[Strolling through the glorious years of Alveolar Surgery, bravely stepping onto the path of practice and innovation]

This article summarizes and organizes relevant publications in journals, along with a review of medical history, systematically summarizing the development process of dental alveolar surgery in China. The initial establishment phase (1935-1952) marked the starting point of Chinese Alveolar Surgery. Despite the impact of wars, it laid the foundation for subsequent research and practice. During the early development phase (1953-1966), the "Chinese Journal of Stomatology" was founded, which promoted the development of Alveolar Surgery. Research focused on tooth extraction methods and complications. Tooth Transplantation and Preprosthetic Surgery gradually began to take off. The stagnant phase (1967-1977) occurred due to the interruption of international exchanges, leading to an almost complete halt in the development of Alveolar Surgery. Entering the rapid catch-up phase (1978-1985), Alveolar Surgery scholars in China began striving to overcome the stagnation of the previous decade. While some progress was made, no significant innovative achievements emerged. In the scientific development phase (1986-2010), clinical research, basic experiments, and paper writing in modern Chinese Alveolar Surgery began to adhere to scientific standards with the rise of experimental medicine. The exploration and innovation stage (2011-2023) is the current development phase, during which Chinese Aveolar Surgery has reached its peak, making substantial progress in technology, clinical practices, and basic research, gradually reaching or even surpassing international advanced levels. Looking back at the development history in China, we can find the wisdom and hard work of the older generation of Alveolar Surgery scholars. However, contemporary challenges and issues, such as standardizing technology, promoting clinical practices, and talent cultivation, need to be addressed by present-day Alveolar Surgery professionals as they forge ahead.

Custom-Design of Strong Electron/Proton Extractor on COFs for Efficient Photocatalytic H2O2 Production

The development of photocatalysts with continuous electron extraction and rapid proton transfer could kinetically accelerate the artificial photosynthesis, but remains a challenge. Herein, we report the topology-guided synthesis of a high-crystalline triazine covalent organic framework (COF) decorated by uniformly distributed polar oxygen functional groups (sulfonic group or carboxyl) as the strong electron/proton extractor for efficient photocatalytic H2O2 production. It was found that the polarity-based proton transfer as well as electron enrichment in as-obtained COFs played a crucial role in improving the H2O2 photosynthesis efficiency (i.e., with an activity order of sulfonic acid- (SO3H-COF)>carboxyl- (COOH-COF)>hydrogen- (H-COF) functionalized COFs). The strong polar sulfonic acid group in the high-crystalline SO3H-COF triggered a well-oriented built-in electric field and more hydrophilic surface, which serves as an efficient carrier extractor enabling a continuous transportation of the photogenerated electrons and interfacial proton to the active sites (i.e., C atoms linked to -SO3H group). As-accelerated proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), together with the stabilized O2 adsorption finally leads to the highest H2O2 production rate of 4971 μmol g-1 h-1 under visible light irradiation. Meanwhile, a quantum yield of 15 % at 400 nm is obtained, superior to most reported COF-based photocatalysts.

Light recovery after maize harvesting promotes soybean flowering in a maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system

Moving from sole cropping to intercropping is a transformative change in agriculture, contributing to yield. Soybeans adapt to light conditions in intercropping by adjusting the onset of reproduction and the inflorescence architecture to optimize reproductive success. Maize-soybean strip intercropping (MS), maize-soybean relay strip intercropping (IS), and sole soybean (SS) systems are typical soybean planting systems with significant differences in light environments during growth periods. To elucidate the effect of changes in the light environment on soybean flowering processes and provide a theoretical basis for selecting suitable varieties in various planting systems to improve yields, field experiments combining planting systems (IS, MS, and SS) and soybean varieties (GQ8, GX7, ND25, and NN996) were conducted in 2021 and 2022. Results showed that growth recovery in the IS resulted in a balance in the expression of TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) in the meristematic tissues of soybeans, which promoted the formation of new branches or flowers. IS prolonged the flowering time (2-7 days) and increased the number of forming flowers compared with SS (93.0 and 169%) and MS (67.3 and 103.3%) at the later soybean flowering stage. The higher carbon and nitrogen content in the middle and bottom canopies of soybean contributed to decreased flower abscission by 26.7 and 30.2%, respectively, compared with SS. Canopy light environment recovery promoted branch and flower formation and transformation of flowers into pods with lower flower-pod abscission, which contributed to elevating soybean yields in late-maturing and multibranching varieties (ND25) in IS.

The impact of pre-operative depression on pain outcomes after major surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Symptoms of depression are common among patients before surgery. Depression may be associated with worse postoperative pain and other pain-related outcomes. This review aimed to characterise the impact of pre-operative depression on postoperative pain outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies that reported an association between pre-operative depression and pain outcomes after major surgery. Multilevel random effects meta-analyses were conducted to pool standardised mean differences and 95%CI for postoperative pain scores in patients with depression compared with those without depression, at different time intervals. A meta-analysis was performed for studies reporting change in pain scores from the pre-operative period to any time-point after surgery. Sixty studies (n = 501,962) were included in the overall review, of which 18 were eligible for meta-analysis. Pre-operative depression was associated with greater pain scores at < 72 h (standardised mean difference 0.97 (95%CI 0.37-1.56), p = 0.009, I2  = 41%; moderate certainty) and > 6 months (standardised mean difference 0.45 (95%CI 0.23-0.68), p < 0.001, I2  = 78%; low certainty) after surgery, but not at 3-6 months after surgery (standardised mean difference 0.54 (95%CI -0.06-1.15), p = 0.07, I2  = 83%; very low certainty). The change in pain scores from pre-operative baseline to 1-2 years after surgery was similar between patients with and without pre-operative depression (standardised mean difference 0.13 (95%CI -0.06-0.32), p = 0.15, I2  = 54%; very low certainty). Overall, pre-existing depression before surgery was associated with worse pain severity postoperatively. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychological care into current postoperative pain management approaches in patients with depression.

Long non-coding RNA MLLT4 antisense RNA 1 induces autophagy to inhibit tumorigenesis of cervical cancer through modulating the myosin-9/ATG14 axis

The regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in autophagy is as yet not well established. In this research, we show that the long non-coding RNA MLLT4 antisense RNA 1 (lncRNA MLLT4-AS1) is induced by the MTORC inhibitor PP242 and rapamycin in cervical cells. Overexpression of MLLT4-AS1 promotes autophagy and inhibits tumorigenesis and the migration of cervical cancer cells, whereas knockdown of MLLT4-AS1 attenuates PP242-induced autophagy. Mass spectrometry, RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA-FISH), and immunoprecipitation assays were performed to identify the direct interactions between MLLT4-AS1 and other associated targets, such as myosin-9 and autophagy-related 14(ATG14). MLLT4-AS1 was upregulated by H3K27ac modification with PP242 treatment, and knockdown of MLLT4-AS1 reversed autophagy by modulating ATG14 expression. Mechanically, MLLT4-AS1 was associated with the myosin-9 protein, which further promoted the transcription activity of the ATG14 gene. In conclusion, we demonstrated that MLLT4-AS1 acts as a potential tumor suppressor in cervical cancer by inducing autophagy, and H3K27ac modification-induced upregulation of MLLT4-AS1 could cause autophagy by associating with myosin-9 and promoting ATG14 transcription.

