Metal tolerance protein CsMTP4 has dual functions in maintaining zinc homeostasis in tea plant

Plants have evolved a series of zinc (Zn) homeostasis mechanisms to cope with the fluctuating Zn in the environment. How Zn is taken up, translocated and tolerate by tea plant remains unknown. In this study, on the basis of RNA-Sequencing, we isolated a plasma membrane-localized Metal Tolerance Protein (MTP) family member CsMTP4 from Zn-deficient tea plant roots and investigated its role in regulation of Zn homeostasis in tea plant. Heterologous expression of CsMTP4 specifically enhanced the tolerance of transgenic yeast to Zn excess. Moreover, overexpression of CsMTP4 in tea plant hairy roots stimulated Zn uptake under Zn deficiency. In addition, CsMTP4 promoted the growth of transgenic Arabidopsis plants by translocating Zn from roots to shoots under Zn deficiency and conferred the tolerance to Zn excess by enhancing the efflux of Zn from root cells. Transcriptome analysis of the CsMTP4 transgenic Arabidopsis found that the expression of Zn metabolism-related genes were differentially regulated compared with wild-type plants when exposed to Zn deficiency and excess conditions. This study provides a mechanistic understanding of Zn uptake and translocation in plants and a new strategy to improve phytoremediation efficiency.

Corrigendum: Integrative single-cell RNA sequencing and metabolomics decipher the imbalanced lipid-metabolism in maladaptive immune responses during sepsis

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1181697.].

Electrochemical treatment of malachite green dye wastewater by pulse three-dimensional electrode method

Water pollution is becoming more and more serious nowadays, and water resources are in shortage. As an environmentally friendly wastewater treatment technology without secondary pollution, the three-dimensional electrode method has received more and more attention. However, the conventional direct current (DC) three-dimensional electrode method has the disadvantages of high energy consumption and low current efficiency. Based on this, this work investigated the treatment of malachite green (MG) dye wastewater by pulse three-dimensional electrode method. The influences of pulse duty cycle, pulse period, electrolysis voltage, initial pH, aeration rate and Na2SO4 concentration on MG degradation were investigated. The results showed that under the optimal operating conditions of pulse duty cycle of 0.4, pulse period of 15 s, electrolysis voltage of 15 V, initial pH of 5, aeration rate of 0.5 L/min, Na2SO4 concentration of 0.10 mol/L, the removal rates of MG and COD reached 96.2% and 80.5%, respectively, the current efficiency reached 93.4%, and the energy consumption was 24.2 kWh/kg COD after 150 min. Compared with DC power supply mode, the MG removal rate, COD removal rate and current efficiency were enhanced, and the energy consumption was reduced by 83.9%. Moreover, the generation capacity of ·OH was increased under pulse power supply mode. Finally, a possible degradation pathway of MG in pulse power supply mode was inferred using UV-vis and GC-MS analysis. This study indicates that the pulse three-dimensional electrode method is an efficient and low-energy-consumption wastewater treatment method with stable degradation performance for MG dye wastewater.

[Study based on the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene polymorphism and acetaminophen-induced liver injury]

Objective: To explore the association between aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene polymorphisms and abnormal liver function-induced by acetaminophen (APAP) drugs. Methods: An ALDH2 gene knockout mouse model was constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. The obtained heterozygous mice were mated with opposite sex of heterozygotes. Genomic DNA was extracted from the tail of the offspring mouse. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to determine the ALDH2 genotype. APAP was further used to induce acute drug-induced liver injury models in wild-type and ALDH2 knockout mice. Blood and liver tissues of mice were collected for liver function index, HE staining, F4/80 immunohistochemistry, and other detections. The intergroup mean was compared using a one-way ANOVA. The LSD- t test was used for pairwise comparison. Results: ALDH2 knockout mice were bred successfully. The genotyping of the offspring was segregated into the wild-type (ALDH2(+/+)), heterozygous mutant (ALDH2(+/-)), and homozygous mutant (ALDH2(-/-)), respectively. Biochemical and histological results after APAP modeling showed that the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBil) was not significantly increased in the blank control group (P < 0.05), while the ALT, AST,ALP, and TBil were all elevated in the APAP experimental group. The levels of ALT (P  = 0.004), AST (P = 0.002), and TBil (P = 0.012) were significantly elevated among the mutant group compared to those in the wild-type group, and the expression levels of these indicators were also significantly elevated among the homozygous mutant group compared to those in the heterozygous mutant group (P = 0.003, 0 and 0.006). In addition, the ALP levels were higher in the heterozygous mutation group than those in the homozygous mutant group (P = 0.085) and wild-type group mice, but the difference was only statistically significant compared to wild-type mice (P = 0.002). HE staining results showed that mice in the APAP experimental group had hepatocyte degeneration, necrosis, and increased inflammatory cell infiltration, which was mostly evident in mutant mice. Simultaneously, the F4/80 immunohistochemical staining results showed that brown granules were visible in the liver tissue of APAP experimental group mice, and its expression levels were significantly enhanced compared to the blank control group. Conclusion: APAP-induced liver function abnormalities were associated with the ALDH2 gene polymorphism. The liver injury symptoms were increased in ALDH2 mutant mice following APAP modeling, and the ALDH2 gene defect may alleviate, to some extent, APAP-induced liver function abnormalities.

Broadband and robust Mach-Zehnder interferometer for Rydberg atomic system

We present a broadband and robust Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with meter-scale arm length, aiming to acquire the full information of an atomic system. We utilize a pre-loading phase shifter as servo actuator, broadening the servo bandwidth to 108 kHz without sacrificing the size of the piezoelectric transducer (PZT) and mirror. An auxiliary laser at 780 nm, counter-propagating with the probe laser, is employed to achieve arbitrary phase locking of the MZI, boosting a phase accuracy of 0.45 degrees and an Allan deviation of 0.015 degrees, which breaks the current record. By utilizing our robust MZI, the measurement accuracy of atomic system can be theoretically predicted to improve by 2.3 times compared to the most stable MZI in other literatures. In addition, we also demonstrate the sensitivity improvement in imaginary part and real part of the susceptibility in virtue of the completed interferometer, which exhibits tremendous potential in atom-based measurement system.

Ultra-high resistive switching current ratio and improved ferroelectricity and dielectric tunability performance in a BaTiO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 heterostructure by inserting a SrCoO2.5 layer

A BaTiO3/SrCoO2.5 (BTO/SCO) bilayer and a BTO single film were prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) buffered SrTiO3 (001) substrates. Interestingly, compared with reported BTO-based films, the BTO/SCO/LSMO heterostructure has a maximum ON/OFF current ratio of ∼945. More interestingly, compared with the BTO single layer, a larger Pr (∼18.4 μC cm-2) and larger dielectric tunability (∼71.9%) were achieved in the BTO/SCO bilayer. The improved performance may be attributed to the large tetragonality and improved oxygen vacancy concentrations in the BTO/SCO/LSMO heterostructure. Furthermore, our BTO/SCO/LSMO stacks exhibit potential for flexible electronic informational devices.

[Hepatitis B virus infection status and clinical characteristics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China and its association with RA disease characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study. A retrospective study was conducted on RA patients recruited from January 2001 to February 2023 in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital. Demographic and clinical data were collected including age, gender, disease duration, active smoking, RA disease activity, physical function, radiographic assessment, serological markers of HBV infection and liver function indicators. According to the status of HBV infection, RA patients were grouped as chronic HBV infection, resolved HBV infection and no HBV infection groups. The distribution of each group and the clinical characteristics of RA patients were analyzed. Results: Among 1 941 RA patients, 1 461 (75.3%) completed HBV screening, including 335 males (22.9%) and 1 126 females (77.1%), with a mean age of (55.4±13.1) years. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection was 10.1%(148/1 461), which was significantly higher in male patients than in females [14.6%(49/335) vs 8.8%(99/1 126), P<0.001], especially among those males born from 1970 to 1979[20.0%(7/35) vs 8.5%(17/201), P=0.037] and 1980-1989 [31.8%(7/22) vs 10.5%(14/133), P=0.007]. Among 148 RA patients with chronic HBV infection, there were 5 cases (3.4%) of chronic hepatitis B, 2 cases (1.4%) of HBV-associated cirrhosis and 1 case (0.7%) of hepatocellular carcinoma. The prevalence of resolved HBV infection was 57.6%(841/1 461). There were 472(32.3%) patients with no HBV infection and 267(56.6%) of them showed negative anti-HBs. Among all RA patients, 15 (1.0%) patients had abnormal liver function, of which 7 cases were drug-induced liver injury, 5 cases were chronic hepatitis B, 2 cases were non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and 1 case was primary biliary cholangitis. Conclusion: Chronic HBV infection remains a common complication in RA patients in China, the infection rate is 10.1%, and the screening and management of HBV infection should be strengthened in clinical practice.

[Research progress on HEG1 in cardiovascular generation and tumor development]

Heart development protein with EGF-like domains 1 (HEG1) is a novel mucin-like membrane protein with a long O-glycosylation region and EGF domain. HEG1 plays critical roles in embryo development and cardiogenesis, and is closely related to the occurrence and progression of malignant tumors. Here this article demonstrates the research progress on HEG1 in cardiovascular formation and tumor development in recent years, to inspire new ideas for the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of related diseases.

Comparative study on the Ru ware, Ru-type ware of Qingliangsi kiln and celadon of Zhanggongxiang kiln

Thirty-three porcelain shards (28 Ru ware and 5 Ru-type ware) unearthed from Qinglingsi kiln and 31 celadon fragments from Zhanggongxiang kiln were studied systematically for tracing their correlation and difference in glaze and body characteristics through a variety of characterisation methods. Samples without HF corrosion were applied to achieve the microstructure and composition details by SEM and TEM. Results exhibited that there were certain similarities between Ru ware, Ru-type ware and Zhanggongxiang kiln celadon in glaze colour and thickness, body features, fracture structure; however, they showed obvious differences in body thickness, chemical composition of glaze and body, phase constituents and microstructure of glaze. Plentiful needle-like diopside were widely distributed in Zhanggongxiang kiln celadon glazes, while this type of crystals was only existed in few Ru and Ru-type ware glazes with small content. Besides, a large amount of residual quartz was present over the Ru ware glazes, which could have relation to the incorporation of agate. The liquid-liquid phase separation structure (Ca-rich droplets and Si-rich matrix) was generated within the interspaces of anorthite clusters or around the brims of anorthite needles or columns. The occurrence of phase separation was generally accompanied by Al2 O3 consumption, but suppressed in the areas far from anorthite due to the rise of Al2 O3 content, indicating that Al2 O3 was the most sensitive constituent for this glaze behaviour. The distinguished size, shape and distribution of phase-separated droplets or interconnected structures were closely associated with the scale and crowding level of anorthite crystallisation.

Li+ Conduction in a Polymer/Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 Solid Electrolyte and Li-Metal/Electrolyte Interface

The solid oxide electrolyte Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 (LAGP) with a NASICON structure has a high bulk ionic conductivity of 10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature and good stability in the air because of the strong P5+-O2- covalence bonding. However, the Ge4+ ions in LAGP are quickly reduced to Ge3+ on contact with the metallic lithium anode, and the LAGP ceramic has insufficient physical contact with the electrodes in all-solid-state batteries, which limits the large-scale application of the LAGP electrolyte in all-solid-state Li-metal batteries. Here, we prepared flexible PEO/LiTFSI/LAGP composite electrolytes, and the introduction of LAGP as a ceramic filler in polymer electrolytes increases the total ionic conductivity and the electrochemical stability of the composite electrolyte. Moreover, the flexible polymer shows good contact with the electrodes, resulting in a small interfacial resistance and stable cycling of all-solid-state Li-metal batteries. The influence of the external pressure and temperature on Li+ transfer across the Li/electrolyte interface is also investigated.

Genome-wide association study identifies variants associated with semen volume in white-feathered broilers

Semen is a measure of the reproductive efficiency of roosters, which affects the economic benefits of white-feathered broilers. Over the years, research in this field has mainly focused on hens, while there have been fewer studies on the reproductive traits of roosters. To identify the genes related to the semen traits of roosters, we used a chicken 55 K SNP chip to genetically type the white-feathered population (220) and performed imputation with resequencing data from 97 roosters. In total, 1 048 576 SNPs were obtained and used for genome-wide association analysis of semen volume, from which 197 genome-wide significant markers were identified, all within the interval of 13.82-16.12 Mb on chromosome 7. By combining our results with the biological functions of genes in the interval, four candidate genes were identified that potentially relate to semen volume: FAPP1, OSBPL6, SESTD1 and SSFA2. Our findings may provide a basis for further research on the genetic mechanism and marker-assisted selection of semen volume in white-feathered broilers.

Metabolomics and machine learning approaches for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers screening in sepsis

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease with a poor prognosis, and metabolic disorders play a crucial role in its development. This study aims to identify key metabolites that may be associated with the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis.

METHODS

Septic patients and healthy individuals were enrolled to investigate metabolic changes using non-targeted liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry metabolomics. Machine learning algorithms were subsequently employed to identify key differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs). Prognostic-related DEMs were then identified using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The septic rat model was established to verify the effect of phenylalanine metabolism-related gene MAOA on survival and mean arterial pressure after sepsis.

RESULTS

A total of 532 DEMs were identified between healthy control and septic patients using metabolomics. The main pathways affected by these DEMs were amino acid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism. To identify sepsis diagnosis-related biomarkers, support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) algorithms were employed, leading to the identification of four biomarkers. Additionally, analysis of transcriptome data from sepsis patients in the GEO database revealed a significant up-regulation of the phenylalanine metabolism-related gene MAOA in sepsis. Further investigation showed that inhibition of MAOA using the inhibitor RS-8359 reduced phenylalanine levels and improved mean arterial pressure and survival rate in septic rats. Finally, using univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis, six DEMs were identified as prognostic markers for sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study employed metabolomics and machine learning algorithms to identify differential metabolites that are associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis patients. Unraveling the relationship between metabolic characteristics and sepsis provides new insights into the underlying biological mechanisms, which could potentially assist in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This human study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Research Institute of Surgery (2021-179) and was registered by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Date: 09/12/2021, ChiCTR2200055772).

