Modular Hub Genes in DNA Microarray Suggest Potential Signaling Pathway Interconnectivity in Various Glioma Grades

Gliomas have displayed significant challenges in oncology due to their high degree of invasiveness, recurrence, and resistance to treatment strategies. In this work, the key hub genes mainly associated with different grades of glioma, which were represented by pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), oligodendroglioma (OG), anaplastic astrocytoma (AA), and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), were identified through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of microarray datasets retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Through this, four highly correlated modules were observed to be present across the PA (GSE50161), OG (GSE4290), AA (GSE43378), and GBM (GSE36245) datasets. The functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis done through the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) showed that the modules and hub genes identified were mainly involved in signal transduction, transcription regulation, and protein binding, which collectively deregulate several signaling pathways, mainly PI3K/Akt and metabolic pathways. The involvement of several hub genes primarily linked to other signaling pathways, including the cAMP, MAPK/ERK, Wnt/β-catenin, and calcium signaling pathways, indicates potential interconnectivity and influence on the PI3K/Akt pathway and, subsequently, glioma severity. The Drug Repurposing Encyclopedia (DRE) was used to screen for potential drugs based on the up- and downregulated hub genes, wherein the synthetic progestin hormones norgestimate and ethisterone were the top drug candidates. This shows the potential neuroprotective effect of progesterone against glioma due to its influence on EGFR expression and other signaling pathways. Aside from these, several experimental and approved drug candidates were also identified, which include an adrenergic receptor antagonist, a PPAR-γ receptor agonist, a CDK inhibitor, a sodium channel blocker, a bradykinin receptor antagonist, and a dopamine receptor agonist, which further highlights the gene network as a potential therapeutic avenue for glioma.

Theoretical Studies of DNA Microarray Present Potential Molecular and Cellular Interconnectivity of Signaling Pathways in Immune System Dysregulation

Autoimmunity is defined as the inability to regulate immunological activities in the body, especially in response to external triggers, leading to the attack of the tissues and organs of the host. Outcomes include the onset of autoimmune diseases whose effects are primarily due to dysregulated immune responses. In past years, there have been cases that show an increased susceptibility to other autoimmune disorders in patients who are already experiencing the same type of disease. Research in this field has started analyzing the potential molecular and cellular causes of this interconnectedness, bearing in mind the possibility of advancing drugs and therapies for the treatment of autoimmunity. With that, this study aimed to determine the correlation of four autoimmune diseases, which are type 1 diabetes (T1D), psoriasis (PSR), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), by identifying highly preserved co-expressed genes among datasets using WGCNA. Functional annotation was then employed to characterize these sets of genes based on their systemic relationship as a whole to elucidate the biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions of the pathways they are involved in. Lastly, drug repurposing analysis was performed to screen candidate drugs for repositioning that could regulate the abnormal expression of genes among the diseases. A total of thirteen modules were obtained from the analysis, the majority of which were associated with transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational modification processes. Also, the evaluation based on KEGG suggested the possible role of TH17 differentiation in the simultaneous onset of the four diseases. Furthermore, clomiphene was the top drug candidate for regulating overexpressed hub genes; meanwhile, prilocaine was the top drug for regulating under-expressed hub genes. This study was geared towards utilizing transcriptomics approaches for the assessment of microarray data, which is different from the use of traditional genomic analyses. Such a research design for investigating correlations among autoimmune diseases may be the first of its kind.

Chronopharmacology of diuresis via metabolic profiling and key biomarker discovery of the traditional Chinese prescription Ji-Ming-San using tandem mass spectrometry in rat models

BACKGROUND

Ji-Ming-Shan (JMS) is a traditional prescription used for patients with rheumatism, tendons swelling, relief of foot pain, athlete's foot, diuresis, gout. Although many studies have investigated the active compounds in each herb, the functional mechanism behind its therapeutic effect remains unclear.

STUDY DESIGN

Metabolic cages for sample collection. The serum components obtained from the experimental animals were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Furthermore, cross-analysis using the software MetaboAnalyst and Venn diagrams were used to investigate chronopharmacology of JMS in the animal models.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to analyze the diuretic effects of JMS and to explore their chronopharmacology involved in organ regulation through four-quarter periods from serum samples of rat models.

METHODS

Metabolic cages were used for collecting the urine samples and PocketChem UA PU-4010, Fuji DRI-CHEM 800 were used to examine the urine biochemical parameters. The serum components were identified through ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight (UPLC-Q-TOF) with a new developed method. Cross analysis, Venn diagram, MetaboAnalyst were used to investigate the key biomarker and major metabolism route with the oral administration of the drug.

RESULT

JMS significantly changed the 6 h urine volume with no observed kidney toxicity. Urine pH value ranges from 7.0 to 7.5. The chronopharmacology of JMS diuresis activity were 0-6 and 6-12 groups. UPLC-Q-TOF analyses identified 243 metabolites which were determined in positive mode and negative mode respectively. With cross analysis in the Venn diagram, one key biomarker naringenin-7-O-glucoside has been identified. Major metabolic pathways such as 1: Glycerophospholipid metabolism, 2: Primary bile acid biosynthesis, 3: Sphingolipid metabolism, 4: Riboflavin metabolism, 5: Linoleic acid metabolism, 6: Butanoate metabolism.

