Trehalose improves the movement ability of AßarcDrosophila by restoring the damaged mitochondria.

Background: The deposition of Aß42 has been regarded as one of the important pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, drug development for Aß42 toxicity has been progressed slowly. Objective: Our aim was to introduce the effect and related mechanism of trehalose on an Aßarc (arctic mutant Aß42) Drosophila AD model. Methods: The human Aßarc was expressed in Drosophila to construct the AD model. Trehalose was added to the culture vial. The movement ability was determined by detecting climbing ability and flight ability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of Aßarc, ATP, and lactate. Electron microscopy assay, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, and mitochondrial respiration assay were used to assess the mitochondrial structure and function. Results: Trehalose strongly improved the movement ability of Aßarc Drosophila in a concentration gradient-dependent manner. Furthermore, trehalose increased the content of ATP and decreased the content of Aßarc and lactate both in the brain and thorax of Aßarc Drosophila. More importantly, the mitochondrial structure and function were greatly improved by trehalose treatment in Aßarc Drosophila. Conclusion: Trehalose improves movement ability at least partly by reducing the Aßarc level and restoring the mitochondrial structure and function in Aßarc Drosophila.

Multi-Omics Analysis Revealed the AGR-FC.C3 Locus of Brassica napus as a Novel Candidate for Controlling Petal Color.

Variations in the petal color of Brassica napus are crucial for ornamental value, but the controlled loci for breeding remain to be unraveled. Here, we report a candidate locus, AGR-FC.C3, having conducted a bulked segregant analysis on a segregating population with different petal colors. Our results showed that the locus covers 9.46 Mb of the genome, harboring 951 genes. BnaC03.MYB4, BnaC03.MYB85, BnaC03.MYB73, BnaC03.MYB98, and BnaC03.MYB102 belonging to MYB TFs families that might regulate the petal color were observed. Next, a bulk RNA sequencing of white and orange-yellow petals on three development stages was performed to further identify the possible governed genes. The results revealed a total of 51 genes by overlapping the transcriptome data and the bulked segregant analysis data, and it was found that the expression of BnaC03.CCD4 was significantly up-regulated in the white petals at three development stages. Then, several novel candidate genes such as BnaC03.ENDO3, BnaC03.T22F8.180, BnaC03.F15C21.8, BnaC03.Q8GSI6, BnaC03.LSD1, BnaC03.MAP1Da, BnaC03.MAP1Db, and BnaC03G0739700ZS putative to controlling the petal color were identified through deeper analysis. Furthermo re, we have developed two molecular markers for the reported functional gene BnaC03.CCD4 to discriminate the white and orange-yellow petal colors. Our results provided a novel locus for breeding rapeseed with multi-color petals.

Effect of electroacupuncture of Governor Vessel on mitochondrial fusion and proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in spinal cord injury rats. / ç”µé’ˆç£è„‰å¯¹è„Šé«“æŸä¼¤å¤§é¼ è„Šé«“ç»„ç»‡çº¿ç²’ä½“èžåˆåŠç¥žç»å¹²ç»†èƒžå¢žæ®–åˆ†åŒ–çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Dazhui" (GV14) and "Jizhong"(GV6) of the Governor Vessel (GV) on mitochondrial fusion and neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and differentiation in the spinal cord of rats with spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to investigate its mechanisms underlying improvement of SCI. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model and EA groups, with 15 rats in each group. The SCI model was established by using a precision impactor. EA (20 Hz/100 Hz, 1-2 mA) was applied to GV14 and GV6 for 30 min, once daily for 14 days. The rats' hindlimb locomotor function in each group was assessed using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale. Histopathological changes of the injured spinal cord tissue and the number of neurons were evaluated after H.E. staining and Nissl staining. The expressions of Nestin, mitochondrial fusion-related protein optic atrophy-1 (OPA1) and NSC markers sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) in the injured spinal cord tissue were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The protein and mRNA expression levels of Nestin in the spinal cord tissue were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot, separately. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the BBB scores after modeling, and the number of neurons were significantly decreased (P<0.001), while the mean fluorescence intensity values of Nestin, SOX2 and OPA1, and the expressions of Nestin mRNA and protein considerably increased (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05) in the model group. After EA intervention and in comparison with the model group, the BBB scores at the 7th and 14th day, the number of neurons, the mean fluorescence intensity values of Nestin, SOX2 and OPA1, and the expressions of Nestin mRNA and protein were strikingly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001) in the EA group. H.E. staining showed swollen, ruptured and necrotic neurons of the spinal cord, with a large number of vacuoles and severe inflammatory cell infiltration after modeling, which was relatively milder in the EA group. CONCLUSIONS: EA stimulation of GV14 and GV6 can promote the recovery of motor function in rats with SCI, which may be related to its effects in promoting mitochondrial fusion and enhancing the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs.

