Adalimumab Dose Reduction and Withdrawal in Stable Non-Infectious Pediatric Uveitis: An Open-Label, Prospective, Pilot Study

PURPOSES

This study investigated the feasibility of adalimumab (ADA) dose reduction and withdrawal strategy in children with stable pediatric non-infectious uveitis (PNIU).

METHODS

This open-label prospective pilot trial recruited 18 stable PNIU patients (33 eyes) between two and eighteen years old who were treated with standard doses of ADA (20/40 mg every 2 weeks) plus oral methotrexate. The interval of ADA injection was extended to 4 weeks and followed up for 24 weeks. If the uveitis remained stable, ADA was discontinued and followed up for another 24 weeks. ADA was considered successfully stopped if no relapse occurred during this period. The relapse-free survival rate, best corrected visual acuity (BVCA), anterior chamber cell (ACC), vitritis, macular thickness (MT), and serum ADA levels were evaluated. Approval Number: 2021KYPJ201. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05155592.

RESULTS

The relapse-free survival rate was 22.2% (4/18) at 48 weeks. 33.3% (6/18) of patients relapsed when ADA was given every 4 weeks, while 44.5% of patients (8/18) relapsed after ADA was stopped. The four patients successfully withdrawn from ADA were all diagnosed with BD. No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in BCVA and MT between baseline and final follow-up. The proportion of ACC and vitritis exhibited an upward trend (p < 0.05) during follow-up. Serum ADA gradually decreased to zero during follow-up in both non-recurrence and recurrence groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In PNIU children who reached remission for 6 months, ADA dose reduction and withdrawal were associated with a high risk of inflammation recurrence. Timely adjustment of ADA to the last effective dosage frequency can regain control of the inflammation. Detection of ADA serum levels in patients with recurrence may help find the appropriate interval of ADA use.

Au/Pt@ZIF-90 Nanoenzyme Capsule-Based "Explosive" Signal Amplifier for "All-in-Tube" POCT

The sensitive, convenient, and visual detection of low-concentration disease markers in biological samples has always been a priority in disease diagnosis. However, existing research has been problematic due to complex operation and unsatisfactory sensitivity. Consequently, an "explosive" signal amplification platform based on Au/Pt@ZIF-90 was developed for sensitive visual detection of disease markers. In this study, a controllable and explosively released Au/Pt nanoparticles (NPs) "nanoenzyme capsule" was prepared by encapsulating Au/Pt NPs with excellent peroxidase activity in ZIF-90. This was achieved by adjusting the particle size of ZIF-90 and the encapsulation amount of Au/Pt NPs. Using the prepared capsules as the signal output module and aptamer as the target recognition module, an "All-in-Tube" portable point-of-care (POC) platform was constructed by integrating the Au/Pt@ZIF-90/filter paper and TMB/strips into an Eppendorf (EP) tube. By utilizing specific competitive binding of targets to aptamers, the platform enabled the sensitive and convenient measurement of small molecular disease markers. Taking adenosine as the proof of concept, the portable detection achieved excellent sensitivity. Moreover, the platform can achieve universal detection of various targets by varying the aptamer sequence. This signal amplification strategy provides a design pattern for the detection of low-concentration targets in biological samples and holds significant potential in the fields of disease diagnosis and environmental monitoring.

[Prevention and control of pediatric tinea capitis]

Tinea capitis is a superficial fungal infection of the scalp and hair caused by Dermatophytes. It represents the most prevalent superficial fungal infection among preadolescent children worldwide, including in developing countries such as China. The highly contagious nature of tinea capitis can result in outbreaks within communal settings for children. Furthermore, pustular lesions associated with this condition can lead to permanent scarring and hair loss, imposing a significant psychological burden on affected children and their parents. This article aims to provide a comprehensive literature review encompassing the susceptible person, epidemiological characteristics, trends, etiology, modes of transmission, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prevention strategies of tinea capitis. The ultimate objective is to raise awareness, implement effective prevention and control measures, interrupt the transmission cycle, and ultimately reduce the incidence of tinea capitis in the pediatric population.

[Early recognition and prevention of systemic sclerosis]

Systemic sclerosis is a disease characterized by skin and internal organ fibrosis, lacking specific therapeutic drugs and having a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis and intervention of the disease is of significant value in improving patient prognosis. This article provides a systematic review of the early diagnosis and treatment of systemic sclerosis, including early symptom recognition, laboratory testing, and drug intervention. It will provide a reference for the prevention of this disease.

Effect of Repeated Application of Flos Daturae on Sedative and Hypnotic in Mice

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep-related diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine, Flos daturae has been used as a traditional herbal totreatment of sizens of diseases. The research objective was to investigate the sedative and hypnotic effects of Flos Daturae. Kunming mice were divided into control group, Estazolam (positive drug, 0.0005 g/kg) group and Flos Daturae groups (0.01, 0.02, 0.04g/kg) with random, ig once a day for 7 days. The central sedative effect of flos Daturae on the spontaneous activity of mice was observed using the locomotive activity test, and the hypnotic effect of Flos Daturae was observed in mice using the direct sleep test and the sleep latency with synergistic supra-and sub-threshold doses of pentobarbital sodium. Flos Daturae (0.04g/kg) significantly inhibited mice locomotive activity (P<0.05) and had no direct sleeping effect (P>0.05), increased the number rate of sleep (P<0.05), and significantly shortening sleep latency (P<0.05), enhanced pentobarbital sodium-induced sleep. Flos Daturae possesses have sedative-hypnotic properties.

Tumor Treatment Response Assessed During the Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Patients

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To evaluate intratumoral treatment response distribution with using FDG-PET/CT during the chemoradiotherapy of nasopharyngeal patients (NPC).

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 5 of 30 patients with stage III-IVA NPC were enrolled in the institutional protocol for induction/concurrent chemoradiotherapy with radiation dose of 70 Gy in 33 fractions. For each patient, a pre-radiation treatment FDG-PET/MRI image (SUV0) and a mid-treatment image (SUVm) at the treatment dose of 31.8 Gy were obtained. Followed by deformable PET/MRI registration between SUV0 and SUVm, the tumor voxel SUV reduction ratio was obtained to construct a tumor dose response matrix (DRM). Tumor SUVavid was also constructed by limiting tumor voxel SUVm > a given value. Spatial correlations of the tumor SUV0, SUVm, SUVavid and DRM were determined.

RESULTS

The mean and coefficient variation (CV) of the SUV0, SUVm and DRM for all tumors were 5.05 (52%), 2.72 (49%) and 0.64 (63%) (Table contains the individual data), which were smaller than those on the SUVs of head-n-neck HPV+ patients reported previously due to the induction chemotherapy, but had much larger DRM mean and CV. The inter-tumoral CVs of SUV0 and DRM were 29% and 27%, which were much lower than those of the intra-tumoral CVs 43% and 57%. Meanwhile, the intra-tumoral variations on SUV0 was smaller than the one of head-neck HPV+ patients, but the DRM intra-variation was much larger. There was a weak correlation between SUV0 and SUVm with the correlation coefficient 0.13, a medium correlation of -0.55 between SUV0 and DRM, but a strong correlation, 0.72, between SUVm and DRM. However, the spatial correlation between tumor DRM and SUVavid was getting weaker as the SUVavid value increasing and equal 0.47 with SUVavid value > 3.

CONCLUSION

The spatial dose response DRM for NPC in the concurrent chemoradiotherapy was relatively high, while had relatively low baseline tumor metabolic activity SUV0. It was most likely due to the induction chemotherapy. In addition, the tumor dose response showed vary large intra-tumoral variation. The high correlations between DRM and SUVm imply that SUVavid could be used partially to guide adaptive modification of NPC treatment with carefully selected boundary value.

