Peritumoural MRI radiomics signature of brain metastases can predict epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma

AIM

To investigate whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics features of brain metastases (BMs) can predict epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between June 2014 and December 2022, 58 histopathologically confirmed lung adenocarcinoma patients (27 with EGFR wild-type, 31 with EGFR mutation) who underwent gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced brain MRI were recruited retrospectively. A total of 123 metastatic brain lesions were allocated randomly into the training cohort (n=86) and test cohort (n=37) at a ratio of 7:3. Radiomics models based on multi-sequence MRI images in different regions such as volume of interest (VOI)enhancing tumour, VOIwholetumour, VOIperitumour 1mm, VOIperitumour 3mm, and VOIperitumour 5mm were built. The optimal radiomics model was integrated into the clinical or radiological indicators to construct a fusion model through multivariable logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The optimal radiomics model based on the VOIperitumour 1mm, a combination of nine features selected from the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence, yielded areas under the curves (AUCs) of >0.75 in the training and test cohorts. The prediction of the fusion model with integration of clinical factors (age) and radiomics score (the optimal radiomics model) was not better than that of the optimal radiomics model alone in the test cohort (AUC: 0.808 and 0.785, respectively, p=0.525).

CONCLUSION

The FLAIR radiomics model based on VOIperitumour 1mm as an effective biomarker helps predict EGFR mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma patients with BMs and then assists clinicians in selecting optimal treatment strategies.

Integrated morphological and transcriptome profiles reveal a highly-developed extrusome system associated to virulence in the notorious fish parasite, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is an obligate parasitic ciliate that causes severe economic damage in aquaculture. The parasite contains numerous extrusive organelles (extrusomes) that assist in its pathogenesis and reproduction. However, the structure of these extrusomes and the molecular profiles involved in exocytosis remain unclear. In the present study, through comparative ultrastructural observations across the life cycle of I. multifiliis, we demonstrated that all three of its life stages (theront, trophont, and tomont) exhibited an abundance of extrusomes. In addition, two different types of extrusomes were identified according to their unique structures. Type I extrusomes (mucocysts) are crystalline, oval-shaped, 0.7-1.4 × 0.6-1.1 μm, and distributed as "rosettes" below the trophont membrane. Type II extrusomes, 2.0-3.0 × 0.2-0.3 μm, are rod-shaped with tubular cores and identified as toxicysts, the aggregation of which in the anterior part of the theront and cortex of the trophont revealed their potential roles in I. multifiliis invasion. This was confirmed by our transcriptome investigations of the three stages of I. multifiliis, which revealed that a set of genes involved in proteolysis and DNA/protein biogenesis was highly expressed in the theront and trophont. Furthermore, to map the molecular mechanisms of extrusome release, we characterized 25 Rab family genes in I. multifiliis and determined their expression profiles across the life cycle, reflecting the distribution patterns of the two extrusomes. Collectively, our data revealed that a highly developed extrusome system could play a potential role in the virulence of I. multifiliis, which facilitates a better understanding of the parasite's development.

Identification of Myxobolus distalisensis n. sp. (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) infecting yellow catfish Tachysurus fulvidraco (Richardson), with a supplement description of M. voremkhai (Akhmerov, 1960) Landsberg and Lom, 1991

With growing scale of intensive fish cultivation, the risk of parasite infection in commercial fish is increased. Precisely identifying and characterizing the parasites that infect the farmed fish is critical to understanding the dynamics of their communities. Here, two species of Myxobolus were identified in farmed yellow catfish Tachysurus fulvidraco (Richardson) in China. Myxobolus distalisensis n. sp. developed plasmodia in the gill filaments, with oval to elliptical myxospores measuring 11.3 ± 0.6 (10.4-12.6) × 8.1 ± 0.3 (7.5-8.6) × 5.5 ± 0.2 (5.2-5.8) μm. Two pyriform polar capsules of equal size were measured 5.3 ± 0.4 (4.5-6.3) × 2.7 ± 0.1 (2.3-3) μm. Myxobolus voremkhai (Akhmerov, 1960) Landsberg and Lom, 1991 developed plasmodia in the gill arch and had a myxospore morphology similar to the conspecific isolates described in previous studies. The consensus sequences of M. distalisensis was remarkably distinct from those deposited in the GenBank, with exception of whereas M. voremkhai showing 99.84% identity. The genetic data on both isolates differed considerably from each other, revealing only 86.96% molecular identity. Histologically, M. distalisensis resided in the filament cartilage, and the aggressive proliferation of the sporogenic stages led to lytic cartilage corrosion. In contrast, plasmodia of M. voremkhai grossly observed at the base of the gill filament were embedded by the connective tissue in the gills arch. Phylogenetically, both isolates were separately placed in different subclades, indicating difference in their evolutionary history. Besides, the taxon under the family Myxobolidae was demonstrated non-monophyletic origins, and parasite radiation largely followed their host affinity.

Histopathological evaluation of the infection elicited by three species of Myxobolus (Cnidaria: Myxosporea), with identification of Myxobolusxiaoganensis n. sp. isolated from the silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Several parasites infecting the Asian carp species have been broadly spread along with the global fish trade. However, the diversity of specific parasite groups and their pattern of parasitism remain insufficiently elucidated even in their native regions. Here, we conducted a holistic identification and histological analysis of three Myxobolus species. The oblate myxospores of the first isolates were found infecting the spleen of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, measuring 6.4 ± 0.4 (5.4-7.1) μm in length, 8.2 ± 0.4 (7.5-9.0) in width, and 5.9 ± 0.3 (5.2-6.2) in thickness. They were morphologically distinct from other congeners and regarded as a novel species, Myxobolus xiaoganensis n. sp. For the second isolates, we associated the formation of round plasmodia on the gill raker of silver carp with Myxobolus allotypica Chen, 1998. The third isolates, encapsulated in the intestinal serosa membrane of the grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, was proved to be conspecific to Myxobolus huasaensis Chen, 1998. While M. xiaoganensis n. sp. and M. huasaensis exhibited distinct origins, with genetic differences exceeding 4% from other congeners, M. allotypica displayed complete genetic congruence with an item available in Genbank. Histologically, myxospores of M. xiaoganensis n. sp. were scattered in the spleen, and the branchial and intestinal infections of M. allotypica and M. huasaensis were determined, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a non-monophyletic origin of both the Thelohanellus and Myxobolus genera, with a remarkable association of host affinity with myxosporean clustering.

