerants and can be applied to evaluate the comprehensive performance of large-scale biogas projects with cow manure.

Analysis of cerebral infarction caused by dysplasminogenemia in three pedigrees

Background and aims: Dysplasminogenemia is a rare heritable disease caused by plasminogen (PLG) gene defects resulting in hypercoagulability. In this report we describe three notable cases of cerebral infarction (CI) complicated with dysplasminogenemia in young patients. Methods: Coagulation indices were examined on STAGO STA-R-MAX analyzer. PLG: A was analyzed using a chromogenic substrate-based approach using a chromogenic substrate method. All nineteen exons of PLG gene and their 5'and 3'flanking regions were amplified by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Suspected mutation was confirmed by reverse sequencing. Results: PLG activity (PLG:A) in proband 1 and 3 of his tested family members, proband 2 and 2 of his tested family members, and proband 3 and her father were all reduced to roughly 50% of normal levels. Sequencing led to the identification of a heterozygous c.1858G>A missense mutation in exon 15 of the PLG gene in these three patients and affected family members. Conclusion: We conclude that the observed reduction in PLG:A was the result of this p.Ala620Thr missense mutation in the PLG gene. The CI incidence in these probands may be attributable to the inhibition of normal fibrinolytic activity as a consequence of this heterozygous mutation.

Nd:YAG capsulotomy incidence associated with five different single-piece monofocal intraocular lenses: a 3-year Spanish real-world evidence study of 8293 eyes

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the associations between different single-piece monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) and neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (Nd:YAG) capsulotomy incidence 3 years after cataract surgery in a Spanish cohort.

METHODS

This is a longitudinal retrospective cohort study. Data were extracted from the electronic medical records of two large regional hospitals in Spain. Patients aged ≥65 years receiving cataract surgery with placement of five different IOLs and with ≥6 months of baseline data were included. We report the Nd:YAG capsulotomy incidence 3 years post cataract surgery, and the survival plot over the 3 years of follow-up time. The associated adjusted (age, gender, and diabetic retinopathy) multivariate analysis with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs is also presented.

RESULTS

The cohort (53% female, mean age 75 ± 5.9 years) included 14,519 eyes (Alcon AcrySof = 2968, AJL LLASY60 = 1776, Medicontur Bi-flex = 5176, Zeiss Asphina = 4478, and IOL Tech Stabibag = 121). Of these, 8293 were retained until 3-year follow-up. At 3 years after cataract surgery, the Nd:YAG capsulotomy incidence was 5% for Alcon AcrySof, while it ranged from 21.2% to 31.1% for the other IOLs (p < 0.0001 for each comparison). The odds for Nd:YAG capsulotomy were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) for other IOLs compared with those of Alcon AcrySof (ORs = 8.85, 5.86, 5.74, 5.21 for AJL LLASY60, Medicontur Bi-flex, IOL Tech Stabibag, and Zeiss Asphina, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The lower Nd:YAG capsulotomy rates for Alcon AcrySof IOLs compared to the other IOLs support the importance of lens choice in reducing patient burden and treatment costs.

Brain-derived programmed death-ligand 1 mediates immunosuppression post intracerebral hemorrhage

Immunosuppression commonly occurs after a stroke, which is believed to be associated with the increased risk of infectious comorbidities of stroke patients, while the mechanisms underlying post-stroke immunosuppression is yet to be elucidated. In the brains of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients and murine ICH models, we identified that neuron-derived programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is reduced in the perihematomal area, associating increased soluble PD-L1 level in the peripheral blood. ICH induced a significant decrease of T and natural killer (NK) cell numbers in the periphery with an upregulation of programed death-1 (PD-1) in these cells. Blocking PD-1 pathway with an anti-PD1 monoclonal antibody prevented the T and NK cell compartment contraction and spleen atrophy post-ICH, with reduced pulmonary bacterial burden and improved neurological outcome. Thus, we here identified that brain-derived PD-L1 as a new mechanism driving post-stroke immunosuppression, and anti-PD1 treatment could be potentially developed to reducing the risk of post-stroke infections.

Andrographolide restored production performances and serum biochemical indexes and attenuated organs damage in Mycoplasma gallisepticum-infected broilers

1. This study aimed to study the preventive and therapeutic effects of andrographolide (Andro) during Mycoplasma gallisepticum HS strain (MG) infection in ArborAcres (AA) broilers.2. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Andro against MG was measured. Broiler body weight, feed efficiency, morbidity, cure rate and mortality were recorded during the experiment. Air sac lesion scores and immune organ index were calculated. Expression of pMGA1.2 in lung tissue and serum biochemical indices were examined. Histopathological examinations of immune organs, liver, trachea and lung tissue were conducted by Haematoxylin and Eosin stain.3. MIC was 3.75 μg/mL and Andro significantly inhibited the expression of pMGA1.2 (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with control MG-infected group, Andro low-dose and high-dose prevention reduced the morbidity of chronic respiratory disease in 40.00% and 50.00%, respectively. Mortality of C, D and E group was 16.67%, 10.00% and 6.67%, respectively. Cure rate of E, F, G and H group was 92.00%, 92.86%, 93.33% and 100.0%, respectively. Compared with control MG-infected group, Andro treatment significantly increased average weight gain (AWG), relative weight gain rate (RWG) and feed conversion rate (FCR) at 18 to 24 days (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with control group, Andro alone treatment significantly increased AWG in broilers (P ≤ 0.05).4. Compared with control MG-infected group, Andro significantly attenuated MG-induced air sac lesion, immune organs, liver, trachea and lung damage in broilers. Andro alone treatment did not induce abnormal morphological changes in these organs in healthy broilers. Serum biochemical analysis results showed, comparing with control MG-infected group, Andro significantly decreased the content of total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, and increased the albumin/globulin ratio and content of alkaline phosphatase, apolipoprotein B and apolipoprotein A-I in a dose-dependent manner (P ≤ 0.05).5. Andro could act as a potential agent against MG infection in broilers.

