The energy metabolism of Balantidium polyvacuolum inhabiting the hindgut of Xenocypris davidi.

Anaerobic parasitic ciliates are a specialized group of ciliates that are adapted to anoxic and oxygen-depleted habitats. Among them, Balantidium polyvacuolum, which inhabits the hindgut of Xenocyprinae fishes, has received very limited scientific attention, so the molecular mechanism of its adaptation to the digestive tract microenvironment is still unclear. In this study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and single-cell transcriptome analysis were used to uncover the metabolism of B. polyvacuolum. Starch granules, endosymbiotic bacteria, and multiple specialized mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs) of various shapes were observed. The MROs may have completely lost the electron transport chain (ETC) complexes I, III, IV, and V and only retained succinate dehydrogenase subunit A (SDHA) of complex II. The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was also incomplete. It can be inferred that the hypoxic intestinal environment has led to the specialization of the mitochondria in B. polyvacuolum. Moreover, carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), including carbohydrate esterases, enzymes with a carbohydrate-binding module, glycoside hydrolases, and glycosyltransferases, were identified, which may constitute evidence that B. polyvacuolum is able to digest carbohydrates and starch. These findings can improve our knowledge of the energy metabolism and adaptive mechanisms of B. polyvacuolum.

Correction: Self-assembly of tripyrazolate-linked [M6L2] cages for the selective sensing of HSO3- and gaseous SO2 by turn-on fluorescence.

Correction for 'Self-assembly of tripyrazolate-linked [M6L2] cages for the selective sensing of HSO3- and gaseous SO2 by turn-on fluorescence' by Peipei Wang et al., Dalton Trans., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3dt00083d.

Self-assembly of tripyrazolate-linked [M6L2] cages for the selective sensing of HSO3- and gaseous SO2 by turn-on fluorescence.

Owing to their structural designability and tuneable properties, supramolecular metal-organic complexes have recently emerged as promising candidates for the sensing and detection of molecules and anions. Herein, we synthesised three tripyrazolate-linked [M6L2] metallocages with the formulas [(bpyPd)6L2](NO3)6 (1), [(dmbpyPd)6L2](NO3)6 (2), and [(phenPd)6L2](NO3)6 (3) (H3L = tris(4-(5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)phenyl)amine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethylbipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). Crystallography revealed that metal-directed coordination and the bidentate chelate behaviour of the ligand induced the self-assembly of supramolecular metal-organic cages. Notably, these cages were employed as turn-on fluorescence sensors for SO2 and its derivative (HSO3-) through a disassembly mechanism. Cages 1, 2, and 3 showed a highly selective and sensitive detection of HSO3- over other common anions in aqueous solutions and of SO2 gas over other common gasses, with an excellent anti-interference ability. These metallocages were subsequently applied as sensors in environmental and biological samples. This study not only enriches the ongoing research on metal-organic supramolecular materials but also facilitates the future preparation of stimuli-responsive supramolecular coordination complexes.

Novel compound heterozygous variants in the TAF6 gene in a patient with Alazami-Yuan syndrome: A case report.

BACKGROUND: This case report describes a novel genotypic and phenotypic presentation of Alazami-Yuan syndrome, and contributes to the current knowledge on the condition. CASE SUMMARY: We report an 11-year-old boy with Alazami-Yuan syndrome. The main clinical manifestations were rapid development of puberty, typical facial features of Cornelia de Lange syndrome, and normal intelligence. Peripheral blood DNA samples obtained from the patient and his parents were sequenced using high-throughput whole-exosome sequencing, which was verified by Sanger sequencing. The results showed that there was a compound heterozygous mutation of c.1052delT and c.76A>T in the TATA-Box Binding Protein Associated Factor 6 (TAF6) gene. The mutation of c.1052delT was from his mother and the mutation of c.76A>T was from his father. CONCLUSION: This study extends the mutation spectrum of the TAF6 gene, and provides a molecular basis for the etiological diagnosis of Alazami-Yuan syndrome and genetic consultation for the family.

[Clinical features and C12orf65 mutations of autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia-55: a case report].

This article reports the clinical features and C12orf65 gene mutations of a girl with autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia-55. The 8-year-old girl experienced disease onset at the age of 5 years and had optic atrophy as the main clinical manifestation, with slow movements in standing up and a slight duck-shaped gait. Peripheral blood DNA samples were collected from this child and her parents and brother to perform high-throughput whole-exome sequencing and high-throughput mitochondrial genome sequencing. Sanger sequencing was performed for verification. The results showed two compound heterozygous mutations, c.394C>T and c.447_449delGGAinsGT, in the C12orf65 gene. The former mutation came from her father and was a known pathogenic mutation, and the latter came from her mother and was a novel mutation which had not been reported in literature. This study expands the mutation spectrum of the C12orf65 gene and thus provides a molecular basis for the etiological diagnosis of the child and the genetic counseling of the family.

Self-Assembly of Water-Soluble Platinum(II)-Based Metallacalixarenes and Tuning Their Conformational Interconversion via Synergistic Effects between Solvents and Anions.

The aqueous self-assembly of the flexible ligand L bis(1H-benz[d]imidazole-1-yl)methane and cis-coordinated PtII precursors [(en)Pt2+ , (tmeda)Pt2+ , en=ethylenediamine, tmeda=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine)] led to the formation of the metallacalixarenes with full alternative conformations (e.g., two novel water-soluble metallacalixarenes [M2 L2 ]4+ and [M3 L3 ]6+ with D2 and D3 symmetry, respectively). Their molecular structures were determined by single crystal X-ray analyses in solid state. The two metallacalixarenes present different cavity sizes and the [M3 L3 ]6+ cavity encapsulates one NO3 - . NOESY NMR revealed that the conformational interconversion between 1,3-alternate conformer in methanol and cone conformer in DMSO was tuned via the synergistic effect between solvent and anion. Guest encapsulation is also discussed.