Morphological, histological and phylogenetic identification of three species of Myxobolus (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae) infecting different carp lineages in China

The global cultivation of common carp Cyprinus carpio is developed primarily for either food or recreational purposes and myxosporean infections causing significant economic losses are regularly troublesome for carp farmers. However, most myxosporean species are poorly characterized, making it difficult to correctly elaborate on their parasitism mode and determine pathogenicity. Here, based on an integrative approach, we supplemented fundamental information on three Myxobolus species infecting different carp lineages in China. Myxobolus elliptoides Wu et Chen, 1987; Nine new species of Myxosporida from freshwater fish of Wuhu lake, Hubei, China. Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica, 11, 161 formed yellowish pseudocysts in the anal fin of common carp and were observed with ellipsoidal myxospores and two polar capsules of distinct dimensions. The dermal tissue within the fin ray was regarded as the type site for growing plasmodia of M. elliptoides. Myxobolus basilamellaris Lom et Molnar, 1983; Myxobolus basilamellaris sp. n. (myxozoa, Myxosporea), a parasite of the gills of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Folia Parasitologica, 30, 1 aggregated ellipsoidal myxospores at the base of the gill filaments of koi carp juvenile, causing significant tissue damage. Myxobolus artus Achmerov, 1960, enwrapped in diffuse pseudocysts, was observed throughout the trunk muscle of mirror carp. Its oblate myxospores were asymmetrical and contained two unequal-sized polar capsules. According to the localization of large plasmodia, inter- and intramuscular preferences were displayed by M. artus. For precise species identification, we provided the SSU rDNA sequences for each species of Myxobolus. Among them, M. elliptoides was molecularly characterized for the first time, showing the highest 94.21% identity to Thelohanellus sinensis (KY469292). Phylogenetically, the affinity of both M. artus and M. basilamellaris to their conspecific species derived from different carp lineages was highly supported. Moreover, the intermixed cluster of Myxobolus species, including M. elliptoides, with those of Thelohanellus species provided evidence for querying the monophyletic evolution history of these taxa. This work updates the appreciation of the concerned species and enhances our understanding of the parasite fauna of common carp.

Lead induced structural and functional damage and microbiota dysbiosis in the intestine of crucian carp (Carassius auratus)

Lead (Pb) is a hazardous pollutant in water environments that can cause significant damage to aquatic animals and humans. In this study, crucian carp (Carassius auratus) were exposed to waterborne Pb for 96 h; then, histopathological analysis, quantitative qPCR analysis, and 16S high-throughput sequencing were performed to explore the effects of Pb on intestinal bioaccumulation, structural damage, oxidative stress, immune response, and microbiota imbalance of C. auratus. After Pb exposure, the intestinal morphology was obviously damaged, including significantly increasing the thickness of the intestinal wall and the number of goblet cells and reducing the depth of intestinal crypts. Pb exposure reduced the mRNA expressions of Claudin-7 and villin-1 while significantly elevated the level of GST, GSH, CAT, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1, and TNF-α. Furthermore, 16S rRNA analysis showed that the Shannon and Simpson indices decreased at 48 h after Pb exposure, and the abundance of pathogenic bacteria (Erysipelotrichaceae, Weeksellaceae, and Vibrionaceae) increased after Pb exposure. In addition, the correlation network analysis found that Proteobacteria were negatively correlated with Firmicutes and positively correlated with Bacteroidetes. Functional prediction analysis of bacteria speculated that the change in intestinal microbiota led to the PPAR signaling pathway and peroxisome function of the intestine of crucian carp was increased, while the immune system and membrane transport function were decreased. Finally, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) found that there were correlations between the intestinal microbiota, morphology, antioxidant factors, and immune factors of crucian carp after Pb exposure. Taken together, our results demonstrated that intestinal flora dysbiosis, morphological disruption, oxidative stress, and immune injury are involved in the toxic damage of Pb exposure to the intestinal structure and function of crucian carp. Meanwhile, Pb exposure rapidly increased the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, leading to intestinal disorders, further aggravating the damage of Pb to intestinal structure and function. These findings provide us a basis for the link between gut microbiome changes and heavy metal toxicity, and gut microbiota can be used as biomarkers for the evaluation of heavy metal pollution in future.

Myxobolus shuifuensis sp. n. (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae) infecting the exotic mrigal Cirrhinus mrigala feral in China

Myxobolus species represents a group of cosmopolitan metazoan parasites commonly harbored in the farmed and wild fish populations. Here, a species of Myxobolus is found in the kidney of an exotic mrigal Cirrhinus mrigala feral in the Yangtze River and utilized for an integrative characterization. Ellipsoidal myxospores are measured at 15.68 ± 0.8 (13.93-17.11) × 11.42 ± 0.54 (10.34-12.3) × 7.94 ± 0.35 (7.58-8.5) μm in dimension. The polar capsules are pyriform, and unequal in size. The morphological and morphometric characteristics of the present isolates are distinct from those of other congeners. Molecularly, the pairwise comparison based on the SSU rDNA sequence indicates that the present amplicon does not match any sequences available in the GenBank database and shares the highest similarity of 92.12% to Myxobolus pavlovskii (MG520369). Accordingly, we propose a name Myxobolus shuifuensis sp. n. for the present isolates. Phylogenetical trees indicate an apparent host-associated phylogenetic pattern. M. shuifuensis sp. n. groups loosely with other Myxobolus species isolated from Cirrhinus fish. Insead, it forms a sister clade to some myxosporeans belonging to the Thelohanellus genus. This result underpins the species identification and provides evidence for challenging the taxonomic separation among both morphologically comparable genera.

[Anti-inflammatory mechanism of Balanophora involucrata: a network pharmacology and molecular docking-based analysis and verification in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the main chemical constituents of Balanophora involucrata and the mechanism of its antiinflammatory effect based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.

METHODS

Literature reports, Materia Medica, GeneCards and other databases were searched for anti-inflammatory compounds and their targets. String database and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software were used to obtain the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and the drug-active ingredienttargets network and for GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. Molecular docking was performed using Auto Dock Tools 1.5.6. In an inflammatory RAW264.7 cell model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the effect of 25, 50, 100, 200 μg/mL Balanophora involucrata extract was tested on the production of inflammatory cytokines and phosphorylation level of PI3K and Akt using ELISA and Western blotting.