Global Demographic Characteristics and Pathogen Spectrum of Tinea Capitis

Tinea capitis is an important superficial fungal infection with a global distribution. It mainly affects prepubertal children and is more common in males. Anthropophilic and zoophilic dermatophytes are responsible for most infections. The pathogen spectrum of tinea capitis varies across different regions and changes over time, and is influenced by multiple factors, such as economic development, changes in lifestyle, immigration and animal distribution. This review aimed to clarify the demographic and etiological characteristics of tinea capitis worldwide and determine the common trends of causative pathogens. By mainly analyzing the literature published from 2015 to 2022, we found that the incidence and demographic characteristics of tinea capitis remained generally stable. Zoophilic Microsporum canis, anthropophilic Trichophyton violaceum and Trichophyton tonsurans were the predominant pathogens. The pathogen spectra in different countries changed in different directions. In some countries, the main pathogen shifted to an anthropophilic dermatophyte, such as T. tonsurans, Microsporum audouinii or T. violaceum; in contrast, it shifted to a zoophilic agent, such as M. canis, in some other countries. Dermatologists are advised to continue monitoring the pathogen spectrum and implement preventive measures according to the reported changes.

Puerarin improves busulfan-induced disruption of spermatogenesis by inhibiting MAPK pathways

Male infertility is a global concern, with a noticeable increase in the decline of spermatogenesis and sperm quality. However, there are limited clinically effective treatments available. This study aimed to investigate the potential effectiveness of puerarin in treating male infertility, which leads to gonadal changes. The results obtained from various analyses such as CASA, immunofluorescence, DIFF-Quick, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining demonstrated that puerarin supplementation significantly alleviated the busulfan-induced reduction in spermatogenesis and sperm quality in both young and adult mice. Furthermore, puerarin exhibited a marked improvement in the damage caused by busulfan to the architecture of seminiferous tubules, causal epididymis, blood-testicular barrier (BTB), as well as spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. Similarly, puerarin significantly reduced the levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and caspase-3 in the testes of busulfan-induced mice, as determined by microplate reader analysis. Additionally, RNA-seq data, RT-qPCR, and western blotting revealed that puerarin restored the abnormal gene expressions induced by busulfan to nearly healthy levels. Notably, puerarin significantly reversed the impact of busulfan on the expression of marker genes involved in spermatogenesis and oxidative stress. Moreover, puerarin suppressed the phosphorylation of p38, ERK1/2, and JNK in the testes, as observed through testicular analysis. Consequently, this study concludes that puerarin may serve as a potential alternative for treating busulfan-induced damage to male fertility by inactivating the testicular MAPK pathways. These findings may pave the way for the use of puerarin in addressing chemotherapy- or other factors-induced male infertility in humans.

Berberine-loaded MSC-derived sEVs encapsulated in injectable GelMA hydrogel for spinal cord injury repair

After spinal cord injury (SCI), local inflammatory response and fibrous scar formation severely hinder nerve regeneration. Berberine (Ber) has a powerful regulatory effect on the local microenvironment, but its limited solubility and permeability through the blood-brain barrier severely limit its systemic efficacy. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs)-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are natural nanocarriers with high cargo loading capacity, and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Most importantly, sEVs can improve drug solubility and drug utilization. Therefore, they can overcome many defects of Ber application. This experiment aimed to design a Ber-carrying hUC-MSCs-derived sEVs and GelMA hydrogel. Ber was loaded into sEVs (sEVs-Ber) by ultrasonic co-incubation with a drug loading capacity (LC) of 15.07%. The unhindered release of up to 80% of sEVs-Ber from GelMA hydrogel was accomplished for up to 14 days. And they could be directly absorbed by local cells of injury, allowing for direct local delivery of the drug and enhancing its efficacy. The experimental results confirmed injecting GelMA-sEVs-Ber into spinal cord defects could exert anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the expression of inflammatory factors. It also demonstrated the anti-fibrotic effect of Ber in SCI for the first time. The modulatory effects of sEVs and Ber on the local microenvironment significantly promoted nerve regeneration and recovery of motor function in post-SCI rats. These results demonstrated that the GelMA-sEVs-Ber dual carrier system is a promising therapeutic strategy for SCI repair.

PRM-based quantitative proteomics analysis of altered HSP abundance in villi and decidua of patients with early missed abortion

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to identify differentially expressed heat shock protein (HSP) profiles in the villi and decidua from patients with early missed abortion (EMA).

METHODS

By using high-throughput and high-precision parallel reaction monitoring (PRM)-based targeted proteomics techniques, this study examined the abundance of HSPs in the villi and decidua of 10 patients with EMA and 10 controls. Moreover, the abundance of 3 HSPs in the villi of another 22 patients with EMA and 22 controls was verified with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

There were potential differences in the abundance of 16 HSPs and 42 polypeptides in human villi and decidua compared with those of the control group. Among them, HSP90AB1, HSPD1 and HSPA13 were downregulated in abundance in villi of patients with EMA, with a statistically significant difference, which was consistent with the verification results of Western blots and IHC.

CONCLUSION

Using a PRM-based targeted proteomics technique, this study is the first to screen and quantitatively analyze the expression profile of HSPs in the villi and decidua of patients with EMA. The significant downregulation of HSP90AB1, HSPD1 and HSPA13 was found to have a potentially intimate association with the occurrence of EMA. The findings in our study may provide novel potential research targets related to HSPs for the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of EMA.

MALAT1 binds to miR-188-3p to regulate ALOX5 activity in the lung inflammatory response of neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) causes high morbidity and mortality in infants, but no effective preventive or therapeutic agents have been developed to combat BPD. In this study, we assessed the expression of MALAT1 and ALOX5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from BPD neonates, hyperoxia-induced rat models and lung epithelial cell lines. Interestingly, we found upregulated expression of MALAT1 and ALOX5 in the experimental groups, along with upregulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines. According to bioinformatics prediction, MALAT1 and ALOX5 simultaneously bind to miR-188-3p, which was downregulated in the experimental groups above. Silencing MALAT1 or ALOX5 and overexpressing miR-188-3p inhibited apoptosis and promoted the proliferation of hyperoxia-treated A549 cells. Suppressing MALAT1 or overexpressing miR-188-3p increased the expression levels of miR-188-3p but decreased the expression levels of ALOX5. Moreover, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase assays showed that MALAT1 directly targeted miR-188-3p to regulate ALOX5 expression in BPD neonates. Collectively, our study demonstrates that MALAT1 regulates ALOX5 expression by binding to miR-188-3p, providing novel insights into potential therapeutics for BPD treatment.

Calcium dobesilate prevents PLD-induced hand-foot syndrome by alleviating capillary endothelial tight junction injury via the HA/CD44 pathway

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has excellent therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of cancers, but can cause serious adverse reactions such as hand-foot syndrome (HFS). Our previous research suggests that both PLD-induced HFS may be associated with injury to tight junctions (TJs) in the skin and that calcium dobesilate (CaD) can alleviate HFS. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is not well understood. Here, we created an in vitro PLD-treated model using Human Microvascular Endothelial Cell line-1 (HMEC-1) and an in vivo HFS rat model to investigate the underlying pathways. Treatment with PLD increased the expression of HYAL-1, CD44, and hyaluronic acid (HA) concentration, while reducing ZO-1 and Claudin-5 expression. Moreover, PLD treatment induced the degradation of higher molecular weight HA to its lower molecular weight counterpart, elevating the permeability of both HEMC-1 cell membranes and rat paw skin capillaries. AD-01 (CD44 inhibitor) inhibited the effect of PLD on the expression of ZO-1 and Claudin-5. Furthermore, CaD treatment suppressed the expression of HYAL-1 and CD44, mitigated HA degradation, and enhanced the expression of ZO-1 and Claudin-5. This resulted in decreased permeability in HEMC-1 cells and rat skin capillaries. In summary, our data suggest that PLD may promote the destruction of TJs via the HA/CD44 pathway, thereby leading to HFS through increased skin permeability and exacerbated doxorubicin extravasation. Moreover, CaD can inhibit this pathway, offering a potential therapeutic avenue to alleviate HFS.