Multinucleated Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Adapt to Vision and Exhibit Increased DNA Damage Response

Multinucleated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells have been reported in humans and other mammals. Rodents have an extremely high percentage of multinucleated cells (more than 80%). Both mouse and human multinucleated RPE cells exhibit specific regional distributions that are potentially correlated with photoreceptor density. However, detailed investigations of multinucleated RPE in different species and their behavior after DNA damage are missing. Here, we compared the composition of multinucleated RPE cells in nocturnal and diurnal animals that possess distinct rod and cone proportions. We further investigated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA damage response in mouse mononucleated and multinucleated RPE cells and determined the effect of p53 dosage on the DNA damage response in these cells. Our results revealed an unrealized association between multinucleated RPE cells and nocturnal vision. In addition, we found multinucleated RPE cells exhibited increased ROS production and DNA damage after X-ray irradiation. Furthermore, haploinsufficiency of p53 led to increased DNA damage frequency after irradiation, and mononucleated RPE cells were more sensitive to a change in p53 dosage. In conclusion, this study provides novel information on in vivo PRE topography and the DNA damage response, which may reflect specific requirements for vision adaption and macular function.

MYPT1/PP1-Mediated EZH2 Dephosphorylation at S21 Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Fibrosis through Control of Multiple Families of Genes

The methyltransferase EZH2 plays an important role in regulating chromatin conformation and gene transcription. Phosphorylation of EZH2 at S21 by AKT kinase suppresses its function. However, protein phosphatases responsible for the dephosphorylation of EZH2-S21 remain elusive. Here, it is demonstrated that EZH2 is highly expressed in the ocular lens, and AKT-EZH2 axis is important in TGFβ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). More importantly, it is identified that MYPT1/PP1 dephosphorylates EZH2-S21 and thus modulates its functions. MYPT1 knockout accelerates EMT, but expression of the EZH2-S21A mutant suppresses EMT through control of multiple families of genes. Furthermore, the phosphorylation status and gene expression modulation of EZH2 are implicated in control of anterior subcapsular cataracts (ASC) in human and mouse eyes. Together, the results identify the specific phosphatase for EZH2-S21 and reveal EZH2 dephosphorylation control of several families of genes implicated in lens EMT and ASC pathogenesis. These results provide important novel information in EZH2 function and regulation.

[Clinical characteristics and risk factors of lower extremity arterial disease in patients with diabetic foot ulcer]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical characteristics of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) and its risk factors in patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).

METHODS

We retrospectively collected the clinical and follow-up data of 650 patients with DFU treated in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Nanfang Hospital between January, 2017 and December, 2019. We compared the data between patients who had LEAD and those without LEAD and used a multivariate logistic regression model to analyze the risk factors of LEAD in DFU patients.

RESULTS

Among the 650 DFU patients, 470 (72.4%) had LEAD. The patients were followed up for a mean of 3.5 months, and the mean healing time of DFU was 2.55 months; healing of DFU occurred in 453 patients and 183 patients received amputation. The patients with LEAD and those without LEAD differed significantly in age, hospitalization costs, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), glycated hemoglobin, blood lipid levels, disease course, ankle brachial index, healing time, smoking history, clinical outcomes, Wagner grade and imaging results (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age (OR=1.070, 95% CI: 1.049-1.091), smoking history (OR= 2.013, 95% CI: 1.268-3.195), and a decreased DBP (OR=0.980, 95% CI: 0.963-0.997) as independent risk factors for LEAD in DFU patients. A prolonged healing time was a prominent clinical feature of DFU complicated by LEAD.

CONCLUSION

DFU patients have a high incidence of LEAD, which leads to high rates of disability and mortality and is associated with an advanced age, high smoking rate and longer healing time. A decreased DBP is also a risk factor for LEAD in DFU patients.

Adsorption of an Anionic Surfactant (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate) from an Aqueous Solution by Modified Cellulose with Quaternary Ammonium

In this study, a method of removing an anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) from an aqueous solution by cellulose modified with quaternary ammonium cation was discussed. Cellulose, as the adsorbent, was obtained from medical cotton balls, and the quaternary ammonium cation (synthesized from dodecyl dimethyl tertiary amine and epichlorohydrin) was grafted onto the sixth hydroxyl group of D-glucose in the cellulose by the Williamson reaction under alkaline conditions. The modified cellulose was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); and the zeta potential of the material was also measured after confirmation of the synthesis of quaternary ammonium salts by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). From these analyses, a peak of the quaternary ammonium group was observed at 1637 cm^-1; and it was found that the surface of the material exhibited a positive charge in pH 2-7. The optimal conditions for SDS adsorption by modified cellulose were pH of 7, contact time of 3 h, and temperature of 60 °C in this study. Typical adsorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich) were determined for the adsorption process, and the maximal adsorption capacity was estimated as 32.5 mg g^-1. The results of adsorption kinetics were more consistent with the pseudo-second-order equation, indicating that the adsorption process was mainly controlled by chemical adsorption. Furthermore, thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process of SDS on the modified cellulose was endothermic and spontaneous and that an increasing temperature was conducive to adsorption.

