Effects of direct-fed microbial supplementation on performance and immune parameters of lactating dairy cows

We evaluated the effects of supplementing bacterial direct-fed microbial (DFM) on performance, apparent total-tract digestibility, rumen fermentation, and immune parameters of lactating dairy cows. One hundred fourteen multiparous Holstein cows (41 ± 7 DIM) were used in a randomized complete block design with an experiment comprising 14 d of a covariate (pre-experimental sample and data collection) and 91 d of an experimental period. Cows were blocked based on energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield during the covariate period and the following treatments were randomly assigned within each block: (1) control (CON), corn silage-based total mixed ration without DFM; (2) PRO-A, basal diet top-dressed with a mixture of Lactobacillus animalis and Propionibacterium freudenreichii at 3 × 109 cfu/d; and 3) PRO-B, basal diet top-dressed with a mixture of L. animalis, P. freudenreichii, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis at 11.8 × 109 cfu/d. Milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), and body weight were measured daily, while milk samples for component analysis were taken on 2 consecutive days of each week of data collection. Feces, urine, rumen, and blood samples were taken during the covariate period, wk 4, 7, 10, and 13 for estimation of digestibility, N-partitioning, rumen fermentation, plasma nutrient status and immune parameters. Treatments had no effect on DMI and milk yield. Fat-corrected milk (3.5% FCM) and milk fat yield were improved with PRO-B, while milk fat percent and feed efficiency (ECM/DMI) tended to increase with PRO-B compared with PRO-A and CON. Crude fat digestibility was greater with PRO-B compared with CON. Feeding CON and PRO-A resulted in higher total volatile fatty acid concentration relative to PRO-B. Percentage of neutrophils tended to be reduced with PRO-A compared with CON and PRO-B. The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of anti-CD44 antibody on granulocytes tended to be higher in PRO-B compared with CON. The MFI of anti-CD62L antibody on CD8+ T cells was lower in PRO-A than PRO-B, with PRO-A also showing a tendency to be lower than CON. This study indicates the potential of DFM to improve fat digestibility with consequential improvement in fat corrected milk yield, feed efficiency and milk fat yield by lactating dairy cows. The study findings also indicate that dietary supplementation with DFM may augment immune parameters or activation of immune cells, including granulocytes and T cells; however, the overall effects on immune parameters are inconclusive.

Construction of Marigold-like Poly(vinyl alcohol) Microspheres for Catalytic Microreactors

It has long been pursued to develop polymer microspheres with various special morphologies and structures for better results in applications such as catalysis, drug delivery, and bioscaffolds. However, it remains a challenge to develop a facile method to produce poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) microspheres with special morphologies. Herein, a micron-sized marigold-like poly(vinyl alcohol) (CE-PVATPA) microsphere was engineered and fabricated by a feasible strategy, that is, emulsification-cross-linking, freeze-drying, and secondary acetal reaction steps. The morphological evolution of microspheres was systematically investigated under different conditions, and the procedure of constructing PVA microspheres with stabilizing marigold-like structures was proposed. More importantly, a specially structured PVA microsphere microreactor synergistically loading palladium metal nanoparticles (CE-PVATPA@Pd) for the heterogeneous catalyst 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) could be further demonstrated, which indicated high catalytic activity and excellent recyclability. The resultant stabilized fabricating method is promising to provide valuable guidance for the design and fabrication of a high-performance PVA microsphere microreactor.

A102 INTERDISCIPLINARY TELEHEALTH REFERRAL PATHWAY AND CONSULTATIONS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES AMONG CANADIAN OLDER ADULTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Background

Telehealth and telemedicine have become indispensable healthcare delivery tools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older individuals with cirrhosis have complex medical needs that are currently unmet due to the growing disease burden and decreased access to care. Delivering timely specialist care virtually to older adults with cirrhosis will likely be beneficial and acceptable to such patients; however, this has not yet been prospectively evaluated.

Purpose

The primary goal is to pilot the delivery of dual specialist care from a hepatologist and geriatrician, delivered virtually, for older adults living with liver cirrhosis who are at high risk of geriatric syndromes (age >/= 65 with frailty, undifferentiated cognitive impairment from dementia or hepatic encephalopathy, recurrent falls, risk factors for polypharmacy and moderate to severe malnutrition). Care is delivered using a dedicated hepatology-geriatric referral pathway. Primary objectives include evaluating the impact of this approach on emergency care and inpatient utilization, along with patient attitude and satisfaction to the virtual interdisciplinary care delivery model.

Method

This pilot quality improvement study was conducted in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ethics approval was obtained from the Nova Scotia Health Research Ethics Board and the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board. Fifty to one hundred participants (age 65 years or older with at least one geriatric syndrome; diagnosis of liver cirrhosis by liver elastography or liver biopsy, or Fibrosis-4 Index for Liver Fibrosis greater than three and having radiological features of cirrhosis and/or portal hypertension) were recruited between September 2022 to December 2022 at the time of their hepatology consultation. After consent and screening, each patient underwent a telehealth appointment by zoom with a geriatrician within four weeks of their initial hepatology assessment. Follow-up by telephone using a standardized survey regarding ease of access and quality of their telehealth experience then occurred at 3-4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months for emergency room visits and hospital admission status.

