GABA transporter mGat4 is involved in multiple neural functions in mice

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The termination of GABA transmission is through the action of GABA transporters (GATs). mGAT4 (encoded by Slc6a11) is another GAT besides GAT1 (encoded by Slc6a1) that functions in GABA reuptake in CNS. Research on the function of mGAT4 is still in its infancy. We developed an mGat4 knockout mouse model (mGat4-/- mice) and performed a series of behavioral analyses for the first time to study the effect of mGat4 on biological processes in CNS. Our results indicated that homozygous mGat4-/- mice had less depression, anxiety-like behavior and more social activities than their wild-type littermate controls. However, they had weight loss and showed motor incoordination and imbalance. Meanwhile, mGat4-/- mice showed increased pain threshold and hypoalgesia behavior in nociceptive stimulus and learning and memory impairments. The expression of multiple components of the GABAergic system including GAD67, GABAA and KCC2 was altered. There is little or no compensatory change in mGat1. In a word, mGat4 may play a key role in normal motor coordination, sensation, emotion, learning and memory and could be the potential target of neurological disorders.

Boosting Osmotic Energy Harvesting from Organic Solutions by Ultrathin Covalent Organic Framework Membranes

Extracting osmotic energy from waste organic solutions via reverse electrodialysis represents a promising approach to reuse such industrial wastes and helps to mitigate the ever-growing energy needs. Herein, a molecularly thin membrane of covalent organic frameworks is engineered via interfacial polymerization to investigate its ion transport behavior in organic solutions. Interestingly, a significant deviation from linearity between ion conductance and reciprocal viscosity is observed, attributed to the nanoscale confinement effect on intermolecular interactions. This finding suggests a potential strategy to modulate the influence of apprarent viscosity on transmembrane transport. The osmotic energy harvesting of the ultrathin membrane in organic systems was studied, achieving an unprecedented output power density of over 84.5 W m-2 at a 1000-fold salinity gradient with a benign conversion efficiency and excellent stability. These findings provide a meaningful stepping stone for future studies seeking to fully leverage the potentials of organic systems in energy harvesting applications.

Mitochondria: An Emerging Unavoidable Link in the Pathogenesis of Periodontitis Caused by Porphyromonas gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a key pathogen of periodontitis. Increasing evidence shows that P. gingivalis signals to mitochondria in periodontal cells, including gingival epithelial cells, gingival fibroblast cells, immune cells, etc. Mitochondrial dysfunction affects the cellular state and participates in periodontal inflammatory response through the aberrant release of mitochondrial contents. In the current review, it was summarized that P. gingivalis induced mitochondrial dysfunction by altering the mitochondrial metabolic state, unbalancing mitochondrial quality control, prompting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and regulating mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. This review outlines the impacts of P. gingivalis and its virulence factors on the mitochondrial function of periodontal cells and their role in periodontitis.

Association between the second- and fourth-digit ratio and oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Using an established proxy measure of intra-utero testosterone and estrogen levels-the ratio of second- and fourth-digit lengths-we estimated its association with the oral cancer risk among a population from Southern India.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In a hospital-based case-control study, incident oral cancer cases (N = 350) and non-cancer controls (N = 371), frequency-matched by age and sex, were recruited from two major referral hospitals in Kerala, India. Structured interviews collected information on several domains of exposure via detailed life course questionnaires. Digit lengths were measured using a ruler in a standardized manner. Unconditional logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Second- and fourth-digit ratio lower than 1, which indicates relatively higher intra-utero level of testosterone and lower intra-utero level of estrogen, was associated with higher oral cancer risk (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.02-2.52), after accounting for several confounders.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that intra-utero hormonal levels measured by second- and fourth-digit ratio are associated with oral cancer risk. Further studies in different population should confirm these results.

Steroid-Dependency in Posner-Schlossman Syndrome: A Suggested Topical 2% Ganciclovir and Gradual Decrement of Topical Steroid Combination Therapy from Shanghai PSS Study

PURPOSE

This study focused on the prevalence, unique features, and required treatment of steroid-dependent Posner-Schlossman syndrome (SD-PSS), and analyzed the outcome of 2% Ganciclovir and gradual decrement steroid combination therapy in SD-PSS patients.

METHODS

Retrospective comparative and interventional study. SD-PSS was defined as PSS patients with continuous steroid use for over 3 months and relapsed within 2 weeks after steroid withdrawal or tapered dosage. Totally 74 SD-PSS eyes were compared with 78 randomly chosen non-steroid dependent PSS eyes. SD-PSS patients who underwent 2% GCV and gradual decrement steroid therapy with at least two follow-ups (n = 50) were analyzed for the treatment outcome.

RESULTS

The prevalence of SD-PSS is 26.87% (97/361) in our PSS patients. SD-PSS patients demonstrated significantly younger onset age, longer disease course, higher intraocular pressure (IOP), and higher degree of iris depigmentation at the first visit. They required significantly more IOP-lowering medication and stronger steroid after the first visit. Our 2% GCV and gradual decrement steroid therapy helped 66% (33/50) SD-PSS patients with steroid withdrawal (median stable time: 13 weeks) and another 32% (16/50) SD-PSS managed to lower the dose or strength of topical steroid. Steroid-induced ocular hypertension happened in 5.26% (19/361) of the PSS patients.

CONCLUSION

Young onset age, high IOP, and high iris depigmentation level during acute stage are indicators of steroid dependency in PSS patients. SD-PSS patients require more medical surveillance. Two percent ganciclovir and gradual decrement steroid combination therapy help with steroid withdrawal and minimize steroid use.

Duration and dosing of systemic corticosteroids for acute exacerbation of COPD, protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials and cohort studies

PURPOSE

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a leading cause of deterioration in patients with otherwise stably controlled COPD. Treatments of AECOPD often require the use of corticosteroid therapy in conjunction with bronchodilators and antibiotics. However, the duration and dosage of corticosteroids still remain unclear. We propose to perform this systematic review and meta-analysis of all available randomized control trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies to comprehensively assess the efficacy and safety of different corticosteroid duration and dosing regimen in the current body of evidence.

METHODS

We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL via Ovid as well as CINAHL and Web of Science for available literature comparing different corticosteroid duration and dosage in the treatment of AECOPD. We will perform title and full text screening in duplicate, then extract relevant data using a pre-piloted extraction form. We will define short duration as less than 14-day duration of treatment and long duration as greater than 14-day treatment. We will report mortality difference as our primary outcome, with additional comparisons in incidence of re-exacerbation, hospital length of stay, lung function, incidence of hyperglycemia and infection. We will perform risk of bias assessment using the ROB2.0 and ROBINS-I tool, as well as the GRADE assessment to assess the quality of evidence.

RESULTS

We will publish the full results of our systematic review and meta-analysis in a peer-reviewed journal.

DISCUSSIONS

To our knowledge, this represents an updated and most comprehensive review of the literature comparing different duration and dosing regimen of corticosteroid treatments in AECOPD, as we will include both RCTs and observational studies without date or language restrictions. We aim to validate prior meta-analyses and study findings on the efficacy of short duration corticosteroid therapy over longer treatments and to inform future research directions in dosing regimens.

