N-glycosylation of Wnt3 regulates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by affecting Wnt/ß-catenin signal pathway.

BACKGROUND: Wnt/FZD-mediated signaling pathways are activated in more than 90% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. As a well-known secretory glycoprotein, Wnt3 can interact with FZD receptors on the cell surface, thereby activating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. However, the N-glycosylation modification site of Wnt3 and the effect of this modification on the biological function of the protein are still unclear. AIM: To investigate the effect of Wnt3 N-glycosylation on the biological function of HCC cells. METHODS: Site-directed mutagenesis was used to verify the Wnt3 N-glycosylation sites, actinomycin D treatment was used to detect the stability of Wnt3 after site-directed mutation, the binding of the N-glycosylation site-directed mutant Wnt3 to FZD7 was observed by laser confocal microscopy, and the effects of the N-glycosylation site-directed mutation of Wnt3 on the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and the progression of HCC cells were detected by western blot and cell function experiments. RESULTS: Wnt3 has two N-glycosylation-modified sites (Asn90 and Asn301); when a single site at amino acid 301 is mutated, the stability of Wnt3 is weakened; the binding ability of Wnt3 to FZD7 decreases when both sites are mutated simultaneously; and the level of proteins related to the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway is downregulated. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion are also weakened in the case of single 301 site and double-site mutations. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that by inhibiting the N-glycosylation of Wnt3, the proliferation, migration, invasion and colony formation abilities of liver cancer cells can be weakened, which might provide new therapeutic strategies for clinical liver cancer in the future.

A 14-amino acid cationic peptide Bolespleenin334-347 from the marine fish mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris exhibiting potent antimicrobial activity and therapeutic potential.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important component of innate immunity in both vertebrates and invertebrates, and some of the unique characteristics of AMPs are usually associated with their living environment. The marine fish, mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris, usually live amphibiously in intertidal environments that are quite different from other fish species, which would be an exceptional source of new AMPs. In the study, an AMP named Bolespleenin334-347 was identified, which was a truncated peptide derived from a new functional gene found in B. pectinirostris, that was up-regulated in response to bacterial challenge. Bolespleenin334-347 had only 14 amino acid residues, including five consecutive arginine residues. It was found that the peptide had broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, good thermal stability and sodium ion tolerance. Bolespleenin334-347 killed Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus by disrupting the structural integrity of the bacterial membrane, leading to leakage of the cellular contents, and inducing accumulation of bacterial endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, Bolespleenin334-347 effectively inhibited biofilm formation of A. baumannii and S. aureus and long-term treatment did not lead to the development of resistance. Importantly, Bolespleenin334-347 maintained stable activity against clinically multi-drug resistant bacterial strains. In addition, it was noteworthy that Bolespleenin334-347 showed superior efficacy to LL-37 and vancomycin in a constructed mouse model of MRSA-induced superficial skin infections, as evidenced by a significant reduction in bacterial load and more favorable wound healing. This study provides an effective antimicrobial agent for topical skin infections with potential therapeutic efficacy for infections with drug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA.

Pichia kurtzmaniana f.a. sp. nov., with the transfer of eight Candida species to Pichia.

Three yeast strains belonging to the ascomycetous yeast genus Pichia were isolated from two soil samples from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces and a marine water sample from Liaoning province, PR China. Phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit(LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicate that these three strains, together with 12 additional strains isolated from various substrates collected in different regions or countries of the world, represent a novel species of the genus Pichia, for which the name Pichia kurtzmaniana sp. nov. (holotype: strain CGMCC 2.7213) is proposed. The novel species differs from its close relatives Candida californica by eight (1.5 %) and 26 (11.1 %) mismatches in the D1/D2 domains and the ITS region, respectively; and from Pichia chibodasensis by 11 (2.1 %) and 20 (8.7 %) mismatches in the D1/D2 domains and the ITS region, respectively. In addition, eight Candida species which belong to the Pichia clade are transferred to the genus Pichia, resulting in the proposal of the following new combinations: Pichia cabralensis comb. nov., Pichia californica comb. nov., Pichia ethanolica comb. nov., Pichia inconspicua comb. nov., Pichia phayaonensis comb. nov., Pichia pseudolambica comb. nov., Pichia rugopelliculosa comb. nov., and Pichia thaimueangensis comb. nov.