RESULTS

A total of 318 common targets of drugs and diseases were identified, and the core targets were Src, HSP90AA1 and PIK3CA, involving cancer, PI3K/Akt, MAPK and other signaling pathways as shown by KEGG analysis. Molecular docking showed that both the main active constituents of Balanophora involucrata could spontaneously bind to the core targets. In the inflammatory cell model, treatment with Balanophora involucrata extract significantly inhibited the production of IL-1β at the concentrations of 100 and 200 μg/mL, reduced IL-6 and TNF-α expressions at the concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL, and lowered phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The anti-inflammatory mechanism of Balanophora involucrata involves multiple targets and multiple pathways, and its effect is mediated possibly by reducing IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α production and inhibiting phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins to suppress the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Suppression of Cancer Cell Stemness and Drug Resistance via MYC Destabilization by Deubiquitinase USP45 Inhibition with a Natural Small Molecule

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play significant roles in cancer development, drug resistance and cancer recurrence. In cancer treatments based on the CSC characteristics and inducing factors, MYC is a promising target for therapeutic molecules. Although it has been regarded as an undrugable target, its stability tightly regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system offers a new direction for molecule targeting and cancer treatment. Herein we report our discoveries in this research area, and we have found that deubiquitinase USP45 can directly bind with MYC, resulting in its deubiquitination and stabilization. Further, USP45 overexpressing can upregulate MYC, and this overexpressing can significantly enhance cancer development, cancer cell stemness and drug resistance. Interestingly, without enhancing cancer development, MYC silencing with shRNA can only suppress USP45-induced stemness and drug resistance. Moreover, we have identified that USP45 can be specifically bound and inhibited by a natural small molecule (α-mangostin), in turn significantly suppressing USP45-induced stemness and drug resistance. Since USP45 is significantly expressed in cervical tumors, we have discovered that the combination of α-mangostin and doxorubicin can significantly inhibit USP45-induced cervical tumorigenesis in an animal model. In general, on the basis of our USP45 discoveries on its MYC deubiquitination and α-mangostin inhibition, suppressing USP45 has opened a new window for suppressing cancer development, stemness and drug resistance.

The compliance of digital exercise with smart tools in subjects with cardiac arrythmias

Background

The exercise has well-documented health benefits on cardiovascular disease, and the use of mobile health (mHealth) may promote physical activity to reduce the risk.

Objective

The present study aimed to investigate the compliance of exercise dose and pattern through wearables and mHealth in subjects with cardiac arrhythmia in a real-world setting.

Method

The photoplethysmography (PPG)-algorithms with wearables to detect the ectopic and AF have been developed in the HUAWE HEART STUDY. Using the PPG-based smart devices, the adult subjects with identified arrhythmia received the personalized App-based lifestyle and exercise package was proposed. The V̇O2 peak (mL kg–1 min–1)was estimated from a non-exercise prediction model. The metabolic equivalent (MET)/week and Borg scale were utilized for the assessment of intensity of exercise. All subjects followed up for 3 months for the compliance to the exercise package.

Results

There were 7419 subjects (mean age ± standard deviation, SD, 35±12 years old, 92.1% male) who identified with the arrhythmia between April 1, 2021 and Dec 31, 2021. Among them, there were 165 subjects with identified AF, and 5277 subjects with the ectopic. The obstructive sleep apnea was the most reported risk profile (2643, 35.6%), while 1326 (17.9%) subjects were overweight.

Upon the baseline assessment, the personalized exercise package for cardiovascular disease prevention were proposed for 2864 subjects, exercise package to control the weight for 2510 subjects, and exercise package to reduce the weight for 1886 subjects.

Among 6366 subjects who took the exercise packages, 1867 (29.3%) subjects achieved target exercise, 395 (6.2%) subjects over target exercise, and 4104 (64.5%) under target exercise. The V̇O2 peak (mL kg–1 min–1, SD)in subjects who achieved the target exercise package, under target exercise, and over target exercise were (47.36±5.12, 32.14±22.47, and 65.99±10.38, p&lt;0.001).

For subjects who achieved target exercise, the intensity of exercise was as follows: 0.4% with low-intensity exercise, 95.8% with moderate-intensity exercise, and 3.7% with high-intensity exercise. Nonetheless, there were 37.7% of low-intensity, 60.6% of moderate-intensity exercise, and 1.7% with high-intensity exercise in subjects who didn't achieve exercise target.

77.9% subjects under target exercise had less than 1/week of physical activity, while there was only 12.9% in subjects with target exercise (p&lt;0.001).

Compared to randomly selected 8000 subjects (mean age ± SD, 39±13 years, 80.8% male) without exercise package, the proportion of steps/day over 10000 of 20% was significantly increased in subjects (37±13 years, 91.3% male) receiving the personalized App-based exercise package (31.2%, vs. 12.2%, p&lt;0.001).

Conclusion

The wearables facilitated the improvement of physical activity habit in subjects with cardiac arrhythmia, but subjects-centered self-management would be enhanced to the target exercise.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Natural Science Foundation of China

Age and Sex Differences in the Association of Sleep Duration and Overweight/Obesity among Chinese Participants Age above 45 Years: A Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the association between sleep duration and obesity and estimate the attributable risk of sleep in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study surveys (CHARLS).

METHODS

A total of 9061 adults aged 45 years above from CHARLS (2011-2015) were included. The main outcome of this study was incident overweight/obesity specific to general and abdominal obesity. Overweight/obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 23.0 (kg/m2) and BMI≥27.5 (kg/m2), respectively. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference ≥90 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women. Self-reported sleep durations were obtained using a structured questionnaire. We assessed hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as well as the population attributable fraction (PAF) for associations between sleep duration and obesity.

RESULTS

986 and 606 participants were identified as overweight and general obesity respectively, 1253 experienced abdominal obesity events. In multivariable-adjusted models, participants with daytime sleep of 0-30 minutes and more than 30 minutes associated with 30% (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.56-0.87) and 35% (HR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.55-0.78) decreased incident overweight risk respectively compared to those having no daytime sleep, this association also found among females and middle-aged, not males or elderly. Similarly, 0-30 minutes (HR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48-0.96) and more than 30 minutes of daytime sleep (HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.59-0.91) were associated with a reduced risk of abdominal obesity, similar results also found among females and middle-aged. Compared with 7-9 hours of nocturnal sleep, people who slept 5-7 hours had a reduced risk of overweight (HR: 0.59, 95% CI=0.47-0.74),but not found in subgroups. The hazard role of long nocturnal sleep for abdominal obesity was only found among elderly (HR: 2.33, 95% CI=1.35-4.04) and males (HR: 2.24, 95% CI=1.17-4.29). Compared with moderate total sleepers (7-9hours/day), participants with short total sleep duration exhibited an elevated risk of overweight (HR: 1.13, 95% CI=1.00-1.28), this also found among middle-aged. The PAF for inadequate total sleep duration (<7 hours/day) was 10.77% for overweight individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Insufficient sleep duration was associated with an elevated risk of overweight only detected among middle-aged not elderly and other subgroups specific by age. The risks for abdominal obesity were increased for males and middle-aged with long nocturnal sleep. Daytime sleep may significantly reduce the risk of overweight and abdominal obesity in female and middle-aged individuals. The link between sleep duration and obesity requires further study.

