Hsp90 Promotes Gastric Cancer Cell Metastasis and Stemness by Regulating the Regional Distribution of Glycolysis-Related Metabolic Enzymes in the Cytoplasm.

Heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression; however, its mechanism of action in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. Here, the role of Hsp90 in GC metabolism is the focus of this research. High expression of Hsp90 in GC tissues can interact with glycolysis, collectively affecting prognosis in clinical samples. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that Hsp90 is able to regulate the migration and stemness properties of GC cells. Metabolic phenotype analyses indicate that Hsp90 influences glycolytic metabolism. Mechanistically, Hsp90 interacts with glycolysis-related enzymes, forming multienzyme complexes to enhance glycolysis efficiency and yield. Additionally, Hsp90 binds to cytoskeleton-related proteins, regulating the regional distribution of glycolytic enzymes at the cell margin and lamellar pseudopods. This effect could lead to a local increase in efficient energy supply from glycolysis, further promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. In summary, Hsp90, through its interaction with metabolic enzymes related to glycolysis, forms multi-enzyme complexes and regulates regional distribution of glycolysis by dynamic cytoskeletal adjustments, thereby promoting the migration and stemness of GC cells. These conclusions also support the potential for a combined targeted approach involving Hsp90, glycolysis, and the cytoskeleton in clinical therapy.

A taxonomic revision of the Sinopterus complex (Pterosauria, Tapejaridae) from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota, with the new genus Huaxiadraco.

Tapejarids are edentulous pterosaurs particularly abundant in the Chinese Jiufotang Formation, counting with over 10 described specimens and dozens of undescribed ones. A total of seven nominal tapejarid species (within two genera) have been proposed, though it is disputed how many of those are valid instead of sexual or ontogenetic morphs of fewer, or a single, species. However, detailed revisions of the matter are still lacking. In the present work, we provide a specimen-level survey of anatomical variation in previously described Jiufotang tapejarid specimens, as well as of six new ones. We present qualitative and morphometric comparisons, aiming to provide a basis for a taxonomic reappraisal of the complex. Our results lead us to interpret two Jiufotang tapejarid species as valid: Sinopterus dongi and Huaxiadraco corollatus (gen. et comb. nov.). Our primary taxonomic decisions did not rely around cranial crest features, which have typically been regarded as diagnostic for most of these proposed species albeit ever-growing evidence that these structures are highly variable in pterosaurs, due to ontogeny and sexual dimorphism. However, a reassessment of premaxillary crest variation in the Sinopterus complex reveals that while much of the observed variation (crest presence and size) can easily be attributed to intraspecific (ontogenetic and sexual) variation, some of it (crest shape) does seem to represent interspecific variation indeed. A phylogenetic analysis including the species regarded as valid was also performed.

Routine Esophagograms After Hiatus Hernia Repair Minimizes Reoperative Morbidity: A Multicenter Comparative Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the utility of routine esophagograms after hiatus hernia repair and its impact on patient outcomes. BACKGROUND: Hiatus hernia repairs are common. Early complications such asre-herniation, esophageal obstruction and perforation, although infrequent, incur significant morbidity. Whether routine postoperative esophagograms enable early recognition of these complications, expedite surgical management, reduce reoperative morbidity, and improve functional outcomes are unclear. METHODS: Analysis of a prospectively-maintained database of hiatus hernia repairs in 14 hospitals, and review of esophagograms in this cohort. Results: A total of 1829 hiatus hernias were repaired. Of these, 1571 (85.9%) patients underwent a postoperative esophagogram. Overall, 1 in 48 esophagograms resulted in an early (<14 days) reoperation, which was undertaken in 44 (2.4%) patients. Compared to those without an esophagogram, patients who received this test before reoperation (n = 37) had a shorter time to diagnosis (2.4 vs 3.9 days, P = 0.041) and treatment (2.4 vs 4.3 days, P = 0.037) of their complications. This was associated with lower rates of open surgery (10.8% vs 42.9%, P = 0.034), gastric resection (0.0% vs 28.6%, P = 0.022), postoperative morbidity (13.5% vs 85.7%, P < 0.001), unplanned intensive care admission (16.2% vs 85.7%, P < 0.001), and decreased length-of-stay (7.3 vs 18.3 days, P = 0.009). Furthermore, we identified less intraoperative and postoperative complications, and superior functional outcomes at 1-year follow-up in patients who underwent early reoperations for an esophagogram-detected asymptomatic re-herniation than those who needed surgery for late symptomatic recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative esophagograms decrease the morbidity associated with early and late reoperations, and should be considered for routine use after hiatus hernia surgery.

A new specimen of Sinopterus dongi (Pterosauria, Tapejaridae) from the Jiufotang Formation (Early Cretaceous, China).

The Tapejarinae are edentulous pterosaurs that are relatively common in Cretaceous continental deposits in South America, North Africa, Europe, and China (mostly Early Cretaceous). The Chinese Jiufotang Formation is particularly rich in tapejarine specimens, having yielded over 10 described specimens and dozens of undescribed ones. For the Jiufotang Formation, a total of seven nominal tapejarid species and two genera have been proposed. Some debate exists over how many of those are valid or, alternatively, sexual or ontogenetic morphs of fewer (or even a single) species. Despite the abundance of specimens and the relevant taxonomic problems involved, detailed revisions of the matter are still lacking. This is partly due to the relatively scarce knowledge on the comparative osteology of the Sinopterus complex, which is hampered by the fact that most specimens have been only preliminarily described. In this contribution, we present a new postcranial specimen, D3072, which we attribute to the type-species of the genus, Sinopterus dongi. This new specimen helps shed some new light in the osteology of Sinopterus dongi, hopefully serving as a basis for future comparative studies involving further specimens and other proposed species and, subsequently, taxonomic revisions.

