Hypoxia inducible factor-1α facilitates transmissible gastroenteritis virus replication by inhibiting type I and type III interferon production

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is characterized by watery diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration and is associated with high mortality especially in newborn piglets, causing significant economic losses to the global pig industry. Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) has been identified as a key regulator of TGEV-induced inflammation, but understanding of the effect of HIF-1α on TGEV infection remains limited. This study found that TGEV infection was associated with a marked increase in HIF-1α expression in ST cells and an intestinal organoid epithelial monolayer. Furthermore, HIF-1α was shown to facilitate TGEV infection by targeting viral replication, which was achieved by restraining type I and type III interferon (IFN) production. In vivo experiments in piglets demonstrated that the HIF-1α inhibitor BAY87-2243 significantly reduced HIF-1α expression and inhibited TGEV replication and pathogenesis by activating IFN production. In summary, we unveiled that HIF-1α facilitates TGEV replication by restraining type I and type III IFN production in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. The findings from this study suggest that HIF-1α could be a novel antiviral target and candidate drug against TGEV infection.

Triglycerides: A Sensitizer but Not a Trigger for Hypertriglyceridemic Acute Pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

The incidence of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) is increasing. Although the guideline defines the diagnostic criteria as triglyceride (TG) greater than 11.3 mmol/L, there is actually no specific threshold. Many people with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) or obvious chyloid blood do not develop acute pancreatitis (AP).

AIMS

To explore the role of HTG in the pathogenesis of AP.

METHODS

Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly assigned into normal control, AP, HTG, HTG-AP, low-dose fenofibrate and high-dose fenofibrate groups. Serum indices and cytokine levels in serum, and pathological changes in pancreatic tissues were observed. The expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κBp65 in pancreatic tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTS

In normal rats, HTG alone did not induce AP. However, after establishing the HTG-AP model with Poloxam 407 and L-arginine, serum-free fatty acid and TG levels were positively correlated with the levels of lipase, amylase, IL-1β, IL-6, pancreatic inflammation scores, and the expressions of TLR4 and NF-κBp65 (all P < 0.001). Expressions of TLR4 and NF-κBp65 were significantly increased in the pancreatic tissues of HTG-AP rats. Fenofibrate effectively decreased TG levels in HTG-AP rats and reduced the expression of TLR4 and NF-κBp65 (all P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

HTG does not directly cause AP, but rather increases the susceptibility to AP or aggravates the inflammatory response. It is more like a sensitizer of inflammation rather than an activator.

sCD155 as a Potential Marker for Diagnosing the Vascular Invasion in Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis

BACKGROUND

Alveolar Echinococcosis (AE) is a malignant zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection. Considering whether the lesion is accompanied by vascular invasion (VI) is crucial for treatment strategies. A cost-effective and convenient clinical diagnostic method is urgently needed to supplement current techniques. Consequently, we detected soluble CD155 (sCD155) as a potential biomarker for diagnosing VI in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE).

METHODS

Blood samples were from 42 AE patients and 49 healthy controls (HCs). Based on the computed tomography (CT) and contrast-enhanced CT, AE patients were further categorized into HAE with VI (VIAE; 27 cases) and HAE without VI (NVAE; 15 cases). The sCD155 concentration was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Correlations between sCD155 expression levels and clinicopathological features of AE patients were analyzed using SPSS and GraphPad Prism software.

RESULTS

The sCD155 concentrations in AE patients were significantly higher than in HCs. The serum sCD155 level significantly differed between the VIAE and NVAE groups. The univariate analysis showed that VI of AE was significantly correlated with the sCD155 level when the sCD155 was greater than 11 ng/mL. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the multivariable analysis showed that sCD155 had an independent effect on VI of HAE. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that sCD155 could differentially diagnose VI of HAE at the cut-off value of 11.08 ng/mL with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.75. The sensitivity and specificity were 74.07% and 66.67%, respectively; the positive and negative predictive values were 74.07% and 60.00%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The sCD155 could be a VI biomarker for HAE. Elevated sCD155 levels are indicative of an increased likelihood of concomitant VI in HAE patients, necessitating a thorough evaluation of vascular impairment and the formulation of individualized management strategies.

Prognosis of patients with coexisting obesity and malnutrition after ischemic stroke: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

The double burden of malnutrition, defined as the coexistence of obesity and malnutrition, is an increasing global health concern and is unclear in patients after ischemic stroke. The current study explored the combined impacts of obesity and malnutrition on patients with ischemic stroke.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center prospective cohort study with patients with ischemic stroke enrolled in Minhang Hospital in China between January 2018 and December 2022. Patients were stratified into four categories based on their obesity (defined by body mass index) and nutritional status (classified according to the Controlling Nutritional Status score): (1) nourished nonobese, (2) malnourished nonobese, (3) nourished obese, and (4) malnourished obese. The primary end points were poor outcomes and all-cause mortality at 3 months.

RESULTS

A total of 3160 participants with ischemic stroke were included in our study, of which 64.7% were male and the mean age was 69 years. Over 50% of patients were malnourished. At 3-month follow-up, the malnourished nonobese had the worst outcomes (34.4%), followed by the malnourished obese (33.2%), nourished nonobese (25.1%), and nourished obese (21.8%; P < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, with nourished nonobese group as the reference, the malnourished nonobese group displayed poorer outcomes (odds ratio [OR], 1.395 [95% CI, 1.169-1.664], P < 0.001) and higher all-cause mortality (OR, 1.541 [95% CI, 1.054-2.253], P = 0.026), but only a nonsignificant increase in poor prognosis rate (33.2% vs. 25.1%, P = 0.102) and mortality (4.2% vs. 3.6%, P = 0.902) were observed in the malnourished obese group.

CONCLUSION

A high prevalence of malnutrition is observed in the large population suffering from ischemic attack, even in the obese. Malnourished patients have the worst prognosis particularly in those with severe nutritional status regardless of obesity, while the best functional outcomes and the lowest mortality are demonstrated in nourished obese participants.

A novel fast hybrid capture sequencing method for high-efficiency common human coronavirus whole-genome acquisition

Rapid and accurate sequencing of the entire viral genome, coupled with continuous monitoring of genetic changes, is crucial for understanding the epidemiology of coronaviruses. We designed a novel method called micro target hybrid capture system (MT-Capture) to enable whole-genome sequencing in a timely manner. The novel design of probes used in target binding exhibits a unique and synergistic "hand-in-hand" conjugation effect. The entire hybrid capture process is within 2.5 hours, overcoming the time-consuming and complex operation characteristics of the traditional liquid-phase hybrid capture (T-Capture) system. By designing specific probes for these coronaviruses, MT-Capture effectively enriched isolated strains and 112 clinical samples of coronaviruses with cycle threshold values below 37. Compared to multiplex PCR sequencing, it does not require frequent primer updates and has higher compatibility. MT-Capture is highly sensitive and capable of tracking variants.IMPORTANCEMT-Capture is meticulously designed to enable the efficient acquisition of the target genome of the common human coronavirus. Coronavirus is a kind of virus that people are generally susceptible to and is epidemic and infectious, and it is the virus with the longest genome among known RNA viruses. Therefore, common human coronavirus samples are selected to evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of MT-Capture. This method utilizes innovative probe designs optimized through probe conjugation techniques, greatly shortening the time and simplifying the handwork compared with traditional hybridization capture processes. Our results demonstrate that MT-Capture surpasses multiplex PCR in terms of sensitivity, exhibiting a thousandfold increase. Moreover, MT-Capture excels in the identification of mutation sites. This method not only is used to target the coronaviruses but also may be used to diagnose other diseases, including various infectious diseases, genetic diseases, or tumors.

Genetic patterns and genome-wide association analysis of eggshell quality traits of egg-type chicken across an extended laying period

The industry of egg-type chicken has shown a trend of extending the rearing period, with the goal of breeding chicken breeds capable of producing 500 qualified eggs by 700 d of age. However, the rapid decline in eggshell quality during the late laying period is one of the major challenges. In this study, a total of 3,261 Rhode Island Red chickens were used to measure eggshell quality traits including eggshell strength (ESS), eggshell thickness (EST), eggshell color (ESC) and eggshell gloss (ESG) at seven age points ranging from 36 to 90 wk of age. Phenotypic variations increased with the aging process, especially during the late laying period (> 55 wk), and the heritability during this period decreased by 22.7 to 81.4% compared to the initial and peak laying periods. Then we performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify the genomic variants that associated with eggshell quality, with a custom Illumina 50K BeadChip, named PhenoixChip-I. The results indicated that 2 genomic regions on GGA1(23.24-25.15Mb; 175.95-176.05 Mb) were significantly (P < 4.48E-06) or suggestively (P < 8.97E-05) associated with ESS, which can explain 9.59% and 0.48% of the phenotypic variations of ESS46 and ESS36, respectively. Three genes, FRY, PCNX2, and ENSGALG00000052468, were considered to be the candidate genes for ESS. For other traits, the genome-wide suggestive SNPs were identified at each age point, exhibiting a certain trend with aging process. Additionally, SNP enrichment analysis and functional annotation of cross-tissue regulatory elements to ESS36 revealed a high concentration of enhancer elements specific to shell gland and kidney tissues. This study, deepened our knowledge of eggshells and laying a valued scientific foundation for chicken molecular breeding.

