Effect of bi-enzyme hydrolysis on the properties and composition of hydrolysates of Manchurian walnut dreg protein

Walnut dreg (WD) active peptides are an important source of dietary antioxidants; however, the products of conventional hydrolysis have limited industrial output owing to poor flavour and low bioactivity. To this end, in this study, we aimed to employ bvLAP, an aminopeptidase previously identified in our research, as well as commercially available Alcalase for bi-enzyme digestion. The flavour, antioxidant activity, and structures of products resulting from various digestion methods were compared. The results showed that the bi-enzyme digestion products had enhanced antioxidant activity, increased β-sheet content, and reduced bitterness intensity from 9.65 to 6.93. Moreover, bi-enzyme hydrolysates showed a more diverse amino acid composition containing 1640 peptides with distinct sequences. These results demonstrate that bi-enzyme hydrolysis could be a potential process for converting WD into functional food ingredients. Additionally, our results provide new concepts that can be applied in waste processing and high-value utilisation of WD.

Disrupting circadian control of autophagy induces podocyte injury and proteinuria

The circadian clock influences a wide range of biological process and controls numerous aspects of physiology to adapt to the daily environmental changes caused by Earth's rotation. The kidney clock plays an important role in maintaining tubular function, but its effect on podocytes remains unclear. Here, we found that podocytes expressed CLOCK proteins, and that 2666 glomerular gene transcripts (13.4%), including autophagy related genes, had 24-hour circadian rhythms. Deletion of Clock in podocytes resulted in 1666 gene transcripts with the loss of circadian rhythm including autophagy genes. Podocyte-specific Clock knockout mice at age three and eight months showed deficient autophagy, loss of podocytes and increased albuminuria. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequence analysis indicated autophagy related genes were targets of CLOCK in podocytes. ChIP-PCR further confirmed Clock binding to the promoter regions of Becn1 and Atg12, two autophagy related genes. Furthermore, the association of CLOCK regulated autophagy with chronic sleep fragmentation and diabetic kidney disease was analyzed. Chronic sleep fragmentation resulted in the loss of glomerular Clock rhythm, inhibition of podocyte autophagy, and proteinuria. Rhythmic oscillations of Clock also disappeared in high glucose treated podocytes and in glomeruli from diabetic mice. Finally, circadian differences in podocyte autophagy were also abolished in diabetic mice. Deletion Clock in podocytes aggravated podocyte injury and proteinuria in diabetic mice. Thus, our findings demonstrate that clock-dependent regulation of autophagy may be essential for podocyte survival. Hence. loss of circadian controlled autophagy may play an important role in podocyte injury and proteinuria.

A combined in vitro and in silico study of the inhibitory mechanism of angiotensin-converting enzyme with peanut peptides

Food-derived peptides with low molecular weight, high bioavailability, and good absorptivity have been exploited as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. In the present study, in-vitro inhibition kinetics of peanut peptides, in silico screening, validation of ACE inhibitory activity, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and HUVEC cells were performed to systematically identify the inhibitory mechanism of ACE interacting with peanut peptides. The results indicate that FPHPP, FPHY, and FPHFD peptides have good thermal, pH, and digestive stability. MD trajectories elucidate the dynamic correlation between peptides and ACE and verify the specific binding interaction. Noteworthily, FPHPP is the best inhibitor with a strongest binding affinity and significantly increases NO, SOD production, and AT2R expression, and decreases ROS, MDA, ET-1 levels, ACE, and AT1R accumulation in Ang II-injury HUVEC cells.

Correction: Therapeutic effects of a walnut-derived peptide on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive dysfunction in T2DM mice

Correction for 'Therapeutic effects of a walnut-derived peptide on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive dysfunction in T2DM mice' by Yanru Li et al., Food Funct., 2024, 15, 2295-2313, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO05076A.

Cerebral blood flow changes in maintenance hemodialysis patients with restless legs syndrome and their clinical significance:a cross-sectional case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) stands as a prevalent neurological complication within maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. However, the alterations in cerebral blood flow (CBF) among MHD-RLS patients remain uncharted. Through the utilization of the arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique, we evaluated the fluctuations in CBF within distinct brain regions and analyzed the risk factors for the development of RLS in MHD patients in the context of the clinic.

METHODS

Thirty-one MHD patients with concomitant RLS (MHD-RLS group) and thirty-one non-RLS patients matched based on age, gender, as well as cognitive function (MHD-nRLS group) were included. Through image preprocessing and data analysis, the changes in CBF values in distinct brain regions were obtained, and the CBF values of brain regions with substantial differences between the two groups were correlated with the RLS scores. Furthermore, the differences in baseline data were compared, and through the utilization of multifactorial logistic regression, the independent risk factors for the development of RLS were examined.

RESULTS

Compared with the MHD-nRLS group, the MHD-RLS group had increased CBF in the right superior temporal gyrus, reduced CBF in the right hippocampus, left middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus of right triangle, middle frontal gyrus of left orbit, left precentral gyrus, and left precuneus. Only left precentral gyrus CBF were negatively correlated with RLS scores after correction for dialysis duration(r = -0.436, P = 0.016). Accordingly, multifactorial regression analysis by stepwise method yielded that the left precentral gyrus CBF values(OR: 0.968, 95%CI: 0.944-0.993, P = 0.012) remained an independent risk factor for RLS in MHD patients. In addition, the results showed that hemodialysis duration (OR: 1.055, 95%CI: 1.014-1.098, P = 0.008) and serum iron levels (OR: 0.685, 95%CI: 0.551-0.852, P = 0.001) were also risk factors for the development of RLS.

CONCLUSION

Patients afflicted with MHD-RLS exhibit alterations in CBF across several brain regions. Notably, the left precentral gyrus might serve as a pivotal region influencing the onset of RLS among MHD patients. Furthermore, extended hemodialysis duration and a relative insufficiency in serum iron levels independently contribute as risk factors for RLS development within the MHD patient population.

Hemp seeds attenuate loperamide-induced constipation in mice

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disease that seriously affects human physical and mental health. Studies have reported that hemp seeds can improve constipation, however the specific mechanism is still unclear. This study investigates that hemp seed (HS) and its water-ethanol extract (HSE) attenuates loperamide-induced constipation in mice. The research results show that: the fecal water content and small intestinal transit rate of mice in the hemp seed group and hemp seed hydroalcoholic extract group were significantly increased compared with MC group, and the first red feces defecation time was significantly shortened; HS and HSE significantly influence serum levels of Gastrin (Gas), motilin (MTL), substance P (SP), and endothelin (ET), potentially mediating their effects on gastrointestinal motility. HS and HSE can improve colon inflammation in constipated mice with H&E staining. Compared with the model of constipation group, the content of short-chain fatty acids in the HS group and HSE group increased significantly. Gut microbiome studies have shown that the structure and abundance of intestinal flora are altered. HS and HSE changed the abundance of Odoribacter, Bacteroide, Lactobacillus and Prevotella. Together, these results suggest that HS have the potential to stimulate the proliferation of beneficial gut microbes and promote intestinal motility, thereby improving gut health and relieving symptoms of constipation.

Advances in molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for central nervous system diseases based on gut microbiota imbalance

BACKGROUD

Central nervous system (CNS) diseases pose a serious threat to human health, but the regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of CNS diseases need to be further explored. It has been demonstrated that the gut microbiota (GM) is closely related to CNS disease. GM structure disorders, abnormal microbial metabolites, intestinal barrier destruction and elevated inflammation exist in patients with CNS diseases and promote the development of CNS diseases. More importantly, GM remodeling alleviates CNS pathology to some extent.

AIM OF REVIEW

Here, we have summarized the regulatory mechanism of the GM in CNS diseases and the potential treatment strategies for CNS repair based on GM regulation, aiming to provide safer and more effective strategies for CNS repair from the perspective of GM regulation.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

The abundance and composition of GM is closely associated with the CNS diseases. On the basis of in-depth analysis of GM changes in mice with CNS disease, as well as the changes in its metabolites, therapeutic strategies, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and FMT, may be used to regulate GM balance and affect its microbial metabolites, thereby promoting the recovery of CNS diseases.