[The long-term efficacy of metformin in megestrol acetate-based fertility-sparing treatment for patients with endometrial atypical hyperplasia and endometrioid endometrial cancer]

Objective: To assess the long-term efficacy of metformin in megestrol acetate (MA)-based fertility-sparing treatment for patients with endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH) and endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC). Methods: The randomized controlled trail study was conducted from October 2013 to October 2017 in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Patients with EAH or EEC were firstly stratified according to pathology, and randomized to receive MA (160 mg orally, daily) plus metformin (500 mg orally, three times a day) or MA (160 mg orally, daily). Baseline data between two groups of patients were compared. Estimates of time to complete remission (CR) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) of related factors for recurrence-free survival. Quantitative data were represented by M (Q1, Q3). Results: A total of 150 patients were included, and 76 patients were allocated to receive MA plus metformin with the age of 32.5 (28.0, 36.0), while 74 patients received MA alone with the age of 32.0 (28.0, 36.0). By the end of follow-up period, 96.7% (n=145) of patients achieved complete remission, with a median follow-up time of 57.7 (26.7, 70.5) months. The median CR time for the MA plus metformin group and the MA alone group were 6.3 (3.5, 8.3) months and 6.8 (4.0, 9.3) months, respectively (P=0.193), with 2-year cumulative CR rate of 98.6% and 98.5%, respectively (P=0.879). The median time of RFS was 28.1 (12.5, 57.3) months for the MA plus metformin group and 33.3 (14.1, 62.5) months for the MA alone group (P=0.213), with a cumulative RFS rate of 61.9% and 65.8%, respectively (P=0.560). In the subgroup of non-obese (body mass index<28 kg/m2) patients with EAH, the median RFS times were 25.7 (7.6, 60.3) months and 47.3 (17.5, 64.8) months for the MA plus metformin group and the MA alone group, respectively (P=0.033), with a cumulative RFS rate of 57.5% and 80.6%, respectively (P=0.029). According to Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, undergoing assisted reproductive treatment (HR=2.358, 95%CI: 1.069-5.204, P=0.034) was identified as an independent risk factor for recurrence-free survival after complete remission of endometrial lesions. Conclusion: The long-term follow-up outcome indicates that there is no significant difference in CR time and RFS time between MA plus metformin therapy and MA alone therapy for patients with EAH or EEC.

Preparation of astaxanthin-loaded composite micelles with coaxial electrospray technology for enhanced oral bioavailability and improved antioxidation capability

BACKGROUND

Astaxanthin (AST) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe dietary supplement for humans. As a potent lipid-soluble keto-carotenoid, it is widely used in food, cosmetics, and the pharmaceutical industry. However, its low solubility limits its powerful biological activity and its application in these fields. This study aims to develop a delivery system to address the low solubility and bioavailability of AST and to enhance its antioxidant capacity.

RESULTS

Astaxanthin-loaded composite micelles were successfully prepared via coaxial electrospray technology. Astaxanthin existed in the amorphous state in the electro-sprayed formulation with an approximate particle size of 186.28 nm and with a polydispersity index of 0.243. In this delivery system, Soluplus and copovidone (PVPVA 64) were the main polymeric matrix for AST, which then released the drug upon contact with aqueous media, resulting in an overall increase in drug solubility and a release rate of 94.08%. Meanwhile, lecithin, and Polyethylene glycol-grafted Chitosan (PEG-g-CS) could support the absorption of AST in the gastrointestinal tract, assisting transmembrane transport. The relative bioavailability reached about 308.33% and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging efficiency of the formulation was 44.10%, which was 1.57 times higher than that of free astaxanthin (28.10%) when both were at the same concentration level based on astaxanthin.

CONCLUSION

Coaxial electrospray could be applied to prepare a composite micelles system for the delivery of poorly water-soluble active ingredients in functional food, cosmetics, and medicine. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

ZMYND8 protects breast cancer stem cells against oxidative stress and ferroptosis through activation of NRF2

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) mitigate oxidative stress to maintain their viability and plasticity. However, the regulatory mechanism of oxidative stress in BCSCs remains unclear. We recently found that the histone reader ZMYND8 was upregulated in BCSCs. Here, we showed that ZMYND8 reduced ROS and iron to inhibit ferroptosis in aldehyde dehydrogenase-high (ALDHhi) BCSCs, leading to BCSC expansion and tumor initiation in mice. The underlying mechanism involved a two-fold posttranslational regulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). ZMYND8 increased stability of NRF2 protein through KEAP1 silencing. On the other hand, ZMYND8 interacted with and recruited NRF2 to the promoters of antioxidant genes to enhance gene transcription in mammospheres. NRF2 phenocopied ZMYND8 to enhance BCSC stemness and tumor initiation by inhibiting ROS and ferroptosis. Loss of NRF2 counteracted ZMYND8's effects on antioxidant genes and ROS in mammospheres. Interestingly, ZMYND8 expression was directly controlled by NRF2 in mammospheres. Collectively, these findings uncover a positive feedback loop that amplifies the antioxidant defense mechanism sustaining BCSC survival and stemness.

Microeukaryotic plankton evolutionary constraints in a subtropical river explained by environment and bacteria along differing taxonomic resolutions

Microeukaryotic plankton communities are keystone components for keeping aquatic primary productivity. Currently, variations in microeukaryotic plankton diversity have often been explained by local ecological factors but not by evolutionary constraints. We used amplicon sequencing of 100 water samples across five years to investigate the ecological preferences of the microeukaryotic plankton community in a subtropical riverine ecosystem. We found that microeukaryotic plankton diversity was less associated with bacterial abundance (16S rRNA gene copy number) than bacterial diversity. Further, environmental effects exhibited a larger influence on microeukaryotic plankton community composition than bacterial community composition, especially at fine taxonomic levels. The evolutionary constraints of microeukaryotic plankton community increased with decreasing taxonomic resolution (from 97% to 91% similarity levels), but not significant change from 85% to 70% similarity levels. However, compared with the bacterial community, the evolutionary constraints were shown to be more affected by environmental variables. This study illustrated possible controlling environmental and bacterial drivers of microeukaryotic diversity and community assembly in a subtropical river, thereby indirectly reflecting on the quality status of the water environment by providing new clues on the microeukaryotic community assembly.

Afforestation changed the fungal functional community of paddy fields and dry farmlands differently

Afforestation currently makes a great contribution to carbon uptake in terrestrial ecosystems, while dramatically affects soil ecosystem functions too. Little is known, however, about the changes in soil fungal functional groups and their interactions following afforestation. Here, based on high-throughput sequencing and FUNGuild annotation, we investigated the functional characteristics of soil fungi as well as environmental factors in a watershed where paddy field and dry farmland were changed to eucalyptus plantation. The results showed that afforestation on paddy field resulted in greater changes in diversity, community structure and taxon interactions of fungal functional groups than afforestation on dry farmland. The most complex and distinctive community structure was found in eucalyptus plantation, as well as the greatest taxon interactions, and the lowest alpha-diversity of functional guilds of symbiotrophic fungi because of the dominant ectomycorrhizal fungi. Paddy field exhibited the highest proportion of saprotrophic fungi, but the lowest taxonomic diversity of saprotrophic and pathotrophic fungi. The taxonomic diversity of undefined saprotrophic fungi shaped the differences in community structure and network complexity between eucalyptus plantation and cropland. Limited cooperation within dominant fungi was the main reason for the establishment of a loose co-occurrence network in paddy field. From croplands to artificial forests, reduced soil pH boosted the taxonomic diversity of fungal functional groups. All of these findings suggested that afforestation may lead to an increase in the taxonomic diversity of soil fungal functional groups, which would further intensify the taxon interactions.

RNA base editing therapy cures hearing loss induced by OTOF gene mutation

Otoferlin (OTOF) gene mutations represent the primary cause of hearing impairment and deafness in auditory neuropathy. The c.2485C>T (p. Q829X) mutation variant is responsible for approximately 3% of recessive prelingual deafness cases within the Spanish population. Previous studies have used two recombinant AAV vectors to overexpress OTOF, albeit with limited efficacy. In this study, we introduce an enhanced mini-dCas13X RNA base editor (emxABE) delivered via an AAV9 variant, achieving nearly 100% transfection efficiency in inner hair cells. This approach is aimed at treating OTOFQ829X, resulting in an approximately 80% adenosine-to-inosine conversion efficiency in humanized OtofQ829X/Q829X mice. Following a single scala media injection of emxABE targeting OTOFQ829X (emxABE-T) administered during the postnatal day 0-3 period in OtofQ829X/Q829X mice, we observed OTOF expression restoration in nearly 100% of inner hair cells. Moreover, auditory function was significantly improved, reaching similar levels as in wild-type mice. This enhancement persisted for at least 7 months. We also investigated P5-P7 and P30 OtofQ829X/Q829X mice, achieving auditory function restoration through round window injection of emxABE-T. These findings not only highlight an effective therapeutic strategy for potentially addressing OTOFQ829X-induced hearing loss but also underscore emxABE as a versatile toolkit for treating other monogenic diseases characterized by premature termination codons.