Monitoring soil moisture in winter wheat with crop water stress index based on canopy-air temperature time lag effect

Crop water stress index (CWSI) has been widely used in soil moisture monitoring. However, the influence of the time lag effect between canopy temperature and air temperature on the accuracy of soil moisture monitoring with different CWSI models has not been further investigated. Therefore, based on the continuous record of canopy temperature and air temperature, this study explored the influence of canopy-air temperature hysteresis on the diagnosis of soil moisture with three CWSI models (CWSIT-theoretical, CWSIE-empirical, CWSIH-hybrid). The results show (1) the peak time of canopy temperature was ahead of that of air temperature, and the lag time varied under different soil moisture conditions. When the soil moisture was seriously deficient, the lag time decreased. However, from jointing-heading period to filling-ripening period, the lag time became longer. (2) The values of CWSIT, CWSIE, and CWSIH decreased when the time lag effect was considered. In jointing-heading period, heading-filling period, and filling-ripening period, CWSIT had the highest accuracy in soil moisture monitoring without the consideration of the time lag effect. When the time lag effect was considered, the monitoring accuracy of CWSIE and CWSIH was greatly improved and higher than that of CWSIT, while that of CWSIT was reduced. The findings provided a basis for further improving the accuracy of soil moisture monitoring with CWSI models.

Quantifying the Relationship Between Unilateral Induced Metamorphopsia and Stereopsis Impairment

Purpose

To investigate the relationship between unilateral metamorphopsia, characterized by visual distortions in one eye, and impaired stereopsis.

Methods

Utilizing both near and distance measurements through advanced testing systems, including 4K smartphones and an active shutter three-dimensional system, we simulated varying degrees of unilateral metamorphopsia in 30 healthy young adults aged between 21 and 29 years. Two types of contour-based stereotest symbols, lines and squares, were developed. Distortions were classified into six distinct patterns, each further divided into eight grades of severity. Participants were tasked with identifying visual targets, and their stereothresholds were determined under different conditions of induced distortion. Stereopsis was measured within a range of 2.9 to 1.0 log arcsec, at 0.2 log arcsec intervals. Stereopsis changes under different distortion scenarios were analyzed using the generalized estimating equations, with a sequential Bonferroni adjustment applied for pairwise comparisons.

Results

A direct and quantifiable correlation was observed between the severity of metamorphopsia and reductions in stereopsis. As the degree of visual distortion increased, notably in both frequency and amplitude, there was a corresponding decline in stereopsis. This relationship held true in both near and distance measurements of stereopsis. Statistical analyses further reinforced these findings, highlighting a significant detrimental effect of distortion components on stereoacuity.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the clinical significance of understanding the interplay between unilateral metamorphopsia and stereopsis. Early interventions in conditions leading to metamorphopsia might be critical to maintaining optimal stereopsis.

Inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress by overexpressed S100A4 ameliorates retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury of mice

Retinal ischemia exists in various ischemic retinopathies including glaucoma, contributing to the death of retinal neurons. Calcium binding protein S100A4 is important in tumors, and our previous study found that S100A4 protects retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) against retinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. This study was aimed to further discuss the neuroprotection and mechanisms of S100A4 in retinal I/R of mice. The rAAV-EF1α-s100a4-EGFP-WPRE or rAAV-EF1α-EGFP-WPRE-Pa was injected intravitreally 4 weeks before I/R. S100A4, molecules in TLR4 signaling pathway and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress branches, inflammatory molecules, and surviving RGCs and cholinergic amacrine (ChAT) cells were determined by quantitative PCR, western blot, or immunofluorescent staining. The apoptosis and necrosis of retinal neurons induced by I/R were inhibited by overexpressed S100A4. RGCs, ChAT cells, and the retinal function were preserved by S100A4 overexpressing 7 days after I/R. Mechanistically, the beneficial effects of S100A4 may be mediated by inhibiting the activation of TLR4 signaling pathway and alleviating ER stress, leading to the attenuation of inflammatory response of the retina after I/R. Our findings indicated that S100A4 has neuroprotective effect against retinal I/R injury, and promoting S100A4 expression may be an effective strategy to inhibit retinal neurons from degeneration in ischemic retinopathy.

[Feasibility and safety study of distal radial artery approach in emergency PCI of elderly STEMI patients]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of distal radial artery approach in emergency percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) of elderly ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI) patients. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. Elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction who received emergency PCI at the Third Central Hospital of Tianjin from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected. They were divided into the distal radial artery group and the classic radial artery group based on the puncture location. The success rate, puncture time, surgical success rate, and surgical time of the two groups were observed; The incidence of complications in patients, including radial artery occlusion rate, radial artery spasm rate, local hematoma rate, aneurysm incidence rate were recorded. Results: There were 70 cases in the distal radial artery group, including 33 males (47.1%), aged (65.6±6.7) years old; There were 70 cases in the classic radial artery group, including 35 males (50.0%), aged (66.4±6.9) years old. There was no statistically significant difference in puncture success rate, puncture time, surgical success rate, and surgical time between the distal radial artery group and the classical radial artery group (P>0.05). The incidence of radial artery occlusion in the distal radial artery group was significantly lower than that in the classical radial artery group (1.4% vs. 8.6%, P=0.024). The postoperative compression time in the distal radial artery group was significantly shorter than that in the classical radial artery group ((291.6±10.5) min vs. (343.5±9.8) min, P=0.047). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of radial artery spasm, local hematoma, and aneurysm between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: The distal radial artery approach has a lower radial artery occlusion rate, shorter compression time, and better safety. It can be used as a new approach for emergency PCI in elderly patients with STEMI for clinical application.

Development of a novel bioartificial cornea using 3D bioprinting based on electrospun micro-nanofibrous decellularized extracellular matrix

Corneal damage contributes to blindness in millions of people. Simulating natural corneas with artificial corneas is challenging due to material and manufacturing limitations, including poor mechanical properties, complex manufacturing processes, and ocular histocompatibility. In this study, electrospun micro-nanofibrous decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is combined with digital light processing 3D bioprinting and validated as a bioartificial cornea for the first time. Electrospinning gives the material a controllable shape, and the electrospun micro-nanofibrous dECM, with preserved inherent biochemical components, can better mimic the natural ECM native microenvironment. An efficient platform can be developed for creating novel structural materials, when combined with intelligent manufacturing. Artificial biological corneas developed using this method showed five-fold improvements in mechanical properties (248.5 ± 35.67 kPa Vs. 56.91 ± 3.68 kPa, p<0.001), superior guidance for cell organization and adhesion, and better maintenance of the cellular phenotype of keratocytes. In animal studies, in vivo transplantation of this artificial cornea showed better regeneration, which accelerated corneal epithelialization and maintained corneal transparency. This method has potential for biomedical applications, and bioartificial corneas manufactured by this method have ideal properties as an alternative to lamellar keratoplasty, with promise for clinical transformation. .

RNA-binding proteins potentially regulate the alternative splicing of cell cycle-associated genes in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) contribute to the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) by regulating gene expression through alternative splicing events (ASEs). However, the RBPs differentially expressed in PDR and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to identify the differentially expressed genes in the neovascular membranes (NVM) and retinas of patients with PDR. The public transcriptome dataset GSE102485 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and samples of PDR and normal retinas were analyzed. A mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy was used to confirm the results. The top 20 RBPs were screened for co-expression with alternative splicing genes (ASGs). A total of 403 RBPs were abnormally expressed in the NVM and retina samples. Functional analysis demonstrated that the ASGs were enriched in cell cycle pathways. Cell cycle-associated ASEs and an RBP-AS regulatory network, including 15 RBPs and their regulated ASGs, were extracted. Splicing factor proline/glutamine rich (SFPQ), microtubule-associated protein 1 B (MAP1B), heat-shock protein 90-alpha (HSP90AA1), microtubule-actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1), and CyclinH (CCNH) expression remarkably differed in the mouse model. This study provides novel insights into the RBP-AS interaction network in PDR and for developing screening and treatment options to prevent diabetic retinopathy-related blindness.

Role of mRNA-binding proteins in retinal neovascularization

Retinal neovascularization (RNV) is a pathological process that primarily occurs in diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, and retinal vein occlusion. It is a common yet debilitating clinical condition that culminates in blindness. Urgent efforts are required to explore more efficient and less limiting therapeutic strategies. Key RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), crucial for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by binding to RNAs, are closely correlated with RNV development. RBP-RNA interactions are altered during RNV. Here, we briefly review the characteristics and functions of RBPs, and the mechanism of RNV. Then, we present insights into the role of the regulatory network of RBPs in RNV. HuR, eIF4E, LIN28B, SRSF1, METTL3, YTHDF1, Gal-1, HIWI1, and ZFR accelerate RNV progression, whereas YTHDF2 and hnRNPA2B1 hinder it. The mechanisms elucidated in this review provide a reference to guide the design of therapeutic strategies to reverse abnormal processes.