IgM-bearing B cell affinity subpopulations possess differential antigen sensitivity in rainbow trout

The need for accurate assessments of in vitro generated antibody prompted examination of the effect of antigen on secreted antibody concentrations and affinities. It was found that the antigen concentrations commonly employed for in vitro stimulation were able to significantly compromise IgM titer and affinity estimates in rainbow trout. Specifically, IgM titers were underestimated with the high affinity antibodies being specifically blocked. To remedy this, pulsed antigen cultures were employed, and it was found to reveal more accurate IgM antibody titers and affinity estimates. Additionally, pulsed dose responses provided evidence that high antigen concentrations specifically suppressed high affinity B cell induction. Optimal expression of high affinity antibodies required exposure to lower concentrations of antigen. Each affinity subpopulation appeared to possess a graded sensitivity to each dose of antigen, revealing the complex dynamic for differential IgM-bearing B cell induction that is possible during a response. These results reveal not only the need for antigen removal prior to in vitro antibody secretion, but also the possible role of high zone immunological tolerance on IgM affinity maturation in rainbow trout.

LEGACY: Phase 2a Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamic Effects of the Anti-EL (Endothelial Lipase) Antibody MEDI5884 in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease

OBJECTIVE

Functional HDL (high-density lipoprotein) particles that facilitate cholesterol efflux may be cardioprotective. EL (endothelial lipase) hydrolyzes phospholipids promoting catabolism of HDL and subsequent renal excretion. MEDI5884 is a selective, humanized, monoclonal, EL-neutralizing antibody. We sought to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic effects of multiple doses of MEDI5884 in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Approach and Results: LEGACY was a phase 2a, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-design trial that randomized 132 patients with stable coronary artery disease receiving high-intensity statin therapy to 3 monthly doses of 1 of 5 dose levels of MEDI5884 (50, 100, 200, 350, or 500 mg SC) or matching placebo. The primary end point was the safety and tolerability of MEDI5884 through the end of the study (day 151). Additional end points included change in HDL cholesterol and cholesterol efflux from baseline to day 91, hepatic uptake of cholesterol at day 91, changes in various other lipid parameters. The incidence of adverse events was similar between the placebo and MEDI5884 groups. In a dose-dependent manner, MEDI5884 increased HDL cholesterol up to 51.4% (P<0.0001) and global cholesterol efflux up to 26.2% ([95% CI, 14.3-38.0] P<0.0001). MEDI5884 increased HDL particle number up to 14.4%. At the highest dose tested, an increase in LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol up to 28.7% (P<0.0001) and apoB (apolipoprotein B) up to 13.1% (P=0.04) was observed with MEDI5884. However, at the potential target doses for future studies, there was no meaningful increase in LDL cholesterol or apoB.

CONCLUSIONS

Inhibition of EL by MEDI5884 increases the quantity and quality of functional HDL in patients with stable coronary artery disease on high-intensity statin therapy without an adverse safety signal at the likely dose to be used. These data support further clinical investigation. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03351738.

Functional characterization of TNF-α in pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus) in immune response and apoptosis against Aeromonas hydrophila

Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in immune system homeostasis, antimicrobial defence, regulation of apoptosis, cell proliferation and differentiation. Although the pro-inflammatory property of TNF-α has been made new progress, detailed research on host defence against bacterial infection and inducing apoptosis remains to be revealed in early vertebrates. Here, we reported the TNF-α homologue (ToTNF-α) from pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus). The open reading frame (ORF) of ToTNF-α was 753 bp, encoding a protein of 250 aa contained the TNF family signature and conserved cysteine residues. The mRNA expression of ToTNF-α had a wide range of tested tissues, with the highest expression in the skin. After Aeromonas hydrophila infection, the mRNA expression of ToTNF-α was significantly up-regulated both in vivo and in vitro experiments. After stimulation by recombinant protein of ToTNF-α ((r)ToTNF-α), the relative expressions of endogenous TNF-α, caspase 8, caspase 3, p53, and Bax inhibitor-1 in head kidney leucocytes were all notably up-regulated. These results showed that ToTNF-α might induce apoptosis depend on pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins at mRNA level. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis indicated that the (r)ToTNF-α can induce apoptosis of head kidney leucocytes. Taken together, these characteristics suggest that ToTNF-α can participate in immune response against A. hydrophila and induce apoptosis at mRNA and cellular level, which will help to understand the mechanism of apoptosis and immune response in teleost fish.

Prognostic evaluation model of diabetic nephropathy patients

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) affects about 40% of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, especially in advanced countries. We aimed to explore the risk factors affecting the prognosis of DN, and to establish a prognostic evaluation line map.

METHODS

We analyzed 471 cases of DN from December 2011 to April 2020, and extracted the basic clinical factors, including gender, age, and history of diabetes. Analysis included that of associations between DN and hypertension, creatinine (CR), body mass index (BMI), and fundus lesions. Statistical analysis was performed using R software and the related R package. The above clinical factors were analyzed by both single- and multiple-factor Cox regression. The participants were divided into two groups, including a high risk and a low risk group. A Kaplan-Meier curve was drawn for survival analysis of the high and low risk groups, and the log-rank method was used for statistical testing. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn with the area under the curve (AUC) calculated to evaluate the predictive effectiveness of the line map.

RESULTS

This study initially included 471 patients; however, 33 patients (7.0%) were lost to follow-up due to inaccessibility. A total of 93 cases (21.2%) died during the follow-up. The 3-year and 5-year renal survival rates were 74.5% and 22.6%, respectively. Single factor Cox analysis showed that the course of diabetes, fundus lesions, BMI, and grade of hypertension were risk factors for renal survival, and had adverse effects on prognosis (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that BMI and grade of hypertension were independent risk factors for survival of DKD, and had adverse effects on prognosis (P<0.05). Survival analysis showed that low risk group participants had significantly better survival rates than high risk group participants (P<0.05). The AUC was 0.742, which meant that the line map could accurately predict the survival rate of DN patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The influence of risk factors on prognosis can be accurately evaluated by line diagram which can provide a basis for clinical decision making.