Result(s)

Pending

Conclusion(s)

Pending

Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below

Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

Pfizer Canada

Disclosure of Interest

J. Zhu Grant / Research support from: Pfizer Canada, F. Carr Grant / Research support from: Pfizer Canada, P. Tian: None Declared, M. McLeod: None Declared, M. MacFarlane: None Declared, S. De Coutere: None Declared, M. Sun: None Declared, K. Peltekian: None Declared

A Hydrolyzable Supra-amphiphile as a Marangoni Self-Propulsion Fuel for Efficient Macroscopic Supramolecular Self-Assembly

Self-assembly of μm-to-mm components is important for achieving all-scale ordering with requirements of extra energy for motion and interaction of components. Marangoni flows caused by surfactants on water provide appropriate energy but have limited lifetimes because of the inevitable interfacial aggregation and difficult decomposition of aggregated covalent surfactants that inactivate Marangoni effects. Here we have synthesized a supra-amphiphile Marangoni "fuel"-sodium-4-(benzylideneamino) benzenesulfonate (SBBS)-that can be hydrolyzed in a timely manner to a species without surface activity to extend the motion time by 10-fold. The motion was optimized at pH=2 by a fine equilibrium between the releasing and removal of interfacial SBBS, leading to the self-assembly of millimeter-scaled ordered dimers. The underlying mechanism was interpreted by motion analyses and simulation. This strategy provides an active solution to self-assembly at the μm-to-mm scale, as well as interactive ideas between miniaturized chemical robots.

Screening of Lymphoma Radiotherapy-Resistant Genes with CRISPR Activation Library

Objective

The objective of this study was to screen lymphoma radiotherapy-resistant genes using CRISPR activation (CRISPRa).

Methods

The Human CRISPRa library virus was packaged and then transfected into lymphoma cells to construct an activation library cell line, which was irradiated at the minimum lethal radiation dose to screen radiotherapy-resistant cells. Radiotherapy-resistant cell single-guide RNA (sgRNA) was first amplified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the coding region and then subject to next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics analysis to screen radiotherapy-resistant genes. Certain radiotherapy-resistant genes were then selected to construct activated cell lines transfected with a single gene so as to further verify the relationship between gene expression and radiotherapy resistance.

Results

A total of 16 radiotherapy-resistant genes, namely, C20orf203, MTFR1, TAF1L, MYADM, NIPSNAP1, ZUP1, RASL11A, PSMB2, PSMA6, OR8H3, TMSB4Y, CD300LF, EEF1A1, ATP6AP1L, TRAF3IP2, and SNRNP35, were screened based on the NGS results and bioinformatics analysis of the radiotherapy-resistant cells. Activated cell lines transfected with a single gene were constructed using 10 radiotherapy-resistant genes. The qPCR findings showed that, when compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly up-regulated mRNA expression of MTFR1, NIPSNAP1, ZUP1, PSMB2, PSMA6, EEF1A1, TMSB4Y and TAF1L (p < 0.05). No significant difference in the mRNA expression of AKT3 or TRAF3IP2 (p > 0.05) was found between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The 16 genes screened are potential lymphoma radiotherapy-resistant genes. It was initially determined that the high expression of 8 genes was associated with lymphoma radiotherapy resistance, and these genes could serve as the potential biomarkers for predicting lymphoma radiotherapy resistance or as new targets for therapy.

Impact of the malnutrition on mortality in Rheumatoid arthritis patients: A cohort study from NHANES 1999-2014

Background

Patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are prone to malnutrition. However, it is rare studies assessing the relationship between malnutrition and all-cause mortality in patients with RA.

Objective

To investigate the relationship between malnutrition and all-cause mortality in patients with RA in a large national sample cohort.

Methods

We analyzed data on 1,976 adults ≥ 18 years of age during National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2014. We chose the Controlled Nutritional Status Score (CONUT) and the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI) to assess the nutritional status of patients with RA. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival curves Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the associations between malnutrition and all-cause mortality.

Results

Of the 1,976 patients with RA (57.38 ± 0.40 years, female 59.9%, non-Hispanic white 69.9%), the prevalence of malnutrition was 18.8% by used the CONUT and 26.6% by used the NRI. The KM survival curves showed that malnutrition was associated with a higher incidence of all-cause mortality during the 10-year follow-up period (log-rank test, P < 0.001). In the fully corrected model, the adjusting hazard ratio (aHR) for all-cause mortality in patients with moderate to severe malnutrition with CONUT and NRI were 5.63 (95% CI, 2.55-12.45; P < 0.001) and 2.56 (95% CI, 1.81-3.62; P < 0.001), respectively, compared with patients without malnutrition.