Core taxa drive microeukaryotic community stability of a deep subtropical reservoir after complete mixing

Microeukaryotes are key for predicting the change of ecosystem processes in the face of a disturbance. However, their vertical responses to multiple interconnected factors caused by water mixing remain unknown. Here, we conducted a 12-month high-frequency study to compare the impacts of mixing disturbances on microeukaryotic community structure and stability over different depths in a stratified reservoir. We demonstrate that core and satellite microeukaryotic compositions and interactions in surface waters were not resistant to water mixing, but significantly recovered. This was because the water temperature rebounded to the pre-mixing level. Core microeukaryotes maintained community stability in surface waters with high recovery capacity after water mixing. In contrast, the changes in water temperature, chlorophyll-a, and nutrients resulted in steep and prolonged variations in the bottom core and satellite microeukaryotic compositions and interactions. Under low environmental fluctuation, the recovery of microbial communities did not affect nutrient cycling in surface waters. Under high environmental fluctuation, core and satellite microeukaryotic compositions in bottom waters were significantly correlated with the multi-nutrient cycling index. Our findings shed light on different mechanisms of plankton community resilience in reservoir ecosystems to a major disturbance over depths, highlighting the role of bottom microeukaryotes in nutrient cycling.

[Fertility-preserving treatment outcomes in endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia patients with different molecular profiles]

Objective: To investigate the impact of molecular classification and key oncogenes on the oncologic outcomes in patients with endometrial carcinoma (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) receiving fertility-preserving treatment. Methods: Patients with EC and AEH undergoing progestin-based fertility-preserving treatment and receiving molecular classification as well as key oncogenes test at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University from January 2021 to March 2023 were reviewed. Hysteroscopic lesion resection and endometrial biopsy were performed before initiating hormone therapy and every 3 months during the treatment to evaluate the efficacy. The risk factors which had impact on the treatment outcomes in EC and AEH patients were further analyzed. Results: Of the 171 patients analyzed, the median age was 32 years, including 86 patients with EC and 85 patients with AEH. The distribution of molecular classification was as follows: 157 cases (91.8%) were classified as having no specific molecular profile (NSMP); 9 cases (5.3%), mismatch repair deficient (MMR-d); 3 cases (1.8%), POLE-mutated; 2 cases (1.2%), p53 abnormal. No difference was found in the cumulative 40-week complete response (CR) rate between the patients having NSMP or MMR-d (61.6% vs 60.0%; P=0.593), while the patients having MMR-d had increased risk than those having NSMP to have recurrence after CR (50.0% vs 14.4%; P=0.005). Multi-variant analysis showed PTEN gene multi-loci mutation (HR=0.413, 95%CI: 0.259-0.658; P<0.001) and PIK3CA gene mutation (HR=0.499, 95%CI: 0.310-0.804; P=0.004) were associated with a lower cumulative 40-week CR rate, and progestin-insensitivity (HR=3.825, 95%CI: 1.570-9.317; P=0.003) and MMR-d (HR=9.014, 95%CI: 1.734-46.873; P=0.009) were independent risk factors of recurrence in EC and AEH patients. Conclusions: No difference in cumulative 40-week CR rate is found in the patients having NSMP or MMR-d who received progestin-based fertility-preserving treatment, where the use of hysteroscopy during the treatment might be the reason, while those having MMR-d have a higher risk of recurrence after CR. Oncogene mutation of PTEN or PIK3CA gene might be associated with a lower response to progestin treatment. The molecular profiles help predict the fertility-preserving treatment outcomes in EC and AEH patients.

[Protective effect of recombinant Schistosoma japonicum cystatin against acute kidney injury associated with acute liver failure in mice]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the protective effect of recombinant Schistosoma japonicum cystatin (rSj-Cys) against acute kidney injury induced by acute liver failure and unravel the underlying mechanism, so as to provide insights into the clinical therapy of acute kidney injury.

METHODS

Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice at ages of 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal control group, rSj-Cys control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) model group and LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys treatment group, of 6 mice each group. Mice in the LPS/D-GaIN group and LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys group were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (10 μg/kg) and D-GaIN (700 mg/kg), and mice in the LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys group were additionally administered with rSj-Cys (1.25 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection 30 min post-modeling, while mice in the rSj-Cys group were intraperitoneally injected with rSj-Cys (1.25 mg/kg), and mice in the normal control group were injected with the normal volume of PBS. All mice were sacrificed 6 h post-modeling, and mouse serum and kidney samples were collected. Serum creatinine (Cr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured, and the pathological changes of mouse kidney specimens were examined using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expression of inflammatory factors and pyroptosis-related proteins was quantified in mouse kidney specimens using immunohistochemistry. In addition, the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-associated proteins was determined in mouse kidney specimens using Western blotting assay.

RESULTS

HE staining showed no remarkable abnormality in the mouse kidney structure in the normal control group and the rSj-Cys control group, and renal tubular injury was found in LPS/D-GaIN group, while the renal tubular injury was alleviated in LPS/D-GaIN+rSj-Cys treatment group. There were significant differences in serum levels of Cr (F = 46.33, P < 0.001), BUN (F = 128.60, P < 0.001), TNF-α (F = 102.00, P < 0.001) and IL-6 (F = 202.10, P < 0.001) among the four groups, and lower serum Cr [(85.35 ± 32.05) μmol/L], BUN [(11.90 ± 2.76) mmol/L], TNF-α [(158.27 ± 15.83) pg/mL] and IL-6 levels [(56.72 ± 4.37) pg/mL] were detected in the in LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys group than in the LPS/D-GaIN group (all P values < 0.01). Immunohistochemical staining detected significant differences in TNF-α (F = 24.16, P < 0.001) and IL-10 (F = 15.07, P < 0.01) expression among the four groups, and lower TNF-α [(106.50 ± 16.57)%] and higher IL-10 expression [(91.83 ± 5.23)%] was detected in the LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys group than in the LPS/D-GaIN group (both P values < 0.01). Western blotting and immunohistochemistry detected significant differences in the protein expression of pyroptosis-related proteins NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) (F = 24.57 and 30.72, both P values < 0.001), IL-1β (F = 19.24 and 22.59, both P values < 0.001) and IL-18 (F = 16.60 and 19.30, both P values < 0.001) in kidney samples among the four groups, and lower NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 expression was quantified in the LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys treatment group than in the LPS/D-GaIN group (P values < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the protein expression of NF-κB signaling pathway-associated proteins p-NF-κB p-P65/NF-κB p65 (F = 71.88, P < 0.001), Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 (F = 45.49, P < 0.001) and p-IκB/IκB (F = 60.87, P < 0.001) in mouse kidney samples among the four groups, and lower expression of three NF-κB signaling pathway-associated proteins was determined in the LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys treatment group than in the LPS/D-GaIN group (all P values < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

rSj-Cys may present a protective effect against acute kidney injury caused by acute liver failure through inhibiting inflammation and pyroptosis and downregulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Relic DNA obscures DNA-based profiling of multiple microbial taxonomic groups in a river-reservoir ecosystem

Numerous studies have investigated the spatiotemporal variability in water microbial communities, yet the effects of relic DNA on microbial community profiles, especially microeukaryotes, remain far from fully understood. Here, total and active bacterial and microeukaryotic community compositions were characterized using propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment coupled with high-throughput sequencing in a river-reservoir ecosystem. Beta diversity analysis showed a significant difference in community composition between both the PMA untreated and treated bacteria and microeukaryotes; however, the differentiating effect was much stronger for microeukaryotes. Relic DNA only resulted in underestimation of the relative abundances of Bacteroidota and Nitrospirota, while other bacterial taxa exhibited no significant changes. As for microeukaryotes, the relative abundances of some phytoplankton (e.g. Chlorophyta, Dinoflagellata and Ochrophyta) and fungi were greater after relic DNA removal, whereas Cercozoa and Ciliophora showed the opposite trend. Moreover, relic DNA removal weakened the size and complexity of cross-trophic microbial networks and significantly changed the relationships between environmental factors and microeukaryotic community composition. However, there was no significant difference in the rates of temporal community turnover between the PMA untreated and treated samples for either bacteria or microeukaryotes. Overall, our results imply that the presence of relic DNA in waters can give misleading information of the active microbial community composition, co-occurrence networks and their relationships with environmental conditions. More studies of the abundance, decay rate and functioning of nonviable DNA in freshwater ecosystems are highly recommended in the future.

Corrigendum: Edwardsiella piscicida infection reshapes the intestinal microbiome and metabolome of big-belly seahorses: mechanistic insights of synergistic actions of virulence factors

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1135588.].