Tetrahydrobiopterin inhibitor-based antioxidant metabolic strategy for enhanced cancer ferroptosis-immunotherapy

The induction of immunogenic ferroptosis in cancer cell is limited by the complex and delicate antioxidant system in the organism. Synergistic induction of oxidative damage and inhibition of the defensive redox system in tumor cells is critical to promote lethal accumulation of lipid peroxides and activate immunogenic death (ICD). To address this challenge, we present a multifunctional and dual-responsive layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheet to enhance immunogenic ferroptosis. The MTX-LDH@MnO2 nanoplatform is constructed by intercalating methotrexate (MTX) into LDH interlayers and electrostatically absorbing biomineralized ovalbumin (OVA)-MnO2 onto the LDH surface. Specifically, the released Mn2+ from the incorporated MnO2 triggers a Fenton-like reaction, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, while the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) further intensifies oxidative stress, resulting in the induction of ferroptosis. MTX is released in response to the acidic environment of tumor cells and inhibits the regeneration of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), modulating the GTP cyclic hydrolase 1 (GCH1)/BH4 axis. MTX disrupts the antioxidant metabolic activity regulated by GCH1/BH4 axis and inhibits ROS consumption, further boosting the ferroptosis effect, which promoted the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and triggered ICD in the tumor. This activation subsequently leads to significant antitumor immune reactions, including DCs maturation, infiltration of CD4+/CD8+ T cells and cytokines release. The redox-controllable nanoplatform demonstrates promising anticancer efficacy in a mouse breast model providing a novel strategy for cancer immunotherapy.

Inhibition of AMPK activation in Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto limits the parasite's glucose metabolism and survival

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by larvae of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) cluster. There is an urgent need to develop new drug targets and drug molecules to treat CE. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a serine/threonine protein kinase consisting of α, β, and γ subunits, plays a key role in the regulation of energy metabolism. However, the role of AMPK in regulating glucose metabolism in E. granulosus s.l. and its effects on parasite viability is unknown. In this study, we found that targeted knockdown of EgAMPKα or a small-molecule AMPK inhibitor inhibited the viability of E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) and disrupted the ultrastructure. The results of in vivo experiments showed that the AMPK inhibitor had a significant therapeutic effect on E. granulosus s.s.-infected mice and resulted in the loss of cellular structures of the germinal layer. In addition, the inhibition of the EgAMPK/EgGLUT1 pathway limited glucose uptake and glucose metabolism functions in E. granulosus s.s.. Overall, our results suggest that EgAMPK can be a potential drug target for CE and that inhibition of EgAMPK activation is an effective strategy for the treatment of disease.

vizAPA: visualizing dynamics of alternative polyadenylation from bulk and single-cell data

MOTIVATION

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a widespread post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism across all eukaryotes. With the accumulation of genome-wide APA sites, especially those with single-cell resolution, it is imperative to develop easy-to-use visualization tools to guide APA analysis.

RESULTS

We developed an R package called vizAPA for visualizing APA dynamics from bulk and single-cell data. vizAPA implements unified data structures for APA data and genome annotations. vizAPA also enables identification of genes with differential APA usage across biological samples and/or cell types. vizAPA provides four unique modules for extensively visualizing APA dynamics across biological samples and at the single-cell level. vizAPA could serve as a plugin in many routine APA analysis pipelines to augment studies for APA dynamics.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION

https://github.com/BMILAB/vizAPA.

Three near-complete genome assemblies reveal substantial centromere dynamics from diploid to tetraploid in Brachypodium genus

BACKGROUND

Centromeres are critical for maintaining genomic stability in eukaryotes, and their turnover shapes genome architectures and drives karyotype evolution. However, the co-evolution of centromeres from different species in allopolyploids over millions of years remains largely unknown.

RESULTS

Here, we generate three near-complete genome assemblies, a tetraploid Brachypodium hybridum and its two diploid ancestors, Brachypodium distachyon and Brachypodium stacei. We detect high degrees of sequence, structural, and epigenetic variations of centromeres at base-pair resolution between closely related Brachypodium genomes, indicating the appearance and accumulation of species-specific centromere repeats from a common origin during evolution. We also find that centromere homogenization is accompanied by local satellite repeats bursting and retrotransposon purging, and the frequency of retrotransposon invasions drives the degree of interspecies centromere diversification. We further investigate the dynamics of centromeres during alloploidization process, and find that dramatic genetics and epigenetics architecture variations are associated with the turnover of centromeres between homologous chromosomal pairs from diploid to tetraploid. Additionally, our pangenomes analysis reveals the ongoing variations of satellite repeats and stable evolutionary homeostasis within centromeres among individuals of each Brachypodium genome with different polyploidy levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide unprecedented information on the genomic, epigenomic, and functional diversity of highly repetitive DNA between closely related species and their allopolyploid genomes at both coarse and fine scale.

Genetic improvement of duration of fertility in chickens and its commercial application for extending insemination intervals

The growth rate of chickens has made remarkable progress in recent decades through continuous breeding efforts. However, this advancement has also led to a decline in fertility among commercially bred chickens. Therefore, it is crucial to understand and improve factors that influence fertility to ensure the continued success of the industry. Here, we conduct a 3-generation selection experiment within 2 purebred female lines, with the aim of increasing the duration of fertility (DF). Duration of fertility refers to the length of time hens remain capable of producing fertilized eggs and is a crucial factor that directly impacts chick output. The results showed that significant genetic progress was achieved in embryo survival rates and the fertility duration day during both the peak and late laying periods. Moreover, after 3 generations of selective breeding, the disparities in embryo survival and chick health rates from setting eggs between 8-d and 5-d insemination intervals in the grandparent stock were significantly reduced. The rates decreased from 1.83% and 2.39 to 0.72% and 0.33%, respectively. Surprisingly, the hatching performances of hens with an 8-d interval were comparable to those hens that had not undergone genetic selection for DF and had a 5-d interval. We further discussed the possibility of extending the insemination interval to 8 d in parent stock for commercial practices. The parental populations exhibited remarkable performance in terms of percentages of embryo survival and healthy chicks from the setting eggs, with rates exceeding 94 and 90%, respectively. Thus, it can be inferred that an extended insemination interval is feasible by genetic selection for DF. These findings will provide valuable insights into the efficacy of genetic selection in enhancing DF and its practical application in commercial breeding programs.

Biomimetic Nanoarchitectonics with Chitosan Nanogels for Collaborative Induction of Ferroptosis and Anticancer Immunity for Cancer Therapy

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) shows promising therapeutic potential for tumor regression. However, the low sensitivity and immunosuppressive state of current cell death manners seriously impede tumor immunogenicity. Ferroptosis characterized by excessive lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a potential strategy to induce ICD and activate antitumor immune responses. However, the effectiveness of ferroptosis is limited by antioxidant regulatory networks, including the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) pathways, presenting challenges for its induction. Herein, they propose a novel approach that involves utilizing functionalized chitosan-ferrocene-sodium alginate (CFA) crosslinked nanogels, which are modified to pravastatin (PRV) and M1 macrophage membrane (MM) (designing as CFA/PRV@MM). Specifically, ferrocene boots intracellular reactive oxygen species levels for efficient glutathione (GSH) depletion through Fenton reaction, thus disrupting the GPX4/GSH axis, while PRV intervenes in the mevalonate pathway to inhibit the FSP1/CoQ10 antioxidant axis, thereby synergistically causing pronounced ferroptotic damage and promoting ICD. The CFA/PRV@MM nanogels demonstrate superior therapeutic efficacy in a mouse breast model, resulting in effective tumor ablation and immune response with minimal side effects. RNA transcription analysis reveals that nanogels can significantly affect metabolic progress, as well as immune activation. This research provides valuable insights into the design of ferroptosis induction for cancer immunotherapy.

Transgenerational effects of extracts containing Microcystin-LR exposure on reproductive toxicity and offspring growth inhibition in a model organism zebrafish

Cyanobacteria cell lysates release numerous toxic substances (e.g., cyanotoxins) into the water, posing a serious threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems. Microcystins (MCs) are among the most abundant cyanotoxins in the cell lysates, with microcystin-LR (MC-LR) being one of the most common and highly toxic congeners. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to different levels MC-LR that from extracts of Microcystis aeruginosa. Changes in the MC-LR accumulations, organ coefficients, and antioxidant enzyme activities in the zebrafish were analyzed. Transgenerational reproductive toxicity of MC-LR in the maternal and paternal generations was further investigated, as well as the influences of extracts containing MC-LR exposures of the F1 on the growth of zebrafish. The study found that high levels of MC-LR could be detected in the major organs of adult zebrafish, particularly in spleen. Notably, concentration of MC-LR in the spermary was significantly higher than that in the ovarium. MC-LR could induce oxidative damage by affecting the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase. Inherited from F0, MC-LR led to impaired development in the F1 generation. Difference in offspring survival rates could be observed in the groups with different MC-LR levels of maternal and paternal exposures. This study reveals transgenerational effects of MC-LR on the reproductive toxicity and offspring growth inhibition to the aquatic organisms, which should be emphasized in the future ecological risk assessment.