Effects of dysregulated glucose metabolism on the occurrence and ART outcome of endometriosis

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis is associated with systemic metabolic indicators, including body mass index (BMI), glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism, while the association between metabolic indexes and the occurrence and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcome of endometriosis is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of systemic metabolic indexes of endometriosis patients with infertility and their effects on pregnancy outcome after ART treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study involve 412 endometriosis patients and 1551 controls was conducted. Primary outcome was metabolic indexes, and secondary measures consisted of the influence of metabolic indexes on the number of retrieved oocytes and ART outcomes.

RESULTS

Endometriosis patients had higher insulin (INS) [6.90(5.10-9.50) vs 6.50(4.80-8.90) μU/mL, P = 0.005]. A prediction model for endometriosis combining the number of previous pregnancies, CA125, fasting blood glucose (Glu) and INS, had a sensitivity of 73.9%, specificity of 67.8% and area under curve (AUC) of 0.77. There were no significant differences in ART outcomes and complications during pregnancy. The serum levels of Glu before pregnancy were associated with GDM both in endometriosis group (aOR 12.95, 95% CI 1.69-99.42, P = 0.014) and in control group (aOR 4.15, 95% CI 1.50-11.53, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

We found serum Glu is related to the number of retrieved oocytes in control group, serum INS is related to the number of retrieved oocytes in endometriosis group, while serum Glu and INS before pregnancy are related to the occurrence of GDM in two groups. A prediction model based on metabolic indexes was established, representing a promising non-invasive method to predict endometriosis patients with known pregnancy history.

Anomalous Mechanical and Electrical Interplay in a Covalent Organic Framework Monolayer Membrane

Ion transport through nanoconfinement, driven by both electrical and mechanical forces, has drawn ever-increasing attention, due to its high similarity to stress-sensitive ion channels in biological systems. Previous studies have reported only pressure-induced enhancement in ion conductance in low-permeable systems such as nanotubes, nanoslits, or single nanopores. This enhancement is generally explained by the ion accumulation caused by the capacitive effect in low-permeable systems. Here, we fabricate a highly permeable COF monolayer membrane to investigate ion transport behavior driven by both electrical and mechanical forces. Our results show an anomalous conductance reduction activated by external mechanical force, which is contrary to the capacitive effect-dominated conductance enhancement observed in low-permeable nanopores or channels. Through simulations, we uncovered a distinct electrical-mechanical interplay mechanism that depends on the relative rate between the ion diffusion from the boundary layer to the membrane surface and the ion transport through the membrane. The high pore density of the COF monolayer membrane reduces the charge accumulation caused by the capacitive effect, resulting in fewer accumulated ions near the membrane surface. Additionally, the high membrane permeability greatly accelerates the dissipation of the accumulated ions under mechanical pressure, weakening the effect of the capacitive layer on the streaming current. As a result, the ions accumulated on the electrodes, rather than in the capacitive layer, dominating the streaming current and giving rise to a distinct electrical-mechanical interplay mechanism compared to that in low-permeable nanopores or channels. Our study provides new insights into the interplay between electrical and mechanical forces in ultra-permeable systems.

The occurrence of acute primary angle closure triggered, aggravated, and accelerated by COVID-19 infection: retrospective observational study

Introduction

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the relevance of primary acute angle closure (APAC) and COVID-19 infection, compare the demographic features and manifestations between COVID-19 positive and negative patients with APAC, and infer the underlying mechanism.

Methods

This study is based on all patients diagnosed with APAC at the glaucoma center of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University (Fenyang road center) from 15th December 2022 to 11th January 2023. Totally 171 APAC cases were categorized into COVID-19 positive and negative group. Demographic features and final treatment level of the patients were compared between the two groups. Clinical manifestations, intraocular pressure, and anterior chamber configuration were also compared between the two groups.

Results

In the COVID-19 positive group, the number of cases with APAC onset spiked in 22nd December 2022, which coincided with the spike of COVID-19 antigen positive people. Compared to the COVID-19 negative group, COVID-19 positive APAC patients were younger with a lower percentage of APAC history. Additionally, more eyes of COVID-19 positive APAC patients showed keratic precipitates. COVID-19 positive eyes had significantly larger anterior chamber depth with a more dilated pupil. Therefore, COVID-19 infection could probably act as a triggering factor of APAC.

Discussion

The onset of APAC might be accelerated by COVID-19 infection for patients with younger age and milder anatomical configuration. Additionally, COVID-19 related APAC cases might have a more abrupt and fierce onset. Ophthalmic emergent services should not be neglected during the epidemic period.

2% Ganciclovir Controlled Posner-Schlossman Syndrome Relapse and Reduced the Chance of Corticosteroid Dependence: A Large Cohort in East China

PURPOSE

To present the process from acute Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) relapse to remission under 2% ganciclovir (GCV), corticosteroids and anti-glaucoma agents on 323 patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study enrolling 323 PSS patients. Demographics and ophthalmic examination results were generated. Patients were treated with GCV, corticosteroids and anti-glaucoma agents andfollowed up every 2-6 weeks.

RESULTS

Patients were divided into the GCV monotherapy (N = 65, 20.12%), GCV and corticosteroids (G+C, N = 106) and GCV, corticosteroid and IOP-lowering drugs (G+C+L, N = 152) group. The G+C+L group had the highest intraocular pressure (IOP, 26.33 ± 10.26 mmHg, P < 0.001) and largest cup-to-disc ratio (0.58 ± 0.19, P < 0.05). After treatment, IOP of three groups dropped to similar level. Ninety-nine (30.65%) patients were corticosteroid-dependent whose daily corticosteroid consumption decreased after using GCV (from 2.23 ± 1.02 to 0.97 ± 0.98 drops/day).

CONCLUSION

2% GCV solutions worked effectively on PSS relapse with corticosteroids and anti-glaucoma agents. In patients suspected of CMV infection, proper GCV could reduce the chance of corticosteroid dependence.

Material design, development, and trend for surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful and non-invasive spectroscopic technique that can provide rich and specific chemical fingerprint information for various target molecules through effective SERS substrates. In view of the strong dependence of the SERS signals on the properties of the SERS substrates, design, exploration, and construction of novel SERS-active nanomaterials with low cost and excellent performance as the SERS substrates have always been the foundation and the top priority for the development and application of the SERS technology. This review specifically focuses on the extensive progress made in the SERS-active nanomaterials and their enhancement mechanism since the first discovery of SERS on the nanostructured plasmonic metal substrates. The design principles, unique functions, and influencing factors on the SERS signals of different types of SERS-active nanomaterials are highlighted, and insight into their future challenge and development trends is also suggested. It is highly expected that this review could benefit a complete understanding of the research status of the SERS-active nanomaterials and arouse the research enthusiasm for them, leading to further development and wider application of the SERS technology.