Micro-hole array sprayer combined with an organic membrane to assist LIBS (MASOM-LIBS): A novel highly sensitive detection method for dissolved trace heavy metals in water

The development of highly sensitive and rapid detection technology for heavy metal elements in water is of great significance to the monitoring of water environmental pollution, sewage discharge control and other application fields. As an alternative detection method with great potential in the above fields, LIBS technology still has some problems that need to be solved. To improve the sensitivity and efficiency of LIBS detection of trace metals in water, a new method Micro-hole Array Sprayer combined with an Organic Membrane to assist LIBS (MASOM-LIBS) was proposed in this study. In this method, water samples were transformed into a large number of micrometer droplets by a micro-hole array injection device and were sprayed onto a rotating polypropylene organic film. After natural drying, LIBS analysis was performed. The test results of the mixed solution show that plasma with lower electron density and higher electron temperature can be obtained after full drying, the signal intensity will be stronger, and the stability can be reduced to less than 1%. The experimental results of Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, Cr and Sr as target elements show that the LODs of the MASOM-LIBS method for most elements is less than 0.1 mg/L when the detection time is less than 3 min, which has certain advantages over similar LIBS methods. If the detection time is increased appropriately, the LODs of this method is even expected to be reduced to less than 0.01 mg/L. These results indicate that MASOM-LIBS is a feasible method to improve the sensitivity and speed of the detection of trace heavy elements in liquid samples and can facilitate the wide application of LIBS in water quality monitoring. In view of the short detection time, high sensitivity and low LODs of MASOM-LIBS, this method is expected to be developed into a water trace heavy metal detection technology with fully automatic, real-time, highly sensitive and multi-element detection technology in the future.

Edwardsiella piscicida infection reshapes the intestinal microbiome and metabolome of big-belly seahorses: mechanistic insights of synergistic actions of virulence factors

Uncovering the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of Edwardsiella piscicida-induced enteritis is essential for global aquaculture. In the present study, we identified E. piscicida as a lethal pathogen of the big-belly seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) and revealed its pathogenic pattern and characteristics by updating our established bacterial enteritis model and evaluation system. Conjoint analysis of metagenomic and metabolomic data showed that 15 core virulence factors could mutually coordinate the remodeling of intestinal microorganisms and host metabolism and induce enteritis in the big-belly seahorse. Specifically, the Flagella, Type IV pili, and Lap could significantly increase the activities of the representative functional pathways of both flagella assembly and bacterial chemotaxis in the intestinal microbiota (P < 0.01) to promote pathogen motility, adherence, and invasion. Legiobactin, IraAB, and Hpt could increase ABC transporter activity (P < 0.01) to compete for host nutrition and promote self-replication. Capsule1, HP-NAP, and FarAB could help the pathogen to avoid phagocytosis. Upon entering epithelial cells and phagocytes, Bsa T3SS and Dot/Icm could significantly increase bacterial secretion system activity (P < 0.01) to promote the intracellular survival and replication of the pathogen and the subsequent invasion of the neighboring tissues. Finally, LPS3 could significantly increase lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis (P < 0.01) to release toxins and kill the host. Throughout the pathogenic process, BopD, PhoP, and BfmRS significantly activated the two-component system (P < 0.01) to coordinate with other VFs to promote deep invasion. In addition, the levels of seven key metabolic biomarkers, Taurine, L-Proline, Uridine, L-Glutamate, Glutathione, Xanthosine, and L-Malic acid, significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and they can be used for characterizing E. piscicida infection. Overall, the present study systematically revealed how a combination of virulence factors mediate E. piscicida-induced enteritis in fish for the first time, providing a theoretical reference for preventing and controlling this disease in the aquaculture of seahorses and other fishes.

Preparation and evaluation of astaxanthin-loaded 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and Soluplus® nanoparticles based on electrospray technology

BACKGROUND

Astaxanthin is a type of food-derived active ingredient with antioxidant, antidiabetic and non-toxicity functions, but its poor solubility and low bioavailability hinder further application in food industry. In the present study, through inclusion technologies, micellar solubilization and electrospray techniques, we prepared astaxanthin nanoparticles before optimizing the formulation to regulate the physical and chemical properties of micelles. We accomplished the preparation of astaxanthin nanoparticle delivery system based on single needle electrospray technology through use of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and Soluplus® to improveme the release behavior of the nanocarrier.

RESULTS

Through this experiment, we successfully prepared astaxanthin nanoparticles with a particle size of approximately 80 nm, which was further verified with scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the encapsulation of astaxanthin molecules into the carrier nanoparticles was verified via the results of attenuated total reflectance intensity and X-ray powder diffraction techniques. The in vitro release behavior of astaxanthin nanoparticles was different in media that contained 0.5% Tween 80 (pH 1.2, 4.5 and 6.8) buffer solution and distilled water. Also, we carried out a pharmacokinetic study of astaxanthin nanoparticles, in which it was observed that astaxanthin nanoparticle showed an effect of immediate release and significant improved bioavailability.

CONCLUSION

2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and Soluplus® were used in the present study as a hydrophilic nanocarrier that could provide a simple way of encapsulating natural function food with repsect to improving the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble ingredients. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhanced oral bioavailability of capsaicin-loaded microencapsulation complex via electrospray technology: Preparation, in vitro and in vivo evaluation

The purpose of this work was to fabricate the microencapsulation of capsaicin using electrospray technology and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K30 as a carrier. The morphological characteristics of capsaicin-PVP electrosprayed microencapsulation complex under different processing parameters were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), while the best process was determined, wherein it comprised of 10 KV (voltage), 0.8 ml·h^-1 (solution flow rate), 0.9 mm (the inner diameter of the needle), and 10 cm (receiving distance). The X-ray diffraction results of the electrosprayed complex showed that capsaicin was present in the carrier in an amorphous form. The drug release properties of capsaicin powder and electrosprayed complex in different media were investigated. The results showed that in vitro release rates of the capsaicin complex in different media were much higher than that of capsaicin powder, with correspondingly improved bioavailability, defined by intravenous and oral dosing in rats in vivo, for the electrosprayed complex compared to that of capsacin powder. The dose absorbed of the electrosprayed complex was 2.2-fold that of the capsaicin powder. In short, electrospray technology can be used to prepare capsaicin-loaded electrosprayed microencapsulation complex. This technique can improve the solubility and bioavailability of capsaicin, and provide a new idea for the solubilization of other insoluble drugs.

Endothelial and Leptin Receptor+ cells promote the maintenance of stem cells and hematopoiesis in early postnatal murine bone marrow

Mammalian hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) colonize the bone marrow during late fetal development, and this becomes the major site of hematopoiesis after birth. However, little is known about the early postnatal bone marrow niche. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of mouse bone marrow stromal cells at 4 days, 14 days, and 8 weeks after birth. Leptin-receptor-expressing (LepR⁺) stromal cells and endothelial cells increased in frequency during this period and changed their properties. At all postnatal stages, LepR⁺ cells and endothelial cells expressed the highest stem cell factor (Scf) levels in the bone marrow. LepR⁺ cells expressed the highest Cxcl12 levels. In early postnatal bone marrow, SCF from LepR⁺/Prx1⁺ stromal cells promoted myeloid and erythroid progenitor maintenance, while SCF from endothelial cells promoted HSC maintenance. Membrane-bound SCF in endothelial cells contributed to HSC maintenance. LepR⁺ cells and endothelial cells are thus important niche components in early postnatal bone marrow.

Planktonic ciliate community driven by environmental variables and cyanobacterial blooms: A 9-year study in two subtropical reservoirs

It is well-established that environmental variability and cyanobacterial blooms have major effects on the assembly and functioning of bacterial communities in both marine and freshwater habitats. It remains unclear, however, how the ciliate community responds to such changes over the long-term, particularly in subtropical lake and reservoir ecosystems. We analysed 9-year planktonic ciliate data series from the surface water of two subtropical reservoirs to elucidate the role of cyanobacterial bloom and environmental variabilities on the ciliate temporal dynamics. We identified five distinct periods of cyanobacterial succession in both reservoirs. Using multiple time-scale analyses, we found that the interannual variability of ciliate communities was more strongly related to cyanobacterial blooms than to other environmental variables or to seasonality. Moreover, the percentage of species turnover across cyanobacterial bloom and non-bloom periods increased significantly with time over the 9-year period. Phylogenetic analyses further indicated that 84 %-86 % of ciliate community turnover was governed by stochastic dispersal limitation or undominated processes, suggesting that the ciliate communities in subtropical reservoirs were mainly controlled by neutral processes. However, short-term blooms increased the selection pressure and drove 30 %-53 % of the ciliate community turnover. We found that the ciliate community composition was influenced by environmental conditions with nutrients, cyanobacterial biomass and microzooplankton having direct and/or indirect significant effects on the ciliate taxonomic or functional community dynamics. Our results provide new insights into the long-term temporal dynamics of planktonic ciliate communities under cyanobacterial bloom disturbance.