Factors affecting the intraoperative calculi excretion during flexible ureteroscopy lithotripsy: an in vitro analysis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the parameters influencing intraoperative calculi excretion (ICE) during flexible ureteroscopy lithotripsy (fURL) using in vitro simulation experiments.

METHODS

3D-printed human kidney models were used to simulate the elimination of gravel during fURL. The factors influencing the ICE during fURL were analyzed by comparing the effects of different degrees of hydronephrosis (mild, moderate, and severe), surgical positions (supine and lateral position), ratios of endoscope-sheath diameter (RESD) (0.625, 0.725, and 0.825), gravel sizes (0.50-1.00 mm, 0.25-0.50 mm, and 0.10-0.25 mm), and ureteral access sheaths (UASs) (traditional UAS and negative-pressure UAS) on ICE.

RESULTS

The impacts of various UAS, RESD, degree of hydronephrosis, surgical positions, and gravel sizes on ICE were all significant (p < 0.05). We found no evidence of multicollinearity for all the independent variables, and the linear regression equation fitted as ICE ( g / min ) = 0.102 + 0.083 ∗ UAS grade - 0.050 ∗ RESD grade - 0.048 ∗ hydronephrosis grade + 0.065 ∗ position grade - 0.027 ∗ gravel size grade (R2 = 0.569).

CONCLUSION

Employing negative-pressure UAS, smaller RESD, milder hydronephrosis, lateral position, and smaller gravel size contribute to improved ICE during fURL. Among them, the adoption of negative-pressure UAS had the most substantial effects.

The optimal ratio of endoscope-sheath diameter with negative-pressure ureteral access sheath: an in vitro research

PURPOSE

To maintain safe intrarenal pelvic pressure (IPP), the combination of flexible ureteroscope (fURS) and traditional ureteral access sheath (T-UAS) should maintain a basic rule that is the ratio of endoscope-sheath diameter (RESD) ≤ 0.75. However, the negative-pressure ureteral access sheath (NP-UAS) may break the rule of negative pressure suction. This study aimed to examine the effect of NP-UAS on IPP and flow rate (FR) with varying RESD.

METHODS

In a 3D-printed renal model, flexible ureteroscopy lithotripsy (fURL) was replicated. Six sizes of fURS paired with 12Fr T-UAS and NP-UAS resulted in six distinct RESDs of 0.63, 0.78, 0.87, 0.89, 0.90, and 0.91. While the irrigation pressure (IRP) was set between 100 and 800 cmH2O and the sucking pressure (SP) was set between 0 and 800 cmH2O, the IPP and FR were measured in each RESD.

RESULTS

NP-UASs can reduce the IPP and increase the FR at the same RESD compared to T-UASs. The IPP decreased with increasing SP with NP-UAS. When RESD ≤ 0.78, T-UAS and NP-UAS can maintain IPP < 40 cmH2O in most circumstances. When RESD = 0.87, it is challenging for T-UAS to sustain IPP < 40 cmH2O; however, NP-UAS can do so. When RESD ≥ 0.89, it is difficult to maintain an IPP < 40 cmH2O even with NP-UAS.

CONCLUSION

NP-UAS can decrease IPP and increase FR compared with T-UAS. To maintain a safe IPP, it is recommended that RESD < 0.85 when utilizing NP-UAS.

Characterization of novel PHEX variants in X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets and genotype-PHEX activity correlation

BACKGROUND

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLHR) is the most common genetic form of hypophosphatemic rickets (HR), which is caused by phosphate regulating endopeptidase homolog X-linked (PHEX) gene mutation. At present, the genotype-phenotype relationship of XLHR and the pathogenic role of PHEX have not been fully understood.

METHODS

In this study, we summarized clinical features in a new cohort of 49 HR patients and detected 16 novel PHEX and 5 novel non-PHEX variants. Subsequently, we studied the pathogenesis of new variants by protein expression, glycosylation analysis, subcellular localization and endopeptidase activity.

RESULTS

The results showed that missense variants (Q189H and X750R) slightly reduced protein expression without obviously altering protein length and localization, whereas truncating variants significantly impaired the synthesis of PHEX and produced a shorter immature protein in cells. Interestingly, no evident correlation was observed between mutation types and clinical phenotypes. However, when we analyzed the relationship between PHEX activity and serum phosphorus level, we found that patients with low PHEX activity tended to have severe hypophosphatemia and high rickets severity score (RSS). Following this observation, we established two new knock-in XLHR mouse models with two novel Phex variants (c.T1349C and c.C426G, respectively) using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Both mouse models demonstrated clinical manifestations of XLHR seen in patients and PhexC426G mice showed more severe phenotype than PhexT1349C mice, which further confirmed the rationality of genotype-PHEX enzymatic activity correlation analysis.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, our findings demonstrated that novel PHEX variants could disrupt protein function via affecting protein synthesis, post-translational modification, cellular trafficking and catalytic activity. Our study facilitates a better understanding of XLHR pathogenic mechanism and PHEX activity-phenotype correlation, which is of crucial importance for future diagnosis and treatment of XLHR.

Illness Perceptions as a Predictor of Symptom Cluster Trajectories in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Latent Growth Mixture Model

The aims of this study were to (a) identify the trajectory of symptom clusters in patients with inflammatory bowel disease up to 28 weeks after initiation of infliximab therapy and (b) examine the illness perceptions associated with symptom cluster trajectories. This was a prospective study where participants completed the symptom cluster scale at baseline, 14 weeks, and 28 weeks. A latent growth mixture modeling was used to identify trajectories of symptom clusters that were predicted, using baseline covariates (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire). A total of 206 patients were included and identified as three latent classes: moderate symptom cluster-stable decline group (C1), high symptom cluster-rapid decline group (C2), and stable symptom cluster-stable trend group (C3). C1 was predicted by cognitive illness perceptions (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.134 [1.071, 1.200], p < .001). C2 was also predicted by cognitive and emotional illness perceptions (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.169 [1.095, 1.248], p < .001; odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.174 [1.038, 1.328], p = .011). Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, initiating infliximab therapy, had different symptom cluster trajectories. Illness perceptions were associated with symptom cluster classes, which underline the complexity of symptoms. Paying attention to these factors and providing necessary knowledge and psychological supporting care after infliximab therapy would effectively improve patients' symptom burden.

Albumin-bilirubin score as a predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with hepatitis B virus infection: An analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018

Objectives

The Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) score has been widely used to assess the prognosis in patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between ALBI score and all-cause mortality in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in general.

Methods

Patients aged ≥ 18 years with previous or current HBV infection from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States between 1999 and 2018 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Weight univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to assess the relationship between ALBI score and all-cause mortality. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was utilized to assess the predictive effect of ALBI score for all-cause mortality.

Results

A total of 3,666 patients were included, of whom 925 (23.53 %) patients died. Compared with ALBI score ≤ -2.6, HBV-infected patients with ALBI score > -2.6 [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.75; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.43-2.14] were corrected with a higher all-cause mortality risk after adjusting for confounders. Stratified analyses showed that higher ALBI score was related to a higher risk of all-cause mortality in different patients with HBV infection (All P < 0.05). Furthermore, the ALBI score had good predictive ability for 1-year (AUC = 0.816, 95 %CI: 0.754-0.878), 3-year (AUC = 0.808, 95 %CI: 0.775-0.841), 5-year (AUC = 0.809, 95 %CI: 0.783-0.835), and 10-year (AUC = 0.806, 95 %CI: 0.784-0.827) all-cause mortality.

Conclusion

Higher ALBI score was related to a higher risk of all-cause mortality in patients with HBV infection, and the ALBI score showed a good predictive effect for short- and long-term all-cause mortality.

