New wheat straw fermentation feed: recombinant Schizosaccharomyces pombe efficient degradation of lignocellulose and increase feed protein.

Wheat straw contains a high amount of lignin, hindering the action of cellulase and hemicellulase enzymes, leading to difficulties in nutrient absorption by animals from straw feed. However, currently, the biological treatment of straw relies primarily on fungal degradation and cannot be directly utilized for the preparation of livestock feed. This study focuses on enzymatic co-fermentation of wheat straw to produce high-protein, low-cellulose biological feed, integrating lignin degradation with feed manufacturing, thereby simplifying the feed production process. After the optimization using Box-Behnken Design for the feed formulation, with a glucose oxidase addition of 2.46%, laccase addition of 3.4%, and malonic acid addition of 0.6%, the wheat straw feed prepared in this experiment exhibited a true protein content of 9.35%. This represented a fourfold increase compared to the non-fermented state, and the lignocellulose degradation rate of wheat straw reached 45.42%. These results not only highlight the substantial enhancement in protein content but also underscore the significant advancement in lignocellulose breakdown. This formulation significantly enhanced the palatability and nutritional value of the straw feed, contributing to the industrial development of straw feed.

The impacts of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastic on the performance and microbial community characterization of aerobic granular sludge.

Introduction: Microplastics (MPs), identified as emerging contaminants, have been detected across diverse environmental media. Their enduring presence and small size facilitate the adsorption of organic pollutants and heavy metals, leading to combined pollution effects. MPs also accumulate in the food chain thus pose risks to animals, plants, and human health, garnering significant scholarly attention in recent years. Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) technology emerges as an innovative approach to wastewater treatment. However, the impacts of MPs on the operational efficiency and microbial characteristics of AGS systems has been insufficiently explored. Methods: This study investigated the effects of varying concentration (10, 50, and 100 mg/L) of biodegradable MPs (Polylactic Acid, PLA) and non-biodegradable MPs (Polyethylene Terephthalate, PET) on the properties of AGS and explored the underlying mechanisms. Results and discussions: It was discovered that low and medium concentration of MPs (10 and 50 mg/L) showed no significant effects on COD removal by AGS, but high concentration (100 mg/L) of MPs markedly diminished the ability to remove COD of AGS, by blocking most of the nutrient transport channels of AGS. However, both PLA and PE promoted the nitrogen and phosphorus removal ability of AGS, and significantly increased the removal efficiency of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) and total phosphorus (TP) at stages II and III (P < 0.05). High concentration of MPs inhibited the growth of sludge. PET noticeably deteriorate the sedimentation performance of AGS, while 50 mg/L PLA proved to be beneficial to sludge sedimentation at stage II. The addition of MPs promoted the abundance of Candidatus_Competibacter and Acinetobacter in AGS, thereby promoting the phosphorus removal capacity of AGS. Both 50 mg/L PET and 100 mg/L PLA caused large amount of white Thiothrix filamentous bacteria forming on the surface of AGS, leading to deterioration of the sludge settling performance and affecting the normal operation of the reactor. Comparing with PET, AGS proved to be more resistant to PLA, so more attention should be paid to the effect of non-biodegradable MPs on AGS in the future.