Murine cytomegalovirus localization and uveitic cell infiltration might both contribute to trabecular meshwork impairment in Posner-Schlossman syndrome: Evidence from an open-angle rat model

As a special type of glaucoma, Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) is characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior uveitis. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior chamber infection has now been considered the leading cause of PSS. We used murine CMV (MCMV) intracameral injection to establish a rat model manifested in IOP elevation and mild anterior uveitis, much like PSS; viral localization and gene expression at various time points and inflammatory cell infiltration derived from innate and adaptive immunity were investigated, as well as pathogenetic changes of the trabecular meshwork (TM). The IOP and uveitic manifestations peaked at 24 h post-infection (p.i.) and returned to normal after 96 h; the iridocorneal angle remained open consistently. At 24 h p.i., leucocytes gathered at the chamber angle. Maximum transcription of MCMV immediate early 1 (IE1) was reached at 24 h in the cornea and 48 h in the iris and ciliary body. MCMV localized in aqueous humor outflow facilities and the iris from 24 h to 28 d p.i. and was detected by in situ hybridization, though it did not transcribe after 7 d p.i. TM and iris pigment epithelial cells harboring viral inclusion bodies and autophagosomes were present at 28 d p.i. These findings shed light on how and where innate and adaptive immunity reacted after MCMV was found and transcribed in a highly ordered cascade, as well as pathogenetic changes in TM as a result of virus and uveitis behaviors.

Analysis of Brachypodium distachyon UVR8 reveals conservation in UV-B receptors

The Ultraviolet Resistance Locus 8 (UVR8) in plants recognizes Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) and plays a crucial role by regulating plant growth through a series of signal transduction events. However, the UVR8 in monocotyledon crops has not been systematically analyzed. We identified BdUVR8 (BRADI_3g45740) from the genome of Brachypodium distachyon, a relative of wheat, by analyzing the phylogenetic tree, gene expression pattern, detecting the accumulation of UV-B response metabolites, and check the phenotype recovery. The BdUVR8 protein sequence is similar to the known UVR8 of other species. The phylogenetic tree of UVR8 shows clear divergence between dicotyledons and monocotyledons. The expression analysis reveals that UV-B down-regulates BdUVR8 by 70% and up-regulates the chalcone synthase (BdCHS) gene 3.4-folds in B. distachyon. The pCAMBIA1300::BdUVR8-mCherry construct introduced into Arabidopsis uvr8 mutants shows that BdUVR8 protein localized in the cytoplasm translocates into the nucleus in response to UV-B irradiation. The introduction of BdUVR8 into uvr8 rescued the hypocotyl elongation by UV-B and restored the expression of HY5, Chalcone synthase, and Flavanone 3-hydroxylase as well as the accumulation of total flavonoids. Altogether, our results show that BdUVR8 is a photoreceptor that perceives UV-B in B. distachyon.

Nickel-Catalyzed Radical Ring-Opening Phosphorylation of Cycloalkyl Hydroperoxides Leading to Distal Acylphosphine Oxides

A facile and efficient nickel-catalyzed C-C bond cleavage/phosphorylation of various cycloalkyl hydroperoxides was developed. This radical ring-opening strategy provided practical access to structurally diverse distal ketophosphine oxides in one pot through concurrent C═O/C-P bond formation with high atom economy under mild room temperature and base-free conditions.

Follicular fluid progesterone down-regulated HPGD and COX2 in granulosa cells via suppressing NF-кB in endometriosis

Increasing evidences showed ovulatory dysfunction, possibly caused by luteinized unruptured follicular follicle syndrome(LUFS), is one of the reasons for endometriosis-related infertility. The present study was conducted to explore the potential effect of elevated progesterone in follicular fluid (FF) on ovulation in endometriosis. A prospective study including 50 ovarian endometriosis patients and 50 control patients with matched pairs design was conducted with alterations in FF and peritoneal fluid (PF) components identified by metabolomics analyses and differentially expressed genes in granulosa cells (GCs) identified by transcriptome analysis. Patients with endometriosis exhibited a significantly higher progesterone level in serum, FF and PF. GCs from endometriosis patients revealed decreased expression of HPGD, COX-2 and suppressed NF-кB signaling. Similarly, progesterone treatment in vitro down-regulated HPGD and COX2 expression and suppressed NF-кB signaling in granulosa tumor-like cell line KGN (Bena culture collection, China) and primarily cultured GCs, as manifested by decreased expressions of IL1R1, IRAK3, reduced pIкBα/IкBα ratio and nucleus translocation of p65. On the contrary, TNF-α treatment increased expression of IL1R1, IRAK3, pIкBα, p65 and HPGD in GCs. One potential p65 binding site was identified in the promoter region of HPGD by chromatin immunoprecipitation. In conclusion, we found intrafollicular progesterone might down-regulate HPGD and COX-2 in GCs via suppressing the NF-кB signaling pathway, shedding light on the mechanism underlying the endometriosis related ovulatory dysfunction.

Posner-Schlossman syndrome relapse following inactivated COVID-19 vaccination in China

Introduction

This retrospective study aims to present the characteristics of Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) relapse following inactivated COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

From 2020 to 2022, 12 out of 106 PSS patients undergoing relapses after any dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines were enrolled. Medical histories, information on the vaccination and systemic adverse events were collected. Patients were treated with corticosteroids, intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering drugs and systemic immunosuppressive agents (if needed). Daily regimen and release course were noted.

Results

The recurrence rate after vaccination was 11.32% (12/106, 95% CI: 5.29%-17.35%) among 106 PSS patients we surveyed. All the 12 patients were inoculated with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines developed by Sinopharm, China. The mean time of relapse was 5.27 ± 3.72 days (range: 1-13 days, median: 4 days). Higher IOP and more keratic precipitates (KPs) were seen in the relapse following vaccination (33.55 ± 12.99 mmHg, 91.67% had KPs compared to 25.38 ± 3.80 mmHg, 33.33% had KPs in previous relapse, P = 0.009). The mean release course was 30.71 ± 34.74 days for the relapse following vaccination and 7.33 ± 6.51 days for previous relapses. The attack frequency before and after vaccination was 3.56 ± 2.07 and 9.11 ± 7.34 times per year (P = 0.044). Higher daily doses of corticosteroids, IOP-lowering drugs and ganciclovir were needed to maintain stable course, though the difference did not reach statistical significance.

Discussion

More frequent relapses and harder control of IOP were found in PSS relapse following COVID-19 vaccination. Ophthalmologists need to be aware of the group vulnerability and take precautions, though the pathogenesis is still under investigation.

Sliding nanomechanical resonators

The motion of a vibrating object is determined by the way it is held. This simple observation has long inspired string instrument makers to create new sounds by devising elegant string clamping mechanisms, whereby the distance between the clamping points is modulated as the string vibrates. At the nanoscale, the simplest way to emulate this principle would be to controllably make nanoresonators slide across their clamping points, which would effectively modulate their vibrating length. Here, we report measurements of flexural vibrations in nanomechanical resonators that reveal such a sliding motion. Surprisingly, the resonant frequency of vibrations draws a loop as a tuning gate voltage is cycled. This behavior indicates that sliding is accompanied by a delayed frequency response of the resonators, making their dynamics richer than that of resonators with fixed clamping points. Our work elucidates the dynamics of nanomechanical resonators with unconventional boundary conditions, and offers opportunities for studying friction at the nanoscale from resonant frequency measurements.

The motion of a vibrating object is set by the way it is held. Here, the authors show a nanomechanical resonator reversibly slides on its supporting substrate as it vibrates and exploit this unconventional dynamics to quantify friction at the nanoscale.

