A p-n-p Configuration Based on the Cuprous Oxide/Silicon Tandem Photocathode for Accelerating Solar-Driven Hydrogen Evolution.

Photoelectrochemical splitting of water into hydrogen is a potential route to motivate the application of solar-driven conversion to clean energy but is regularly limited by its low efficiency. The key to addressing this issue is to design a suitable photocathode configuration for high-efficiency photogenerated carrier separation and transmission to photocathode-surface reaction sites. In this work, we report a Si-Cu2O tandem photocathode featuring a p-n-p configuration for solar-driven hydrogen evolution in an alkaline solution. Driven by this built-in field, the electrons induced from Si were transferred through FeOOH, which acted as electron tunnels, to combine with the holes from Cu2O, triggering more electrons generated from Cu2O to particiate in the surface reaction. Under simulated sunlight, the optimized photocathode achieved and maintained a photocurrent density of -11 mA/cm2 at 0 VRHE in alkaline conditions for 120 min, outperforming the reported tandem cell consisting of Si and Cu2O photocathodes. Our results provide valuable insight into a feasible way to construct an optimized photocathode for efficient solar-driven H2 evolution.

Freestanding Ammonium Vanadate Composite Cathodes with Lattice Self-Regulation and Ion Exchange for Long-Lasting Ca-Ion Batteries.

Calcium-ion batteries (CIBs) have emerged as a promising alternative for electrochemical energy storage. The lack of high-performance cathode materials severely limits the development of CIBs. Vanadium oxides are particularly attractive as cathode materials for CIBs, and preinsertion chemistry is often used to improve their calcium storage performance. However, the room temperature cycling lifespan of vanadium oxides in organic electrolytes still falls short of 1000 cycles. Here, based on preinsertion chemistry, the cycling life of vanadium oxides is further improved by integrated electrode and electrolyte engineering. Utilizing a tailored Ca electrolyte, the constructed freestanding (NH4)2V6O16·1.35H2O@graphene oxide@carbon nanotube (NHVO-H@GO@CNT) composite cathode achieves a 305 mAh g-1 high capacity and 10 000 cycles record-long life. Additionally, for the first time, a Ca-ion hybrid capacitor full cell is assembled and delivers a capacity of 62.8 mAh g-1. The calcium storage mechanism of NHVO-H@GO@CNT based on a two-phase reaction and the exchange of NH4 + and Ca2+ during cycling are revealed. The lattice self-regulation of V─O layers is observed and the layered vanadium oxides with Ca2+ pillars formed by ion exchange exhibit higher capacity. This work provides novel strategies to enhance the calcium storage performance of vanadium oxides via integrated structural design of electrodes and electrolyte modification.

Study of association of leptin with leukocyte telomere length in a Chinese rural population.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the relationship between adipocyte factors, insulin resistance, and other indicators with telomere length. However, these studies did not consider the influence of changes in different indicators on telomere length over time. Therefore, the aim of this study is to elucidate the impact of changes in adipocyte factors, HOMA-IR, and other indicators on the dynamic variation of telomere length. METHODS: The data were from a cohort study conducted in Ningxia, China. A total of 1624 subjects were analyzed. Adipokines and relative leukocyte telomere length (RLTL) were measured, and changes in Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), Homeostatic Model Assessment for ß-Cell Function (HOMA-ß), and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) were calculated. Generalized linear models evaluated associations between changes in adipokines and RLTL changes. Furthermore, univariate analyses examined the effects of changes in adipokines and insulin resistance indicators on ΔRLTL. RESULTS: The research findings indicate that females generally have shorter telomeres compared to males. In comparison to the low-level group of Δleptin (LEP), the high-level group of ΔLEP shows a negative correlation with ΔRLTL (B=-1.32, 95% CI (-2.38, -0.27)). Even after multivariable adjustments, this relationship persists (B=-1.31, 95% CI (-2.24, -0.23)). Further analysis reveals that after adjusting for ΔHOMA-IR, ΔHOMA-ß, and ΔQUICKI, the high-level group of ΔLEP still exhibits a significant negative correlation with ΔRLTL (B=-1.37, 95% CI (-2.43, -0.31)). However, the interaction effects between ΔHOMA-IR, ΔHOMA-ß, ΔQUICKI, and ΔLEP do not affect ΔRLTL. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of leptin were significantly correlated with shortened telomere length. This suggests that increased leptin levels may impact overall individual health by affecting telomere length, underscoring the importance of measures to reduce leptin levels to mitigate the onset and progression of related diseases.