Global research trends in immunotherapy for glioma: a comprehensive visualization and bibliometric analysis.

Background: Glioma is a prevalent and lethal brain malignancy; despite current treatment options, the prognosis remains poor. Therefore, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. However, research trends and hotspots in glioma immunotherapy have not been systematically analyzed. This study aimed to elucidate global research trends and knowledge structures regarding immunotherapy for glioma using bibliometric analysis. Methods: Publications related to immunotherapy for glioma from 2000-2023 were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection database (WoSCC). We conducted quantitative analysis and visualization of research trends using various tools, including VOSviewer (1.6.18), CiteSpace (5.7 R3), Microsoft Charticulator, and the Bibliometrix package in R. Results: A total of 4910 publications were included. The number of annual publications exhibited an obvious upward trend since 2019. The USA was the dominant country in terms of publication output and centrality. Frontiers in Immunology published the most articles. Harvard Medical School ranked first in productivity among institutions. Sampson, John H. Ph.D. is the most prolific author in the field with 88 articles and a total of 7055 citations. Clinical Cancer Research has the largest total number and impact factor. Analysis of keywords showed immunotherapy, glioblastoma, immunotherapy, and clinical trials as hot topics. The tumor microenvironment, cell death pathways, chimeric antigen receptor engineering, tumor-associated macrophages, and nivolumab treatment represent indicating shifts in the direction of future glioma immunotherapy development. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis systematically delineated global landscapes and emerging trends in glioma immunotherapy research. This study highlighted the prominence of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T), Programmed Death-1 (PD-1), and nivolumab in current glioma immunotherapy research. The growing emphasis on specific neoantigens and prognostic tumor markers suggests potential avenues for future exploration. Furthermore, the data underscores the importance of strengthened international collaboration in advancing the field.

Vishniacozyma pseudocarnescens sp. nov., a new anamorphic tremellomycetous yeast species.

Three strains belonging to the basidiomycetous yeast genus Vishniacozyma were isolated from marine water samples collected from intertidal zones in Liaoning province, northeast China. Phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA), the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA), the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the two subunits of DNA polymerase II (RPB1 and RPB2), the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1), and the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b (CYTB) showed that these strains together with 20 strains from various geographic and ecological origins from other regions of the world represent a novel species in the genus Vishniacozyma. We propose the name Vishniacozyma pseudocarnescens sp. nov. (holotype CGMCC 2.6457) for the new species, which differs phenotypically from its close relatives V. carnescens, V. tephrensis, and V. victoriae by its ability to grow at 30 °C and on 50 % (w/v) glucose-yeast extract agar.

Fungal-Algal Association Drives Lichens' Mutualistic Symbiosis: A Case Study with Trebouxia-Related Lichens.

Biotic and abiotic factors influence the formation of fungal-algal pairings in lichen symbiosis. However, the specific determinants of these associations, particularly when distantly related fungi are involved, remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of different drivers on the association patterns between taxonomically diverse lichenized fungi and their trebouxioid symbiotic partners. We collected 200 samples from four biomes and identified 41 species of lichenized fungi, associating them with 16 species of trebouxioid green algae, of which 62% were previously unreported. The species identity of both the fungal and algal partners had the most significant effect on the outcome of the symbiosis, compared to abiotic factors like climatic variables and geographic distance. Some obviously specific associations were observed in the temperate zone; however, the nestedness value was lower in arid regions than in cold, polar, and temperate regions according to interaction network analysis. Cophylogenetic analyses revealed congruent phylogenies between trebouxioid algae and associated fungi, indicating a tendency to reject random associations. The main evolutionary mechanisms contributing to the observed phylogenetic patterns were "loss" and "failure to diverge" of the algal partners. This study broadens our knowledge of fungal-algal symbiotic patterns in view of Trebouxia-associated fungi.