[Cardiac amyloidosis: pathological classification and clinical analysis of 48 cases]

Objective: To investigate the histological features and clinical manifestations in different types of cardiac amyloidosis to improve diagnostic accuracy. Methods: The histopathological features and clinical manifestations of 48 patients diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis by Congo red stain and electron microscopy through endomyocardial biopsy were collected in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2018 to December 2021. Immunohistochemical stains for immunoglobulin light chains (κ and λ) and transthyretin protein were carried out, and a review of literature was made. Results: The patients age ranged from 42 to 79 years (mean 56 years) and the male to female ratio was 1.1 to 1.0. The positive rate of endomyocardial biopsy was 97.9% (47/48), which was significantly higher than that of the abdominal wall fat (7/17). Congo red staining and electron microscopy were positive in 97.9% (47/48) and 93.5% (43/46), respectively. Immunohistochemical stains showed 32 cases (68.1%) were light chain type (AL-CA), including 31 cases of AL-λ type and 1 case of AL-κ type; 9 cases (19.1%) were transthyretin protein type (ATTR-CA); and 6 cases (12.8%) were not classified. There was no significant difference in the deposition pattern of amyloid between different types (P>0.05). Clinical data showed that ATTR-CA patients had less involvement of 2 or more organs and lower N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) than the other type patients (P<0.05). The left ventricular stroke volume and right ventricular ejection fraction of ATTR-CA patients were better than the other patients (P<0.05). Follow-up data of 45 patients was obtained, and the overall mean survival time was 15.6±2.0 months. Univariate survival analysis showed that ATTR-CA patients had a better prognosis, while cardiac amyloidosis patients with higher cardiac function grade, NT-proBNP >6 000 ng/L, and troponin T >70 ng/L had a worse prognosis (P<0.05). Multivariate survival analysis showed that NT-proBNP and cardiac function grade were independent prognostic factors for cardiac amyloidosis patients. Conclusions: AL-λ is the most common type of cardiac amyloidosis in this group. Congo red staining combined with electron microscopy can significantly improve the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis. The clinical manifestations and prognosis of each type are different and can be classified based on immunostaining profile. However, there are still a few cases that cannot be typed; hence mass spectrometry is recommended if feasible.

Unravelling Strain-Specific Modifications of Toxoplasma gondii tRNA and sncRNA Using LC-MS/MS

Many RNA modifications have been detected in rRNA, tRNA and small noncoding RNA (sncRNA) as well as in low-abundance RNA species such mRNA. Although RNA modifications play roles in many cellular and biological processes in various domains of life, knowledge about the diversity and role of RNA modifications in Toxoplasma gondii is limited. In this study, RNA modifications in three T. gondii strains (RH type I, PRU type II, and VEG type III) with distinct virulence abilities were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We compared the levels of modifications of four nucleotides in tRNA and sncRNA, characterized RNA modification patterns of different T. gondii strains, and determined the diversity of RNA modifications. We detected and quantified 22 modified nucleosides in both tRNA and sncRNA. Significant differences in the diversity of the modified nucleosides were found between the three T. gondii strains. RNA modifications were correlated with the expression of many T. gondii virulence proteins. Some of the identified modifications (e.g., 2'-O-methylinosine, pseudouridine) play a role in mediating the host-parasite interaction. These results provide novel insight into the global modifications in tRNA and sncRNA, and the diversity of RNA modifications between T. gondii strains with different virulence backgrounds. IMPORTANCE Although RNA modifications play roles in many cellular and developmental processes in various domains of life, knowledge about the patterns and functions of RNA modifications in T. gondii is limited. Here, a quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach was used to study global RNA modifications in T. gondii strains of distinct virulence backgrounds. We quantified 22 modified nucleosides in both tRNA and sncRNA. Significant T. gondii strain-specific differences in RNA modifications were detected. More tRNA modifications correlated with T. gondii virulence proteins than sncRNA modifications. RNA modifications were significantly correlated with virulence proteins. Our data provide the first comprehensive profiling of the modifications tRNA and sncRNA in T. gondii, expanding the diversity of RNA modifications in this parasite and suggesting new regulators for modulating its virulence.

Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused many significant changes to all aspects of day to day life. The disease has spread and reached pandemic proportions. The principle route of transmission is the respiratory route. Infants, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers have all been affected. Many interventions and guidelines from important societies have been instituted in order to curb the transmission of the disease. These have involved both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods. COVID-19 vaccines have also emerged as important methods of primary prevention of the disease. But several questions have been raised concerning the safety and efficacy of their use in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. It has also not been clear if the vaccines are effective in generating a robust immune response in the pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to confer passive immunity to the fetuses and infants, respectively. And they have not been tested in infants. The aspect of infant feeding has equally been affected. Although breast milk has not been known to serve as the vehicle of transmission of the virus, there is still some lack of uniformity of practice regarding breastfeeding when a mother has SARS-CoV-2 infection. This has led to infant feeding being done by the use of commercial formula feeds, pasteurized human donor breast milk, feeding on the mother's own expressed breast milk by a care giver and directly breastfeeding with skin to skin contact. This is despite breast milk being the most physiologically appropriate type of feed for infants. Therefore the pertinent question remains; should breastfeeding continue during the pandemic continue? This review also seeks to analyse the vast amount of scientific information regarding the subject and to synthesize science-based information.

The antioxidant protein glutaredoxin 1 is essential for oxidative stress response and pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii

Glutaredoxins (Grxs) are ubiquitous antioxidant proteins involved in many molecular processes to protect cells against oxidative damage. Here, we study the roles of Grxs in the pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii. We show that Grxs are localized in the mitochondria (Grx1), cytoplasm (Grx2), and apicoplast (Grx3, Grx4), while Grx5 had an undetectable level of expression. We generated Δgrx1-5 mutants of T. gondii type I RH and type II Pru strains using CRISPR-Cas9 system. No significant differences in the infectivity were detected between four Δgrx (grx2-grx5) strains and their respective wild-type (WT) strains in vitro or in vivo. Additionally, no differences were detected in the production of reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase activity, and sensitivity to external oxidative stimuli. Interestingly, RHΔgrx1 or PruΔgrx1 exhibited significant differences in all the investigated aspects compared to the other grx2-grx5 mutant and WT strains. Transcriptome analysis suggests that deletion of grx1 altered the expression of genes involved in transport and metabolic pathways, signal transduction, translation, and obsolete oxidation-reduction process. The data support the conclusion that grx1 supports T. gondii resistance to oxidative killing and is essential for the parasite growth in cultured cells and pathogenicity in mice and that the active site CGFS motif was necessary for Grx1 activity.

[Intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota in early neonates: an analysis based on high-throughput sequencing]

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the distribution characteristics and correlation of intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota in early neonates.

METHODS

Full-term healthy neonates who were born in Shanghai Pudong New Area Maternal and Child Health Hospital from September 2021 to January 2022 and were given mixed feeding were enrolled. The 16S rRNA sequencing technique was used to analyze the stool and pharyngeal swab samples collected on the day of birth and days 5-7 after birth, and the composition and function of intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

The diversity analysis showed that the diversity of pharyngeal microbiota was higher than that of intestinal microbiota in early neonates, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). On the day of birth, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the intestine was significantly higher than that in the pharynx (P<0.05). On days 5-7 after birth, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in the intestine was significantly higher than that in the pharynx (P<0.05), and the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the intestine was significantly lower than that in the pharynx (P<0.05). At the genus level, there was no significant difference in the composition of dominant bacteria between the intestine and the pharynx on the day of birth (P>0.05), while on days 5-7 after birth, there were significant differences in the symbiotic bacteria of Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Rothia, Bifidobacterium, and Escherichia-Shigella between the intestine and the pharynx (P<0.05). The analysis based on the database of Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins showed that pharyngeal microbiota was more concentrated on chromatin structure and dynamics and cytoskeleton, while intestinal microbiota was more abundant in RNA processing and modification, energy production and conversion, amino acid transport and metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, coenzyme transport and metabolism, and others (P<0.05). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that compared with pharyngeal microbiota, intestinal microbiota was more predictive of cell motility, cellular processes and signal transduction, endocrine system, excretory system, immune system, metabolic diseases, nervous system, and transcription parameters (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The composition and diversity of intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota of neonates are not significantly different at birth. The microbiota of these two ecological niches begin to differentiate and gradually exhibit distinct functions over time.