Reliability and Validity of a Theory-Based Determinants of Eating and Physical Activity Behaviors Questionnaire for Chinese Elementary School Children.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to develop and validate a Social Cognitive Theory-based instrument to identify psychosocial factors that influence diet and physical activity among Chinese children aged 10-12 years. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study, with data collected from questionnaires. SETTING: Two elementary schools in Beijing, China. PARTICIPANTS: Fourth to sixth-grade students (N = 1,486) aged 10-12 years were recruited. VARIABLES MEASURED: Gender, height, weight, nation, and grade were collected. Energy-balanced eating behaviors and their related sociopsychological factors were surveyed. ANALYSIS: Confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson correlations, Cronbach α index, and mediation analysis were used. RESULTS: (1) Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a 6-factor solution (51 items) and all factor loadings > 0.32, indicating that the model fitness was acceptable. (2) All correlation coefficients are statistically significant. All of the Cronbach α indexes were > 0.65, indicating acceptable reliability. (3) The mediating effect of goal intention and outcome expectations between self-efficacy and habit strength was statistically significant (P < 0.01), verifying the theory structure. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This questionnaire exhibits good internal consistency, reliability, and structural validity. It can be effectively employed to investigate energy-balanced eating behaviors related to the Social Cognitive Theory in Chinese children.

[Cloning and functional analysis of AcFMO from onion during alliine biosynthesis].

Flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis pathway of CSOs with sulfur oxidation. In order to explore the molecular regulatory mechanism of FMO in the synthesis of onion CSOs, based on transcriptome database and phylogenetic analysis, one AcFMO gene that may be involved in alliin synthesis was obtained, the AcFMO had a cDNA of 1 374 bp and encoded 457 amino acids, which was evolutionarily closest to the AsFMO of garlic. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) indicated that AcFMO was the highest in the flowers and the lowest in the leaf sheaths. The results of subcellular localization showed that the AcFMO gene product was widely distributed throughout the cell A yeast expression vector was constructed, and the AcFMO gene was ecotopically overexpressed in yeast to further study the enzyme function in vitro and could catalyze the synthesis of alliin by S-allyl-l-cysteine. In summary, the cloning and functional identification of AcFMO have important reference value for understanding the biosynthesis of CSOs in onions.

Association between dietary antioxidant capacity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese adults: a population-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Higher intakes of dietary antioxidants have been linked to a lower type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk. However, few studies have comprehensively examined the overall dietary antioxidant capacity, assessed by dietary antioxidant quality scores (DAQS) and dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC), related to T2DM risk, especially in populations consuming relatively monotonous diets. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of DAQS, DTAC, and T2DM among rural Chinese adults. METHODS: Data from 12,467 participants from the Natural Population Cohort of Northwest China: Ningxia Project was analyzed. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. DAQS were calculated based on vitamins A, C, and E, zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) intake. DTAC was estimated using the ferric-reducing ability of plasma assay. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of DAQS and DTAC with T2DM risk. Restricted cubic splines were used to assess potential non-linear relationships between DTAC and T2DM. RESULTS: T2DM was observed in 1,238 (9.9%) participants. After adjusting for confounders, compared to the lowest tertiles (T1) of DAQS, the odds ratios (ORs) for T2DM were 1.03 (95% CI 0.82-1.30) in T2 and 0.85 (95% CI 0.68-1.06) in T3 (P = 0.010). Compared to T1, the ORs for T2DM in the highest T3 were 0.78 (95% CI 0.67-0.91, P-trend = 0.008) for vitamin A, 1.34 (95% CI 1.15-1.56, P-trend < 0.001) for vitamin E, 0.83 (95% CI 0.71-0.97, P-trend = 0.007) for Se, and 0.86 (95% CI 0.74-1.01, P-trend = 0.033) for Zn. Compared to the lowest quartile(Q1) of DTAC, the OR in the highest Q4 was 0.96 (95% CI 0.80-1.17, P-trend = 0.024) for T2DM. A non-linear relationship was observed between DATC and T2DM. CONCLUSION: Higher DAQS and DATC were associated with a lower T2DM risk, suggesting that consuming antioxidant-rich foods may reduce the T2DM risk.