Sinomacrops bondei, a new anurognathid pterosaur from the Jurassic of China and comments on the group.

Anurognathids are an elusive group of diminutive, potentially arboreal pterosaurs. Even though their monophyly has been well-supported, their intrarelationships have been obscure, and their phylogenetic placement even more. In the present work, we present a new genus and species from the Middle-Late Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation, the third nominal anurognathid species from the Jurassic of China. The new species provides new information concerning morphological diversity for the group. Furthermore, we provide a new phylogenetic analysis incorporating into a single data set characters from diverging phylogenetic proposals. Our results place them as the sister-group of Darwinoptera + Pterodactyloidea, as basal members of the Monofenestrata.

A new darwinopteran pterosaur reveals arborealism and an opposed thumb.

Pterosaurs, which lived during the Mesozoic, were the first known vertebrates to evolve powered flight.1,2 Arboreal locomotion has been proposed for some taxa,3,4 and even considered to have played a role in the origin of pterosaur flight.5,6 Even so, there is still need for comprehensive quantitative ecomorphological analyses.3,4 Furthermore, skeletal adaptations correlated to specialized lifestyles are often difficult to recognize and interpret in fossils. Here we report on a new darwinopteran pterosaur that inhabited a unique forest ecosystem from the Jurassic of China. The new species exhibits the oldest record of palmar (or true) opposition of the pollex, which is unprecedented for pterosaurs and represents a sophisticated adaptation related to arboreal locomotion. Principal-coordinate analyses suggest an arboreal lifestyle for the new species but not for other closely related species from the same locality, implying a possible case of ecological niche partitioning. The discovery adds to the known array of pterosaur adaptations and the history of arborealism in vertebrates. It also adds to the impressive early bloom of arboreal communities in the Jurassic of China, shedding light on the history of forest environments.

Expression and functional analysis of the Akt gene from Daphnia pulex.

Daphnia pulex is a nutrient-rich freshwater crustacean with two different reproduction methods. Akt is a serine/threonine protein kinase that plays an important role in cell growth, survival, and lifespan regulation. To explore the function of Akt in the growth and aging process of Daphnia pulex, we cloned the cDNA sequence of the open reading frame (ORF) of the akt gene based on the bioinformatic analysis of the transcriptome data of D. pulex, and analyzed the structural features of the Akt protein. Gene silencing was performed using RNA interference (RNAi), and the expression of the Akt gene and protein before and after interference were analyzed using qPCR and western blotting. The results showed that the expression of akt in D. pulex at different ages showed a "W" pattern, being significantly higher at 20 days than at 10 days and 15 days (P < .05). The expression trend of Akt protein and mRNA were similar, with lower expression at a younger age (1-5 day), after which expression gradually increased from 10 days age, and showed no significant change after 25 days, which might be caused by a lag of protein translation. RNAi reduced the expression of the Akt gene and protein by at least 76%, and the survival rate and reproductive capacity of D. pulex were significantly lower in the RNAi group compared with those in the control group. This study provides a better understanding of the function of the akt gene in D. pulex.

Overexpression of a sour jujube gene ZjPYR1, encoding a putative abscisic acid receptor, increases sensitivity of the stomata and roots to ABA in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The abscisic acid (ABA) receptor binds to ABA in plants and can activate the ABA signaling pathway to initiate stress resistance. Sour jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. Chou) is an economic tree crop in North China, which is strongly adapted to drought and salt stress. Here, we cloned and overexpressed the ZjPYR1 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. After ABA treatment, the accumulation of ZjPYR1 increased significantly, suggesting that ABA may stabilize ZjPYR1 in the plants. Compared with the wild-type, the heterologous transgenic lines showed smaller stomatal openings under ABA treatment and a shorter root length and lower germination rate under ABA and salt treatment. Based on these results, we speculate that the overexpression of ZjPYR1 in A. thaliana effectively enhanced the stress resistance of the plants, and furthermore, that ZjPYR1 is a putative ABA receptor in sour jujube that increases plant adaptability to drought and salt stress. We report that ZjPYR1, like most ABA receptors in A. thaliana, is involved in mediating plant responses to ABA, such as stomatal closure and root length.

Nurhachius luei, a new istiodactylid pterosaur (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province (China) and comments on the Istiodactylidae.

A new istiodactylid pterosaur, Nurhachius luei sp. nov., is here reported based on a complete skull with mandible and some cervical vertebrae from the lower part of the Jiufotang Formation of western Liaoning (China). This is the second species of Nurhachius, the type-species being N. ignaciobritoi from the upper part of the Jiufotang Formation. A revised diagnosis of the genus Nurhachius is provided, being this taxon characterized by the presence of a slight dorsal deflection of the palatal anterior tip, which is homoplastic with the Anhangueria and Cimoliopterus. N. luei sp. nov. shows an unusual pattern of tooth replacement, with respect to other pterodactyloid species. The relationships within the Istiodactylidae and with their closest taxa are investigated through a phylogenetic analysis by parsimony.