Conclusion

Malnutrition is very prevalent in patients with RA, approximately 18.8% (CONUT) to 26.6% (NRI). Malnutrition is strongly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. These findings underscore the importance of attention and intervention in the nutritional status of patients with RA. Further clinical trials are needed to prospectively assess the effect of nutritional interventions on the prognosis of patients with RA.

Wound healing mechanism of antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin-DM

Background and Purpose: Chronic wound infections and the development of antibiotic resistance are serious clinical problems that affect millions of people worldwide. Cathelicidin-DM, an antimicrobial peptide from Duttaphrynus melanostictus, has powerful antimicrobial activity and wound healing efficacy. So, it could be a potential candidate to address this problem. In this paper, we investigate the wound healing mechanism of cathelicidin-DM to establish a basis for preclinical studies of the drug. Experimental Approach: The effects of cathelicidin-DM on cell proliferation and migration, cytokines, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were examined. Then mice whole skin wound model was constructed to evaluate the wound healing activity of cathelicidin-DM, and further histological changes in the wounds were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E) and immunohistochemical assays. Key Results: Cathelicidin-DM promotes the proliferation of HaCaT, HSF, and HUVEC cells in a concentration-dependent manner and the migration of HSF, HUVEC, and RAW.264.7 cells. Moreover,cathelicidin-DM can involve in wound healing through activation of the MAPK signaling pathway by upregulating phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and P38. However, cathelicidin-DM didn't affect the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α. At the animal level, cathelicidin-DM accelerated skin wound healing and early debridement in mice as well as promoted re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation, α-SMA expression, and collagen I deposition in mice. Conclusion and Implications: Our data suggest that cathelicidin-DM can be engaged in the healing of infected and non-infected wounds through multiple pathways, providing a new strategy for the treatment of infected chronic wounds.

A Light-Powered Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on the Photothermal Marangoni Effect

The photothermal Marangoni effect enables direct light-to-work conversion, which is significant for realizing the self-propulsion of objects in a noncontact, controllable, and continuous manner. Many promising applications have been demonstrated in micro- and nanomachines, light-driven actuators, cargo transport, and gear transmission. Currently, the related studies about photothermal Marangoni effect-induced self-propulsion, especially rotational motions, remain focused on developing the novel photothermal materials, the structural designs, and the controllable self-propulsion modes. However, extending the related research from the laboratory practice to practical application remains a challenge. Herein, we combined the photothermal Marangoni effect-induced self-propulsion with the triboelectric nanogenerator technology for sunlight intensity determination. Photothermal black silicon, superhydrophobic copper foam with drag-reducing property, and triboelectric polytetrafluoroethylene film were integrated to fabricate a triboelectric nanogenerator. The photothermal-Marangoni-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (PMD-TENG) utilizes the photothermal Marangoni effect-induced self-propulsion to realize the relative motion between the triboelectric layer and the electrode, converting light into electrical signals, with a peak value of 2.35 V. The period of the output electrical signal has an excellent linear relationship with the light intensity. The accessible electrical signal generation strategy proposed here provides a new application for the photothermal Marangoni effect, which could further inspire the practical applications of the self-powered system based on the photothermal Marangoni effect, such as intelligent farming.

[Effects of the Three Gorges Reservoir Operation on Vertical Distribution of Chlorophyll a and Environmental Factors in Tributaries]

The hydrodynamics and environmental factors in the Xiangxi River (XXR) and Shennong River (SNR), which are tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), were monitored from July to August (the low water level period) and in October (the impoundment period) in 2018. The vertical distribution characteristics of chlorophyll a and other indicators of the two tributaries were analyzed during the different operation periods, and the factors that affected the vertical distribution in each period were discussed. The results showed that the vertical distribution of dissolved oxygen, water temperature, pH value, and chlorophyll a of the XXR and SNR during the low water level period was relatively consistent. The indexes 0-10 m (0-5 m for chlorophyll a) from the surface of the XXR and SNR, respectively, showed significant stratification and decreased with increasing water depth; the stability index of thermal stratification (RWCS/H) was 13.71-29.07 m^-1, which was stable. After the water depth reached 10 m (5 m for chlorophyll a), the indexes tended to be stable along the water depth. During the impoundment period, there was no obvious stratification for each index; the stability index of thermal stratification was 0-0.5 m^-1, the stability of the water body was weak, and the vertical variation of each index was relatively stable. The comprehensive trophic state index (TLI) of the XXR and SNR were 55 and 53 during the low water level period, respectively, indicating that they were in a slightly eutrophic state, and 39 and 46 during the impoundment period, respectively, indicating a mesotrophic state. Linear regression analysis showed that chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and pH in the two tributaries were significantly correlated in the vertical direction in the low water level period, indicating that dissolved oxygen, water temperature stratification, and pH were important factors affecting the vertical distribution of chlorophyll a. During the impoundment period, a large amount of backflow from the Yangtze River, a large fluctuation in tributary water level, and the decrease in RWCS/H were the important factors that affected the small vertical change in the water body. The enhancement of vertical mixing and the decrease in Z_eu/Z_mix were the key factors affecting the nutritional status of the water.

