The dysfunction in intestinal microorganisms and enzyme activity as significant contributors to diarrhea with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome

Object

To investigate the pathogenesis of diarrhea with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome by examining characteristic changes in intestinal microorganisms, enzyme activities, oxidative stress, and metabolism indices.

Methods

Twenty mice were randomly and equally divided into control group (NC) and model group (NM). Mice in NM group received adenine suspension at a dosage of 50 mg/(kg⋅day) by gavage, 0.4 mL/time, once a day for 14 days, and Folium sennae decoction at a dosage of 10 g/(kg⋅day) by gavage, 0.4 mL/time, once a day for 7 days, starting on 8th day. Mice in NC group were administered an equivalent amount of sterile water by gavage once a day for 7 days, and twice a day from the 8th day. After modeling, assessments encompassed microbial culture, organ index calculation, microbial and enzyme activity detection, malondialdehyde (MDA) content determination, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, blood biochemical tests, and observation of kidney tissue pathological changes.

Results

The results showed that in NM group, a reduction in the number of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria was noted, accompanied by an increase in the number of bacteria and E. coli. Xylanase activity in the intestinal contents and mucosa, protease activity in the intestinal mucosa, and intestinal mucosa microbial activity were diminished. Conversely, the activities of amylase, sucrase, and lactase increased in intestinal mucosa. Additionally, there was an elevation in the level of MDA. Renal tubular dilatation and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the renal interstitium.

Conclusion

These dysfunctions in intestinal microorganisms and enzyme activities suggest potential involvement in diarrhea with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome.

Trace Sample Proteome Quantification by Data-Dependent Acquisition without Dynamic Exclusion

Despite continuous technological improvements in sample preparation, mass-spectrometry-based proteomics for trace samples faces the challenges of sensitivity, quantification accuracy, and reproducibility. Herein, we explored the applicability of turboDDA (a method that uses data-dependent acquisition without dynamic exclusion) for quantitative proteomics of trace samples. After systematic optimization of acquisition parameters, we compared the performance of turboDDA with that of data-dependent acquisition with dynamic exclusion (DEDDA). By benchmarking the analysis of trace unlabeled human cell digests, turboDDA showed substantially better sensitivity in comparison with DEDDA, whether for unfractionated or high pH fractionated samples. Furthermore, through designing an iTRAQ-labeled three-proteome model (i.e., tryptic digest of protein lysates from yeast, human, and E. coli) to document the interference effect, we evaluated the quantification interference, accuracy, reproducibility of iTRAQ labeled trace samples, and the impact of PIF (precursor intensity fraction) cutoff for different approaches (turboDDA and DEDDA). The results showed that improved quantification accuracy and reproducibility could be achieved by turboDDA, while a more stringent PIF cutoff resulted in more accurate quantification but less peptide identification for both approaches. Finally, the turboDDA strategy was applied to the differential analysis of limited amounts of human lung cancer cell samples, showing great promise in trace proteomics sample analysis.

mDia formins form hetero-oligomers and cooperatively maintain murine hematopoiesis

mDia formin proteins regulate the dynamics and organization of the cytoskeleton through their linear actin nucleation and polymerization activities. We previously showed that mDia1 deficiency leads to aberrant innate immune activation and induces myelodysplasia in a mouse model, and mDia2 regulates enucleation and cytokinesis of erythroblasts and the engraftment of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). However, whether and how mDia formins interplay and regulate hematopoiesis under physiological and stress conditions remains unknown. Here, we found that both mDia1 and mDia2 are required for HSPC regeneration under stress, such as serial plating, aging, and reconstitution after myeloid ablation. We showed that mDia1 and mDia2 form hetero-oligomers through the interactions between mDia1 GBD-DID and mDia2 DAD domains. Double knockout of mDia1 and mDia2 in hematopoietic cells synergistically impaired the filamentous actin network and serum response factor-involved transcriptional signaling, which led to declined HSPCs, severe anemia, and significant mortality in neonates and newborn mice. Our data demonstrate the potential roles of mDia hetero-oligomerization and their non-rodent functions in the regulation of HSPCs activity and orchestration of hematopoiesis.