Morphological and structural analysis of iron-rich porcelains excavated from the Jian kiln site of Song dynasty

Iron-rich porcelains generally embrace relatively high iron concentration in the glaze and body, which have an important position in the history of ancient Chinese high-temperature ceramics. The colour and lustre of glaze patterns are closely related to the orientation and order of crystallisation. In this work, three representative types of iron-rich porcelains (persimmon red-glazed sample, oil spot-glazed sample and mirror black-glazed sample) were analysed by portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PXRF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and laser Raman spectroscopy (RS) to determine the morphology, chemical composition and microstructure. Results showed that layered structure was observed in both persimmon red and oil spot glazes, however with respective thickness. Besides, iron-enriched crystals mostly precipitated on glaze surface. For the persimmon red sample, multilayer microstructure consisting of three sublayers beneath glaze surface was identified. Crystals and dark red substrates were all made of ε-Fe2 O3 , implying that it was fired at a strong reducing atmosphere. But for the oil spot sample, large-scale leaf-shaped crystals were well characteristic of ε-Fe2 O3 , while small snowflake-shaped crystals were assigned to α-Fe2 O3 , indicating that the firing environment was partially reduced. In addition, there was no crystalline layer existing on surface of mirror black-glazed porcelain, and plain black glaze layer was featured by a glassy matrix. The Jian kiln is a famous ancient folk kiln in the southern China that is currently located in Jianyang county of Fujian province. Its production of black-glazed porcelain began in the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), became prosperous in the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279 AD), and declined and ended in the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368 AD). Black-glazed Jian tea bowls were perfect for highlighting the rich white tea decoction. The thick and lustrous black glaze of Jian bowls sometimes were featured by streaked or mottled patterns, usually recognised by 'hare's fur (HF)', 'oil spot (OS)', 'partridge spot (PS)' and so on, which were the crystalline markings of iron oxide precipitated during firing in the dragon kiln. Iron oxide acted as a colorant for black-glazed porcelain and, thus, was called as iron-rich porcelain. The unique patterns originated from local iron-enrichment raw materials and firing process, and the locally iron-enriched areas generated due to the supersaturated crystallisation of different iron oxide in the cooling period. It was generally believed that research studies on the crystallographic nature and growth mechanism of surface crystals would provide help for the manufacturing of ancient Chinese glazes. With this aim, three types of iron-rich porcelain excavated from the Jian kiln were selected to further study the forming cause and growth process of glaze patterns using a series of characterisation methods, like portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PXRF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and laser Raman spectroscopy (RS).

Arginine methylation of PPP1CA by CARM1 regulates glucose metabolism and affects osteogenic differentiation and osteoclastic differentiation

BACKGROUND

The imbalance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts may lead to osteoporosis. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts have different energy requirements, with aerobic glycolysis being the prominent metabolic feature of osteoblasts, while osteoclast differentiation and fusion are driven by oxidative phosphorylation.

METHODS

By polymerase chain reaction as well as Western blotting, we assayed coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) expression in bone tissue, the mouse precranial osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 and the mouse monocyte macrophage leukaemia cell line RAW264.7, and expression of related genes during osteogenic differentiation and osteoclast differentiation. Using gene overexpression (lentivirus) and loss-of-function approach (CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout) in vitro, we examined whether CARM1 regulates osteogenic differentiation and osteoblast differentiation by metabolic regulation. Transcriptomic assays and metabolomic assays were used to find the mechanism of action of CARM1. Furthermore, in vitro methylation assays were applied to clarify the arginine methylation site of PPP1CA by CARM1.

RESULTS

We discovered that CARM1 reprogrammed glucose metabolism in osteoblasts and osteoclasts from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis, thereby promoting osteogenic differentiation and inhibiting osteoclastic differentiation. In vivo experiments revealed that CARM1 significantly decreased bone loss in osteoporosis model mice. Mechanistically, CARM1 methylated R23 of PPP1CA, affected the dephosphorylation of AKT-T450 and AMPK-T172, and increased the activities of phosphofructokinase-1 and pructose-2,6-biphosphatase3, causing an up-regulation of glycolytic flux. At the same time, as a transcriptional coactivator, CARM1 regulated the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 3, which resulted in the inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and inhibition of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, leading to a subsequent decrease in the flux of oxidative phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings reveal for the first time the mechanism by which CARM1 affects both osteogenesis and osteoclast differentiation through metabolic regulation, which may represent a new feasible treatment strategy for osteoporosis.

Evaluation on hydrothermal gasification of styrene-butadiene rubber with oxidants via ReaxFF-MD simulation

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is widely used in tires, which brings great challenge to the disposal and reclaiming of the used tires. The ring-opening reaction pathways of benzene rings in hydrothermal gasification of styrene-butadiene rubber were revealed based on reactive force field molecular dynamics (ReaxFF-MD) simulation. H-abstraction reaction that OH radicals capture H atom from the vinyl group of styrene was critical to the degrading of the styrene monomers. The energy barrier of H2O2 converted to OH radicals was lower than that of O2 and pure water converted to OH radicals. The oxidants that can urge OH radical formed in reaction were beneficial to SBR degradation, which could be assigned to confirm that SBR degradation with H2O2 was better than that with oxygen at the same concentration. The addition of oxidant could be helpful for decreasing the degradation temperature of styrene monomers. At oxidant equivalent ratio (ER) of 0.1, H2 yield at 2500 K lifted after 135 ps and increased by 75% at 500 ps compared with that without oxidants. According to the chemical equilibrium analysis, the optimal ER for H2 was 0.4 between 350 and 600 °C (real temperatures). The results could provide theoretic support and experiment guidance for adding oxidants in reclaiming waste rubber products.

Protective Effect of Modified Hemoglobin on Rabbits and Goats in High-Altitude Sickness

The prevalence and severity of high-altitude sickness increases with increasing altitude. Prevention of hypoxia caused by high-altitude sickness is an urgent problem. As a novel oxygen-carrying fluid, modified hemoglobin can carry oxygen in a full oxygen partial pressure environment and release oxygen in a low oxygen partial pressure environment. It is unclear whether modified hemoglobin can improve hypoxic injury on a plateau. Using hypobaric chamber rabbit (5000 m) and plateau goat (3600 m) models, general behavioral scores and vital signs, hemodynamic, vital organ functions, and blood gas are measured. The results show that the general behavioral scores and vital signs decrease significantly in the hypobaric chamber or plateau, and the modified hemoglobin can effectively improve the general behavioral scores and vital signs in rabbits and goats, and reduce the degree of damage to vital organs. Further studies reveal that arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2 ) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2 ) on the plateau decrease rapidly, and the modified hemoglobin could increase PaO2 and SaO2 ; thus, increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity. Moreover, modified hemoglobin has few side effects on hemodynamics and kidney injury. These results indicate that modified hemoglobin has a protective effect against high-altitude sickness.