CONCLUSION

JMS significantly changed the urine output of animals in the 0-6 and 6-12 groups. No change in urine pH was observed and also kidney toxicity. A new UPLC-Q-TOF method was developed for the detection of the metabolites of JMS after oral administration. The cross analysis with Venn diagram and identified the key biomarker of JMS namely naringenin-7-O-glucoside. The results showed that six major pathways are involved in the gastrointestinal system and the liver. This study demonstrated the capability of JMS prescription in the regulation of diuresis and identified a key biomarker that is responsible for its therapeutic effect.

Environmental impacts of a novel biorefinery platform integrated with power-to-protein technology to decrease dependencies on soybean imports

The consistent population growth is directly tied to the annual rise in livestock production, placing a substantial burden on the crop sector that supplies animal feed. The Danish government has been relying on importing soybeans and soybean meal to be used as animal feed. However, this sparked environmental concerns that require more environmentally friendly solutions, such as self-sufficiency in animal feed production. The rise of green biorefineries allows new avenues of animal proteinaceous feed production using green biomass to produce leaf protein concentrate (LPC) and utilize side-stream products, such as brown juice and press cake, for feed-quality products. This study evaluated the combination of grass-clover biorefinery and the power-to-X concept, including power-to-protein technology, for its environmental sustainability through a consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA). The production of protein concentrate from organic grass clover exhibits optimal environmental performance when press cake and brown juice are used for bioenergy recovery. The findings indicate that combining a green biorefinery with power-to-protein to fully valorize the carbon and nitrogen content of brown juice and press cake into feed-grade protein can increase the environmental benefits. Such an integration resulted in an avoided impact of -995.9 kg CO2-eq/tonne of protein concentrate. The avoided impacts of climate change could be higher within the first 20 years due to a higher carbon sequestration rate. However, even after 20 years when a new carbon balance in the soil is reached, the environmental gain could be big enough to encourage the production and use of organic grass-clover protein concentrate.

Theoretical Studies on the Quantitative Structure-Toxicity Relationship of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners Reveal High Affinity Binding to Multiple Human Nuclear Receptors

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are organic chemicals consisting of a biphenyl structure substituted with one to ten chlorine atoms, with 209 congeners depending on the number and position of the chlorine atoms. PCBs are widely known to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and have been found to be involved in several diseases/disorders. This study takes various molecular descriptors of these PCBs (e.g., molecular weight) and toxicity endpoints as molecular activities, investigating the possibility of correlations via the quantitative structure-toxicity relationship (QSTR). This study then focuses on molecular docking and dynamics to investigate the docking behavior of the strongest-binding PCBs to nuclear receptors and compares these to the docking behavior of their natural ligands. Nuclear receptors are a family of transcription factors activated by steroid hormones, and they have been investigated to consider the impact of PCBs on humans in this context. It has been observed that the docking affinity of PCBs is comparable to that of the natural ligands, but they are inferior in terms of stability and interacting forces, as shown by the RMSD and total energy values. However, it is noted that most nuclear receptors respond to PCBs similarly to how they respond to their natural ligands-as shown in the RMSF plots-the most similar of which are seen in the ER, THR-β, and RAR-α. However, this study is performed purely in silico and will need experimental verification for validation.

Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) Nanoparticle Toxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model

Titanium dioxide is a compound that is used in the food, cosmetic, and paint industries; however, it is still toxic to humans and the environment. This study determined the toxicities of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) in a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. The effects of commercially available (C-TiO2) and synthetically (S-TiO2) prepared TiO2 NP solutions on lethality, lifespan, growth, reproduction, locomotion, and gene expression were studied in C. elegans. Exposure to TiO2 NPs (0.0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 10 mg/L) did not result in any change to the survival rate or body length of the nematodes, regardless of the concentration. However, there was a decrease in the reproduction (brood size) and locomotion (body bending and head thrashing) of the nematodes as the TiO2 NP concentration increased. The longevity of the nematodes was shortened following TiO2 NP exposure. The gene expression of sod-1, sod-3, ctl-1, ctl-2, cyp35A2, mlt-1, and mlt-2 in the nematodes showed that there was an overexpression of all genes when the worms were exposed to 1 mg/L C-TiO2 or 10 mg/L S-TiO2. It was therefore concluded that compared with S-TiO2, C-TiO2 possibly causes more toxicity or genotoxicity in the C. elegans model.