[Read-through circular RNA rt-circ-HS promotes hypoxia inducible factor 1α expression and renal carcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness]

OBJECTIVE

To identify and characterize read-through RNAs and read-through circular RNAs (rt-circ-HS) derived from transcriptional read-through hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) and small nuclear RNA activating complex polypeptide 1 (SNAPC1) the two adjacent genes located on chromosome 14q23, in renal carcinoma cells and renal carcinoma tissues, and to study the effects of rt-circ-HS on biological behavior of renal carcinoma cells and on regulation of HIF1α.

METHODS

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing were used to examine expression of read-through RNAs HIF1α-SNAPC1 and rt-circ-HS in different tumor cells. Tissue microarrays of 437 different types of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were constructed, and chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH) was used to investigate expression of rt-circ-HS in different RCC types. Small interference RNA (siRNA) and artificial overexpression plasmids were designed to examine the effects of rt-circ-HS on 786-O and A498 renal carcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8), EdU incorporation and Transwell cell migration and invasion assays. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to exa-mine expression of HIF1α and SNAPC1 RNA and proteins after interference of rt-circ-HS with siRNA, respectively. The binding of rt-circ-HS with microRNA 539 (miR-539), and miR-539 with HIF1α 3' untranslated region (3' UTR), and the effects of these interactions were investigated by dual luciferase reporter gene assays.

RESULTS

We discovered a novel 1 144 nt rt-circ-HS, which was derived from read-through RNA HIF1α-SNAPC1 and consisted of HIF1α exon 2-6 and SNAPC1 exon 2-4. Expression of rt-circ-HS was significantly upregulated in 786-O renal carcinoma cells. ISH showed that the overall positive expression rate of rt-circ-HS in RCC tissue samples was 67.5% (295/437), and the expression was different in different types of RCCs. Mechanistically, rt-circ-HS promoted renal carcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness by functioning as a competitive endogenous inhibitor of miR-539, which we found to be a potent post-transcriptional suppressor of HIF1α, thus promoting expression of HIF1α.

CONCLUSION

The novel rt-circ-HS is highly expressed in different types of RCCs and acts as a competitive endogenous inhibitor of miR-539 to promote expression of its parental gene HIF1α and thus the proliferation, migration and invasion of renal cancer cells.

Debris flow characteristics of the compound channels with vegetated floodplains

Compound cross-sections with vegetated floodplains are a common type of cross-section in debris-flow gullies. Floodplain vegetation participates in large-scale debris flow events and regulates debris-flow discharge. Extensive research has been conducted on the water flow characteristics of compound rivers. However, few studies have investigated the debris flow characteristics of compound channels in mountainous areas, particularly those of debris flow and flash flood inundation areas with vegetation. This study discusses the section characteristics of debris flow gullies with vegetated floodplains, gully evolution processes, and their influence on debris flow. The results show that the compound debris flow gully with a vegetated floodplain is formed in the gully from the mature stage to the old-mature stage. The compound sections are developed in flow areas with a gentle slope, which can be bilateral floodplain, unilateral floodplain, and multi-main gully floodplain types. Owing to the vegetation of the floodplain, the roughness of the channel increases, which makes the beach roughness coefficient much larger than that for the main channel. In the integrated Manning coefficient method, the error in resolving the flow velocity and discharge is large and cannot reflect the difference in velocities of the floodplain and main channel, therefore the sectional splitting method is most applicable. Influencing debris flow movement, limiting channel migration, and retaining debris flow to the main channel were the main contributions of the riparian forest zone.

Association between treatment failure in patients with early syphilis and penicillin resistance-related gene mutations of Treponema pallidum: Protocol for a multicentre nested case–control study

Background

The widespread occurrence of syphilis remains a global public health problem. Although penicillin has been recommended as the first-line therapy for syphilis for more than 70 years, treatment failure occurs in 10–20% of patients with early syphilis. Recent studies have reported varied single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Treponema pallidum related to penicillin resistance. The clinical relevance of these SNPs to treatment failure in patients with early syphilis is unresolved. In this work, a protocol is developed to evaluate the association between treatment failure in patients with early syphilis and penicillin resistance-related gene mutations of T. pallidum.

Methods

A multicentre nested case–control study is designed, and patients who are diagnosed with early syphilis and treated with penicillin will be recruited for the study cohort. Before the first treatment, baseline information and biological specimens will be collected from the subjects, and serological tests for syphilis will be performed. Each participant will be followed up at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the first treatment, and the clinical manifestations and serum non-treponemal test titres will be evaluated at each follow-up. Patients who will fail treatment are defined as cases, and those who will respond to treatment are defined as controls. Tests for SNPs related to penicillin-binding proteins and Tp47 will be performed in these cases and controls. Survival analysis is used performed to identify gene mutations of T. pallidum related to penicillin resistance and their combinations associated with treatment failure.

Discussion

This protocol provides a practical clinical study design that illustrates the role of gene mutations of T. pallidum related to penicillin resistance in the treatment outcome of patients with early syphilis.

[Clinical and genetic characteristics of young patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms]

Objectives: To investigate the clinical and genetic features of young Chinese patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, anonymous questionnaires were distributed to patients with MPN patients nationwide. The respondents were divided into 3 groups based on their age at diagnosis: young (≤40 years) , middle-aged (41-60 years) , and elderly (>60 years) . We compared the clinical and genetic characteristics of three groups of MPN patients. Results: 1727 assessable questionnaires were collected. There were 453 (26.2%) young respondents with MPNs, including 274 with essential thrombocythemia (ET) , 80 with polycythemia vera (PV) , and 99 with myelofibrosis. Among the young group, 178 (39.3%) were male, and the median age was 31 (18-40) years. In comparison to middle-aged and elderly respondents, young respondents with MPN were more likely to present with a higher proportion of unmarried status (all P<0.001) , a higher education level (all P<0.001) , less comorbidity (ies) , fewer medications (all P<0.001) , and low-risk stratification (all P<0.001) . Younger respondents experienced headache (ET, P<0.001; PV, P=0.007; MF, P=0.001) at diagnosis, had splenomegaly at diagnosis (PV, P<0.001) , and survey (ET, P=0.052; PV, P=0.063) . Younger respondents had fewer thrombotic events at diagnosis (ET, P<0.001; PV, P=0.011) and during the survey (ET, P<0.001; PV, P=0.003) . JAK2 mutations were found in fewer young people (ET, P<0.001; PV, P<0.001; MF, P=0.013) ; however, CALR mutations were found in more young people (ET, P<0.001; MF, P=0.015) . Furthermore, mutations in non-driver genes (ET, P=0.042; PV, P=0.043; MF, P=0.004) and high-molecular risk mutations (ET, P=0.024; PV, P=0.023; MF, P=0.001) were found in fewer young respondents. Conclusion: Compared with middle-aged and elderly patients, young patients with MPN had unique clinical and genetic characteristics.

RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of circular RNAs in asphyxial newborns with acute kidney injury

As one kind of novel noncoding RNA, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in different biological processes. Although growing evidences have supported the important role of circRNAs in renal diseases, the mechanism remains unclear in neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI). High-throughput sequencing analysis was used to investigate the expression of circRNAs between hypoxia-induced AKI neonates and controls. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to predict the function of differentially expressed circRNAs. Finally, the differentially expressed circRNAs were screened and determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). (1) A total of 296 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified (Fold change >2 and p < 0.05). Of them, 184 circRNAs were markedly upregulated, and 112 were significantly downregulated in the AKI group. (2) The pathway analysis showed that ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, renal cell carcinoma, Jak-STAT, and HIF-1 signaling pathways participated in AKI. (3) Top five upregulated and five downregulated circRNAs with higher fold changes were selected for qPCR validation. Hsa_circ_0008898 (Fold Change = 5.48, p = 0.0376) and hsa_circ_0005519 (Fold Change = 4.65, p = 0.0071) were significantly upregulated, while hsa_circ_0132279 (Fold Change = -4.47, p = 0.0008), hsa_circ_0112327 (Fold Change = -4.26, p = 0.0048), and hsa_circ_0017647 (Fold Change = -4.15, p = 0.0313) were significantly downregulated in asphyxia-induced AKI group compared with the control group. This study could contribute to future research on neonatal AKI and facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets.