Tetrandrine alleviates inflammation and promotes macrophage M2 polarization in gouty arthritis by NF-κB-mediated Lcp1

Gouty arthritis (GA) is an inflammatory disease caused by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals into joints. Tetrandrine (TET) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid extracted from the root of Stephania tetrandra and can exert an anti-inflammatory function in different diseases. Nevertheless, the specific function of TET in GA remains unclear. We established the GA mouse model by MSU injection into joints of mice. Paw volume and gait score were detected for measuring the degree of joint swelling and the situation of joint dysfunction. Western blot were utilized to test the alterations of M1-related factors (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-12, and iNOS) and M2-related factors (Mgl1, Mgl2, Pgc1-β, Arg-1, and IL-10). The activity of NF-κB p65 in tissues was determined. The interaction of NF-κB p65 and Lcp1 was measured by ChIP and luciferase reporter assay. Lcp1 KO mice were utilized to detect the effect of Lcp1 depletion on GA process. TET treatment markedly suppressed MSU-induced joint swelling, joint dysfunction, and joint injury in GA mice. TET can also reduce inflammatory reactions in MUS-induced mice. Furthermore, we proved that TET facilitated M2 macrophage polarization and inhibited M1 macrophage polarization in GA mice. In addition, TET was found to inhibit NF-κB activity and NF-κB-mediated Lcp1 expression. Lcp1 knockdown can improve joint injury and promote M2 macrophage polarization in GA mice, while this effect was further enhanced by TET. TET alleviates inflammation and facilitates macrophage M2 polarization in GA by NF-κB-mediated Lcp1.

Hepatocyte miR-21-5p-deficiency alleviates APAP-induced liver injury by inducing PPARγ and autophagy

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury is one of the most frequent causes of acute liver failure worldwide. Significant increases in the levels of miRNA-21 in both liver tissues and plasma have been observed in APAP-overdosed animals and humans. However, the mechanistic effect of miRNA-21 on acute liver injury remains unknown. In this study, we generated a new hepatocyte-specific miRNA-21 knockout (miR-21-HKO) mouse line. miR-21-HKO and the background-matched sibling wild-type (WT) mice were treated with a toxic dose of APAP. Compared with WT mice, miR-21 HKO mice showed an increased survival, a reduction of necrotic hepatocytes, and an increased expression of light chain 3 beta, which suggested an autophagy activation. The expression of PPARγ was highly induced in the livers of miR-21-HKO mice after a 2-h APAP treatment, which preceded the activation of LC3B at the 12 h APAP treatment. miR-21 negatively regulated PPARγ protein expression by targeting its 3'-UTR. When PPARγ function was blocked by a potent antagonist GW9662 in miR-21-HKO mice, the autophage activation was significantly diminished, suggesting an indispensable role of PPARγ signaling pathway in miR-21-mediated hepatotoxicity. Taken together, hepatocyte-specific depletion of miRNA-21 alleviated APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by activating PPARγ and autophagy, demonstrating a crucial new regulatory role of miR-21 in APAP-mediated liver injury.

A decadal atmospheric ammonia reanalysis product in China

Atmospheric ammonia has great environmental implications due to its important role in ecosystem and nitrogen cycle, as well as contribution to formation of secondary particles. China is recognized as a hotspot of NH3 pollution owing to agricultural and livestock intensification. In the quest to achieve a comprehensive understanding of atmospheric ammonia load and to quantify its environmental impacts in China, relying solely either on existing measurements or on model simulations falls short. Their limitations, either in spatial coverage and integrity or in data quality, fails to meet the needs. Available reanalysis products exhibit a marked deficiency in ammonia data. We therefore aim to propose an integrated ammonia reanalysis product in China, adeptly melding satellite observations from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) NH3 retrievals with chemical transport model simulation, capitalizing on the robust Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) data assimilation methodology. The product is validated in high quality via the comparison against independent measurements from ground monitoring stations. Spanning a decade from 2013 to 2022, our reanalysis uncovers not just the spatial intricacies of NH3 concentrations but also their temporal dynamics. Our findings pinpointed the spatial disparities in atmospheric ammonia intensities, highlighting regional hotspots in the NCP, SCB, and Northeast China, and identified annual and seasonal patterns. Our research provides crucial insights for shaping future NH3 pollution prevention and control strategies in China.

Therapeutic effects of a walnut-derived peptide on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive dysfunction in T2DM mice

NLRP3 inflammasome activation plays a key role in the development of diabetes-induced cognitive impairment. However, strategies to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation remain elusive. Herein, we evaluated the impact of a walnut-derived peptide, TWLPLPR (TW-7), on cognitive impairment in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice and explored its underlying mechanisms in high glucose-induced HT-22 cells. In the Morris water maze test, TW-7 alleviated cognitive deficits in mice; this was confirmed at the level of synaptic structure and dendritic spine density in the mouse hippocampus using transmission electron microscopy and Golgi staining. TW-7 increased the expression of synaptic plasticity-related proteins and suppressed the NEK7/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway, as determined by western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. The mechanism of action of TW-7 was verified in an HT-22 cell model of high glucose-induced insulin resistance. Collectively, TW-7 could regulate T2DM neuroinflammation and synaptic function-induced cognitive impairment by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and improving synaptic plasticity.

Intention to sign an advance directive among nephrology medical staff and its related factors

BACKGROUND

Advance care planning enables people to record their future health and care wishes and appoint someone as an advocate. An advance directive can be made in the event that a person is incapacitated, so that their wishes are still upheld. The beliefs of the nephrology team might affect patients' choices and willingness to sign an advance directive. To increase the number of dialysis patients who have signed an advance directive, it is necessary to educate the nephrology medical staff.

AIM

To explore the intention to sign an advance directive and its related factors among nephrology medical staff.

METHODS

A cross-sectional and correlational design was used. This study recruited 160 nephrology medical staff. Data were analysed by using the Statistical Package for Social Science 21.0 for Windows.

FINDINGS

The results found that the longer someone has worked as part of the nephology medical staff, the more knowledgeable they were about an advance directive. This led to them being more likely to want to sign an advance directive for themselves.

CONCLUSION

In order to improve the knowledge and awareness of advance directives among nephrology medical staff, hospital managers should provide continuing education on this topic.

Magnetically Manipulated Optoelectronic Hybrid Microrobots for Optically Targeted Non-Genetic Neuromodulation

Optically controlled neuromodulation is a promising approach for basic research of neural circuits and the clinical treatment of neurological diseases. However, developing a non-invasive and well-controllable system to deliver accurate and effective neural stimulation is challenging. Micro/nanorobots have shown great potential in various biomedical applications because of their precise controllability. Here, a magnetically-manipulated optoelectronic hybrid microrobot (MOHR) is presented for optically targeted non-genetic neuromodulation. By integrating the magnetic component into the metal-insulator-semiconductor junction design, the MOHR has excellent magnetic controllability and optoelectronic properties. The MOHR displays a variety of magnetic manipulation modes that enables precise and efficient navigation in different biofluids. Furthermore, the MOHR could achieve precision neuromodulation at the single-cell level because of its accurate targeting ability. This neuromodulation is achieved by the MOHR's photoelectric response to visible light irradiation, which enhances the excitability of the targeted cells. Finally, it is shown that the well-controllable MOHRs effectively restore neuronal activity in neurons damaged by β-amyloid, a pathogenic agent of Alzheimer's disease. By coupling precise controllability with efficient optoelectronic properties, the hybrid microrobot system is a promising strategy for targeted on-demand optical neuromodulation.

Large-sized light-emitting diode integrated with a thermopile for on-chip temperature and power monitoring

A large-sized multiple quantum well (MQW) light-emitting diode (LED) integrated with a thermopile for on-chip temperature and power monitoring is presented in this study. Seven thermopile structures, fully compatible with the fabrication of LEDs, are strategically placed at different locations on the LED to monitor its temperature during the operation. Additionally, the thermopile allows for monitoring the power of the LED, as there exists an approximate linear relationship between the light output power and temperature. Compared to traditional methods of measuring LED temperature, the thermopile offers several advantages, including no moving parts, long lifetime, no maintenance, high reliability, and direct conversion without intermediate processes. The results demonstrate that the integration of the thermopiles onto the LED provides superior temperature and power monitoring capabilities. Furthermore, this integrated solution has the potential to enable real-time management and control of LED temperature.