[Analysis of a child with 46,XY Disorder of sex development due to a novel variant of NR5A1 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features and genetic basis of a child with Disorder of sex development (DSD). METHODS: A child who was admitted to the Linyi People's Hospital for primary amenorrhoea on July 29, 2019 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child was collected. Chromosomal karyotyping and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect Y chromosome microdeletions and other chromosomal aberrations. Next-generation sequencing was carried out for the child and her parents. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: The child, a 13-year-old girl, has featured primary amenorrhoea and onset of secondary sex characteristics of males. Ultrasound exam had detected no uterus and definite ovarian structure, but narrow band vaginal hypoecho and curved cavernoid structure. The child was found to have a 46,XY karyotype without an AZF deletion. DNA sequencing revealed that she has harbored a maternally derived c.323delA (p.Q108Rfs*188) variant in the nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1 (NR5A1) gene, which may result in a truncated protein. The variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PP4) based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. CONCLUSION: The NR5A1: c.323delA variant probably underlay the pathogenesis of 46,XY DSD in this child. The discovery of the novel variant has enriched the mutational spectrum of the NR5A1 gene and provided a basis for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prenatal diagnosis.

The complete chloroplast genome of Dendrocalamus liboensis Hsueh & D. Z. Li 1985 and its phylogenetic analysis.

Dendrocalamus liboensis Hsueh & D. Z. Li 1985 is a unique member of the Bambusoideae subfamily found in Guizhou, China. The species has both economic importance and ornamental value. This study represents the first report of the sequencing and assembly of the complete chloroplast genome of D. liboensis. The total length of the genome was 139,483 bp, with a conventional quadripartite framework consisting of a large single-copy (LSC) region (83,001 bp in length), a small single-copy (SSC) region (12,896 bp in length), and two inverted repeats (IR) regions (both 21,793 bp in length). Overall, the D. liboensis chloroplast genome contained 128 functional genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that D. liboensis closely resembled D. sapidus, with both found on a strongly supported branch of the phylogenetic tree.

The detection efficacy of noninvasive prenatal genetic testing (NIPT) for sex chromosome abnormalities and copy number variation and its differentiation in pregnant women of different ages.