Effect of a High Estrogen Level in Early Pregnancy on the Development and Behavior of Marmoset Offspring

The use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has risen steadily worldwide over the past 3 decades and helps many infertile families. However, ART treatments lead to an abnormal internal environment in the uterus, which may increase the risks of health problems for the offspring. Higher maternal estradiol (E₂) is a notable feature in women who use ART treatments, and this has been suggested as a key factor for the risk of diseases in the offspring. In the current study, we have established a marmoset model with a high E₂ level in early pregnancy to examine its potential risk to the development and behavior of the offspring. In comparison with the normal group, babies of the high E₂ group exhibited lower average survival rates and birth weights. However, those who survived in the high E₂ group demonstrated normal vocal production with rich call repertoires, normal speed during locomotion, and normal behaviors in the home cage. In contrast to the normal group, surviving babies of the high E₂ group spent more time sleeping during development without signs of sleep disorders. In summary, our study revealed that high estrogen in early pregnancy may cause low survival rates and birth weights of the offspring, though the surviving infants did not show obvious behavioral deficiencies during development. The current study is a valuable and highly important non-human primate study for evaluating the safety of ART treatments. However, it is worth noting that some results did not reach the significant level, which may be due to the small sample size caused by animal shortage stemming from the COVID-19 epidemic.

BNC1 deficiency-triggered ferroptosis through the NF2-YAP pathway induces primary ovarian insufficiency

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a clinical syndrome of ovarian dysfunction characterized by premature exhaustion of primordial follicles. POI causes infertility, severe daily life disturbances and long-term health risks. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. We previously identified a Basonuclin 1 (BNC1) mutation from a large Chinese POI pedigree and found that mice with targeted Bnc1 mutation exhibit symptoms of POI. In this study, we found that BNC1 plays key roles in ovarian reserve and maintaining lipid metabolism and redox homeostasis in oocytes during follicle development. Deficiency of BNC1 results in premature follicular activation and excessive follicular atresia. Mechanistically, BNC1 deficiency triggers oocyte ferroptosis via the NF2-YAP pathway. We demonstrated that pharmacologic inhibition of YAP signaling or ferroptosis significantly rescues Bnc1 mutation-induced POI. These findings uncover a pathologic mechanism of POI based on BNC1 deficiency and suggest YAP and ferroptosis inhibitors as potential therapeutic targets for POI.

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a clinical syndrome of ovarian dysfunction that results in infertility. Here they show that BCN1 mutation results in premature ovarian follicle activation and atresia through dysregulation of ferroptosis.

Detection and Identification of Novel Intracellular Bacteria Hosted in Strains CBS 648.67 and CFCC 80795 of Biocontrol Fungi Metarhizium

"Endosymbiosis" is a cohesive form of a symbiotic association. Endobacteria exist in many fungi and play important roles in fungal host biology. Metarhizium spp. are important entomopathogenic fungi for insect pest control. In the present study, we performed comprehensive ana-lyses of strains of Metarhizium bibionidarum and M. anisopliae using PCR, phylogenetics, and fluorescent electron microscopy to identify endobacteria within hyphae and conidia. The results of the phylogenetic ana-lysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these endobacteria were the most closely related to Pelomonas puraquae and affiliated with Betaproteobacteria. Ultrastructural observations indicated that endobacteria were coccoid and less than 500‍ ‍nm in diameter. The basic characteristics of endobacteria in M. bibionidarum and M. anisopliae were elucidated, and biological questions were raised regarding their biological functions in the Metarhizium hosts.

The characteristics of fundus microvascular alterations in the course of glaucoma: a narrative review

Background and Objective

As the vascular theory has led many researchers to focus on vascular dysfunction in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, a better understanding of ocular microcirculation would be of great significance. The emergence of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has shed light on the various fundus microvascular changes that occur in glaucoma, thus providing ample evidence in the role of microvascular dysfunction in glaucoma. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the retinal and choroidal microvascular alterations that occur in glaucoma and to address the role of microvascular alterations in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of glaucoma.

Methods

The literature regarding fundus microvascular alterations in glaucoma and after glaucoma treatment, including alterations of vascular perfusion and vascular reactivity, was broadly researched using PubMed and Web of Science databases. The endothelium involvements during the glaucoma course were also searched in the databases broadly.

Key Content and Findings

Previous OCTA studies show vessel density (VD) decreases in the retinal macular and peripapillary regions and choroidal microvascular dropout. Such microvascular alterations are correlated with structural and functional defects and have potential value for the early diagnosis and prognosis of glaucoma. Retinal microvascular autoregulation is also impaired in glaucomatous eyes. Furthermore, various studies have demonstrated the role of the vascular endothelium in glaucoma. Different topical medications and surgical interventions have been shown to have an impact on microvasculature in glaucoma, and animal experiments have indicated the endothelial system may be a new target in glaucoma treatment.

Conclusions

Ample evidence proved the involvement of retinal and choroidal microvascular structural and functional changes in the course of glaucoma. This review makes a novel contribution to the literature by summarizing the microvascular alterations in glaucoma eyes and the microvascular changes after topical or surgical treatments.

Dynamics and Predictability of Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification in Ensemble Simulations of Hurricane Patricia (2015)

Hurricane Patricia (2015) over the eastern Pacific was a record-breaking tropical cyclone (TC) under a very favorable environment during its rapid intensification (RI) period, which makes it an optimal real case for studying RI dynamics and predictability. In this study, we performed ensemble Kalman filter analyses at Patricia's early development stage using both traditional observations and the Office of Naval Research Tropical Cyclone Intensity (TCI) field campaign data. It is shown that assimilating the inner-core TCI observations produces a stronger initial vortex and significantly improves the prediction of RI. Analysis of observation sensitivity experiments shows that the deep-layer dropsonde observations have high impact on both the primary and secondary circulations for the entire troposphere while the radar observations have the most impact on the primary circulations near aircraft flight level. A wide range of intensification scenarios are obtained through two sets of ensemble forecasts initialized with and without assimilating the TCI data prior to the RI onset. Verification of the ensemble forecasts against the TCI observations during the RI period shows that forecast errors toward later stages can originate from two different error sources at early stages of the vortex structure: One is a timing error from a delayed vortex development such that the TC evolution is the same but shifted in time; the other is due to a totally different storm such that there is no moment in time the simulated storm can obtain a correct TC structure.

DIC Score Combined With CLIF-C OF Score Is More Effective in Predicting Prognosis in Patients With Hepatitis B Virus Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure

Coagulation and fibrinolysis disorders are major prognostic factors in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) patients. Here, we aimed to clarify the role of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) scores in predicting HBV-ACLF patient prognosis. We assessed the DIC score from HBV-ACLF patients at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai, China from June 2013 to May 2021 and evaluated it in relation to short-term mortality, clinical course, and infection. A novel prognostic scoring model was proposed based on DIC scores. A total of 163 transplant-free HBV-ACLF patients were enrolled. DIC scores were higher in non-survivors than survivors (6 vs. 4, P = 0.000) and were independently associated with short-term mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 1.397, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.040–1.875, P = 0.026]. DIC scores were associated with ACLF grade, clinical course, and infection. Moreover, they were correlated with model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (r = 0.521, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating curve (auROC) of CLIF-C OF-DICs [a novel prognostic score based on age, DIC score, and Chronic liver failure-consortium organ function score (CLIF-C OFs)] for 90-day mortality was 0.936, which was higher than six other generic prognostic scoring models. These results were confirmed in a validation cohort (n = 82). In conclusion, elevated DIC score is associated with poor prognosis in HBV-ACLF patients, and can be used jointly with CLIF-C OFs to improve the accuracy of prognosis prediction.