[Cognition and reflection on the "lateral ligament of rectum"]

As total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer is widely carried out in China, lateral ligament of rectum, as an important anatomical structure of the lateral rectum with certain anatomical value and clinical significance, has been the focus of attention. In this paper, by comparing and analyzing the characteristics about ligaments of the abdomen and pelvis, reviewing the membrane anatomy and the theory of primitive gut rotation, and combining clinical observations and histological studies, the author came to a conclusion that lateral ligament of rectum does not exist, but is only a relatively dense space on the rectal side accompanied by numerous tiny nerve plexuses and small blood vessels penetrating through it.

A high genetic diversity of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in diarrheic pigs in southern China

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an important pathogen that is responsible for over 90% of documented cases of human microsporidiosis worldwide, causing a threat to public health and husbandry development. In immunocompromised patients, it can cause persistent diarrhoea, wasting diathesis and malabsorption and developing life-threatening chronic diarrhoea. However, there was little information on the prevalence and multilocus genotypes of E. bieneusi in diarrheic pigs in three provinces of southern China. In this study, 1254 faecal samples of diarrheic pigs were collected from 37 pig farms in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian provinces in southern China, and were investigated the prevalence and genotypes of E. bieneusi by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA gene. The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi was 5.7% (72/1254) in three provinces. Furthermore, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001) in the prevalence of E. bieneusi in age groups. ITS sequence analysis revealed that 13 E. bieneusi genotypes were identified, including 8 known genotypes (EbpC, n = 30; Henan-IV, n = 21; CH5, n = 6; EbpA, n = 3; KIN-1, n = 2; O, n = 1; GX3, n = 1; CHS5, n = 1) and 5 novel genotypes (JX1, n = 2; JX2, n = 1; JX3, n = 2; FJ1, n = 1; FJ2, n = 1), and the genotype EbpC was the preponderant genotype. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all genotypes of E. bieneusi were clustered as the zoonotic group 1. Moreover, a high genetic diversity of E. bieneusi were identified in this study, which the 64, 57, 52 and 64 samples were identified by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) at MS1, MS3, MS4 and MS7 loci, respectively. Then, 45 samples were successfully amplified and sequenced at four loci, forming 41 distinct multilocus genotypes (MLGs). These findings suggest that diarrheic pigs may potentially threaten to transmit E. bieneusi to humans, revealing E. bieneusi genetic variability in diarrheic pigs in three provinces of southern China.

Visible near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and supervised classification for the detection of small intestinal necrosis tissue in vivo

Complete recognition of necrotic areas during small bowel tissue resection remains challenging due to the lack of optimal intraoperative aid identification techniques. This research utilizes hyperspectral imaging techniques to automatically distinguish normal and necrotic areas of small intestinal tissue. Sample data were obtained from the animal model of small intestinal tissue of eight Japanese large-eared white rabbits developed by experienced physicians. A spectral library of normal and necrotic regions of small intestinal tissue was created and processed using six different supervised classification algorithms. The results show that hyperspectral imaging combined with supervised classification algorithms can be a suitable technique to automatically distinguish between normal and necrotic areas of small intestinal tissue. This new technique could aid physicians in objectively identify normal and necrotic areas of small intestinal tissue.

[Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with refractory allergic asthma: a meta-analysis]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with refractory allergic asthma using meta-analysis. Methods: We searched databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and the website of ClinicalTrials. gov registry for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), using the search terms: ("anti-IgE" OR "anti-immunoglobulin E" OR "anti-IgE antibody" OR "omalizumab" OR "rhuMAb-E25" OR "Xolair") AND ("allergic asthma"). The time was up to September 19th 2020. Review Manager 5.4 software and Stata16 software were used to calculate pooled RR or WMD, perform heterogeneity test, and assess publication bias. Results: Fifteen RCTs with 6 316 patients in total (omalizumab, n=3 469; placebo, n=2 847) met our selection criteria. Comparing with placebo, omalizumab reduced the risk of asthma exacerbations during both stable-inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) phase (RR=0.69, 95%CI: 0.63-0.75, P<0.001; I²=39.0%, P=0.090) and ICS-reduction phase (RR=0.55, 95%CI: 0.46-0.66, P<0.001; I²=41.0%, P=0.180), reduced emergency visits (RR=0.53, 95%CI: 0.38-0.73, P<0.001; I²=0, P=0.420), made a significant reduction in dosage of ICS (RR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.25-1.45, P<0.001; I²=22.0%, P=0.280) and even withdrew from ICS completely (RR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.41-2.31, P<0.001; I²=57.0%, P=0.070). Omalizumab significantly improved asthma-related quality of life (RR=1.81, 95%CI: 1.51-2.17). The use of rescue bronchodilators was significantly reduced in the omalizumab group (RR=0.78, 95%CI: 0.67-0.92) but there was no significant difference in the dosage of rescue bronchodilators (puff per day) (WMD=-0.32, 95%CI: -0.77-0.13). Patients taking omalizumab did not increase the frequency of any adverse events (RR=1.01, 95%CI: 0.98-1.03) and serious adverse events (RR=0.89, 95%CI: 0.74-1.06). Conclusions: Omalizumab is an ideal adjunctive treatment for refractory allergic asthma with good efficacy and safety. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the appropriate duration of treatment.

Molecular Characterization of Entamoeba spp. in Pigs with Diarrhea in Southern China

Entamoeba spp. is a common zoonotic intestinal protozoan that can parasitize most vertebrates, including humans and pigs, causing severe intestinal diseases and posing a serious threat to public health. However, the available data on Entamoeba spp. infection in pigs are relatively limited in China. To characterize the infection of Entamoeba spp. within pigs in southern China, 1254 fecal samples of diarrheic pigs were collected from 37 intensive pig farms in Hunan, Jiangxi and Fujian provinces and the infection of Entamoeba spp. was investigated based on the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The overall infection rate of Entamoeba spp. was 58.4% (732/1254), including 38.4% (118/307) in suckling piglets, 51.2% (153/299) in weaned piglets, 57.9% (55/95) in fattening pigs and 73.4% (406/553) in sows, respectively. Moreover, age and the sampling cities in Jiangxi and Fujian provinces were found to be the key factors influencing the infection of Entamoeba spp. (p < 0.05). Two subtypes (ST1 and ST3) with a zoonotic potential of Entamoeba polecki and Entamoeba suis were detected in all age groups of pigs and all sampling areas, with the predominant species and predominant subtype being E. polecki (91.3%, 668/732) and E. polecki ST1 (573/668), respectively, and E. polecki ST1 + E. polecki ST3 (78.6%, 239/304) being the most frequently detected form of mixed infection. Severe Entamoeba spp. infection and zoonotic subtypes were found in this study, exposing a large public health problem in the study area, and strategies need to be implemented to eliminate the risk in the future.