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of noninvasive prenatal genetic testing (NIPT) in detecting fetal sex chromosome abnormalities and copy number variation (CNV), compare the efficacy between NIPT and serological screening alone, and further analyze the fetal sex chromosome abnormalities and CNV differentiation in pregnant women of different ages, so as to provide a reference for the prevention and control of fetal birth defects. Methods: Clinical data from 22,692 pregnant women admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. All participants underwent serological screening and NIPT screening to compare fetal chromosomal abnormalities between the two screening modalities. 145 women whose fetus were diagnosed as sex chromosome abnormalities and 36 women whose fetus were diagnosed as CNV abnormalities based on NIPT screening were selected for prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis or karyotyping. Taking prenatal diagnosis as the standard, the four-grid table method was used to detect the positive predictive value of NIPT screening for fetal sex chromosomal abnormalities and CNV. According to the age, pregnant women were divided into 18-30 years old (n = 9844), 31-35 years old (n = 7612), >35 years old (n = 5236), and then the detection rates of sexual fetal chromosomal abnormalities, CNV and total chromosomal abnormalities were compared in pregnant women. Results: Among the 22,692 pregnant women in this study, the high-risk proportion of serologic screening with 4.38% was higher than that of NIPT screening with 1.93% (P < 0.05). Among the 145 women with fetal sex chromosome abnormalities screened by NIPT, 122 cases of fetal sex chromosome abnormalities were diagnosed prenatally, including 45, X/47, XXX/47, XYY/47, XXY. The positive predictive values of NIPT screening were 25.00%, 58.82%, 85.71%, and 85.71%, respectively, with an overall predictive value of 44.26%. The positive predictive value of fetal sex chromosome abnormalities in NIPT screening was higher than that of serological screening (P < 0.05). Among the 36 pregnant women with fetal CNV, NIPT screening showed that CNVs≤10 Mb and CNVs>10 Mb were 33.33% and 66.67%, respectively. There were 12 cases of prenatal diagnosis of fetal CNV, among which the NIPT-screened positive predictive values of fetal copy number deletion, duplicate, deletion and duplicate were 50.00%, 57.14% and 100.00%, respectively, with an overall predictive value of 58.33%. The positive predictive value of CNV in NIPT screening was higher than that of serological screening without statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). The results of NIPT screening showed that the detection rate of fetal sex chromosome abnormalities and total abnormalities of pregnant women over 35 years of age was significantly higher than that of pregnant women aged 18-30 and 31-35 years (P < 0.05). Conclusion: NIPT screening could greatly improve the detection efficacy of fetal sex chromosome abnormalities, CNV and other chromosome abnormalities, and decline the false positive rate. However, the positive predictive value of NIPT screening was relatively low, and further prenatal testing and genetic counseling are still required. In addition, NIPT screening for fetal sex chromosome abnormalities, and the detection rate of total abnormalities in pregnant women older than 35 years old were increased significantly, and pregnancy at an advanced age may be one of the risk factors for fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

Antibiotics and antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a real-world disproportionality study of the FDA adverse event reporting system from 2004 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to assess the risk signals of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) caused by various antibiotics using real-world data and provide references for safe clinical applications. METHODS: We analyzed data extracted from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database, covering the period from the first quarter of 2004 to the third quarter of 2022. We computed the reporting odds ratio (ROR) for each antibiotic or antibiotic class to compare the signal difference. Furthermore, we also examined the differences in the onset times and outcomes of AAD caused by various antibiotics. RESULTS: A total of 5,397 reports met the inclusion requirements. Almost all antibiotics, except tobramycin and minocycline (ROR 0.98; 95%CI: 0.64-1.51 and 0.42; 95%CI: 0.16-1.11, respectively), showed a significant correlation with AAD. The analysis of the correlation between different classes of antibiotics and AAD revealed that lincomycins (ROR 29.19; 95%CI: 27.06-31.50), third-generation cephalosporins (ROR 15.96; 95%CI: 14.58-17.47), and first/second generation cephalosporins (ROR 15.29; 95%CI: 13.74-17.01) ranked the top three. The ROR values for antibiotics from the same class of antibiotics also varied greatly, with the ROR values for third-generation cephalosporins ranging from 9.97 to 58.59. There were also differences in ROR values between ß-lactamase inhibitors and their corresponding ß-lactamase drugs, such as amoxicillin-clavulanate (ROR = 13.31; 95%CI: 12.09-14.65) and amoxicillin (ROR = 6.50; 95%CI: 5.69-7.44). 91.35% of antibiotics have an onset time of less than four weeks. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant correlation between almost all antibiotics and AAD, particularly lincomycins and ß-lactam antibiotics, as well as a different correlation within the same class. These findings offer valuable evidence for selecting antibiotics appropriately.

Needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training for post-stroke cognitive impairment: a multi-center randomized controlled trial. / ç”µé’ˆåŽç•™é’ˆè”åˆè®¤çŸ¥è®­ç»ƒæ²»ç–—è„‘å’ä¸­åŽè®¤çŸ¥åŠŸèƒ½éšœç¢ï¼šå¤šä¸­å¿ƒéšæœºå¯¹ç §è¯•éªŒ.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training and electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training in the treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). METHODS: A total of 206 patients with PSCI were randomized into a needle retaining group (103 cases, 9 cases dropped out) and an electroacupuncture group (103 cases, 6 cases dropped out). In addition to the conventional basic medical treatment and the rehabilitation treatment, in the needle retaining group, electroacupuncture at Shenting (GV 24) and Baihui (GV 20) was applied, with continuous wave of 50 Hz in the first 15 min and with disperse-dense wave of 2 Hz/50 Hz in the last 15 min, the needles were continuously retained for 1 h after electroacupuncture, during which cognitive training was adopted; in the electroacupuncture group, cognitive training was performed after the same electric stimulation exerted for 30 min, without additional needles retaining. The treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week for totally 8 weeks in the two groups. Before and after 8-week treatment, the TCM syndrome score was observed; before and after 4,8-week treatment, the scores of mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and ability of daily living were observed in the two groups. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated after 8-week treatment. RESULTS: After 8-week treatment, the TCM syndrome scores were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05); the TCM syndrome score in the needle retaining group was higher than that in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05).After 4,8-week treatment, the scores of MMSE, MoCA and ability of daily living were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05); MMSE, MoCA scores after 4,8-week treatment and ability of daily living score after 8-week treatment in the needle retaining group were higher than those in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.4% (85/94) in the needle retaining group, which was superior to 82.5% (80/97) in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training and electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training can effectively treat PSCI, improve the clinical symptom, cognitive function and ability of daily living in PSCI patients. Needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training has a better therapeutic effect.

Influence of Electromagnetic Inductive Microcapsules on Self-Healing Ability of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) Mortar.

In order to promote the sustainability of cementitious materials, it is imperative to reduce the level of environmental pollution and energy consumption during their production, as well as extend the service life of building elements. This study utilized limestone, calcined clay and gypsum as supplementary cementitious materials to prepare LC3 mortar, replacing 50% of ordinary silicate cement. Three types of microcapsules (M1, M2 and M3) were prepared using IPDI as a healing agent and polyethylene wax, polyethylene wax/nano-CaCO3 or polyethylene wax/ferrous powder as shell materials. The microcapsules were added to the LC3 mortar and tested for their effects on the mechanical properties, pore structure and permeability of mortars. Pre-loaded and pre-cracked mortar specimens were subjected to room temperature or under an applied magnetic field to evaluate the self-healing ability of the microcapsules on mortars. The kinetics of the curing reaction between IPDI and moisture were investigated using quasi-first-order and quasi-second-order reaction kinetic models. The experimental results showed that the mortar (S3) mixed with electromagnetic inductive microcapsules (M3) exhibited the best self-healing ability. The compressive strength retention, the percentage of pores larger than 0.1 µm, recovery of chloride diffusion coefficient and maximum amplitude after self-healing of S3 were 92.2%, 42.6%, 78.9% and 28.87 mV, respectively. Surface cracks with an initial width of 0.3~0.5 mm were healed within 24 h. The curing reaction between IPDI and moisture during self-healing followed a quasi-second-order reaction kinetic model.

Clinicopathological characteristics of rectal multiple neuroendocrine neoplasms and literature review.

