Starving the enemy: how plant and microbe compete for sugar on the border.

As the primary energy source for a plant host and microbe to sustain life, sugar is generally exported by Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEETs) to the host extracellular spaces or the apoplast. There, the host and microbes compete for hexose, sucrose, and other important nutrients. The host and microbial monosaccharide transporters (MSTs) and sucrose transporters (SUTs) play a key role in the "evolutionary arms race". The result of this competition hinges on the proportion of sugar distribution between the host and microbes. In some plants (such as Arabidopsis, corn, and rice) and their interacting pathogens, the key transporters responsible for sugar competition have been identified. However, the regulatory mechanisms of sugar transporters, especially in the microbes require further investigation. Here, the key transporters that are responsible for the sugar competition in the host and pathogen have been identified and the regulatory mechanisms of the sugar transport have been briefly analyzed. These data are of great significance to the increase of the sugar distribution in plants for improvement in the yield.

Milk consumption behavior and its impact on bone mineral density among 696 pupils in Hainan Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To investigate the milk drinking behavior and bone mineral density level of pupils in Hainan Province, and to explore the correlation between bone mineral density and milk drinking behavior, in order to provide scientific basis for promoting the healthy development of bones in children and adolescents.@*Methods@#In November 2021, a cross sectional survey including demographic characteristics, milk intake, unhealthy eating behavior, physical activity and sleep was conducted among 696 students from grades 3 to 5 in Sanya and Baisha, Hainan by stratified cluster random sampling, and bone mineral density at the distal 1/3 of the right forearm was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. t-test was used to compare the differences in bone mineral density among different milk drinking behaviors of pupils, and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the correlation between milk consumption and bone mineral density.@*Results@#About 25.3% students consumed milk daily and 13.9% consumed ≥ 300 g of milk daily. The mean bone mineral density at the distal 1/3 of the right forearm was (0.237±0.041)g/cm 2. The bone mineral density was greater in the group with daily milk intake than in the group without daily milk intake [(0.250± 0.037 )(0.204±0.034) g/cm 2 , t=15.00, P <0.01], and the bone mineral density was greater in the group with daily average milk intake ≥300 g than in the group with daily average milk intake <300 g [(0.284±0.036)(0.229±0.037)g/cm 2, t=13.48, P < 0.01 ]. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that daily average milk intake was positively correlated with bone mineral density, with a correlation coefficient ( β=0.020, t=21.46, P <0.01).@*Conclusion@#Milk consumption among pupils is inadequate, and milk drinking behavior has a positive impact on bone mineral density, so effective milk drinking intervention should be carried out to promote children s bone development.

Controversial causal association between IGF family members and osteoporosis: a Mendelian randomization study between UK and FinnGen biobanks.

Objectives: Osteoporosis, a prevalent skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone strength, is closely linked to the IGF system, crucial for skeletal metabolism. However, the precise nature of this relationship remains elusive. In this study, we employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to unravel the associations between genetically predicted serum IGF system member levels and osteoporosis. Methods: A two-sample MR approach was employed to investigate these causal associations based on two individual datasets. Predictions of 14 serum levels of IGF system members were made using 11,036,163 relevant Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) within a cohort of 4,301 individuals of European descent. Genetic association estimates for osteoporosis were derived from two publicly available GWAS consortia: the Finnish consortium from the FinnGen biobank, comprising 212,778 individuals of Finnish descent (3,203 cases and 209,575 controls), and the UK consortium from the UK Biobank, including 337,159 individuals of European descent (5,266 cases and 331,893 controls). Results: According to the UK dataset, IGF-1 levels were associated with a reduced risk of osteoporosis, as indicated by the weighted median method (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.998, 95% CI = 0.997-1.000, P = 0.032). Additionally, higher levels of IGFBP-3 were linked to a decreased risk of osteoporosis using the Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW) method (OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 0.998-1.000, P = 0.019), and CTGF levels exhibited a negative association with osteoporosis, as determined by the weighted median method (OR = 0.998, 95% CI = 0.996-0.999, P = 0.004). In the FinnGen dataset, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were not identified to be associated with osteoporosis. While, IGF-LR1 levels displayed a negative association with osteoporosis, according to the MR-Egger method (OR = 0.886, 95% CI = 0.795-0.987, P = 0.036), while CYR61 was linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis based on both the weighted median and IVW methods (OR = 1.154, 95% CI = 1.009-1.319, P = 0.037, and OR = 1.115, 95% CI = 1.022-1.215, P = 0.014, respectively). Conclusion: This study provides compelling evidence that certain IGF family members play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis between different datasets, indicating population specific causal effects between IGF family and osteoporosis. Although the results from both datasets demonstrated that IGF family involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, but the responding key molecules might be various among different population. Subsequent research is warranted to evaluate the potential of these biomarkers as targets for osteoporosis prevention and treatment in specific population.