Use of bag-filter gas dust in anaerobic digestion of cattle manure for boosting the methane yield and digestate utilization

Plenty of refractory and environmentally hazardous bag-filter gas dust (BGD) is produced in the iron-making process. The effects of untreated BGD on anaerobic digestion (AD) with cattle manure were investigated. The BGD had the potential to boost the methane yield and digestate utilization considerably. The digester with 2.0 wt% BGD gained the highest methane yield (256.3 mL/g VS) and chemical oxygen demand removal rate (56.8%), 51.3% and 20.1% higher than that (169.4 mL/g VS, 47.3%) of the control group, respectively. The digestates with BGD possessed a utilization potential with the stability of 49.5-57.9% and fertility of 4.65-4.86%. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated that 2.0 wt% BGD improved the electron transport capacity of the AD system and increased the limiting current and redox peak current by 40.3% and 12.9%, respectively. A strategy for understanding the BGD reinforcing methanogenesis was proposed. This work also provides a technical support for recycling the BGD.

Costs and Healthcare Resource Utilization Associated with Posterior Capsule Opacification After Cataract Surgery with Five Different Intraocular Lenses: An Economic Analysis for Spain

Purpose

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusion

Functional Innovation through Gene Duplication Followed by Frameshift Mutation

In his influential book “Evolution by Gene Duplication”, Ohno postulated that frameshift mutation could lead to a new function after duplication, but frameshift mutation is generally thought to be deleterious, and thus drew little attention in functional innovation in duplicate evolution. To this end, we here report an exhaustive survey of the genomes of human, mouse, zebrafish, and fruit fly. We identified 80 duplicate genes that involved frameshift mutations after duplication. The frameshift mutation preferentially located close to the C-terminus in most cases (55/88), which indicated that a frameshift mutation that changed the reading frame in a small part at the end of a duplicate may likely have contributed to adaptive evolution (e.g., human genes NOTCH2NL and ARHGAP11B) otherwise too deleterious to survive. A few cases (11/80) involved multiple frameshift mutations, exhibiting various patterns of modifications of the reading frame. Functionality of duplicate genes involving frameshift mutations was confirmed by sequence characteristics and expression profile, suggesting a potential role of frameshift mutation in creating functional novelty. We thus showed that genomes have non-negligible numbers of genes that have experienced frameshift mutations following gene duplication. Our results demonstrated the potential importance of frameshift mutations in molecular evolution, as Ohno verbally argued 50 years ago.

Heterochromatin inhibits cGAS and STING during oxidative stress-induced retinal pigment epithelium and retina degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness characterized by degeneration of retina pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors in the macular region. Activation of the innate immune cGAS-STING signaling has been detected in RPE of dry AMD patients, but the regulatory basis is largely unexplored. Heterochromatin is a highly compact, transcription inert chromatin status. We have recently shown that heterochromatin is required for RPE survival through epigenetically silencing p53-mediated apoptosis signaling. Here, we found that cGAS and STING were dose-dependently upregulated in mouse RPE and retina during oxidative injury, correlated with decreased chromatin compaction in their gene loci. Genetic or pharmaceutical disruption of heterochromatin leads to elevated cGAS and STING expression and enhanced inflammatory response in oxidative stress-induced RPE and retina degeneration. In contrast, application of methotrexate (MTX), a recently identified heterochromatin-promoting drug, inhibits cGAS and STING in both RPE and retina, attenuates RPE/retina degeneration and inflammation. Further, we show that intact heterochromatin is required for MTX to repress cGAS and STING. Together, we demonstrated an unrevealed regulatory function of heterochromatin on cGAS and STING expression and provide potential new therapeutic strategy for AMD treatment.

A Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Sodium Chloride Powder for Self-Powered Humidity Sensor

Recently, the research of distributed sensor networks based on triboelectric technology has attracted extensive attention. Here, we reported a new triboelectric nanogenerator based on sodium chloride powder (S-TENG) to obtain mechanical energy. The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film and sodium chloride powder layer serve as the triboelectric pair. After testing and calculation, the internal resistance of S-TENG is 30 MΩ, and the output power of S-TENG (size: 6 cm × 6 cm) can arrive at the maximum value (about 403.3 µW). Furthermore, the S-TENG can achieve the open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 198 V and short-circuit current (I_sc) of 6.66 µA, respectively. Moreover, owing to the moisture absorption of sodium chloride powder, the S-TENG device also has the function of the humidity sensor. This work proposed a functional TENG device, and it can promote the advancement of self-powered sensors based on the TENG devices.

Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Tracers and Development of a Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay for Rapid Screening of 4,4'-Dinitrocarbanilide in Chicken Muscle

The compound, 4,4′-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC), is the marker residue of concern in edible tissues of broilers fed with diets containing anticoccidial nicarbazin (NIC). In this study, 25 fluorescein-labeled DNC derivatives (tracers) are synthesized and characterized to develop a rapid fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) for the detection of DNC in chickens using DNC monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The effect of the tracer structure on the sensitivity of the FPIA is investigated. Our results show that after optimization, the half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) and limit of detection (LOD) of the FPIA in the buffer are 28.3 and 5.7 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. No significant cross-reactivity (CR < 0.89%) with 15 DNC analogues is observed. The developed FPIA is validated for DNC detection in spiked chicken homogenates, and recoveries ranged from 74.2 to 85.8%, with coefficients of variation <8.6%. Moreover, the total time needed for the detection procedure of the FPIA, including sample pretreatment, is <40 min, which has not been achieved in any other immunoassays for DNC from literature. Our results demonstrate that the FPIA developed here is a simple, sensitive, specific, and reproducible screening method for DNC residues in chickens.