BACKGROUND: There are only a few epidemiological reports available for reference. The clinicopathological features are not clear, so there is no consensus on treating rectal multiple neuroendocrine neoplasms. This study aims to summarize the clinicopathological characteristics and preliminarily discuss the clinical diagnosis and treatment of rectal multiple neuroendocrine neoplasms. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed rectal neuroendocrine neoplasm patients diagnosed and treated at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from February 2007 to May 2021. The clinicopathological characteristics of rectal multiple neuroendocrine neoplasms were summarized and analyzed in combination with 14 studies on rectal multiple neuroendocrine neoplasms. RESULTS: The incidence of RM-NENs accounted for 3.8% of all R-NENs in this study. The number of tumors varied to some extent, the size of tumors was basically no more than 10 mm, and there were more G1 grade tumors. In the analysis of 46 cases with known lymph node metastasis, the difference in lymph node metastasis rate between the number of tumors < 8 and ≥ 8 was statistically significant (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of rectal multiple neuroendocrine neoplasms accounted for 3.8% of all rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms. For rectal multiple neuroendocrine neoplasms, the lymph node metastasis rate was higher when the number of tumors was ≥ 8. The influence of the number of tumors on lymph node metastasis should be considered in the selection of treatment.

The Application of Self-Healing Microcapsule Technology in the Field of Cement-Based Materials: A Review and Prospect.

This review provides an overview of microcapsule self-healing technology and its application in the field of cement-based materials, as well as future prospects. The presence of cracks and damage in cement-based structures during service has a significant impact on their lifespan and safety performance. Microcapsule self-healing technology shows promise in achieving self-healing by encapsulating healing agents within microcapsules, which are released upon damage to the cement-based material. The review starts by explaining the fundamental principles of microcapsule self-healing technology and explores various methods for preparing and characterizing microcapsules. It also investigates the influence of incorporating microcapsules on the initial properties of cement-based materials. Additionally, the self-healing mechanisms and effectiveness of microcapsules are summarized. Finally, the review discusses the future development directions for microcapsule self-healing technology, outlining potential areas for further research and advancement.

Expression of different genotypes of bovine TRDMT1 gene and its polymorphisms association with body measures in Qinchuan cattle (Bos Taurus).

DNA methyltransferase 2 (DNMT2) was renamed as tRNA aspartic acid methyltransferase 1 (TRDMT1) by catalyzing the methylation of tRNAAsp anti-codon loop C38. The development of sequencing of nucleic acids and protein detection techniques have prompted the demonstration that TRDMT1 mediated tRNA modification affects protein synthesis efficiency. This process affects the growth and development of animals. The DNA of 224 Qinchuan cattles aged 2-4 years old was collected in this experiment. The genetic variations of TRDMT1 exon and some intron regions were detected by mixed pool sequencing technology. qRT-PCR and Western Blot were used to detect the expression levels of mRNA and protein produced with the combination of different genetic variant loci. Three haplotypes were detected and the distribution ratios were different. Muscle tissue mRNA and protein testing showed that there were differences in mRNA expression levels among different genotypes (P < 0.05) and the protein expression levels between different genotypes show the same trend as mRNA. This study provides potential molecular materials for the improvement of Qinchuan cattle reproductivity and provides theoretical support for studying the effects of livestock TRDMT1 on animal growth and development.

Genetic diversity and phylogeography of the endemic species Chimonobambusa utilis growing in southwest China: Chloroplast DNA sequence and microsatellite marker analyses.