Cystofilobasidium josepaulonis sp. nov., a novel basidiomycetous yeast species.

A yeast strain belonging to the basidiomycetous yeast genus Cystofilobasidium was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected in an intertidal zone in Shandong province, PR China. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S ribosomal RNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicate that this strain, together with three other strains isolated from basal ice collected in Norway, the gut of an insect and an alga collected in Russia, represent a novel species of the genus, for which the name Cystofilobasidium josepaulonis sp. nov. (holotype strain CGMCC 2.6672T) is proposed. The novel species differs from the known species of the genus Cystofilobasidium by 1.7 %-4.1 and 11.3 %-17.1 % mismatches in the D1/D2 domain and the ITS region, respectively. This species forms teliospores on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and 10 % V8 juice agar, but teliospore germination with basidia was not observed.

Influence of PD-1/PD-L1 on immune microenvironment in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between the expression of PD-1, PD-L1, CD3, CD8, Foxp3 and clinicopathological features in patients with oral leukoplakia (OLK) and oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) as well as the malignant outcome in OLK patients, and to study the effect of PD-1 and PD-L1 on immune microenvironment in the progression of oral carcinogenesis. METHODS: We evaluated the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and composition of CD3+ , CD8+ and Foxp3+ T lymphocytes in OLK and OSCC samples by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and analyzed their relation with clinical information and malignant transformation in OLK patients. RESULTS: IHC staining demonstrated that the expression of PD-1 was significantly increased in the high-grade OLK group than in the low-grade OLK group, while PD-L1 was detected mainly in OSCC. The expression of CD3, CD8, and Foxp3 was found higher in the high-grade OLK group than in the low-grade OLK group, and the Foxp3+ cells were found more in the OSCC group than in the high-grade OLK group. PD-1 was significantly correlated with CD3 (p < 0.05, R = 0.52), CD8 (p < 0.05, R = 0.46), and Foxp3 (p < 0.05, R = 0.46), and the low PD-1-expression group showed a better malignant-free survival than high PD-1 expression group in the OLK (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The PD-1/PD-L1 may induce immune suppression in OLK and accelerate the progress of malignant transformation.

Yeast Diversity in the Qaidam Basin Desert in China with the Description of Five New Yeast Species.

The Qaidam Basin is the highest and one of the largest and driest deserts on Earth. It is considered a mars analog area in China. In contrast to numerous studies concerning its geology, geophysical, and chemistry, relatively few studies have reported microbial diversity and distribution in this area. Here, we investigated culturable yeast diversity in the northeast Qaidam Basin. A total of 194 yeast strains were isolated, and 12 genera and 21 species were identified, among which 19 were basidiomycetous yeasts. Naganishia albida, N. adeliensis, and Filobasidium magnum were the three most dominant species and were distributed in thirteen samples from eight locations. Five new species (Filobasidium chaidanensis, Kondoa globosum, Symmetrospora salmoneus, Teunia nitrariae, and Vishniacozyma pseudodimennae) were found and described based on ITS and D1D2 gene loci together with phenotypic characteristics and physiochemical analysis. Representative strains from each species were chosen for the salt-tolerant test, in which species showed different responses to different levels of NaCl concentrations. Further, the strain from soil can adapt well to the higher salt stress compared to those from plants or lichens. Our study represents the first report of the yeast diversity in the Qaidam Basin, including five new species, and also provides further information on the halotolerance of yeasts from the saline environment in mars analog.