Mechanistic insights into genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in men and is a highly heritable disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Genome-wide association studies have to date discovered nearly 270 genetic loci harboring hundreds of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with PCa susceptibility. In contrast, the functional characterization of the mechanisms underlying PCa risk association is still growing. Given that PCa risk-associated SNPs are highly enriched in noncoding cis-regulatory genomic regions, accumulating evidence suggests a widespread modulation of transcription factor chromatin binding and allelic enhancer activity by these noncoding SNPs, thereby dysregulating gene expression. Emerging studies have shown that a proportion of noncoding variants can modulate the formation of transcription factor complexes at enhancers and CTCF-mediated 3D genome architecture. Interestingly, DNA methylation-regulated CTCF binding could orchestrate a long-range chromatin interaction between PCa risk enhancer and causative genes. Additionally, one-causal-variant-two-risk genes or multiple-risk-variant-multiple-genes are prevalent in some PCa risk-associated loci. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of the general principles of SNP-mediated gene regulation, experimental advances, and functional evidence supporting the mechanistic roles of several PCa genetic loci with potential clinical impact on disease prevention and treatment.

[Rapid discovery of tyrosinase inhibitors from Sophora flavescens:significance for comprehensive utilization of its non-medicinal resources]

Sophorae Flavescentis Radix,derived from the root of Sophora flavescens in the Leguminosae family,has been widely used in the medicine,agriculture,animal husbandry,and daily chemical industry. A pharmacophore model-based method for rapid discovery of tyrosinase inhibitors( TIs) from S. flavescens was established by molecular docking under Lipinski rules,and verified by enzyme assays. Briefly,the chemical constituent database of S. flavescens( CDSF) was established based on the previous papers. Theoptimal pharmacophore model( OPM) was constructed by DS 2019 on the basis of known active TIs. Eighty-three hits predominated by flavonoids having higher fitting scores with OPM than the positive control were screened out,and subjected to molecular docking based on the three-dimensional structure of tyrosinase crystal protein. The potential TIs such as kurarinone and nor-kurarinone were rapidly discovered from the compounds with higher docking scores than the positive control under the Lipinski rules. The results were verified by the in vitro enzyme assays. The inhibition activities of tyrosinase from non-medicinal parts of S. flavescens were also tested to explore the relationship between the inhibition activity and chemical compositions. This study is expected to provide data support for the comprehensive application and development of S. flavescens and also a new method for the rapid discovery of active substances or functional constituents in the complex systems.

Development of a Self-reported Olfactory Dysfunction Questionnaire (SODQ) to screen olfactory disorders in China

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction is challenging given the negligence during routine physical examination, inconvenience of diagnosis in clinical practice, and the inattention to cross-cultural adaptability. The study aimed to develop and validate a simple and effective self-reported olfactory dysfunction questionnaire (SODQ) for the initial screening of clinical olfactory disorders in China.

METHODS

A total of 121 subjects participated in the study; of these, 96 subjects completed the T&T olfactometer test and 12-item questionnaire, and 25 participants were retested using the SODQ after one week. The T&T olfactometer test examined the olfactory function and the questionnaire measured the ability to perceive common odors in daily life. We evaluated the factor structure, reliability, validity, and discriminative ability of the SODQ.

RESULTS

The final version of the SODQ consisted of 10 items with one factor. Test-retest and internal consistency were excellent. Convergent validity of the questionnaire with the T&T olfactory test was high. Furthermore, the discrimination ability was high for the questionnaire with an area under the curve of 0.95 and a cut-off point of 22.

CONCLUSIONS

The SODQ is a brief, valid, and repeatable tool that has the potential to effectively screen for clinical olfactory disorders from a subjective perspective.

Development and validation of novel diagnostic nomogram for tuberculous pleurisy based on TB-IGRA results

OBJECTIVE: To establish the diagnostic nomogram for tuberculous pleurisy (TP) based on TB-interferon-gamma release assays (TB-IGRA), as well as clinical and peripheral blood characteristics.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who underwent TB-IGRA tests during hospitalisation and were finally diagnosed, were retrospectively and continuously enrolled. TP was divided into confirmed TP (cTP) and presumptive TP (pTP), and corresponding diagnostic nomograms were established.RESULTS: A total of 1283 patients were enrolled (median age 49 years, range 14-96; males: 63.1%). The area under the curve (AUC) of TB-IGRA was 0.81 (95%CI 0.77-0.84) for cTP (n = 272) and 0.74 (95%CI 0.71-0.78) for pTP (n = 644). The false-positive and negative rates of TB-IGRA among non-TP and cTP were respectively 32.4% and 16.8%. Based on LASSO analysis, we then selected respectively 12 and 10 predictors from clinical and peripheral blood characteristics to establish cTP and pTP nomograms (TB-IGRA was selected). The cTP and pTP nomograms had an AUC of 0.93 (95%CI 0.90-0.95) and 0.92 (95%CI 0.90-0.94) in the training group, and 0.91 (95%CI 0.87-0.96) and 0.93 (95%CI 0.89-0.96) in the validation group, respectively, which were superior to TB-IGRA test alone.CONCLUSION: Novel predictive nomograms with less invasiveness were provided based on TB-IGRA test to assist differential diagnosis of TP and non-TP patients.