Simvastatin induces pyroptosis via ROS/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway in colon cancer

BACKGROUND

The outcome of patients with colon cancer is still unsatisfied nowadays. Simvastatin is a type of statins with anti-cancer activity, but its effect on colon cancer cells remains unclear. The present study is intended to determine the underlying mechanism of simvastatin in treatment of colon cancer.

METHODS

The viability and pyroptosis rate of cells treated and untreated with simvastatin were analysed by CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays, respectively. We used DCFH-DA and flow cytometry to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Levels of pyroptosis markers were detected by western blotting analysis or immunofluorescence staining. Besides, the anticancer properties of simvastatin on colon cancer were further demonstrated using a cell line based xenograft tumor model.

RESULTS

Simvastatin treatment in HCT116 and SW620 induced pyroptosis and suppressed cell proliferation, with changes in the expression level of NLPR3, ASC, cleaved-caspase-1, mature IL-1β, IL-18 and GSDMD-N. Moreover, inhibition of caspase-1 and ROS attenuated the effects of simvastatin on cancer cell viability. In addition, it was identified that simvastatin has an anti-tumor effect by down-regulating ROS production and inducing downstream caspase-1 dependent pyroptosis in the subcutaneous transplantation tumors of HCT116 cells in BALB/c nude mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our in vitro and in vivo results indicated that simvastatin induced pyroptosis through ROS/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway, thereby serving as a potential agent for colon cancer treatment. Video Abstract.

Development of a nomogram model for the early prediction of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury in critically ill patients

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury is a common complication of sepsis, but it is difficult to predict sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. In this retrospective observational study, adult septic patients were recruited from the MIMIC-III database as the training cohort (n = 4764) and from Xiangya Hospital (n = 1568) and Zhang's database as validation cohorts. We identified eleven predictors with seven independent risk predictors of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury [fluid input_day1 ≥ 3390 ml (HR hazard ratio 1.42), fluid input_day2 ≥ 2734 ml (HR 1.64), platelet_min_day5 ≤ 224.2 × 109/l (HR 0.86), length of ICU stay ≥ 2.5 days (HR 1.24), length of hospital stay ≥ 5.8 days (HR 1.18), Bun_max_day1 ≥ 20 mmol/l (HR 1.20), and mechanical ventilation time ≥ 96 h (HR 1.11)] by multivariate Cox regression analysis, and the eleven predictors were entered into the nomogram. The nomogram model showed a discriminative ability for estimating sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. These results indicated that clinical parameters such as excess input fluid on the first and second days after admission and longer mechanical ventilation time could increase the risk of developing sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. With our study, we built a real-time prediction model for potentially forecasting acute kidney injury in septic patients that can help clinicians make decisions as early as possible to avoid sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.

An integrated strategy for quality control of the multi-origins herb medicine of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix based on UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS and HPLC-DAD

Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix, the dried root of Gentiana macrophylla Pall., Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk., Gentiana straminea Maxim., or Gentiana dahurica Fisch., is a traditional Chinese medicine with multi-origins and some adulterants. Liquid chromatography coupled to electrostatic orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-Orbitrap-MS) was used to search the different components of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix of the four species. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with fingerprint analysis, principal components analysis (PCA), and partial least-squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) was also utilized to distinguish them and their adulterants based on the critical components identified by LC-MS. A single standard to determine the multi-components (SSDMC) method was established for the determination of the critical markers. A total of 93 compounds were identified from Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix, including 58 common ones. Their HPLC fingerprints show a significant difference with the adulterants. In addition, PCA and PLS-DA could make a distinction among the four species. Loganic acid, 6'-O-β-d-glucosylgentiopicroside, swertiamarine, gentiopicroside, and sweroside were identified as the critical markers and then quantified by the SSDMC method. The developed strategy is powerful for the quality control and authentication of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix.

Do monocular myopia children need to wear glasses? Effects of monocular myopia on visual function and binocular balance

Objective

This study aims to compare the binocular visual functions and balance among monocular myopic adolescents and adults and binocular low myopic adolescents and explore whether monocular myopia requires glasses.

Methods

A total of 106 patients participated in this study. All patients were divided into three groups: the monocular myopia children group (Group 1 = 41 patients), the monocular myopia adult group (Group 2 = 26 patients) and the binocular low myopia children group (Group 3 = 39 patients). The refractive parameters, accommodation, stereopsis, and binocular balance were compared.

