Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the ALDH gene family and functional analysis of PaALDH17 in Prunus avium.

ALDH (Aldehyde dehydrogenase), as an enzyme that encodes the dehydroxidization of aldehydes into corresponding carboxylic acids, played an important role inregulating gene expression in response to many kinds of biotic and abiotic stress, including saline-alkali stress. Saline-alkali stress was a common stress that seriously affected plant growth and productivity. Saline-alkali soil contained the characteristics of high salinity and high pH value, which could cause comprehensive damage such as osmotic stress, ion toxicity, high pH, and HCO3-/CO32- stress. In our study, 18 PaALDH genes were identified in sweet cherry genome, and their gene structures, phylogenetic analysis, chromosome localization, and promoter cis-acting elements were analyzed. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that PaALDH17 exhibited the highest expression compared to other members under saline-alkali stress. Subsequently, it was isolated from Prunus avium, and transgenic A. thaliana was successfully obtained. Compared with wild type, transgenic PaALDH17 plants grew better under saline-alkali stress and showed higher chlorophyll content, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase (POD) and Catalase (CAT) enzyme activities, which indicated that they had strong resistance to stress. These results indicated that PaALDH17 improved the resistance of sweet cherries to saline-alkali stress, which in turn improved quality and yields. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-024-01444-7.

Effects of cage vs. net-floor mixed rearing system on goose spleen histomorphology and gene expression profiles.

Due to the demands for both environmental protection and modernization of the goose industry in China, the traditional goose waterside rearing systems have been gradually transitioning to the modern intensive dryland rearing ones, such as the net-floor mixed rearing system (MRS) and cage rearing system (CRS). However, the goose immune responses to different dryland rearing systems remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate and compare the age-dependent effects of MRS and CRS on the splenic histomorphological characteristics and immune-related genes expression profiles among three economically important goose breeds, including Sichuan White goose (SW), Gang goose (GE), and Landes goose (LD). Morphological analysis revealed that the splenic weight and organ index of SW were higher under CRS than under MRS (p < 0.05). Histological observations showed that for SW and LD, the splenic corpuscle diameter and area as well as trabecular artery diameter were larger under MRS than under CRS at 30 or 43 weeks of age (p < 0.05), while the splenic red pulp area of GE was larger under CRS than under MRS at 43 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Besides, at 43 weeks of age, higher mRNA expression levels of NGF, SPI1, and VEGFA in spleens of SW were observed under MRS than under CRS (p < 0.05), while higher levels of HSPA2 and NGF in spleens of LD were observed under MRS than under CRS (p < 0.05). For GE, there were higher mRNA expression levels of MYD88 in spleens under CRS at 30 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Moreover, our correlation analysis showed that there appeared to be more pronounced positive associations between the splenic histological parameters and expression levels of several key immune-related genes under MRS than under CRS. Therefore, it is speculated that the geese reared under MRS might exhibit enhanced immune functions than those under CRS, particularly for SW and LD. Although these phenotypic differences are assumed to be associated with the age-dependent differential expression profiles of HSPA2, MYD88, NGF, SPI1, and VEGFA in the goose spleen, the underlying regulatory mechanisms await further investigations.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) with heterologous poly-γ-glutamic acid has skin moisturizing, whitening and anti-wrinkle effects.

Three genes involved in poly-γ-glutamic acid(γ-PGA)synthesis cloned from Bacillus licheniformis were transformed into cucumber for the first time. Compared with control, its water content increased by 6-14 % and water loss rate decreased by 11-12 %. In zebrafish and human skin experiments, the moisturizing effect of transgenic cucumber was significantly higher than that of CK, γ-PGA and hyaluronic acid group. Transgenic cucumber reduced facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58 % and 24.97 %, reduced skin melanin content by 5.27 %, increased skin topological angle and L-value by 5.89 % and 2.49 %, and increased the R2 and Q1 values of facial elasticity by 7.67 % and 5.64 %, respectively. The expressions of aqp3, Tyr, silv and OCA2 were down-regulated, eln1, eln2, col1a1a and col1a1b were up-regulated in zebrafish after treated with transgenic cucumber. This study provides an important reference for the endogenous synthesis of important skin care functional molecules in plants.