Phenotype analysis of 11 fetuses with 22q11.2 microduplication diagnosed prenatally / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical phynotypes of fetuses with 22q11.2 microduplications.Method:Eleven fetuses were diagnosed with 22q11.2 microduplications among 2 969 cases who underwent prenatal chromosomal microarray analysis from January 2016 to February 2020. The phenotypes, indications for invasive prenatal diagnosis, genetic results, pregnancy outcomes and postnatal clinical presentation were analyzed.Results:There were 6 cases diagnosed with classic 3.0 Mb microduplication (DiGeorge and velocardiofacial syndromes, DGS/VCFS) in the 22q11.2, 1 case with 1.5 Mb proximal microduplication and 4 cases with distal small segment microduplication (E-H). Out of 11 fetuses with 22q11.2 microduplications,7 cases were inherited, 2 cases was de novo and data were not available for 2 cases. Vicular septal defect and anencephalu were diagnosed by ultrasonography in 2 cases,fetal growth restriction was diagnosed in 2 cases,no any abnormalities were found in remaining 7 cases. Seven cases(3 cases of classic 3.0 Mb microduplication, 1 case of proximal microduplication and 3 cases of distal small segment microduplication) were delivered at full-term;and pregnancy was terminated in 4 cases. Seven infants were followed up after birth, 4 infants were normal, 3 showed abnormal phenotypes.Conclusion:The clinical phenotypes after birth of fetuses with 22q11.2 microduplication are diverse. Prenatal genetic counseling is necessary,so that pregnant women and their families can fully understand the possible clinical phenotypes and make informed choices.

Thoughts on Current Quality Standard of Atractylodis Rhizoma Based on Genuine Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Atractylodis Rhizoma is a kind of commonly used clinical Chinese medicine （TCM）， which was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing （《神农本草经》）. At that time， it was called "Zhu"， which is the general name of Atractylodis Rhizoma and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma. After Song dynasty， Atractylodis Rhizoma and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were separated. Atractylodis Rhizoma can be divided into Atractylodes lancea and A. chinensis. In history， A. lancea as authentic， that its quality is better than A. chinensis. However， the quality of Atractylodis Rhizoma was evaluated by the index component atractylodin in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The general results showed that the content of atractylodin in A. lancea was low， even failed to meet the specified standard， and its content in A. chinensis was significantly higher than that in A. lancea. The results were inconsistent with the records of ancient books and documents， and the quality theory of "genuine medicine is the best". It could not reflect the quality advantage of genuine Atractylodis Rhizoma， and may even affect the clinical application and development momentum of genuine medicine. In short， the quality standard of TCM should not only conform to the historical experience， but also have the connotation of modern science and technology， which can stand the test of practice. Based on this， the author intends to sort out relevant laws and regulations， sort out the literature related to the authenticity， composition and efficacy of Atractylodis Rhizoma， and analyze the rationality of the current standard of Atractylodis Rhizoma by integrating the relevant records of historical classics and modern research results， so as to provide a basis for the improvement of the quality standard of Atractylodis Rhizoma.

Analysis on Difference of Medicinal Properties Between Atractylodes lancea and A. chinensis Based on Correlation of Energy Metabolism and Dryness / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between dryness and energy metabolism of Atractylodis Rhizoma， and to analyze the difference of medicinal properties between Atractylodes lancea and A. chinensis. MethodA total of 110 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 11 groups， including normal group， volatile oil of A. lancea 1-5 group （S1-S5 group， doses of 447， 473， 442， 489， 496 mg·kg-1） and volatile oil of A. chinensis 1-5 group （N1-N5 group， doses of 197， 118， 281， 222， 185 mg·kg-1）， the administration volume was 0.01 mL·g-1 with intragastric administration for 21 days. Dryness effect of A. lancea and A. chinensis on rats was evaluated by comparing the body weight， drinking water volume， urine volume， whole blood viscosity and pathological sections of submandibular gland stained with hematoxylin-eosin （HE）. The expression of aquaporin 2 （AQP2） in rat kidney was measured by immunohistochemistry， the mRNA expressions of cytochrome C oxidase subunit 7A2 （COX7A2） and succinate dehydrogenase （SDH） complex subunit D （SDHD） in liver tissue were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The contents of SDH， lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） and sodium ion-potassium ion-adenosine triphosphatase （Na+-K+-ATPase） in rat plasma were determined by colorimetry. The quality of A. lancea and A. chinensis was evaluated by coefficient of variation method， and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between dryness and energy metabolism. ResultCompared with the normal group， the amounts of drinking water and urine in volatile oil of A. lancea group and volatile oil of A. chinensis group increased， and the submandibular gland acini atrophied， the whole blood viscosity of rats in the volatile oil of A. lancea group increased significantly （P<0.01）， the expression levels of COX7A2 and SDHD mRNA， the activities of SDH， LDH and Na+-K+-ATPase increased significantly （P<0.01）， and the expression of AQP2 in kidney decreased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the normal group， the expression level of COX7A2 mRNA， SDH activity and whole blood viscosity in the volatile oil of A. chinensis group increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， the AQP2 and SDH mRNA expression levels， LDH and Na+-K+-ATPase activities had no significant difference. The comprehensive score analysis of each index showed that the effect of volatile oil of A. lancea on dryness and energy metabolism was stronger than that of volatile oil of A. chinensis， and there was a positive correlation between dryness index and energy metabolism index. ConclusionThe two indexes show that medicinal properties of A. lancea is stronger than that of A. chinensis， and energy metabolism is closely related to the dryness of Atractylodis Rhizoma. It is suggested that it is reasonable to evaluate the dryness effect of Atractylodis Rhizoma from the perspective of energy metabolism， which can further enrich the evaluation indexes of medicinal properties.