Navigating the Gene Co-Expression Network and Drug Repurposing Opportunities for Brain Disorders Associated with Neurocognitive Impairment

Neurocognitive impairment refers to a spectrum of disorders characterized by a decline in cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving, which are often linked to structural or functional abnormalities in the brain. While its exact etiology remains elusive, genetic factors play a pivotal role in disease onset and progression. This study aimed to identify highly correlated gene clusters (modules) and key hub genes shared across neurocognition-impairing diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), and glioma. Herein, the microarray datasets AD (GSE5281), HAND (GSE35864), glioma (GSE15824), and PD (GSE7621) were used to perform Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify highly preserved modules across the studied brain diseases. Through gene set enrichment analysis, the shared modules were found to point towards processes including neuronal transcriptional dysregulation, neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, hallmarks of many neurocognitive disorders. These modules were used in constructing protein-protein interaction networks to identify hub genes shared across the diseases of interest. These hub genes were found to play pivotal roles in processes including protein homeostasis, cell cycle regulation, energy metabolism, and signaling, all associated with brain and CNS diseases, and were explored for their drug repurposing experiments. Drug repurposing based on gene signatures highlighted drugs including Dorzolamide and Oxybuprocaine, which were found to modulate the expression of the hub genes in play and may have therapeutic implications in neurocognitive disorders. While both drugs have traditionally been used for other medical purposes, our study underscores the potential of a combined WGCNA and drug repurposing strategy for searching for new avenues in the simultaneous treatment of different diseases that have similarities in gene co-expression networks.

Sesamin: A Promising Therapeutic Agent for Ameliorating Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by improperly regulating proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids due to insulin deficiency or resistance. The increasing prevalence of diabetes poses a tremendous socioeconomic burden worldwide, resulting in the rise of many studies on Chinese herbal medicines to discover the most effective cure for diabetes. Sesame seeds are among these Chinese herbal medicines that were found to contain various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, lowering cholesterol, improving liver function, blood pressure and sugar lowering, regulating lipid synthesis, and anticancer activities. These medicinal benefits are attributed to sesamin, which is the main lignan found in sesame seeds and oil. In this study, Wistar rat models were induced with type 2 diabetes using streptozotocin (STZ) and nicotinamide, and the effect of sesamin on the changes in body weight, blood sugar level, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin levels, and the states of the pancreas and liver of the rats were evaluated. The results indicate a reduced blood glucose level, HbA1c, TG, and ALT and AST enzymes after sesamin treatment, while increased insulin level, SOD, CAT, and GPx activities were also observed. These findings prove sesamin's efficacy in ameliorating the symptoms of diabetes through its potent pharmacological activities.

Identification for metabolism profiles and pharmacokinetic studies of tradition Chinese prescription Ji-Ming-San and its major metabolites in rats by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and UHPLC-MS/MS

Ji-Ming-Shan (JMS) is a traditional prescription use for patients with rheumatism, tendons swelling, athlete’s foot, diuresis and even gout. This study developed a rapid and sensitive method for the analysis of JMS chemical components in the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription and in the serum samples of rats which were administered with the herbal extract. Two mass spectrometric approaches were used namely Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method for the major metabolites of the JMS extract while Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed for the detection of the JMS metabolites in the sera of rats. It was revealed that the major components in the JMS extract were identified to be narirutin and hesperidin. It was confirmed that 17 compounds were determined in JMS prescription extract and 16 metabolites resulting from the biotransformation of narirutin and hesperidin were identified in the serum samples. In silico analyses also revealed that the metabolite hersperidin-7-glucoside exhibited the best binding ability with respect to the Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme target. This study showcased the possible biochemical mechanism involved in the therapeutic efficiency of JMS components and their biotransformation products.

Interactive network pharmacology and electrochemical analysis reveals electron transport-mediating characteristics of Chinese medicine formula Jing Guan Fang

Background

Jing Guan Fang (JGF) is an anti-COVID-19 Chinese Medicine decoction comprised of five medicinal herbs to possess anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties for treatment. This study aims to electrochemically decipher the anti-coronavirus activity of JGF and show that microbial fuel cells may serve as a platform for screening efficacious herbal medicines and providing scientific bases for the mechanism of action (MOA) of TCMs.

Methods

Electrochemical techniques (e.g., cyclic voltammetry) and MFCs were adopted as the bioenergy-based platforms to assess the bioenergy-stimulating characteristics of JGF. Phytochemical analysis correlated polyphenolic and flavonoid content with antioxidant activity and bioenergy-stimulating properties. Network pharmacology on the active compounds was employed to identify anti-inflammatory and anti-COVID-19 protein targets, and molecular docking validated in silico results.

Significant findings

This first-attempt results show that JGF possesses significant reversible bioenergy-stimulation (amplification 2.02 ± 0.04) properties suggesting that its antiviral efficacy is both bioenergy-steered and electron mediated. Major flavonoids and flavone glycosides identified by HPLC (e.g., baicalein and baicalin, respectively) possess electron-shuttling (ES) characteristics that allow herbal medicines to treat COVID-19 via (1) reversible scavenging of ROS to lessen inflammation; (2) inhibition of viral proteins; and (3) targeting of immunomodulatory pathways to stimulate the immune response according to network pharmacology.