[Microfocal prostate cancer: a clinicopathological analysis of 206 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological features and prognosis of patients with microfocal prostate adenocarcinoma. Methods: Clinical and pathological data of the patients diagnosed with microfocal adenocarcinoma on prostate biopsy at the West China Hospital from 2013 to 2019 were collected. Microfocal adenocarcinoma was defined as follows: Gleason score of 3+3=6, total number of the cores ≥10, number of the positive cores ≤2, and proportion of the tumor in each positive core<50%. Clinicopathological parameters, treatment plans and follow-up data were collected. Pathological information of the biopsy and radical resection specimens was used to analyze the correlation between pathological parameters in the biopsy report and adverse pathological features of radical resection specimens, including increased Gleason score, capsule invasion, positive surgical margin and perineural invasion. Results: A total of 206 cases of microfocal adenocarcinoma were diagnosed on prostate biopsies from 2013 to 2019, accounting for 6.7% of all adenocarcinoma cases. There were 139 cases of 1 positive core and 67 cases of 2 positive cores. Patients with microfocal adenocarcinoma were younger than those with non-microfocal adenocarcinoma (69 years versus 71 years, P<0.001). Compared with patients with non-microfocal adenocarcinoma, the pre-biopsy total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) and free prostate specific antigen (fPSA) levels in patients with microfocal adenocarcinoma were both lower (11.2 μg/L² versus 23.7 μg/L²; 1.4 μg/L² versus 3.0 μg/L², P<0.001), the fPSA/tPSA level was higher (12.9% versus 10.7%, P<0.05), the prostate volume was larger (38.9 mL versus 34.3 mL, P<0.05), and the PSA density was lower (0.3 μg/L² versus 0.8 μg/L², P<0.001). 130 patients underwent radical prostatectomy, 30 patients chose active monitoring, 31 patients chose endocrine or radiation therapy, and 15 patients were lost to follow-up. Three patients in the active surveillance group underwent radical prostatectomy for disease progression after 21-39 months observation. Biochemical relapses occurred in two patients in the radical prostatectomy group. The remaining patients have no disease progression or recurrence at present. Compared with radical prostatectomy specimens, Gleason score in the biopsy material was increased in 64/115 patients (55.7%). Among resection excision specimens, 14 cases (12.2%) had extraprostatic extension (EPE), 35 cases (30.4%) had perineural invasion, and 16 cases (13.9%) had a positive margin. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that low fPSA/tPSA ratio and 2 positive cores were independent risk factors for Gleason score increase in the radical prostatectomy specimens. A low fPSA/tPSA ratio was an independent risk factor for perineural invasion. Low fPSA/tPSA ratio and low prostate volume were associated with a positive margin in radical prostatectomy specimens. Conclusions: In this study, patients diagnosed with microfocal adenocarcinoma on prostate biopsy account for a high proportion of the patients with increased Gleason score in the radical prostatectomy specimens, and there is a certain proportion of adverse pathological features in the radical specimens. Therefore, for the patients with only a small amount of low-grade adenocarcinoma found in biopsy, PSA levels and PSA density should be taken into consideration in treatment selection.

Overexpression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A promotes mitochondrial fusion and differentiation of glioblastoma stem cells

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are self-renewing tumor cells with multi-lineage differentiation potential and the capacity of construct glioblastoma (GBM) heterogenicity. Mitochondrial morphology is associated with the metabolic plasticity of GBM cells. Previous studies have revealed distinct mitochondrial morphologies and metabolic phenotypes between GSCs and non-stem tumor cells (NSTCs), whereas the molecules regulating mitochondrial dynamics in GBM cells are largely unknown. Herein, we report that carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) is preferentially expressed in NSTCs, and governs mitochondrial dynamics and GSC differentiation. Expressions of CPT1A and GSC marker CD133 were mutually exclusive in human GBMs. Overexpression of CPT1A inhibited GSC self-renewal but promoted mitochondrial fusion. In contrast, disruption of CPT1A in NSTCs promoted mitochondrial fission and reprogrammed NSTCs toward GSC feature. Mechanistically, CPT1A overexpression increased the phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein 1 at Ser-637 to promote mitochondrial fusion. In vivo, CPT1A overexpression decreased the percentage of GSCs, impaired GSC-derived xenograft growth and prolonged tumor-bearing mice survival. Our work identified CPT1A as a critical regulator of mitochondrial dynamics and GSC differentiation, indicating that CPT1A could be developed as a molecular target for GBM cell-differentiation strategy.

Visible-Light-Promoted Cross-Coupling of O-Aryl Oximes and Nitrostyrenes to Access Cyanoalkylated Alkenes

A photoinduced, photocatalyst-free cyanoalkylation of nitrostyenes was explored, affording a series of cyanoalkylated alkenes in moderate to good yields. Mechanistic studies reveal that an electron donor-acceptor complex formed between O-aryl oximes and DIPEA is presumably involved in this process. The excellent functional group compatibility of this newly designed synthetic protocol allows for cyanoalkylation of structurally varied substrates, which offers an eco-friendly pathway for the assembly of cyanoalkylated alkenes.

Neuroprotective Alkamides from the Aerial Parts of Achillea alpina L

Three new alkamides, achilleamide B-D (1-3) along with five known alkamides (4-8) were isolated from the aerial parts of Achillea alpina L. Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Modified Mosher's method and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations were introduced for the absolute configuration of 3. The neuroprotective effects of all the compounds were evaluated by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, with concentration for 50 % of maximal effect (EC₅₀ ) values of 3.16-24.75 μM, and the structure-activity relationship was conducted.

Photochemical Organocatalytic Aerobic Cleavage of C═C Bonds Enabled by Charge-Transfer Complex Formation

A novel visible-light-driven organocatalytic protocol to access aerobic oxidative cleavage of olefins, promoted by sodium benzene sulfinate, is described herein. An array of alkenes smoothly delivered the corresponding aldehydes and ketones under transition-metal-free conditions. Notably, α-halo-substituted styrenes proceeded with photoinduced oxidation to finally afford α-halo-acetophenones with halogen migration. Crucial to this oxidation was the formation of charge-transfer complexes between sodium benzene sulfinate with molecular O₂ to ultimately deliver the carbonyl products.

Programmable iodization/deuterolysis sequences of phosphonium ylides to access deuterated benzyl iodides and aromatic aldehydes

Herein, a tunable iodization/deuterolysis protocol for phosphonium ylides by employing D₂O as the deuterium source was designed. Notably, this process could be manipulated by tuning the base, thus leading to two valuable deuterated building blocks - benzyl iodides and aromatic aldehydes with broad substrate scope, good functional group compatibility and excellent deuteration degree. Concise syntheses of a series of deuterated drug analogues have been achieved based on the developed deuteration reaction platform.

Prevalence and genotypes/subtypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. in different breeds of cattle in Jiangxi Province, southeastern China

Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. are common zoonotic pathogens that parasitize in the small intestine of humans and animals, posing a threat to public health. However, little information is available on the prevalence and genotypes/subtypes of E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. in cattle in Jiangxi Province, southeastern China. In the present study, 556 fecal samples of cattle were collected from Nanchang city, Gao'an city, Xinyu city, and Ji'an city in Jiangxi Province. All samples were examined for the presence of E. bieneusi by nested PCR analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and Blastocystis sp. using PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene. The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. was 5.4% (30/556) and 54.9% (305/556), respectively. The prevalence of E. bieneusi in dairy cattle, beef cattle, and buffaloes was 7.9% (13/165), 3.9% (11/283), and 5.6% (6/108), respectively. Eleven E. bieneusi genotypes were identified in this study, including six known genotypes, D (n = 10), I (n = 5), J (n = 4), IV (n = 4), N (n = 1), and BEB4 (n = 1), and five novel genotypes, JX-I to JX-V (n = 1), with genotype D as the predominant genotype in cattle. Phylogenetic analysis showed that six genotypes of E. bieneusi, D, IV, and JX-II to JX-V, were clustered into zoonotic group 1, whereas the remaining five genotypes belonged to group 2. Moreover, seven, seven, four, and five types were identified by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) at the MS1, MS3, MS4, and MS7 loci, respectively, forming three distinct multilocus genotypes (MLGs). In addition, the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was 42.4% (70/165), 59.4% (168/283), and 62.0% (67/108) in dairy cattle, beef cattle, and buffaloes, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that ST1, ST5, ST10, and ST14 of Blastocystis sp. were identified in these cattle, with ST10 being the major subtype. ST1 and ST5 are potential zoonotic subtypes. These findings have important implications for the control of E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. in cattle in Jiangxi Province.

Autophagy-based unconventional secretion of HMGB1 in glioblastoma promotes chemosensitivity to temozolomide through macrophage M1-like polarization

Background

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and highly malignant brain tumor characterized by aggressive growth and resistance to alkylating chemotherapy. Autophagy induction is one of the hallmark effects of anti-GB therapies with temozolomide (TMZ). However, the non-classical form of autophagy, autophagy-based unconventional secretion, also called secretory autophagy and its role in regulating the sensitivity of GB to TMZ remains unclear. There is an urgent need to illuminate the mechanism and to develop novel therapeutic targets for GB.