[Characteristics of Phosphorus Speciation and Genesis in Typical Tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir]

A comparative analysis of phosphate occurrence and its genesis during different dispatching periods of representative level I tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir was conducted. For this, water quality, hydrodynamic force, and environmental data were examined for backwater areas of the Xiangxi River and Shennong River during the low-water-level period (June), storage period (September) and high-water-level period (December) in 2018. The results suggest that the mass concentration of total phosphorus (TP) in the water body of the coves of Xiangxi River and Shennong River range from 0.049 mg·L^-1 to 0.168 mg·L^-1 and 0.059 mg·L^-1 to 0.152 mg·L^-1, respectively, surpassing the 0.02 mg·L^-1 threshold for algal blooms. The mass concentration of TP, DP (orthophosphate), and PP (particulate phosphorus) in the coves of the tributaries were ranked as follows:storage period > high-water-level period > low-water-level period for TP; storage period > low-water-level period > high-water-level period for DP; low-water-level period > high-water-level period > storage period for PP. Based on Pearson's correlation coefficients, TP and DP were significantly correlated as well as temperature and pH, which are the key factors influencing the phosphorus in soils and sediments in the water-level-fluctuation zone. During the low-water-level and high-water-level periods of the Three Gorges Reservoir, the TP in the coves of the tributaries mainly exists as PP, accounting for more than 75% and 60%, respectively. The flow in the coves of the tributaries slows during storage periods, meaning that settlement of PP is enhanced, changing the dominance of TP to dissolved total phosphorus (DTP).

Correlation of lipid peroxidation and ATP enzyme on erythrocyte membrane with fetal distress in the uterus in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims to investigate the correlation of lipid peroxide in erythrocytes and ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) enzyme activity of erythrocyte membrane with fetal distress in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-three patients with ICP treated at Jining No. 1 People's Hospital were enrolled as a study group, and another forty healthy parturient women in the same period were enrolled as a control group, to extract their elbow venous blood and fetal umbilical cord blood. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) was used to detect superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of erythrocytes, malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in plasma, Na+-K+-ATP enzyme activity and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATP enzyme activity of erythrocytes, which were compared between the study and control groups. The correlation of MDA, Na+-K+-ATP enzyme and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATP enzyme activities with fetal distress in the study group was analyzed, and the correlation of MDA with Na+-K+-ATP enzyme activity was investigated.

RESULTS

SOD and MDA activities of erythrocytes in maternal blood of the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively), but MDA activity in umbilical cord blood of the study group was markedly higher than that in the control group (p<0.001). Na+-K+-ATP enzyme and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATP enzyme activities of maternal and fetal erythrocytes of the study group were remarkably lower than those of the control group (p<0.001). MDA in the fetal distress group was significantly higher than that in the no fetal distress group in the study group (p<0.001). Na+-K+-ATP enzyme activity was negatively correlated with MDA concentration in maternal and fetal erythrocytes of patients with ICP (both p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Lipid peroxidation in patients with ICP will affect ATP enzyme activity of erythrocyte membrane, and the down-regulation of ATP enzyme activity in umbilical cord blood of patients with ICP may cause fetal distress in the uterus.

T follicular helper cell-mediated IL-21 production suppresses FOXP3 expression of T follicular regulatory-like cells in diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients

Based on CD25 expression, T follicular helper cells (Tfh) could be divided into T follicular regulatory (Tfr)-like subset (CD25⁺CD4⁺CXCR5⁺) and CD25^- Tfh subset (CD25^-CD4⁺CXCR5⁺). Patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) display high level of Tfr-like cells in blood and tumor. This Tfr-like subset could suppress CD8 T cell response while promote tumor cell proliferation. In this study, we investigated the transcription factors and regulatory elements associated with Tfr-like cells in DLBCL patients. Both circulating and tumor-infiltrating Tfr-like cells presented slightly higher Blimp-1 expression and significantly higher Foxp3 expression than the CD25^- Tfh subset. As the IL-2 receptor, CD25 could be moderately upregulated in stimulated CD25^- Tfh cells. However, stimulated CD25^- Tfh cells could not upregulate Foxp3, indicating that the distinction between Foxp3-low CD25^-CXCR5⁺CD4⁺ T cells and Foxp3-high CD25⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺ T cells was not due to differences in stimulation status. Regarding cytokine production, while both Tfr-like and CD25^- Tfh cells upregulated IL-21 and IL-10 during stimulation, the CD25^- Tfh cells presented significantly higher IL-21 and lower IL-10 expression than the Tfr-like cells, and the TGF-β expression was only increased in Tfr-like cells. Interestingly, IL-21 secreted from CD25^- Tfh cells negatively regulated the expression of Foxp3 and IL-10 of autologous Tfr-like cells. Together, these results demonstrated that the Tfr-like and CD25^- Tfh subsets of circulating Tfh cells presented different functions and should be investigated separately.