Graphene-Based Nanoelectromechanical Periodic Array with Tunable Frequency

Phononic crystals (PnCs) have attracted much attention due to their great potential for dissipation engineering and propagation manipulation of phonons. Notably, the excellent electrical and mechanical properties of graphene make it a promising material for nanoelectromechanical resonators. Transferring a graphene flake to a prepatterned periodic mechanical structure enables the realization of a PnC with on-chip scale. Here, we demonstrate a nanoelectromechanical periodic array by anchoring a graphene membrane to a 9 × 9 array of standing nanopillars. The device exhibits a quasi-continuous frequency spectrum with resonance modes distributed from ∼120 MHz to ∼980 MHz. Moreover, the resonant frequencies of these modes can be electrically tuned by varying the voltage applied to the gate electrode sitting underneath. Simulations suggest that the observed band-like spectrum provides an experimental evidence for PnC formation. Our architecture has large fabrication flexibility, offering a promising platform for investigations on PnCs with electrical accessibility and tunability.

Oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes may have a better effect on gingivitis and plaque control than sonic and manual toothbrushes in adults

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Grender J, Adam R, Zou Y. The effects of oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes on plaque and gingival health: A meta-analysis. Am J Dent. 2020 Feb;33(1):3-11. PMID: 32,056,408.

SOURCE OF FUNDING

Industry (Procter & Gamble Company).

TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN

Systematic review with meta-analysis of data.

Effects of different additives on the chemical composition and microbial diversity during composting of Camellia oleifera shell

The influence of three additives including Camellia oleifera meal, C. oleifera seed cake and goat dung during the C. oleifera shell composting was evaluated. The result of physic-chemical parameters indicated that compost of C. oleifera shell with one of additives could achieve the effect of maturity.16S rDNA sequencing suggested that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Tenericutes, Deinococcus-Thermus, Patescibacteria, Fibrobacteres and Acidobacteria were the dominant microorganisms in all compost piles, and their abundances varied with compost additive and composting phase. Goat dung significantly increased the microbial diversity at the mesophilic phase. The microbial composition was most diverse at the end of composting for all piles. No pathogens were detected in the compost products of all three groups, and thus were safe for utilization in plant cultivation. This work considered that compost was best way to address the contamination problem of C. oleifera shell, where goat dung was best additive for compost.

Comprehensive Multi-omics Analysis Reveals Mitochondrial Stress as a Central Biological Hub for Spaceflight Impact

Spaceflight is known to impose changes on human physiology with unknown molecular etiologies. To reveal these causes, we used a multi-omics, systems biology analytical approach using biomedical profiles from fifty-nine astronauts and data from NASA's GeneLab derived from hundreds of samples flown in space to determine transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and epigenetic responses to spaceflight. Overall pathway analyses on the multi-omics datasets showed significant enrichment for mitochondrial processes, as well as innate immunity, chronic inflammation, cell cycle, circadian rhythm, and olfactory functions. Importantly, NASA's Twin Study provided a platform to confirm several of our principal findings. Evidence of altered mitochondrial function and DNA damage was also found in the urine and blood metabolic data compiled from the astronaut cohort and NASA Twin Study data, indicating mitochondrial stress as a consistent phenotype of spaceflight.

Observation of the curative effect of intraocular lens in patients with cataract and establishment of the intraocular lens database

BACKGROUND

Intraocular lenses are widely used in the treatment of cataract patients, but currently clinical, procedural and product information is incomplete in many hospitals and there is an urgent need for a database to improve surgical safety, and outcomes.

METHODS

Data on the brand and specifications of the intraocular lens, and the postoperative outcome of cataract patients after intraocular lens implantation from January 2017 to June 2018 were collected to create an intraocular lens database as an online public platform.

RESULTS

A total of 96 cataract patients were divided into groups A and B based on preoperative corrected visual acuity. At 3 months after surgery the visual acuity of patients in group A recovered from 1.51±0.19 to 0.76±0.18, and the in group B it recovered from 1.02±0.27 to 0.49±0.13. Overall, the postoperative visual acuity of all patients improved significantly (P<0.001). We also used the NEI-VFQ-25 visual function questionnaire to evaluate the visual function of the patients before and after surgery. At 3 months after surgery, the mean score of patients in group A increased from 21.89±14.21 to 59.97±18.29 and in group B it increased from 38.26±17.57 to 70.28±12.37. Overall, the patients' postoperative scores increased significantly (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cataract phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation can effectively and safely restore and improve the visual function of cataract patients. Information sharing through establishment of an intraocular lens information database will assist in further advances and consistency in the treatment of cataract patients.

New biomarker for lung cancer - focus on circSETD3

In order to explore the mechanism of gefitinib-acquired resistance in lung cancer, a new biomarker has been developed for early clinical diagnosis and intervention; human NSCLC (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) cell lines H292 (denoted as H292S) and PC9 (denoted as PC9S) were used to establish gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cell lines H292 and PC9 models. CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) method was used to test the drug resistance of the cells. circRNAs (circular RNAs) that were differentially expressed before and after resistance were screened by RNA sequencing technology. The effects of circSETD3 overexpression and interference on the sensitivity of gefitinib was observed to analyze the nuclear localization of circSETD3 and verify the interaction between circSETD3-miR-520h-ABCG2. The results showed that the most significant change in differential expression of human NSCLC cell lines before and after drug resistance was hsa_circ_0000567, that is, circSETD3, which is mainly present in the cytoplasm. In H292S and PC9S, compared with the negative control group, the cell proliferation ability of the overexpression group was significantly increased, and the apoptosis ability was significantly decreased. In H292R and PC9R, compared with the negative control group, the proliferation ability of the interference group was significantly decreased, and the apoptosis ability was significantly increased. Overexpression of circSETD3 to H292S and PC9S, the expression of ABCG2 increased significantly. Also, the expression of ABCG2 decreased significantly after transfection with miR-520h mimics. H292R and PC9R interfered with circSETD3, the expression of ABCG2 decreased significantly. Moreover, the expression of ABCG2 increased significantly after transfection with miR-520h inhibitor. In conclusion, circSETD3 can be used as a novel biomarker for lung cancer. It relieves miR-520h degradation of the transporter ABCG2 by down-regulating the miR-520h expression, causing gefitinib to be pumped out of the cell.

Using Next-generation Sequencing to Identify Novel Exosomal miRNAs as Biomarkers for Significant Hepatic Fibrosis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to determine the role of serum exosomal miRNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers for distinguishing no-or-mild fibrosis from significant fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS

Next-generation sequencing was used to identify fibrosis-related serum exosomal miRNAs in 9 CHB patients. The candidate exosomal miRNAs were further validated by qRT-PCR in 282 CHB patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to assess the diagnostic performance of exosomal miRNAs and other non-invasive models.