In vitro and in vivo anti-osteoarthritis effects of tradition Chinese prescription Ji-Ming-San

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ji-Ming-Shan (JMS) is a traditional herbal prescription consisting of seven herbs including Areca cathechu Burm.f., Citrus reticulata Blanco, Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai, Euodia ruticarpa (A. Juss.) Benth., Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.). It was first recorded during the Song dynasty and has been used extensively for protection against rheumatism, treatment of swelling of tendons, relief from foot pain, gout and diuresis and other forms of inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoarthritis activity of JMS extracts with the use of different cell lines (RAW 264.7 cells, SW1353 cells and primary cultured rat chondrocytes). MIA-induced rat animal models were used to assess the anti-osteoarthritis activity of the extract.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of JMS-95E on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. For the in vivo study, male Wistar rats were used and they were randomly assigned in different groups: blank, control, positive control and three different JMS-95E treatment groups (200, 400, 800 mg/kg/d). Paw edema, hind-limb weight bearing, serum inflammatory cytokines including hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining experiments were used to assess the efficacy of the extract in the rat model.

RESULT

JMS 95% ethanol extract (JMS-95E, marker substance: narirutin (5.10 mg/g) and hesperidin (11.33 mg/g) has been identified in the extract using high pressure liquid chromatography. For in vitro assays, JMS-95E did not exhibit cytotoxicity and was able to downregulate the protein expression of iNOS, COX-2 and MMP-13. The production of inflammatory mediators such as NO and PGE₂ were also reduced with an increase in dose-dependent manner in various cell lines. Inhibitory activity on the key enzyme xanthine oxidase was also observed in this study. In rat animal models, JMS-95E reduced the inflammatory responses such as acute swelling, chondrocyte degradation and pain section of paw edema in rat model. Molecular marker studies of inflammation demonstrated that JMS-95E significantly decrease PGE₂ expression in MIA model.

CONCLUSION

JMS-95E inhibited the inflammatory pathway leading to the production or expression levels of NO, iNOS, COX-2 and PGE₂ in macrophage cells. In primary cultured rat chondrocytes iNOS and SW1353 MMP-13 expression were downregulated after JMS-95E treatment. For the in vivo study JMS-95E significantly reduced the paw volume of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema through each dose and significantly inhibited paw volume, counterweight the distribution of hind-paw weight bearing through the MIA model which means JMS-95E could promote recovery of the acute swelling and chondrocyte degradation of the ankle joints. The above results provided the multiple mechanism of JMS-95E in OA treatment of the scientific founding which supported the description of JMS in traditional use.

In silico de novo drug design of a therapeutic peptide inhibitor against UBE2C in breast cancer

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared breast cancer (BC) as the most prevalent cancer in the world. With its prevalence and severity, there have been several breakthroughs in developing treatments for the disease. Targeted therapy treatments limit the damage done to healthy tissues. These targeted therapies are especially potent for luminal and HER-2 positive type breast cancer. However, for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), the lack of defining biomarkers makes it hard to approach with targeted therapy methods. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) have been studied as possible targets for drug action. However, small molecule drugs are not able to cover the entirety of the PPI binding interface. Peptides were found to be more suited to the large or flat PPI surfaces, in addition to their better pharmacokinetic properties. In this study, computational methods was used in order to verify whether peptide drug inhibitors are good drug candidates against the ubiquitin protein, UBE2C by conducting docking, MD and MMPBSA analyses. Results show that while the lead peptide, T20-M shows good potential as a peptide drug, its binding affinity towards UBE2C is not enough to overcome the natural UBE2C-ANAPC2 interaction. Further studies on modification of T20-M and the analysis of other peptide leads are recommended.

Interactive deciphering electron-shuttling characteristics of Coffea arabica leaves and potential bioenergy-steered anti-SARS-CoV-2 RdRp inhibitor via microbial fuel cells

Due to the pandemics of COVID-19, herbal medicine has recently been explored for possible antiviral treatment and prevention via novel platform of microbial fuel cells. It was revealed that Coffea arabica leaves was very appropriate for anti-COVID-19 drug development. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory tests exhibited the most promising activities for C. arabica ethanol extracts and drying approaches were implemented on the leaf samples prior to ethanol extraction. Ethanol extracts of C. arabica leaves were applied to bioenergy evaluation via DC-MFCs, clearly revealing that air-dried leaves (CA-A-EtOH) exhibited the highest bioenergy-stimulating capabilities (ca. 2.72 fold of power amplification to the blank). Furthermore, molecular docking analysis was implemented to decipher the potential of C. arabica leaves metabolites. Chlorogenic acid (-6.5 kcal/mol) owned the highest binding affinity with RdRp of SARS-CoV-2, showing a much lower average RMSF value than an apoprotein. This study suggested C. arabica leaves as an encouraging medicinal herb against SARS-CoV-2.