Identification and functional characterization of CD154 in T cell-dependent immune response in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

CD154, a member of the TNF superfamily, is a multifunctional molecule highly expressed in activated T cells, and plays important roles in T cell-dependent humoral immune response. In this study, CD154 of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was identified, and its functions in the T cell-dependent immune response were demonstrated. The open reading frame (ORF) of OnCD154 is 699 bp, encoding a protein of 232 amino acids with a 23 amino acid transmembrane region. Amino acid sequence of OnCD154 is highly homologous to that of other teleost fish, especially rainbow trout. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) demonstrated that mRNA of OnCD154 is highly expressed in immune organs, especially in spleen, thymus, gills, head kidney, etc. In addition, the anti-OnCD154 polyclonal antibody (anti-(r)OnCD154) was successfully prepared, and it can react with natural protein in head kidney leukocytes. Following two immunizations with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in vivo, the significantly up-regulated expression level of OnCD154 mRNA appeared earlier (fifth day) and higher (42.9 folds) in the second challenge than the first on in head kidney. Further, after stimulation with KLH in vitro, the expressions of T cell-dependent immune response-related molecules (activated T cell specific surface molecules CD3ε and CD154) and B cell differentiation-related molecules (Blimp1 and sIgM) and CD40 were significantly up-regulated in head kidney leukocytes. Moreover, the up-regulated expressions of these molecules were blocked with the treatment of anti-(r)OnCD154 antibody. Taken together, these results indicate that OnCD154 might get involved in T cell-dependent immune response, and provide a new insight into the humoral immune response of teleost fish.

Fibrillogenesis of acrylic acid-grafted-collagen without self-assembly property inspired by the hybrid fibrils of xenogeneic collagen

Along with advancements in both protein and chemistry science, the chemical modification of proteins is attracting more and more attention. More specifically, the attachment of polymers or reactive moieties into collagen offers a method to add novel functions to this protein. However, the fibrillogenesis of the modified collagen with high grafting density cannot always be achieved. Here, inspired by the hybrid fibrils of xenogeneic collagen, fibrillogenesis of acrylic acid-grafted-collagen (AAc-g-Col) without self-assembly property was achieved by the induction of natural collagen (Col). The step-by-step co-assembly process of AAc-g-Col and Col was confirmed by turbidity assay. The formation of Col/AAc-g-Col hybrid fibrils was verified by TEM since the acryloyl groups of the hybrid fibrils were labelled using HS-AuNPs based on the Michael addition. Moreover, rheology, SEM, and MTT assays revealed that the fibrillary structures and biocompatibility of the Col/AAc-g-Col hydrogel were comparable to that of the Col hydrogel, although they presented a lower viscoelasticity.

Identification and functional characterization of three caspases in Takifugu obscurus in response to bacterial infection

Caspases are evolutionarily conserved proteases, which are inextricably linked with the apoptosis and immune system in mammals. However, the expression pattern and function of some caspases remain largely unknown in pufferfish. In this study, three different pufferfish caspases (caspase-2 (Pfcasp-2), caspase-3 (Pfcasp-3), and caspase-8 (Pfcasp-8)) were characterized, and their expression patterns and functions were determined following Aeromonas hydrophila infection. The open reading frames of Pfcasp-2, -3, and -8 are 1,320, 846, and 1455 bp, respectively. Analyses of sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree showed that casp-2, -3, and -8 share 52%-65%, 33%-40%, 63%-78% overall sequence identities with those of other vertebrates, respectively. 3D structures of Pfcasp-2, -3, and -8 enjoy conservation in core area together, while each owns a distinctive profile. Comparisons of deduced amino acid sequences indicated that Pfcaspases possessed the caspase domain and conserved active sites like 'HG' and 'QACXG' (X for R or G). qRT-PCR results revealed that Pfcasp-2, -3, and -8 were expressed constitutively in a wide range of organs, especially in immune-related organs including whole blood and kidney. In vitro, the expressions of the three caspases (Pfcasp-2, 3, and -8) and immune-related genes (IgM and IL-8) were significantly up-regulated in kidney leukocytes after A. Hydrophila challenge and inhibitors treatment. The expressions of Pfcasp-2 and Pfcasp-3 were successfully inhibited in the kidney leukocytes by Ac-DEVD-CHO (an inhibitor to caspase-3), but the expression of Pfcasp-8 was not affected. Cellular localization analysis showed that the distribution of Pfcasp-2, -3, and -8 was in cytoplasm. Further, overexpression of Pfcasp-2, -3, or -8 was found to cause DNA damage and apoptosis, suggesting that three caspases may be related to apoptosis and mediate different apoptosis pathways in pufferfish. Moreover, the expressions of these caspases were also up-regulated in whole blood and kidney after A. hydrophila challenge, indicating their possible involvement in the immune response against A. hydrophia stimulation. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that the caspase-2,-3, and -8 may play an important role in the apoptosis and immune response in pufferfish.

Molecular and functional characterization of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and glycoprotein 130 (gp130) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that exerts its biological functions through interaction with its receptor system consisting of a ligand-specific IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and a common signal-transducing receptor (gp130). In this study, OnIL-6R and Ongp130 genes from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were identified, and their roles in bacterial or viral infection and in regulation of inflammatory response involved in IL-6 were investigated. The open reading frames (ORFs) of OnIL-6R and Ongp130 are 2019 bp and 2679 bp, encoding 672 and 892 amino acids, respectively. Domain analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of OnIL-6R and Ongp130 showed that both of them contained a conserved Ig-like domain, FNIII domains, and a WSXWS motif. The transcripts of OnIL-6R and Ongp130 were widely expressed in all examined tissues. Following in vivo challenges with Streptococcus agalactia, Poly I: C and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the mRNAs of OnIL-6R and Ongp130 were notably induced in liver, head kidney and spleen. The transcriptional up-regulations of OnIL-6R and Ongp130 were also detected in Nile tilapia monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes after in vitro stimulations with S. agalactiae, Poly I: C and LPS. Besides, increasing mRNA levels of the inflammation-related cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and MIF) induced by recombinant OnIL-6 could be further enhanced by co-treatment with recombinant soluble OnIL-6R in lymphocytes. Furthermore, recombinant soluble Ongp130 suppressed the induction of expression of these cytokines in lymphocytes when co-stimulated with (r)OnIL-6 and (r)sOnIL-6R. Taken together, these results indicated that OnIL-6R and Ongp130 were likely involved in the resistance to bacterial or viral infection in Nile tilapia. Moreover, soluble OnIL-6R and soluble Ongp130 have an agonistic effect or antagonistic effect in the inflammation response involved in OnIL-6.