Pertussis toxin-induced inflammatory response exacerbates intracerebral haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke in mice

Background

Stroke is a devastating disease, including intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and ischaemic stroke. Emerging evidences indicate that systemic inflammatory cascades after stroke contribute to brain damage. However, the direct effects and features of systemic inflammation on brain injury, especially comparing between ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, are still obscure.

Methods

Pertussis toxin (PT) was used to build a pro-inflammatory milieu after ICH and ischaemic stroke in mouse model. The neurodeficits, stroke lesion, immune response and blood–brain barrier (BBB) destruction were assessed.

Results

In ICH mouse model, PT-induced systemic inflammation exacerbated neurological deficits, and enlarged haemorrhage lesion and perihaematomal oedema. We also found promoted leucocyte infiltration and inflammatory cytokine release into the brain after PT treatment. Moreover, the integrity of the BBB was further disrupted after receiving PT. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PT enhanced brain inflammation and aggravated stroke severity in middle cerebral artery occlusion mouse model.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that PT increases inflammatory response that exacerbates brain injury after ICH or ischaemic stroke in mouse model.

A comparative analysis of 375 patients with lateral and medial medullary infarction

BACKGROUND

Few studies have compared the etiology and clinical features between pure lateral medullary infarction (LMI) and pure medial medullary infarction (MMI).

METHODS

All patients included were hospitalized at The First Affiliated Hospital and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2015 to July 2020. Their risk factors, clinical manifestation, stroke mechanisms and short-term prognosis were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Among the 387 patients enrolled, 266 (68.7%) had LMI, 109 (28.2%) had MMI, and 12 (3.1%) (nine men and three women) had LMI plus MMI. We analyzed the 375 patients of LMI and MMI. The average ages of LMI and MMI were 59.4 years and 62.69 years, respectively. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the existing risk factors of MMI relative to LMI. Prior infarction, poor glycemic control, and atherosclerosis were more frequently associated with MMI than with LMI. The clinical manifestation was significantly different between LMI and MMI. We used modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score as the short-term prognostic evaluation criteria, and MMI appeared worse than LMI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that: (1) patients with MMI are older than those with LMI; (2) prior infarction, poor glycemic control, and atherosclerosis are independent risk factors of MMI than that of LMI; (3) the clinical manifestations of LMI and MMI are heterogeneous; (4) short-term prognosis of MMI is worse than LMI.

Genome and population evolution and environmental adaptation of Glyptosternon maculatum on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Persistent uplift means the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is an ideal natural laboratory to investigate genome evolution and adaptation within highland environments. However, how paleogeographic and paleoclimatic events influence the genome and population of endemic fish species remains unclear. Glyptosternon maculatum is an ancient endemic fish found on the QTP and the only critically endangered species in the Sisoridae family. Here, we found that major transposons in the G. maculatum genome showed episodic bursts, consistent with contemporaneous geological and climatic events during the QTP formation. Notably, histone genes showed significant expansion in the G. maculatum genome, which may be mediated by long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE) repetitive element duplications. Population analysis showed that ancestral G. maculatum populations experienced two significant depressions 2.6 million years ago (Mya) and 10 000 years ago, exhibiting excellent synchronization with Quaternary glaciation and the Younger Dryas, respectively. Thus, we propose that paleogeography and paleoclimate were dominating driving forces for population dynamics in endemic fish on the QTP. Tectonic movements and temperature fluctuation likely destroyed the habitat and disrupted the drainage connectivity among populations. These factors may have caused severe bottlenecks and limited migration among ancestral G. maculatum populations, resulting in the low genetic diversity and endangered status of the species today.

miR-543 impairs cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in breast cancer by suppressing VCAN

Breast cancer (BC) continues to plague millions of people worldwide. MicroRNAs have been observed to be closely associated with many cancers and may serve as promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of BC. BC tissue samples were collected from 26 patients, and qRT-PCR and western blotting were performed to evaluate the levels of miR-543 and VCAN. The action of miR-543 and VCAN was determined using CCK-8, BrdU, wound healing, and transwell invasion assays. Luciferase and RNA pull-down assays were used to assess whether miR-543 bound to VCAN. We found that miR-543 inhibited BC cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion by repressing the expression of VCAN. VCAN was upregulated in BC tissues and exerted beneficial effects on the development process of BC. Our results highlighted that the miR-543/VCAN axis is a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in clinical applications.

Draft Genome Assembly of the Aral Barbel Luciobarbus brachycephalus Using PacBio Sequencing

The endangered Aral barbel Luciobarbus brachycephalus is endemic to the water systems of the Caspian Sea and Aral Sea. Given the scarcity of genetic data for the species, we present a draft assembly based on PacBio long-read sequencing technology. Approximate 299.4 Gb of long reads representing 166× of the estimated genome size were generated, and the final assembly was composed of 653 contigs totaling approximately 1,698.3 Mb, with a contig N50 length of 4.5 Mb. A total of 807.6 Mb represented approximately 47.6% of the assembly and were identified as repeats. Fifty-four thousand and six hundred possible protein genes were predicted, among which 50,727, representing approximately 92.9%, could be annotated by at least one database. Evolutionary analysis showed that L. brachycephalus and Labeo rohita diverged by approximately 42.6 Ma, and the obvious expansion of gene families residing in the L. brachycephalus genome may be attributed to the specific whole-genome duplication of the species. The first genome assembly of L. brachycephalus can not only provide a foundation for genetic conservation and molecular breeding of this species but also contribute to comparative analyses of genome biology and evolution within Cyprinidae.