Assessment of the effects of myopic and hyperopic anisometropia on choroidal vascular structure in children using SS-OCTA.

OBJECTIVE: To compare large- and medium-sized choroidal vascularity and the choriocapillaris (CC) flow area in children with different refractive errors using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). METHODS: Forty-two anisometropic children were enrolled and divided into hyperopic anisometropia (HA) and myopic anisometropia (MA) groups. SS-OCTA was performed to analyse choroidal vascularity. Mean choroidal thickness (CT), choroidal vascularity volume (CVV), choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and CC flow area were compared between the two eyes. The inter-ocular differences between the two groups were also determined. RESULTS: Mean CT and CVV were highest in eyes with shorter axial lengths in both refractive groups, and the difference between the two eyes was positively correlated with the difference in axial length at the foveal region. Significant differences in the CVI in the MA group were only found in the parafoveal region. Inter-ocular differences in the CC were significantly reduced in eyes with longer axial lengths in the foveal and parafoveal regions of the HA and MA groups, respectively. Comparing inter-ocular differences, CC was significantly greater in the parafoveal region of the MA group than the HA group. CONCLUSIONS: All layers of choroidal vasculature were thinner in eyes with longer axial lengths in all groups. The inter-ocular CC difference was greater in the MA than in the HA group, with similar differences in axial length. This suggests that both medium-to-large choroidal vascular and choroidal capillaries may play a role in myopia development.

Choroidal Vascularity Index and Choroidal Structural Changes in Children With Nephrotic Syndrome.

Purpose: To investigate the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and choroidal structural changes in children with nephrotic syndrome. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 45 children with primary nephrotic syndrome and 40 normal controls. All participants underwent enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography examinations. An automatic segmentation method based on deep learning was used to segment the choroidal vessels and stroma, and the choroidal volume (CV), vascular volume (VV), and CVI within a 4.5 mm diameter circular area centered around the macular fovea were obtained. Clinical data, including blood lipids, serum proteins, renal function, and renal injury indicators, were collected from the patients. Results: Compared with normal controls, children with nephrotic syndrome had a significant increase in CV (nephrotic syndrome: 4.132 ± 0.464 vs. normal controls: 3.873 ± 0.574; P = 0.024); no significant change in VV (nephrotic syndrome: 1.276 ± 0.173 vs. normal controls: 1.277 ± 0.165; P = 0.971); and a significant decrease in the CVI (nephrotic syndrome: 0.308 [range, 0.270-0.386] vs. normal controls: 0.330 [range, 0.288-0.387]; P < 0.001). In the correlation analysis, the CVI was positively correlated with serum total protein, serum albumin, serum prealbumin, ratio of serum albumin to globulin, and 24-hour urine volume and was negatively correlated with total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, urinary protein concentration, and ratio of urinary transferrin to creatinine (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: The CVI is significantly reduced in children with nephrotic syndrome, and the decrease in the CVI parallels the severity of kidney disease, indicating choroidal involvement in the process of nephrotic syndrome. Translational Relevance: Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how nephrotic syndrome affects the choroid.