Proteome interrogation using gold nanoprobes to identify targets of arctigenin in fish parasites

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials in various fields. Especially, the unique chemical and physical properties make them as the promising candidates in drug target identification, unfortunately, little is known about their application in parasites. In this paper, GNPs were employed as new solid support to identify drug targets of natural bioactive compound arctigenin (ARG) against fish monogenean parasite Gyrodactylus kobayashi. Before target identification, GNPs with ARG on the surface showed the ability to enter the live parasites even the nucleus or mitochondria, which made the bound compounds capable of contacting directly with target proteins located anywhere of the parasites. At the same time, chemically modified compound remained the anthelminthic efficacy against G. kobayashii. The above results both provide assurance on the reliability of using GNPs for drug target-binding specificity. Subsequently, by interrogating the cellular proteome in parasite lysate, myosin-2 and UNC-89 were identified as the potential direct target proteins of ARG in G. kobayashii. Moreover, results of RNA-seq transcriptomics and iTRAQ proteomics indicated that myosin-2 expressions were down-regulated after ARG bath treatment both in transcript and protein levels, but for UNC-89, only in mRNA level. Myosin-2 is an important structural muscle protein expressed in helminth tegument and its identification as our target will enable further inhibitor optimization towards future drug discovery. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate the power of GNPs to be readily applied to other parasite drugs of unknown targets, facilitating more broadly therapeutic drug design in any pathogen or disease model.

Complement C1q subunit molecules from Xenopus laevis possess conserved function in C1q-immunoglobulin interaction

Complement component 1q (C1q), together with C1r and C1s to form C1, recognize and bind immune complex to initiate the classical complement pathway. In this study, C1q subunit molecules (XlC1qA, XlC1qB, XlC1qC) were cloned and analyzed from Xenopus laevis (X. laevis). The open reading frame (ORF) of XlC1qA is 819 bp of nucleotide sequence encoding 272 amino acids, the ORF of XlC1qB is 711 bp encoding 236 aa, and the XlC1qC is consists of 732 bp encoding 243 aa. The deduced amino acid sequences contain a collagen-like region (CLR), Gly-X-Y repeats in the N-terminus and a C1q family domain at the C-terminus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the XlC1qs are clustered with the amphibian clade. Expression analysis indicated that the XlC1qs exhibited constitutive expression in all examined tissues, with the highest expression in liver. Additionally, XlC1q could interact with heat-aggregated mouse IgG and IgM, Xenopus IgM and Nile tilapia IgM, respectively, indicating the functional conservation of XlC1q binding to immunoglobulins. Further, XlC1qs can inhibit C1q-dependent hemolysis of sensitized sheep red blood cells with concentration-dependent manner. These data collectively suggest that the function of C1qs in X. laevis may be conserved in interaction with immunoglobulins, as that of mammals and teleosts.

Temperature-responsive collagen–PNIPAAm conjugate: preparation and fibrillogenesis

A collagen–PNIPAAm conjugate is prepared using the “grafting from” method under mild conditions, and fibrillogenesis was realized by the induction of natural collagen.

Single-cell data-driven mathematical model reveals possible molecular mechanisms of embryonic stem-cell differentiation

Embryonic development is widely studied due to its application in disease treatment. The published literature demonstrated that Krüppel-like factor 8(KLF8) plays an important role in modulating mesendoderm to definitive endoderm (DE) differentiation. However, it is not clear how KLF8 interacts with other key genes and affects the differentiation process. To qualitatively and quantitatively explore the molecular mechanisms of KLF8 during the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in detail, we developed a mathematical model to describe the dynamics between KLF8 and two other significant genes, E-cadherin(CDH1) and Zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox1(ZEB1). Based on the single-cell RNA-seq data, the model structure and parameters were obtained using particle swarm optimization (PSO). The bifurcation analysis and simulation results reveal that the system can exhibit a complex tristable transition, which corresponds to the three states of embryonic development at the single-cell level. We further predict that the novel important gene KLF8 promotes the formation of DE cells by reciprocal inhibition between CDH1 and KLF8 and promotion of the expression of ZEB1. These results may help to shed light on the biological mechanism in the differentiation process of hESCs.

Immunosuppression-induced alterations in fish gut microbiota may increase the susceptibility to pathogens

Intestinal bacteria play an important role in the health and provide a variety of beneficial effects to host. Immunosuppressant can reduce the immunity of host and increase the susceptibility to pathogens. But it is not clear whether the increased susceptibility caused by immunosuppressant is related to changes of gut microbiota. In this study, we used crucian carp administrated with dexamethasone to explore the effects of immunosuppressants on gut microbial communities and further evaluate the potential association between changes in gut microbiota and susceptibility to pathogens. The results of MANOVA based on the top 10 PCoA axis scores from unweighed/weighted UniFrac distances showed that administration of dexamethasone (P = 0.021) and the administration time (P = 0.027) had a significant impact on the gut microbial composition, regardless of pathogens infection status (P = 0.35). After administration with dexamethasone, the fish had higher abundance of Cetobacterium and lower abundance of Bacillus and Lactococcus, and the abundance of genus Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Lactococcus decreased along with prolong administration time of dexamethasone. The results may help us understand the correlation between the host susceptibility to pathogenic bacteria and gut microbial community shift, and extend our knowledge regarding the role of gut microbiota in keeping the balance between pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria.