Chronic non-communicable diseases: Hainan prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The Hainan Cohort was established to investigate the incidence, morbidity and mortality of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors in the community population. PARTICIPANTS: The baseline investigation of the Hainan Cohort study was initiated in five main areas of Hainan, China, from June 2018 to October 2020. A multistage cluster random-sampling method was used to obtain samples from the general population. Baseline assessments included a questionnaire survey, physical examination, blood and urine sample collection, and laboratory measurements, and outdoor environmental data were obtained. FINDINGS TO DATA: A total of 14 443 participants aged 35-74 years were recruited at baseline, with a participation rate of 90.1%. The mean age of the participants was 48.8 years; 51.8% were men, and 83.7% had a secondary school or higher education. The crude prevalence of diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, hyperuricaemia, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma, cancer, chronic hepatitis and metabolic syndrome were 8.6%, 9.2%, 2.0%, 37.1%, 7.1%, 2.3%, 1.4%, 2.1%, 4.1%, 2.2% and 14.5%, respectively. FUTURE PLANS: The Hainan Cohort is a dynamic cohort with no end date. All participants will be monitored annually for cause-specific mortality and morbidity until death. Long-term follow-up will be conducted every 5 years. The baseline population is considered to expand in the next wave of follow-up, depending on the availability of funding support.

Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effect of 10 medicinal herbs on CCl4-induced liver injury in mice.

BACKGROUND: Many natural products confer health benefits against diverse diseases through their antioxidant activities. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is often used in animal experiments to study the effects of substances on liver injury and the related mechanisms of action, among which oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor. AIM: To compare antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ten herbs and identify and quantify phytochemicals for the one with strongest hepatoprotection. METHODS: The antioxidant activity of ten medicinal herbs was determined by both ferric-reducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetry, respectively. Their effects on CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury were evaluated and compared in a mouse model by administrating each water extract (0.15 g/mL, 10 mL/kg) once per day for seven consecutive days and a dose of CCl4 solution in olive oil (8%, v/v, 10 mL/kg). The herb with the strongest hepatoprotective performance was analyzed for the detailed bioactive components by using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization source-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The results revealed that all tested herbs attenuated CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury; each resulted in significant decreases in levels of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and triacylglycerols. In addition, most herbs restored hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, glutathione levels, and reduced malondialdehyde levels. Sanguisorba officinalis (S. officinalis) L., Coptis chinensis Franch., and Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi root were the three most effective herbs, and S. officinalis L. exhibited the strongest hepatoprotective effect. Nine active components were identified in S. officinalis L. Gallic acid and (+)-catechin were quantified (7.86 ± 0.45 mg/g and 8.19 ± 0.57 mg/g dried weight, respectively). Furthermore, the tested herbs displayed a range of in vitro antioxidant activities proportional to their phenolic content; the strongest activities were also found for S. officinalis L. CONCLUSION: This study is of value to assist the selection of more effective natural products for direct consumption and the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics to manage oxidative stress-related diseases.

Downregulation of CLDN6 inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via regulating EGFR/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Accumulating evidence showed that the claudin-6 (CLDN6) expression was abnormal in many cancers, while its expression and biological functions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear. The present study demonstrated that CLDN6 was upregulated in HCC tissues compared with tumour-adjacent tissues. CLDN6 silencing was significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, downregulation of CLDN6 remarkably inhibited the activation of EGFR/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. Interestingly, the effect of CLDN6 overexpression on HepG2 cell proliferation and invasion could be inhibited by EGFR/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway inhibitor (AG1478). SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: These findings suggested that CLDN6 may act as an oncogene in HCC and improve HepG2 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion may via EGFR/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway.

Near-infrared fluorescent probe for selective detection of H2S and its application in living animals.

In this study, a novel near-infrared fluorescent off-on probe for H2S based on seminaphthorhodafluor fluorophore is designed and constructed, which could be used in detection with 121-fold (23-fold) fluorescent (absorbance) enhancement at 630 nm (572 nm), fast responsiveness (completed within 5 min), high sensitivity, and lower cellular autofluorescence interference. Based on these excellent optical properties, the probe was employed to monitor H2S in red wine samples with satisfactory results. Moreover, the probe was successfully applied for monitoring and imaging H2S quantitatively in Hela cells and live athymic nude mice, indicating its potential application in biological science.

Prevalence and correlates of chronic diseases in an elderly population: A community-based survey in Haikou.