Emergence of livestock-associated MRSA ST398 from bulk tank milk, China

OBJECTIVES

To detect livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) ST398 from bulk tank milk in China and to determine the phenotypic and genomic characteristics of the strains.

METHODS

LA-MRSA ST398 strains were isolated from bulk tank milk samples in Shanghai and their susceptibilities to antimicrobials were determined using the broth dilution method. Genomic characterization of MRSA ST398 strains was performed by WGS and their evolutionary relationships were assessed by phylogenetic analysis.

RESULTS

Two LA-MRSA ST398 isolates were recovered from bulk tank milk samples in two geographically distant farms in China. Whole-genome analysis strongly suggested that the LA-MRSA ST398 strains were closely related to the highly virulent hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) ST398 strains in China.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of LA-MRSA ST398 in bulk tank milk might be a serious threat to public health, highlighting the need for active surveillance of LA-MRSA in healthy cattle in China.

The E3 Ligase PIAS1 Regulates p53 Sumoylation to Control Stress-Induced Apoptosis of Lens Epithelial Cells Through the Proapoptotic Regulator Bax

Protein sumoylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications regulating many biological processes (Flotho A & Melchior F. 2013. Ann Rev. Biochem. 82:357–85). Our previous studies have shown that sumoylation plays a fundamental role in regulating lens differentiation (Yan et al., 2010. PNAS, 107(49):21034-9.; Gong et al., 2014. PNAS. 111(15):5574–9). Whether sumoylation is implicated in lens pathogenesis remains elusive. Here, we present evidence to show that the protein inhibitor of activated STAT-1 (PIAS1), a E3 ligase for sumoylation, is implicated in regulating stress-induced lens pathogenesis. During oxidative stress-induced cataractogenesis, expression of PIAS1 is significantly altered at both mRNA and protein levels. Upregulation and overexpression of exogenous PIAS1 significantly enhances stress-induced apoptosis. In contrast, silence of PIAS1 with CRISPR/Cas9 technology attenuates stress-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, different from other cells, PIAS1 has little effect to activate JNK but upregulates Bax, a major proapoptotic regulator. Moreover, Bax upregulation is derived from the enhanced transcription activity of the upstream transcription factor, p53. As revealed previously in other cells by different laboratories, our data also demonstrate that PIAS1 promotes SUMO1 conjugation of p53 at K386 residue in lens epithelial cells and thus enhances p53 transcription activity to promote Bax upregulation. Silence of Bax expression largely abrogates PIAS1-mediated enhancement of stress-induced apoptosis. Thus, our results demonstrated that PIAS1 promotes oxidative stress-induced apoptosis through positive control of p53, which specifically upregulates expression of the downstream proapoptotic regulator Bax. As a result, PIAS1-promoted apoptosis induced by oxidative stress is implicated in lens pathogenesis.

COPB2: a transport protein with multifaceted roles in cancer development and progression

The Coatomer protein complex subunit beta 2 (COPB2) is involved in the formation of the COPI coatomer protein complex and is responsible for the transport of vesicles between the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum. It plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of these cellular organelles, as well as in maintaining cell homeostasis. More importantly, COPB2 plays key roles in embryonic development and tumor progression. COPB2 is regarded as a vital oncogene in several cancer types and has been implicated in tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the roles of COPB2 in cancer development and progression in the context of the hallmarks of cancer.

Prognosis and Immune Infiltration of Chromobox Family Genes in Sarcoma

Background

Chromobox family genes (CBXs) are known to play roles in numerous modifications of the chromatin in order to inhibit the transcription of target genes. CBXs have been shown to be expressed at high levels in many types of cancer and can also serve as a target gene for therapeutic purposes. However, little is known about the expression and prognostic value of CBXs in human sarcomas.

Methods

The transcription level of CBXs was analyzed using the Oncomine dataset, and the differential expression of CBXs in sarcoma was reported by the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) dataset. We also used the CCLE dataset to evaluate the expression of CBXs in a sarcoma cell line. The prognostic value of CBXs was analyzed using GEPIA and Kaplan–Meier analysis. In addition, the corrections between CBXs and their co-expressed genes were reported using Oncomine and GEPIA datasets. DAVID was used to perform GO function enrichment analysis for the CBXs and their co-expression genes. Finally, TIMER was used to analyze the immune cell infiltration of CBXs in patients with sarcoma.

Results

HP1-α/β/γ (CBX1/3/5) and CBX4/6/8 were found to be overexpressed in human sarcoma, and CBXs were upregulated in almost all the sarcoma cell line. The expression levels of HP1-α/β/γ (CBX1/3/5) and CBX7 were associated with overall survival (OS) in patients with sarcoma, while high expression levels of CBX7 were related to disease-free survival (DFS). In addition, the expression levels of CBX2/6/7 were related to recurrence-free survival (RFS). We also found that the CBX family was positively correlated with the infiltration of immune cells, including CD8⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, in sarcoma.