Comparative transcriptomics analysis identifies crucial genes and pathways during goose spleen development.

As the largest peripheral lymphoid organ in poultry, the spleen plays an essential role in regulating the body's immune capacity. However, compared with chickens and ducks, information about the age- and breed-related changes in the goose spleen remains scarce. In this study, we systematically analyzed and compared the age-dependent changes in the morphological, histological, and transcriptomic characteristics between Landes goose (LG; Anser anser) and Sichuan White goose (SWG; Anser cygnoides). The results showed a gradual increase in the splenic weights for both LG and SWG until week 10, while their splenic organ indexes reached the peak at week 6. Meanwhile, the splenic histological indexes of both goose breeds continuously increased with age, reaching the highest levels at week 30. The red pulp (RP) area was significantly higher in SWG than in LG at week 0, while the splenic corpuscle (AL) diameter was significantly larger in LG than in SWG at week 30. At the transcriptomic level, a total of 1710 and 1266 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between week 0 and week 30 were identified in spleens of LG and SWG, respectively. Meanwhile, a total of 911 and 808 DEGs in spleens between LG and SWG were identified at weeks 0 and 30, respectively. Both GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the age-related DEGs of LG or SWG were dominantly enriched in the Cell cycle, TGF-beta signaling, and Wnt signaling pathways, while most of the breed-related DEGs were enriched in the Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, ECM-receptor interaction, and metabolic pathways. Furthermore, through construction of protein-protein interaction networks using significant DEGs, it was inferred that three hub genes including BUB1, BUB1B, and TTK could play crucial roles in regulating age-dependent goose spleen development while GRIA2, GRIA4, and RYR2 could be crucial for the breed-specific goose spleen development. These data provide novel insights into the splenic developmental differences between Chinese and European domestic geese, and the identified crucial pathways and genes are helpful for a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating goose immune functions.

Overexpression of ZmSUS1 increased drought resistance of maize (Zea mays L.) by regulating sucrose metabolism and soluble sugar content.

MAIN CONCLUSION: ZmSUS1 improved drought tolerance of maize by regulating sucrose metabolism and increasing soluble sugar content, and endowing transgenic maize with higher relative water content and photosynthesis levels. Sucrose synthase (SUS), a key enzyme of sugar metabolism, plays an important role in the regulation of carbon partitioning in plant, and affects important agronomic traits and abiotic responses to adversity. However, the function of ZmSUS1 in plant drought tolerance is still unknown. In this study, the expression patterns of ZmSUS1 in different tissues and under drought stress were analyzed in maize (Zea mays L.). It was found that ZmSUS1 was highly expressed during kernel development but also in leaves and roots of maize, and ZmSUS1 was induced by drought stress. Homozygous transgenic maize lines overexpressing ZmSUS1 increased the content and activity of SUS under drought stress and exhibited higher relative water content, proline and abscisic acid content in leaves. Specifically, the net photosynthetic rate and the soluble sugar contents including sucrose, glucose, fructose and SUS decomposition products including UDP-glucose (UDP-G) and ADP-glucose (ADP-G) in transgenic plants were significantly improved after drought stress. RNA-seq analysis showed that overexpressing of ZmSUS1 mainly affected the expression level of carbon metabolism-related genes. Especially the expression level of sucrose metabolism-related genes including sucrose phosphatase gene (SPP), sucrose phosphate synthase gene (SPS) and invertase gene (INV) were significantly up-regulated in transgenic maize. Overall, these results suggested that ZmSUS1 improved drought tolerance by regulating sucrose metabolism and increasing the soluble sugar content, and endowing transgenic maize with higher relative water content and photosynthesis levels, which can serve as a new gene candidate for cultivating drought-resistant maize varieties.

Transcription factors dealing with Iron-deficiency stress in plants: focus on the bHLH transcription factor family.