BACKGROUND: The escalating problem of multiple chronic conditions among older adults in China draws public health attention due to increasing proportion of the elderly population. This study sought to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with four chronic diseases in older adults in Haikou, the capital city of Hainan Province, China. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, 9432 community-dwelling elderly people aged 60 years and older living in rural or urban areas in Haikou were investigated. The interviews collected self-reported information on the presence of four major chronic diseases, as well as socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and self-reported height and weight. FINDINGS: Overall, 31.7% (2961/9344) reported at least one of the four chronic diseases. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, COPD, and stroke was 26.0% (2449/9407), 8.0% (749/9371), 1.0% (95/9360), and 1.9% (175/9382), respectively. Common correlates of the four major chronic diseases were older age, being engaged in intellectual work, currently being a smoker and obesity. Gender, locality of residence, and alcohol consumptions were also found to be associated to some of the chronic conditions. CONCLUSION: This finding indicates that multiple chronic conditions among elderly people in Haikou are prevalent and warrant special attention to reduce diseases burden and align health care services to cater the holistic elderly patients' need.

Dual-inflammatory cytokines on TiO2 nanotube-coated surfaces used for regulating macrophage polarization in bone implants.

Excessive immune responses following the use of implantable, biomaterial-based medical devices represent a substantial challenge for treatment efficacy and patient well-being. Specifically, after implantation, pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages are activated by cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) followed by anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages polarized by cytokines including interleukin-4 (IL-4), leading to healing and long-term stability of implants. Here, we report the loading of an immunomodulatory cytokine,IL-4, into TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) followed by hydrogel coating on the TNTs for subsequent release of IL-4. Finally, IFN-γ was added onto the gel layer to effect rapid release. The release rates of both cytokines from the samples were monitored using an immersion test in phosphate-buffered solution. The cytocompatibility of the sample was evaluated using cultures of osteoblasts and macrophages. Macrophage phenotype switching in vitro was examined via cytokine secretion and gene expression analyses. In vitro testing showed that the sample could stimulate macrophage polarization from the M1 to M2 phenotype at the desired period owing to temporal release of IFN-γ and IL-4. Another biomaterial containing only IL-4 in TNTs was also able to modulate the transformation of M1 to M2 although with weaker effect than that containing IFN-γ and IL-4. The biomaterial may be useful as an osteoimplant in vivo owing to the inflammation caused by a wound or implantation. This study provided biomaterials capable of facilitating smooth M1 to M2 macrophages switching, which might be helpful to research immune responses of tissues to implants and will likely contribute to the development of bone substitute materials. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1878-1886, 2018.

Antibacterial Activity and Cyto-/Tissue-Compatibility of Micro-/Nano-Structured Titanium Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles.

Implant-associated infections are a major factor contributing to graft failure. Preventing infection by inhibiting bacterial adhesion to implants is critical for successful orthopedic surgery. In this work, we fabricated a novel implant material and evaluated its performance in terms of inhibiting bacterial growth and adhesion. Micro/nano-structured titanium (MNT) was prepared by the micro-arc oxidization. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with an average diameter of 10 nm were synthesized via a chemical reduction method and immobilized onto MNT to generate an AgNP-decorated MNT (AgMN). It showed high antibacterial efficacy against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus without cytotoxicity to NIH/3T3 fibroblast-like cells. AgMN implanted in rats inhibited S. aureus growth and adhesion and elicited a milder inflammatory response than MNT. Moreover, implanted AgMN had no adverse effect on the morphology and structure of attached host cells after 1 day. These results indicate that using AgMN as an implant material can reduce the risk of infection without toxic effects to the host.

miRNA regulating the sensitivity of HBV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma cells to sorafenib by Mcl-1 gene / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[Abstract] Objective: To investigate the miRNAs that can intervene Mcl-1 expression in HBV-related liver cancers and to study their synergistic anti-cancer effect with sorafenib. Methods: The expressions of miR-29, miR-101 and miR-193b in HepG2.2.15 (HBV positive) and HepG2.vc (HBV negative) cells were detected by qPCR. miRNA mimics of low expressed genes in HepG2.2.15 cells were synthesized and transfected into HepG2.2.15 and HepG2.vc cells, respectively. qPCR was used to detect target miRNA expression. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of mcl-1 protein in cells before and after transfection.At the same time, (1×10-9)~(1× 10-3) mol/L of sorafenib was add to both transfected and non-transfected HepG2.2.15 and HepG2.vc cells; 72 h later, the IC50 and cell apoptosis was evaluated. Results: The expression of miR-193b in HepG2.2.15 cells was significantly lower than that in HepG2.2.15 cells (P <0.05). The expression of miR-193b in HepG2.2.15 cells and HepG2.2.15 cells was significantly higher after miR-193b mimics transfection (P <0.05). Compared with HepG2.vc cells, the expression of Mcl-1 protein in HepG2.2.15 cells was significantly increased (P <0.05). The expression of Mcl-1 protein in HepG2.2.15 and HepG2.vc cells was significantly decreased after miR-193b mimics transfection (P<0.05). After miR-193b mimics transfection, sorafenib could significantly increase apoptosis rate of both HepG2.2.15 and HepG2.vc cells. Conclusion: The low susceptibility of HBV-related liver cancer to sorafenib may be related with the low expression of miR-193b in cancer cells. Mcl-1 might be used as a target of miR-193b, and miR-193b mimics have a significant synergistic effect with sorafenib.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis in Paddy Rice under Storage and Identification of Differentially Regulated Genes in Response to High Temperature and Humidity.

The transcriptomes of paddy rice in response to high temperature and humidity were studied using a high-throughput RNA sequencing approach. Effects of high temperature and humidity on the sucrose and starch contents and α/ß-amylase activity were also investigated. Results showed that 6876 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in paddy rice under high temperature and humidity storage. Importantly, 12 DEGs that were downregulated fell into the "starch and sucrose pathway". The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays indicated that expression of these 12 DEGs was significantly decreased, which was in parallel with the reduced level of enzyme activities and the contents of sucrose and starch in paddy rice stored at high temperature and humidity conditions compared to the control group. Taken together, high temperature and humidity influence the quality of paddy rice at least partially by downregulating the expression of genes encoding sucrose transferases and hydrolases, which might result in the decrease of starch and sucrose contents.

Co-culturing epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts on nano-structured titanium surfaces.

Long-term success of percutaneous implants depends mostly on the stable connection between the soft tissue and implant surface because bacterial invasion and infection can be prevented by a proper seal between the skin and implant. The percutaneous seal is affected by responses of keratinocytes and/or fibroblasts to the implant. Herein, the in vitro functionality of fibroblasts and keratinocytes on titania nanotubes (TNT) and polished titanium (pTi) surfaces was investigated by different culture methods. Adhesion, proliferation, morphology, and differentiation were evaluated by cell viability assay, fluorescence microscopy, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and indirect immunofluorescence. Single cultured fibroblasts on the TNT surface showed increased adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, while these cellular properties were decreased in single cultured keratinocytes. In non-contact co-culture with keratinocytes, fibroblasts presented better orientation, continuous proliferation, and increased gene expression on TNT. However, decreased adhesion and proliferation were observed for keratinocytes in non-contact co-culture with fibroblasts. Furthermore, keratinocytes presented high abilities to proliferate and differentiate in contact co-culture on fibroblasts adhering on the TNT surface. The gene expression results of contact co-culture model suggested that the nano-structured titanium surface promoted the maturation of fibroblasts and the formation of dermal matrix through secreting collagen I and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), and indirectly facilitated the proliferation of keratinocytes and the formation of the basement membrane by stimulating fibroblasts to secrete keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), nidogen, and collagen IVα-1. Meanwhile, keratinocytes secreted TGF-ß1 to promote fibroblast differentiation. Moreover, the enhanced proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes were favorable for skin-implant integration.

Modified nanoparticle mediated IL-12 immunogene therapy for colon cancer.

For the past few years, immunotherapy has recently shown considerable clinical benefit in CRC therapy, and the application of immunologic therapies in cancer treatments continues to increase perennially. Interleukin-12, an ideal candidate for tumor immunotherapy, could activate both innate and adaptive immunities. In this study, we developed a novel gene delivery system with a self-assembly method by MPEG-PLA and DOTAP(DMP) with zeta-potential value of 38.5mV and size of 37.5nm. The supernatant of lymphocytes treated with supernatant from Ct26 transfected pIL12 with DMP could inhibit Ct26 cells growth ex vivo. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with DMP-pIL12 complex has significantly inhibited tumor growth at both the subcutaneous and peritoneal model in vivo by inhibiting angiogenesis, promoting apoptosis and reducing proliferation. The IL-12 plasmid and DMP complex may be used to treat the colorectal cancer in clinical as a new drug.

Effect of stable antimicrobial nano-silver packaging on inhibiting mildew and in storage of rice.

Antimicrobial nano-silver packaging (ANP) films were synthesized by blending polyethylene and highly dispersed Ag/TiO2 powder for rice storage at 37°C and 70% relative humidity. ANP films were characterized by X-ray diffraction and silver migration. The antimicrobial activity of the films was assessed on Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) by scanning electron microscope and total plate count, and the storage quality of rice was evaluated by texture analyzer and rapid viscosity analyzer. The results show that ANP had a quite beneficial effect on the antimildew and physicochemical property as compared to the normal PE packaging. During 35days storage, the migration of silver into rice was not evident. A lower microbial population is observed on ANP that should be attributed to the presence of Ag/TiO2. Furthermore, rice packed by ANP shows an enhanced quality with regards to texture and pasting properties. Therefore, ANP is a promising packaging material for rice storage.