Dosage-effect of selenium supplementation on blood glucose and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus and normal mice.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of selenium (Se) supplementation on glycemic control is disparate. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effects of different dosages of Se diets on the blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, db/db) and normal (db/m) mice. METHODS: The db/db and db/m mice were fed with different dosages of Se supplemented diets (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.9, 2.7 mg/kg) for 12 weeks, respectively. Se concentrations of tissues, physical and biochemical characteristics, oxidative stress indexes and gene expression related to glucose, lipid metabolism and Se transporters of liver were detected. RESULTS: The Se concentrations in tissues were related to the dosages of Se supplementation in db/db (blood: slope=11.69, r = 0.924; skeletal muscle: slope=0.36, r = 0.505; liver: slope=22.12, r = 0.828; kidney: slope=11.81, r = 0.736) and db/m mice (blood: slope=19.89, r = 0.876; skeletal muscle: slope=2.80, r = 0.883; liver: slope=44.75, r = 0.717; kidney: slope=60.15, r = 0.960). Compared with Se2.7 group, the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of Se0.1 and Se0.3 group were decreased at week3 in db/db mice. Compared with control (Se0) group, the FBG levels of Se2.7 group were increased from week6 to week12 in db/m mice. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of Se0.3 group was lower than that of Se0.9 and Se2.7 group in db/m mice. Furthermore, compared with control group, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in skeletal muscle of Se0.1 group was decreased, while that of Se2.7 group was increased in db/db mice; the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in skeletal muscle of Se0.3, Se0.9 and Se2.7 group was increased both in db/db and db/m mice. For db/db mice, glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic (G6pc) expression of other groups were lower and fatty acid synthase (Fasn) expression of Se0.9 group were lower compared with Se0.3 group. For db/m mice, compared with Se0.3 group, (peroxisome proliferative activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha) Pgc-1α expression of control and Se0.9 group were higher; (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1) Pck1 expression of Se0.1, Se0.9, and Se2.7 group were higher. CONCLUSION: Low dosages (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg) of Se supplementation exerted beneficial effects on FBG levels and glucose tolerance through regulating hepatic glycolysis and gluconeogenesis and inhibit the oxidative stress while high dosages of Se (0.9 and 2.7 mg/kg) supplementation enhanced FBG levels, impaired glucose tolerance and aggravate oxidative stress.

Dietary inflammatory index, dietary total antioxidant capacity, and frailty among older Chinese adults.

OBJECTIVES: Frailty is an age-related syndrome associated with poor health outcomes. Studies in developed countries indicate that the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) are important dietary factors influencing the risk of frailty in older adults. However, few studies have explored the association between DII, DTAC, and frailty among older Chinese adults. The objective of the current study was to examine whether DII and DTAC were associated with pre-frailty or frailty among older Chinese adults. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community-based. PARTICIPANTS: We included 6414 participants aged ≥60 years. MEASUREMENTS: Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The DII and energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) were calculated using food parameters. DTAC was estimated using two widely adopted antioxidant scores: DTAC based on ferric reducing antioxidant power and dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS) obtained from vitamins (vitamins A, C, and E) and minerals (zinc and selenium) with antioxidant functions. Frailty was assessed using the frailty index (FI) calculated from 28 health-related deficits. Individuals were classified as robust (FI ≤ 0.10), pre-frailty (FI > 0.10 to <0.25), or frailty (FI ≥ 0.25). Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of DII and DTAC with pre-frailty and frailty. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding factors, individuals in the highest DII quintile (Q5) were more likely to have pre-frailty (odds ratio [OR] = 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-1.93; P for trend <0.001) than those in the lowest Q1. A similar positive association was detected for E-DII and pre-frailty. A significant association was found between DII and frailty. Compared with the lowest Q1, the highest Q5 of DTAC was negatively correlated with pre-frailty (OR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.52-0.84; P for trend <0.001) and frailty (OR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.50-0.1.03; P for trend <0.001). The DAQS yielded results similar to pre-frailty results (OR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.58-0.89; P < 0.001). There was no evidence suggesting an association between DAQS and frailty. CONCLUSIONS: More proinflammatory diets were linked to higher pre-frailty risk, whereas higher levels of dietary antioxidants were associated with lower pre-frailty and frailty risk among older Chinese adults.