VDAC2 malonylation participates in sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction via mitochondrial-related ferroptosis

Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) is a prevalent and severe form of organ dysfunction with elusive underlying mechanisms and limited treatment options. In this study, the cecal ligation and puncture and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used to reproduce sepsis model in vitro and vivo. The level of voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) malonylation and myocardial malonyl-CoA were detected by mass spectrometry and LC-MS-based metabolomics. Role of VDAC2 malonylation on cardiomyocytes ferroptosis and treatment effect of mitochondrial targeting nano material TPP-AAV were observed. The results showed that VDAC2 lysine malonylation was significantly elevated after sepsis. In addition, the regulation of VDAC2 lysine 46 (K46) malonylation by K46E and K46Q mutation affected mitochondrial-related ferroptosis and myocardial injury. The molecular dynamic simulation and circular dichroism further demonstrated that VDAC2 malonylation altered the N-terminus structure of the VDAC2 channel, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, increasing mitochondrial ROS levels, and leading to ferroptosis. Malonyl-CoA was identified as the primary inducer of VDAC2 malonylation. Furthermore, the inhibition of malonyl-CoA using ND-630 or ACC2 knock-down significantly reduced the malonylation of VDAC2, decreased the occurrence of ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes, and alleviated SIMD. The study also found that the inhibition of VDAC2 malonylation by synthesizing mitochondria targeting nano material TPP-AAV could further alleviate ferroptosis and myocardial dysfunction following sepsis. In summary, our findings indicated that VDAC2 malonylation plays a crucial role in SIMD and that targeting VDAC2 malonylation could be a potential treatment strategy for SIMD.

[Efficacy and safety of low-dose rasburicase for refractory chronic gouty arthritis]

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of low-dose rasburicase for refractory chronic gouty arthritis. Methods: A cohort study. The clinical data of patients with refractory chronic gouty arthritis who were treated with rasburicase at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University between January 2021 and July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Refractory chronic gouty arthritis was defined as serum uric acid (sUA)>360 μmol/L and urate volume>10 cm³ under dual-energy computed tomography after tolerable maximal oral urate-lowering therapy for at least 3 months. The administration of low-dose rasburicase was applied intravenously with total dosage ranging from 4.5 to 7.5 mg each dose, at 4-week intervals for a maximum of three doses. Efficacy was evaluated by the changes of sUA level, tophus and urate volume. Results: A total of 22 patients were included for analysis, with 95.4% (21/22) male, the mean age was (44±15) years, and the median duration of gout was 11 (6-15) years. The mean sUA at baseline was (667±112) μmol/L. The levels of sUA significantly decreased after each dose of rasburicase (P<0.001), and the median reduction of sUA after each dose of rasburicase was 568 (471-635), 187 (66-335) and 123 (49-207) μmol/L, respectively. At week 12, nine patients (40.9%) exhibited sUA<360 μmol/L and tophus disappeared in one patient. The urate volume significantly decreased at week 12 when compared with that before the first dose of rasburicase in all the patients [40 (16-172) cm³ vs 17 (7-134) cm³, P<0.001], with a median reduction rate of 41.6% (22.9%-58.5%). The everall safety of rasburicase was good, and no serious adverse reactions occurred. Conclusions: Low-dose rasburicase is well-tolerated and effective for decreasing the urate burden in patients with refractory chronic gouty arthritis. Further prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these findings.

[Clinical characteristics of 11 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia with t (14;19) (q32;q13)]

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of 11 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with t (14;19) (q32;q13) . Methods: The case data of 11 patients with CLL with t (14;19) (q32;q13) in the chromosome karyotype analysis results of the Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 1, 2018, to July 30, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: In all 11 patients, t (14;19) (q32;q13) involved IGH::BCL3 gene rearrangement, and most of them were accompanied by +12 or complex karyotype. An immunophenotypic score of 4-5 was found in 7 patients and 3 in 4 cases. We demonstrated that CLLs with t (14;19) (q32;q13) had a mutational pattern with recurrent mutations in NOTCH1 (3/7), FBXW7 (3/7), and KMT2D (2/7). The very-high-risk, high-risk, intermediate-risk, and low-risk groups consisted of 1, 1, 6, and 3 cases, respectively. Two patients died, 8 survived, and 2 were lost in follow-up. Four patients had disease progression or relapse during treatment. The median time to the first therapy was 1 month. Conclusion: t (14;19) (q32;q13), involving IGH::BCL3 gene rearrangement, is a rare recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in CLL, which is associated with a poor prognosis.

Integrative single-cell RNA sequencing and metabolomics decipher the imbalanced lipid-metabolism in maladaptive immune responses during sepsis

Background

To identify differentially expressed lipid metabolism-related genes (DE-LMRGs) responsible for immune dysfunction in sepsis.

Methods

The lipid metabolism-related hub genes were screened using machine learning algorithms, and the immune cell infiltration of these hub genes were assessed by CIBERSORT and Single-sample GSEA. Next, the immune function of these hub genes at the single-cell level were validated by comparing multiregional immune landscapes between septic patients (SP) and healthy control (HC). Then, the support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm was conducted to compare the significantly altered metabolites critical to hub genes between SP and HC. Furthermore, the role of the key hub gene was verified in sepsis rats and LPS-induced cardiomyocytes, respectively.

Results

A total of 508 DE-LMRGs were identified between SP and HC, and 5 hub genes relevant to lipid metabolism (MAPK14, EPHX2, BMX, FCER1A, and PAFAH2) were screened. Then, we found an immunosuppressive microenvironment in sepsis. The role of hub genes in immune cells was further confirmed by the single-cell RNA landscape. Moreover, significantly altered metabolites were mainly enriched in lipid metabolism-related signaling pathways and were associated with MAPK14. Finally, inhibiting MAPK14 decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines and improved the survival and myocardial injury of sepsis.

Conclusion

The lipid metabolism-related hub genes may have great potential in prognosis prediction and precise treatment for sepsis patients.

Identification of featured necroptosis-related genes and imbalanced immune infiltration in sepsis via machine learning

Background: The precise diagnostic and prognostic biological markers were needed in immunotherapy for sepsis. Considering the role of necroptosis and immune cell infiltration in sepsis, differentially expressed necroptosis-related genes (DE-NRGs) were identified, and the relationship between DE-NRGs and the immune microenvironment in sepsis was analyzed.

Methods: Machine learning algorithms were applied for screening hub genes related to necroptosis in the training cohort. CIBERSORT algorithms were employed for immune infiltration landscape analysis. Then, the diagnostic value of these hub genes was verified by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and nomogram. In addition, consensus clustering was applied to divide the septic patients into different subgroups, and quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of the hub genes between septic patients (SP) (n = 30) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 15). Finally, a multivariate prediction model based on heart rate, temperature, white blood count and 4 hub genes was established.

Results: A total of 47 DE-NRGs were identified between SP and HC and 4 hub genes (BACH2, GATA3, LEF1, and BCL2) relevant to necroptosis were screened out via multiple machine learning algorithms. The high diagnostic value of these hub genes was validated by the ROC curve and Nomogram model. Besides, the immune scores, correlation analysis and immune cell infiltrations suggested an immunosuppressive microenvironment in sepsis. Septic patients were divided into 2 clusters based on the expressions of hub genes using consensus clustering, and the immune microenvironment landscapes and immune function between the 2 clusters were significantly different. The mRNA levels of the 4 hub genes significantly decreased in SP as compared with HC. The area under the curve (AUC) was better in the multivariate prediction model than in other indicators.

Conclusion: This study indicated that these necroptosis hub genes might have great potential in prognosis prediction and personalized immunotherapy for sepsis.

Effects of Seawater Immersion on Lethal Triad and Organ Function in Healthy and Hemorrhagic Shock Rats

INTRODUCTION

Marine casualties are increasing, and mortality from trauma associated with immersion in seawater is high. However, the associated pathophysiological characteristics remain unclear, limiting research into the early emergency treatment strategy.