Mechanism of Intestinal Epithelial Absorption and Electrophysiological Regulation of the Shrimp Peptide QMDDQ

We investigated the absorption mechanism of the shrimp peptide QMDDQ in small intestines, explored its physiological function in inhibiting neuronal hyperactivity, and verified its entry into the brain in vivo to display functional activity. The everted rat sac model and a Caco-2 paracellular absorption monolayer model were used, indicating that QMDDQ has a good absorption capacity with an apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) > 1 × 10-6 cm/s and the absorption of QMDDQ was concentration-dependent. When the concentration of QMDDQ was 1 mM and the transport time was 180 min, the highest absorption concentration of QMDDQ was 41.17 ± 3.48 μM (P < 0.05). The myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK)-specific inhibitor ML-7 and activator MPA, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence results showed that QMDDQ absorption takes place by mediating the MLCK-p-MLCK-MLC signaling pathway, reversibly opening the zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin in tight junctions (TJs), upregulating claudin-2 expression, and reaching targets through blood to inhibit neuronal overactivity. Results of fluorescence imaging in vivo verified that QMDDQ could enter the brain 4 h after oral administration. The results provide a theoretical foundation for the mechanism of paracellular absorption of active peptides and a starting point for the development of functional foods for Alzheimer's disease intervention.

Collinear optical links based on a GaN-integrated chip for fiber-optic acoustic detection

This Letter reports a collinear optical interconnect architecture for acoustic sensing via a monolithic integrated GaN optoelectronic chip. The chip is designed with a ring-shaped photodiode (PD) surrounding a light-emitting diode (LED) of a spectral range from 420-530 nm. The axisymmetric structure helps the coaxial propagation of light transmission and reception. By placing this multiple-quantum wells (MQW)-based device and a piece of aluminum-coated polyethylene terephthalate (Al/PET) film on fiber ends, an ultra-compact acoustic sensing system is built. The sound vibrations can be simply detected by direct measurement of the diaphragm deformation-induced power change. An average signal noise ratio (SNR) of 40 dB and a maximum sensitivity of 82 mV/Pa are obtained when the acoustic vibration frequency changes from 400 Hz to 3.2 kHz. This work provides a feasible solution to miniaturize the sensing system footprint and reduce the cost.

Measurement precision bounds on aberrated single molecule emission patterns

Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM) has revolutionized the study of biological phenomena by providing exquisite nanoscale spatial resolution. However, optical aberrations induced by sample and system imperfections distort the single molecule emission patterns (i.e. PSFs), leading to reduced precision and resolution of SMLM, particularly in three-dimensional (3D) applications. While various methods, both analytical and instrumental, have been employed to mitigate these aberrations, a comprehensive analysis of how different types of commonly encountered aberrations affect single molecule experiments and their image formation remains missing. In this study, we addressed this gap by conducting a quantitative study of the theoretical precision limit for position and wavefront distortion measurements in the presence of aberrations. Leveraging Fisher information and Cramér-Rao lower bound (CRLB), we quantitively analyzed and compared the effects of different aberration types, including index mismatch aberrations, on localization precision in both biplane and astigmatism 3D modalities as well as 2D SMLM imaging. Furthermore, we studied the achievable wavefront estimation precision from aberrated single molecule emission patterns, a pivot step for successful adaptive optics in SMLM through thick specimens. This analysis lays a quantitative foundation for the development and application of SMLM in whole-cells, tissues and with large field of view, providing in-depth insights into the behavior of different aberration types in single molecule imaging and thus generating theoretical guidelines for developing highly efficient aberration correction strategies and enhancing the precision and reliability of 3D SMLM.

bla KPC-2 overexpression and bla GES-5 carriage as major imipenem/relebactam resistance mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa high-risk clones ST463 and ST235, respectively, in China

Pseudomonas aeruginosa high-risk clones pose severe threats to public health. Here, we characterize the imipenem/relebactam (IR) resistance mechanisms in P. aeruginosa high-risk clones sequence type 235 (ST235) and ST463 in China. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined, and Illumina short-read sequencing was performed for 1,168 clinical carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) isolates. The gene copy number and expression level were analyzed by Illumina sequencing depth and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, respectively. Resistance conferred by bla GES-5 was evaluated by cloning experiments. ST463 and ST235 accounted for 9.8% (115/1,168) and 4.5% (53/1,168) of total isolates, respectively, and showed high frequencies of extensively drug-resistant and difficult-to-treat resistant phenotypes. The overall IR-resistant rate in CRPA was 21.0% (245/1,168). However, the IR resistance rate was 81.7% (94/115) in ST463-PA and 52.8% (28/53) in ST235-PA. Of the ST463 isolates, 92.2% (106/115) were Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa (KPC-PA), and all 94 IR-resistant ST463-PA produced KPC-2. Compared to IR-susceptible ST463 KPC-2-PA, IR-resistant ST463 KPC-2-PA exhibited significantly higher bla KPC-2 copy numbers and expression levels. In ST463 KPC-2-PA, 16 mg/L relebactam resulted in additional fourfold reductions in imipenem MIC50/90 values compared to 4 mg/L relebactam. In ST235, 1.9% (1/53) carried bla IMP carbapenemase and 54.7% (29/53) carried bla GES carbapenemase. Other than the IMP producer, all 27 IR-resistant ST235-PA produced GES-5. Cloning experiments revealed that imipenem resistance in bla GES-5-carrying PAO1 transformants was generally unaffected by relebactam. In conclusion, IR-resistant CRPA isolates in China were mainly distributed in P. aeruginosa high-risk clones ST463 and ST235. The major underlying IR resistance mechanisms were bla KPC-2 overexpression and bla GES-5 carriage.

Seasonal linkages between soil nitrogen mineralization and the microbial community in broadleaf forests with Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) invasion

Plant invasions significantly alter the microbiome of the soil in terms of fungal and bacterial communities, which in turn regulates ecosystem processes and nutrient dynamics. However, it is unclear how soil microbial communities, nitrogen (N) mineralization, and their linkages respond to plant invasions over the growing season in forest ecosystems. The present study investigated the seasonal associations between the microbial composition/function and net N mineralization in evergreen broadleaf, mixed bamboo-broadleaf, and Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests, depicting uninvaded, moderately invaded, and heavily invaded forests, respectively. The ammonification and nitrification rates in the bamboo forest were significantly higher than those in the broadleaf and mixed bamboo-broadleaf forests during the spring season only. The forest type and seasonal variation significantly influenced the net rates of ammonification and nitrification and the abundances of bacterial apr and AOB amoA, fungal cbhI and lcc genes, as well as the microbial composition. Moreover, the partial least squares path model revealed that bamboo invasion enhanced net ammonification through increasing total N and fungal-to-bacterial ratio, and enhanced net nitrification through modifying the bacterial composition and increasing the fungal-to-bacterial ratio during spring. However, microbial parameters had no significant effect on net ammonification and nitrification during autumn. We conclude that shifts in the microbial abundance and composition following bamboo invasion facilitated soil N mineralization during spring, contributing to the rapid growth of Moso bamboo at the beginning of the growth season and its invasion into adjacent subtropical forests.

Deep learning-driven adaptive optics for single-molecule localization microscopy

The inhomogeneous refractive indices of biological tissues blur and distort single-molecule emission patterns generating image artifacts and decreasing the achievable resolution of single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). Conventional sensorless adaptive optics methods rely on iterative mirror changes and image-quality metrics. However, these metrics result in inconsistent metric responses and thus fundamentally limit their efficacy for aberration correction in tissues. To bypass iterative trial-then-evaluate processes, we developed deep learning-driven adaptive optics for SMLM to allow direct inference of wavefront distortion and near real-time compensation. Our trained deep neural network monitors the individual emission patterns from single-molecule experiments, infers their shared wavefront distortion, feeds the estimates through a dynamic filter and drives a deformable mirror to compensate sample-induced aberrations. We demonstrated that our method simultaneously estimates and compensates 28 wavefront deformation shapes and improves the resolution and fidelity of three-dimensional SMLM through >130-µm-thick brain tissue specimens.