Nuclear Binding Protein 2/Nesfatin-1 Affects Trophoblast Cell Fusion during Placental Development via the EGFR-PLCG1-CAMK4 Pathway.

Previous studies have shown that nuclear binding protein 2 (NUCB2) is expressed in the human placenta and increases with an increase in the syncytialization of trophoblast cells. This study aimed to investigate the role of NUCB2 in the differentiation and fusion of trophectoderm cells. In this study, the expression levels of NUCB2 and E-cadherin in the placentas of rats at different gestation stages were investigated. The results showed that there was an opposite trend between the expression of placental NUCB2 and E-cadherin in rat placentas in different trimesters. When primary human trophoblast (PHT) and BeWo cells were treated with high concentrations of Nesfatin-1, the trophoblast cell syncytialization was significantly inhibited. The effects of NUCB2 knockdown in BeWo cells and Forskolin-induced syncytialization were investigated. These cells showed a significantly decreased cell fusion rate. The mechanism underlying NUCB2-regulated trophoblast cell syncytialization was explored using RNA-Seq and the results indicated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCG1)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CAMK4) pathway might be involved. The results suggested that the placental expression of NUCB2 plays an important role in the fusion of trophoblasts during differentiation via the EGFR-PLCG1-CAMK4 pathway.

27-Hydroxycholesterol inhibits trophoblast fusion during placenta development by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Trophoblast cell syncytialization is essential for placental and fetal development. Abnormal trophoblast cell fusion leads to pregnancy pathologies, such as preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and miscarriage. 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) is the most abundant oxysterol in human peripheral blood synthesized by sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) and is considered a critical mediator between hypercholesterolemia and a variety of related disorders. Gestational hypercholesterolemia was associated with spontaneous preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW) in term infants, yet the mechanism is unclear. In this study, two trophoblast cell models and CD-1 mice were used to evaluate the effects of 27-OHC on trophoblast fusion during placenta development. Two different kinds of trophoblast cells received a dosage of 2.5, 5, or 10 uM 27-OHC. Three groups of pregnant mice were randomly assigned: control, full treatment (E0.5-E17.5), or late treatment (E13.5-E17.5). All mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of saline (control group) and 27-OHC (treatment group; 5.5 mg/kg). In vitro experiments, we found that 27-OHC inhibited trophoblast cell fusion in primary human trophoblasts (PHT) and forskolin (FSK)-induced BeWo cells. 27-OHC up-regulated the expression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins. Moreover, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 rescued the inhibitory effect of 27-OHC. Inhibition of trophoblast cell fusion by 27-OHC was also observed in CD-1 mice. Furthermore, fetal weight and placental efficiency decreased and fetal blood vessel development was inhibited in pregnant mice treated with 27-OHC. This study was the first to prove that 27-OHC inhibits trophoblast cell fusion by Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. This study reveals a novel mechanism by which dyslipidemia during pregnancy results in adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Lipid-focused dietary education intervention in pregnant women: study protocol for an open-label, parallel, randomised, intervention study addressing adverse pregnancy outcomes in China.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of infants who are large-for-gestational-age (LGA) is on the rise in China, and its detrimental effects on health have received increasing attention. Diet-based interventions have the potential to reduce adverse birth outcomes, particularly in decreasing the occurrence of LGA infants. We aim to evaluate the effect of lipid-focused diet education based on the theories of behaviour change in pregnant women on maternal and offspring outcomes through a randomised controlled trial. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We have designed an open-label, parallel, multicentre randomised controlled trial in collaboration with three hospitals in Beijing, China.Pregnant women will be recruited before reaching 12 weeks of gestation and will be randomised in a 1:1:1 ratio into three arms: (1) online education arm, (2) pregnancy nutrition checklist and 'one-page flyer' arm and (3) routine antenatal education. The primary outcome LGA will be recorded at birth. Demographic information, physical activity, sleep and medical history will be collected through questionnaires and case cards prior to enrolment. Questionnaires will also be used to collect dietary behaviours and psychosocial factors of pregnant women at enrolment, at 24-28 weeks and 34-36 weeks of gestation. Additionally, information on breastfeeding and complementary food supplementation for infants and young children will be obtained through questionnaires. Physical development indicators of children and taste tests will be assessed 3 years after delivery. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has received ethical approval from the Capital Medical University Ethics Committee and other collaborating study centres. Informed consent will be introduced to pregnant women, and their consent will be obtained. The findings will be reported in relevant national and international academic conferences and peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300071126.