Methods

Cancer genome databases and paired-GB patient samples with or without TMZ treatment were used to assess the relationship between HMGB1 mRNA levels and overall patient survival. The relationship between HMGB1 protein level and TMZ sensitivity was measured by immunohistochemistry, ELISA, Western blot and qRT-PCR. GB cells were engineered to express a chimeric autophagic flux reporter protein consisting of mCherry, GFP and LC3B. The role of secretory autophagy in tumor microenvironment (TME) was analyzed by intracranial implantation of GL261 cells. Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and Western blotting were performed to test the RAGE-NFκB-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

Results

The exocytosis of HMGB1 induced by TMZ in GB is dependent on the secretory autophagy. HMGB1 contributed to M1-like polarization of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and enhanced the sensitivity of GB cells to TMZ. Mechanistically, RAGE acted as a receptor for HMGB1 in TAMs and through RAGE-NFκB-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, HMGB1 enhanced M1-like polarization of TAMs. Clinically, the elevated level of HMGB1 in sera may serve as a beneficial therapeutic-predictor for GB patients under TMZ treatment.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that enhanced secretory autophagy in GB facilitates M1-like polarization of TAMs to enhance TMZ sensitivity of GB cells. HMGB1 acts as a key regulator in the crosstalk between GB cells and tumor-suppressive M1-like TAMs in GB microenvironment and may be considered as an adjuvant for the chemotherapeutic agent TMZ.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-022-02291-8.

[Morphological and molecular identification of trematode isloates from laying ducks in Nanchang City]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the species of trematodes isolated from laying ducks in Nanchang City using morphological and molecular approaches.

METHODS

Trematodes were isolated from the hepatobiliary duct, gallbladder and large intestine of market-sold laying ducks in Nanchang City. Following morphological characterization, total DNA was extracted from all trematode specimens, and internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) genes were amplified using PCR assay and sequenced. Sequence alignment was performed using the Blast software, and homology and phylogenetic analyses were done in the trematode isolates based on ITS and Cox1 gene sequences.

RESULTS

The morphological characteristics of two trematode isolates from the large intestine of laying ducks were similar to those of Echinostoma revolutum and E. miyagawai, and the morphological characteristics of eight trematode samples isolated from the hepatobiliary duct and gallbladder of laying ducks were similar to those of Amphimerus anatis. The ITS and Cox1 gene sequences of the two trematode isolates from the large intestine of laying ducks had 99.3% and 98.9%-99.4% homology with E. miyagawai, and the phylogenetic analysis showed that two trematode isolates had the closest genetic relationship with E. miyagawai based on ITS and Cox1 gene sequences. The ITS gene sequences of eight trematode isolates from the hepatobiliary duct and gallbladder of laying ducks shared 95.1%-95.5% with Opisthorchis sudarikovi and Clonorchis sinensis, while the Cox1 gene sequences of eight trematode isolates from the hepatobiliary duct and gallbladder of laying ducks shared 86.3%-86.4% and 85.5%-85.7% with O. viverrini and O. sudarikovi. ITS gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis showed that the duck-derived trematode isolates had the closest genetic relationship with C. sinensis, and Cox1 gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis showed that the duck-derived trematode isolates had the closest genetic relationship with Metorchis orientalis and O. viverrini.

CONCLUSIONS

The trematode isolates from the large intestine of laying ducts in Nanchang City may be E. miyagawai, and the trematode isolates from the hepatobiliary duct and gallbladder may be an unidentified trematode species of the family Opisthorchiidae.

Effect of salvianolic acid B on NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyrolysis pathway in NASH cells

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have proved that salvianolic acid B (Sal B) has a therapeutic effect on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Cell pyrolysis plays an important role in the onset of NAFLD and its progression to NASH. By studying the regulatory effect of Sal B on the main proteins related to cell pyrolysis in NASH, it was found that Sal B has the advantages of multiple approaches and multiple targets in the treatment of NAFLD.

AIM

To establish a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cell model by treating HepG2 cells with palmitic acid (PA), and explore the effect of Sal B on cell pyrolysis and the pyrolysis-related GSDMD/NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway.

METHODS

HepG2 cells in logarithmic growth phase were collected, and the optimal drug intervention concentration and intervention time for PA were assessed by MTT assay. The cells were randomly divided into a control group, a model group (PA), a treatment group (Sal B + PA), and a pyrolysis inhibitor group (VX-765 + PA). The cells of each group were stained with oil red O to observe the lipid accumulation in the cells under an inverted phase-contrast microscope. The cell supernatant was collected to measure the OD value with a microplate reader. The immunofluorescence probe DCFH-DA was used to determine the intracellular ROS content. The expression of interleukin 18 (IL-18) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in cell supernatant was determined by ELISA. The expression of NLRP3 and pyrolysis-related proteins caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDMD-N was detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the model group had obvious accumulation of lipids and ROS, increased secretion of inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18 (P < 0.05), and increased protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDMD-N (P < 0.05). Sal B or VX-765 inhibitor treatment can reverse the accumulation of lipids and ROS caused by PA, decreased the secretion of IL-1β and IL-18, and down-regulated the protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDMD-N (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PA can induce pyrolysis of liver cells. Sal B can reduce inflammation and alleviate the progression of NASH by inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

Phosphine-Mediated Morita-Baylis-Hillman-Type/Wittig Cascade: Access to E-Configured 3-Styryl- and 3-(Benzopyrrole/furan-2-yl) Quinolinones

A phosphine-mediated, well-designed Morita-Baylis-Hillman-type/Wittig cascade for the rapid assembly of a quinolinone framework from benzaldehyde derivatives is developed for the first time. By rationally combining I₂/NIS-mediated cyclization, biologically relevant 3-(benzopyrrole/furan-2-yl) quinolinones were facilely synthesized in a one-pot process by starting from 3-styryl-quinolinones bearing an o-hydroxy/amino group, significantly expanding the chemical space of this privileged skeleton. Further utility of this protocol is illustrated by successfully performing this transformation in a catalytic manner through in situ reduction of phosphine oxide by phenylsilane.

The effect of erythropoietin on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: An updated meta-analysis of randomized control trials

OBJECTIVE

Erythropoietin (EPO) seems to have a good application prospect both in experimental models and patients with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). Data regarding the effect of EPO on death or neurodevelopmental impairment are conflicting.

METHODS

A search was conducted by two investigators involved in this research in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies in English, in Wanfang, VIP, and Cnki databases for Chinese studies (all last launched on 2022/08/31). Ultimately, we identified 11 original studies, including the EPO group (n = 636) and the control group (n = 626). Odds ratio (OR) and weighted mean difference were calculated using a random effects or fixed effects model, depending on the data type and heterogeneity of the included studies.

RESULTS

1. The comparison of effectiveness of EPO treatment on HIE: (1) With respect to death, data showed no significant difference between EPO and control groups (OR = 0.97, 95% CI, 0.66-1.43; P = 0.88); Considering the additional effect of mild hypothermia treatment (MHT), no significant difference was found between EPO + MHT/control + MHT groups either (OR = 1.09, 95% CI, 0.69-1.73; P = 0.72); With respect to the interference of different routes of medication administration, Meta-analysis further showed no difference between intravenous EPO/control groups (OR = 1.13, 95% CI, 0.70-1.82; P = 0.62). (2) With respect to cerebral palsy, the analysis showed no significant difference (OR = 0.76, 95% CI, 0.50-1.15; P = 0.20); Considering the effect of MHT and routes of medication administration, data further showed no difference between EPO group and control group (OR = 1.26, 95% CI, 0.73-2.19; P = 0.41). (3) Regarding epilepsy, no significant difference was found (OR = 0.49, 95% CI, 0.20-1.19; P = 0.12). MR abnormality was less common in EPO group (OR = 0.39, 95% CI, 0.19-0.79; P = 0.008). 2. The comparison of possible adverse events of EPO: EPO treatment would not increase the risk of thrombocytopenia, hypotension, and hepatic and kidney injury.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis showed that EPO treatment is not beneficial for reducing death and improving neurological impairment, though it would not increase the risk of adverse events.

Microstructural changes of white matter assessed with diffusional kurtosis imaging in extremely preterm infants with severe intraventricular hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a serious neurological complication in premature infants. This study aimed to investigate the white matter impairments and neurodevelopmental outcomes of severe IVH in extremely preterm infants with gestation age less than 28 weeks.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the extremely preterm infants between 2017 and 2020. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III at 2 years of corrected age. Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) was employed to evaluate the microstructural changes in white matter tracts. Mean kurtosis (MK) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values of DKI were measured in the brain regions including posterior limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC) and the corpus callosum at term equivalent age.