Determination of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning toxins in shellfish by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry coupled with dispersive solid phase extraction

An innovative method based on dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) in conjunction with LC-MS/MS had been developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of three brevetoxins (BTXs), which can result in neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP), in shellfish. The toxins were extracted with a 50 % acetonitrile (v/v) and cleaned by alumina-neutral sorbent. After chromatographic separation on a C18 column, the analytes were qualitatively and quantitatively detected using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive ionization mode. The created approach was validated by SANTE 11312/2021. The LOQs were 5 μg/kg for each toxin, below the advised regulatory limit of 800 μg BTX-2/kg. The mean recoveries of brevetoxins were in the range of 75.9 %-114.1 %, and the ranges of their intra- and inter-day precisions were 0.9-9.7 % and 0.6-7.2 %, respectively. The matrix effects for three BTXs in four shellfish matrices were in the range of 85.6 %-114.8 %. The method demonstrated great consistency and high sensitivity, and it can meet the requirements of daily monitoring.

[Spatial autocorrelation and related factors of stroke mortality in Zhejiang Province based on spatial panel model in 2015-2020]

Objective: To explore the spatial autocorrelation and macro influencing factors of stroke mortality in Zhejiang Province in 2015-2020 and provide a scientific basis for stroke prevention and control strategy. Methods: The data on stroke death were obtained from Zhejiang Chronic Disease Surveillance System. The spatial distribution of stroke mortality was explored by mapping and spatial autocorrelation analysis. The spatial panel model analyzed the correlation between stroke mortality and socioeconomic and healthcare factors. Results: From 2015 to 2020, the average stroke mortality was 68.38/100 thousand. The standard mortality of stroke was high in the areas of east and low in the west, high in the south and low in the north. Moreover, positive spatial autocorrelation was observed (Moran's I=0.274-0.390, P<0.001). Standard mortality of stroke was negatively associated with per capita gross domestic product (GDP) (β=-0.370, P<0.001), per capita health expenditure (β=-0.116, P=0.021), number of beds per thousand population (β=-0.161, P=0.030). Standard mortality of ischemic stroke was negatively associated with per capita GDP (β=-0.310, P=0.002) and standard management rate of hypertension (β=-0.462, P=0.011). Standard mortality of hemorrhagic stroke was negatively associated with per capita GDP (β=-0.481, P<0.001), per capita health expenditure (β=-0.184, P=0.001), number of beds per thousand population (β=-0.288, P=0.001) and standard management rate of hypertension (β=-0.336, P=0.029). Conclusions: A positive spatial correlation existed between stroke mortality in Zhejiang Province in 2015-2020. We must focus more on preventing and controlling strokes in relatively backward economic areas. Moreover, to reduce the mortality of stroke, increasing the investment of government medical and health funds, optimizing the allocation of medical resources, and improving the standard management rate of hypertension are important measures.

The Fatty Liver Index, the Strongest Risk Factor for Low Testosterone Level

INTRODUCTION

The study aimed to determine if hepatic steatosis assessed by fatty liver index (FLI) was an independent risk factor for male low testosterone level and whether the FLI was the strongest risk factor for low testosterone level in two different age groups.

METHODS

Two cross-sectional studies were performed. A total of 3,443 male participants (aged 46-75) were recruited into study A (part of lONgitudinal study (REACTION)). Then a total of 267 male participants (aged 25-45) were recruited into study B. Serum total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels, indicators for assessing hepatic steatosis were measured. The Pearson correlation and regression analysis were performed to investigate the risk factors for low testosterone level.

RESULTS

The FLI had the strongest negative correlation with serum testosterone in the study A (r = -0.436) and B (r = -0.542). Compared with patients with a FLI lower than 30, the risk for low testosterone level increased by 3.48-fold in subjects with a FLI higher than 60 adjusted for potential risk factors in study A. In study B, the odds ratio of low testosterone level in patients with potential hepatic steatosis was 4.26 (1.57-11.60) after adjusted for age and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and 0.59 (0.14-2.60) after adjusted for age, HOMA-IR, waist circumference, body mass index, and SHBG.

CONCLUSIONS

FLI was the strongest risk factor for male low testosterone level independent of insulin resistance in male populations of different ages; however, the association can be modulated by SHBG levels in the young.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

In the study, FLI was the strongest negative risk factor for low testosterone level in the Chinese adult male population. The results suggested that hepatic steatosis assessed by the FLI was the main risk factor for male low testosterone level, independent of age, insulin resistance, smoking, and drinking status; however, the association of FLI and TT levels can be modulated by SHBG levels. Taken together these findings indicate that clinical physicians should pay more attention to the FLI index and hepatic steatosis, so that they can take advantage of them for assessing the risk of developing of low testosterone level in the male population.

Complement in Human Brain Health: Potential of Dietary Food in Relation to Neurodegenerative Diseases

The complement pathway is a major component of the innate immune system, which is critical for recognizing and clearing pathogens that rapidly react to defend the body against external pathogens. Many components of this pathway are expressed throughout the brain and play a beneficial role in synaptic pruning in the developing central nervous system (CNS). However, excessive complement-mediated synaptic pruning in the aging or injured brain may play a contributing role in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. Complement Component 1q (C1q), an initiating recognition molecule of the classical complement pathway, can interact with a variety of ligands and perform a range of functions in physiological and pathophysiological conditions of the CNS. This review considers the function and immunomodulatory mechanisms of C1q; the emerging role of C1q on synaptic pruning in developing, aging, or pathological CNS; the relevance of C1q; the complement pathway to neurodegenerative diseases; and, finally, it summarizes the foods with beneficial effects in neurodegenerative diseases via C1q and complement pathway and highlights the need for further research to clarify these roles. This paper aims to provide references for the subsequent study of food functions related to C1q, complement, neurodegenerative diseases, and human health.

The effect of workplace bullying and self-efficacy on emotional distress among hospital nurses

AIMS

This study intended to explore the workplace bullying, self-efficacy and emotional distress of the nursing staff and determine the predictors of nursing staff's emotional distress.

METHODS

Cross-sectional and correlation designs were used, collecting data including socio-demographic data, workplace bullying, self-efficacy and emotional distress scales.

RESULTS

Results showed that the frequency of poor sleep quality in the recent 2 weeks, working in the intensive care centre or emergency room, high workplace bullying and low self-efficacy were the main predictors of emotional distress in nursing staff.

CONCLUSION

Nursing supervisors are advised to design suitable shift schemes to allow adequate time for nurses to maintain proper rest and develop a safety notification system to give bullied victims the assurance of safety. The design and implementation of the programs are encouraged to improve self-efficacy among nurses by strengthening the training of social skills, improving employees' communication skills and their relationships with other employees.

Identification of urinary extracellular vesicles differentially expressed RNAs in diabetic nephropathy via whole-transcriptome integrated analysis

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common systemic microvascular complication of diabetes and a leading cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide. Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs), which are natural nanoscale vesicles that protect RNA from degradation, have the potential to serve as an invasive diagnostic biomarker for DN.

METHODS

We enrolled 24 participants, including twelve with renal biopsy-proven T2DN and twelve with T2DM, and isolated uEVs using ultracentrifugation. We performed microarrays for mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in parallel, and Next-Generation Sequencing for miRNAs. Differentially expressed RNAs (DE-RNAs) were subjected to CIBERSORTx, ssGSEA analysis, GO enrichment, PPI network analysis, and construction of the lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. Candidate genes and potential biomarker RNAs were validated using databases and machine learning models.

RESULTS

A total of 1684 mRNAs, 126 lncRNAs, 123 circRNAs and 66 miRNAs were found in uEVs in T2DN samples compared with T2DM. CIBERSORTx revealed the involvement of uEVs in immune activity and ssGSEA explored possible cell or tissue sources of uEVs. A ceRNA co-expression and regulation relationship network was constructed. Candidate genes MYO1C and SP100 mRNA were confirmed to be expressed in the kidney using Nephroseq database, scRNA-seq dataset, and Human Protein Atlas database. We further selected 2 circRNAs, 2 miRNAs, and 2 lncRNAs from WGCNAs and ceRNAs and demonstrated their efficacy as potential diagnostic biomarkers for T2DN using machine learning algorithms.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reported, for the first time, the whole-transcriptome genetic resources found in urine extracellular vesicles of T2DN patients. The results provide additional support for the possible interactions, and regulators between RNAs from uEVs themselves and as potential biomarkers in DN.