METHODS

Healthy and 50% hemorrhagic shock rats were soaked in 15°C and 21°C seawater for 2 h, 4 h and 6 h, respectively, and the effects on vital signs, internal environment, tissue metabolism, lethal triad, vital organ functions and survival were observed.

RESULTS

Immersion in seawater can cause death in healthy rats. Rats with hemorrhagic shock in 15°C seawater showed a lower survival rate than the corresponding groups in 21°C seawater. Moreover, compared with 21°C seawater, 15°C seawater played a more remarkable role in decreasing mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate, increasing water content and decreasing Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity in the brain and lung; increase in plasma osmolality, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, and the occurrence of the lethal triad manifested by a decrease in core body temperature, pH, lactate, and an increase in coagulation parameters, as well as damage to cardiac, intestinal, hepatic, and renal functions in rats with hemorrhagic shock.

CONCLUSIONS

Immersion in seawater at low temperatures could be lethal to healthy rats, causing the occurrence of a lethal triad and damage to vital organs. Furthermore, 15°C-seawater had a more significant effect than 21°C-seawater on aggravating the imbalance of internal environment and tissue metabolism, resulting in a higher incidence of the lethal triad and thus aggravating the dysfunctions of vital organs, which eventually resulted in higher mortality in rats with hemorrhagic shock.

[Safety and efficacy of the early administration of levosimendan in patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and elevated NT-proBNP levels: An Early Management Strategy of Acute Heart Failure (EMS-AHF)]

Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.

Long non-coding RNA KCNQ1OT1 alleviates postmenopausal osteoporosis by modulating miR-421-3p/mTOR axis

The prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a significant public health issue, and non-coding RNAs are of vital importance in this process. In this study, we find that the long non-coding RNA potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 overlapping transcript 1 (lncRNA KCNQ1OT1) can alleviate the ovariectomy-induced (OVX) PMOP in vivo. We determined that over-expression of KCNQ1OT1 could enhance functions of MC3T3-E1 cells, whereas an opposite trend was observed when KCNQ1OT1 was knocked down. Subsequently, miR-421-3p targeting KCNQ1OT1 was detected through a database search, and RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization, RNA immunoprecipitation, dual luciferase reporter assays all verified this relationship. Notably, KCNQ1OT1 stifled the miR-421-3p expression. The inhibition of proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation caused by KCNQ1OT1 knock-down were reversed by an miR-421-3p inhibitor, further confirming the above findings. We verified that miR-421-3p specifically targeted the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and miR-421-3p inhibitor could reverse the negative effects of small interfering RNA of mTOR (si-mTOR) on MC3T3-E1 cells. Finally, osteoblasts isolated and cultured from OVX mice model and control mice also confirmed the observed trend. In combination, results mentioned above reveal that KCNQ1OT1 regulates MC3T3-E1 cell functions by regulating the miR-421-3p/mTOR axis.

Effects of Malate Ringer's solution on myocardial injury in sepsis and enforcement effects of TPP@PAMAM-MR

BACKGROUND

Myocardial dysfunction played a vital role in organ damage after sepsis. Fluid resuscitation was the essential treatment in which Lactate Ringer's solution (LR) was commonly used. Since LR easily led to hyperlactatemia, its resuscitation effect was limited. Malate Ringer's solution (MR) was a new resuscitation crystal liquid. Whether MR had a protective effect on myocardial injury in sepsis and the relevant mechanism need to be studied.

METHODS

The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) inducing septic model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulating cardiomyocytes were used, and the cardiac function, the morphology and function of mitochondria were observed. The protective mechanism of MR on myocardial injury was explored by proteomics. Then the effects of TPP@PAMAM-MR, which consisted of the mitochondria- targeting polymer embodied malic acid, was further observed.

RESULTS

Compared with LR, MR resuscitation significantly prolonged survival time, improved the cardiac function, alleviated the damages of liver, kidney and lung following sepsis in rats. The proteomics of myocardial tissue showed that differently expressed proteins between MR and LR infusion involved oxidative phosphorylation, apoptosis. Further study found that MR decreased ROS, improved the mitochondrial morphology and function, and ultimately enhanced mitochondrial respiration and promoted ATP production. Moreover, MR infusion decreased the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and increased the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins. TPP@PAMAM@MA was a polymer formed by wrapping L-malic acid with poly amido amine (PAMAM) modified triphenylphosphine material. TPP@PAMAM-MR (TPP-MR), which was synthesized by replacing the L-malic acid of MR with TPP@PAMAM@MA, was more efficient in targeting myocardial mitochondria and was superior to MR in protecting the sepsis-inducing myocardial injury.

CONCLUSION

MR was suitable for protecting myocardial injury after sepsis. The mechanism was related to MR improving the function and morphology of cardiomyocyte mitochondria and inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The protective effect of TPP-MR was superior to MR.

Altered neurovascular coupling in children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy

AIMS

Alterations in neuronal activity and cerebral hemodynamics have been reported in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) patients, possibly resulting in neurovascular decoupling; however, no neuroimaging evidence confirmed this disruption. This study aimed to investigate the possible presence of neurovascular decoupling and its clinical implications in childhood IGE using resting-state fMRI and arterial spin labeling imaging.

METHODS

IGE patients and healthy participants underwent resting-state fMRI and arterial spin labeling imaging to calculate degree centrality (DC) and cerebral blood flow (CBF), respectively. Across-voxel CBF-DC correlations were analyzed to evaluate the neurovascular coupling within the whole gray matter, and the regional coupling of brain region was assessed with the CBF/DC ratio.

RESULTS

The study included 26 children with IGE and 35 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). Compared with the HCs, the IGE group presented lower across-voxel CBF-DC correlations, higher CBF/DC ratio in the right posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus, middle frontal gyrus, and medial frontal gyrus (MFG), and lower ratio in the left inferior frontal gyrus. The increased CBF/DC ratio in the right MFG was correlated with lower performance intelligence quotient scores in the IGE group.

CONCLUSION

Children with IGE present altered neurovascular coupling, associated with lower performance intelligence quotient scores. The study shed a new insight into the pathophysiology of epilepsy and provided potential imaging biomarkers of cognitive performances in children with IGE.

Association between single-nucleotide polymorphism rs145497186 related to NDUFV2 and lumbar disc degeneration: a pilot case–control study

Objective

The association between the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs28742109, rs12955018, rs987850, rs8093805, rs12965084 and rs145497186 related to gene named NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] flavoprotein 2 (NDUFV2) and lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) was preliminary investigated in a small sample size.

Methods

A total of 46 patients with LDD and 45 controls were recruited at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, and each participant provided 5 mL peripheral venous blood. NA was extracted from the blood of each participant for further genotyping. The frequency of different genotypes in the case group and control group was determined, and analysis of the risk of LDD associated with different SNP genotypes was performed. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of the patients’ degree of chronic low back pain were calculated, and the relationship between VAS scores and SNPs was analysed.

Results

After excluding the influence of sex, age, height, and weight on LDD, a significant association between SNP rs145497186 related to NDUFV2 and LDD persisted (P = 0.006). Simultaneously, rs145497186 was found to be associated with chronic low back pain in LDD populations.

Conclusion

NDUFV2 rs145497186 SNP could be associated with susceptibility to LDD and the degree of chronic low back pain.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-022-03368-y.