Analysis on Difference of Medicinal Properties Between Atractylodes lancea and A. chinensis Based on Correlation of Energy Metabolism and Dryness / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between dryness and energy metabolism of Atractylodis Rhizoma， and to analyze the difference of medicinal properties between Atractylodes lancea and A. chinensis. MethodA total of 110 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 11 groups， including normal group， volatile oil of A. lancea 1-5 group （S1-S5 group， doses of 447， 473， 442， 489， 496 mg·kg-1） and volatile oil of A. chinensis 1-5 group （N1-N5 group， doses of 197， 118， 281， 222， 185 mg·kg-1）， the administration volume was 0.01 mL·g-1 with intragastric administration for 21 days. Dryness effect of A. lancea and A. chinensis on rats was evaluated by comparing the body weight， drinking water volume， urine volume， whole blood viscosity and pathological sections of submandibular gland stained with hematoxylin-eosin （HE）. The expression of aquaporin 2 （AQP2） in rat kidney was measured by immunohistochemistry， the mRNA expressions of cytochrome C oxidase subunit 7A2 （COX7A2） and succinate dehydrogenase （SDH） complex subunit D （SDHD） in liver tissue were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The contents of SDH， lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） and sodium ion-potassium ion-adenosine triphosphatase （Na+-K+-ATPase） in rat plasma were determined by colorimetry. The quality of A. lancea and A. chinensis was evaluated by coefficient of variation method， and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between dryness and energy metabolism. ResultCompared with the normal group， the amounts of drinking water and urine in volatile oil of A. lancea group and volatile oil of A. chinensis group increased， and the submandibular gland acini atrophied， the whole blood viscosity of rats in the volatile oil of A. lancea group increased significantly （P<0.01）， the expression levels of COX7A2 and SDHD mRNA， the activities of SDH， LDH and Na+-K+-ATPase increased significantly （P<0.01）， and the expression of AQP2 in kidney decreased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the normal group， the expression level of COX7A2 mRNA， SDH activity and whole blood viscosity in the volatile oil of A. chinensis group increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， the AQP2 and SDH mRNA expression levels， LDH and Na+-K+-ATPase activities had no significant difference. The comprehensive score analysis of each index showed that the effect of volatile oil of A. lancea on dryness and energy metabolism was stronger than that of volatile oil of A. chinensis， and there was a positive correlation between dryness index and energy metabolism index. ConclusionThe two indexes show that medicinal properties of A. lancea is stronger than that of A. chinensis， and energy metabolism is closely related to the dryness of Atractylodis Rhizoma. It is suggested that it is reasonable to evaluate the dryness effect of Atractylodis Rhizoma from the perspective of energy metabolism， which can further enrich the evaluation indexes of medicinal properties.

Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Effects, and Molecular Mechanisms of Licorice in Potential Therapy of COVID-19.