RESULTS

Of 32 extremely preterm infants with severe IVH during the follow-up period, 18 cases were identified as neurodevelopmental impairments. The delay rates of motor and language were 58.4% and 52.7%. The cases with neurodevelopmental impairments had lower MK and FA values in both bilateral PLIC and the corpus callosum. The analysis of multivariable regression models predicting motor and language outcomes at 2 years of corrected age, showed that the decreases of MK values in both PLIC and the corpus callosum at the term equivalent age contributed to a significantly increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments (all p < 0.05). During follow-up period, obvious loss of nerve fiber bundles was observed with DKI tractography.

CONCLUSION

Motor and language abilities at age 2 years were associated with MK values of DKI at the term equivalent age in both PLIC and the corpus callosum of extremely preterm infants with severe IVH. The evaluation of white matter microstructural changes with MK values might provide feasible indicators of neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely preterm infants with severe intraventricular hemorrhage.

Ilexsaponin A1 Ameliorates Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Regulating Bile Acid Metabolism in Mice

Bile acid (BA) metabolism is an attractive therapeutic target in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to investigate the effect of ilexsaponin A₁ (IsA), a major bioactive ingredient of Ilex, on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD in mice with a focus on BA homeostasis. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed an HFD to induce NAFLD and were treated with IsA (120 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. The results showed that administration of IsA significantly decreased serum total cholesterol (TC), attenuated liver steatosis, and decreased total hepatic BA levels in HFD-induced NAFLD mice. IsA-treated mice showed increased BA synthesis in the alternative pathway by upregulating the gene expression levels of sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) and cholesterol 7b-hydroxylase (CYP7B1). IsA treatment accelerated efflux and decreased uptake of BA in liver by increasing hepatic farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and bile salt export pump (BSEP) expression, and reducing Na⁺-taurocholic acid cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) expression. Alterations in the gut microbiota and increased bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity might be related to enhanced fecal BA excretion in IsA-treated mice. This study demonstrates that consumption of IsA may prevent HFD-induced NAFLD and exert cholesterol-lowering effects, possibly by regulating the gut microbiota and BA metabolism.

Risk Factors for Short Stature in Children Born Small for Gestational Age at Full-Term

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify the risk factors associated with short stature in children born small for gestational age (SGA) at full-term.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study. The subjects were full-term SGA infants who were followed up until the age of 2 years. The risk factors for short stature were identified with univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Of 456 full-term SGA children enrolled in this study, 28 cases had short stature at 2 years of age. A significant decrease in placental perfusion was found in the short children group with intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) technology, which was an advanced bi-exponential diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) model of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (p = 0.012). Compared to non-short children born SGA at full-term, the short children group underwent an incomplete catch-up growth. Mothers who suffered from systemic lupus erythematosus were more likely to have a short child born SGA (p = 0.023). The morbidity of giant placental chorioangioma was higher in the short children group. The pulsatility index (PI), resistivity index (RI), and systolic-diastolic (S/D) ratio of umbilical artery were higher in the short children group than in the non-short control group (p = 0.042, 0.041, and 0.043). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that decrease of perfusion fraction (f _p) in IVIM of placental MRI, chromosomal abnormalities, short parental height, and absence of catch-up growth were associated with a higher risk of short stature in children born SGA at full-term.

CONCLUSION

Risk factors for short stature in full-term SGA children at 2 years of age included a decrease of perfusion fraction f _p in IVIM of placental MRI, chromosomal abnormalities, and short parental height.

Visible-Light-Promoted Hydroxydifluoroalkylation of Alkenes Enabled by Electron Donor-Acceptor Complex

A catalyst-free strategy for regioselective hydroxydifluoroalkylation of alkenes with alkyl bromides was developed, affording a series of difluoroalkylated tertiary alcohols in moderate to good yields. This photocatalyst-free protocol shows broad substrate scope under mild conditions. Moreover, mechanistic studies revealed that a newly identified electron donor-acceptor complex is crucial to this transformation.

[Content determination of eight phenols in Ilex hainanensis harvested at different time by HPLC-DAD]

This study intends to develop a high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection(HPLC-DAD) method for simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid, 2-hydroxymethyl-3-hydroxyl-1-butene-4-O-β-D-(6″-O-caffeoyl)-glucopyranoside, pubescenoside B, huazhongilexone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, rutin, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C in Ilex hainanensis. The HPLC conditions are as follows: Waters XBridge C_(18 )column(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm), mobile phase of 0.5% formic acid in water(A)-acetonitrile(B), gradient elution(0-8 min, 5%-12% B; 8-18 min, 12%-18% B; 18-30 min, 18%-25% B; 30-40 min, 25%-30% B; 40-42 min, 30%-80% B; 42-45 min, 80% B) at the flow rate of 0.8 mL·min~(-1), detection wavelengths of 282, 324, and 360 nm, column temperature of 25 ℃, and injection volume of 5 μL. The content of the 8 phenols in 8 samples was 0.30-6.29, 0.29-3.27, 0.15-10.4, 0.51-5.85, 0.49-9.02, 0.51-4.68, 1.93-13.4, and 0.87-5.95 mg·g~(-1), respectively. Moreover, the content of phenols in the samples collected in October was higher than that of samples harvested in other months. The established method is accurate and sensitive for the determination of phenols in I. hainanensis, which is useful for the quality improvement of this herbal medicine.

Taurine Reduces Liver Damage in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Model in Rats by Down-Regulating IL-9 and Tumor Growth Factor TGF-β

The study employed a rat model to examine the effects of taurine (Tau) on prevention and therapy of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In model rats maintained on a high-fat diet (HFD), the serum levels of ALT, AST, triglycerides, cholesterol, and LDL were higher than the corresponding levels in normal control and NP groups (p<0.05). In Tau-prevention and Tau-treatment groups, the serum levels of AST and triglycerides were lower than in HFD rats (p<0.05). In HFD rats, diffuse fatty degeneration and infiltration with inflammatory cells was observed in the liver; in the ileal mucosa, the villi were fractured or absent, the epithelium was exfoliated and infiltrated with inflammatory cells. The levels of TGF-β, IL-9, and their mRNA in the liver and ileal mucosa of HFD rats were significantly higher than in normal control and NP groups (p<0.05). In Tau-prevention and Tau-treatment groups, these levels were significantly lower than in HFD rats (p<0.05). Thus, TGF-β and IL-9 can be implicated in NAFLD genesis, while Tau can preventively or therapeutically diminish the damage to the liver and ileal mucosa in rats with this disease by down-regulating the expression of TGF-β and IL-9.

Rational assembly of GO-based heterocyclic sulfur- and nitrogen-containing aerogels and their adsorption properties toward rare earth elementals

An aromatic heterocyclic compound, 2-aminobenzothiazole (ABT), was used to decorate graphene oxide (GO) by a facile hydrothermal self-assembly procedure. The developed three-dimensional (3D) GO-ABT composite aerogels could be utilized as high-powered and sustainable adsorbents for the enrichment and recovery of low concentration rare earth elements (REEs) from aqueous solutions. The composition and microstructure of GO-ABT composites were explored various characterization methods. The enrichment properties of GO-ABT composites for REEs were investigated in detail, revealing the existence of S-, N- and -NH₂ in ABT, as well as the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups of GO which might act as the major REE binding sites. The adsorption of GO-ABT composites for low concentration REEs could reach equilibrium in 30 min. Our investigations confirmed that the optimal pH value of GO-ABT composites for REEs was pH 4.0-5.0. For the adsorbent regeneration study, 50.0 mg of GO-ABT_{15:1/120 °C/6 h} composite was used toward 20.0 mL of Er³⁺ solutions. After ten regeneration cycles, the adsorption rates of GO-ABT composites for Er³⁺ remained around 100%, and the desorption rates maintained over 90%. The long-term storage of the adsorbent did not affect its adsorption ability, while desorption rates increased, indicating it possessed relatively higher stability.