Conclusions

The results from the present study indicated that CBXs were significantly associated with prognosis and immunological status in sarcoma. These data suggest that CBXs could serve as potential biomarkers for prognosis and immune infiltration in human sarcoma.

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Characteristics of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli among Healthy Chickens from Farms and Live Poultry Markets in China

Simple Summary

Chicken meat has been proved to be a suspected source of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC), causing several diseases in humans, and bacteria in healthy chickens can contaminate chicken carcasses at the slaughter; however, reports about the prevalence and molecular characteristics of ExPEC in healthy chickens are still rare. In this study, among 926 E. coli isolates from healthy chickens in China, 22 (2.4%) were qualified as ExPEC and these ExPEC isolates were clonally unrelated. A total of six serogroups were identified in this study, with O78 being the most predominant type, and all the six serogroups had been frequently reported in human ExPEC isolates in many countries. All the 22 ExPEC isolates were multidrug-resistant and most isolates carried both bla_CTX-M and fosA3 resistance genes. Notably, plasmid-borne colistin resistance gene mcr-1 was identified in six ExPEC isolates, among which two carried additional carbapenemase gene bla_NDM, compromising both the efficacies of the two critically important drugs for humans, carbapenems and colistin. These results highlight that healthy chickens can serve as a potential reservoir for multidrug resistant ExPEC isolates, including mcr-1-containing ExPEC.

Abstract

Chicken products and chickens with colibacillosis are often reported to be a suspected source of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) causing several diseases in humans. Such pathogens in healthy chickens can also contaminate chicken carcasses at the slaughter and then are transmitted to humans via food supply; however, reports about the ExPEC in healthy chickens are still rare. In this study, we determined the prevalence and characteristics of ExPEC isolates in healthy chickens in China. A total of 926 E. coli isolates from seven layer farms (371 isolates), one white-feather broiler farm (78 isolates) and 17 live poultry markets (477 isolates from yellow-feather broilers) in 10 cities in China, were isolated and analyzed for antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes. The molecular detection of ExPEC among these healthy chicken E. coli isolates was performed by PCRs, and the serogroups and antibiotic resistance characteristics of ExPEC were also analyzed. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used to analyze the genetic relatedness of these ExPEC isolates. We found that the resistance rate for each of the 15 antimicrobials tested among E. coli from white-feather broilers was significantly higher than that from brown-egg layers and that from yellow-feather broilers in live poultry markets (p < 0.05). A total of 22 of the 926 E. coli isolates (2.4%) from healthy chickens were qualified as ExPEC, and the detection rate (7.7%, 6/78) of ExPEC among white-feather broilers was significantly higher than that (1.6%, 6/371) from brown-egg layers and that (2.1%, 10/477) from yellow-feather broilers (p < 0.05). PFGE and MLST analysis indicated that clonal dissemination of these ExPEC isolates was unlikely. Serogroup O78 was the most predominant type among the six serogroups identified in this study, and all the six serogroups had been frequently reported in human ExPEC isolates in many countries. All the 22 ExPEC isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and the resistance rates to ampicillin (100%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (100%) were the highest, followed by tetracycline (95.5%) and doxycycline (90.9%). bla_CTX-M was found in 15 of the 22 ExPEC isolates including 10 harboring additional fosfomycin resistance gene fosA3. Notably, plasmid-borne colistin resistance gene mcr-1 was identified in six ExPEC isolates in this study. Worryingly, two ExPEC isolates were found to carry both mcr-1 and bla_NDM, compromising both the efficacies of carbapenems and colistin. The presence of ExPEC isolates in healthy chickens, especially those carrying mcr-1 and/or bla_NDM, is alarming and will pose a threat to the health of consumers. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mcr-1-positive ExPEC isolates harboring bla_NDM from healthy chickens.

ALDH1A1 Genetic Variations May Modulate Risk of Parkinson's Disease in Han Chinese Population

Background: Studies in animal models have suggested that aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (encoded by ALDH1A1) protects against Parkinson’s disease (PD) by reducing toxic metabolites of dopamine. Herein we aimed to investigate whether ALDH1A1 was genetically associated with PD susceptibility in humans.

Methods: A Han Chinese population of 1,039 subjects was recruited to analyze six tag-single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), followed by haplotype analyses and variants interaction analyses. Real-time PCR was used to analyze mRNA levels of ALDH1A1 in peripheral blood of 42 subjects.

Results: The tag-SNP rs7043217 of ALDH1A1 was significantly associated with PD susceptibility with the T serving as a risk allele (genotype frequency, P = 0.030; allele frequency, P = 0.013, OR = 1.258, 95% CI = 1.050–1.508). Multiple haplotypes were linked to abnormalities of PD risk, topped by a 4-SNP GGTA module in the order of rs4646547, rs1888202, rs7043217, and rs647880 (P = 9.610 × 10^–8, OR = 6.420, 95% CI = 2.944–13.998). Interaction analyses showed that a simultaneous presence of the CC genotype of rs7043217 and the TT genotype of ALDH2 variant rs4767944 conferred an elevated protection against PD (P = 4.68 × 10^–4, OR = 0.378, 95% CI = 0.219–0.652). The mRNA expression of ALDH1A1 showed a trend of reduction (P = 0.084) in PD patients compared to the controls.