Drug Repurposing Using Gene Co-Expression and Module Preservation Analysis in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), Sepsis, and COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 infections are highly correlated with the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in what is known as a cytokine storm, leading to high fatality rates. Such infections are accompanied by SIRS, ARDS, and sepsis, suggesting a potential link between the three phenotypes. Currently, little is known about the transcriptional similarity between these conditions. Herein, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) clustering was applied to RNA-seq datasets (GSE147902, GSE66890, GSE74224, GSE177477) to identify modules of highly co-expressed and correlated genes, cross referenced with dataset GSE160163, across the samples. To assess the transcriptome similarities between the conditions, module preservation analysis was performed and functional enrichment was analyzed in DAVID webserver. The hub genes of significantly preserved modules were identified, classified into upregulated or downregulated, and used to screen candidate drugs using Connectivity Map (CMap) to identify repurposed drugs. Results show that several immune pathways (chemokine signaling, NOD-like signaling, and Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation) are conserved across the four diseases. Hub genes screened using intramodular connectivity show significant relevance with the pathogenesis of cytokine storms. Transcriptomic-driven drug repurposing identified seven candidate drugs (SB-202190, eicosatetraenoic-acid, loratadine, TPCA-1, pinocembrin, mepacrine, and CAY-10470) that targeted several immune-related processes. These identified drugs warrant further study into their efficacy for treating cytokine storms, and in vitro and in vivo experiments are recommended to confirm the findings of this study.

Hepatoprotective effect of botanical drug formula on high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by inhibiting lipogenesis and promoting anti-oxidation

With the prevalence of obesity and other components of metabolic syndrome, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become increasingly common. In recent years, much attention has been paid to various plant sources, hoping to find a treatment for NAFLD in plants. The Livsooth authentic herbal formula (LAH, ), a botanical drug formula combined with Puerariae lobatae radix, Lonicerae japonicae flos, Hoveniae semen, and Siraitiae fructus. This study used a network pharmacology approach to predict the potential mechanisms of LAH against NAFLD. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses have identified potential biochemical and signaling pathways. Subsequently, the potential mechanism of action of LAH on NAFLD predicted by network pharmacology analysis was validated in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD model in C57BL/6 mice. Our results demonstrated that LAH ameliorated hepatocyte steatosis in liver tissue by activating the AMPK pathway and decreasing serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, glucose, and cholesterol. Besides, LAH increased the hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities, suggested that LAH improved oxidative stress markers in HFD induced NAFLD mice. In vitro experiments confirmed that the active component of LAH, puerarin, regulates lipid accumulation through the AMPK pathway. In conclusion, our study shows that network pharmacology predictions are consistent with experimental validation. LAH can be a candidate supplement for the prevention of NAFLD.

Dopamine-Induced Surface Zwitterionization of Expanded Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) for Constructing Thermostable Bioinert Materials

Although energy-demanding, the surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for biomedical applications is mandatory to mitigate irreversible biofouling that occurs whenever PTFE comes into contact with biological fluids. Here, we propose to take advantage of the adhesive properties of dopamine (DA) and of the antifouling ability of various zwitterionic monomers (sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), sulfobetaine methacrylamide (SBAA), sulfobetaine acrylamide (SBAA'), and 4-vinylpyridine propylsulfobetaine (4VPPS)) and form antifouling coatings by copolymerization on the surface of expanded PTFE membranes. This simple, low-energy, and one-step coating procedure arises in significant biofouling mitigation. All zwitterionic coatings led to important reduction of biofouling by red blood cell conentrate (88-94%), platelet conentrate (70-90%), whole blood (40-66%), or bacteria (83-96%). Also, it is shown that the interactions of polydopamine with ePTFE are stable even at high temperatures. However, the zwitterionic monomers are differently affected. While the performance of SBMA coatings decreased (as SBMA is prone to hydrolysis), those of SBAA, SBAA', and 4VPPS coatings were generally maintained. All in all, this study illustrates that efficient and stable antifouling zwitterionic coatings can be generated onto PTFE membranes for biomedical applications, without the use of conventional high-energy-demanding surface modification processes.

Development and Validation of KASP Assays for the Genotyping of Racing Performance-Associated Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Pigeons

Pigeon racing's recent upturn in popularity can be attributed in part to the huge prize money involved in these competitions. As such, methods to select pigeons with desirable genetic characteristics for racing or for selective breeding have also been gaining more interest. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for genotyping-specific genes is one of the most commonly used molecular techniques, which can be costly, laborious and time consuming. The present study reports the development of an alternative genotyping method that employs Kompetitive Allele Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (KASP) technology with specifically designed primers to detect previously reported racing performance-associated polymorphisms within the LDHA, MTYCB, and DRD4 genes. To validate, KASP assays and PCR-RFLP assays results from 107 samples genotyped for each of the genes were compared and the results showed perfect (100%) agreement of both methods. The developed KASP assays present an alternative rapid, reliable, and cost-effective method to identify polymorphisms in pigeons.