The current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global challenge, and although vaccines have been developed, it is expected that mild to moderate patients will control their symptoms, especially in developing countries. Licorice, not only a food additive, but also a common traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which has several pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammation, detoxification, antibacterial, antitussive, and immunomodulatory effects, especially in respiratory diseases. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizin diamine and glycyrrhizin extract have been widely studied and used in COVID-19 clinical trials. Therefore, it is a very interesting topic to explore the material basis, pharmacological characteristics and molecular mechanism of licorice in adjuvant treatment of COVID-19. In this paper, the material basis of licorice for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 is deeply analyzed, and there are significant differences among different components in different pharmacological mechanisms. Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid inhibit the synthesis of inflammatory factors and inflammatory mediators by blocking the binding of ACE 2 to virus spike protein, and exert antiviral and antibacterial effects. Immune cells are stimulated by multiple targets and pathways to interfere with the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Liquiritin can prevent and cure COVID-19 by simulating type I interferon. It is suggested that licorice can exert its therapeutic advantage through multi-components and multi-targets. To sum up, licorice has the potential to adjuvant prevent and treat COVID-19. It not only plays a significant role in anti-inflammation and anti-ACE-2, but also significantly improves the clinical symptoms of fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, suggesting that licorice is expected to be a candidate drug for adjuvant treatment of patients with early / mild COVID-19.

Characterization of the intestinal digesta and mucosal microbiome of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

The intestinal microbiome plays a pivotal role in the nutritional digestion and metabolism of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Here, we characterized the digesta and mucosal microbiome of the anterior, middle, and posterior intestine of the grass carp, using 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing. Based on 16S rRNA amplicon data, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroides were the dominant phyla in the intestine of grass carp. Our results also showed that microbial communities of the middle intestine exhibited higher alpha diversity indices compared with the anterior and posterior intestine. The clustering of microbial communities that had either colonized in the digesta or were attached to the mucosa, were significantly tighter in the posterior intestine, based on average unweighted Unifrac distances (P < 0.05). The digesta or mucosa of the anterior and middle intestines were similar in microbial composition, but were significantly different to the posterior intestine (P < 0.05). In digesta and mucosa samples from the posterior intestine, we observed a significantly increased abundance of cellulose-degrading microbiomes, such as Bacteroides, Clostridiales and Spirochaetia (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that the microbiomes of the posterior intestine, either attached to the mucosa or colonized in the digesta, were distinct from the microbiomes of the anterior and middle intestine in grass carp.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation improves pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization- embryo transfer : A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on the pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) based on the available clinical evidence.@*METHODS@#We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, CBM and Wanfang Database up to February 2021 for published randomized controlled trials (RCT) relevant to TEAS for the improvement of the pregnancy outcomes of IVF-ET. We performed literature screening, data extraction and quality evaluation according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by a meta-analysis with the RevMan 5.3 software.@*RESULTS@#A total of 2 206 cases of IVF-ET from 9 RCTs were included, 1 018 in the TEAS group and 1 188 in the control. The clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the TEAS than in the mock TEAS and non-TEAS control groups (RR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.42－2.42, P < 0.001; RR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.10－1.39, P = 0.0004), and so was it before and after oocyte retrieval (RR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.03－2.17, P = 0.03; RR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.12－1.92, P = 0.005). The TEAS group also showed dramatically improved embryo implantation rate (RR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.24－1.79, P < 0.0001) and live birth rate (RR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.04－1.98, P = 0.03) compared with the control.@*CONCLUSIONS@#As a safe and non-invasive treatment, TEAS can significantly improve the pregnancy outcomes of IVF-ET, with definite effectiveness. /.