Iron (Fe), as an important micronutrient element necessary for plant growth and development, not only participates in multiple physiological and biochemical reactions in cells but also exerts a crucial role in respiration and photosynthetic electron transport. Since Fe is mainly present in the soil in the form of iron hydroxide, Fe deficiency exists universally in plants and has become an important factor triggering crop yield reduction and quality decline. It has been shown that transcription factors (TFs), as an important part of plant signaling pathways, not only coordinate the internal signals of different interaction partners during plant development, but also participate in plant responses to biological and abiotic stresses, such as Fe deficiency stress. Here, the role of bHLH transcription factors in the regulation of Fe homeostasis (mainly Fe uptake) is discussed with emphasis on the functions of MYB, WRKY and other TFs in the maintenance of Fe homeostasis. This review provides a theoretical basis for further studies on the regulation of TFs in Fe deficiency stress response.

Effects and Mechanisms of Cage versus Floor Rearing System on Goose Growth Performance and Immune Status.

Currently, FRS and CRS are the two predominant dryland rearing systems in the goose industry. However, the effects of these two systems on goose growth performance and health, as well as the underlying mechanisms, have not been fully clarified. Thus, this study aimed to compare growth performance and immune status, as well as investigate the genome-wide transcriptomic profiles of spleen in geese, between CRS and FRS at 270 d of age. Phenotypically, the body weight and body size traits were higher in geese under FRS, while the weight and organ index of spleen were higher in geese under CRS (p < 0.05). Noticeably, the bursa of Fabricius of geese under FRS was degenerated, while that under CRS was retained. At the serum level, the immune globulin-G (IgG) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were higher in geese under CRS (p < 0.05). At the transcriptomic level, we identified 251 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the spleen between CRS and FRS, which were mainly enriched in scavenger receptor activity, inflammatory response, immune response, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, phenylalanine metabolism, ECM receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, ten candidate genes were identified, namely, VEGFA, FGF2, NGF, GPC1, NKX2-5, FGFR1, FGF1, MEIS1, CD36, and PAH. Further analysis demonstrated that geese in CRS could improve their immune ability through the "phenylalanine metabolism" pathway. Our results revealed that the FRS improved growth performance, whereas the CRS improved goose immune function by increasing levels of IL-6 and IgG in serum. Moreover, the phenylalanine metabolism pathway could exert positive effects on immune function of geese under CRS. These results can provide reliable references for understanding how floor and cage rearing systems affect goose growth performance and immune capacity.

Neolignan derivatives from Penthorum chinense with antitumor activity in human colorectal cancer cells by regulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

In vitro cytotoxicity-guided isolation based on a MTT assay was conducted for Penthorum chinense Pursh. (Penthoraceae). In the active components (EtOAc extract of P. chinense), eight undescribed neolignans, penthoneolignans A-H (1-8), and two known analogs (9 and 10) were obtained and identified. Their absolute configurations were determined by experimental and computational comparison of electronic circular dichroism spectra analysis. The MTT experiment results of the obtained neolignans on HT29 and LoVo cells indicated previously undescribed neolignans, penthoneolignans A (1) and F (6), showed better cytotoxicity than the positive drug 5-fluorouracil. Then, functional technologies such as the 5-ethyny1-2'-deoxyridine, wound healing, Transwell, and Western blot assays indicated that they could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HT29 and Lovo cells, promote apoptosis by up-regulating Bax, and down-regulating B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase. Furthermore, a Western blot assay combining the Dsh homolog 2 agonist IWP-L6 and the ß-catenin agonist MG132 suggested their mechanism of action was closely related to the inhibition of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. In conclusion, previously undescribed neolignans, penthoneolignans A (1) and F (6), may intervene in the development and progression of colorectal cancer by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and have the potential to be drug candidates.

Functional identification of ZDS gene in apple (Malus halliana) and demonstration of it's role in improving saline-alkali stress tolerance.

Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants that mediate transfer of electrons, directly affect abiotic stress responses in plants through regulating activity of antioxidant enzymes. ζ-Carotene desaturase (ZDS) is a key enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, which can catalyze ζ-carotene to form lycopene to regulate carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation. However, the mechanism of its regulation of saline-alkali stress remains unclear. In this research, based on transcriptomic analysis of Malus halliana with a apple rootstock, we screened out ZDS gene (LOC103451012), with significantly high expression by saline-alkali stress, whose expression in the leaves was 10.8-fold than that of the control (0 h) under 48 h of stress. Subsequently, the MhZDS gene was isolated from M. halliana, and transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana, tobacco, and apple calli were successfully obtained through agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. We found that overexpression of MhZDS enhanced the tolerance of A. thaliana, tobacco and apple calli under saline-alkali stress and caused a variety of physiological and biochemical changes: compared with wild-type, transgenic plants grew better under saline stress and MhZDS-OE lines showed higher chlorophyll content, POD, SOD, CAT activities and proline content, lower electrical conductivity and MDA content. These results indicate that MhZDS plays an important role in plant resistance to saline-alkali stress, providing excellent resistance genes for the regulatory network of salinity stress response in apples and provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of apple varieties with strong saline-alkali resistance. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01333-5.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals GA3 is involved in regulating flavonoid metabolism in grape development for facility cultivation.

Gibberellin, as one of the pivotal plant growth regulators, can improve fruit quality by altering fruit size and secondary metabolite content. Flavonoids are the most abundant secondary metabolites in grapes, which influence the color and quality of the fruit. However, the molecular mechanism of whether and how GA3 affects flavonoid metabolism has not been reported, especially for the 'Red globe' grape with delayed cultivation in Hexi corridor. In the present study, the 'Red globe' grape grown in delayed facilities was sprayed with 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/L GA3 at berries pea size (BPS), veraison (V) and berries ripe (BR), respectively. The results showed that the berry weight, soluble sugar content and secondary metabolite content (the flavonoid content, anthocyanin content and polyphenol content) at BR under 80 mg/L GA3 treatment were remarkably increased compared with other concentration treatments. Therefore, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGS) and pathways under 80 mg/L GA3 treatment at three periods. GO analysis showed that DEGs were closely related to transporter activity, cofactor binding, photosynthetic membrane, thylakoid, ribosome biogenesis and other items. The KEGG enrichment analysis found that the DEGs were mainly involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, indicating GA3 exerted an impact on the color and quality of berries through these pathways. In conclusion, GA3 significantly increased the expression of genes related to flavonoid synthesis, enhanced the production of secondary metabolites, and improved fruit quality. In addition, these findings can provide a theoretical basis for GA3 to modulate the accumulation and metabolism of flavonoids in grape fruit.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the geriatric 8 screening tool in Chinese hospitalized older adults with cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Geriatric 8 (G8) questionnaire in Chinese hospitalized older adults with cancer. METHODS: The Chinese version of the G8 (C-G8) was produced following Brislin's guidelines. The psychometric properties of the C-G8 were evaluated among 296 eligible patients. RESULTS: The content validity index of the C-G8 was 0.8∼1 at the item level and 0.975 at the scale level. The C-G8 identified more frail individuals among these older (>75 years) participants compared to their younger (65∼75 years) counterparts (frailty prevalence: 87.1% vs. 70.9%, P=0.010). The convergent validity of the C-G8 was tested by correlating it with the FRAIL scale (r=-0.592, P<0.001). The C-G8 had a lower internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient=0.501) but higher test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.913 and 0.993, respectively, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The C-G8 questionnaire presented acceptable validity and reliability and could be used in Chinese hospitalized older adults with cancer.

Effect of oxygen partial pressure on the performance of homojunction amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistors.

In this study, the homojunction thin-film transistors (TFTs) with amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) as active channel layers and source/drain electrodes were fabricated by RF magnetron sputtering. The effect of oxygen partial pressure on the phase, microstructure, optical and electrical properties of IGZO thin films was investigated. The results showed that amorphous IGZO thin films always exhibit a high transmittance above 90% and wide band gaps of around 3.9 eV. The resistivity increases as the IGZO thin films are deposited at a higher oxygen partial pressure due to the depletion of oxygen vacancies. In addition, the electrical behaviors in homojunction IGZO TFTs were analyzed. When the active channel layers were deposited with an oxygen partial pressure of 1.96%, the homojunction IGZO TFTs exhibited optimal transfer and output characteristics with a field-effect mobility of 13.68 cm2V-1s-1. Its sub-threshold swing, threshold voltage and on/off ratio are 0.6 V/decade, 0.61 V and 107, respectively.