Identification and clinical validation of the role of anoikis-related genes in diabetic foot

This study aims to investigate the role of anoikis-related genes in diabetic foot (DF) by utilizing bioinformatics analysis to identify key genes associated with anoikis in DF. We selected the GEO datasets GSE7014, GSE80178 and GSE68183 for the extraction and analysis of differentially expressed anoikis-related genes (DE-ARGs). GO analysis and KEGG analysis indicated that DE-ARGs in DF were primarily enriched in apoptosis, positive regulation of MAPK cascade, anoikis, focal adhesion and the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway. Based on the LASSO and SVM-RFE algorithms, we identified six characteristic genes. ROC curve analysis revealed that these six characteristic genes had an area under the curve (AUC) greater than 0.7, indicating good diagnostic efficacy. Expression analysis in the validation set revealed downregulation of CALR in DF, consistent with the training set results. GSEA results demonstrated that CALR was mainly enriched in blood vessel morphogenesis, endothelial cell migration, ECM-receptor interaction and focal adhesion. The HPA database revealed that CALR was moderately enriched in endothelial cells, and CALR was found to interact with 63 protein-coding genes. Functional analysis with DAVID suggested that CALR and associated genes were enriched in the phagosome component. CALR shows promise as a potential marker for the development and treatment of DF.

Melatonin regulates the circadian rhythm to ameliorate postoperative sleep disorder and neurobehavioral abnormalities in aged mice

BACKGROUND

Postoperative sleep disorder (PSD) and delirium, which may be associated with surgery and inhalational anesthetics, induce adverse effects in old adults. Emerging evidence indicates that circadian rhythm contributes to various neuropathological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Thus, we analyzed the potential role of circadian rhythm in PSD and delirium-like behavior in aged mice and determined whether exogenous melatonin could facilitate entrainment of the circadian rhythm after laparotomy under sevoflurane anesthesia.

METHODS

We selected old C57BL/6J mice which receiving laparotomy/sevoflurane anesthesia as model animals. We employed buried food, open field, and Y maze test to assess delirium-like behavior, and electroencephalography/electromyography (EEG/EMG) were used to investigate sleep changes. We analyzed the transcription rhythm of clock genes in superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN) to explore the effects of surgery and melatonin pretreatment on the circadian rhythm. Then, we measured melatonin receptor levels in SCN and ERK/CREB pathway-related proteins in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex to assess their role in PSDs and delirium-like behavior.

RESULTS

Laparotomy under sevoflurane anesthesia had a greater influence than sevoflurane alone, leading to sleep disorder, a shift in sleep-wake rhythm, and delirium-like behavior. Bmal1, Clock, and Cry1 mRNA expression showed a peak shift, MT1 melatonin receptor expression level was increased in the SCN, and p-ERK/ERK and p-CREB/CREB were decreased in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of aged mice 1 day after laparotomy. Melatonin showed significant efficacy in ameliorating PSD and delirium-like behavior and restoring the circadian rhythm, reversing melatonin receptor and ERK/CREB pathway expression abnormalities. In addition, most of the beneficial effect of melatonin was antagonized by luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist.

CONCLUSIONS

Melatonin receptors in SCN, circadian rhythm, and ERK/CREB signaling pathway participate in the pathophysiological processes of PSD and delirium-like behavior. Melatonin intervention could be a potential preventative approach for PSD and delirium.

Discovering human cell-compatible gene therapy virus variants via optimized screening in mouse models

In gene therapy, intravenous injection of viral vectors reigns as the primary administration route. These vectors include adeno-associated viruses, adenoviruses, herpes viruses, rhabdoviruses and others. However, these naturally occurring viruses lack inherent tissue or organ tropism for tailored disease treatment. To address this, we devised an optimized process involving directed viral capsid evolution, organ-specific humanized mouse models and in vitro-in vivo virus screening. Our approach allows for the rapid generation specifically modified adeno-associated virus variants, surpassing the time required for natural evolution, which spans millions of years. Notably, these variants exhibit robust targeting of the liver, favouring chimeric human liver cells over murine hepatocytes. Furthermore, certain variants achieve augmented targeting with reduced off-target organ infection, thereby mitigating dosage requirements and enhancing safety in gene therapy.

Isorhamnetin suppresses the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the retinal pigment epithelium both in vivo and in vitro through Nrf2-dependent AKT/GSK-3β pathway

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness in the elderly worldwide. Multiple studies have shown that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AMD. Isorhamnetin (Isor) is a flavonoid compound that inhibits EMT in tumor cells. However, whether it can also attenuate EMT in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is unknown. Therefore, our study was designed to probe the possible impact of Isor on EMT process in both mouse retina and ARPE-19 cells. C57BL/6 mice were utilized to establish a dry AMD model. Isor and LCZ (a mixture of luteine/β-carotene/zinc gluconate) were administered orally for 3 months. The effects of Isor on the retina were evaluated using fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography, and transmission electron microscopy. Transwell and wound healing assay were employed to assess ARPE-19 cell migration. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to measure the protein expressions associated with EMT, Nrf2 and AKT/GSK-3β pathway. The findings indicated that Isor alleviated dry AMD-like pathological changes in vehicle mice retina, inhibited the migration of Ox-LDL-treated ARPE-19 cells, and repressed the EMT processes in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, Isor activated Nrf2 pathway and deactivated AKT/GSK-3β pathway in both vehicle mice and ARPE-19 cells. Interestingly, when Nrf2 siRNA was transfected into ARPE-19 cells, the inhibitory effect of Isor on EMT and AKT/GSK-3β pathway was attenuated. These results suggested that Isor inhibited EMT processes via Nrf2-dependent AKT/GSK-3β pathway and is a promising candidate for dry AMD treatment.

A Prediction Model for Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients: Construction and Accuracy Assessment

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread rapidly with considerable morbidity nationwide since China's liberalization in December 2022. Our work has focused on identifying different predictive factors from the laboratory examination of critically ill patients, and forecasting the unfavorable outcome of critically ill patients with COVID-19 through a combined diagnosis of biological markers.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study at the Department of First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China, from December 24, 2022, to January 10, 2023, where 434 critically ill patients who met the inclusion criteria were involved. Machine analysis was employed to search for the parameters with the highest predictive value to calculate COVID-19 mortality by exploiting 66 typical laboratory results.

RESULTS

Combined diagnosis of serum albumin (ALB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), direct bilirubin (Dbil), ferritin, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), and neutrophil count (NEUT#) was evaluated, and the result with the highest predictive value (NEUT#) was selected as the predictor for COVID-19 mortality with a sensitivity of 89.2% and a specificity of 77.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased levels of LDH, Dbil, ferritin, and NEUT#, along with lowered ALB and SpO2 levels are the most decisive variables for forecasting the mortality for COVID-19 according to our machine-learning-based model. The combined diagnosis could be used to improve further diagnostic performance.

How does physical activity improve adolescent resilience? Serial indirect effects via self-efficacy and basic psychological needs

Background

Resilience is vital for improving mental health and well-being during adolescence, which is an important yet vulnerable period. Previous research has indicated that physical activity enhances individual resilience. However, limited studies have examined underlying psychological mechanisms between them. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of physical activity on adolescent resilience via self-efficacy and basic psychological needs.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,732 high school students aged 16 to 20 years old (mean age: 16.51 ± 0.77 years), with nearly equal number of boys (47.63%) and girls (52.37%). They each completed the Physical Exercise Questionnaire, Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Resilience Scale, respectively. A serial indirect model was constructed to examine how physical activity influences resilience.

Results

Structural equation model analysis revealed that physical activity significantly and directly predicted resilience. When self-efficacy and basic psychological needs were included in the model, both direct and indirect effects were observed. Specifically, the positive relationship between physical activity and resilience was partially mediated by self-efficacy and basic psychological needs. In addition, basic psychological needs and self-efficacy were found to serially mediate the direct relathonship between physical activity and resilience.

Conclusions

The present study provides novel theoretical insights into sports psychology by establishing a link between basic psychological needs and self-efficacy. The findings have implications for school administrators and physical education instructors in designing targeted interventions to promote adolescent resilience. These interventions may involve creating supportive environment conductive to fulfilling students' basic psychological needs, implementing strategies to enhance self-efficacy beliefs, and providing opportunities for skill development and mastery experiences in sports and physical activities.