Penetrating glassy carbon neural electrode arrays for brain-machine interfaces

This paper presents a fabrication method for glassy carbon neural electrode arrays that combines 3D printing and chemical pyrolysis technology. The carbon electrodes have excellent biological compatibility and can be used in neural signal recording. A pretreated Si wafer is used as the substrate for 3D printing, and then, stereolithography 3D printing technology is employed to print photosensitive resin into a cone shape. Next, chemical pyrolysis is applied to convert the 3D prints into glassy carbon electrodes and modify the electrochemical performance of the carbon electrodes. Finally, the glassy carbon electrodes are packed with conductive wires and PDMS. The proposed fabrication method simplifies the manufacturing process of carbon materials, and electrodes can be fabricated without the need of deep reactive ion etching (DRIE). The height of the carbon electrodes is 1.5 mm, and the exposure area of the tips is 0.78 mm², which is convenient for the implantation procedure. The specific capacitance of the glassy carbon arrays is higher than that of a platinum electrode (9.18 mF/cm² vs 3.32 mF/cm², respectively), and the impedance at 1 kHz is lower (7.1 kΩ vs 8.8 kΩ). The carbon electrodes were tested in vivo, and they showed excellent performance in neural signal recording. The signal-to-noise ratio of the carbon electrodes is 50.73 ± 6.11, which is higher than that of the Pt electrode (20.15 ± 5.32) under the same testing conditions. The proposed fabrication method of glassy carbon electrodes provides a novel approach to manufacture penetrating electrodes for nerve interfaces in biomedical engineering and microelectromechanical systems.

Piplartine attenuates the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via regulating hsa_circ_100338 expression

Researches have pointed that piplartine inhibits the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, however, the underlying mechanisms has not been well defined. Currently, more and more studies have pointed out that circRNAs can regulate tumor cell proliferation, involve in the tumorigenesis mechanism of various tumors. In this study, we explored whether piplartine may participate in the development of HCC through the regulation of ability of HCC cell proliferation by circRNA. Based on the chip analysis, we selected candidate circRNAs that are highly correlated with HCC. CircRNA expression in OSCC cells treated with piplartine was detected by qRT-PCR. We found that only the expression of hsa_circ_100338 (circ-100338) was observably reduced. The expression characteristics of circ-100338 in HCC cell lines were also verified by qRT-PCR. Subsequently, whether or notcirc-100338 can regulate ZEB1 via competitively binding to miR-141-3p was determined by the RIP assay and dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The effect of the circ-100338/miR-141-3p/ZEB1 axis on the proliferation of HCC cell was tested by EdU and CCK-8 assay. Results showed that circ-100338 expression was observably increased in HCC cell lines. Simultaneously, circ-100338 can regulate the expression of ZEB1by competitively binding to miR-141-3p. Moreover high expression of circ-100338 can stimulate the proliferation of HCC cells. Our current study revealed that circ-100338 played as a ceRNA in promoting the progression of HCC by sponging miR-141-3p, while piplartine can participate in the development of HCC by inhibiting the expression of circ-100338.

Engineering CRISPR interference system to enhance the production of pyrroloquinoline quinone in Klebsiella pneumonia

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a cofactor of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and thus participates in glucose utilization. In Klebsiella pneumoniae, glucose utilization involves PQQ-dependent direct oxidation pathway (DOP) and phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent transport system (PTS). It is challenging to overproduce PQQ, as its biosynthesis remains unclear. Here, we report that PQQ production can be enhanced by stimulating the metabolic demand for it. First, we developed CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system to block PTS and thereby intensify DOP. In shake-flask cultivation, the strain with CRISPRi system (simultaneously inhibiting four PTS-related genes) produced 225·65 nmol l^-1 PQQ, which was 2·14 times that of wild type. In parallel, an exogenous soluble glucose dehydrogenase (sGDH) was overexpressed in K. pneumoniae. In the shake-flask cultivation, this sGDH-overexpressing strain accumulated 140·05 nmol l^-1 PQQ, which was 1·33 times that of wild type. To combine the above two strategies, we engineered a strain harbouring both CRISPRi vector and sGDH-overexpressing vector. In the shake-flask cultivation, this two-plasmid strain generated 287·01 nmol l^-1 PQQ, which was 2·72 times that of wild type. In bioreactor cultivation, this two-plasmid strain produced 2206·1 nmol l^-1 PQQ in 57 h, which was 7·69 times that in shake-flask cultivation. These results indicate that PQQ production can be enhanced by intensifying DOP, as the apo-enzyme GDH is intrinsically coupled with cofactor PQQ. This study provides a strategy for the production of cofactors whose biosynthesis mechanisms remain ambiguous. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is an economically important chemical, which typically serves as a cofactor of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and thus participates in glucose metabolism. Klebsiella pneumoniae can naturally synthesize PQQ, but current yield constrains its commercialization. In this study, the PQQ level was improved by stimulating metabolic demand for PQQ, instead of overexpressing PQQ synthetic genes, as the synthetic mechanism remains ambiguous.