Longitudinal ultrasound-based AI model predicts axillary lymph node response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: Developing a deep learning radiomics model from longitudinal breast ultrasound and sonographer's axillary ultrasound diagnosis for predicting axillary lymph node (ALN) response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer. METHODS: Breast cancer patients undergoing NAC followed by surgery were recruited from three centers between November 2016 and December 2022. We collected ultrasound images for extracting tumor-derived radiomics and deep learning features, selecting quantitative features through various methods. Two machine learning models based on random forest were developed using pre-NAC and post-NAC features. A support vector machine integrated these data into a fusion model, evaluated via the area under the curve (AUC), decision curve analysis, and calibration curves. We compared the fusion model's performance against sonographer's diagnosis from pre-NAC and post-NAC axillary ultrasonography, referencing histological outcomes from sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection. RESULTS: In the validation cohort, the fusion model outperformed both pre-NAC (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.786, p < 0.001) and post-NAC models (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.853, p = 0.014), as well as the sonographer's diagnosis of ALN status on pre-NAC and post-NAC axillary ultrasonography (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.719, p < 0.001). Decision curve analysis revealed patient benefits from the fusion model across threshold probabilities from 0.02 to 0.98. The model also enhanced sonographer's diagnostic ability, increasing accuracy from 71.9% to 79.2%. CONCLUSION: The deep learning radiomics model accurately predicted the ALN response to NAC in breast cancer. Furthermore, the model will assist sonographers to improve their diagnostic ability on ALN status before surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Our AI model based on pre- and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy ultrasound can accurately predict axillary lymph node metastasis and assist sonographer's axillary diagnosis. KEY POINTS: Axillary lymph node metastasis status affects the choice of surgical treatment, and currently relies on subjective ultrasound. Our AI model outperformed sonographer's visual diagnosis on axillary ultrasound. Our deep learning radiomics model can improve sonographers' diagnosis and might assist in surgical decision-making.

Comparative Probiogenomics Analysis of Limosilactobacillus fermentum 3872.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum is an important member of the lactic acid bacteria group and holds immense potential for probiotic properties in human health and relevant industries. In this study, a comparative probiogenomic approach was applied to analyze the genome sequence of L. fermentum 3872, which was extracted from a commercially available yogurt sample, along with 20 different publicly available strains. Results indicate that the genome size of the characterized L. fermentum 3892 strain is 2,057,839 bp, with a single- and circular-type chromosome possessing a G + C content of 51.69%. The genome of L. fermentum 3892 strain comprises a total of 2120 open reading frames (ORFs), two genes encoding rRNAs, and 53 genes encoding tRNAs. Upon comparative probiogenomic analysis, two plasmid sequences were detected among the study strains, including one for the L. fermentum 3872 genome, which was found between position 1,288,203 and 1,289,237 with an identity of 80.98. The whole-genome alignment revealed 2223 identical sites and a pairwise identity of 98.9%, indicating a significant difference of 1.1% among genome strains. Comparison of amino acid encoding genes among strains included in this study suggests that the strain 3872 exhibited the highest degree of amino acids present, including glutamine, glutamate, aspartate, asparagine, lysine, threonine, methionine, and cysteine. The comparative antibiotic resistome profiling revealed that strain 3872 exhibited a high resistant capacity only to ciprofloxacin antibiotics as compared to other strains. This study provides a genomic-based evaluation approach for comparative probiotic strain analysis in commercial foods and their significance to human health.

GnRH-driven FTO-mediated RNA m6A modification promotes gonadotropin synthesis and secretion.

BACKGROUND: Gonadotropin precisely controls mammalian reproductive activities. Systematic analysis of the mechanisms by which epigenetic modifications regulate the synthesis and secretion of gonadotropin can be useful for more precise regulation of the animal reproductive process. Previous studies have identified many differential m6A modifications in the GnRH-treated adenohypophysis. However, the molecular mechanism by which m6A modification regulates gonadotropin synthesis and secretion remains unclear. RESULTS: Herein, it was found that GnRH can promote gonadotropin synthesis and secretion by promoting the expression of FTO. Highly expressed FTO binds to Foxp2 mRNA in the nucleus, exerting a demethylation function and reducing m6A modification. After Foxp2 mRNA exits the nucleus, the lack of m6A modification prevents YTHDF3 from binding to it, resulting in increased stability and upregulation of Foxp2 mRNA expression, which activates the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway to promote gonadotropin synthesis and secretion. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the study reveals the molecular mechanism of GnRH regulating the gonadotropin synthesis and secretion through FTO-mediated m6A modification. The results of this study allow systematic interpretation of the regulatory mechanism of gonadotropin synthesis and secretion in the pituitary at the epigenetic level and provide a theoretical basis for the application of reproductive hormones in the regulation of animal artificial reproduction.