Transformable Magnetic Liquid-Metal Nanoplatform for Intracellular Drug Delivery and MR Imaging-Guided Microwave Thermochemotherapy

Improved techniques for the administration of chemotherapeutic drugs are required to enhance tumor therapy efficacy and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy due to insufficient targeting and limited intratumoral drug release. Controlled drug delivery systems combined with thermotherapy are expected to play an important role in personalized tumor therapy. Herein, a novel microwave-responsive transformable magnetic liquid-metal (MLM) nanoplatform is designed for effective endosomal escape that facilitates intracellular drug delivery and enhanced anticancer therapy. The MLM nanoplatform exhibits a sensitive magnetic resonance imaging function for imaging-guided therapy and brilliant synergistic effects of chemotherapy with microwave thermal therapy to kill tumor cells. Once endocytosed by targeted tumor cells, the deep penetration of microwave energy can be absorbed by the MLM nanoplatform to convert heat and reactive oxygen species, which induces the shape transformation from nanospheres to large rods, resulting in the physical disruption of the endosomal membrane for intracellular drug release. Furthermore, the MLM nanoplatform synergistic therapy could activate immunomodulatory effects by M1 macrophage polarization and T cell infiltration, thus inhibiting tumor growth and lung metastasis. This work based on microwave-driven transformable magnetic liquid-metal nanoplatform provides novel ways to precisely control drug delivery and high-efficiency cancer therapy.

Biodegradable PBAT microplastics adversely affect pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) growth and the rhizosphere ecology: Focusing on rhizosphere microbial community composition, element metabolic potential, and root exudates

Biodegradable plastics (BPs) have gained increased attention as a promising solution to plastics pollution problem. However, BPs often exhibited limited in situ biodegradation in the soil environment, so they may also release microplastics (MPs) into soils just like conventional non-degradable plastics. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the impacts of biodegradable MPs (BMPs) on soil ecosystem. Here, we explored the effects of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) MPs and conventional polyethylene (PE) MPs on soil-plant (pakchoi) system at three doses (0.02 %, 0.2 %, and 2 %, w/w). Results showed that PBAT MPs reduced plant growth in a dose-dependent pattern, while PE MPs exhibited no significant phytotoxicity. High-dose PBAT MPs negatively affected the rhizosphere soil nutrient availability, e.g., decreased available phosphorus and available potassium. Metagenomics analysis revealed that PBAT MPs caused more serious interference with the rhizosphere microbial community composition and function than PE MPs. In particular, compared with PE MPs, PBAT MPs induced greater changes in functional potential of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycles, which may lead to alterations in soil biogeochemical processes and ecological functions. Moreover, untargeted metabolomics showed that PBAT MPs and PE MPs differentially affect plant root exudates. Mantel tests, correlation analysis, and partial least squares path model analysis showed that changes in plant growth and root exudates were significantly correlated with soil properties and rhizosphere microbiome driven by the MPs-rhizosphere interactions. This work improves our knowledge of how biodegradable and conventional non-degradable MPs affect plant growth and the rhizosphere ecology, highlighting that BMPs might pose greater threat to soil ecosystems than non-degradable MPs.

Ibrutinib-induced pulmonary angiotensin-converting enzyme activation promotes atrial fibrillation in rats

The molecular mechanism of ibrutinib-induced atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. We here demonstrate that treating rats with ibrutinib for 4 weeks resulted in the development of inducible AF, left atrial enlargement, atrial fibrosis, and downregulation of connexin expression, which were associated with C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) inhibition and Src activation. Ibrutinib upregulated angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) protein expression in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT pathway, subsequently increasing circulating angiotensin II (Ang II) levels. However, the expression of ACE and Ang II in the left atria was not affected. Importantly, we observed that perindopril significantly mitigated ibrutinib-induced left atrial remodeling and AF promotion by inhibiting the activation of the ACE and its downstream CSK-Src signaling pathway. These findings indicate that the Ibrutinib-induced activation of the ACE contributes to AF development and could serve as a novel target for potential prevention strategies.

Erzhi pills reverse PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression in melanoma microenvironment

Background

Cancer immunotherapies aimed at activating immune system, especially by blocking immune checkpoints, have become a successful modality for treating patients with advanced cancers. However, its clinical practice is frequently conceded by high outcomes, low initial response rates and severe side effects. New strategies are necessary to complement and advance this biological therapy. Erzhi Pills (EZP) have diverse pharmaceutical effects including immune regulation, anti-tumor and anti-senescence. We hypothesized that EZP could exert its antitumor effect through immunomodulation.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of EZP on anti-tumor activities, and define its molecular mechanisms.

Methods

By applying melanoma model with high immune infiltrates, we determined the anti-melanoma effect of EZP. To identify whether this effect was mediated by direct targeting tumor cells, cell viability and apoptosis were examined in vitro. Network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the potential mechanisms of EZP for melanoma via immune response. Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry (IHC), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and crystal violet (CV) experiments were performed to detect T cell infiltrations and functions mediated by EZP. The mechanism of EZP was further investigated by western blotting both in vivo and in vitro.

Results

The administration of EZP significantly inhibited tumor weight and volume. EZP extract could only slightly reduce cell viability and induce melanoma apoptosis. Network pharmacology analysis predicted that JAK-STAT signaling pathway and T cell receptor signaling pathway might be involved during EZP treatment. Flow cytometry and IHC analyses showed that EZP increased the number of CD4+ T cells and enhanced the function of CD8+ T cells. In co-culture experiments, EZP elevated killing ability of T cells. Western blotting showed that EZP treatment reduced PD-L1 signaling pathway.

Conclusion

These findings indicated that EZP exerted anti-melanoma effects by inducing apoptosis and blocking PD-L1 to activate T cells. EZP might represent a promising candidate drug for cancer immunotherapies.

A landscape of gene expression regulation for synovium in arthritis

The synovium is an important component of any synovial joint and is the major target tissue of inflammatory arthritis. However, the multi-omics landscape of synovium required for functional inference is absent from large-scale resources. Here we integrate genomics with transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility features of human synovium in up to 245 arthritic patients, to characterize the landscape of genetic regulation on gene expression and the regulatory mechanisms mediating arthritic diseases predisposition. We identify 4765 independent primary and 616 secondary cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTLs) in the synovium and find that the eQTLs with multiple independent signals have stronger effects and heritability than single independent eQTLs. Integration of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and eQTLs identifies 84 arthritis related genes, revealing 38 novel genes which have not been reported by previous studies using eQTL data from the GTEx project or immune cells. We further develop a method called eQTac to identify variants that could affect gene expression by affecting chromatin accessibility and identify 1517 regions with potential regulatory function of chromatin accessibility. Altogether, our study provides a comprehensive synovium multi-omics resource for arthritic diseases and gains new insights into the regulation of gene expression.

Recent advances in the treatment and delivery system of diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a highly tissue-specific neurovascular complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and is among the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Pathophysiological changes in DR encompass neurodegeneration, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Current treatments for DR, including anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, steroids, laser photocoagulation, and vitrectomy have limitations and adverse reactions, necessitating the exploration of novel treatment strategies. This review aims to summarize the current pathophysiology, therapeutic approaches, and available drug-delivery methods for treating DR, and discuss their respective development potentials. Recent research indicates the efficacy of novel receptor inhibitors and agonists, such as aldose reductase inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha agonists, and novel drugs in delaying DR. Furthermore, with continuous advancements in nanotechnology, a new form of drug delivery has been developed that can address certain limitations of clinical drug therapy, such as low solubility and poor penetration. This review serves as a theoretical foundation for future research on DR treatment. While highlighting promising therapeutic targets, it underscores the need for continuous exploration to enhance our understanding of DR pathogenesis. The limitations of current treatments and the potential for future advancements emphasize the importance of ongoing research in this field.

Minimum Minutes Machine-Learning Microfluidic Microbe Monitoring Method (M7)

Frequent outbreaks of viral diseases have brought substantial negative impacts on society and the economy, and they are very difficult to detect, as the concentration of viral aerosols in the air is low and the composition is complex. The traditional detection method is manually collection and re-detection, being cumbersome and time-consuming. Here we propose a virus aerosol detection method based on microfluidic inertial separation and spectroscopic analysis technology to rapidly and accurately detect aerosol particles in the air. The microfluidic chip is designed based on the principles of inertial separation and laminar flow characteristics, resulting in an average separation efficiency of 95.99% for 2 μm particles. We build a microfluidic chip composite spectrometer detection platform to capture the spectral information on aerosol particles dynamically. By employing machine-learning techniques, we can accurately classify different types of aerosol particles. The entire experiment took less than 30 min as compared with hours by PCR detection. Furthermore, our model achieves an accuracy of 97.87% in identifying virus aerosols, which is comparable to the results obtained from PCR detection.

Oridonin-induced ferroptosis and apoptosis: a dual approach to suppress the growth of osteosarcoma cells

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common aggressive bone malignancy tumors in adolescents. With the application of new chemotherapy regimens, finding new and effective anti-OS drugs to coordinate program implementation is urgent for the patients of OS. Oridonin had been proved to mediate anti-tumor effect on OS cells, but its mechanism has not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

The effects of oridonin on the viability, clonal formation and migration of 143B and U2OS cells were detected by CCK-8, colony formation assays and wound-healing test. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was used to explore the mechanism of oridonin on OS. Western blot (WB), real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis and ferroptosis-relative proteins and genes. Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit and flow cytometry examination were used to detect the level of apoptosis. Iron assay kit was used to evaluate the relative Fe2+ content. The levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and lipid peroxidation production was determined by mitochondrial membrane potential detection kit and ROS assay kit.

RESULTS

Oridonin could effectively inhibit the survival, clonal formation and metastasis of OS cells. The KEGG results indicated that oridonin is associated with the malignant phenotypic signaling pathways of proliferation, migration, and drug resistance in OS. Oridonin was capable of inhibiting expressions of BAX, cl-caspase3, SLC7A11, GPX4 and FTH1 proteins and mRNA, while promoting the expressions of Bcl-2 and ACSL4 in 143B and U2OS cells. Additionally, we found that oridonin could promote the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Fe2+ in OS cells, as well as reduce mitochondrial membrane potential, and these effects could be significantly reversed by the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1).

CONCLUSION

Oridonin can trigger apoptosis and ferroptosis collaboratively in OS cells, making it a promising and effective agent for OS therapy.

Spatial-Temporal Kinetic Behaviors of Micron-Nano Dust Adsorption along Epoxy Resin Insulator Surfaces and the Physical Mechanism of Induced Surface Flashover

The advanced Gas Insulated Switchgear/Gas Insulated Lines (GIS/GIL) transmission equipment serves as an essential physical infrastructure for establishing a new energy power system. An analysis spanning nearly a decade on faults arising from extra/ultra-high voltage discharges reveals that over 60% of such faults are attributed to the discharge of metal particles and dust. While existing technical means, such as ultra-high frequency and ultrasonic sensing, exhibit effectiveness in online monitoring of particles larger than sub-millimeter dimensions, the inherent randomness and elusive nature of micron-nano dust pose challenges for effective characterization through current technology. This elusive micron-nano dust, likely concealed as a latent threat, necessitates special attention due to its potential as a "safety killer". To address the challenges associated with detecting micron-nano dust and comprehending its intricate mechanisms, this paper introduces a micron-nano dust adsorption experimental platform tailored for observation and practical application in GIS/GIL operations. The findings highlight that micron-nano dust's adsorption state in the electric field predominantly involves agglomerative adsorption along the insulator surface and diffusive adsorption along the direction of the ground electrode. The pivotal factors influencing dust movement include the micron-nano dust's initial position, mass, material composition, and applied voltage. Further elucidation emphasizes the potential of micron-nano dust as a concealed safety hazard. The study reveals specific physical phenomena during the adsorption process. Agglomerative adsorption results in micron-nano dust speckles forming on the epoxy resin insulator's surface. With increasing voltage, these speckles undergo an "explosion", forming an annular dust halo with deepening contours. This phenomenon, distinct from the initial adsorption, is considered a contributing factor to flashovers along the insulator's surface. The physical mechanism behind flashovers triggered by micron-nano dust is uncovered, highlighting the formation of a localized short circuit area and intense electric field distortion constituted by dust speckles. These findings establish a theoretical foundation and technical support for enhancing the safe operational performance of AC and DC transmission pipelines' insulation.

Tunable electronic properties and optoelectronic characteristics of MoGe2N4/SiC van der Waals heterostructure

The assembly of van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure with easily regulated electronic properties provides a new way for the expansion of two-dimensional materials and promotes the development of optoelectronics, sensors, switching devices and other fields. In this work, a systematic investigation of the electronic properties of MoGe2N4/SiC heterostructures using density functional theory has been conducted, along with the modulation of electronic properties by vertical strain and the potential application prospects in optoelectronic devices. The results show that MoGe2N4/SiC heterostructure has excellent dynamic and thermal stability and belongs to type-II band alignment semiconductors. This is extremely beneficial for the separation of photo-generating electron-hole pairs, so it has important significance for the development of photovoltaic materials. In addition, under the control of vertical strain, the semiconductor-metal transition occurs in the MoGe2N4/SiC heterostructure when the compressive strain reaches 6%. In the case of compressive strain less than 6% and tensile strain, the MoGe2N4/SiC heterostructure maintains the type-II band alignment semiconductor characteristics. Meanwhile, we find that the MoGe2N4/SiC heterostructure has optical absorption coefficients of up to 105in the visible and ultraviolet light ranges, which can improve the absorption coefficients of the MoGe2N4and SiC monolayer in some visible light regions. Finally, the optical conductivity of the MoGe2N4/SiC heterostructure exhibits significant anisotropy, with the armchair direction displaying higher conductivity within the orange light range. In conclusion, the formation of vdW heterostructure by vertically stacking MoGe2N4and SiC monolayers can effectively improve their electronic and optical properties, which provides a valuable reference for the future development of electronic devices and photovoltaic materials.

Fabrication of levofloxacin-loaded porcine acellular dermal matrix hydrogel and functional assessment in urinary tract infection

Bacterial cystitis, a commonly occurring urinary tract infection (UTI), is renowned for its extensive prevalence and tendency to recur. Despite the extensive utilization of levofloxacin as a conventional therapeutic approach for bacterial cystitis, its effectiveness is impeded by adverse toxic effects, drug resistance concerns, and its influence on the gut microbiota. This study introduces Lev@PADM, a hydrogel with antibacterial properties that demonstrates efficacy in the treatment of bacterial cystitis. Lev@PADM is produced by combining levofloxacin with decellularized porcine acellular dermal matrix hydrogel and exhibits remarkable biocompatibility. Lev@PADM demonstrates excellent stability as a hydrogel at body temperature, enabling direct administration to the site of infection through intravesical injection. This localized delivery route circumvents the systemic circulation of levofloxacin, resulting in a swift and substantial elevation of the antimicrobial agent's concentration specifically at the site of infection. The in vivo experimental findings provide evidence that Lev@PADM effectively prolongs the duration of levofloxacin's action, impedes the retention and invasion of E.coli in the urinary tract, diminishes the infiltration of innate immune cells into infected tissues, and simultaneously preserves the composition of the intestinal microbiota. These results indicate that, in comparison to the exclusive administration of levofloxacin, Lev@PADM offers notable benefits in terms of preserving the integrity of the bladder epithelial barrier and suppressing the recurrence of urinary tract infections.

All-in-One Self-Powered Microneedle Device for Accelerating Infected Diabetic Wound Repair

Diabetic wound healing remains a significant clinical challenge due to the complex microenvironment and attenuated endogenous electric field. Herein, a novel all-in-one self-powered microneedle device (termed TZ@mMN-TENG) is developed by combining the multifunctional microneedle carried tannin@ZnO microparticles (TZ@mMN) with the self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). In addition to the delivery of tannin and Zn2+ , TZ@mMN also effectively conducts electrical stimulation (ES) to infected diabetic wounds. As a self-powered device, the TENG can convert biomechanical motion into exogenous ES to accelerate the infected diabetic wound healing. In vitro experiment demonstrated that TZ@mMN shows excellent conductive, high antioxidant ability, and effective antibacterial properties against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (>99% antibacterial rates). Besides, the TZ@mMN-TENG can effectively promote cell proliferation and migration. In the diabetic rat full-thickness skin wound model infected with Staphylococcus aureus, the TZ@mMN-TENG can eliminate bacteria, accelerate epidermal growth (regenerative epidermis: ≈303.3 ± 19.1 µm), enhance collagen deposition, inhibit inflammation (lower TNF-α and IL-6 expression), and promote angiogenesis (higher CD31 and VEGF expression) to accelerate infected wound repair. Overall, the TZ@mMN-TENG provides a promising strategy for clinical application in diabetic wound repair.

Surgery versus radiotherapy for limited-stage small cell esophageal carcinoma: a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study in China (ChiSCEC)

BACKGROUND

There is no standard management for small cell esophageal carcinoma (SCEC). The purpose of this multicenter, retrospective study (ChiSCER) was to investigate the treatment, outcomes, and risk factors impacting survival endpoints in patients with limited-stage SCEC (LS-SCEC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients with LS-SCEC from 14 institutions between 2000 and 2020 in China were enrolled. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using a log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models and propensity score matching (PSM) analysis were adopted in the prognostic analysis. Results were reported as hazard ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and P value. Statistical significance was set as P value <0.05 in a two-tailed test.

RESULTS

Among 458 LS-SCEC patients, the median age was 63 [interquartile range (IQR), 57-68] years, and 318 (69%) were males. Eighty-four (18%), 167 (36%), and 207 (45%) patients received chemotherapy (CT) alone, CT plus definitive radiotherapy (CT+RT), and CT plus radical surgery (CT+S), respectively. With a median follow-up time of 58.7 (95% CI 48.9-68.6) months, the median overall survival (OS) and 3-year OS rate for all patients 24.3 (95% CI 21.6-27) months and 37.3% (95% CI 32.8-42.5%), respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that treatment modes, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), TNM stage, and CT cycle were independent prognostic factors for OS ( P <0.05). Compared with CT alone, patients treated with CT+RT (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.8, P =0.001) or CT+S (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.42-0.82, P =0.002) had an improved OS, with no significant survival differences between CT+S and CT+RT groups after multivariate and PSM analyses ( P >0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated that compared with CT+RT, patients with tumor location at lower 1/3 (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.37-0.93, P =0.03) or tumor length >5 cm (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.3-0.9, P =0.02) could obtain significant OS benefit from CT+S. Patients with tumor location at middle 1/3 (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.03-2.36, P =0.04) or tumor length ≤5 cm (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.02-2.17, P =0.04) favored CT+RT. Distant metastasis accounted for 73.7% of all treatment failures after multidisciplinary treatments.