Chimonobambusa utilis (Keng) Keng F is an endemic species distributed only in the Daluoshan Mountains, southwest China. Ch. utilis is popular due to its unique flavor and deliciousness and plays an important role in the industrial revolution in many counties in China. A total of 20 natural populations were sampled from the entire distribution range of Ch. utilis. In the present study, we used five EST-SSR molecular markers, three chloroplast DNA (trnH-psbA, atpF-atpH, and psbK-psbI), and one ITS molecular marker to elucidate the genetic diversity and phylogeography analyses of these Ch. utilis populations. The results exhibited that Ch. utilis populations showed lower genetic diversity than other angiosperms (HT = 0.752, HS = 0.364, and FST = 0.05021 for EST-SSR; HT = 0.956, Hs = 0.507, and FST = 0.70121 for cpDNA; HT = 0.868, Hs = 0.495, and FST = 0.70121 for nrDNA). A total of 40 alleles were detected for five polymorphic loci. We detected 20 polymorphic sites and 11 haplotypes within 1,398 bp of cpDNA and 59 polymorphic sites and 32 haplotypes within the 589 bp of the ITS sequence. Based on the haplotype distribution, we infer that there were at least two glacial refuges of Ch. utilis populations during the Quaternary Ice Age. The genetic and geographic distance were correlated (p < 0.05), indicating that narrow distribution might be the primary cause of the low genetic differentiation of Ch. utilis populations. Based on the genetic diversity of Ch. utilis populations, we recommend implementing effective genetic resource management and sustainable utilization.

Real-world study of antiresorptive-related osteonecrosis of jaw based on the US food and drug administration adverse event reporting system database.

Objective: This study aims to explore the risk signals of osteonecrosis of the jaw induced by antiresorptive drugs and provide references for the clinical safety application. Method: According to the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), from January 2004 to September 2021, we chose "Osteonecrosis of the jaw (10064658)" and "Exposed bone in jaw (10071014)" as preferred terms, "antiresorptive drugs" as the target drugs, and primary suspect drug as the drug role code in the dataset. We evaluated the association between drugs and adverse events by using reporting odds ratio (ROR) based on disproportionality analysis. We took the High-Level Terms (HLT) of MedDRA® as the classification level of indications to calculate ROR to compare the signal difference of ONJ in different indications. In addition, patients with antiresorptive-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw and the time of onset of the condition following different antiresorptive medications were collected for the study. Results: The FAERS contained 18,421 reports relating to jaw osteonecrosis from January 2004 to September 2021. A total of eight antiresorptive agents were included in the analysis. From high to low, the ROR of ONJ induced by antiresorptive agents (regardless of indication) is pamidronate (ROR = 494.8), zoledronic acid (ROR = 431.9), denosumab (ROR = 194.8), alendronate (ROR = 151.2), risedronate (ROR = 140.2), etidronic acid (ROR = 64.5), ibandronate (ROR = 40.8), and romosozumab (ROR = 6.4). HLT ROR values for "metabolic bone disorders" were the lowest for each drug, while HLT ROR values were high for "tumor-related indications," including breast and nipple neoplasms malignant, plasma cell myelomas, and prostatic neoplasms malignant. The onset time for osteonecrosis of the jaw as median (Q1, Q3), osteoporosis-related indications, and the onset time for ONJ were 730 (368, 1268), 489.5 (236.3, 909.8), 722.5 (314, 1055), 761 (368, 1720), and 153 (50, 346) for zoledronic acid, denosumab, ibandronate, risedronate, and romosozumab, respectively. Cancer-related indications: the onset time for ONJ were 680.5 (255.3, 1283), 488 (245, 851), and 696.5 (347, 1087) for zoledronic acid, denosumab, and pamidronate, respectively. Conclusion: When antiresorptive drugs are used for metastasis, they have the largest risk signal, followed by malignancy, and the smallest is osteoporosis. The onset time of ONJ may not be related to the indications. The onset time of ONJ for BPs was about 2 years, denosumab about 1.3 years, and romosozumab less than 1 year, which may be related to sequential treatment. When used according to the instructions, the risk of ONJ caused by denosumab was higher than that of zoledronic acid, regardless of the indication. Based on these findings, researchers will continue to monitor and identify risk factors.

Electroacupuncture of Baihui and Shenting ameliorates cognitive deficits via Pten/Akt pathway in a rat cerebral ischemia injury model.