DDAH1 Protects against Cardiotoxin-Induced Muscle Injury and Regeneration

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important biological signaling molecule affecting muscle regeneration. The activity of NO synthase (NOS) is regulated by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) through degradation of the endogenous NOS inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). To investigate the role of DDAH1 in muscle injury and regeneration, muscle-specific Ddah1-knockout mice (Ddah1MKO) and their littermates (Ddah1f/f) were used to examine the progress of cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced muscle injury and subsequent muscle regeneration. After CTX injection, Ddah1MKO mice developed more severe muscle injury than Ddah1f/f mice. Muscle regeneration was also delayed in Ddah1MKO mice on Day 5 after CTX injection. These phenomena were associated with higher serum ADMA and LDH levels as well as a great induction of inflammatory response, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in the gastrocnemius (GA) muscle of Ddah1MKO mice. In the GA muscle of CTX-treated mice, Ddah1 deficiency decreased the protein expression of M-cadherin, myogenin, Bcl-2, peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) and PRDX5, and increased the protein expression of MyoD, TNFα, Il-6, iNOS and Bax. In summary, our data suggest that DDAH1 exerts a protective role in muscle injury and regeneration.

Deciphering "the language of nature": A transformer-based language model for deleterious mutations in proteins

Various machine-learning models, including deep neural network models, have already been developed to predict deleteriousness of missense (non-synonymous) mutations. Potential improvements to the current state of the art, however, may still benefit from a fresh look at the biological problem using more sophisticated self-adaptive machine-learning approaches. Recent advances in the field of natural language processing show that transformer models-a type of deep neural network-to be particularly powerful at modeling sequence information with context dependence. In this study, we introduce MutFormer, a transformer-based model for the prediction of deleterious missense mutations, which uses reference and mutated protein sequences from the human genome as the primary features. MutFormer takes advantage of a combination of self-attention layers and convolutional layers to learn both long-range and short-range dependencies between amino acid mutations in a protein sequence. We first pre-trained MutFormer on reference protein sequences and mutated protein sequences resulting from common genetic variants observed in human populations. We next examined different fine-tuning methods to successfully apply the model to deleteriousness prediction of missense mutations. Finally, we evaluated MutFormer's performance on multiple testing datasets. We found that MutFormer showed similar or improved performance over a variety of existing tools, including those that used conventional machine-learning approaches. In conclusion, MutFormer considers sequence features that are not explored in previous studies and can complement existing computational predictions or empirically generated functional scores to improve our understanding of disease variants.

[Analysis of disease composition and primary surgical procedures in pediatric secondary glaucoma inpatients: a single-center study]

Objective: To analyze the disease composition and primary surgical procedures in pediatric inpatients with secondary glaucoma. Methods: A retrospective case series study was conducted. Clinical data of children aged≤16 years with secondary glaucoma who were admitted to the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021, were included. The patients were classified according to the Childhood Glaucoma Research Network (CGRN) classification system, and their diagnoses, underlying factors, gender, age of onset, affected eye(s), age and type of initial surgery, and ophthalmic examination data were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test and χ2 test. Results: A total of 540 patients (744 eyes) were included in this study, comprising 319 males (59.1%) and 221 females (40.9%). Unilateral disease was observed in 336 cases (62.2%), while bilateral involvement was present in 204 cases (37.8%). The age of onset was 4.0 (0.0, 9.0) years, and the median age of the first anti-glaucoma surgery was 5.0 (0.7, 10.0) years. Among them, there were 195 cases (36.1%) of secondary glaucoma associated with non-acquired ocular anomalies (SCG-O), with a median age of onset of 0.0 (0.0, 4.0) years, and 97 of these cases (49.7%) were male. secondary glaucoma associated with non-acquired systemic disease or syndrome (SCG-S) were observed in 68 cases (12.6%), with a median age of glaucoma onset of 0.1 (0.0, 4.0) years, and 47 of these cases (69.1%) were male. Secondary glaucoma associated with acquired conditions (SCG-A) accounted for 192 cases (35.6%), with a median age of onset of 9.0 (5.0, 13.0) years, and 125 of these cases (65.1%) were male. There were 85 cases (15.7%) of secondary glaucoma following cataract surgery (SCG-C), with a median age of onset of 3.0 (0.8, 7.0) years, and 50 of these cases (58.8%) were male. Male patients were predominant in SCG-S and SCG-A, with 47 cases (69.1%) and 125 cases (65.1%), respectively (χ2=9.94, 17.52; P=0.002,<0.001). Except for SCG-O, all other types of pediatric secondary glaucoma predominantly affected only one eye: SCG-S in 52 cases (76.5%), SCG-A in 128 cases (66.7%), and SCG-C in 54 cases (63.5%) (χ2=19.06, 21.33, 6.22; all P<0.05). The highest proportion of SCG-O was attributed to congenital ectropion uveae (46 cases, 23.6%). Sturge-Weber syndrome was the most common SCG-S (45 cases, 66.3%), while SCG-A mostly resulted from trauma (59 cases, 30.8%) and corticosteroid use (56 cases, 29.2%). Trabeculectomy (211 eyes, 30.8%) and glaucoma drainage device implantation (197 eyes, 28.7%) were the most frequently performed primary surgical procedures. Conclusions: SCG-O and SCG-A were found to be common types of pediatric secondary glaucoma. The age of onset and the choice of primary anti-glaucoma surgical procedures varied among different types of pediatric secondary glaucoma. However, overall, trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage device implantation were the primary surgical procedures predominantly employed.

First report of Fusarium solani causing Fusarium wilt of Bletilla striata (hyacinth orchid) in Zhejiang province of China

Bletilla striata, a member of the family Orchidaceae, is a perennial herbaceous plant used in Chinese medicine. It is a commonly cultivated economic crop in the Yangtze River Basin provinces of China, as its roots are used to treat bleeding and inflammation. In Zhejiang province, Bletilla striata has a planting area of 1400 hectares with a total production of approximately 2.6×106 kg. In October 2021, over 40% of B. striata plants showed severe wilt in a traditional Chinese medicine plantation (ca. 10 ha) in Xianju City, Zhejiang Province, China. In July, leaf curling, crinkling, and leaf-edge browning of the diseased plants were first noticed in the field. Then, necrotic streaks gradually spread to the roots. Stems displayed chlorosis and withering and when they were cut vertically, symptoms such as vascular bundle discoloration, appeared. After October, the individual plants slowly wilted and died, their aboveground parts became filamentous, and the epidermis detached from the corm's fibrous roots. Diseased plants were easily removed as the corm root had fractured. White mycelia were clearly seen in the stem. Three symptomatic leaves and three stems were cut, their surfaces disinfected, and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Six strains were subsequently isolated from all samples. Fungal colonies with white to cream-colored mycelia from all tissues appeared after 3 d of incubation at 26 °C. Pure cultures obtained after monospore isolation were examined for their morphological characteristics. The colonies grew rapidly, were fluffy and appressed, and had cottony white to pale cream coloration. Microconidia were hyaline, oval to reniform, with zero or one-septate (4.0-12.0 × 1.0-5.5 µm), and usually formed on elongated monophialidic conidiogenous cells. Macroconidia were wide, fusiform, or slightly curved with one or three septa (23.0-36.0 × 4.5-7.0 μm). Chlamydospores were spherical and were abundant on carrot agar (CA) medium within 2 wk. Fresh mycelia and conidia that grew at 26 ℃ for 7 d were collected from PDA plates. Next, DNA was extracted using the Ezup Column Fungi Genomic DNA Purification kit (Sangon Biotech, Shanghai, China). We amplified a portion of RNA polymerase II second largest subunit gene (RPB2) using primers 5f2/7cr (O'Donnell et al. 2010), the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using primers ITS1F/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), and the partial translation elongation factor-1α gene using primers EF1/ EF2 (O'Donnell et al. 1998) from the genomic DNA and sent the PCR amplicons for sequencing at Tsingke Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China. A BLAST search of the obtained sequences (GenBank accessions OP743920, OP913183, and OP913180) showed 99-100% homology with the respective sequences of the Fusarium solani reference isolate NRRL46702 (O'Donnell et al. 2008). Based on the morphological and molecular characteristics and BLAST search, the fungus was identified as F. solani (Leslie and Summerell 2006). Pathogenicity of the purified F. solani isolate was assessed by inoculateing a F. solani spore suspension of 1×106 conidia/mL (20 mL per seedling) on corm wounds made with a toothpick. Four inoculated and three non-inoculated seedlings (sterilized water as a negative control) were grown in a greenhouse at 26 °C under natural sunlight and covered with plastic bags to maintain humidity for 72 h. After 15 d, leaf browning on leaf edges, new leaf bases, and corm epidermis was observed. Symptoms, similar to those detected in the original sample, developed on the inoculated leaves, whereas the controls remained asymptomatic. Fusarium solani was successfully re-isolated from all four inoculated seedlings, and their identity confirmed by generating partial Tef1 and RPB2 sequences, thereby fulfilling the Koch's postulate. To our knowledge, F. solani has not been previously reported as a pathogen of B. striata.