Investigating the impact of various sorghum types on the key aroma compounds of Sichuan Xiaoqu Baijiu through application of the sensomics approach.

The aroma of Sichuan Xiaoqu Baijiu (SXB) greatly benefits from the use of sorghum as its primary brewing ingredient. Nevertheless, the impact of different sorghum variety on the primary aroma compounds of SXB has not been thoroughly investigated. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in conjunction with headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) were employed in this investigation. Using 5 sorghum varieties as raw materials, five different types of SXB were analysed for their aroma compounds using GC-MS, GC-O, AEDA, aroma recombination, and aroma omission. Key aroma compounds of SXB were successfully identified as ethyl acetate, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, isoamyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl lactate, ethyl octanoate, ethyl decanoate, phenylethyl acetate, ethyl laurate, ethyl palmitate, isoamyl alcohol, phenylethanol, 1,1-diethoxyethane, 3-hydroxy-2- butanone, furfural, and glacial acetic acid. Glacial acetic acid, ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate, phenylethyl acetate, acetoin, phenylethanol, and ethyl caproate were found to be the seven major aroma compounds that had the biggest impact on the variations of the five SXB aroma properties, according to partial least squares regression (PLS-R) analysis. The collinear network analysis also revealed that the largest positive correlation weight was discovered between the protein and furfural content, tannin content and cereal-like aroma profile while the highest negative correlation weight was found between the moisture and acetoin content. This study is a valuable resource for understanding how raw materials control the directional regulation of the sensory quality of the SXB liquor body.

Novel kinase 1 regulates CD8+T cells as a potential therapeutic mechanism for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, chronic and progressively worsening lung disease that poses a significant threat to patient prognosis, with a mortality rate exceeding that of some common malignancies. Effective methods for early diagnosis and treatment remain for this condition are elusive. In our study, we used the GEO database to access second-generation sequencing data and associated clinical information from IPF patients. By utilizing bioinformatics techniques, we identified crucial disease-related genes and their biological functions, and characterized their expression patterns. Furthermore, we mapped out the immune landscape of IPF, which revealed potential roles for novel kinase 1 and CD8+T cells in disease progression and outcome. These findings can aid the development of new strategies for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of IPF.

Discovery of Novel p53-MDM2 Inhibitor (RG7388)-Conjugated PlatinumIV Complexes as Potent Antitumor Agents.

While a number of p53-MDM2 inhibitors have progressed into clinical trials for the treatment of cancer, their progression has been hampered by a variety of problems, including acquired drug resistance, dose-dependent toxicity, and limited clinical efficiency. To make more progress, we integrated the advantages of MDM2 inhibitors and platinum drugs to construct novel PtIV-RG7388 (a selective MDM2 inhibitor) complexes. Most complexes, especially 5a and 5b, displayed greatly improved antiproliferative activity against both wild-type and mutated p53 cancer cells. Remarkably, 5a exhibited potent in vivo tumor growth inhibition in the A549 xenograft model (66.5%) without apparent toxicity. It arrested the cell cycle at both the S phase and the G2/M phase and efficiently induced apoptosis via the synergistic effects of RG7388 and cisplatin. Altogether, PtIV-RG7388 complex 5a exhibited excellent in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities, highlighting the therapeutic potential of PtIV-RG7388 complexes as antitumor agents.

Functions of tensile and compressive strain on electronic and optical properties of B-doped monolayer arsenene.

CONTEXT: The structurals stability, electronic structure, density of states (DOS), and optical properties of B-doped arsenene under biaxial tensile and compressive strains were investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The doping system was found to exhibit good stability. The introduction of B atom transformed the originally indirect band gap of arsenene into a direct band gap. Under compressive strain, the band gap remained direct, gradually decreasing in value. In contrast, under tensile strain, the direct band gap occurred a transition into an indirect band gap, of which value initially increasing and then decreasing with an increasing strain. The static dielectric constant was increased under both compressive and tensile strains, but compressive strain had a stronger effect. Compressive strain led to an increase in the imaginary peak of the dielectric function, while tensile strain resulted in a decrease. Moreover, as compressive strain increased, the absorption and loss function peak initially blue-shifted and then red-shifted, while tensile strain caused a gradual red-shift of the absorption peak. METHOD: All DFT calculations were performed using Quantum Espresso software; the structures were optimized using generalized gradient approximation (GGA-PBE), and electronic structure and optical properties are performed using Heyd-Sceria-Ernzerhof (HSE06). The cut-off energy was set as 70 Ry, the Monkhorst-Pack grid was set to 10 × 10 × 1, the atomic convergence criterion was set as 1.0 × 10-6 Ry, and the convergence criterion of interatomic force was set as 1.0 × 10-4 Ry/Bohr.

FARPA-based tube array coupled with quick DNA extraction enables ultra-fast bedside detection of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Rapid and accurate detection of pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) genes of the pathogens are crucial for the clinical diagnosis and effective treatment of infectious diseases. However, the time-consuming steps of conventional culture-based methods inhibit the precise and early application of anti-infection therapy. For the prompt treatment of pathogen-infected patients, we have proposed a novel tube array strategy based on our previously reported FARPA (FEN1-aided recombinase polymerase amplification) principle for the ultra-fast detection of antibiotic-resistant pathogens on site. The entire process from "sample to result" can be completed in 25 min by combining quick DNA extraction from a urine sample with FARPA to avoid the usually complicated DNA extraction step. Furthermore, a 36-tube array made from commercial 384-well titre plates was efficiently introduced to perform FARPA in a portable analyser, achieving an increase in the loading sample throughput (from several to several tens), which is quite suitable for the point-of-care testing (POCT) of multiple pathogens and multiple samples. Finally, we tested 92 urine samples to verify the performance of our proposed method. The sensitivities for the detection of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. faecium, and E. faecalis were 92.7%, 93.8%, 100% and 88.9%, respectively. The specificities for the detection of the four pathogens were 100%. Consequently, our rapid, low-cost and user-friendly POCT method holds great potential for guiding the rational use of antibiotics and reducing bacterial resistance.

Transfer Learning-Based Hyperspectral Image Classification Using Residual Dense Connection Networks.

The extraction of effective classification features from high-dimensional hyperspectral images, impeded by the scarcity of labeled samples and uneven sample distribution, represents a formidable challenge within hyperspectral image classification. Traditional few-shot learning methods confront the dual dilemma of limited annotated samples and the necessity for deeper, more effective features from complex hyperspectral data, often resulting in suboptimal outcomes. The prohibitive cost of sample annotation further exacerbates the challenge, making it difficult to rely on a scant number of annotated samples for effective feature extraction. Prevailing high-accuracy algorithms require abundant annotated samples and falter in deriving deep, discriminative features from limited data, compromising classification performance for complex substances. This paper advocates for an integration of advanced spectral-spatial feature extraction with meta-transfer learning to address the classification of hyperspectral signals amidst insufficient labeled samples. Initially trained on a source domain dataset with ample labels, the model undergoes transference to a target domain with minimal samples, utilizing dense connection blocks and tree-dimensional convolutional residual connections to enhance feature extraction and maximize spatial and spectral information retrieval. This approach, validated on three diverse hyperspectral datasets-IP, UP, and Salinas-significantly surpasses existing classification algorithms and small-sample techniques in accuracy, demonstrating its applicability to high-dimensional signal classification under label constraints.

Blueberry anthocyanin based active intelligent wheat gluten protein films: Preparation, characterization, and applications for shrimp freshness monitoring.

The aim of this study was to prepare active intelligent gluten protein films using wheat gluten protein (WG) and apple pectin (AP) as film-forming matrices, and blueberry anthocyanin extract (BAE) as a natural indicator. SEM and FT-IR analyses demonstrated the successful immobilization of BAE in the film matrix by hydrogen bonding interactions and its compatibility with WG and AP. The resultant WG-AP/BAE indicator films demonstrated notable antioxidant activity, color stability, barrier qualities, pH and ammonia response sensitivity, and mechanical properties. Among them, WG-AP/BAE5 exhibited the best mechanical properties (TS: 0.83 MPa and EB: 242.23%) as well as the lowest WVP (3.92 × 10-8 g.m/m2.Pa.s), and displayed high sensitivity to volatile ammonia. In addition, WG-AP/BAE5 showed a color shift from purplish red to green to yellowish green, demonstrating the monitoring of shrimp freshness in real time. Consequently, this study offers a firm scientific foundation for the development of active intelligent gluten protein films and their use in food freshness assessments.

Associations of the Serum KL-6 with Severity and Prognosis in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: As a biomarker of alveolar-capillary basement membrane injury, Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is involved in the occurrence and development of pulmonary diseases. However, the role of the KL-6 in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) has yet to be elucidated. This prospective study was designed to clarify the associations of the serum KL-6 with the severity and prognosis in patients with AECOPD. METHODS: This study enrolled 199 eligible AECOPD patients. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were recorded. Follow-up was tracked to evaluate acute exacerbation and death. The serum KL-6 concentration was measured via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Serum KL-6 level at admission was higher in AECOPD patients than in control subjects. The serum KL-6 concentration gradually elevated with increasing severity of AECOPD. Pearson and Spearman analyses revealed that the serum KL-6 concentration was positively correlated with the severity score, monocyte count and concentrations of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, uric acid, and lactate dehydrogenase in AECOPD patients during hospitalization. A statistical analysis of long-term follow-up data showed that elevated KL-6 level at admission was associated with longer hospital stays, an increased risk of future frequent acute exacerbations, and increased severity of exacerbation in COPD patients. CONCLUSION: Serum KL-6 level at admission is positively correlated with increased disease severity, prolonged hospital stay and increased risk of future acute exacerbations in COPD patients. There are positive dose-response associations of elevated serum KL-6 with severity and poor prognosis in COPD patients. The serum KL-6 concentration could be a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in AECOPD patients.

Construction and Mechanism Exploration of Highly Efficient System for Bacterial Ghosts Preparation Based on Engineered Phage ID52 Lysis Protein E.

Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are hollow bacterial cell envelopes with intact cellular structures, presenting as promising candidates for various biotechnological and biomedical applications. However, the yield and productivity of BGs have encountered limitations, hindering their large-scale preparation and multi-faceted applications of BGs. Further optimization of BGs is needed for the commercial application of BG technology. In this study, we screened out the most effective lysis protein ID52-E-W4A among 13 mutants based on phage ID52 lysis protein E and optimized the liquid culture medium for preparing Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN). The results revealed a significantly higher lysis rate of ID52-E-W4A compared to that of ID52-E in the 2xYT medium. Furthermore, EcN BGs were cultivated in a fermenter, achieving an initial OD600 as high as 6.0 after optimization, indicating enhanced BG production. Moreover, the yield of ID52-E-W4A-induced BGs reached 67.0%, contrasting with only a 3.1% yield from φX174-E-induced BGs. The extended applicability of the lysis protein ID52-E-W4A was demonstrated through the preparation of Salmonella pullorum ghosts and Salmonella choleraesuis ghosts. Knocking out the molecular chaperone gene slyD and dnaJ revealed that ID52-mediated BGs could still undergo lysis. Conversely, overexpression of integral membrane enzyme gene mraY resulted in the loss of lysis activity for ID52-E, suggesting that the lysis protein ID52-E may no longer rely on SlyD or DnaJ to function, with MraY potentially being the target of ID52-E. This study introduces a novel approach utilizing ID52-E-W4A for recombinant expression, accelerating the BG formation and thereby enhancing BG yield and productivity.