Results

The binocular refractive difference in Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 was -1.37 ± 0.93, -1.94 ± 0.91, and -0.32 ± 0.27 D, respectively. Moreover, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), spherical equivalent (SE) and monocular accommodative amplitude (AA) between myopic and emmetropic eyes in Group 1 and Group 2 were significantly different (all P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the accommodative facility (AF) between myopic and emmetropic eyes in Group 2 (t = 2.131, P = 0.043). Furthermore, significant differences were found in monocular AA (t = 6.879, P < 0.001), binocular AA (t = 5.043, P < 0.001) and binocular AF (t = -3.074, P = 0.003) between Group 1 and Group 2. The normal ratio of stereopsis according to the random dots test in Group 1 was higher than in Group 2 (χ2 = 14.596, P < 0.001). The normal ratio of dynamic stereopsis in Group 1 was lower than in Group 3 (χ2 = 13.281, P < 0.001). The normal signal-to-noise ratio of the binocular balance point in Group 1 was lower than Group 3 (χ2 = 4.755, P = 0.029).

Conclusion

First, monocular myopia could lead to accommodative dysfunction and unbalanced input of binocular visual signals, resulting in myopia progression. Second, monocular myopia may also be accompanied by stereopsis dysfunction, and long-term uncorrected monocular myopia may worsen stereopsis acuity in adulthood. In addition, patients with monocular myopia could exhibit stereopsis dysfunction at an early stage. Therefore, children with monocular myopia must wear glasses to restore binocular balance and visual functions, thereby delaying myopia progression.

Combination effect between gut microbiota and traditional potentially modifiable risk factors for first-ever ischemic stroke in Tujia, Miao and Han populations in China

China has had explosive growth in ischemic stroke (IS) burden with significant ethnic and geographic disparities. The aim of this study was to explore the possible combination effect between gut microbiota and traditional potentially modifiable risk factors for IS among two ethnic minorities (Tujia and Miao) and the Han population. Herein, we first used the 16 S rRNA sequencing to compare the gut microbial compositions of 82 patients with first-ever IS vs. 82 normal controls (NCs) among Han, Tujia, and Miao people between 1 May 2018 and 30 April 2019, from Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in China. An additive model was used to study the interaction between traditional risk factors and gut microbiota with R software. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and LDA effect size (LEfSe) results showed that the identified key gut microbiota's taxonomic composition varied in different ethnicity between the IS patients and NCs. Furthermore, families Lactobacillaceae, Enterococcaceae, Streptococcaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae were found to be positively correlated with high-risk factors and negatively correlated with preventive factors in the IS patients, but families Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae were just the opposite in the NCs. There were additive interactions between traditional risk factors (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein) and family Enterococcaceae for first-ever IS with the attributable proportion due to the interaction was 0.74, 0.71, and 0.85, respectively; and the synergy index was 4.45, 3.78, and 7.01, respectively. This preliminary but promising study showed that the gut microbiota disturbances may potentially interact to IS with different ethnic host's traditional risk factors.

A brainnetome atlas-based methamphetamine dependence identification using neighborhood component analysis and machine learning on functional MRI data

Addiction to methamphetamine (MA) is a major public health concern. Developing a predictive model that can classify and characterize the brain-based biomarkers predicting MA addicts may directly lead to improved treatment outcomes. In the current study, we applied the support vector machine (SVM)-based classification method to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data obtained from individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) and healthy controls (HCs) to identify brain-based features predictive of MUD. Brain connectivity analyses were conducted for 36 individuals with MUD as well as 37 HCs based on the brainnetome atlas, and the neighborhood component analysis was applied for feature selection. Eighteen most relevant features were screened out and fed into the SVM to classify the data. The classifier was able to differentiate individuals with MUD from HCs with a high prediction accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of 88.00, 86.84, 89.19, and 0.94, respectively. The top six discriminative features associated with changes in the functional activity of key nodes in the default mode network (DMN), all the remaining discriminative features are related to the thalamic connections within the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) loop. In addition, the functional connectivity (FC) between the bilateral inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and right cingulate gyrus (CG) was significantly correlated with the duration of methamphetamine use. The results of this study not only indicated that MUD-related FC alterations were predictive of group membership, but also suggested that machine learning techniques could be used for the identification of MUD-related imaging biomarkers.

