A novel l-rhamnose-binding lectin participates in defending against bacterial infection in zebrafish.

l-rhamnose-binding lectin (RBL), which is a class of animal lectins independent of Ca2+, can specifically bind l-rhamnose or d-galactose. Although several lectins in zebrafish have been reported, their functional mechanisms have not been fully uncovered. In this study, we discovered a novel l-rhamnose binding lectin (DrRBL) and studied its innate immune function. The DrRBL protein contains only one carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD), which includes two strictly conserved motifs, "YGR" and "DPC". DrRBL was detected in all tested tissues and was present at high levels in the spleen, hepatopancreas and skin. After Aeromonas hydrophila challenge, the DrRBL mRNA level was significantly upregulated. Additionally, DrRBL was secreted into the extracellular matrix. Recombinant DrRBL (rDrRBL) could significantly inhibit the growth of gram-positive/negative bacteria, bind to several bacteria and cause obvious agglutination. The rDrRBL protein could combine with polysaccharides, such as PGN and LPS, rather than LTA. A more detailed study showed that rDrRBL could combine with monosaccharides, such as mannose, rhamnose and glucose, which are important components of PGN and LPS. However, rDrRBL could not bind to ribitol, which is an important component of LTA. The DrRBL deletion mutants, DrRBLΔ144-150 and DrRBLΔ198-200, were also constructed. DrRBLΔ144-150 ("ANYGRTD" deficient) showed weak bacterial inhibiting ability. However, DrRBLΔ198-200 ("DPC" deficient) showed weak agglutination ability. These results suggest that the "DPC" domain is important for agglutination. The conserved domain "ANYGRTD" is essential for inhibiting bacterial growth.

A C-type lectin containing two carbohydrate recognition domains participates in the antibacterial response by regulating the JNK pathway and promoting phagocytosis.

C-type lectins (CTLs) are important immune-related molecules in crustaceans. However, the immunologic mechanism by which CTLs eliminate invading pathogens is still unclear. In this study, we studied the antimicrobial mechanism of a CTL containing two carbohydrate recognition domains (DClec). After Aeromonas hydrophila challenge, several antimicrobial peptides (ALF1, ALF4, ALF5 and lys-i2) were upregulated. The transcript levels of ALF1, ALF4 and ALF5 were downregulated after A. hydrophila challenge in groups with DClec interference or inhibition compared with the control group. Similar results were obtained after c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) interference. This finding indicates that DClec might regulate the JNK signalling pathway and subsequently adjust antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression. Additionally, we found that DClec was secreted into the hemolymph. Recombinant protein DClec (rDClec) agglutinated gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria. Both rDClec and the native DClec in hemolymph bound to different bacteria. In this process, Ca2+ promoted the rDClec bacterial binding ability. After DClec interference, the phagocytosis ability of hemocytes was lower than that of the control group. Therefore, DClec can facilitate bacterial elimination by promoting AMPs expression and hemocyte phagocytosis.

Associations of iron status with breast cancer risk factors in adult women: Findings from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between iron status and a set of breast cancer risk factors among U.S. adult women aged 20-80 years. METHODS: Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017-2018) were used to examine the relation between serum ferritin, serum iron and transferrin saturation with a set of breast cancer risk factors [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR]. The multivariable linear regressions were used controlling for age, race/ethnicity, menopause status, education level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and total energy intake. RESULTS: HbA1c, BMI and waist circumference data were available for 1902 women with a fasting sample (n = 913) for fasting plasma glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR. Transferrin saturation had significant, inverse associations with BMI, waist circumference and HbA1c. The size of difference observed were that participants in the fourth quartile of transferrin saturation had a 4.50 kg/m2 smaller BMI, a 9.36 cm smaller waist circumference and a 0.1 % lower HbA1c level than participants in the first quartile. Similarly, serum iron concentrations were inversely associated with BMI and waist circumference. In addition, serum iron had significant, inverse associations with insulin and HOMA-IR. Sensitivity analyses among men gave similar results. For serum ferritin, there was a trend towards a positive association between waist circumference, HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose with serum ferritin. However, the associations did not reach statistical significance among women. CONCLUSIONS: Iron status may impact breast cancer risk via effects on adiposity or glucose metabolism. The findings should be confirmed with further prospective data.

Development and validation of survival nomograms in colorectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastases underwent simultaneous surgical treatment of primary and metastatic lesions.

Colorectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastases (CRSLM) can be treated by simultaneous surgery, that is the primary tumor and liver metastasis are removed at the same time. However, criteria for simultaneous surgery are underwent continuously modified and expanded. An appropriate selection of adequate candidates for simultaneous surgery is vital to get best benefits. A retrospective study including CRSLM patients underwent simultaneous surgical treatment was conducted. CRSLM patients from SEER database were screened as development set, while CRSLM patients in Harbin (China) were enrolled as validation set. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were applied as end-point. Variables were screen by LASSO-Cox regression, then Cox regression was applied to construct 1-, 3- and 5-year OS, and CSS nomograms. Nomograms were compared to TMN stage for survival prediction and evaluated by concordance indexes (C-indexes), Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). 1347 and 112 CRSLM patients were included in the development set and validation set respectively. Nine factors were found associated with OS and CSS, i.e., Age, Primary Site, Differentiation grade, Histology type, T stage, N stage, Tumor size, Chemotherapy, CEA. Compared to the TNM stage, OS nomogram in development set and validation set got C-indexes values of 0.701 vs 0.641, 0.670 vs 0.557 respectively. Meanwhile, compared to the TNM stage, CSS nomogram in development set and validation set got C-indexes values of 0.704 vs 0.649, 0.677 vs 0.569 respectively. AUC values of the OS and CSS nomograms were higher than the TNM stage, DCA showed the OS and CSS nomograms got more clinical net benefit than the TNM stage, in both the development set and validation set. Our nomograms for predicting survival might be helpful to identify the right CRSLM patients who can get most benefit from simultaneous surgery.

Ultrasound-guided, direct suprainguinal injection for fascia iliaca block for total hip arthroplasty: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral regional block combined with general anesthesia might be a preferable anesthetic regimen for elderly patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. AIM: To investigate whether ultrasound-guided, direct suprainguinal injection for fascia iliaca block accelerated recovery after general anesthesia and relieved postoperative pain after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty under general anesthesia in 2015 or 2019 at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were grouped based on whether preoperative suprainguinal fascia iliaca block was performed or not. The time to tracheal extubation and time spent in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), intraoperative remifentanil dosage, fentanyl consumption in the PACU, postoperative cumulative fentanyl consumption within 48 h after operation, visual analogue scale at rest and during movement on the first and second days after surgery, and adverse reactions were compared. RESULTS: Thirty-one elderly patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty were included in the study (block group, n = 16; no-block group, n = 15). The visual analog scale scores at rest and during movement on the first and second days were significantly lower in the block group than in the no-block group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the no-block group, the intraoperative remifentanil dosage was lower, the time to tracheal extubation and the time spent in the PACU were shorter in the block group (all P < 0.01). Fentanyl consumption in the PACU and postoperative cumulative fentanyl consumption in 48 h after operation were lower in the block group (all P < 0.01). The incidence of dizziness was higher in the no-block group than in the block group (P = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided, direct suprainguinal injection for fascia iliaca block led to faster recovery after general anesthesia and early postoperative pain relief in elderly patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty.