An Antenna-Enriched Chemosensory Protein Plays Important Roles in the Perception of Host Plant Volatiles in Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Olfaction plays indispensable roles in insect behavior such as host location, foraging, oviposition, and avoiding predators. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) can discriminate the hydrophobic odorants and transfer them to the odorant receptors. Presently, CSPs have been identified in many insect species. However, their presence and functions remain unknown in Bactrocera dorsalis, a destructive and invasive insect pest in the fruit and vegetable industry. Here, we annotated eight CSP genes in the genome of B. dorsalis. The results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) showed that BdorCSP3 was highly expressed in the antennae. Molecular docking and in vitro binding assays showed that BdorCSP3 had a good binding ability to host volatiles methyl eugenol (ME, male-specific attractant) and ß-caryophyllene (potential female attractant). Subsequently, CRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate BdorCSP3-/- mutants. Electroantennograms (EAGs) and behavioral assays revealed that male mutants significantly reduced the preference for ME, while female mutants lost their oviposition preference to ß-caryophyllene. Our data indicated that BdorCSP3 played important roles in the perception of ME and ß-caryophyllene. The results not only expanded our knowledge of the olfaction perception mechanism of insect CSPs but also provided a potential molecular target for the control of B. dorsalis.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a growing public health burden, with mortality and rehospitalization rates comparable to HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The evidence for the clinical usefulness of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) in HFpEF is contradictory. Therefore, we conducted the following systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum sST2 in HFpEF. Methods: PubMed and Scopus were searched exhaustively from their inception until March 15, 2022. In diagnostic analysis, we compared the diagnostic value of serum sST2 in HFpEF to NT pro-BNP. We separately pooled the unadjusted and multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in prognostic analysis. Results: A total of 16 publications from 2008 to 2021 were examined. The results of this analysis were as follow: Firstly, compared with NT pro-BNP, sST2 obtains poor diagnostic performance in independently identifying HFpEF from healthy controls, hypertensive patients, and HFrEF patient. Nevertheless, it may provide incremental value to other biomarkers for diagnosing HFpEF and deserves further investigation. Secondly, log sST2 was independently associated with adverse endpoints on multivariable analysis after adjusting for variables such as age, sex, race, and NYHA class. Per log unit rise in sST2, there was a 2.76-fold increased risk of all-cause death [HR:2.76; 95% CI (1.24, 6.16); p = 0.516, I 2 = 0%; P = 0.013] and a 6.52-fold increased risk in the composite endpoint of all-cause death and HF hospitalization [HR:6.52; 95% CI (2.34, 18.19); p = 0.985, I 2 = 0%; P = 0.000]. Finally, the optimal threshold levels of serum sST2 need further determined. Conclusions: Higher sST2 was strongly linked to an increased risk of adverse outcomes in HFpEE. Especially, log sST2 independently predicted all-cause death and the composite endpoint of all-cause death and HF hospitalization. However, prospective and multicenter studies with large-sample and extended follow-up periods are required to validate our results due to limitations in our research.

Sublethal Dose of ß-Cypermethrin Impairs the Olfaction of Bactrocera dorsalis by Suppressing the Expression of Chemosensory Genes.

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is one of the most destructive fruit insect pests. ß-cypermethrin has been widely used in the orchard to control this major insect. Based on the resistance monitoring in 2011, B. dorsalis developed significant resistance against ß-cypermethrin in fields. This indicated that the B. dorsalis has been exposed to sublethal concentrations of ß-cypermethrin in the field for a long time. Thus, it is urgent to understand the sublethal effects of ß-cypermethrin on this fly to guide the rational use of an insecticide. According to the olfactory preference assays and electroantennogram (EAG) recording, the B. dorsalis after ß-cypermethrin exposure (LD30 = 10 ng/fly) severely decreased the ability to perceive the tested odorants. Moreover, we then performed quantitative real-time PCR and found the chemosensory genes including odorant receptor co-receptor (BdorORco) and ionotropic receptor co-receptors (BdorIRcos) were obviously suppressed. Our results demonstrated that the sublethal dose of ß-cypermethrin impairs the olfaction of the pest insects by suppressing the expression of chemosensory genes (BdorORco and BdorIRcos), which expanded our knowledge of the sublethal effects of the pesticide on insects.

Clinical Implications of Plasma Galectin-3 in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is an increasing public health concern. Currently, data regarding the clinical application value of plasma Galectin-3 (Gal-3) in HFpEF are contradictory. Therefore, we performed the following meta-analysis to appraise the clinical implications of serum Gal-3 in HFpEF, including its capacity to predict new-onset disease, long-term unfavorable endpoints, and the degree of cardiac structural abnormality and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were retrieved exhaustively from their inception until November 30, 2021, to obtain studies assessing the correlation between plasma Gal-3 and the clinical features of HFpEF (new-onset HFpEF, adverse outcomes, and echocardiographic parameters related to abnormal cardiac structure and LVDD). Results: A total of 24 papers containing 27 studies were ultimately included in the present research. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that high plasma Gal-3 levels are strongly associated with the following clinical characteristics of HFpEF: (i) the increased risk of new-onset HFpEF (HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.04-1.19; p = 0.910, I2 = 0%; P = 0.002); (ii) the high risk of adverse outcomes of HFpEF patients [all-cause death (HR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.27-1.87; p = 0.138, I2 = 42%; P = 0.000) and the composite events [all-cause death and HF hospitalization (HR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.30-1.74; p = 0.001, I2 = 61%; P = 0.000) or cardiovascular (CV) death and HF hospitalization (HR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.51-1.94; p = 0.036, I2 = 58%; P = 0.000)]; (iii) echocardiographic indices [E/e ratio (r: 0.425, 95% CI: 0.184-0.617; p = 0.000, I2 = 93%; P = 0.001) and DT (r: 0.502, 95% CI: 0.061-0.779; p = 0.001 I2 = 91%; P = 0.027)]. Conclusions: Plasma Gal-3 might be employed as an additional predictor for new-onset HFpEF, the adverse prognosis in HFpEF patients (all-cause death, the composite endpoints of all-cause death and HF hospitalization or CV death and HF hospitalization), and the severity of LVDD in HFpEF populations.

Establishment of a model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and ultrasonic evaluation of cardiac structural characteristics / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the pathological features of a heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF) model, which is established by spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) through high-fat diet and diabetic factors.Methods:Twenty specific pathogen-free grade(SPF grade) and 14-week-old SHR rats were randomly divided into SHR group (normal diet) and HFpEF group [high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 25 mg/kg) were used to create a diabetic complex model] with 10 rats in each group. Ten SPF and 14-week-old WKY rats with the same genetic background were set as blank control group (WKY group). All rats were fed for 8 weeks. Echocardiography was performed to measure cardiac parameters: peak velocity of early diastolic mitral inflow(E), peak velocity of late diastolic mitral inflow(A), and the early diastolic mitral annulus e′ in the same cardiac cycle, left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left atrial diameter, right atrial diameter and interventricular septal thickness(IVST). Serological testing included glucose (GLU) and glycosylated serum protein (GSP); Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) testing included insulin (INS), glucagon (PG), C-peptide (CP), leptin (LEP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). The rat heart tissue was stained with HE, and the morphological changes of atrial/ventricular tissue were observed under an optical microscope.Results:The pathological characteristics of HFpEF was established in SHR rats fed with high fat and diabetes. Echocardiography showed that compared with the WKY group, the values of E, E/A and E/e′ in the HFpEF group were significantly increased (all P<0.01), and e′and LAEF were significantly reduced (all P<0.01). In the HFpEF group, the anteroposterior and tranverse dimensions of the left atrium and the long-axis dimension of the right atrium increased to varying degrees (all P<0.05), and the IVST was also significantly increased ( P<0.01). At the same time, atrial wall was thickened obviously, myocardial cells were disordered, and myocardial fibers were broken. Compared with the WKY group, the levels of serum markers ANP and BNP in HFpEF group were significantly increased (all P<0.01), and the levels of serum insulin-related indicators INS, PG, CP, LEP, GSP, and GLU increased to varying degrees (all P<0.01). Conclusions:The composite model established by SHR rats through high-fat diet and diabetic factors can simulate the Doppler echocardiographic changes and pathological features of HFpEF, as well as abnormal changes in serum related markers and insulin indicators.

Evolution of drug-resistant mutations in HBV genomes in patients with treatment failure during the past seven years (2010-2016).

The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of drug-resistant HBV mutants in patients with treatment failure during the past seven years (2010-2016). 4055 HBV-infected patients who underwent HBV polymerase gene mutation test from 2010 to 2016 were enrolled. The nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) resistance mutation positions, including rtL180, rtA181, rtT184, rtS202, rtM204, rtI233, rtN236, rtI169, rtV173, and rtM250 were analyzed. Genotypic resistance mutations were detected in 30.8% (1248/4055) of the patients with treatment failure. Rates of drug-resistant mutations associated with LAM, ADV, ETV, and multidrug were 27.23% (1104/4055), 9.67% (392/4055), 3.69% (150/4055), and 0.79% (32/4055). Among the primary NA-resistant mutations, rtM204I (13.44%, 545/4055) occurred more frequently, followed by rtM204V, rtN236T, rtA181T, and rtA181V. For single-base mutations, rtL180M and rtA181V increased gradually during the past seven years, while rtM204I/V and rtN236T decreased after 2015. The development of drug-resistant mutations positively correlated with the consumption of ETV (r = 0.964, P = 0.002), and weakly correlated with that of LAM (r = 0.679, P = 0.109) and ADV (r = 0.429, P = 0.354). Moreover, single-base mutation rtA181V and multi-base mutations (rtL180M + M204I and rtL180M + M204V + M204I) were more common in HBV genotype C than those in genotype B (1.94% vs. 0.66%, 1.84% vs. 0.16%, 1.02% vs. 0.16%, respectively). NA-related mutations in HBV RT region increased in the past seven years, especially for LAM. Frequencies of rtL180M and rtA181T/V increased gradually in the past seven years, to which we should pay more attention.