Low-dose norepinephrine in combination with hypotensive resuscitation may prolong the golden window for uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock in rats

Hypotension resuscitation is an important principle for the treatment after trauma. Current hypotensive resuscitation strategies cannot obtain an ideal outcome for remote regions. With the uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock (UHS) model in rats, the effects of norepinephrine (NE) on the tolerance time of hypotensive resuscitation, blood loss, vital organ functions, and animal survival were observed. Before bleeding was controlled, only the LR infusion could effectively maintain the MAP to 50–60 mmHg for 1 h, while the MAP gradually decreased with prolonging time, even with increasing infusion volume. Low-dose NE during hypotensive resuscitation prolonged the hypotensive tolerance time to 2–3 h, and the effect of 0.3 μg/kg/min NE was the best. Further studies showed that 0.3 μg/kg/min NE during hypotensive resuscitation significantly lightened the damage of organ function induced by UHS via protecting mitochondrial function, while the LR infusion did not. At the same time, NE administration improved Hb content, DO₂, and VO₂, and restored liver and kidney blood flow. The survival results showed that low-dose NE administration increased the survival rate and prolonged the survival time. Together, low-dose NE during hypotensive resuscitation was suitable for the early treatment of UHS, which can strive for the golden window of emergency treatment for serious trauma patients by reducing blood loss and protecting vital organ functions.

[Preconception reproductive health and birth outcome cohort in Chongqing: the cohort profile]

Birth cohort is an important platform to study the effect of early-life exposure on health outcome, but large cohorts to investigate the effect of preconception exposure, especially paternal exposure, on reproductive health and birth outcome are limited. The Preconception Reproductive Health and Birth Outcome Cohort (PREBIC) is a prospective birth cohort study which pays equal attention to the contribution of environmental, psychological, behavioral as well as other factors to reproductive health and adverse birth outcomes in both men and women in Chongqing, China. PREBIC started in 2019 and plans to recruit 20 800 reproductive-age couples with child-bearing willingness. Followed up was conducted to understand the conception status of the women within two years. Women in pregnancy would be visited at first, second, third trimesters and after delivery. The offspring would be monitored until 2 years old to understand the incidences of preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, neurodevelopmental disorders and other outcomes. Related information and biospecimen collections (including semen, peripheral blood, urine, placenta, umbilical cord, cord blood and oral swab) were scheduled in each period. By January 2022, PREBIC had recruited 8 698 participants from all 38 districts in Chongqing. The goal of PREBIC is to establish one of the largest prospective preconception birth cohorts covering both men and women, which might provide a unique insight to understand the effects of the full reproductive cycle on reproductive health and adverse outcomes, with especial emphasis on preconception exposures.

Long noncoding RNA KCNQ1OT1 inhibits osteoclast differentiation by regulating the miR-128-3p/NFAT5 axis

Noncoding RNAs play an important role in regulating osteoclast differentiation. We investigated whether and how potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 overlapping transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1), a long noncoding RNA, regulates osteoclast differentiation. We found that the expression of KCNQ1OT1 was downregulated in osteoporotic bone tissue. Then transfection of KCNQ1OT1 overexpression vectors or small interfering RNAs showed that the proliferation, migration, and osteoclast differentiation of RAW 264.7 cells were inhibited by KCNQ1OT1 upregulation, while they were promoted by KCNQ1OT1 knockdown. Interestingly, we found and confirmed that miR-128-3p was a target of KCNQ1OT1 using online databases, dual luciferase reporter assays and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and that it inhibited the expression of miR-128-3p. Moreover, we confirmed that miR-128-3p directly targeted nuclear factor of activated T cell 5 (NFAT5), a protein that combines with osteoprotegerin and thus regulates osteoclastogenesis with the presence of the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand. Furthermore, we demonstrated that both the knockdown of KCNQ1OT1 and the overexpression of miR-128-3p attenuate the expression of NFAT5, while upregulating the osteoclastogenesis markers c-Fos, NFATc1, and Ctsk. The results from overexpression of KCNQ1OT1 and the inhibition of miR-128-3p were contrary to the above. Finally, we found that the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation by KCNQ1OT1 overexpression could be rescued using a miR-128-3p mimic, while the enhancement of migration and osteoclast differentiation by si-NFAT5 could be reversed with a miR-128-3p inhibitor. These results suggested that KCNQ1OT1 regulates the osteoclast differentiation via the miR-128-3p/NFAT5 axis.

Cavity enhanced parametric homodyne detection of a squeezed quantum comb

A squeezed state with higher-order sidebands is a valuable quantum resource for channel multiplexing quantum communication. However, balanced homodyne detection used in nonclassical light detection has a trade-off performance between the detection bandwidth and clearance, in which the verification of a highly squeezing factor faces a challenge. Here, we construct two optical parametric amplifiers with cavity enhancement; one is for the generation of a -10.5 dB squeezed vacuum state, and the other is for all-optical phase-sensitive parametric homodyne detection. Finally, -6.5 dB squeezing at the carrier with 17 pairs of squeezing sidebands (bandwidth of 156 GHz) is directly and simultaneously observed. In particular, for the cavity-enhanced parametric oscillation and detection processes, we analyze the limiting factors of the detectable bandwidth and measurement deviation from the generated value, which indicates that the length difference and propagation loss between two optical parametric amplifiers should be as small as possible to improve the detection performance. The experimental results confirm our theoretical analysis.

The protective effects of pericyte-derived microvesicles on vascular endothelial functions via CTGF delivery in sepsis

BACKGROUND

It is well known that sepsis is a prevalent severe disease caused by infection and the treatment strategies are limited. Recently pericyte-derived microvesicles (PMVs) were confirmed to be therapeutic in many diseases, whether PMVs can protect vascular endothelial cell (VEC) injury is unknown.

METHODS

Pericytes were extracted from the retina of newly weaned rats, and PMVs were collected after starvation and characterized by flow-cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. First, the effect of PMVs on pulmonary vascular function in septic rats was measured via intravenous administration with HE staining, immunofluorescence, and Elisa analysis. Then, PMVs were co-incubated with VECs in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and observed the protective effect of PMVs on VECs. Next, the proteomic analysis and further Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were performed to analyze the therapeutic mechanism of PMVs, and the angiogenesis-related protein CTGF was highly expressed in PMVs. Finally, by CTGF upregulation and downregulation in PMV, the role of PMV-carried CTGF was investigated.

RESULTS

PMVs restored the proliferation and angiogenesis ability of pulmonary VECs, and alleviated pulmonary vascular leakage in septic rats and LPS-stimulated VECs. Further study showed that PMVs delivered CTGF to VECs, and subsequently activated ERK1/2, and increased the phosphorylation of STAT3, thereby improving the function of VECs. The further study found CD44 mediated the absorption and internalization of PMVs to VECs, the anti-CD44 antibody inhibited the protective effect of PMVs.

CONCLUSIONS

PMVs may delivery CTGF to VECs, and promote the proliferation and angiogenesis ability by activating the CTGF-ERK1/2-STAT3 axis, thereby protecting pulmonary vascular function in sepsis. The therapeutic effect of PMVs was highly related to CD44-mediated absorption. Video Abstract.