Association between body fat percentage and H-type hypertension in postmenopausal women

Background

Previous studies have explored the relationship between body fat percentage (BFP) and hypertension or homocysteine. However, evidence on the constancy of the association remains inconclusive in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between BFP and H-type hypertension in postmenopausal women.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 1,597 eligible female patients with hypertension. Homocysteine levels ≥10 mmol/L were defined as H-type hypertension. BFP was calculated by measuring patients' physical parameters. Subjects were divided into 4 groups according to quartiles of BFP (Q1: 33.4% or lower, Q2: 33.4–36.1%, Q3: 36.1–39.1%, Q4: >39.1%). We used restricted cubic spline regression models and logistic regression analysis to assess the relationship between BFP and H-type hypertension. Additional subgroup analysis was performed for this study.

Results

Among 1,597 hypertensive patients, 955 (59.8%) participants had H-type hypertension. There were significant differences between the two groups in age, BMI, educational background, marital status, exercise status, drinking history, WC, TG, LDL, Scr, BUN, and eGFR (P < 0.05). The prevalence of H-type hypertension in the Q1 to Q4 groups was 24.9, 25.1, 24.9, and 25.1%, respectively. After adjusting for relevant factors, we found that the risk of H-type hypertension in the Q4 group had a significantly higher than the Q1 group (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.3–7.5).

Conclusion

BFP was positively associated with the risk of H-type hypertension in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women should control body fat to prevent hypertension.

Impact of surgical management of primary tumors in stage IV breast cancer patients: a retrospective observational study based on SEER database

OBJECTIVES

Although primary tumour surgery could prolong survival for patients with stage IV breast cancer, how to select candidates for primary tumour surgery is still a challenging problem for medical oncologists.

DESIGN

This study is a retrospective database study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

In this study, we aimed at evaluating the primary site surgery effect and select the beneficial subgroups. 13 618 patients with stage IV breast cancer, diagnosed between 2010 and 2015, were collected from SEER*Stat database.

INTERVENTIONS

Based on the local surgery at primary tumour site, patients were categorised into three groups: primary tumour surgery performed group, recommended for primary tumour surgery but refused (RBR) group and surgery not recommended (NR) group.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

All-cause survival and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS).

RESULTS

Univariate Cox regression analyses showed that, compared with surgery group, patients in non-surgery (RBR and NR) groups tend to be older, T4, N0/NX, triple-negative and visceral metastatic. For both all-cause survival and BCSS, non-surgery, advanced T stage, triple-negative BC (TNBC) and visceral metastases were significant risk factors. Primary tumour surgery showed benefits for both all-cause survival (HR=0.44, 95% CI=0.39-0.49, p<0.0001) and BCSS (HR=0.43, 95% CI=0.38-0.49, p<0.0001). However, after propensity score matching, primary tumour surgery failed to demonstrate significant benefits for TNBC (HR=0.96, 95% CI=0.60-1.53, p=0.851) and patients with visceral metastases (HR=0.90, 95% CI=0.60-1.36, p=0.62).

CONCLUSION

Surgery was associated with prolonged survival in stage IV breast cancers, but not in patients with TNBC and visceral metastases.

Regional Homogeneity Abnormalities and Its Correlation With Impulsivity in Male Abstinent Methamphetamine Dependent Individuals

Methamphetamine (MA) use affects the brain structure and function. However, no studies have investigated the relationship between changes in regional homogeneity (ReHo) and impulsivity in MA dependent individuals (MADs). The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of brain activity under resting state in MADs and their relationship to impulsivity using ReHo method. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed to collect data from 46 MADs and 44 healthy controls (HCs) under resting state. ReHo method was used to investigate the differences in average ReHo values between the two groups. The ReHo values abnormalities of the brain regions found in inter-group comparisons were extracted and correlated with impulsivity. Compared to the HCs, MADs showed significant increased ReHo values in the bilateral striatum, while the ReHo values of the bilateral precentral gyrus and the bilateral postcentral gyrus decreased significantly. The ReHo values of the left precentral gyrus were negatively correlated with the BIS-attention, BIS-motor, and BIS-nonplanning subscale scores, while the ReHo values of the postcentral gyrus were only negatively correlated with the BIS-motor subscale scores in MADs. The abnormal spontaneous brain activity in the resting state of MADs revealed in this study may further improve our understanding of the neuro-matrix of MADs impulse control dysfunction and may help us to explore the neuropathological mechanism of MADs related dysfunction and rehabilitation.