Microbial one‑carbon and nitrogen metabolisms are beneficial to the reservoir recovery after cyanobacterial bloom

Cyanobacterial blooms have profound effects on the structure and function of plankton communities in inland waters, but few studies have focused on the effects of microbial-based processes in one‑carbon and nitrogen cycling on water quality improvement following the bloom. Here, we compared the structure and function of the bacterial community, focusing on microbial one‑carbon and nitrogen metabolisms during and after a cyanobacterial Microcystis bloom in a deep subtropical reservoir. Our data showed that microbial one‑carbon and nitrogen cycles were closely related to different periods of the bloom, and the changes of functional genes in microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling showed the same consistent trend as that of Methylomonas sp. With the receding of the bloom, the abundance of Methylomonas as well as the functional genes of microbial one‑carbon and nitrogen cycling reached the peak and then recovered. Our results indicate that microbial one‑carbon and nitrogen metabolisms were beneficial to the recovery of water quality from the cyanobacterial bloom. This study lays a foundation for a deep understanding of the cyanobacterial decomposition mediated by microbes in one‑carbon and nitrogen cycles in inland freshwaters.

Identification of vulnerable non-culprit lesions by coronary computed tomography angiography in patients with chronic coronary syndrome and diabetes mellitus

Background

Among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), non-culprit lesions (NCLs) are responsible for a substantial number of future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Thus, we aimed to establish the natural history relationship between adverse plaque characteristics (APCs) of NCLs non-invasively identified by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and subsequent MACEs in these patients.

Methods

Between January 2016 and January 2019, 523 patients with DM and CCS were included in the present study after CCTA and successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). All patients were followed up for MACEs (the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and unplanned coronary revascularization) until January 2022, and the independent clinical event committee classified MACEs as indeterminate, culprit lesion (CL), and NCL-related. The primary outcome was MACEs arising from untreated NCLs during the follow-up. The association between plaque characteristics detected by CCTA and primary outcomes was determined by Marginal Cox proportional hazard regression.

Results

Overall, 1,248 NCLs of the 523 patients were analyzed and followed up for a median of 47 months. The cumulative rates of indeterminate, CL, and NCL-related MACEs were 2.3%, 14.5%, and 20.5%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, NCLs associated with recurrent MACEs were more likely to be characterized by a plaque burden >70% [hazard ratio (HR), 4.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.92-6.44], a low-density non-calcified plaque (LDNCP) volume >30 mm³ (HR: 3.40, 95% CI: 2.07-5.56), a minimal luminal area (MLA) <4 mm² (HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.57-3.36), or a combination of three APCs (HR: 13.69, 95% CI: 9.34-20.12, p < 0.0001) than those not associated with recurrent MACEs. Sensitivity analysis regarding all indeterminate MACEs as NCL-related ones demonstrated similar results.

Conclusions

In DM patients who presented with CCS and underwent PCI, half of the MACEs occurring during the follow-up were attributable to recurrence at the site of NCLs. NCLs responsible for unanticipated MACEs were frequently characterized by a large plaque burden and LDNCP volume, a small MLA, or a combination of these APCs, as determined by CCTA.

Interaction between Raphidiopsis raciborskii and rare bacterial species revealed by dilution-to-extinction experiments

Interactions between heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria regulate the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems and are thus crucial for the prediction and management of cyanobacterial blooms in relation to water security. Currently, abundant bacterial species are of primary concern, while the role of more diverse and copious rare species remains largely unknown. Using a dilution-to-extinction approach, rare bacterial species from reservoir water were co-cultured with the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Raphidiopsis raciborskii in the lab to explore their interactions by using Phyto-PAM and 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. We found that a ≤1000-fold bacterial dilution led to bacteria control of the growth and photosynthesis of R. raciborskii. Moreover, the bacterial community compositions in the low-dilution groups were clearly diverged from the high-dilution groups. Importantly, rare species changed dramatically in the low-dilution groups, resulting in lower phylogenetic diversity and narrower niche width. The network complexity and compositional stability of bacterial communities decreased in the low-dilution groups. Collectively, our results suggest that rare bacterial species inhibit R. raciborskii growth and photosynthesis through microbial interactions mediated by species coexistence and interaction mechanisms. Our study provides new knowledge of the ecological role of rare bacteria and offers new perspectives for understanding the outbreak and regression of R. raciborskii blooms.

[Long-term efficacy of low-dose rituximab treatment in patients with primary membranous nephropathy]

Objective: To explore the long-term efficacy of low-dose rituximab (RTX) treatment in patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven PMN who received low-dose RTX as initial or second-line regimen from August 2018 to May 2020 in the Department of Nephrology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital were respectively enrolled. The clinical parameters of patients were urinary protein>3.5 g/24 h, serum albumin<30 g/L and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)>20 ml·min^-1·(1.73 m²)^-1. The treatment response of patients with PMN was observed during follow-up, and the remission rate of patients with urinary protein<8 g/24 h or ≥8 g/24 h, anti-PLA2R antibody<150 RU/ml or ≥150 RU/ml, eGFR≥ 60 ml·min^-1·(1.73 m²)^-1 or<60 ml·min^-1·(1.73 m²)^-1 were analyzed, respectively. Results: A total of 40 patients were enrolled, including 26 males and 14 females, aged (53±15) years. There were 14 patients received RTX as initial treatment and 26 patients as second-line therapy. The total median dose of RTX in the first course was 800 (425, 1 075) mg. The overall remission rate at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th months were 12.5% (5/40), 17.5% (7/40), 47.5% (19/40), 57.5% (23/40), 60% (24/40), respectively. The median overall response time was 6.0 (3.0, 7.5) months. Two cases relapsed. Patients with remission (n=24) had a higher level of baseline eGFR [(93.9±28.0) vs (62.4±28.1) ml·min^-1·(1.73 m²)^-1, P=0.001), and a lower level of both urinary protein [5.9 (5.0, 6.5) vs 11.7 (8.6, 15.5) g/24 h, P<0.001] and anti-PLA2R antibody level [73 (29, 132) vs 453 (182, 950) RU/ml, P=0.004] than those without remission (n=16) 24 month after treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in the remission rate between initial and second-line treatment (P=0.101). Moreover, patients had a higher remission rate in urinary protein<8 g/24 h group (21/26 vs 3/14, P<0.001), anti-PLA2R antibody<150 RU/ml group (16/19 vs 5/16, P=0.002) and eGFR ≥ 60 ml·min^-1·(1.73 m²)^-1 group (22/29 vs 2/11, P=0.003). Conclusions: Low-dose RTX treatment in PMN is effective during long-term follow-up, and has a lower recurrence rate. The results also suggest that it is more suitable for patients with baseline urinary protein<8 g/24 h, anti-PLA2R antibody<150 RU/ml and eGFR≥ 60 ml·min^-1·(1.73 m²)^-1.

The scale-dependence of spatial distribution of reservoir plankton communities in subtropical and tropical China

Distance-decay relationships (DDRs) represent a very useful approach to describing the spatial distribution of biological communities. However, plankton DDR patterns and community assembly mechanisms are still poorly understood at different spatial scales in reservoir ecosystems. We collected phytoplankton, zooplankton and water samples in 24 reservoirs from subtropical and tropical China from July to August 2018. We examined DDR patterns across three distinct spatial scales, i.e., within-reservoir, within-drainage (but between reservoirs) and between drainages. We tested whether the rate of change (i.e., slope) of DDRs is consistent across different spatial scales. We assessed the relative importance of spatial and environmental variables in shaping the community distribution of plankton and quantitatively distinguished the community assembly mechanisms. We observed significant DDR curves in phytoplankton and zooplankton communities, in which slopes of the DDRs were steepest at the smallest spatial scale. Both spatial and environmental factors had significant impacts on DDR and dispersal assembly was a slightly stronger process in reservoir phytoplankton and zooplankton community assembly than niche-based process. We conclude that DDRs of reservoir phytoplankton and zooplankton vary with spatial scale. Our data shed light on how spatial and environmental variables contribute to plankton community assembly together. However, we revealed that dispersal process contributes to the biogeography of reservoir plankton slightly more strongly than environmental filtering. Collectively, this study enhances the understanding of plankton biogeography and distribution at multiple spatial scales.