CONCLUSION

Surgery and RT were equally effective local therapies for patients with LS-SCEC. The personalized decision of local therapy should be made after comprehensive considerations on tumor location, length, comorbidities, and organ preservation.

The effects of priming on rhinologic patient reported outcome measures: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are questionnaires designed to assess a patient's perception of their medical condition. The 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22), the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI) and the mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniRQLQ) are validated PROMs commonly used to assess rhinologic conditions. The objective of this study is to determine if responses on these PROMs may be influenced by priming respondents with positive or negative health-related questionnaires.

METHODS

Nine hundred patients were prospectively randomized to one of nine groups. Groups A, D and G were positively primed prior to completing the SNOT-22, the RSDI and MiniRQLQ, respectively. Groups B, E, and H were negatively primed. Groups C, F, and I served as control groups, completing the PROMs without priming. Priming was performed by administering a survey designed to make patients think about their health-related quality of life in a positive or negative way.

RESULTS

Patients who were primed negatively had statistically significantly worse scores on the SNOT-22, RSDI and MiniRQLQ when compared to patients who were primed positively. When compared to the control group, patients who were primed negatively had statistically worse scores on the SNOT-22 and RSDI. There was no significant difference in scores between the positive priming and the control groups for any PROM.

CONCLUSIONS

Priming subjects regarding their health-related quality of life impacts their responses on rhinologic PROMs. Further study is required to understand the clinical and research implications of this novel finding and to clarify the optimal manner for administering and interpreting PROMs.

High serum lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio is associated with increased risk of poor prognosis after ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio (LAR) is a comprehensive biomarker for anaerobiosis, inflammation, and nutritional status, but its prognostic value for ischemic stroke has rarely been reported. We aimed to prospectively investigate whether serum LAR is associated with the prognosis of ischemic stroke patients in a large-scale cohort study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum LAR levels were measured among 6634 patients with ischemic stroke admitted at Minhang hospital from January 2018 to December 2022. The primary outcome was the composite of major disability and death (modified Rankin Scale score [mRS] ≥ 3) at 3-month follow up. Secondary outcomes included death and the ordered 7-level category score of mRS. Multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic splines were adopted to evaluate the associations between serum LAR levels and adverse clinical outcomes of ischemic stroke.

RESULTS

During 3 months of follow-up period, a total of 2125 patients experienced primary outcome. After multivariate adjustment, the highest quartile of serum LAR was associated with an increased risk of primary outcome (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-1.83; P for trend < 0.001). Each standard deviation higher log-transformed serum LAR resulted in a 20% (95% CI, 12%-28%) increased risk of primary outcome. Furthermore, multivariable-adjusted restricted cubic spline analyses showed a linear association between the serum LAR level with primary outcome (P for linearity < 0.001). Finally, the addition of serum LAR to conventional risk factors significantly improved risk predictive abilities for the primary outcome (net reclassification improvement [NRI]: 18.35%, P < 0.001; integrated discrimination improvement [IDI]: 0.35%, P < 0.001) at 3-month follow up in patients with ischemic stroke.

CONCLUSION

High serum LAR level was independently associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes among patients with ischemic stroke, indicating that serum LAR may be a valuable prognostic biomarker for ischemic stroke.

Establishment of machine learning-based tool for early detection of pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a complex disease with high mortality and morbidity rate, leading to increasing society burden. However, current diagnosis is solely based on symptoms and laboratory data despite its complex pathology, which easily leads to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis by inexperienced doctors. Especially, CT pulmonary angiography, the gold standard method, is not widely available. In this study, we aim to establish a rapid and accurate screening model for pulmonary embolism using machine learning technology. Importantly, data required for disease prediction are easily accessed, including routine laboratory data and medical record information of patients.

METHODS

We extracted features from patients' routine laboratory results and medical records, including blood routine, biochemical group, blood coagulation routine and other test results, as well as symptoms and medical history information. Samples with a feature loss rate greater than 0.8 were deleted from the original database. Data from 4723 cases were retained, 231 of which were positive for pulmonary embolism. 50 features were retained through the positive and negative statistical hypothesis testing which was used to build the predictive model. In order to avoid identification as majority-class samples caused by the imbalance of sample proportion, we used the method of Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) to increase the amount of information on minority samples. Five typical machine learning algorithms were used to model the screening of pulmonary embolism, including Support Vector Machines, Logistic Regression, Random Forest, XGBoost, and Back Propagation Neural Networks. To evaluate model performance, sensitivity, specificity and AUC curve were analyzed as the main evaluation indicators. Furthermore, a baseline model was established using the characteristics of the pulmonary embolism guidelines as a comparison model.

RESULTS

We found that XGBoost showed better performance compared to other models, with the highest sensitivity and specificity (0.99 and 0.99, respectively). Moreover, it showed significant improvement in performance compared to the baseline model (sensitivity and specificity were 0.76 and 0.76 respectively). More important, our model showed low missed diagnosis rate (0.46) and high AUC value (0.992). Finally, the calculation time of our model is only about 0.05 s to obtain the possibility of pulmonary embolism.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, five machine learning classification models were established to assess the likelihood of patients suffering from pulmonary embolism, and the XGBoost model most significantly improved the precision, sensitivity, and AUC for pulmonary embolism screening. Collectively, we have established an AI-based model to accurately predict pulmonary embolism at early stage.

The Clinical Significance and the Potential Regulatory Mechanism of the LncRNA OIP5-AS1 in Paediatric Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia Blood Through the MiR-150-5p/PDCD4 Axis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical significance and regulatory mechanism of the long non-coding RNA OIP5-AS1 in severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) among paediatric patients.

METHODS

qRT-PCR was used to assess the mRNA levels of OIP5-AS1. ROC curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic significance of OIP5-AS1. Short-term prognostic significance was evaluated through Kaplan-Meier survival. An in vitro cell model was developed using LPS-induced MRC-5 cells. CCK-8, flow cytometry, and ELISA were conducted to measure cell viability, apoptosis, and inflammatory factor levels. The association between miR-150-5p and PDCD4 was confirmed through DLR assays.

RESULTS

Elevated OIP5-AS1 were observed in paediatric patients with SCAP, which enabled effective differentiation from healthy individuals. High expression of OIP5-AS1 correlated with reduced survival rates. OIP5-AS1 knockdown attenuated cell viability suppression and the promotion of apoptosis and inflammatory factors induced by LPS. However, this attenuation was reversed by reduced levels of miR-150-5p. miR-150-5p was identified as a target of PDCD4 and OIP5-AS1.

CONCLUSION

Increased OIP5-AS1 levels show potential as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for paediatric patients with SCAP. This study illustrates its role in regulating cell viability, apoptosis, and the inflammatory response via the miR-150-5p/PDCD4 axis, acting as a ceRNA.

The differentiation courses of the Tfh cells: a new perspective on autoimmune disease pathogenesis and treatment

The follicular helper T cells are derived from CD4+T cells, promoting the formation of germinal centers and assisting B cells to produce antibodies. This review describes the differentiation process of Tfh cells from the perspectives of the initiation, maturation, migration, efficacy, and subset classification of Tfh cells, and correlates it with autoimmune disease, to provide information for researchers to fully understand Tfh cells and provide further research ideas to manage immune-related diseases.

Designing External Pores of Aluminum Oxo Polyhedrons for Efficient Iodine Capture

Although metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) expansion has been studied to date, it is still a rare occurrence for their porous intermolecular assembly for iodine capture. The major limitation is the lack of programmable and controllable methods for effectively constructing and utilizing the exterior cavities. Herein, the goal of programmable porous intermolecular assembly is realized in the first family of aluminum oxo polyhedrons (AlOPs) using ligands with directional H-bonding donor/acceptor pairs and auxiliary alcohols as structural regulation sites. The approach has the advantage of avoiding the use of expensive edge-directed ditopic and face-directed tritopic ligands in the general synthesis strategy of MOPs. Combining theoretical calculations and experiments, the intrinsic relationship is revealed between alcohol ligands and the growth mechanism of AlOPs. The maximum I2 uptake based on the mass gain during sorption corresponds to 2.35 g g-1 , representing the highest reported I2 sorption by an MOP. In addition, it can be easily regenerated and maintained the iodine sorption capacity, revealing its further potential application. This method of constructing stable and programmable porous materials will provide a new way to solve problems such as radionuclide capture.