Cytokine gene expression profiles in goldfish (Carassius auratus) during Gyrodactylus kobayashii infection

Monogeneans of the genus Gyrodactylus are well-known pathogens causing huge mortalities in wild and cultured fish. Cytokine expression is one of most important host defense mechanisms against parasite infections. In this study, the expression pattern of the key pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and iNOS) and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes (IL-10, TGFβ and IL-4) of Gyrodactylus kobayashii infected goldfish (Carassius auratus) were determined by real-time quantitative PCR analysis. Our results showed that G. kobayashii infection caused increased expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines including IFN-γ, TNF-α and iNOS in all detected tissues throughout the infection period. Among these genes, iNOS has the highest transcript level accompanied with increased nitric oxide (NO) concentration in the serum of all infected goldfish. The mRNA level of IL-1β in the liver, spleen and head kidney was significantly up-regulated during the early stage of infection (days 2-8). While high expression level of IL-8 and IL-12 was observed during the elimination phase of infection (days 10-14). As for anti-inflammatory cytokines, the expression profiles of IL-10 were distinct from those of TGF-β and IL-4. Specifically, the mRNA level of IL-10 did not increase in the spleen and head kidney during the early stage of infection, while increased expression of TGF-β and IL-4 were likewise seen. Besides, all infected fish had significantly higher complement C3 but lower IgM levels than the non-infected fish. The results provide insights into the interaction between gyrodactylids and the fish host, and indicate that systemic cytokine responses are critical for controlling parasite infection in fish.

Insight into the role of grafting density in the self-assembly of acrylic acid-grafted-collagen

Side chain modification of collagen provides an attractive way to enhance their structure and functions, which is highly desirable for the development of promising biomaterials. However, the impact of structural change of side chains on the intrinsic self-assembly property of collagen was always ignored. Here, a series of acrylic acid-grafted-collagen (AA-g-Col) with different grafting density were prepared to explore the impact of side chain structural variation on the self-assembly of collagen. The results showed that excessive grafting density would weaken or even disappear the self-assembly property of AA-g-Col, but only affects the triple helix to a minor extent. Compared to pristine collagen, the mechanical property and cytocompatibility of AA-g-Col based matrices also deteriorated, along with the increase of grafting density. Therefore, this work contributed a new insight into the importance of grafting density for the study of modified collagen, which would be helpful for the design of optimized formulate collagen-based hybrid materials with both additional novel functions and tissue-mimicking fibrillary structures.

Isolation of anti-Saprolegnia lignans from Magnolia officinalis and SAR evaluation of honokiol/magnolol analogs

To control the fish fungal pathogen Saprolegnia, the effects of the petroleum ether extracts of Magnolia officinalis were evaluated by a rapeseed (Brassicanapus) microplate method in vitro. By loading on an open silica gel column and eluting with petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-methanol, honokiol (C₁₈H₁₈O₂) and magnolol (C₁₈H₁₈O₂) were isolated from Magnolia officinalis. Saprolegnia parasitica growth was inhibited significantly when honokiol concentration was >8.0 mg/L, and magnolol concentration was >9.0 mg/L, with EC₅₀ values of 4.38 and 4.92 mg/L, respectively. Six honokiol and magnolol derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-Saprolegnia activity. According to the results, double bond and hydroxyl played an important role in inhibiting Saprolegnia. Mechanistically, through the scanning electron microscope observation, honokiol and magnolol could cause the Saprolegnia parasitica mycelium tegumental damage including intensive wrinkles and nodular structures. Moreover, compared to traditional drugs kresoxim-methyl (LC₅₀ = 0.66 mg/L) and azoxystrobin (LC₅₀ = 2.71 mg/L), honokiol and magnolol showed a lower detrimental effect on zebrafish, with the LC₅₀ values of 6.00 and 7.28 mg/L at 48 h, respectively. Overall, honokiol and magnolol were promising lead compounds for the development of commercial drugs anti-Saprolegnia.

Developmental toxicity of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes on Artemia salina cysts and larvae: Uptake, accumulation, excretion and toxic responses

Using Artemia salina (A. salina) cysts (capsulated and decapsulated) and larvae [instar I (0-24 h), II (24-48 h) and III (48-72 h)] as experimental models, developmental toxicity of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (O-MWCNTs) was evaluated. Results revealed that hatchability of capsulated and decapsulated cysts was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) following exposure to 600 mg/L for 36 h. Mortality rates were 33.8, 55.7 and 40.7% for instar I, II and III larvae in 600 mg/L. The EC₅₀ values for swimming inhibition of instar I, II and III were 535, 385 and 472 mg/L, respectively. Instar II showed the greatest sensitivity to O-MWCNTs, and followed by instar III, instar I, decapsulated cysts and capsulated cysts. Effects on hatchability, mortality and swimming were accounted for O-MWCNTs rather than metal catalyst impurities. Body length was decreased with the concentrations increased from 0 to 600 mg/L. O-MWCNTs attached onto the cysts, gill and body surface, resulting in irreversible damages. Reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde content, total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) activities were increased following exposure, indicating that the effects were related to oxidative stress. O-MWCNTs were ingested and distributed in phagocyte, lipid vesicle and intestine. Most of the accumulated O-MWCNTs were excreted by A. salina at 72 h, but some still remained in the organism. Data of uptake kinetics showed that O-MWCNTs contents in A. salina were gradually increased from 1 to 48 h and followed by rapidly decreased from 48 to 72 h with a range from 5.5 to 28.1 mg/g. These results so far indicate that O-MWCNTs have the potential to affect aquatic organisms when released into the marine ecosystems.

The replication of spring viraemia of carp virus can be regulated by reactive oxygen species and NF-κB pathway

Different viruses could induced ROS generation to alter intracellular redox state in the host cells, and unbalanced redox state was suggested to have various effects on viral replication. In this study, we investigated the influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on replication of spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) in fish cells. After SVCV infection, there existed a time-dependent increase in ROS generation. The present results revealed that antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) resulted in a lower ROS levels and increased SVCV replication in EPC cell. In contrast, a GSH synthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) induced ROS generation and decreased SVCV replication. In addition, activation of NF-κB suppressed SVCV replication by using two inhibitors of cytokine-induced IκBα phosphorylation. More importantly, enhancement of the activity of NF-κB was found in BSO treatment, which indicated that dropped SVCV replication likely occurred via ROS activation of NF-κB. Overall, our results revealed that the SVCV infection and replication could generate ROS and be affected by the redox state, where this progression was associated with the alteration in NF-κB pathway induced by oxidative stress.

Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation of hyperplastic parathyroid gland for secondary hyperparathyroidism associated with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine if ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hyperplastic parathyroid glands could be used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in patients with chronic kidney disease.

METHODS

RFA of the hyperplastic parathyroid glands was performed in 34 patients with secondary HPT. Intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium, and phosphorus were measured. The outcome was based on the ablation extent (ie, 4, 3, and 1-2 glands).