Mitochondrial Drp1 recognizes and induces excessive mPTP opening after hypoxia through BAX-PiC and LRRK2-HK2

Mitochondrial mass imbalance is one of the key causes of cardiovascular dysfunction after hypoxia. The activation of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), as well as its mitochondrial translocation, play important roles in the changes of both mitochondrial morphology and mitochondrial functions after hypoxia. However, in addition to mediating mitochondrial fission, whether Drp1 has other regulatory roles in mitochondrial homeostasis after mitochondrial translocation is unknown. In this study, we performed a series of interaction and colocalization assays and found that, after mitochondrial translocation, Drp1 may promote the excessive opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) after hypoxia. Firstly, mitochondrial Drp1 maximumly recognizes mPTP channels by binding Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) and a phosphate carrier protein (PiC) in the mPTP. Then, leucine-rich repeat serine/threonine-protein kinase 2 (LRRK2) is recruited, whose kinase activity is inhibited by direct binding with mitochondrial Drp1 after hypoxia. Subsequently, the mPTP-related protein hexokinase 2 (HK2) is inactivated at Thr-473 and dissociates from the mitochondrial membrane, ultimately causing structural disruption and overopening of mPTP, which aggravates mitochondrial and cellular dysfunction after hypoxia. Thus, our study interprets the dual direct regulation of mitochondrial Drp1 on mitochondrial morphology and functions after hypoxia and proposes a new mitochondrial fission-independent mechanism for the role of Drp1 after its translocation in hypoxic injury.

How technology facilitates tourism education in COVID-19:case study of nankai University

School closures follows the sudden outbreak of COVID-19. In order to minimize the negative impact on learning and teaching, MOOCs, SPOC and live broadcasting have been taken as the responsive measures of universities in China. Taking tourism education of Nankai University as an example, the paper illustrates the operation of distance and online teaching during the epidemic, and analyzes the prons and cons of adopted approaches in order to provide practical reference to online education in other countries as well.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived microvesicles improve intestinal barrier function by restoring mitochondrial dynamic balance in sepsis rats

Background

Sepsis is a major cause of death in ICU, and intestinal barrier dysfunction is its important complication, while the treatment is limited. Recently, mesenchymal stem cell-derived microvesicles (MMVs) attract much attention as a strategy of cell-free treatment; whether MMVs are therapeutic in sepsis induced-intestinal barrier dysfunction is obscure.

Methods

In this study, cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis rats and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated intestinal epithelial cells to investigate the effect of MMVs on intestinal barrier dysfunction. MMVs were harvested from mesenchymal stem cells and were injected into sepsis rats, and the intestinal barrier function was measured. Afterward, MMVs were incubated with intestinal epithelial cells, and the effect of MMVs on mitochondrial dynamic balance was measured. Then the expression of mfn1, mfn2, OPA1, and PGC-1α in MMVs were measured by western blot. By upregulation and downregulation of mfn2 and PGC-1α, the role of MMVs in mitochondrial dynamic balance was investigated. Finally, the role of MMV-carried mitochondria in mitochondrial dynamic balance was investigated.

Results

MMVs restored the intestinal barrier function by improving mitochondrial dynamic balance and metabolism of mitochondria. Further study revealed that MMVs delivered mfn2 and PGC-1α to intestinal epithelial cells, and promoted mitochondrial fusion and biogenesis, thereby improving mitochondrial dynamic balance. Furthermore, MMVs delivered functional mitochondria to intestinal epithelial cells and enhanced energy metabolism directly.

Conclusion

MMVs can deliver mfn2, PGC-1α, and functional mitochondria to intestinal epithelial cells, synergistically improve mitochondrial dynamic balance of target cells after sepsis, and restore the mitochondrial function and intestinal barrier function. The study illustrated that MMVs might be a promising strategy for the treatment of sepsis.

Perineural Dexmedetomidine Reduces the Median Effective Concentration of Ropivacaine for Adductor Canal Block

BACKGROUND Multimodal analgesic regimens are well known as the best option for total knee arthroplasty. They include the adductor canal block, combined with local infiltration analgesia and a block of the interspace between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee. However, these analgesic techniques all require a large amount of local anesthetics. In this study, we explored whether the quantity of local anesthetics could be decreased by using dexmedetomidine for the adductor canal block. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-four patients scheduled for unilateral, primary total knee arthroplasty were allocated into 2 groups: the ropivacaine group (group R) and the dexmedetomidine group (group RD). Ropivacaine 0.5% was chosen as the initial concentration, and the concentration was decreased or increased according to the response of the previous participant. Based on Dixon's up-and-down method, the median effective concentration was calculated. RESULTS The quadriceps strength was similar between the 2 groups, both at 30 min after adductor canal block and during recovery from general anesthesia in the Postanesthesia Care Unit. None of the patients in this study exhibited bradycardia or hypotension. The median effective concentration of ropivacaine for adductor canal block was 0.29% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.31%) in group RD, which was lower than that in group R (0.38% [95% CI, 0.36-0.41%]). CONCLUSIONS This study found perineural dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg could reduce the median effective concentration of ropivacaine for the adductor canal block.

Electro-optic coefficient measurement of a K(H1-xDx)2PO4 crystal based on χ(2) nonlinear optical technology

We present a novel method utilizing the χ⁽²⁾ nonlinear optical technology, which can realize high precision measurement of linear electro-optic (EO) coefficients of nonlinear materials. By applying the linear EO effect to the nonlinear optical process, the theoretical model of this measurement method was established, and the calculation formula of the linear EO coefficient was given. In the proof-of-principle experiment, by introducing an external electric field into the fourth harmonic generation (FHG) process, we comprehensively obtained the linear EO coefficients of K(H_1-xD_x)₂PO₄ crystals and revealed the relationship between deuterium content (x) and EO coefficient (γ₆₃): γ₆₃ = -9.789 - 16.53x. Meanwhile, the stability of FHG was greatly improved, and the angular range of efficiency stability was increased to 4.4 times in maximum. This work not only systematically demonstrates the FHG characteristics of KDP-family crystals, which provides a good reference for the deep ultraviolet laser generation, but also offers a new way to measure the basic parameters of nonlinear optical materials.

Surface-based morphometry study of the brain in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes

Background

The study aimed to explore cortical morphology in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) and the relationship between cortical characteristics and age of onset and intelligence quotient (IQ).

Methods

Cortical morphometry with surface-based morphometry (SBM) was used to compare changes in cortical thickness, gyrification, sulcal depth, and fractal dimension of the cerebral cortex between 25 BECTS patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) with two-sample t-tests [P<0.05, family-wise error (FWE) corrected]. Relationships between abnormal cortical morphological changes and age of onset and IQ, which included verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ), performance intelligence quotient (PIQ), and full-scale intelligence quotient (FIQ) were investigated with Spearman correlation analysis (P<0.05, uncorrected).

Results

The BECTS patients showed extensive cortical thinning predominantly in bilateral frontal, temporal regions, and limbic system. Cortical gyrification increased in the left hemisphere and partial right hemisphere, and the decreased cortical gyrification was only in the left hemisphere. The increased sulcal depth was the left fusiform gyrus. There are no statistically significant differences in the fractal dimension. Correlation analysis revealed the negative correlation between age of onset and cortical thickness in the right precentral gyrus. It also revealed the negative correlation between the age of onset and cortical gyrification in the left inferior parietal gyrus. Also, there was negative correlation between VIQ and cortical gyrification in the left supramarginal gyrus of BECTS patients.