Establishment of Reference Values for Pepsinogens in Healthy Subjects of the Gansu Province: a Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: At present, the pepsinogen reference values applicable to subjects from Gansu province have not been established. Therefore, the current study aimed to establish reference values for PGI, PGII, and the PGI/ PGII ratio in Gansu Province, Northwest China. METHODS: The present study was a cross-sectional study. Following screening in the physical examination center of Gansu Provincial Hospital, 2,130 healthy subjects were enrolled (age range 18 - 88 years; BMI range 15.35 - 38.89 kg/m2) from March 2018 to December 2020. Serum PGI and PG II concentration levels were detected by chemiluminescence. The reference values were defined according to age and gender by non-parametric 95th percentile intervals. RESULTS: The increase in age caused a gradual increase in the levels of PG I and PG II, while PG I/PG II ratio gradually decreased. The PG I, PG II and PG I/PG II ratio in males were significantly higher than those in females. The reference values for PG I, PG II and PG I/PG II ratio in males: < 40 years old were 22.79 - 119.79 ng/mL, 3.02 - 21.57 ng/mL, and 2.99 - 10.25, respectively; ≥ 40 years old were 17.58 - 125.12 ng/mL, 3.70 - 25.84 ng/mL, and 1.52 - 10.53, respectively. The reference values for PG I, PG II, and PG I/PG II ratio in females: < 40 years old were 22.57 - 103.90 ng/mL, 3.17 - 20.73 ng/mL, and 2.28 - 10.46, respectively; ≥ 40 years old were 14.24 - 117.81 ng/mL, 3.36 - 29.57 ng/mL, and 1.26 - 9.85, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study determined the missing reference values of serum PGs for healthy subjects of different gender and ages in Gansu Province.

Research Progress of p-Type Oxide Thin-Film Transistors.

The development of transparent electronics has advanced metal-oxide-semiconductor Thin-Film transistor (TFT) technology. In the field of flat-panel displays, as basic units, TFTs play an important role in achieving high speed, brightness, and screen contrast ratio to display information by controlling liquid crystal pixel dots. Oxide TFTs have gradually replaced silicon-based TFTs owing to their field-effect mobility, stability, and responsiveness. In the market, n-type oxide TFTs have been widely used, and their preparation methods have been gradually refined; however, p-Type oxide TFTs with the same properties are difficult to obtain. Fabricating p-Type oxide TFTs with the same performance as n-type oxide TFTs can ensure more energy-efficient complementary electronics and better transparent display applications. This paper summarizes the basic understanding of the structure and performance of the p-Type oxide TFTs, expounding the research progress and challenges of oxide transistors. The microstructures of the three types of p-Type oxides and significant efforts to improve the performance of oxide TFTs are highlighted. Finally, the latest progress and prospects of oxide TFTs based on p-Type oxide semiconductors and other p-Type semiconductor electronic devices are discussed.

Effects of cage versus floor rearing system on goose intestinal histomorphology and cecal microbial composition.