Does filter pore size introduce bias in DNA sequence-based plankton community studies?

The cell size of microbial eukaryotic plankton normally ranges from 0.2 to 200 μm. During the past decade, high-throughput sequencing of DNA has been revolutionizing their study on an unprecedented scale. Nonetheless, it is currently unclear whether we can accurately, effectively, and quantitatively depict the microbial eukaryotic plankton community using size-fractionated filtration combined with environmental DNA (eDNA) molecular methods. Here we assessed the microbial eukaryotic plankton communities with two filtering strategies from two subtropical reservoirs, that is one-step filtration (0.2–200 μm) and size-fractionated filtration (0.2–3 and 3–200 μm). The difference of 18S rRNA gene copy abundance between the two filtering treatments was less than 50% of the 0.2–200 μm microbial eukaryotic community for 95% of the total samples. Although the microbial eukaryotic plankton communities within the 0.2–200 μm and the 0.2–3 and 3–200 μm size fractions had approximately identical 18S rRNA gene copies, there were significant differences in their community composition. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the systemic bias introduced by size-fractionation filtration has more influence on unique OTUs than shared OTUs, and the significant differences in abundance between the two eukaryotic plankton communities largely occurred in low-abundance OTUs in specific seasons. This work provides new insights into the use of size-fractionation in molecular studies of microbial eukaryotes populating the plankton.

[Transcriptomic analysis of tuberculosis peptide-based vaccine MP3RT in humanized mice]

Objective: To identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by tuberculosis peptide-based vaccine MP3RT in a humanized mouse model using transcriptomics technology. Methods: This study was conducted from August 2019 to February 2022. We used edgeR software to screen DEGs with a fold change greater than or equal to 1.5 and a P value less than 0.05 as screening conditions. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), and protein interaction network analyses were performed on the screened DEGs. Then, these DEGs were verified by RT-qPCR and statistically analyzed by GraphPad Prism 8 software. Results: A total of 367 DEGs (214 up-regulated and 153 down-regulated) were identified by transcriptomics. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the GO enrichment of the DEGs mentioned above significantly focused on cell metabolism, growth, apoptosis, inflammation, and other terms. In contrast, the KEGG enrichment significantly focused on inflammatory pathways such as the MAPK signaling pathway. Protein interaction network analysis showed that protein Abl1 had the highest aggregation, the highest aggregation coefficient, and the best connectivity. RT-qPCR results showed that gene expressions of cpne4 (t=2.48, P=0.048 0), h2-q10 (t=2.95, P=0.025 6), mef2c (t=2.87, P=0.028 4), cr2 (t=3.23, P=0.178), ablim1 (t=2.91, P=0.033 5), dll1 (t=2.70, P=0.027 3) and ms4a2 (t=3.03, P=0.019 2) genes in the MP3RT group were significantly up-regulated than those in the PBS group, while gene expressions of cd163l1 (t=2.56, P=0.043 0), il1r1 (t=2.91, P=0.022 7) and cd34 (t=2.42, P=0.046 2) genes in the MP3RT group were significantly down-regulated than those in the PBS group. Conclusions: The MP3RT vaccine induced 367 DEGs in humanized mice, which were associated with metabolic and immune responses. Furthermore, we found that p38 MAPK and JNK/MAPK signaling pathways played an important role in the molecular mechanism of the MP3RT vaccine.

The oncogene ABL1 regulates the inflammatory response of innate immunity via mediating TRAF6 ubiquitination

The oncogene ABL1 plays an important role in various cancers, while its roles remain unclear in pneumonia. This study aims to investigate the roles of ABL1 in pneumonia and the underlying mechanisms. RNA sequencing was used to determine the expressions of multiple kinases in the PBMCs. A series of overexpression and knockout cell lines were constructed. Besides, an intranasal lung infection mouse model was pre-treated with asciminb. ELISAs and qPCR were used to determine the levels of target genes. In addition, STRING Interaction Network and Immunoblotting assays were used to determine the interaction between target proteins. An elevation in ABL1 was observed in the infant with Ecoli pneumonia. ABL1 was positively correlated to the levels of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of the NF-kB pathways. In vivo data demonstrated that the inhibition of ABL1 suppressed the inflammatory cytokines, reduced the lung bacterial burden, and ameliorated the lung injury score. ABL1 inhibited the phosphorylation of IκBα and p38 and regulated the ubiquitination of TRAF6. ABL1 regulates the inflammatory response in pneumonia in part by the regulation of MAPK and NF-κB pathways and TRAF6 ubiquitination.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluations of Pyridyl 4,5,6,7-Tetrahydro-4,7-Methanobenzo[d]isoxazoles as Potent and Selective Inhibitors of 11β-Hydroxylase

Inhibition of CYP11B1 is a promising therapy for severe diseases caused by excessive cortisol. Enantiomer discrimination provides clues to achieve selectivity that CYP11B1 and homologous CYP11B2 were selectively bound by S- and R-fadrozole, respectively, in distinct binding modes. Pyridyl 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4,7-methanobenzo[d]isoxazoles showing a similar binding mode to S-fadrozole in CYP11B1 were designed as potent and selective CYP11B1 inhibitors. Compound 7aa exhibited a highly potent CYP11B1 inhibition similar to that of the drug osilodrostat (IC₅₀'s of 9 and 6 nM, respectively) but was 1500-fold more selective over CYP11B2 compared to osilodrostat (selectivity factors of 125 versus 0.08, respectively). Strong reductions of plasma cortisol concentrations by compound 7aa were demonstrated in rats without interference in aldosterone production after oral application. It showed no inhibition against a panel of steroidogenic and hepatic CYP enzymes. Exhibiting a good pharmacokinetic profile, compound 7aa was considered as a drug candidate for further development.

Lentiviral vector–based xenograft tumors as candidate reference materials for detection of HER2-low breast cancer

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is an important biomarker that plays a pivotal role in therapeutic decision-making for patients with breast cancer (BC). Patients with HER2-low BC can benefit from new HER2 targeted therapy. For ensuring the accurate and reproducible detection of HER2-low cancer, reliable reference materials are required for monitoring the sensitivity and specificity of detection assays. Herein, a lentiviral vector was used to transduce the HER2 gene into MDA-MB-231 cells that exhibited low HER2 density, and the cells were characterized by droplet digital PCR to accurately determine the copy number variation. Then, the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from xenografts were prepared and evaluated for suitability as candidate reference materials by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The FFPE reference materials were selected on the basis of IHC score of 2+ and negative FISH result to meet the requirement for HER2-low BC detection. Furthermore, the FFPE reference materials exhibited typical histological structures that resembled the clinical BC specimens. These novel FFPE reference materials displayed the high stability and homogeneity, and they were produced in high quantity. In summary, we generated high-quality reference materials for internal quality control and proficiency testing in HER2-low detection.

MOF-Derived Co and Fe Species Loaded on N-Doped Carbon Networks as Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Zn-Air Batteries

HIGHLIGHTS

A novel method is developed to prepare bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts composed of Co nanoparticles and highly dispersed Fe loaded on N-doped carbon substrates by virtues of metal-organic frameworks and two different doping processes. The designed catalysts show comparable performance with commercial catalysts. Meanwhile, rechargeable Zn-air batteries with prepared catalysts demonstrate high peak power density and good cycling stability. The performance promotion originates from the synergy between Co nanoparticles and highly dispersed Fe, porous structures, large specific areas, and distinct three-dimensional carbon networks.  .

ABSTRACT

Searching for cheap, efficient, and stable oxygen electrocatalysts is vital to promote the practical performance of Zn-air batteries with high theoretic energy density. Herein, a series of Co nanoparticles and highly dispersed Fe loaded on N-doped porous carbon substrates are prepared through a “double-solvent” method with in situ doped metal-organic frameworks as precursors. The optimized catalysts exhibit excellent performance for oxygen reduction and evolution reaction. Furthermore, rechargeable Zn-air batteries with designed catalysts demonstrate higher peak power density and better cycling stability than those with commercial Pt/C+RuO₂. According to structure characterizations and electrochemical tests, the interaction of Co nanoparticles and highly dispersed Fe contributes to the superior performance for oxygen electrocatalysis. In addition, large specific surface areas, porous structures and interconnected three-dimensional carbon networks also play important roles in improving oxygen electrocatalysis. This work provides inspiration for rational design of advanced oxygen electrocatalysts and paves a way for the practical application of rechargeable Zn-air batteries. [Image: see text]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40820-022-00890-w.