Probiotic supplementation containing Bacillus velezensis enhances expression of immune regulatory genes against pigeon circovirus in pigeons (Columba livia)

AIMS

In this study, we aimed to isolate and evaluate the efficacy of Bacillus velezensis as a probiotic and to assess its activity towards pigeons infected with pigeon circovirus (PiCV).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Bacillus velezensis, isolated from pigeon faeces, was orally administered to pigeons for 60 days. After pigeons were challenged with PiCV, the PiCV viral load and expression of indicator genes for innate immunity were detected in spleen tissue and faeces of pigeons. Bacillus velezensis significantly reduced the PiCV viral load in the faeces and spleen of pigeons 5 days post-challenge (dpc). The mRNA expression levels of treated pigeons showed that interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), myxovirus resistance 1 (Mx1), and signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) genes were upregulated, whereas no expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) was detected. Moreover, toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR4) were significantly upregulated in probiotic-treated pigeons (P < 0·05).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report showing that probiotic supplementation can effectively enhance the T-helper type 1 immune response and decrease the PiCV viral loads in pigeons.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study proposes that the administration of a probiotic strain, B. velezensis, to pigeons can protect against PiCV infection.

Surface Zwitterionization of Expanded Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) via Dopamine-Assisted Consecutive Immersion Coating

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) is one of the materials widely used in the biomedical field, yet its application is being limited by adverse reactions such as thrombosis when it comes in contact with blood. Thus, a simple and robust way to modify ePTFE to be biologically inert is sought after. Modification of ePTFE without high-energy pretreatment, such as immersion coating, has been of interest to researchers for its straightforward process and ease in scaling up. In this study, we utilized a two-step immersion coating to zwitterionize ePTFE membranes. The first coating consists of the co-deposition of polyethylenimine (PEI) and polydopamine (PDA) to produce amine groups in the surface of the ePTFE for further functionalization. These amine groups from PEI will be coupled with the epoxide group of the zwitterionic copolymer, poly(GMA-co-SBMA) (PGS), via a ring-opening reaction in the second coating. The coated ePTFE membranes were physically and chemically characterized to ensure that each step of the coating is successful. The membranes were also tested for their thrombogenicity via quantification of the blood cells attached to it during contact with biological solutions. The coated membranes exhibited around 90% reduction in attachment with respect to the uncoated ePTFE for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). The coating was also able to resist blood cell attachment from human whole blood by 81.57% and resist red blood cell attachment from red blood cell concentrate by 93.4%. These ePTFE membranes, which are coated by a simple immersion coating, show significant enhancement of the biocompatibility of the membranes, which shows promise for future use in biological devices.

Toxicity assessment of electrochemical advanced oxidation process-treated groundwater from a gas station with petrochemical contamination

Electrochemical advanced oxidation process (EAOP) is known for its efficient and fast degradation of organic pollutants in polluted water treatment. In this study, the EAOP using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode was applied to treat two-season groundwater samples collected from four sampling wells (GS1 to GS4) with petrochemical contaminants including methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), benzene, toluene, chlorobenzene, total organic compounds (TOC), and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) at a gas station in southern Taiwan. Moreover, toxicity tests (ATP, p53, and NF-κB bioassays) were performed to evaluate the biological responses of raw and EAOP-treated groundwater. Results show that the concentrations of chlorobenzene before and after EAOP treatment were all below its method detection limit. High degradation efficiencies were observed for MTBE (100%), benzene (100%), toluene (100%, except that of GS2 in the first season), TPH (94-97%, except that of GS4 in the first season), and TOC (85-99%). Cell viability for both the raw groundwater (81.2 ± 13.5%) and EAOP-treated samples (84.7 ± 11.7%) as detected using the ATP bioassay showed no significant difference (p = 0.715). A mean reduction in the DNA damage (739 to 165 ng DOX-equivalency L^-1 (ng DOX-EQ. L^-1)) and inflammatory response levels (460 to 157 ng TNFα-equivalency L^-1 (ng TNFα-EQ. L^-1)) were observed for EAOP-treated samples subjected to p53 and NF-κB bioassays. Overall, the significances of the average degradation efficiency, DNA damage, and inflammatory response before and after groundwater with EAOP treatment was observed to be significant (p < 0.05). p53 and NF-κB bioassays might be applied to assess ecotoxic risk in the environment.

Common bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases in pigeons (Columba livia): A review of diagnostic and treatment strategies

Pigeons (Columba livia) have been associated with humans for a long time now. They are raised for sport (pigeon race), exhibition (display of fancy breeds), food, and research. Most of the pigeons kept are Racing Homers, trained to compete in the pigeon race. Other breeds, such as Rollers, Nose Divers, Doneks are bred for their aerial abilities. Incorporation of a good preventive medicine program is one of the most critical factors in averting infectious diseases in pigeon flocks. This review summarizes the common bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections in pigeons. The different clinical signs, symptoms, diagnostic strategies, prevention, and treatments were described in this review. Current researches, molecular diagnostic assays, and treatment strategies such as vaccines and drug candidates were included. The information found in this review can provide insights for veterinarians and researchers studying pigeons to develop effective and efficient immunoprophylactic and diagnostic tools for pigeon diagnosis and therapeutics.