RESULTS

Seventy-two miRNAs were differentially expressed in serum exosomes between patients with no-or-mild fibrosis and significant fibrosis. The expression of serum exosomal miR-92a-3p and miR-146a-5p progressively increased with the aggravation of liver fibrosis in the validation cohort. Multivariate analysis identified miR-92a-3p (P<0.001), miR-146a-5p (P<0.001), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) (P=0.012) as independent predictors for significant fibrosis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of exosomal miR-92a-3p (AUROC=0.88) was significantly higher than that of APRI (aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index) (AUROC=0.72, P<0.001), FIB-4 (AUROC=0.71, P<0.001), and LSM (AUROC=0.80, P=0.022) for identifying significant fibrosis. Similarly, the AUROC of exosomal miR-146a-5p (AUROC=0.82) was also significantly better than that of APRI (AUROC=0.72, P=0.009), FIB-4 (AUROC=0.71, P=0.002), and comparable to LSM (AUROC=0.80, P=0.551) for discriminating significant fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

Serum exosomal miR-92a-3p and miR-146a-5p are superior to APRI, FIB-4, and LSM for diagnosing significant fibrosis in CHB patients and offer a promising non-invasive alternative to liver biopsy.

Tunable parametric amplification of a graphene nanomechanical resonator in the nonlinear regime

Parametric amplification is widely used in nanoelectro-mechanical systems to enhance the transduced mechanical signals. Although parametric amplification has been studied in different mechanical resonator systems, the nonlinear dynamics involved receives less attention. Taking advantage of the excellent electrical and mechanical properties of graphene, we demonstrate electrical tunable parametric amplification using a doubly clamped graphene nanomechanical resonator. By applying external microwave pumping with twice the resonant frequency, we investigate parametric amplification in the nonlinear regime. We experimentally show that the extracted coefficient of the nonlinear Duffing force α and the nonlinear damping coefficient η vary as a function of external pumping power, indicating the influence of higher-order nonlinearity beyond the Duffing (∼x ³) and van der Pol (∼[Formula: see text]) types in our device. Even when the higher-order nonlinearity is involved, parametric amplification still can be achieved in the nonlinear regime. The parametric gain increases and shows a tendency of saturation with increasing external pumping power. Further, the parametric gain can be electrically tuned by the gate voltage with a maximum gain of 10.2 dB achieved at the gate voltage of 19 V. Our results will benefit studies on nonlinear dynamics, especially nonlinear damping in graphene nanomechanical resonators that has been debated in the community over past decade.

The role of prophylactic antibiotics in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure patients at risk of bacterial infection: a retrospective study

Background

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by an excessive systemic inflammatory response and organ failure and has high mortality. Bacterial infections (BIs) worsen the clinical course of ACLF and carry a poor prognosis in ACLF patients. The efficacy of third-generation cephalosporins has been challenged in recent years. The aim of this study was to characterize the difference between ACLF patients with and without BIs and to provide a reference for medical intervention.

Methods

A total of 140 patients with hepatitis B virus-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF) hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University (Shanghai, China) between May 2013 and January 2020 were enrolled. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the baseline characteristics of HBV-ACLF patients with and without BIs. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to find predictors of BIs. The characteristics of BIs and the role of prophylactic antibiotics were profiled.

Results

A total of 97 episodes of BIs occurred in patients during the course of HBV-ACLF. Patients with and without BIs differed in clinical characteristics. The incidence of BIs showed a positive correlation with the ACLF grade (P = 0.003) and the clinical course (P = 0.003). The 90-day transplant-free survival of patients with BIs was lower than those without BIs (P < 0.0001). Patients administered prophylactic antibiotics showed a lower incidence of BIs and had a higher transplant-free survival probability than those who did not (P = 0.046). No statistical differences in antibiotic efficacy between third-generation and other antibiotics were observed (P = 0.108).

Conclusions

BIs affected the clinical course and prognosis of patients with HBV-ACLF. Prophylactic antibiotics were of potential clinical importance in the prevention of BIs and improving the clinical course and prognosis in HBV-ACLF patients. Third-generation cephalosporins were qualified for use in antibiotic prophylaxis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40249-021-00830-7.

Transcardiac Perfusion of the Mouse for Brain Tissue Dissection and Fixation

Transcardiac perfusion with saline followed by 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) is widely used to clear blood and preserve brain for immunostaining or in situ hybridization. PFA breaks into formaldehyde in solution, which cross-link protein and DNA molecules to preserve tissue and cell structure. Here we provide a step by step guide for performing this procedure in mouse.

[Absence of BAX differentially affects astrocyte density in the mouse cortex and hippocampus]

Astrocytes are a heterogenous group of macroglia present in all regions of the brain and play critical roles in many aspects of brain development, function and disease. Previous studies suggest that the B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein (BAX)-dependent apoptosis plays essential roles in regulating neuronal number and achieving optimal excitation/inhibition ratio. The aim of the present paper was to study whether BAX regulates astrocyte distribution in a region-specific manner. Immunofluorescence staining of SOX9 was used to analyze and compare astrocyte density in primary somatosensory cortex, motor cortex, retrosplenial cortex and hippocampus in heterozygous and homozygous BAX knockout mice at age of six weeks when cortical development has finished and glia development has reached a relatively steady state. The results showed that astrocyte density varied significantly among different cortical subdivisions and between cortex and hippocampus. In contrast to the significant increase in GABAergic interneurons, the overall and region-specific astrocyte density remained unchanged in the cortex when BAX was absent. Interestingly, a significant reduction of astrocyte density was observed in the hippocampus of BAX knockout mice. These data suggest that BAX differentially regulates neurons and astrocytes in cortex as well as astrocytes in different brain regions during development. This study provided important information about the regional heterogeneity of astrocyte distribution and the potential contribution of BAX gene during development.

Improving Pulmonary Infection Diagnosis with Metagenomic Next Generation Sequencing

Pulmonary infections are among the most common and important infectious diseases due to their high morbidity and mortality, especially in older and immunocompromised individuals. However, due to the limitations in sensitivity and the long turn-around time (TAT) of conventional diagnostic methods, pathogen detection and identification methods for pulmonary infection with greater diagnostic efficiency are urgently needed. In recent years, unbiased metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) has been widely used to detect different types of infectious pathogens, and is especially useful for the detection of rare and newly emergent pathogens, showing better diagnostic performance than traditional methods. There has been limited research exploring the application of mNGS for the diagnosis of pulmonary infections. In this study we evaluated the diagnostic efficiency and clinical impact of mNGS on pulmonary infections. A total of 100 respiratory samples were collected from patients diagnosed with pulmonary infection in Shanghai, China. Conventional methods, including culture and standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel analysis for respiratory tract viruses, and mNGS were used for the pathogen detection in respiratory samples. The difference in the diagnostic yield between conventional methods and mNGS demonstrated that mNGS had higher sensitivity than traditional culture for the detection of pathogenic bacteria and fungi (95% vs 54%; p<0.001). Although mNGS had lower sensitivity than PCR for diagnosing viral infections, it identified 14 viral species that were not detected using conventional methods, including multiple subtypes of human herpesvirus. mNGS detected viruses with a genome coverage >95% and a sequencing depth >100× and provided reliable phylogenetic and epidemiological information. mNGS offered extra benefits, including a shorter TAT. As a complementary approach to conventional methods, mNGS could help improving the identification of respiratory infection agents. We recommend the timely use of mNGS when infection of mixed or rare pathogens is suspected, especially in immunocompromised individuals and or individuals with severe conditions that require urgent treatment.