Conclusion: Our results provide novel genetic insights into the role of ALDH1 in PD pathogenesis.

tPA Mobilizes Immune Cells That Exacerbate Hemorrhagic Transformation in Stroke

RATIONALE

Hemorrhagic complications represent a major limitation of intravenous thrombolysis using tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) in patients with ischemic stroke. The expression of tPA receptors on immune cells raises the question of what effects tPA exerts on these cells and whether these effects contribute to thrombolysis-related hemorrhagic transformation.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to determine the impact of tPA on immune cells and investigate the association between observed immune alteration with hemorrhagic transformation in ischemic stroke patients and in a rat model of embolic stroke.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Paired blood samples were collected before and 1 hour after tPA infusion from 71 patients with ischemic stroke. Control blood samples were collected from 27 ischemic stroke patients without tPA treatment. A rat embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion model was adopted to investigate the underlying mechanisms of hemorrhagic transformation. We report that tPA induces a swift surge of circulating neutrophils and T cells with profoundly altered molecular features in ischemic stroke patients and a rat model of focal embolic stroke. tPA exacerbates endothelial injury, increases adhesion and migration of neutrophils and T cells, which are associated with brain hemorrhage in rats subjected to embolic stroke. Genetic ablation of annexin A2 in neutrophils and T cells diminishes the effect of tPA on these cells. Decoupling the interaction between mobilized neutrophils/T cells and the neurovascular unit, achieved via a S1PR (sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor) 1 modulator RP101075 and a CCL2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2) synthesis inhibitor bindarit, which block lymphocyte egress and myeloid cell recruitment, respectively, attenuates hemorrhagic transformation and improves neurological function after tPA thrombolysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that immune invasion of the neurovascular unit represents a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying tPA-mediated brain hemorrhage, which can be overcome by precise immune modulation during thrombolytic therapy.

[Clinical Outcomes of the Scleral Fixation of Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens using the Modified Yamane's Technique: a Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography Study]

Objective

To observe the postoperative outcomes of the scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lens (SF-PCIOL) using the modified Yamane's technique with the aid of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Methods

Prospective observational case series. This study involved 20 patients who underwent SF-PCIOL with the modified Yamane's technique, from December 2017 to November 2019. All patients had routine preoperative examinations, including biometric measurement by IOL master, measurements of uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA). The SRK/T formula was used to calculate the power of intraocular lens (IOL). After the surgery, UDVA and intraocular pressure were evaluated for 1 d, UDVA, BCDVA, spherical equivalent (SE) and corneal endothelial cell density were measured for 1 week, 1 month, 3 and 6 months, respectively. The IOL tilt and the symmetry of hepatitis in the scleral tunnel were measured by SS-OCT.

Results

The mean follow-up duration was (7.20±6.56) months (range, 3-26 months). The mean preoperative UDVA was (1.70±0.38) LogMAR, and it improved to (0.48±0.50) LogMAR ( P=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-operative BCDVA, i.e. (0.44±0.50) LogMAR and (0.32±0.48) LogMAR, respectively ( P=0.08). The mean spherical equivalent was (-0.53±0.86) diopter (D) and the postoperative refractive error was (0.27±0.82) D. Seventeen patients underwent SS-OCT examinations. The mean IOL tilt was (3.28±3.00)°. There was no significant difference between the horizontal and vertical tilt ( P=0.326). The IOL tilt did not show a significant correlation with spherical and cylindrical refractive error ( P=0.532, P=0.241). There was no statistically significant difference in the HL (the length of haptics fixed in the scleral tunnel) of nasal and temporal haptic, which were (2.24±0.20) mm and (2.17±0.23) mm, respectively ( P=0.193). And there were no statistically significant differences between the HD (the distance between the center of haptic flange and scleral spur) of nasal and temporal haptic, (1.58±0.07) mm and (1.66±0.08) mm, respectively ( P=0.338). The changes of IOL haptics in the scleral tunnel were tracked by 10 patients. The HL (nasal: HL-N; temporal: HL-T) and the HD (nasal: HD-N; temporal: HD-T) of haptics in the tunnel were measured and recorded at three time points, including 1 week, 1 and 3 months after surgery. There was no significant difference in HL-N, HL-T, HD-N and HD-T at the three time points ( P=0.931, P=0.091, P=0.175, and P=0.505, respectively). All patients underwent uneventful surgery. The postoperative complications included transient corneal edema in 6 eyes, transient IOP elevation in 3 eyes, vitreous hemorrhage in 1 eye, cystoid macular edema in 2 eyes, and macular hole in 1 eye.

Conclusion

The SF-PCIOL using modified Yamane's technique, is capable of producing satisfactory and consistent postoperative outcomes for patients with few postoperative complications. SS-OCT is a powerful tool for measuring optic tilt and the IOL hepatic symmetry in scleral tunnel.

Baicalin ameliorates Mycoplasma gallisepticum-induced lung inflammation in chicken by inhibiting TLR6-mediated NF-κB signalling

1. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) causes severe lung inflammation and cell damage by activating toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling, the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway and pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. Baicalin (BA) is a flavonoid extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis, which possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. This study investigated the effect of BA in MG-induced lung inflammation and its potential mechanism in MG-infected chicken embryo lungs and DF-1 cells.2. The histopathological examination result showed that BA treatment alleviated MG-induced lung pathological changes. In addition, CCK-8 and cell cycle assays showed that BA treatment inhibited MG-induced cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in DF-1 cells.3. The ELISA and RT-qPCR results demonstrated that BA treatment decreased the expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) both in MG-infected chicken embryo lungs and DF-1 cells.4. The results revealed that BA inhibited mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor-6 (TLR6), myeloid differentiation primary response gene-88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB-p655. In conclusion, the results showed that BA has a protective effect against MG-induced lung inflammation in chicken by inhibiting the TLR6-mediated NF-κB signalling.