A real-world study of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced triple-negative breast cancer.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive type of breast cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been widely used to treat various tumors and have changed the landscape of tumor management, but the data from real-world studies of ICIs for TNBC treatment remain limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ICIs in the treatment of patients with advanced TNBC in a real-world setting and to explore possible correlates. Methods: The clinical data of advanced TNBC patients who received ICI treatment in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital were collected. Treatment responses, outcomes and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. Results: Eighty-one patients were included in the study. The confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 32.1%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 64.2%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.2 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 11.0 months. PFS and OS were longer in patients who achieved clinical benefit from ICIs and shorter in patients who received later-line ICIs and higher levels of inflammation; specifically, patients with higher TILs had longer PFS. Overall AEs were tolerable. Conclusions: ICIs are effective in the treatment of advanced TNBC, and the adverse reactions are tolerable. A panel of biomarkers including LDH, ALP, and bNLR were identified to predict the efficacies of ICIs in TNBC treatment.

Choroid vascular changes in hyperopic anisometropia amblyopia using SS-OCTA.

PURPOSE: To observe and understand the structural changes in choroidal vessels in eyes with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). METHODS: A total of 44 patients were enrolled in this study: 22 children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia and 22 age-matched controls. SS-OCTA was used to scan the 6*6 mm macular area of their eyes. The average choroidal thickness (CT) and choroidal capillary flow area (CC) in a 3 mm diameter area centered on the macular area were obtained. The choroidal vascularity volume (CVV) was automatically extracted and 3D reconstructed by inbuild software, and the three-dimensional choroidal vascularity index (3D-CVI) was calculated. The effect of amblyopia on the choroidal vessel structure was assessed using generalized linear estimating equations (GEEs) corrected for axial length, sex, age, and best-corrected visual acuity. RESULTS: The CC was greater in amblyopic eyes than in fellow eyes (P = 0.014) but was not significantly different from that in control eyes (P = 0.963). After correcting for sex, age, axial length, and visual acuity using GEEs, the mean CT in the amblyopic eyes was greater than that in the fellow eyes (P = 0.030) but was not significantly different from that in the control eyes (P = 0.160). The 3D-CVI in amblyopic eyes was higher than that in control eyes (P = 0.038) but was not significantly different from that in fellow eyes (P = 0.407). The three-dimensional choroidal vascularity volume (3D-CVV) was higher in amblyopic eyes than in fellow eyes (P = 0.046) and control eyes (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: We found that eyes with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia demonstrated higher CT, CC and 3D-CVV values than the contralateral eyes after correction, while the 3D-CVI was unchanged. Compared with control eyes, amblyopic eyes had higher 3D-CVV and 3D-CVI values but similar CT and CC values. Amblyopic eyes may have different choroidal vascular structures from fellow and control eyes.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of high and low nucleic acid-content bacterial communities in Chinese coastal seawater: assembly process, co-occurrence relationship and the ecological functions.

Studies of high nucleic acid-content (HNA) and low nucleic acid-content (LNA) bacterial communities are updating our view of their distributions and taxonomic composition. However, there are still large gaps in our knowledge of the composition, assembly processes, co-occurrence relationships and ecological functions of HNA and LNA bacterial communities. Here, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics, assembly processes, co-occurrence relationships and ecological functions of HNA and LNA bacterial communities in the samples collected in summer and winter in Chinese coastal seas. The communities of HNA and LNA bacteria had clear spatiotemporal patterns and LNA bacteria was phylogenetically less diverse than HNA bacteria in both seasons. The distribution of HNA and LNA bacteria were significantly affected by the environmental factors and a significant seasonal-consistent distance-decay patterns were found in HNA and LNA bacteria. Furthermore, a quantitative assessment of ecological processes revealed that dispersal limitation, homogeneous selection exerted important roles in the community assembly of HNA and LNA bacteria. More importantly, we observed seasonality in the co-occurrence relationships: closer inter-taxa connections of HNA bacterial communities in winter than in summer and the opposite is true in the LNA bacterial communities. Some ecological functions, such as: phototrophy, photoautotrophy, oxygenic photoautotrophy, were different between HNA and LNA bacteria. These results provide a better understanding of spatiotemporal patterns, processes, and the ecological functions of HNA and LNA bacterial communities in Chinese coastal seawater.

Oat ß-glucan supplementation pre- and during pregnancy alleviates fetal intestinal immunity development damaged by gestational diabetes in rats.

Oat ß-glucan (OG) has been shown to improve intestinal microecology in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the effect on fetal intestine health is unknown. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects of OG supplementation during gestation in GDM dams on fetal intestinal immune development. OG was supplemented one week before mating until the end of the experiment. GDM rats were made with a high-fat diet (HFD) with a minimal streptozotocin (STZ) dose. The fetal intestines were sampled at gestation day (GD) 19.5, and the intestinal morphology, chemical barrier molecules, intraepithelial immune cell makers, and levels of inflammatory cytokines were investigated. The results showed that OG supplementation alleviated the decrease of the depth of fetal intestinal villi and crypts, the number of goblet cells (GCs), protein expression of mucin-1 (Muc1) and Muc2, the mRNA levels of Gpr41, Gpr43, and T cell markers, and increased the number of paneth cells (PCs), the mRNA levels of defensin-6 (defa6), and macrophage (Mø) marker and the expression of cytokines induced by GDM. In addition, OG supplementation alleviated the function of immune cell self-proliferation, chemotaxis and assembly capabilities, protein, fat, folic acid, and zinc absorption damaged by GDM. As indicated by these findings, OG supplementation before and during pregnancy improved the fetal intestinal chemical barriers, immune cells, cytokines, and the metabolism of nutrients to protect the fetal intestinal immunity.

Comparison of the morphological characteristics of the choroidal sublayer between idiopathic macular holes and epiretinal membranes with automatic analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare the choroidal sublayer morphologic features between idiopathic macular hole (IMH) and idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) on spectral-domain optical coherent tomography (SD-OCT) using an automatic segmentation model. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with idiopathic IMHs and 44 with iERMs who underwent vitrectomies were involved. The enhanced depth imaging mode of SD-OCT was used to obtain the B-scan image after single line scanning of the macular fovea. The choroidal sublayer automatic analysis model divides the choroidal into the choroidal large vessel layer, the middle vessel layer and the small vessel layer (LVCL, MVCL and SVCL, respectively) and calculates the choroidal thickness (overall, LVCL, MVCL and SVCL) and vascular index (overall, LVCL, MVCL and SVCL). The morphological characteristics of the choroidal sublayer in the ERM eyes and the IMH eyes were compared. RESULTS: The mean choroidal thickness in the macular centre of the IMH eyes was significantly thinner than that of the ERM eyes (206.35 ± 81.72 vs. 273.33 ± 82.31 µm; P < 0.001). The analysis of the choroidal sublayer showed that the MVCL and SVCL macular centres and 0.5-1.5 mm of the nasal and temporal macula were significantly thinner in the IMH eyes than in the ERM eyes (P < 0.05), and there was a difference in the macular centre of the LVCL between the two groups (P < 0.05). In contrast, the choroidal vascular index of the macular centre in the IMH eyes was significantly higher than that in iERM eyes (0.2480 ± 0.0536 vs. 0.2120 ± 0.0616; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the CVI of other parts of the macula, the LVCL or MVCL between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The choroidal thickness of the IMH eyes was significantly thinner than that of the iERM eyes, which was mainly observed in 3 mm of the macular centre and the MVCL and SVCL layers of the choroid. The choroidal vascular index of the IMH eyes was higher than that of the iERM eyes. These findings suggest that the choroid may be involved in the pathogenesis of IMH and iERM.

Bisphenol A interferes with lncRNA Fhadlos2 and RUNX3 association in adolescent mouse ovary.

Bisphenol A (BPA) has a number of adverse effects on the reproductive development of females. In particular, the mechanism of disruption of ovarian development in adolescent mice is still unclear. Based on transcriptome sequencing results, a differentially expressed lncRNA, Fhad1os2, was detected in the ovaries of BPA-exposed pubertal mice. In our study, the lncRNA Fhad1os2, localized in the ovarian granulosa cell cytoplasm, could regulate the proliferation of mouse ovarian granulosa cells. Mechanistically, the results of RNA pull-down experiments as well as mass spectrometry analysis showed that ERα, an interfering signaling molecule of BPA, could directly bind lncRNA Fhad1os2 and decrease the transcription of lncRNA Fhad1os2 in response to the estrogen-like effect of BPA. BPA exposure also caused abnormal lncRNA Fhad1os2 pulldown protein-related signaling pathways in the ovaries of adolescent mice. Furthermore, lncRNA Fhad1os2 interacted with RUNX3, a transcription factor related to follicle development and hormone synthesis. As a negative regulator, lncRNA Fhad1os2 transactivated the expression of Runx3, which in turn induced RUNX3 to positively regulate aromatase (Cyp19a1) expression in mouse ovarian granulosa cells and promote estrogen synthesis. In conclusion, our study indicates that BPA exposure interferes with ERα-regulated lncRNA Fhad1os2 interactions with RUNX3 in pubertal mice, affecting estrogen synthesis in mouse granulosa cells and contributing to premature ovarian maturation in pubertal mice.

BPA exposure enhances the metastatic aggression of ovarian cancer through the ERα/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling axis.

Long-term exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in humans may promote ovarian cancer development. In present study, the mechanisms by which BPA mediates the aggression metastatic behavior of ovarian cancer were investigated in vitro/in vivo. The results showed that BPA (10 µM) significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of human ovarian cancer cells (ES-2 and OVCAR-3 cells); moreover, it promoted ES-2 and OVCAR-3 cell glucose uptake, lactic acid release and intracellular ATP synthesis. After administration of 5 µg/kg/day BPA, tumor volume was increased compared with that in control group. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses showed that the genes from ES-2 cell in 10 µM BPA-treated group were enriched mainly in central carbon metabolism and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Then, qRT‒PCR and western blotting results showed that BPA (10 µM) increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of glycolysis-related genes and mTOR, p-AKT HIF-1α and ERα in vitro/vivo; whereas this effect was reduced after treatment with the ERα inhibitor methyl-piperidino-pyrazole. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry showed that BPA promoted the direct interaction of ERα with lactate dehydrogenase A. These results show that BPA directly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through the ERα/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling axis to enhance glycolysis.