[The association between body mass index and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events in patients with acute coronary syndrome]

Objective: To assess the association between body mass index (BMI) and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: This was a multicenter prospective cohort study, which was based on the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC) project. The hospitalized patients with ACS aged between 18 and 80 years, registered in CCC project from November 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019 were included. The included patients were categorized into four groups based on their BMI at the time of admission: underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI≥30.0 kg/m2). Multivariate logistic regression models was used to analyze the relationship between BMI and the risk of in-hospital MACCE. Results: A total of 71 681 ACS inpatients were included in the study. The age was (63.4±14.7) years, and 26.5% (18 979/71 681) were female. And the incidence of MACCE for the underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese groups were 14.9% (322/2 154), 9.5% (3 997/41 960), 7.9% (1 908/24 140) and 7.0% (240/3 427), respectively (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a higher incidence of MACCE in the underweight group compared to the normal weight group (OR=1.30, 95%CI 1.13-1.49, P<0.001), while the overweight and obese groups exhibited no statistically significant difference in the incidence of MACCE compared to the normal weight group (both P>0.05). Conclusion: ACS patients with BMI below normal have a higher risk of in-hospital MACCE, suggesting that BMI may be an indicator for evaluating short-term prognosis in ACS patients.

[Comparison of efficacy and safety between domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors and pembrolizumab in the treatment of driver gene-negative advanced non-small cell lung cancer]

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors and pembrolizumab in the treatment of driver gene-negative advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 1 241 patients with driver gene-negative, unresectable stage ⅢB to Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer who were treated at the Hunan Cancer Hospital from January 1, 2017 to October 1, 2022. All patients received monotherapy or combination therapy with domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors or pembrolizumab. Among the 1 241 patients, there were 1 066 males and 175 females, with an age range of 14 to 84 years and a median age of 62 years. Among them, 67 patients received monotherapy with domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors, 695 patients received combination therapy with domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors, 102 patients received monotherapy with pembrolizumab, and 377 patients received combination therapy with pembrolizumab. The efficacy and safety of domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors and pembrolizumab monotherapy or combination therapy were compared. Results: In the immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy group, the objective response rate (ORR) using domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors and pembrolizumab was 43.3%(29/67) and 44.1%(45/102), respectively, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 79.1%(53/67) and 84.3%(86/102), respectively, with no statistically significant differences (both P>0.05). In the immune combination therapy group, the ORR using domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors and pembrolizumab was 60.9%(423/695) and 62.9%(237/377), respectively, and the DCR was 92.9%(646/695) and 91.0%(343/377), respectively, with no statistically significant differences (both P>0.05). In the immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy group, the median progression-free survival (PFS) using domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors and pembrolizumab was 9.0 (95%CI: 3.0-15.0) months and 7.4 (95%CI: 4.8-9.8) months, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (P=0.660). The median overall survival (OS) was 27.0 (95%CI: 25.0-29.0) months and 22.0 (95%CI: 17.1-26.9) months, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (P=0.673). In the immune combination therapy group, the median PFS using domestic immune checkpoint inhibitors and pembrolizumab was 9.0 (95%CI: 8.2-9.8) months and 10.5 (95%CI: 9.0-12.0) months, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (P=0.186). The median OS was 24.0 (95%CI: 19.1-28.9) months and 26.0 (95%CI: 21.3-30.7) months, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (P=0.359). The incidence of grade 1-2 reactive capillary proliferation of the skin in the domestic immune checkpoint inhibitor group and pembrolizumab group was 14.0% (107/762) and 0, respectively. The incidence of grade≥3 reactive capillary proliferation of the skin was 1.0% (7/762) and 0, respectively, with statistically significant differences (both P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in other adverse reactions (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The efficacy of domestically produced immune checkpoint inhibitors is comparable to that of pembrolizumab in the treatment of driver gene-negative advanced non-small cell lung cancer. There is little difference in safety, except for the specific difference in domestically produced immune checkpoint inhibitor, which has a unique risk of reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation.

MyoV: a deep learning-based tool for the automated quantification of muscle fibers

Accurate approaches for quantifying muscle fibers are essential in biomedical research and meat production. In this study, we address the limitations of existing approaches for hematoxylin and eosin-stained muscle fibers by manually and semiautomatically labeling over 660 000 muscle fibers to create a large dataset. Subsequently, an automated image segmentation and quantification tool named MyoV is designed using mask regions with convolutional neural networks and a residual network and feature pyramid network as the backbone network. This design enables the tool to allow muscle fiber processing with different sizes and ages. MyoV, which achieves impressive detection rates of 0.93-0.96 and precision levels of 0.91-0.97, exhibits a superior performance in quantification, surpassing both manual methods and commonly employed algorithms and software, particularly for whole slide images (WSIs). Moreover, MyoV is proven as a powerful and suitable tool for various species with different muscle development, including mice, which are a crucial model for muscle disease diagnosis, and agricultural animals, which are a significant meat source for humans. Finally, we integrate this tool into visualization software with functions, such as segmentation, area determination and automatic labeling, allowing seamless processing for over 400 000 muscle fibers within a WSI, eliminating the model adjustment and providing researchers with an easy-to-use visual interface to browse functional options and realize muscle fiber quantification from WSIs.

The dopamine receptor D1 inhibitor, SKF83566, suppresses GBM stemness and invasion through the DRD1-c-Myc-UHRF1 interactions

BACKGROUND

Extensive local invasion of glioblastoma (GBM) cells within the central nervous system (CNS) is one factor that severely limits current treatments. The aim of this study was to uncover genes involved in the invasion process, which could also serve as therapeutic targets. For the isolation of invasive GBM cells from non-invasive cells, we used a three-dimensional organotypic co-culture system where glioma stem cell (GSC) spheres were confronted with brain organoids (BOs). Using ultra-low input RNA sequencing (ui-RNA Seq), an invasive gene signature was obtained that was exploited in a therapeutic context.

METHODS

GFP-labeled tumor cells were sorted from invasive and non-invasive regions within co-cultures. Ui-RNA sequencing analysis was performed to find a gene cluster up-regulated in the invasive compartment. This gene cluster was further analyzed using the Connectivity MAP (CMap) database. This led to the identification of SKF83566, an antagonist of the D1 dopamine receptor (DRD1), as a candidate therapeutic molecule. Knockdown and overexpression experiments were performed to find molecular pathways responsible for the therapeutic effects of SKF83566. Finally, the effects of SKF83566 were validated in orthotopic xenograft models in vivo.

RESULTS

Ui-RNA seq analysis of three GSC cell models (P3, BG5 and BG7) yielded a set of 27 differentially expressed genes between invasive and non-invasive cells. Using CMap analysis, SKF83566 was identified as a selective inhibitor targeting both DRD1 and DRD5. In vitro studies demonstrated that SKF83566 inhibited tumor cell proliferation, GSC sphere formation, and invasion. RNA sequencing analysis of SKF83566-treated P3, BG5, BG7, and control cell populations yielded a total of 32 differentially expressed genes, that were predicted to be regulated by c-Myc. Of these, the UHRF1 gene emerged as the most downregulated gene following treatment, and ChIP experiments revealed that c-Myc binds to its promoter region. Finally, SKF83566, or stable DRD1 knockdown, inhibited the growth of orthotopic GSC (BG5) derived xenografts in nude mice.

CONCLUSIONS

DRD1 contributes to GBM invasion and progression by regulating c-Myc entry into the nucleus that affects the transcription of the UHRF1 gene. SKF83566 inhibits the transmembrane protein DRD1, and as such represents a candidate small therapeutic molecule for GBMs.

A portable microfluidic photometric detection method based on enzyme linked immunoscatter enhancement

Currently, the combination of smart phones and microfluidic chips is a commonly used device for point-of-care testing (POCT) detection. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is an effective way to detect specific proteins in disease. Because the detection accuracy of smartphone cameras is difficult to directly replace high-precision spectral devices, the combination of smartphones and ELISA has not been widely used. Therefore, this paper proposes a microfluidic photometric detection method based on ELISA scattering enhancement. Firstly, the scattering characteristics of IMB are mined, and the optimal value of absorbance error compensation parameter is obtained. Secondly, the absorbance error compensation model based on scattering enhancement characteristics is established to improve the image acquisition accuracy of smart phones. Finally, the microfluidic photometric detection chip is developed, and the optical path system, optical path adjustment system and POCT detection App of smart phone are designed. The optimal compensation parameters of IMB were obtained based on simulated samples, and the linearity of absorbance and concentration increased by 22.6% after compensation. In the IL-6 sample experiment, the detection results of the platform in this paper had a good linear correlation with IL-6 sample concentration, and the linear correlation coefficient was above 0.95459. At the same time, the detection limit and accuracy meet the detection requirements. Therefore, with the participation of smart phones and microfluidic chips, problems such as difficult carrying and complex operation in traditional ELISA daily detection have been solved, laying a foundation for the future promotion and application of ELISA based POCT platform.