A review of clinical specifications of Scutellariae Radix pieces in ancient and modern literature / 中国中药杂志

Scutellariae Radix is a commonly used Chinese medicinal first recorded in the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica. In the ancient books of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), Scutellariae Radix is used in two specifications, solid one(Ziqin) and hollow one(Kuqin). In the current rules and regulations of Chinese medicine, Scutellariae Radix is used without the specific requirements for the specifications applied. To clarify the evolution of Scutellariae Radix specifications and analyze the current specifications of Scutellariae Radix pieces, the present study reviews the Scutellariae Radix from ancient literature, modern rules and regulations, and differences between Ziqin and Kuqin in composition, efficacy, and transformation mechanism. According to the research on ancient books, Kuqin is effective in clearing the fire of the upper energizer, and Ziqin in purging the heat of the lower energizer. Modern studies have revealed that Kuqin and Ziqin are significantly different in chemical components, and Ziqin and Kuqin target the colon and lung, respectively, which are consistent with the relevant records in ancient books. The review study suggests that the two specifications of Scutellariae Radix are reasonable since they can facilitate the precise treatment of Scutellariae Radix.

Upregulation of CSF-1 is correlated with elevated TAM infiltration and poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Mounting lines of evidence indicated that the "colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1)/tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)" signature plays an important role in the progression, invasion and metastasis of multiple tumors. However, the potential role of CSF-1/TAM in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains largely unknown. In the present study, the expression of CSF-1 from 99 OSCC specimens and its correlation with clinicopathological features and patient outcomes were investigated. Meanwhile, the correlation between CSF-1 expression and TAM infiltration was also explored. To investigate the potential effect of CSF-1 on tumor growth, nude mice were subcutaneously injected with Cal27 cell line and a small molecule inhibitor of CSF-1 (BZL945). The results showed that the high expression rate of CSF-1 (52%) was found in OSCC, and the upregulation of CSF-1 was closely correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between a high CSF-1 level and elevated TAM infiltration. The xenograft model study showed that CSF-1 signal blockade inhibited tumor growth, with a significant synchronous decrease in CSF-1 expression and TAM infiltration. Overall, our findings indicated that CSF-1 plays a crucial role in TAMs-mediated OSCC tumor progression and invasion. The "CSF-1/TAM" signaling axis may serve as a prospective target for anti-tumor therapy of OSCC.

Identification, characterization, and immunological analysis of complement component 4 from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Complement component 4 (C4) has critical immunological functions in vertebrates. In the current study, a C4 homolog (gcC4) was identified in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The full-length 5458 bp gcC4 cDNA contained a 5148 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 1715 amino acids with a signal peptide and eight conservative domains. The gcC4 protein has a high level of identity with other fish C4 counterparts and is phylogenetically clustered with cyprinid fish C4. The gcC4 transcript shows wide tissue distribution and is inducible by Aeromonas hydrophila in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, its expression also fluctuates upon lipopolysaccharide or flagellin stimulation in vitro. During infection, the gcC4 protein level decreases or increases to varying degrees, and the intrahepatic C4 expression location changes. With gcC4 overexpression, interleukin 1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon transcripts are all upregulated by A. hydrophila infection. Meanwhile, overexpression of gcC4 reduces bacterial invasion or proliferation. Moreover, gcC4 may activate the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings demonstrate the vital role of gcC4 in the innate immunity of grass carp.

16S rRNA sequencing analysis of the correlation between the intestinal microbiota and body-mass of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

There appears to be a close correlation between intestinal microbiotas and obesity. Still, our understanding of the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and body-mass in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) remains limited. Herein, we explored this association in the anterior, middle, and posterior intestine of cohabitating grass carp by using next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that alpha diversity indices of the low-weight-gain (LWG) groups were higher than that of the high-weight-gain (HWG) groups. HWG groups possessed the decreased ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes compared with that in the LWG groups. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) revealed that there were significant differences between the HWG and LWG groups. Furthermore, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) coupled with effect size (LEfSe) showed that the order Clostridiales were significantly abundant in the HWG groups. Phylogenetic molecular ecology networks (pMENs) showed a lower average path distance (GD), higher average clustering coefficient (avgCC), and higher average degree (avgK) in the HWG group. Our results suggested that there appeared to be a tight correlation between the intestinal microbiota and body-mass in grass carp. The study provides a referable resource for establishing the relationship between intestinal microbiotas and economic traits, which also lays a foundation for the progress of new fish probiotic in the future.