Inhibition of P21-activated kinases 1 and 4 synergistically suppresses the growth of pancreatic cancer by stimulating anti-tumour immunity.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal types of cancer, and KRAS oncogene occurs in over 90% of cases. P21-activated kinases (PAK), containing six members (PAK1 to 6), function downstream of KRAS. PAK1 and PAK4 play important roles in carcinogenesis, but their combinational effect remains unknown. In this study, we have determined the effect of dual inhibition of PAK1 and PAK4 in PDA progression using knockout (KO) cancer cell lines. METHODS: Murine wild-type (WT) and PAK1KO pancreatic cancer cell lines were isolated from PAK1+/+ and PAK1-/- KPC (LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53 R172H/+; Pdx-1-Cre) mice. KPC PAK4KO and KPC PAK1&4 KO cell lines were generated from KPC WT and KPC PAK1KO cell lines respectively using the CRISPR-CAS9 gene knockout technique. PAK WT and KO cell lines were used in mouse models of pancreatic tumours. Cells and tumour tissue were also used in flow cytometry and proteomic studies. A human PDA tissue microarray was stained by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Double knock out of PAK1 and PAK4 caused complete regression of tumour in a syngeneic mouse model. PAK4KO inhibited tumour growth by stimulating a rapid increase of cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration. PAK1KO synergistically with PAK4KO increased cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration and stimulated a sustained infiltration of CD8+ T cells at a later phase to overcome the immune evasion in the PAK4KO tumour. The human PDA tissue microarray study showed the important role of PAK1 and PAK4 in intra-tumoral T-cell function. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that dual inhibition of PAK1 and PAK4 synergistically suppressed PDA progression by stimulating cytotoxic CD8 + T cell response.

The impact of vedolizumab therapy on extraintestinal manifestations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) pose a significant threat in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Vedolizumab (VDZ) primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. However, its impact on EIMs remains uncertain. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to examine the effects of VDZ on EIMs during treatment. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified by conducting thorough searches across electronic databases, including PubMed, Ovid Embase, Medline, and Cochrane CENTRAL. Primary outcomes focused on the proportion of patients with resolution for pre-existing EIMs in IBD patients receiving VDZ. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients with EIM exacerbations and new onset EIMs during VDZ treatment. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis encompassed 21 studies. The proportion of patients with resolution of pre-existing EIMs in VDZ-treated IBD patients was 39% (150/386; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-0.48). The proportion of patients with EIM exacerbations occurred at a rate of 28% (113/376; 95% CI 0.05-0.50), while new onset EIMs had a rate of 15% (397/2541; 95% CI 0.10-0.20). Subgroup analysis revealed a 40% (136/337) proportion of patients with resolution for articular-related EIMs and a 50% (9/18) rate for erythema nodosum. Exacerbation rates for arthritis/arthralgia, erythema nodosum/pyoderma gangrenosum, and aphthous stomatitis during VDZ use were 28% (102/328), 18% (7/38), and 11% (3/28), respectively. The incidence rate of newly developed EIMs during treatment was 11% (564/4839) for articular-related EIMs, with other EIMs below 2%. CONCLUSION: VDZ demonstrates efficacy in skin-related EIMs like erythema nodosum and joint-related EIMs including arthritis, arthralgia, spondyloarthritis, and peripheral joint diseases. Some joint and skin-related EIMs may experience exacerbation during VDZ therapy.