Electrical field and biaxial strain tunable electronic properties of the PtSe2/Hf2CO2 heterostructure

The structure and electronic properties of two-dimensional vertical van der Waals PtSe2/Hf2CO2 heterostructure have been investigated based on first-principles calculations. The results show that the PtSe2 and Hf2CO2 monolayers form a type-I heterostructure with both the conduction band minimum (CBM) and valence band maximum (VBM) located at the Hf2CO2 layer. The electronic properties of PtSe2/Hf2CO2 heterostructure can be effectively adjusted by applying external electric field or biaxial strain. The transition in band alignment from type-I to type-II can be manipulated by controlling the strength and direction of the electric field. Additionally, the transition from type-I to type-II have also taken place under the strains, and the band gap of the PtSe2/Hf2CO2 heterostructure decreases with increasing the compressive or tensible strain. Under a strong strain of -8%, the PtSe2/Hf2CO2 heterostructure can transform from semiconductor to metal. These findings provide a promising method to tune the electronic properties of PtSe2/Hf2CO2 heterostructure and design a new vdW heterostructure in the applications for electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction promotes M2 microglia polarization and synaptic plasticity via Sirt1/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in MCAO rats

Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction (HGWD) has been demonstrated to ameliorate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in clinical application. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of HGWD have not been conclusively elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the potential role and mechanism of HGWD on neurological deficits in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Our results showed that HGWD significantly alleviated neurological deficits in MCAO rats, evidenced by high mNSS score, reduced cerebral infarction area, and improved brain pathological injury. Besides, HGWD reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, SOD, MDA and GSH in the brain tissue. Further study suggested that HGWD promoted microglia polarization towards M2 by inhibiting M1 activation (Iba1+/CD16+, iNOS) and enhancing M2 activation (Iba1+/CD206+, Arg-1). Additionally, HGWD increased dendritic spine density and enhanced levels of synapse marker proteins (PSD95, Synapsin I). HGWD also up-regulated Sirt1 expression while inhibited p-NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved caspase-1 level in the hippocampus of MCAO rats. Sirt1 specific inhibitor EX527 notably weakened the neuroprotective efficacy of HGWD against cerebral ischemia, and significantly abolished its modulation on microglia polarization and synaptic plasticity in vivo. Collectively, our findings suggested that HGWD ameliorated neuronal injury in ischemic stroke by modulating M2 microglia polarization and synaptic plasticity, at least partially, via regulating Sirt1/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, further supporting HGWD as a potential therapy for neuroprotection after ischemic stroke.

Effects of family function, depression, and self-perceived burden on loneliness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a serial multiple mediation model

BACKGROUND

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a major lifestyle disease endangering human health worldwide. Patients with T2DM face varying degrees of loneliness, which adversely affects their family and the larger society. This study investigates the serial multiple mediating roles of depression and self-perceived burden between family function and loneliness in the T2DM population of China.

METHODS

In total, 260 T2DM patients were included. They rated themselves based on UCLA Loneliness Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Family Care Index, and Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to clarify the association among variables. The SPSS macro-PROCESS program was used for a series of multiple mediation analyses.

RESULTS

Family function, depression, self-perceived burden, and loneliness were significantly correlated (P < 0.01). Family function not only has a direct negative impact (effect = -2.809; SE = 0.213; 95%CI: LL = -3.228, UL = -2.390) on loneliness, but also has an indirect impact on loneliness through the independent mediating role of depression (effect = -0.862; SE = 0.165; 95%CI: LL = -1.202, UL = -0.567) and self-perceived burden (effect = -0.288; SE = 0.107; 95%CI: LL = -0.525, UL = -0.114) and the chain mediating role of depression and self-perceived burden (effect = -0.202; SE = 0.066; 95%CI: LL = -0.342, UL = -0.088).

CONCLUSIONS

Diversified interventions aimed at improving family function of T2DM patients would help in reducing the level of depression and self-perceived burden, and ultimately reducing loneliness.

Clinical features and prognosis of pregnancy-related renal damage and pregnancy after chronic kidney disease

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical features of renal damage related to pregnancy and pregnancy after chronic kidney disease (CKD), providing clinical evidence for the relationship between renal damage and pregnancy.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients admitted to our hospital between March 2013 and February 2021 who had both pregnancy and kidney damage. The study collected pathology results from renal biopsies, 24-hour urinary protein quantity, albumin (Alb), serum creatinine (Scr), blood lipids, coagulation function, blood routine, and other indicators during and after pregnancy.

RESULTS

This study included 82 cases, with 48 cases in the pregnancy-related renal damage group. Thirty-four cases were in the post-CKD pregnancy group. Of the patients, 30 cases (88.24%) had CKD stage 1-2. Results showed better pregnancy and fetal outcomes in the post-CKD pregnancy group compared to the pregnancy-related renal damage group (Ρ was 0.029 and 0.036, respectively). Renal biopsy pathology revealed that 16 cases (33.33%) in the pregnancy-related renal damage group mainly had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), while the post-CKD pregnancy group was dominated by 14 cases (43.75%) of IgA nephropathy. The first blood test indicators revealed that the pregnancy-related renal damage group had lower estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) and Alb levels compared to the post-CKD pregnancy group (Ρ was 0.003 and 0.000, respectively). Additionally, 24-hour urinary protein quantity, total cholesterol (Tch), triglyceride (TG), and platelet (PLT) counts were higher in the pregnancy-related renal damage group compared to the post-CKD pregnancy group (Ρ was 0.005, 0.001, 0.008, and 0.031, respectively). The abnormal rate of Scr during pregnancy was 41.67% (20/48) in the pregnancy-related renal damage group and 17.39% (4/23) in the post-CKD pregnancy group, with a statistically significant difference (Ρ was 0.043).

CONCLUSION

The pregnancy-related renal damage group is mainly associated with FSGS, while the post-CKD pregnancy group is characterized by IgA nephropathy. Patients with CKD1-2 can have a successful pregnancy after achieving good control of eGFR, albumin, 24-hour urinary protein quantity and other indicators, resulting in better pregnancy and fetal outcomes. Abnormal Scr levels during pregnancy of pregnancy-related renal damage can be improved within 3 months after delivery.

Evaluating Aseptic Presentation of Different Medical Device Packaging Configurations

The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) of the European Union (EU) places greater emphasis on the usability of medical devices, with the goal of eliminating or reducing the risk of infection to patients. As this goal also is applicable to sterile packaging, ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11607-1:2019 introduced a usability evaluation requirement for aseptic presentation of terminally sterilized medical devices. In an effort to reduce contamination risks, this requirement focuses specifically on the sterile barrier system (SBS). However, research is limited on evaluating the usability of SBSs and their performance, from an aseptic presentation standpoint, in clinical settings. To address this research gap, we assessed 14 sterile medical devices with five different SBS configurations to elucidate how SBS configuration (type, size, and number of SBS layers) and user satisfaction levels affect usability. A total of 40 experienced clinical nurses participated in 280 individual trials (20 per SBS configuration), which were conducted in a simulated operating room. Ultraviolet fluorescent powder was used to simulate the contamination process and to evaluate the success or failure of the aseptic presentation. Pouch and tray configurations exhibited the best overall performance, while vent bags performed poorly and were considered less acceptable. Double SBS configurations outperformed single SBS configurations. The study highlighted the importance of appropriate SBS symbols to identify SBS layers, which is another patient safety-related requirement of the EU MDR. The current work also includes an analysis of the powder contamination method used in conducting the usability evaluation.

A survey of algorithms for the detection of genomic structural variants from long-read sequencing data

As long-read sequencing technologies are becoming increasingly popular, a number of methods have been developed for the discovery and analysis of structural variants (SVs) from long reads. Long reads enable detection of SVs that could not be previously detected from short-read sequencing, but computational methods must adapt to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by long-read sequencing. Here, we summarize over 50 long-read-based methods for SV detection, genotyping and visualization, and discuss how new telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies and pangenome efforts can improve the accuracy and drive the development of SV callers in the future.

Identification and Characteristics of Novel Mutations in Nonsyndromic Monogenic Obesity

Nonsyndromic monogenic obesity (NSMO) is a class of individual obesity that is independent of the environment and caused by a single gene mutation. It is mostly caused by mutations in LEP, LEPR, PCSK1, as well as some rare mutations in UCP3, NR0B2, and PPARG. Among 30 obesity patients, five patients are identified with positive gene detection. For the first time, the c.624C>T mutation associated with PCSK1, and the c.50G>A and c.293_301delinsAC mutations associated with NR0B2, as well as the obesity phenotype mutation (c.284A>G) associated with PPARG is confirmed. Following this, the genotype-clinical phenotype, mutation hotspots, and mutation distributions of each gene are summarized, and the genetic characteristics of NSMO are analyzed. The locations of mutation c.50G>A, and c.284A>G are highly conserved according to the sequencing alignment. According to the findings, the c.624C>T mutation in PCSK1 is a newly discovered synonymous mutation, but it can result in significant early-onset obesity. Additionally, the mutation of c.284A>G(PPARG) can lead to a variety of clinical phenotypes and the mutation of UCP3 and NR0B2 may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study enriches the human NSMO gene mutation database and provides a scientific basis for clinically accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Erratum: Haplotyping SNPs for allele-specific gene editing of the expanded huntingtin allele using long-read sequencing

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2022.100146.].

Husband-wife Relationship, Neonatal Health, Breast Milk Volume and Postpartum Depression: A Prospective Cohort Study

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health problem that has negative effects on mothers, infants, and society. This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of PPD and elucidating the delivery factors implicated in PPD so as take more targeted measures for reducing the potential risk factors. A prospective cohort study was conducted. Following the criterion, 151 pregnant women were included in the study. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the general questionnaire were filled out 2-3 days after delivery. At weeks 2 and 6 postpartum, the EPDS was reassessed either online or via telephone. Also, electronic medical records based on relevant information during the delivery period were collected. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. A high rate of PPD (31.13%) was reported. Univariate correlation analysis showed statistically significant differences in the husband-wife relationship (χ2 = 18.497, p < 0.001), neonatal health (χ2 = 14.710, p < 0.001), and breast milk volume (χ2 = 5.712, p = 0.017) between PPD and normal control groups. Adjusting for other covariates, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that satisfactory conjugal relation could reduce the risk of PPD (OR, 0.053; p = 0.022); Neonatal health problems significantly increase the risk of PPD (OR, 6.497; p = 0.001); Adequate breast milk could alleviate the risk of PPD (OR, 0.351; P = 0.045). Data analysis suggests that marital discord and unhealthy new-born are independent risk factors; nevertheless, sufficient breast milk is a protective factor against PPD. Healthcare workers such as hospital and community doctors and social workers should pay attention to PPD. Furthermore, perinatal emotional support, health education, and EPDS assessment need to be incorporated into maternity care. Screening and personalized psychological counselling should be carried out for high-risk pregnant women with PPD.

The transcriptional foundations of interferon-λ-mediated endometrial cell to uterine receptivity

PROBLEM

Interferon-λ (IFN-λ) is a novel non-redundant regulator that participates in the fetal-maternal immune interaction, including immune regulation, uterine receptivity, cell migration and adhesion, and endometrium apoptosis. However, the exact transcriptional foundation for endometrial signaling of IFN-λ is not completely understood, and studies regarding IFN-λ to implantation failure in vivo are limited.

METHOD OF STUDY

The gene expression profile of human endometrial Ishikawa cell line treated with IFN-λ or IFN-α (100 ng/mL) for 6 h was analyzed using RNA-sequencing. Real-time qPCR, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests were used to validate these sequencing data. An in vivo IFN-λ knock-down mouse pregnancy model was performed, and the phenotype analysis and the intrauterine biomarkers detection were applied with the uterus samples.

RESULTS

High levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) were detected for genes previously associated with endometrial receptivity, including LIF, AXL, CRYAB, EPHB2, CCL5, and DDX58, following IFN-λ treatment. Moreover, the data indicated IFN-λ reduced pro-inflammatory gene activity compared with IFN-α, including members of the ISG, TNF, SP100 and interleukin genes. The in vivo mouse pregnancy model showed that inhibition of intrauterine IFN-λ results in aberrant epithelial phenotype and significantly decreases the embryo implantation rates and derails normal uterine receptivity.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate the antagonistic and agonistic roles of IFNs in the endometrial cell, suggesting a selective role of IFN-λ in endometrial receptivity and immunological tolerance regulation. Moreover, the findings provide valuable insight into potential biomarkers related to endometrial receptivity and facilitate an understanding of the molecular changes observed during infertility treatment and contraception usage.

Ciliated Cells Express a Novel Pattern of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Allergic Rhinitis

Background

Mounting research indicates that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), has great potential to increase neuro-hyperresponsiveness and airway resistance in airway allergic disease. The expression level of BDNF has been found to be notably elevated in lung/nasal lavage (NAL) fluid. However, the expression and position of BDNF in ciliated cells with allergic rhinitis remains unclear.

Methods

Nasal mucosal cells were collected from patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and mice which were performed under different allergen challenge time, then observed the expression and position of BDNF located in ciliated cells through the immunofluorescence staining. Nasal mucosa, serum and NAL fluid were collected also. The expression level of BDNF and IL-4/5/13 were detected by RT-PCR. The expressions of BDNF (in serum and NAL fluid), and total-IgE, ovalbumin sIgE (in serum) were detected by ELISA.

Results

We found that MFI of BDNF in AR group's ciliated cells was obviously lower than that in the control group, and a negative correlation was discovered between MFI and VAS score. It can be roughly divided into 5 patterns according to its location in the cytoplasm of ciliated cells. In the mouse model, the expressions of BDNF in serum and NAL fluid increased temporarily after allergen stimulation. The MFI of BDNF in ciliated cells displayed an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease.

Conclusion

Our study shows for the first time that, the expression and localization of BNDF were observed in the human nasal ciliated epithelial cells of allergic rhinitis, and the expression of level was less than the control group under the persistent state of allergy. BDNF expression in ciliated cells was transient increased after allergen stimulation and decreased to normal level after 24h in mouse model of allergic rhinitis. This might be the possible source of the transient increase of BNDF in serum and NAL fluid.

Shape Discrimination of Individual Aerosol Particles Using Light Scattering

We established an experimental apparatus by combining polarized light scattering and angle-resolved light scattering measurement technology to rapidly identify the shape of an individual aerosol particle. The experimental data of scattered light of Oleic acid, rod-shaped Silicon dioxide, and other particles with typical shape characteristics were analyzed statistically. To better study the relationship between the shape of particles and the properties of scattered light, the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) method was used to analyze the scattered light of aerosol samples based on the size screening of particles, and the shape recognition and classification method of the individual aerosol particle was established based on the analysis of the spectral data after nonlinear processing and grouping by particle size with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) as reference. The experimental results show that the proposed classification method has a good discrimination ability for spherical, rod-shaped, and other non-spherical particles, which can provide more information for atmospheric aerosol measurement, and has application value for traceability and exposure hazard assessment of aerosol particles.