Chromosomal genome of Triplophysa bleekeri provides insights into its evolution and environmental adaptation

BACKGROUND

Intense stresses caused by high-altitude environments may result in noticeable genetic adaptions in native species. Studies of genetic adaptations to high elevations have been largely limited to terrestrial animals. How fish adapt to high-elevation environments is largely unknown. Triplophysa bleekeri, an endemic fish inhabiting high-altitude regions, is an excellent model to investigate the genetic mechanisms of adaptation to the local environment. Here, we assembled a chromosomal genome sequence of T. bleekeri, with a size of ∼628 Mb (contig and scaffold N50 of 3.1 and 22.9 Mb, respectively). We investigated the origin and environmental adaptation of T. bleekeri based on 21,198 protein-coding genes in the genome.

RESULTS

Compared with fish species living at low altitudes, gene families associated with lipid metabolism and immune response were significantly expanded in the T. bleekeri genome. Genes involved in DNA repair exhibit positive selection for T. bleekeri, Triplophysa siluroides, and Triplophysa tibetana, indicating that adaptive convergence in Triplophysa species occurred at the positively selected genes. We also analyzed whole-genome variants among samples from 3 populations. The results showed that populations separated by geological and artificial barriers exhibited obvious differences in genetic structures, indicating that gene flow is restricted between populations.

CONCLUSIONS

These results will help us expand our understanding of environmental adaptation and genetic diversity of T. bleekeri and provide valuable genetic resources for future studies on the evolution and conservation of high-altitude fish species such as T. bleekeri.

Specific cyprinid HIF isoforms contribute to cellular mitochondrial regulation

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) functions as a master regulator of the cellular response to hypoxic stress. Two HIF-1α paralogs, HIF-1αA and HIF-1αB, were generated in euteleosts by the specific, third round of genome duplication, but one paralog was later lost in most families with the exception of cyprinid fish. How these duplicates function in mitochondrial regulation and whether their preservation contributes to the hypoxia tolerance demonstrated by cyprinid fish in freshwater environments is not clear. Here we demonstrated the divergent function of these two zebrafish Hif-1a paralogs through cellular approaches. The results showed that Hif-1aa played a role in tricarboxylic acid cycle by increasing the expression of Citrate synthase and the activity of mitochondrial complex II, and it also enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS production by reducing free Ca²⁺ in the cytosol. Hif-1ab promoted intracellular ATP content by up-regulating the activity of mitochondrial complexes I, III and IV and the expression of related genes. Furthermore, both the two zebrafish Hif-1a paralogs promoted mitochondrial mass and the expression level of mtDNA, contributing to mitochondrial biogenesis. Our study reveals the divergent functions of Hif-1aa and Hif-1ab in cellular mitochondrial regulation.

Clinical and sonographic features for the preoperative prediction of lymph nodes posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate clinical and sonographic features predictive of lymph nodes posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-prRLN) metastasis in patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and ultrasound (US) images of 479 consecutive PTC patients who received total thyroidectomy or right lobectomy with central neck dissection (CND) between October 2017 and October 2019. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify clinical and sonographic features associated with LN-prRLN metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was applied to evaluate the efficacy of clinical and sonographic features in the preoperative prediction of LN-prRLN metastasis.

RESULTS

Overall, 127 (26.5%) patients had LN-prRLN metastasis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age < 45 years (p = 0.005; OR 2.155; 95% CI 1.262-3.683), male sex (p = 0.043; OR 1.657; 95% CI 1.016-2.704), tumor diameter > 1 cm (p = 0.042; OR 1.702; 95% CI 1.019-2.842), microcalcifications (p = 0.022; OR 1.980; 95% CI 1.104-3.551), and US-detected lateral compartment lymph node (LLN) metastasis (p = 0.001; OR 2.578; 95% CI 1.500-4.430) were independent risk factors for LN-prRLN metastasis. ROC analysis revealed that the multivariate logistic regression model had good accuracy in predicting LN-prRLN metastasis, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.758.

CONCLUSIONS

Age less than 45 years, male sex, tumor diameter larger than 1 cm, microcalcifications, and US-detected LLN metastasis may preoperatively predict LN-prRLN metastasis.

Genome of Tetraploid Fish Schizothorax o'connori Provides Insights into Early Re-diploidization and High-Altitude Adaptation

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) of Schizothoracinae are believed to have played a significant role in speciation and environmental adaptation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Here, we present a genome for Schizothorax o'connori, a QTP endemic fish and showed the species as a young tetraploid with a recent WGD later than ∼1.23 mya. We exhibited that massive insertions between duplicated genomes caused by transposon bursts could induce mutagenesis in adjacent sequences and alter the expression of neighboring genes, representing an early re-diploidization process in a polyploid genome after WGD. Meanwhile, we found that many genes involved in DNA repair and folate transport/metabolism experienced natural selection and might contribute to the environmental adaptation of this species. Therefore, the S. o'connori genome could serve as a young tetraploid model for investigations of early re-diploidization in polyploid genomes and offers an invaluable genetic resource for environmental adaptation studies of the endemic fish of the QTP.