Cerebral ischemic stroke is a huge threat to the health and life of many people. Electroacupuncture (EA) at Baihui (GV20) and Shenting (GV24) acupoints can notably alleviate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI). However, the molecular basis underlying the effectiveness of EA at the GV20 and GV24 acupoints for CIRI remains largely unknown. Our present study demonstrated that EA treatment at the GV20 and GV24 acupoints markedly alleviated middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R)-induced cognitive deficits and cerebral infarction in rats. Proteomics analysis revealed that 195 and 218 proteins were dysregulated in rat hippocampal tissues in the MCAO/R vs. sham group and thhhe EA vs. MCAO/R group, respectively. Moreover, 62 proteins with converse alteration trends in MCAO/R vs. sham and EA vs. MCAO/R groups were identified. These proteins might be implicated in the EA-mediated protective effect against MCAO/R-induced cerebral injury. GO enrichment analysis showed that 39 dysregulated proteins in the MCAO/R vs. sham group and 40 dysregulated proteins in the EA vs. MCAO/R group were related to brain and nerve development. Protein-protein interaction analysis of the abovementioned dysregulated proteins associated with brain and nerve development suggested that Pten/Akt pathway-related proteins might play major roles in regulating EA-mediated protective effects against MCAO/R-induced brain and nerve injury. Western blot assays demonstrated that Pak4, Akt3, and Efnb2 were expressed at low levels in the MCAO/R group vs. the sham group but at high levels in the EA group vs. the MCAO/R group. In conclusion, multiple proteins related to the protective effect of EA at the GV20 and GV24 acupoints against CIRI were identified in our study.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Chimonobambusa luzhiensis, an endangered species endemic to Guizhou Province, China.

Chimonobambusa luzhiensis (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) is an endangered plant endemic to Guizhou Province, China. Here, we report the complete chloroplast genome of C. luzhiensis. The plastid genome revealed a typical quadripartite structure with a length of 139,896 bp, including a large single-copy (LSC, 83,191 bp) region, a small single-copy (SSC, 12,811 bp) region, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (IRa and IRb, 21,797 bp). A total of 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes (PCGs), eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes were annotated, and the overall GC content was 38.8%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the relationship between C. luzhiensis is sister to C. tumidisinoda.

RNA-seq Based Transcriptome Analysis Reveals The Cross-Talk of Macrophage and Adipocyte of Chicken Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue during The Embryonic and Post-Hatch Period.

With high fecundity and short production cycle, poultry is one of the important sources of meat. During the embryonic and post-hatch period, the higher death rate caused huge economic losses in poultry production. Our previous study showed that chick subcutaneous adipose tissue is an important energy supply tissue besides yolk. Therefore, the metabolic mechanism of subcutaneous adipose tissue in chicks could provide a new perspective of brooding. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the differences between chick subcutaneous adipose tissue and abdominal adipose tissue before and after hatching and reveal the cross-talk of different cells within the chick subcutaneous adipose tissue. The results of RNA-seq and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of chick subcutaneous and abdominal adipose tissues showed that the function of chick subcutaneous tissue was related to immunoreaction, and macrophage could be the major immune infiltration cell type in chicken subcutaneous adipose tissue, which were also verified by qPCR, HE stain, and IHC. The results of free fatty acids (FFAs)-induced the cross-talk between macrophages and adipocytes showed that FFAs-Ccl2 (chicken CCL26) axis could have an important role in lipid transportation in adipose tissue. The results of Oil Red O and Nile red stain demonstrated that macrophages have the ability to absorb FFAs quickly. Interestingly, according to the genomic organization of CCL family with representative vertebrate species, we found that chicken CCL26 could be the major chemokine in chicken adipocyte as the status of CCL2 in mammal adipocyte. In conclusion, we demonstrate that FFA-induced Ccl2 (chicken CCL26) secretion is crucial in determining fat depot-selective adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) infiltration, which could be an important medium of lipid transportation in chicken subcutaneous adipose tissue. These findings may have multiple important implications for understanding macrophage biology with chick subcutaneous adipose tissue and provide theoretical basis for lipid metabolism in poultry brooding.

