Gut microbiota and differential genes-maintained homeostasis is key to maintaining health of individuals with Yang-deficiency constitution.

OBJECTIVE: Yang-deficiency constitution (YADC) is a common unbalanced constitution that predisposes individuals to certain diseases. However, not all people with YADC manifest develop diseases. This calls for delineation of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Previous studies suggested that the gut microbiota and gene differential expression should be considered. METHODS: In the present study, we compared profiles of gut microbiota between four healthy YADC individuals and those of five healthy balanced constitution (BC) counterparts, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Furthermore, YADC relevant genes identified by comparing 62 healthy YADC and 58 healthy BC individuals in total to perform intersection analysis, functional clustering and pathway enrichment analyses. RESULTS: The levels of harmful gut microbiota (Prevotellaceae, LDA score > 4.0, P = 0.0141) and beneficial gut microbiota (Ruminococcaceae, LDA score > 4.0, P = 0.0025, Faecalibacterium, LDA score > 4.0, P = 0.0484) were both elevated in healthy YADC individuals. Also, we found that the specific metabolic pathway with 2, 6-Dichloro-p-hydroquinone 1, 2-Dioxygenase (PcpA) as the core in gut microbiota and the glutathione transferase activity has been enriched by YADC relevant genes in healthy YADC individuals were both responsible for the detoxification of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon substances. CONCLUSIONS: Both beneficial and harmful factors had been detected in healthy YADC individuals, functionally, they may have triggered homeostasis to maintain the health of individuals with YADC. The homeostasis may be maintained by beneficial and harmful factors from gut flora and genes. Future studies are expected to focus on halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons and their detoxification processes.

The genes for sensory perception of sound should be considered in gene diagnosis of congenital sensorineural hearing loss and microtia.

Congenital sensorineural hearing loss (CSHL) and microtia are development-related diseases, sharing some factors and affecting children's hearing. However, genetic tests only focus on CSHL. We try to identify the common molecular mechanism of CSHL and microtia as candidates combining gene diagnosis biomarkers. Whole-exon sequencing (WES), Sanger sequencing, qPCR, and bioinformatics analyses were performed in microtia family (F1), family two, whose proband suffered from microtia and CSHL (F2), five microtia, and four CSHL individuals, respectively. We found that 40% microtia and 40% CSHL relevant genes were detected in F1 and a sharing pathway: the sensory perception of sound was identified. Moreover, the copy number variation in proband F2 was identified in one gene of the sharing pathway: EYA1. Meanwhile, two variants of BUB3 were identified in F1 data. BUB3 is related to development, dog ear type, direct and indirect interaction with microtia, and CSHL relevant genes. Notably, although the allele frequency of two variants of BUB3 showed significant differences between microtia and CSHL, the special microtia-relevant genotype also could be detected in one CSHL sample. These results suggest that the sensory perception of sound and the development of relevant pathways may be the common pathways of microtia and CSHL. Genes of these pathways can be used as candidates combining gene diagnosis biomarkers.

[Phospholipase Dα1 and hydrogen sulfide were involved in the allelopathy of oridonin to Arabidopsis thaliana]. / ç£·è„‚é ¶Dα1与H2Så‚ä¸Žå†¬å‡Œè‰ç”²ç´ å¯¹æ‹Ÿå—èŠ¥çš„åŒ–æ„Ÿä½œç”¨.

We investigated the signal relationship between phospholipase Dα1 (PLDα1) and the gas signal molecule hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in Arabidopsis thaliana response to the allelopathy of diterpenoid oridonin. The wild type Arabidopsis Columbia (WT), phospholipase Dα1 (PLDα1) deletion mutant pldα1, D-/L-cysteine desulfyrase synthetic deletion mutant d-cdes and l-cdes seedlings were used as experiment materials, while 60 µmol·L-1 oridonin was applied as treatment concentration. The results showed that oridonin significantly increased H2S content, PLD and D-/L-CDes activities, and gene expressions of PLDα1 and D-/L-CDes in WT. Under oridonin treatment, the D-CDes and L-CDes activities of pldɑ1 seedlings were significantly lower than those of WT. Both D-CDes and L-CDes activities increased after exogenous addition of phosphatidic acid (PA) and were higher than those of WT. Oridonin significantly inhibited root growth of four lines, with d-cdes and l-cdes being more sensitive to oridonin. Application of NaHS promoted root growth and endogenous H2S production of four lines under oridonin treatment, while application of PA increased root growth and endogenous H2S production in WT, pldɑ1 and l-cdes, but had no effect in d-cdes. These results indicated that PLDα1 and H2S played a vital role in driving the response of Arabidopsis to oridonin, and that PLDα1/PA was located at the upstream of D-CDes to participate the regulation of the H2S production and root growth.

Probing the Structural and Electronic Properties of Dirhenium Halide Clusters: A Density Functional Theory Study.

Dirhenium halide dianions received considerable attention in past decades due to the unusual metal-metal quadruple bond. The systematic structural evolution of dirhenium halide clusters has not been sufficiently studied and hence is not well-understood. In this work, we report an in-depth investigation on the structures and electronic properties of doubly charged dirhenium halide clusters Re2X82- (X = F, Cl, Br, I). Our computational efforts rely on the well-tested unbiased CALYPSO (Crystal structure AnaLYsis by Particle Swarm Optimization) method combined with density functional theory calculations. We find that all ground-state Re2X82- clusters have cube-like structures of D4h symmetry with two Re atoms encapsulated in halogen framework. The reasonable agreement between the simulated and experimental photoelectron spectrum of the Re2Cl82- cluster supports strongly the reliability of our computational strategy. The chemical bonding analysis reveals that the δ bond is the pivotal factor for the ground-state Re2X82- (X = F, Cl, Br, I) clusters to maintain D4h symmetric cube-like structures, and the enhanced stability of Re2Cl82- is mainly attributed to the chemical bonding of 5d orbital of Re atoms and 3p orbital of Cl atoms.

[Research on cooperation between Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli in dental caries lesion].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the count of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacilli (LB) in different groups and the cases in dental caries. To research the synergistic effect of S. mutans and LB in the process of dental caries. METHODS: 110 cases with dental caries were selected and divided according to the different degree of caries, nature and ages. To culture bacteria in the selective culture medium, then count the number of colonies. The detection rate of two kinds of bacteria in different groups, means of the bacteria count and the cariogenic cases were analyzed. RESULTS: The means of the two bacteria count increased along with the degree of caries increased (P < 0.05), and increased in the older group (P < 0.05) and the active stage (P < 0.05). The cases of two bacteria increased with the degree of caries increased (P < 0.05), and increased in the older group (P < 0.05). But there were no significant differences in evolution period and arrested caries. CONCLUSION: The pathopoiesis capability of S. mutans and LB enhanced with the extent of caries increased. In the older group, their synergism role play a lead position. In evolution period and arrested caries, S. mutans and LB were difference only in quantity and their solo cariogenic potential all enhanced in active stage, but there were not correlation on pathopoiesis capability and active or stationary phase.

Sensitive and rapid detection of Aeromonas caviae in stool samples by loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

In this study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay targeting the 16S-23S intergenic spacer regions (internal transcribed spacer) of Aeromonas caviae was developed. Eighteen reference strains and 109 clinical samples were analyzed. The results showed this detection technique is more reliable and convenient compared with common polymerase chain reaction and biochemical culture methods.