Conclusions

This study reveals aberrant cortical thickness, cortical gyrification, and sulcal depth of BECTS in areas related to cognitive functions including language, attention and memory, and the correlation between some brain regions and VIQ and age of onset, providing a potential marker of early neurodevelopmental disturbance and cognitive dysfunction in BECTS.

Identification of MTP gene family in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) and characterization of CsMTP8.2 in manganese toxicity

Cation diffusion facilitators (CDFs) play central roles in metal homeostasis and tolerance in plants, but the specific functions of Camellia sinensis CDF-encoding genes and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Previously, transcriptome sequencing results in our lab indicated that the expression of CsMTP8.2 in tea plant shoots was down-regulated exposed to excessive amount of Mn²⁺ conditions. To elucidate the possible mechanisms involved, we systematically identified 13 C. sinensis CsMTP genes from three subfamilies and characterized their phylogeny, structures, and the features of the encoded proteins. The transcription of CsMTP genes was differentially regulated in C. sinensis shoots and roots in responses to high concentrations of Mn, Zn, Fe, and Al. Differences in the cis-acting regulatory elements in the CsMTP8.1 and CsMTP8.2 promoters suggested the expression of these two genes may be differentially regulated. Transient expression analysis indicated that CsMTP8.2 was localized to the plasma membrane in tobacco and onion epidermal cells. Moreover, when heterologously expressed in yeast, CsMTP8.2 conferred tolerance to Ni and Mn but not to Zn. Additionally, heterologous expression of CsMTP8.2 in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that CsMTP8.2 positively regulated the response to manganese toxicity by decreasing the accumulation of Mn in plants. However, there was no difference in the accumulation of other metals, including Cu, Fe, and Zn. These results suggest that CsMTP8.2 is a Mn-specific transporter that contributes to the efflux of excess Mn²⁺ from plant cells.

[Rituximab combined with short-course and intensive regimen for Burkitt leukemia: efficacy and safety analysis]

目的

探讨利妥昔单抗联合短疗程、高强度方案治疗成人Burkitt白血病患者的疗效和安全性。

方法

收集2006年1月30日至2018年9月12日中国医学科学院血液病医院收治的11例Burkitt白血病患者病例资料，分析统计患者的临床特征、完全缓解（CR）率、总生存率、无复发生存率及不良事件。

结果

11例患者中位年龄34（15~54）岁，其中男6例，女5例。发病时中位WBC 12.28（2.21~48.46）×10⁹/L，HGB 113（74~147）g/L，PLT 35（13~172）×10⁹/L，乳酸脱氢酶2 721（803~17 370）U/L，外周血中位原始细胞比例0.40（0.03~0.76），骨髓中位原始细胞比例0.840（0.295~0.945）。10例患者接受利妥昔单抗联合短疗程、高强度化疗，其中2例患者巩固化疗后行自体造血干细胞移植。所有治疗患者1个疗程CR率为100%，4年总生存率为90%，4年无复发生存率为90%。所有治疗患者中，只有1例患者在诱导化疗中出现肿瘤溶解综合征，经血液透析等治疗后肾功能恢复。无治疗相关性死亡病例。

结论

利妥昔单抗联合短疗程、高强度方案治疗成人Burkitt白血病疗效及安全性均较为理想。

Mdivi-1 attenuates oxidative stress and exerts vascular protection in ischemic/hypoxic injury by a mechanism independent of Drp1 GTPase activity

Vascular dysfunctions such as vascular hyporeactivity following ischemic/hypoxic injury are a major cause of death in injured patients. In this study, we showed that treatment with mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi-1), a selective inhibitor of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), significantly improved vascular reactivity in ischemic rats by attenuating oxidative stress. The antioxidative effects of Mdivi-1 were relatively Drp1-independent, and possibly due to an increase in the levels of the antioxidant enzymes, SOD1 and catalase, as well as to enhanced Nrf2 expression. In addition, we found that while Mdivi-1 had little effect on Drp1 GTPase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells, it inhibited hypoxia-induced Drp1 phosphorylation at Ser-616, reducing excessive mitochondrial fission and slightly enhancing mitochondrial fusion. These effects possibly contributed to vascular protection at an early stage of ischemic/hypoxic injury. Finally, Mdivi-1 stabilized hemodynamics, increased vital organ perfusion, and improved rat survival after ischemic/hypoxic injury, proving a promising therapeutic agent for ischemic/hypoxic injury.

•

Mdivi-1 improved vascular contractility in ischemic rats.

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Mdivi-1 attenuated hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial changes.

•

Drp1 recruitment to mitochondria, not GTPase activity, involved in Mdivi-1 effects.

•

Mdivi-1 has therapeutic potential against ischemic injury.

[Clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with myeloid neoplasms complicated with clonal T large granular lymphocyte proliferation]

Objective: To analyze the clinical manifestations and laboratory features in patients with myeloid neoplasms complicated with clonal T large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) proliferation. Methods: The clinical data of 5 patients with myeloid neoplasms complicated with clonal T-LGL proliferation from November 2017 to November 2018 in Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The median age was 60 years old. All patients had a history of abnormal peripheral blood cell counts for over 6 months. The absolute lymphocyte count in peripheral blood was less than 1.0×10(9)/L. In addition to the typical T-LGL phenotype, the immunophenotype was heterogenous including CD4(+)CD8(-) in 2 patients, the other 3 CD4(-)CD8(+). Four patients were αβ type T cells, the other one was γδ type. STAT3 mutation was detected in 1 patient by next-generation sequencing, the other 4 cases were negative. Conclusions: Clonal T-LGL proliferation with myeloid neoplasm develops in an indolent manner, mainly in elderly patients. Hemocytopenia is the most common manifestation. The diagnosis of T-LGL proliferation does not have specific criteria, that it should be differentiated from other T cell proliferative disorders, such as T-cell clones of undetermined significance. STAT3 or STAT5b mutation may help distinguish.

Rhombohedral Li1+xYxZr2-x(PO4)3 Solid Electrolyte Prepared by Hot-Pressing for All-Solid-State Li-Metal Batteries

NASICON-type solid electrolytes with excellent stability in moisture are promising in all-solid-state batteries and redox flow batteries. However, NASIOCN LiZr2(PO4)3 (LZP), which is more stable with lithium metal than the commercial Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3, exhibits a low Li-ion conductivity of 10-6 S cm-1 because the fast conducting rhombohedral phase only exists above 50 °C. In this paper, the high-ionic conductive rhombohedral phase is stabilized by Y3+ doping at room temperature, and the hot-pressing technique is employed to further improve the density of the pellet. The dense Li1.1Y0.1Zr1.9(PO4)3 pellet prepared by hot-pressing shows a high Li-ion conductivity of 9 × 10-5 S cm-1, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that of LiZr2(PO4)3. The in-situ formed Li3P layer on the surface of Li1.1Y0.1Zr1.9(PO4)3 after contact with the lithium metal increases the wettability of the pellet by the metallic lithium anode. Moreover, the Li1.1Y0.1Zr1.9(PO4)3 pellet shows a relatively small interfacial resistance in symmetric Li/Li and all-solid-state Li-metal cells, providing these cells a small overpotential and a long cycling life.