Efficacy of manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and warm acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is one of the most popular complementary and alternative treatments for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). There are many methods of acupuncture in the treatment of KOA, and the effects are different. According to our clinical observations and researches, it is found that manual acupuncture (MA), electro-acupuncture (EA), and warm acupuncture (WA) are used more frequently in the treatment of KOA, and the curative effects are satisfactory. However, there is currently a lack of efficacy comparison of efficacy between different acupuncture treatments, as well as a lack of standardized clinical research on the acupuncture treatment of KOA. Therefore, we will carry out a high-quality clinical randomized controlled trial to research the effect laws of MA, EA, and WA on KOA. METHODS/DESIGN: A total of 200 eligible participants with KOA will be randomly assigned to group A, B, C, or D in a ratio of 1:1:1:1. Patients in group A will receive MA, while those in group B, group C, and group D will be treated with EA, WA, and sham acupuncture (SA), respectively. Patients will be treated with acupuncture once a day, 30 min per session, 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. The primary outcome is the change of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at week 4. The secondary outcomes include WOMAC, visual analog scale (VAS), Arthritis Quality of Life Measurement Scale Simplified Scale (AIMS2-SF), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire. The evaluation will be performed at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 respectively after randomization. DISCUSSION: This is a randomized controlled trial. We will observe the clinical effect of MA, EA, and WA on KOA to research the effect laws of these three acupuncture treatments on KOA and set up standardized treatment programs for acupuncture for KOA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: China Clinical Trials Registry ChiCTR2100049526. Registered on August 2, 2021.

Tandem mass tagging combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technique to detect protein markers in gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJA) is a malignant tumor located at the junction of the esophagus and stomach, the incidence of which is increasing year by year, while screening for early biomarkers is limited. Tandem mass tagging (TMT) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) has been used to screen for differential proteins in various cancers. METHODS: Differential proteins in GEJA and precancerous lesions were screened using TMT-LC/MS/MS, and then proteins that met expectations were selected for trend clustering analysis, combined with GO and KEGG analysis for functional annotation of differential proteins in GEJA. Then, parallel reaction monitoring and immunohistochemistry techniques were used to validate the accuracy of the proteomics data. RESULTS: Our group screened the differential proteins during GEJA progression using proteomics technology, analyzed the expression trends and functional regions involved in the differential proteins during carcinogenesis, and validated the accuracy of the experimental results. CONCLUSIONS: The screening of differential proteins in GEJA carcinogenesis based on TMT-LC/MS/MS technology provides detailed information for the elucidation of GEJA progression process, pathogenesis, early screening and screening of candidate markers.

The complete chloroplast genome of critically endangered Chimonobambusa hirtinoda (Poaceae: Chimonobambusa) and phylogenetic analysis.

Chimonobambusa hirtinoda, a threatened species, is only naturally distributed in Doupeng Mountain, Duyun, Guizhou, China. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is used to obtain the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of C. hirtinoda. The sequence was assembled and analyzed for phylogenetic and evolutionary studies. Additionally, we compared the cp genome of C. hirtinoda with previously published Chimonobambusa species. The cp genome of C. hirtinoda has a total length of 139, 561 bp and 38.90% GC content. This genome included a large single -copy (LSC) region of 83, 166 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 20, 811 bp and a pair of inverted repeats of 21,792 bp each. We discovered 130 genes in the cp genome, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes. A total of 48 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected. The A/U preference of the third nucleotide in the cp genome of C. hirtinoda was obtained by measuring the codon usage frequency of amino acids. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis using complete cp sequences and matK gene revealed a genetic relationship within the Chimonobambusa genus. This study reported the chloroplast genome of the C. hirtinoda.