RESULTS

The iPTH, calcium, and phosphorus levels decreased in all groups after RFA. One year after ablation, these parameters remained significantly lower in the 4-gland ablation group compared with the 3-gland and 1 to 2-gland groups. The same tendency was observed for the symptom score. The iPTH levels of <272 pg/mL on the day after ablation was the best predictor for maintaining parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in a reasonable range 1 year after ablation.

CONCLUSIONS

RFA of hyperplastic parathyroid glands for treating secondary HPT is feasible in selected patients. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 564-571, 2017.

Preliminary study on the relationship between dexamethasone and pathogen susceptibility on crucian carp (Carassius auratus)

Dexamethasone, a known immunosuppressant, can inhibit the immune response and increase the amount of pathogen in body, but the role of dexamethasone affecting susceptibility of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) to pathogen is unclear. The effects of dexamethasone on susceptibility of crucian carp to Aeromonas hydrophila were investigated in this study. The fish were divided into four groups randomly and injected intraperitoneally by dexamethasone for 0 day (group D), 3 days (group C), 6 days (group B), and 9 days (group A), respectively. The serum lysozyme activity was significantly declined in group A, B and C. Relative immune gene expression such as il-1β, cxcl-8, tnfα and crp in kidney were down-regulation compared to group D. After that crucian carp were infected with A. hydrophila, crucian carp treated by dexamethasone had higher mortality (group A 95%, group B 76%, group C 31%) when compared to group D (4% mortality); the amount of pathogen in was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in liver, kidney and spleen of fish in group A-C compared to group D. These results implicated that higher susceptibility caused by dexamethasone may be induced by the decrease of lysozyme activity and the down-regulation of some immune genes.

Characterization of Toll-like receptor gene expression in goldfish (Carassius auratus) during Dactylogyrus intermedius infection

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), the first and best understood innate immune receptors, play a notable role in the innate immune system by sensing pathogenic agents and initiating appropriate immune responses. However, studies about the roles of fish TLRs in response to the infection of the ectoparasitic monogenean Dactylogyrus intermedius have been surprisingly vacant. In the present study, cDNA fragments of five members of TLRs family in goldfish (Carassius auratus) were cloned and the expression patterns of nine TLRs in five tissues at different time points during D. intermedius infection were subsequently investigated. We found that the expressions of TLR4, TLR5, TLR20 and TLR22 were significantly elevated after infection at some time points, of which the transcription of TLR5 was progressively increased nearly in all tissues, whereas the mRNA levels of other TLRs (TLR2, 3, 7, 9 and 21) were down-regulated or showed no significant change compared with the control at most time points. Additionally, this paper was also conducted to explore the expression of above TLRs after re-infected with D. intermedius. The results showed a significant upregulation of TLR4, TLR5 and TLR22 in all tested tissues at these two time points, especially the levels of TLR4 and TLR22 expression, were even higher comparing with the first infection. Besides, tissue-specific expression analysis revealed that spleen featured the highest expressions of almost all the TLR-encoding genes among detected tissues. The informations obtained here could be helpful towards understanding the functions of TLRs in response to parasitic infection in goldfish and provide new insights for the development of preventive and therapeutic approaches against D. intermedius infection.

Mutations in WT1 in boys with sporadic isolated steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome

Mutations in the Wilms' tumor gene, WT1, can lead to syndromic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and isolated steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. WT1 mutations have been identified in the majority of children with Denys-Drash or Frasier syndrome. WT1 mutations have not previously been identified in boys with sporadic isolated steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome, but, recently, four boys with isolated nephrotic syndrome were identified to have WT1 mutations. However, whether boys with sporadic isolated steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome should be routinely subjected to mutation analysis of WT1 has not been established. We examined 35 boys with sporadic isolated steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome for mutations in WT1. Mutation analysis of all 10 exons of WT1 was performed by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Karyotype analysis or Y chromosome identification was performed for all patients. A Y chromosome or a 46, XY karyotype was demonstrated for all 35 patients. No causative WT1 mutation was identified in any of the patients. The WT1 mutation, IVS4+14T>C, which is not predicted to affect splicing, was identified in one patient who achieved complete remission after 8 weeks of oral prednisone treatment, indicating that IVS4+14T>C is not a causative mutation. Five WT1 polymorphisms were also identified in some patients and controls. Our results suggest that mutation analysis of WT1 should not be routinely performed for genetically defined boys with sporadic isolated steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

The oxidative stress response of myclobutanil and cyproconazole on Tetrahymena thermophila

Using Tetrahymena thermophila as experimental models, the oxidative stress of triazole fungicides myclobutanil (MYC) and cyproconazole (CYP) was investigated. Results showed that 24-h EC50 values for MYC and CYP were 16.67 (13.37-19.65) and 20.44 (18.85-21.96) mg/L, respectively; 48-h EC50 values for MYC and CYP were 14.31 (13.13-15.42) and 18.76 (17.09-20.31) mg/L, respectively. Reactive oxygen species was significantly induced and cytotoxicity was caused by MYC and CYP by increasing propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence. Damage of regular wrinkles and appearing of small holes on the cell surface were observed by SEM. Furthermore, MYC and CYP also caused notable changes in enzyme activities and mRNA levels. Overall, the present study points out that MYC and CYP lead to oxidative stress on T. thermophila. The information presented in this study will provide insights into the mechanism of triazoles-induced oxidative stress on T. thermophila.

Slot waveguide ring resonators coated by an atomic layer deposited organic/inorganic nanolaminate

In this study, slot waveguide ring resonators patterned on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer and coated with an atomic layer deposited nanolaminate consisting of alternating layers of tantalum pentoxide and polyimide were fabricated and characterized. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of atomic layer deposition (ALD) of organic materials in waveguiding applications. In our nanolaminate ring resonators, the optical power is not only confined in the narrow central air slot but also in several parallel sub-10 nm wide vertical polyimide slots. This indicates that the mode profiles in the silicon slot waveguide can be accurately tuned by the ALD method. Our results show that ALD of organic and inorganic materials can be combined with conventional silicon waveguide fabrication techniques to create slot waveguide ring resonators with varying mode profiles. This can potentially open new possibilities for various photonic applications, such as optical sensing and all-optical signal processing.

Plasma-based dry reforming: improving the conversion and energy efficiency in a dielectric barrier discharge

Improving the conversion and energy efficiency in a dielectric barrier discharge for the production of chemicals and fuels from carbon dioxide and methane.