Due to the demand for modern goose production and the pressure of environmental protection, the rearing systems of geese are changing from traditional waterside rearing to intensive rearing systems such as floor rearing (FR) and cage rearing (CR) systems. However, little is known about the effects of different rearing systems on goose intestinal functions and cecal microbial composition. Therefore, this study aimed to compare intestinal histomorphology and cecal microbial composition differences in geese reared under CR and FR at 270 d of age. Histomorphological analysis showed that the ileal villus height (VH) to crypt depth (CD) ratio was significantly greater in CR than in FR (P < 0.001). Taxonomic analysis showed that the dominant bacteria of cecal microorganisms in both rearing systems were roughly similar, with Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Fusobacteriota, and Proteobacteria being the dominant phyla while Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, and uncultured_bacterium_o_Bacteroidales being the dominant genera. Differentially abundant taxa between CR and FR were also identified using Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis (P < 0.05, LDA score > 3.5). Megamonas and Anaerobiospirillum were significantly enriched in the CR group at the genus level, while uncultured_bacterium_f_Rikenellaceae and Sutterella were significantly enriched in the FR group. Notably, we found that the relative abundance of uncultured_bacterium_f_Rikenellaceae was significantly negatively correlated with the ileal VH and VH/CD (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of Megamonas and Anaerobiospirillum were significantly negatively correlated with abdominal fat weight and relative abdominal fat weight (P < 0.01), whereas that of Sutterella was significantly positively correlated with abdominal fat weight and relative abdominal fat weight (P < 0.01). Furthermore, PICRUSt2 analysis indicated that the lipid metabolism pathways of cecal microorganisms were lower enriched in CR than in FR. In conclusion, compared with FR, the CR significantly changed goose ileal histomorphological characteristics and cecal microbial composition, thereby affecting goose physiological functions and production performance.

In-Sn-Zn Oxide Nanocomposite Films with Enhanced Electrical Properties Deposited by High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering.

In-Sn-Zn oxide (ITZO) nanocomposite films have been investigated extensively as a potential material in thin-film transistors due to their good electrical properties. In this work, ITZO thin films were deposited on glass substrates by high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) at room temperature. The influence of the duty cycle (pulse off-time) on the microstructures and electrical performance of the films was investigated. The results showed that ITZO thin films prepared by HiPIMS were dense and smooth compared to thin films prepared by direct-current magnetron sputtering (DCMS). With the pulse off-time increasing from 0 µs (DCMS) to 2000 µs, the films' crystallinity enhanced. When the pulse off-time was longer than 1000 µs, In2O3 structure could be detected in the films. The films' electrical resistivity reduced as the pulse off-time extended. Most notably, the optimal resistivity of as low as 4.07 × 10-3 Ω·cm could be achieved when the pulse off-time was 2000 µs. Its corresponding carrier mobility and carrier concentration were 12.88 cm2V-1s-1 and 1.25 × 1020 cm-3, respectively.

Contribution of upregulated aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis to metabolic dysregulation in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Metabolic reprogramming is characterized by dysregulated levels of metabolites and metabolic enzymes. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic data analysis can help to elucidate changes in the levels of metabolites and metabolic enzymes, screen the core metabolic pathways, and develop novel therapeutic strategies for cancer. METHODS: Here, the metabolome of gastric cancer tissues was determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset were integrated with the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data to identify the common dysregulated gastric cancer-specific metabolic pathways. Additionally, the protein expression and clinical significance of key metabolic enzymes were examined using a gastric cancer tissue array. RESULTS: Metabolomic analysis of 16 gastric cancer tissues revealed that among the 15 dysregulated metabolomic pathways, the aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway in the gastric tissues was markedly upregulated relative to that in the adjacent noncancerous tissues, which was consistent with the results of transcriptome analysis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that among the key regulators in the aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway, the expression levels of threonyl-tRNA synthetase (TARS) and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (FARSB) were correlated with tumor grade and poor survival, respectively. Additionally, gastric tissue array data analysis indicated that TARS and FARSB were upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and were correlated with poor prognosis and tumor metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway is upregulated in gastric cancer and both TARS and FARSB play key roles in the progression of gastric cancer. Additionally, a novel therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer was proposed that involves targeting the aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway.