3D-Printed Complex Microstructures with a Self-Sacrificial Structure Enabled by Grayscale Polymerization and Ultrasonic Treatment

Complex three-dimensional (3D) microstructures are attracting more and more attention in many applications such as microelectromechanical systems, biomedical engineering, new materials, new energy, environmental protection, and wearable electronics. However, fabricating complex 3D microstructures by 3D printing techniques, especially those with long suspended structures, needs to introduce additional supporting structures, which are difficult to be removed. Here, we propose a simple method in which the supporting structures can be easily removed by optimizing their size and the grayscale value working with ultrasonic treatment in ethanol solution. The 3D microstructures and the supporting structures made of the same insoluble materials are fabricated simultaneously by using a projection microstereolithography system with a dynamic mask. The results demonstrate that the supporting structures play a key role in the fabrication of the long suspended structures while they can be easily removed. The removal time decreases with the increase in the height of the supporting microstructures, and the breaking force and shearing force of the supporting structures increase with the increase in their grayscale and the diameter. In addition, theory and the multiphysics simulation validate that the stress concentration at the top and the bottom of the supporting structures due to the cavitation from ultrasonic vibration dominates the removal of the supporting structures. Finally, a tree-like structure is precisely fabricated by using our method. The present study provides a new way for the removal of the supporting structures for 3D printed suspended microstructures.

Polymerization and isomerization cyclic amplification for nucleic acid detection with attomolar sensitivity

DNA amplification is one of the most valuable tools for the clinical diagnosis of nucleic acid-related diseases, but current techniques for DNA amplification are based on intermolecular polymerization reactions, resulting in the risk of errors in the intermolecular reaction pattern. In this article, we introduce the concept of intramolecular polymerization and isomerization cyclic amplification (PICA), which extends a short DNA strand to a long strand containing periodic repeats of a sequence through cyclic alternating polymerization and isomerization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a real ssDNA self-extension method without any additional auxiliary oligonucleotides has been reported. By interfacing PICA with external molecular elements, it can be programmed to respond to different targets. Herein, we designed two distinct types of amplified nucleic acid detection platforms that can be implemented with PICA, including cyclic reverse transcription (CRT) and cyclic replication (CR). We experimentally demonstrate the mechanisms of CRT-PICA and CR-PICA using mammalian miRNA and virus DNA. The results showed that this proposed detection platform has excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and reliability. The detection level could reach the aM level, that is, several copies of target molecules can be detected if a small volume is taken into account.

A label-free fluorescent peptide probe for sensitive and selective determination of copper and sulfide ions in aqueous systems

A label free fluorescent peptide probe (HDSGWEVHH) was used for Cu2+ and S2- determination in aqueous solution. Our results demonstrated that HDSGWEVHH is highly selective and sensitive for monitoring free Cu2+ concentration via quenching of the probe fluorescence upon Cu2+ binding. The mechanism of the complexation is investigated with Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and computational techniques. Theoretical calculation results indicated the binding ratio of the probe to Cu2+ is 2 : 1 and the binding constant was obtained as 1.72 × 10 8 M-1. Cu2+ concentration can be detected with the detection limit of 16 nM. Free Cu2+ concentration released from the metallothionein-Cu complex at different pH values was detected. Cu2+ concentration in real water and tea samples was also detected, and the results were consistent with the ones monitored by atomic absorption spectrometer. Because of the exceedingly small K sp value of CuS (1.27 × 10-36), S2- can sequester Cu2+ from HDSGWEVHH to restore the tryptophan (W) fluorescence. Thus the HDSGWEVHH-Cu2+ complex can also be used for S2- detection. The S2- concentrations can be monitored with a detection limit of 19 nM. The assay is also amenable to measurement of S2- concentration in pure water samples. Thus the probe designed herein is sensitive, label free, low cost, and environmentally friendly for Cu2+ and S2- determination in aqueous solutions.