Wuliangye strong aroma baijiu promotes intestinal homeostasis by improving gut microbiota and regulating intestinal stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Wuliangye strong aroma baijiu (hereafter, Wuliangye baijiu) is a traditional Chinese grain liquor containing short-chain fatty acids, ethyl caproate, ethyl lactate, other trace components, and a large proportion of ethanol. The effects of Wuliangye baijiu on intestinal stem cells and intestinal epithelial development have not been elucidated. Here, the role of Wuliangye baijiu in intestinal epithelial regeneration and gut microbiota modulation was investigated by administering a Lieber-DeCarli chronic ethanol liquid diet in a mouse model to mimic long-term (8 weeks') light/moderate alcohol consumption (1.6 g kg-1 day-1) in healthy human adults. RESULTS: Wuliangye baijiu promoted colonic crypt proliferation in mice. According to immunofluorescence and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses, compared with the ethanol-only treatment, Wuliangye baijiu increased the number of intestinal stem cells and goblet cells and the expression of enteroendocrine cell differentiation markers in the mouse colon. Furthermore, gut microbiota analysis showed an increase in the relative abundance of microbiota related to intestinal homeostasis following Wuliangye baijiu administration. Notably, increased abundance of Bacteroidota, Faecalibaculum, Lachnospiraceae, and Blautia may play an essential role in promoting stem-cell-mediated intestinal epithelial development and maintaining intestinal homeostasis. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, these findings suggest that Wuliangye baijiu can be used to regulate intestinal stem cell proliferation and differentiation in mice and to alter gut microbiota distributions, thereby promoting intestinal homeostasis. This research elucidates the mechanism by which Wuliangye baijiu promotes intestinal health. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phage tailspike protein coated gold nanoparticles combined with smartphone for rapid bacterial detection and photothermal sterilization.

The integration of recognition and therapeutic functions in multifunctional biosensors is of great importance in guaranteeing food security and reducing the occurrence of foodborne illness caused by foodborne pathogens. In this study, a biosensor utilizing a "sense-and-treat" approach was developed by integrating phage tailspike protein (TSP) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs@TSP). The synthesized AuNPs@TSP showed strong binding affinity towards Salmonella typhimurium causing color changes and exhibited effective bactericidal activity when exposed to near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. This biosensor facilitated rapid colorimetric detection of S. typhimurium in 50 min, with a LOD (limit of detection) of 2.53 × 103 CFU/mL output on a smartphone APP after analyzing the red-green-blue (RGB) values from color rendering results. Furthermore, the biosensor displayed high selectivity, rapid response time, and broad applicability when tested with real samples. Moreover, the biosensor exhibited a remarkably efficient antibacterial efficacy of 100 % against S. typhimurium under 808 nm light irradiation for 6 min. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into the potential utilization of biosensors for rapid detection and eradication of foodborne pathogens in food industry.

Impact of Duration of Diabetes Mellitus on Long-term Outcome in Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention After the First Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The impact of the diabetes duration on the long-term outcome of those with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after the first AMI is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the predictive value of diabetes duration in the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). METHODS: A total of 394 type 2 DM patients with PCI after the first AMI were enrolled and were divided into two groups by the diabetes duration. A short-DM group with diabetes duration of < 5 years and a long-DM group with a duration of ≥ 5 years. The clinical endpoint was MACCEs. RESULTS: Multivariate Cox regression analysis found that the diabetes duration was independently associated with increased occurrence of MACCEs [HR 1.512, 95% CI: (1.033, 2.215), p = 0.034], along with hypertension, Killip class III or IV, creatinine, multivessel disease, and continuous hypoglycemic therapy. After adjusting for the confounding variables, a nested Cox model showed that diabetes duration was still an independent risk factor of MACCEs [HR 1.963, 95% CI: (1.376, 2.801), p < 0.001]. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve illustrated a significantly high risk of MACCEs (HR 2.045, p < 0.0001) in long-duration DM patients. After propensity score matching, a longer diabetes duration was associated with an increased risk of MACCE occurrence. CONCLUSION: Long-duration diabetes was independently associated with poor clinical outcomes after PCI in patients with their first myocardial infarction, Despite the diabetes duration, continuous hypoglycemic therapy significantly improved long-term clinical outcomes.