Diagnosis and potential treatments for acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND): a review

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) or formerly known as early mortality syndrome (EMS) is an emerging disease that has caused significant economic losses to the aquaculture industry. The primary causative agent of AHPND is Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium that has gained plasmids encoding the fatal binary toxins Pir A/Pir B that cause rapid death of the infected shrimp. In this review, the current research studies and information about AHPND in shrimps have been presented. Molecular diagnostic tools and potential treatments regarding AHPND were also included. This review also includes relevant findings which may serve as guidelines that can help for further investigation and studies on AHPND or other shrimp diseases.

Bioinert Control of Zwitterionic Poly(ethylene terephtalate) Fibrous Membranes

Poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET)-based materials face general biofouling issues that we addressed by grafting a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and sulfobetaine methacrylate, poly(GMA- r-SBMA). The grafting procedure involved a dip-coating step followed by UV-exposure and led to successful grafting of the copolymer as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements. It did not modify the pore size nor the porosity of the PET membranes. In addition, their surface hydrophilicity was considerably improved, with a water contact angle falling to 30° in less than 20 s and 0° in less than 1 min. The effect of copolymer concentration in the coating bath (dip-coating procedure) and UV exposure time (UV step) were scrutinized during biofouling studies involving several bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, but also whole blood and HT1080 fibroblasts cells. The results indicate that if all conditions led to improved biofouling mitigation, due to the efficiency of the zwitterionic copolymer and grafting procedure, a higher concentration (15 mg/mL) and longer UV exposure time (at least 10 min) enhanced the grafting density which reflected on the biofouling results and permitted a better general biofouling control regardless of the nature of the biofoulant (bacteria, blood cells, fibroblasts).

Association between Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Breast Milk and Their Effects on Female Reproduction in a Taiwanese Population

Only few studies have focused on organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in breast milk and the related health risks for women in Taiwan. Our goal is to examine breast milk OCPs and their associations with female reproductive function (infertility, gynecological diseases, and menstruation characteristics) as well as their correlation with sociodemographic parameters (age, pre-pregnant body mass index (BMI), annual incomes, population, birth year, and parity) and dietary habit. The breast milk samples were collected in southern Taiwan (n = 68) from 2013 to 2016 and the OCP residues were analyzed using high resolution gas chromatography with low resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/LRMS). The results show that the most abundant OCP residues in the breast milk was ΣDDT with the geometric mean ± standard deviation of 9.81 ± 7.52 ng⁻¹ lipid⁻¹ followed by ΣHCH (0.539 ± 0.557 ng⁻¹·lipid⁻¹). In the principal component analysis, cis-chlordane (cis-CHL) and γ-HCH were found to be related to participants who received medical treatment for infertility, and 4,4′-DDT was associated with those who received gynecological surgery. The logistic regression showed that the odds ratio (OR) of log γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) was higher for mothers who had received medical treatment for infertility than for the normal group (OR = 25.6, p = 0.035) after adjustments for age, pre-pregnant BMI, annual income, population (i.e., native-born Taiwanese), birth year, and parity. Cow milk and beef consumption as well as menstruation characteristics such as average menstrual period (>5 days), shortest menstrual period (<3 days), and women who had taken hormonal drugs were significantly associated to several OCP residues in the breast milk. In addition, ΣHCH including β-HCH and γ-HCH was correlated with annual family income and gravidity as well as cow milk and beef consumptions. Overall, γ-HCH exhibited a probable association with the infertility diseases of Taiwanese women, and dietary habit might play an important role in the female Taiwanese exposure to OCPs.

Levels of PCDD/Fs, PBDEs, and PBDD/Fs in Breast Milk from Southern Taiwan

This study investigates the congener-specific concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in 25 breast milk samples from southern Taiwan. Most investigated congeners in Taiwanese breast milk are detectable except for PBDD/Fs. The geometric means of PCDD/Fs and PBDEs in the breast milk are 2.44 pg WHO₂₀₀₅-TEQ/g lipid and 2810 pg/g lipid. Several PCDD/F and PBDE congeners were highly correlated to each other like 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF (r = 0.919, p < 0.001). The longest duration of menstruation could be predicted by BDE-153 (β = 0.252) and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF (β = 0.345) with adjustment of confounders using a multiple stepwise linear regression model (r = 0.963, p < 0.001).

A Zwitterionic-Shielded Carrier with pH-Modulated Reversible Self-Assembly for Gene Transfection

Cationic vectors are ideal candidates for gene delivery thanks to their capability to carry large gene inserts and their scalable production. However, their cationic density gives rise to high cytotoxicity. We present the proper designed core-shell polyplexes made of either poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) or poly(2-dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) as the core and zwitterionic poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PAA-b-PSBMA) diblock copolymer as the shell. Gel retardation and ethidium bromide displacement assays were used to determine the PEI/DNA or PDMAEMA/DNA complexation. At neutral pH, the copolymer serves as a protective shell of the complex. As PSBMA is a nonfouling block, the shell reduced the cytotoxicity and enhanced the hemocompatibility (lower hemolysis activity, longer plasma clotting time) of the gene carriers. PAA segments in the copolymer impart pH sensitivity by allowing deshielding of the core in acidic solution. Therefore, the transfection efficiency of polyplexes at pH 6.5 was better than at pH 7.0, from β-galactosidase assay, and for all PAA-b-PSBMA tested. These results were supported by more favorable physicochemical properties in acidic solution (zeta potential, particle size, and interactions between the polymer and DNA). Thus, the results of this study offer a potential route to the development of efficient and nontoxic pH-sensitive gene carriers.

Dust levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs) in the Taiwanese elementary school classrooms: Assessment of the risk to school-age children

Elementary school classroom dust is an important source of exposure to polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans and diphenyl ethers (PBDD/DF/DEs) for school-age children. Our goal is thus to investigate concentrations of PBDD/DF/DEs in elementary school classroom dust to further assess the impact on school-age children via ingestion. The dust from classrooms, including both normal (NR) and computer classrooms (CR), was collected from six urban and four rural schools. Fourteen PBDEs and twelve PBDD/Fs were measured using high-resolution gas-chromatography/high-resolution mass-spectrometry. The mean levels of Σ₁₄PBDEs in NR and CR dust from the urban classrooms were 370 and 2510ng/g and those whose dust from the rural classrooms were 464 and 1780ng/g. The means of ΣPBDD/Fs were 0.0401ng-WHO₂₀₀₅-TEQ/g (concentration: 4.72ng/g) in urban NR dust, 0.0636ng-WHO₂₀₀₅-TEQ/g (7.51ng/g) in urban CR dust, 0.0281ng-WHO₂₀₀₅TEQ/g (3.60ng/g) in rural NR dust, and 0.0474ng-WHO₂₀₀₅TEQ/g (6.28ng/g) in rural CR dust. The PBDEs pattern in NR dust was quite different from that in CR dust, but the PBDD/Fs patterns in NR and CR dust were similar. A linearly significant correlation coefficient (n=20, r=0.862, p<0.001) was found between ΣPBDEs and ΣPBDD/Fs in NR and CR dust, indicating that the PBDEs and PBDD/Fs in the dust may be from the same sources in the elementary school classrooms. This study assessed the risks (daily intake and cancer and non-cancer risks) of PBDEs and PBDD/Fs for the children from the classroom dust, and the calculated risk values did not exceed the related thresholds. With regard to the exposure scenarios for school-age children in an indoor environment, the results suggest that they might ingest more dust PBDD/DF/DEs in their homes than in the schools. In conclusion, the exposure of Taiwanese elementary school children to PBDD/DF/DEs via indoor dust was with a safe range based on our findings.

Estrogenic effects in the influents and effluents of the drinking water treatment plants

Estrogen-like endocrine disrupting compounds (EEDC) such as bisphenol A, nonylphenol, and phthalic acid esters are toxic compounds that may occur in both raw- and drinking water. The aim of this study was to combine chemical- and bioassay to evaluate the risk of EEDCs in the drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Fifty-six samples were collected from seven DWTPs located in northern-, central-, and southern Taiwan from 2011 to 2012 and subjected to chemical analyses and two bioassay methods for total estrogenic activity (E-Screen and T47D-KBluc assay). Among of the considered EEDCs, only dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were detected in both drinking and raw water samples. DBP levels in drinking water ranged from <MDL to 0.840 μg/L and from <MDL to 0.760 μg/L in raw water. DEHP had higher detection rate (82.1 %) than other compounds and was present in both drinking water and raw water from all the DWTPs. The highest daily drinking water intake calculated for male and female were 0.0823 and 0.115 μg/kg per day. The two selected bioassays were conducted for the first batch of 56 samples and a detection rate of 23 % for estradiol equivalent (EEQ) lower than the LOQ to 1.3 and 15 % for EEQ lower than LOQ to 0.757 for the second 53 samples. Our results showed a good correlation between E-screen and chemical assay which indicates that a combination of both can be used in detecting EEDCs in environmental samples.

Proteomic analysis provides insights on venom processing in Conus textile

Conus species of marine snails deliver a potent collection of toxins from the venom duct via a long proboscis attached to a harpoon tooth. Conotoxins are known to possess powerful neurological effects and some have been developed for therapeutic uses. Using mass-spectrometry based proteomics, qualitative and quantitative differences in conotoxin components were found in the proximal, central and distal sections of the Conus textile venom duct suggesting specialization of duct sections for biosynthesis of particular conotoxins. Reversed phase HPLC followed by Orbitrap mass spectrometry and data analysis using SEQUEST and ProLuCID identified 31 conotoxin sequences and 25 post-translational modification (PTM) variants with King-Kong 2 peptide being the most abundant. Several previously unreported variants of known conopeptides were found and this is the first time that HyVal is reported for a disulfide rich Conus peptide. Differential expression along the venom duct, production of PTM variants, alternative proteolytic cleavage sites, and venom processing enroute to the proboscis all appear to contribute to enriching the combinatorial pool of conopeptides and producing the appropriate formulation for a particular hunting situation. The complementary tools of mass spectrometry-based proteomics and molecular biology can greatly accelerate the discovery of Conus peptides and provide insights on envenomation and other biological strategies of cone snails.