Effects of magnetic field on selenite removal by sulfidated zero valent iron under aerobic conditions

A novel strategy of sulfide modified zero valent iron (S-ZVI) coupled with the magnetic field (MF) is developed for selenite (Se(IV)) removal. The original ZVI particle size (30 μm), S/Fe ratio (1:80), solution pH (5), S-ZVI loading (0.75 g L^-1), and MF intensity (20 mT) can exhibit the optimal enhancement effects of MF on Se(IV) removal by S-ZVI. Common corrosion promoters (Cl^-, PO₄^3-, SO₄^2-, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺) and inhibitors (NO₃^-, SiO₃^2-, and CO₃^2-) show positive and negative effects on Se(IV) removal by S-ZVI, respectively. But MF can alleviate promoting or inhibiting effects of coexisting ions on Se(IV) removal by S-ZVI, and well preserve the reactivity of S-ZVI from background ions in water. Furthermore, MF can also enhance the reactivity of S-ZVI towards Se(IV) during consecutive experiments, the promotion factor (the ratio of k_obs with MF to k_obs without MF) increased from 2.57 to 5.83 with the increase of cycles. MF can not only improve the reactivity of ZVI covered with iron oxide or iron hydroxide but also effectively enhance the ability of ZVI covered with iron sulfide. S-ZVI exhibited good stability and recyclability in the presence of MF. XANES analysis of selenium species reveals that the reductive product of Se(IV) with or without MF is primarily Se(0), and Se(IV) removal by S-ZVI can be ascribed to adsorption and reduction. This work indicates that MF may widen the application of S-ZVI for pollutants removal in environmental remediation.

Rescue of autosomal dominant hearing loss by in vivo delivery of mini dCas13X-derived RNA base editor

Programmable RNA editing tools enable the reversible correction of mutant transcripts, reducing the potential risk associated with permanent genetic changes associated with the use of DNA editing tools. However, the potential of these RNA tools to treat disease remains unknown. Here, we evaluated RNA correction therapy with Cas13-based RNA base editors in the myosin VI p.C442Y heterozygous mutation (Myo6C442Y/+) mouse model that recapitulated the phenotypes of human dominant-inherited deafness. We first screened several variants of Cas13-based RNA base editors and guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting Myo6C442Y in cultured cells and found that mini dCas13X.1-based adenosine base editor (mxABE), composed of truncated Cas13X.1 and the RNA editing enzyme adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2 deaminase domain variant (ADAR2ddE488Q), exhibited both high efficiency of A > G conversion and low frequency of off-target edits. Single adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated delivery of mxABE in the cochlea corrected the mutated Myo6C442Y to Myo6WT allele in homozygous Myo6C442Y/C442Y mice and resulted in increased Myo6WT allele in the injected cochlea of Myo6C442Y/+ mice. The treatment rescued auditory function, including auditory brainstem response and distortion product otoacoustic emission up to 3 months after AAV-mxABE-Myo6 injection in Myo6C442Y/+ mice. We also observed increased survival rate of hair cells and decreased degeneration of hair bundle morphology in the treated compared to untreated control ears. These findings provide a proof-of-concept study for RNA editing tools as a therapeutic treatment for various semidominant forms of hearing loss and other diseases.

Community assembly of microbial habitat generalists and specialists in urban aquatic ecosystems explained more by habitat type than pollution gradient

Urban freshwater ecosystems have important ecosystem functions, provide habitats for diverse microbial communities and are susceptible to multiple interconnected factors such as environmental pollution. Despite the ecological significance of bacteria and microeukaryotes, little is known about how their community assembly responds to various environmental factors across water and sediment habitats and ecological processes shaping them. Here, environmental DNA-based approaches were used to investigate the community assembly processes of bacteria and microeukaryotes (including habitat generalists and specialists) in urban water and sediment across an urban-pollution gradient in Wuhan, central China. The diversity, community composition and potential function of bacteria and microeukaryotes showed significantly stronger variation between water and sediment than across an urban pollution gradient. Although, bacterial and microeukaryotic community assemblies were dominated by strong selection processes in both water and sediment habitats, but a contrasting community assembly mechanism was identified between habitat generalists and specialists. Bacterial and microeukaryotic communities showed a greater response to physicochemical variability in water, while a strong distance-decay relationship was found in sediment. Further, cross-kingdom microbial network analysis revealed strong modular associations of bacteria and microeukaryotes, meanwhile, microeukaryotic habitat specialists might be keystone, but generalists have higher proportion of connections in the networks. This study provides significant insights into the response of bacteria and microeukaryotes to different urban pollutions between water and sediment, and the ecological processes structuring microbial community dynamics across habitat types under anthropogenic disturbances.

ZMYND8 is a master regulator of 27-hydroxycholesterol that promotes tumorigenicity of breast cancer stem cells

27-Hydroxycholesterol (27-HC) is the most abundant oxysterol that increases the risk of breast cancer progression. However, little is known about epigenetic regulation of 27-HC metabolism and its role in breast tumor initiation. Using genetic mouse mammary tumor and human breast cancer models, we showed here that the histone reader ZMYND8 was selectively expressed in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), BCSC maintenance and self-renewal, and oncogenic transformation through its epigenetic functions, leading to breast tumor initiation. Mechanistically, ZMYND8 was a master transcriptional regulator of 27-HC metabolism. It increased cholesterol biosynthesis and oxidation but blocked cholesterol efflux and 27-HC catabolism, leading to accumulation of 27-HC in BCSCs. Consequently, 27-HC promoted EMT, oncogenic transformation, and tumor initiation through activation of liver X receptor. These findings reveal that ZMYND8 is an epigenetic booster that drives breast tumor initiation through metabolic reprogramming.

Kinesiophobia and self-management behaviour related to physical activity in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease: The mediating role of self-efficacy

AIM

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship among kinesiophobia, self-efficacy and self-management behaviour related to physical activity (SMBPA) in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease(CHD) and the mediating role of self-efficacy between kinesiophobia and SMBPA in Chinese patients with CHD.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

From March to July 2021, 540 Chinese patients with CHD were investigated with three scales using convenient sampling method. The data were analysed with Pearson correlation, univariate analysis, multivariate linear regression and the PROCESS macro.

RESULTS

509 valid questionnaires were collected (effective response rate: 94.2%). Low kinesiophobia and high self-efficacy were related to high-levels of SMBPA (all p < .01). Besides, the effect of kinesiophobia on SMBPA was partially mediated by self-efficacy, and the mediation effect accounted for 35.59% of the total effect.

Short-term rainfall limits cyanobacterial bloom formation in a shallow eutrophic subtropical urban reservoir in warm season

The global increase in dominance of toxic blooms of cyanobacteria has severely impacted aquatic ecosystems and threatened human health for decades. Although it has been shown that high levels of rainfall may inhibit the growth of bloom-forming cyanobacteria, it is still unclear how cyanobacteria respond to short-term rainfall events. Based on five-year (2016-2020) high-frequency (half-week) sampling data from a shallow eutrophic urban reservoir in subtropical China, we explored the short-term effects of rainfall events on cyanobacterial biomass (CBB) by constructing generalized additive models of CBB in rainy periods during warm (April to September) and cool (December and January) months, respectively. We find evidence in support of the hypotheses that short-term rainfall events significantly reduce CBB in warm months, but the opposite response was observed in the cool months. We also highlight a difference in the factors explaining CBB decreases in warm months (precipitation, air temperature, relative humidity, dissolved oxygen and total phosphorus) compared with factors explaining the response of CBB in cool months (sunshine hours, pH and total carbon). In particular, meteorological factors (precipitation, wind speed and sunlight) might drive changes in water temperature and hydro-dynamics of the reservoir, thereby causing a rapid reduction of CBB after rainfall events in warm months. This varying response of cyanobacteria to short-term rainfall events in the shallow eutrophic subtropical reservoir may also be expected in temperate or cool lakes as climate change effects become stronger.