Oligo/Amenorrhea Is an Independent Risk Factor Associated With Low Ovarian Response

CAPSULE

Oligo/amenorrhea is an independent risk factor of low ovarian response but not high ovarian response, particularly in women with low AMH levels.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of menstrual cycle length (MCL) with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and ovarian response.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 7471 women who underwent ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval were enrolled. The main outcome was the number of oocytes retrieved.

MAIN RESULTS

A total of 5734 patients were eligible for analysis. In women without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), serum AMH levels and antral follicle count were significantly lower in women with short cycles and higher in women with oligo/amenorrhea than those with a normal menstrual cycle. In women with PCOS, compared to women with a normal menstrual cycle, women with short cycles and women with oligo/amenorrhea showed higher antral follicle count and higher serum AMH levels. Compared with the 0-25th range group of AMH levels, 75-100th percentile groups showed a significantly increased rate of oligo/amenorrhea in women with and without PCOS [adjusted odds ratio (OR) =1.9 (1.04, 3.46), 2.4 (1.70, 3.35)]. In women without PCOS, the low ovarian response was more common in women with short cycles and less common in women with oligo/amenorrhea compared to women with normal cycles [OR=3.0 (2.38, 3.78), 0.7 (0.55, 0.96), respectively]. When adjusted for AMH levels, both short cycles and oligo/amenorrhea were associated with an increased risk of low response [adjusted OR=1.3 (1.02, 1.75), 1.3 (0.93, 1.86), respectively]. In women without PCOS and with low AMH levels, the low ovarian response was more common in women with short cycles as well as in women with oligo/amenorrhea [OR=1.5 (1.08, 1.98), 1.7 (1.08, 2.69), adjusted OR=1.2 (0.86, 1.74), 2.2 (1.31, 3.82), respectively].

CONCLUSION

AMH levels are significantly associated with increased risk of oligo/amenorrhea in women with and without PCOS. AMH is an indispensable confounder in the association between MCL and ovarian response in women without PCOS. Oligo/amenorrhea is an independent risk factor associated with a low ovarian response in women without PCOS, particularly those with low AMH levels.

A Suspended Silicon Single-Hole Transistor as an Extremely Scaled Gigahertz Nanoelectromechanical Beam Resonator

Suspended single-hole transistors (SHTs) can also serve as nanoelectromechanical resonators, providing an ideal platform for investigating interactions between mechanical vibrations and charge carriers. Demonstrating such a device in silicon (Si) is of particular interest, due to the strong piezoresistive effect of Si and potential applications in Si-based quantum computation. Here, a suspended Si SHT also acting as a nanoelectromechanical beam resonator is demonstrated. The resonant frequency and zero-point motion of the device are ≈3 GHz and 0.2 pm, respectively, reaching the best level among similar devices demonstrated with Si-containing materials. The mechanical vibration is transduced to electrical readout by the SHT. The signal transduction mechanism is dominated by the piezoresistive effect. A giant apparent effective piezoresistive gauge factor with strong correlation to single-hole tunneling is extracted in this device. The results show the great potential of the device in interfacing charge carriers with mechanical vibrations, as well as investigating potential quantum behavior of the vibration phonon mode.

p53 coordinates glucose and choline metabolism during the mesendoderm differentiation of human embryonic stem cells

Metabolism plays crucial roles in the fate decision of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Here, we show that the depletion of p53 in hESCs enhances glycolysis and reduces oxidative phosphorylation, and delays mesendoderm differentiation of hESCs. More intriguingly, the disruption of p53 in hESCs leads to dramatic upregulation of phosphatidylcholine and decrease of total choline in both pluripotent and differentiated state of hESCs, suggesting abnormal choline metabolism in the absence of p53. Collectively, our study reveals the indispensable role of p53 in orchestrating both glucose and lipid metabolism to maintain proper hESC identity.

Impact of acute kidney injury on in-hospital outcomes among patients hospitalized with acute heart failure: a propensity score matched analysis

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently present in patients admitted for acute heart failure (AHF). Several studies have evaluated the mortality risk and have concluded poor prognosis in any patient with AKI admitted for AHF. For the most part, the additional morbidity and mortality burden in AHF patients with AKI has been attributed to the concomitant comorbidities, and/or interventions.

Purpose

We sought to determine the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) on in-hospital outcomes in patients presenting with acute heart failure (AHF). We identified isolated AKI patients after excluding other concomitant diagnoses and procedures, which may contribute to an increased risk of mortality and morbidity.

Methods

Data from the National Inpatient Sample (2012- 14) were used to identify patients with the principal diagnosis of AHF and the concomitant secondary diagnosis of AKI. Propensity score matching was performed on 30 baseline variables to identify a matched cohort. The outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. We further evaluated in-hospital procedures and complications.

Results

Of 1,470,450 patients admitted with AHF, 24.3% had AKI. After propensity matching a matched cohort of 356,940 patients was identified. In this matched group, the AKI group had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (3.8% vs 1.7%, p&lt;0.001). Complications such as sepsis and cardiac arrest were higher in the AKI group. Similarly, in-hospital procedures including CABG, mechanical ventilation and IABP were performed more in the AKI group. AHF patients with AKI had longer in-hospital stay of ∼1.7 days.

Conclusions

In a propensity score-matched cohort of AHF with and without AKI, the risk of in-hospital mortality was &gt;2-fold in the AKI group. Healthcare utilization and burden of complications were higher in the AKI group.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Physical and chemical properties of Camellia oleifera shell composts with different additives and its maturity evaluation system

The effects of different additives on the compost of Camellia oleifera shell were characterized and a maturity evaluation system for the obtained compost was established. Four treatments were designed as C. oleifera shell with C. oleifera seed meal (A1), with C. oleifera seed cake (A2), with sheep manure (A3), and with spent mushroom substrate (A4). A3 had the longest thermophilic phase (over 50 °C) and shortest cooling phase. Compared with A1, the thermophilic phase of A2 was postponed 11 days due to the high lipid content, but terminated almost at the same time. The temperature of A4 increased slowly and took longer time to reach ambient. C/N, pH, E4/E6, and NH₄⁺-N decreased along with composting process, while TN, GI, and NO₃^--N were opposite. Based on the Pearson correlation analysis with the Solvita maturity index as a reference, the result indicated that TN, C/N, GI, NH₄⁺-N, and pH can be used for the maturity evaluation.