Association between serum pepsinogen and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Serum pepsinogens (PGs) are biomarkers for gastric mucosal damage and have been reported to be associated with atherosclerosis. Its correlation with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is still unknown. This study aimed to explore the association between serum PGs and ASCVD for providing physicians with an integrative picture to make rational plans in the diagnosis and treatment of ASCVD. METHODS AND RESULTS: The concentrations of serum PGs and their distributions between ASCVD and non-ASCVD were compared by non-parametric test, Chi-squared test and Fisher exact test. The correlation between variables was analyzed by Spearman's correlation test. The association of serum PGs with ASCVD was analyzed by the binary logistic regression and two-piecewise linear regression. A total of 8355 recruited cases were eligible for the study. The concentrations of serum PGs were significantly different between the ASCVD and non-ASCVD groups (P = 0.025, P < 0.001). The lower PGI and PGR levels were significantly correlated with a high risk of ASCVD presence after adjustment for 26 potential covariates. Moreover, there was a linear relationship between the high level of PGII and the high risk of ASCVD [adjusted OR = 1.16 (1.00, 1.37), P = 0.07]. A nonlinear relationship of PGI/PGR and ASCVD (P = 0.08/<0.001) was also revealed. The risk of ASCVD increased with a range of log PGI ≥2.13 (PGI≥131 ng/mL) [adjusted OR = 4.67 (1.00, 23.17)], and decreased with a range of log PGR ≥0.22 (1.65) [adjusted OR = 0.59 (0.48, 0.74), P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PGI and PGR are nonlinearly correlated with ASCVD, while PGII is linearly correlated with ASCVD. Among all PGs, PGR may serve as a reliable biomarker for ASCVD.

The Effects of Sports Drinks During High-Intensity Exercise on the Carbohydrate Oxidation Rate Among Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: This study examines the effects of sports drinks ingestion during high-intensity exercise for carbohydrate oxidation rate (CHO-O) among athletes. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched for available papers published up to November 2019. The primary outcome is the carbohydrate oxidation rate (CHO-O), and the secondary outcome is the fat oxidation rate (Fat-O). Statistical heterogeneity among the included studies was evaluated using Cochran's Q test and the I2 index. The random-effects model was used for all analyses, regardless of the I2 index. Results: Five studies are included, with a total of 58 participants (range, 8-14/study). All five studies are randomized crossover trials. Compared to the control beverages, sports drinks have no impact on the CHO-O of athletes [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.29; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.65, P = 0.106; I2 = 97.4%, P < 0.001] and on the Fat-O of athletes (WMD = -0.074; 95% CI, -0.19 to 0.06, P = 0.297; I2 = 97.5%, P < 0.001). Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions increase CHO-O (WMD = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.08-0.87, P = 0.020; I2 = 97.8%, P < 0.001) but not Fat-O (WMD = -0.14; 95% CI, -0.31 to 0.03, P = 0.103; I2 = 98.2%, P < 0.001). Caffeine has a borderline effect on Fat-O (WMD = 0.05; 95% CI, 0.00-0.10, P = 0.050). Conclusions: Compared with the control beverages, sports drinks show no significant improvement in CHO-O and Fat-O in athletes. Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions increase CHO-O in athletes but not Fat-O.

Modification of Mcl-1 alternative splicing induces apoptosis and suppresses tumor proliferation in gastric cancer.

Splicing dysregulation, which leads to apoptosis resistance, has been recognized as a major hallmark for tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Targeting alternative splicing by either increasing pro-apoptotic proteins or inhibiting anti-apoptotic proteins in tumor cells may be an effective approach for gastric cancer (GC) therapy. However, the role of modulation of alternative splicing in GC remains poorly understood. In this study, to the best of our knowledge, the unbalanced expression of the myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) splicing variants, Mcl-1L and Mcl-1S, was identified in GC patients for the first time. Increasing anti-apoptotic Mcl-1L and decreasing pro-apoptotic Mcl-1S expression levels were correlated with tumor proliferation and poor survival. In vitro data showed that a shift in splicing from Mcl-1L to Mcl-1S induced by treatment with Mcl-1-specific steric-blocking oligonucleotides (SBOs) efficiently decreased Mcl-1L expression, increased Mcl-1S expression, and accelerated tumor cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, mouse xenotransplant models confirmed that modification of Mcl-1 alternative splicing increased tumor cell death and suppressed tumor proliferation. This study demonstrated that the modification of Mcl-1 splicing might stimulate the pro-apoptotic factor and inhibit the anti-apoptotic protein to induce significant apoptosis. Thus, this finding provided a strategy for cancer therapy, according to which SBOs could be used to change the Mcl-1 splicing pattern, thereby inducing apoptosis.