[Analysis and structural identification of relevant substances in Breviscapine for Injection]

To define the composition of relevant substances in Breviscapine for Injection, in order to improve the quality control of impurity, and ensure the clinical safety. The analysis and structural identification of relevant substances in different specifications and batches of Breviscapine for Injection powders were carried out by HPLC and UPLC-QTOF-MS. Three primary relevant substances, namely 5,6,7,3',4'-pentahydroxyflavone-7-O-glucuronide(3), 3,5,6,7,4'-pentahydroxyflavone-3-O-glucuronide(4) and scutellarein(10), as well as three minor impurities, namely 6-hydroxyapigenin-6-O-glucosyl-7-O-glucuronide(1), methoxylscutellarin(6) and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide(7) were structurally identified by matching retention time, UV spectra, and mass spectra with authentic compounds and MS fragmentation rules. The main relevant substances(3) and(4) were separated and purified by semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were further confirmed by NMR data. The study defined relevant substances of Breviscapine for Injection, and provided reference for improving the quality control level of single impurity in breviscapine preparation.

[The value of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) in evaluating the stability of atherosclerotic plaques]

Objective: Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) has been used to quantify inflammatory response in the body. The aim of the present study was to explore the possibility of using this method to evaluate the stability of atherosclerotic plaques and the efficacy of atorvastatin in stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: Twenty New Zealand male white rabbits were included and divided into the atorvastatin intervention group and the control group, with 10 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in both groups were fed with a high fat diet for 20 weeks, and treated with thoracoabdominal aortic balloon-pulling to establish atherosclerosis model at the end of the 2nd week. Rabbits in atorvastatin intervention group was given atorvastatin intragastrically once a day. At the 8th week, thoracoabdominal aortic ultrasound was used to detect plaques in all rabbits. Blood was drawn at the 3rd and the 20th week, respectively, to measure blood lipids, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). At the end of experiment, survival animals were scanned by (18)F-FDG PET-CT, and the average and maximum standard uptake values (SUVmean, SUVmax) of aortic segments were measured. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed and aortic specimens of rabbits were taken and examined by immunohistochemistry. The pathological indexes were measured and compared. Results: At the end of experiment, the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hs-CRP [ (4.58±0.51) ng/ml vs.(5.87±0.66) ng/ml, P<0.01], MMP-9[ (43.93±2.16) ng/ml vs. (50.77±2.32) ng/ml, P<0.01], SUVmean (0.59±0.15 vs. 0.68±0.20, P<0.05) , SUVmax (0.68±0.20 vs. 0.81±0.27, P<0.05) , plaque area [ (0.36±0.24) mm(2) vs. (0.50±0.34) mm(2), P<0.05) ] and density of macrophage[ (4.34±1.54) % vs. (5.65±1.89) %, P<0.01] in the atorvastatin intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In contrast, fiber cap thickness of the plaque[ (4.12±0.66) μm vs. (2.96±0.37) μm, P<0.01] in the atorvastatin intervention group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. The arterial plaque areas were positively correlated with SUVmean (r=0.27, P<0.05) and SUVmax (r=0.43, P<0.01) . Fiber cap thickness was negatively correlated with SUVmean (r=-0.38, P<0.05) and SUVmax (r=-0.47, P<0.01) . The density of macrophage were positively correlated with SUVmean (r=0.52, P<0.01) and SUVmax (r=0.51, P<0.01) . Conclusion: (18)F-FDG PET/CT can be used to evaluate the efficacy of atorvastatin by the stability of atherosclerotic plaques.

The Highly Conserved Barley Powdery Mildew Effector BEC1019 Confers Susceptibility to Biotrophic and Necrotrophic Pathogens in Wheat

Effector proteins secreted by plant pathogens play important roles in promoting colonization. Blumeria effector candidate (BEC) 1019, a highly conserved metalloprotease of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh), is essential for fungal haustorium formation, and silencing BEC1019 significantly reduces Bgh virulence. In this study, we found that BEC1019 homologs in B. graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) and Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) have complete sequence identity with those in Bgh, prompting us to investigate their functions. Transcript levels of BEC1019 were abundantly induced concomitant with haustorium formation in Bgt and necrosis development in Ggt-infected plants. BEC1019 overexpression considerably increased wheat susceptibility to Bgt and Ggt, whereas silencing this gene using host-induced gene silencing significantly enhanced wheat resistance to Bgt and Ggt, which was associated with hydrogen peroxide accumulation, cell death, and pathogenesis-related gene expression. Additionally, we found that the full and partial sequences of BEC1019 can trigger cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. These results indicate that Bgt and Ggt can utilize BEC1019 as a virulence effector to promote plant colonization, and thus these genes represent promising new targets in breeding wheat cultivars with broad-spectrum resistance.