[Clinical phenotype and genotype of Gaucher disease in 14 children]

Objective: To analyze the clinical and genetical characteristics of children with Gaucher disease and to explore the relationship between genotype and phenotype. Methods: In this retrospective study, the clinical data of 14 children with Gaucher disease diagnosed in Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from August 2016 to October 2021 were analyzed. Their general conditions, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and gene variations were collected, followed by the analysis of the clinical phenotypes and genotypes. Results: Among 14 children diagnosed with Gaucher disease, 9 were males and 5 were females, with the age of diagnosis ranging from 0.7 to 15.8 years. There were 10 patients with type 1 Gaucher disease, 2 patients with type 2, and 2 patients with type 3. The most common clinical manifestations were splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia (14 cases), hepatomegaly (8 cases) and anemia (8 cases). There were 6 patients with growth retardation, and 5 patients lag in height compared with their peers. Bone abnormalities were revealed by magnetic resonance imaging in 7 type 1 Gaucher disease patients, but only 1 patient experienced bone pain. Patients with type 2 and type 3 Gaucher disease also presented with convulsions, nystagmus and hearing loss. Gaucher cells were found in bone marrow smears in 12 patients. The glucocerebrosidase gene variations identified in 13 patients were heterozygous and in 1 type 1 patient was homozygous of L483P. L483P variation accounted for 33%(10/30) of the variation alleles, followed by V414L, D448H and R159W. The variation alleles were L483P and L422R, F252I and L483P in 2 children with severe neurological manifestations of Gaucher disease. A novel variation c.22A>G was detected. Conclusions: Splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia are the main clinical presentations of Gaucher disease in children and bone lesions revealed by radiologic imaging appear prior to the occurrence of bone diseases, type 2 and type 3 Gaucher disease also present growth retardation and neurological manifestation. The most frequent variant allele is L483P, which are detected in all 3 subtypes of Gaucher disease. The L422R, F252I gene variants correlated with the neuronopathic phenotype.

SARS-CoV-2 Variant Spike and accessory gene mutations alter pathogenesis.. [PMID: 35677080 PMCID: PMC9176647 DOI: 10.1101/2022.05.31.494211]

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a major public health crisis. Despite the development and deployment of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the pandemic persists. The continued spread of the virus is largely driven by the emergence of viral variants, which can evade the current vaccines through mutations in the Spike protein. Although these differences in Spike are important in terms of transmission and vaccine responses, these variants possess mutations in the other parts of their genome which may affect pathogenesis. Of particular interest to us are the mutations present in the accessory genes, which have been shown to contribute to pathogenesis in the host through innate immune signaling, among other effects on host machinery. To examine the effects of accessory protein mutations and other non-spike mutations on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, we synthesized viruses where the WA1 Spike is replaced by each variant spike genes in a SARS-CoV-2/WA-1 infectious clone. We then characterized the in vitro and in vivo replication of these viruses and compared them to the full variant viruses. Our work has revealed that non-spike mutations in variants can contribute to replication of SARS-CoV-2 and pathogenesis in the host and can lead to attenuating phenotypes in circulating variants of concern. This work suggests that while Spike mutations may enhance receptor binding and entry into cells, mutations in accessory proteins may lead to less clinical disease, extended time toward knowing an infection exists in a person and thus increased time for transmission to occur.

[Factor analysis of effective platelet-producing ability of fetal liver-derived cells]

Objective: To study the different factors affecting platelet production post transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) isolated from different sources in order to explore novel options for treating platelet depletion following HSCs transplantation. Methods: HSCs and their downstream derivatives including myeloid and lymphoid cells (i.e., collective of mononuclear cells (MNCs)), were isolated from E14.5 fetal liver (FL) and bone marrow (BM) of 8-week-old mice by Ficoll separation technique. These cells were subsequently transplanted into the tibia bone marrow cavity of recipient mice post lethal myeloablative treatment in order to construct the FL-MNCs and BM-MNCs transplantation mouse model. Routine blood indices were examined in these recipient mice. The chimeric rate of donor cells in recipient peripheral blood cells were determined by flow cytometry. Different groups of cells involved in platelet reconstruction were analyzed. CD41⁺megakaryocytes were sorted from fetal liver or bone marrow using magnetic beads, which were then induced to differentiate into platelets in an in vitro assay. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of platelet-related genes in CD41⁺megakaryocytes from the two sources. Results: Both the FL-MNCs and the BM-MNCs transplantation groups resumed normal hematopoiesis at the 4th week after transplantation, and the blood cells of the recipient mice were largely replaced by the donor cells. Compared with the mice transplanted with BM-MNCs, the platelet level of mice transplanted with FL-MNCs recovered faster and were maintained at a higher level. At week 4, the PLT level of the FL-MNCs group was (1.45±0.37)×10¹²/L, and of the BM-MNCs group was (1.22±0.24)×10¹²/L, P<0.05. The FL-MNCs contain a higher proportion of hematopoietic stem cells (Lin^-Sca-1⁺c-Kit⁺)(7.60%±1.40%) compared to the BM-MNCs (1.10%±0.46%), P<0.01; the proportion of the megakaryocyte progenitor cells (Lin^-Sca-1^-c-Kit⁺CD41⁺CD150⁺) and mature megakaryocyte cells (CD41⁺CD42b⁺), also differ significantly between the FL-MNCs (3.05%±0.22%, 1.60%±0.06%, respectively) and the BM-MNCs (0.15%±0.02%, 0.87%±0.11%, respectively) groups, both P<0.01. In vitro functional studies showed that FL-MNCs-CD41⁺megakaryocytes could produce proplatelet-like cells more quickly after induction, with proplatelet-like cells formation on day 3 and significant platelet-like particle formation on day 5, in contrast to bone marrow-derived BM-MNCs-CD41⁺megakaryocytes that failed to form proplatelet-like cell on day 5. In addition, FL-MNCs-CD41⁺cells expressed higher levels of platelet-related genes, Mpl (3.25-fold), Fog1 (3-fold), and Gata1 (1.5-fold) (P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with the BM-MNCs group, the FL-MNCs transplantation group appears to have a more efficient platelet implantation effect in the HSCs transplantation recipient in vivo, as well as a higher platelet differentiation rate in vitro. This might be related to a higher proportion of megakaryocytes and higher expression levels of genes such as Mpl, Fog1, and Gata1 that could be important for platelet formation in FL-MNCs-CD41⁺cells. Further exploration of the specific functions of these genes and the characteristics of the different proportions of the donor cells will provide valuable clues for the future treatment of platelets reconstitution after HSCs transplantation clinically.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Tai Chi Chuan on Physical Performance and Cognitive Function among Cognitive Frailty Older Adults: A Six-Month Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan on physical performance and cognitive function among cognitive frailty older adults.

DESIGN

A single-blind,three-arm randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Three communities in Daqing, China.

PARTICIPANTS

The study sample comprised 93 men and women aged 65 years or older who were able to walk more than 10 m without helping tools, scored 0.5 on Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and absence of concurrent dementia, identified pre-frailty (scored 1-2 on Fried Frailty Criteria) and frailty older adults (scored 3-5 on Fried Frailty Criteria).

INTERVENTION

Subjects were randomly allocated to three groups: Group1, which received mindfulness intervention (formal and informal mindfulness practices); Group 2, which received Tai-Chi Chuan intervention; Group 3, which received MTCC intervention.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcomes was cognitive frailty rate(measured by Fried Frailty Criteria and Clinical Dementia Rating-CDR) , the secondary outcome were cognitive function (measured by Min-Mental State Examination-MMES) and physical level (measured by Short physical performance battery- SPPB, Timed up and Go test-TUG and the 30-second Chair test). They were all assessed at Time 1-baseline, Time 2-after the end of 6-month intervention and the follow up (Time 3-half year after the end of 6-month intervention).

RESULTS

The baseline characteristics did not differ among the groups.Improvements in the cognitive function (MMES), physical performance (SPPB, TUG, 30-second Chair test) were significantly difference between time-group interaction (p<.05). The rate of CF was significantly different among groups at 6-month follow-up period (χ2=6.37, p<.05). A lower prevalence of frailty and better cognitive function and physical performance were found in the Group 3 compared with other two groups at the follow-up period (p<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MTCC seems to be effectively reverse CF, improving the cognitive and physical function among older adults, suggesting that MTCC is a preferably intervention option in community older adults with cognitive frailty.