Implication of Modified Chemical Profiles of Different Seed Proteins through Heat-Related Processing to Protein Nutrition and Metabolic Characteristics in Ruminant Systems

The objectives of this study were to reveal the implication of modified chemical profiles of protein in cool-season-adapted cereal seeds through heat-related processing to protein nutrition and metabolic characteristics in ruminant systems. The parameters of protein-related chemical and nutritive profiles modified by heat-related processing included (a) chemical and nutrient profiles, (b) degradation kinetics (K_d and BCP), (c) digestion (IDP and TDP), (d) degraded protein balance (DPB/OEB value), and (e) metabolizable protein (MP, DVE, and FMV values). The seeds used in this study included cool-season-adapted wheat (CSW), triticale (CST), and corn (CSC). Each grain source had 3 consecutive year-replicated samples and were subjected to different heat-related processing: dry heating (DH) and moist heating (MH). The results showed that (1) the heat-related processing significantly modified metabolic characteristics of protein in the seeds (p < 0.05), (2) in comparison to DH, MH had a dramatic improvement (p < 0.05) in protein utilization profiles (decreased rumen degradation and increased intestinal digestion), (3) the seeds had significant (p < 0.05) difference in rumen degradation and intestinal digestion, (4) among the seeds, the CSW had the highest milk value (FMV; p < 0.05) and was increased by MH application (p < 0.05), and (5) the results showed that the seeds responded independently to different heat-related processing. MH-related processing had a more profound impact on CSW and CST in chemical profiles and nutrition. The CSC had less response to the heat-related processing.

MTR4 drives liver tumorigenesis by promoting cancer metabolic switch through alternative splicing

The metabolic switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis is required for tumorigenesis in order to provide cancer cells with energy and substrates of biosynthesis. Therefore, it is important to elucidate mechanisms controlling the cancer metabolic switch. MTR4 is a RNA helicase associated with a nuclear exosome that plays key roles in RNA processing and surveillance. We demonstrate that MTR4 is frequently overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is an independent diagnostic marker predicting the poor prognosis of HCC patients. MTR4 drives cancer metabolism by ensuring correct alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs of critical glycolytic genes such as GLUT1 and PKM2. c-Myc binds to the promoter of the MTR4 gene and is important for MTR4 expression in HCC cells, indicating that MTR4 is a mediator of the functions of c-Myc in cancer metabolism. These findings reveal important roles of MTR4 in the cancer metabolic switch and present MTR4 as a promising therapeutic target for treating HCC.

Clinical Evaluation of Diagnosis Efficacy of Active Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Infection via Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing of Direct Clinical Samples

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is now the leading cause of death from infectious disease. Rapid screening and diagnostic methods for TB are urgently required. Rapid development of metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in recent years showed promising and satisfying application of mNGS in several kinds of infectious diseases. However, research directly evaluating the ability of mNGS in TB infection is still scarce.

Methods: We conducted an adult prospective study in mainland China to evaluate the diagnostic performance of mNGS for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) in multiple forms of direct clinical samples compared with GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay (Xpert), traditional diagnostic methods, and the clinical final diagnosis.

Results: Of 123 patients presenting with suspected active TB infection between June 1, 2017, and May 21, 2018, 105 patients underwent synchronous tuberculous testing with culture, Xpert, and mNGS on direct clinical samples including sputum, cerebrospinal fluids, pus, etc. During follow-up, 45 of 105 participants had clinical final diagnosis of active TB infection, including 13 pulmonary TB cases and 32 extrapulmonary TB cases. Compared to clinical final diagnosis, mNGS produced a sensitivity of 44% for all active TB cases, which was similar to Xpert (42%) but much higher than conventional methods (29%). With only one false-positive result, mNGS had a specificity of 98% in our study. mNGS yielded significantly much higher sensitivity in pre-treatment samples (76%) than post-treatment ones (31%) (P = 0.005), which was also true for Xpert and conventional methods. Combining Xpert and mNGS together, the study identified 27 of 45 active TB cases (60%), including all 13 conventional method-identified cases, and the result reached statistical significance compared to conventional methods (McNemar-test P < 0.001).

Conclusions: mNGS had a similar diagnostic ability of MTB compared with Xpert and showed potential for a variety of clinical samples. Combined mNGS and Xpert showed an overall superior advantage over conventional methods and significantly improved the etiology diagnosis of both MTB and other pathogens. The result that anti-TB treatment significantly reduced diagnostic efficacy of culture, Xpert, and mNGS highlighted the importance of collecting samples before empirical treatment.

Multimode drug inducible CRISPR/Cas9 devices for transcriptional activation and genome editing

Precise investigation and manipulation of dynamic biological processes often requires molecular modulation in a controlled inducible manner. The clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) has emerged as a versatile tool for targeted gene editing and transcriptional programming. Here, we designed and vigorously optimized a series of Hybrid drug Inducible CRISPR/Cas9 Technologies (HIT) for transcriptional activation by grafting a mutated human estrogen receptor (ER^T2) to multiple CRISPR/Cas9 systems, which renders them 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) inducible for the access of genome. Further, extra functionality of simultaneous genome editing was achieved with one device we named HIT2. Optimized terminal devices herein delivered advantageous performances in comparison with several existing designs. They exerted selective, titratable, rapid and reversible response to drug induction. In addition, these designs were successfully adapted to an orthogonal Cas9. HIT systems developed in this study can be applied for controlled modulation of potentially any genomic loci in multiple modes.

The effects of source and concentration of dietary fiber, starch, and fatty acids on the daily patterns of feed intake, rumination, and rumen pH in dairy cows

The daily patterns of feed intake and rumination influence rumen fermentation, rumen pH, and timing of absorbed nutrients in the dairy cow, but the effects of diet composition on these patterns are not well characterized. Data from 3 previously published experiments were examined to determine the influence of dietary starch, fiber, and fatty acids (FA) on daily patterns of intake, rumination, and rumen pH. Dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and starch were investigated in 2 experiments, each with duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square designs with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in cows fed cows 1×/d at 1200 and 1400 h, respectively. To investigate fiber content and digestibility in the first experiment, brown midrib or isogenic conventional corn silage were fed in low- and high-NDF diets (29 and 38%, respectively). To investigate starch source and concentration in the second experiment, ground high-moisture corn or dry ground corn were fed in low- and high-starch diets (21 and 32%, respectively). Effect of fat concentration and saturation was investigated in the third experiment using a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design that fed cows 1×/d at 0900 h; treatments included a control diet with no added fat and 2.5% added saturated FA, unsaturated FA, or a mixture of the saturated and unsaturated FA. In the first 2 experiments, intake followed a similar daily pattern regardless of starch and NDF concentration or digestibility. Rumination displayed a treatment by time interaction for both NDF and starch concentration, with high-fiber, low-starch diets causing greater rumination overnight but not midday. High-starch diets decreased total daily rumen pH equally across the day, but did not change the daily pattern. Type of corn silage did not affect the daily patterns of rumination or rumen pH, but pH was reduced throughout the day in brown midrib diets. In the third experiment, no interactions between fatty acid supplement and time of day were observed for intake, rumination, or rumen pH. Within all experiments, rumination fit or tended to fit a 24-h rhythm regardless of diet, with the amplitude of the rumination being reduced in low-starch diets and diets containing saturated FA or a mixture of saturated and unsaturated FA. Overall, intake, rumination, and rumen pH follow a daily pattern that was minimally modified by dietary fiber and starch type and level or fat level and fatty acid profile.