g-C3N4 foam/Cu2O QDs with excellent CO2 adsorption and synergistic catalytic effect for photocatalytic CO2 reduction

A unique heterostructure is developed based on a 3D photoactive semiconductor and a 0D Cu₂O QDs for superb photocatalytic reduction CO₂ into CO. It reported a novel and simple method to prepare a 3D g-C₃N₄ foam with micron-sized porous structures using ultrastable foam as a soft template for the first time. Moreover, Cu₂O QDs are loaded onto 3D g-C₃N₄ foam through a simple photodeposition strategy. Systematically characterization demonstrated that g-C₃N₄ foam not only act as an excellent carrier for Cu₂O QDs, but also greatly improve the photocatalytic performance by enhancing CO₂ adsorption and gas transfer. Simultaneously, the rationally designed g-C₃N₄ foam/Cu₂O QDs exhibited notablely enhancement in photocatalytic performance with 3.9 times and 11 times higher than that of g-C₃N₄ foam and bulk g-C₃N₄ powder. The excellent photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the unique porous structure and the synergistic effect between g-C₃N₄ foam and Cu₂O QDs, which can speed up the transfer of charge carriers and urged the cumulation of photo-generated electrons on the Cu₂O QDs. Our work provides new ideas for constructing 0D/3D hierarchical photocatalytic systems, which may provide guidance on designing efficient photocatalysts to maximize photocatalyst kinetics.

In suit inducing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups in carbon nitride by one-step NH4Cl-assisted route: A strategy for high solar hydrogen production efficiency

Owing to insufficient active sites, strongly bound excitons and insufficient optical absorption, polymer semiconductors have only shown mild activity as potential candidates for photocatalysis. A g-C₃N₄ with improved optical absorption capacity, charge transfer performance and porosity was successfully prepared by a one-step NH₄Cl-assisted route. Interaction of melamine with NH₄Cl preparation of Porous g-C₃N₄(CN-xy) with active functional groups modified pore wall shown to result in highly crystalline species with a maximum π-π layer stacking distance of heptazine units of 0.321 nm, decreases the optical band gap from 2.80 to 2.13 eV and maximum surface area reached 56.485 m² g^-1. The balanced improvement of the multiple defects of g-C₃N₄ makes the photocatalytic degradation of RhB and the photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency 4 and 5 times higher than the pristine g-C₃N₄, respectively.

Polysulfide microspheres with chemical modification for generation of interfaces with macroscopic colour variation and biomimetic superhydrophobicity

Both superwettability and structural colours have attracted considerable attention in recent years. In addition, the combination of structural colours and superwettability could endow materials with broader application prospects. The combination provides a new strategy to design novel functional materials, and there are many studies pertaining to these materials that have been reported in recent years. Herein, a polysulfide (PSF) superhydrophobic coating was synthesized successfully. The PSF superhydrophobic coating possesses excellent superhydrophobicity, oleophobicity for diesel and macroscopic structural colour variation when wetted. The colour is changed when the coating is wetted and it returns to its original colour after drying. In addition, the surface presents better reusability and thermostability which satisfies various daily needs. The PSF superhydrophobic coating can be considered as an excellent candidate for designing wetting responsive materials, and it has enormous application potential in the fields of detection, sensing, anti-counterfeiting and security. For the first time, we present a novel and low-cost strategy to fabricate materials with both superhydrophobicity and structural colour, offering significant insights into the practical application of these functional materials.

Hematite nanorod arrays top-decorated with an MIL-101 layer for photoelectrochemical water oxidation

α-Fe₂O₃ nanorod arrays were top-decorated with MIL-101 via the CVD method for constructing one intimate contact between two layers.

Novel fabrication of polymer/carbon nanotube composite coated Janus paper for humidity stress sensor

In this work, we constructed a sensing system on Janus paper with hydrophilic side and hydrophobic side via depositing polymer precursor onto one side of qualitative filter paper. Water in humid environment (including liquid water, condensed moisture airflow and gaseous humid atmosphere) will be captured and gathered in the hydrophilic region of Janus paper due to the asymmetric hydrophobicity and hygroscopicity, which can induce the novel directional deformation. Additionally, MWCNTs (multiwalled carbon nanotubes) were loaded onto hydrophobic region beforehand to construct conductive network. The resistance of the conductive network changes synergistically as the Janus paper deforms in humid environment. Thus, the novel Janus paper realized the induction of environment humid factors, and conversion from the deformation signals to the desirable electric signals. The Janus paper also shows excellent stability in cycle use.