[NIPBL gene mutations in two children with Cornelia de Lange syndrome].

Both children (one boy and one girl) experienced disease onset in infancy and visited the hospital due to growth retardation. They had unusual facies including thick hair, arched and confluent eyebrows, long and curly eyelashes, short nose, and micrognathia. Patient 1 had congenital heart disease (atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis) and special dermatoglyph (a single palmar crease). Patient 2 had cleft palate and moderate-to-severe deafness. Clinical features suggested Cornelia de Lange syndrome in both children. High-throughput sequencing was used to detect the seven known pathogenic genes of Cornelia de Lange syndrome, i.e., the NIPBL, SMC1A, SMC3, HDAC8, RAD21, EP300, and ANKRD11 genes. Sanger sequencing was used to analyze and verify gene mutations. Both patients were found to have novel mutations in the NIPBL gene. One patient had a frameshift mutation in exon 45, c.7834dupA, which caused early termination of translation and produced truncated protein p.R2612fsX20. The other patient had a nonsense mutation, c.505C>T, which caused a premature stop codon and produced truncated protein Q169X. Such mutations were not found in their parents or 50 unrelated healthy individuals.

Schinzel-Giedion syndrome: a novel case, review and revised diagnostic criteria.

Schinzel-Giedion syndrome (SGS) is a rare autosomal dominant inheritance disorder. Heterozygous de novo mutations in the SETBP1 gene have been identified as the genetic cause of SGS. Here, we report a novel case with the syndrome with a novel insertion mutation in SETBP1. We also present a review of SGS cases, and first revise diagnostic criteria of SGS based on clinicalfindings and/or SETBP1 mutation worldwide. A revised diagnostic criteria and typing of SGS can be determined. Type I (complex and classic type) SGS patients present a development delay and typical facial features (prominent forehead, midface retraction, and short and upturned nose) associated with hydronephrosis or two of the characteristic skeletal anomalies (a sclerotic skull base, wideoccipital synchondrosis, increased cortical density or thickness, and broad ribs). Type II (middle type) patients show development delay and the distinctive facial phenotype (midface retraction, short and upturned nose), lacking both hydronephrosis and typical skeletal abnormalities, with existence of SETBP1mutation. Type III (simple type) patients with SETBP1 alteration show their major symptom is development delay, in which expressive language delay is the most striking feature. Central nervous system involvement with development delay in which expressive language delay is much more obviously affected is the most prominent feature of SGS. There is another indication that severity of phenotype of SGS may be inversely correlated with degree of SETBP1 alteration, besides gain-of-function or dominant-negative effects in SETBP1 alteration causing SGS.

An artificial bee colony optimization based matching pursuit approach for ultrasonic echo estimation.

Ultrasonic echo estimation is important in ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation and material characterization. Matching pursuit is one of the most popular methods for the purpose of estimating ultrasonic echoes. In this paper, an artificial bee colony optimization based matching pursuit approach (ABC-MP) is proposed specifically for ultrasonic signal decomposition by integrating the artificial bee colony algorithm into the matching pursuit method. The optimal atoms are searched from a continuous parameter space over a tailored Gabor dictionary in ABC-MP instead of a discrete parameter space in matching pursuit. As a result, echoes characterized by a set of physical parameters can be estimated accurately and efficiently. The performance of ABC-MP is tested using both simulated signals and real ultrasonic signals, and compared with matching pursuit. Results clearly demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed ABC-MP approach over matching pursuit in ultrasonic echo estimation in terms of the shape and amplitude of the recovered echoes and the reconstructed signal, and the residue signal.

Programmable Self-Assembly of Heterometallic Palladium(II)-Copper(II) 1D Grid-Chain using Dinuclear Palladium(II) Corners with Pyrazole-Carboxylic Acid Ligands.

A novel heterometallic diPdII -diCuII grid-chain, {[(bpy)4 Pd4 Cu2 L4 ](NO3 )4 }n (2; bpy=2,2'-bipyridine), was synthesized through a programmable self-assembly approach from the molecular corners [(bpy)2 Pd2 (HL)(L)](NO3 ) (1) as linkers with CuII nitrate by using the bifunctional H2 L ligand featuring primary (pyrazole) and secondary (benzoic acid) groups. Structural analysis revealed that 1D structure 2 consists of one [Cu2 (O2 CPh)4 ]n unit as a bridge and two [(bpy)2 Pd2 L2 ]n corners. Additionally, the catalytic effect of the heterometallic synergy on the Suzuki coupling reaction by using 2 was further explored.

The pseudogene derived long noncoding RNA DUXAP8 promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration via epigenetically silencing PLEKHO1 expression.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer death due to its poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Evidence indicates that pseudogene-derived long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be important players in human cancer progression, including GC. In this paper, we report that a newly discovered pseudogene-derived lncRNA named DUXAP8, a 2107-bp RNA, was remarkably upregulated in GC. Additionally, a higher level of DUXAP8 expression in GC was significantly associated with greater tumor size, advanced clinical stage, and lymphatic metastasis. Patients with a higher level of DUXAP8 expression had a relatively poor prognosis. Further experiments revealed that knockdown of DUXAP8 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration, as documented in the SGC7901 and BGC823 cell lines. Furthermore, RNA immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that DUXAP8 could epigenetically suppress the expression of PLEKHO1 by binding to EZH2 and SUZ12 (two key components of PRC2), thus promoting GC development. Taken together, our findings suggest that the pseudogene-derived lncRNA DUXAP8 promotes the progression of GC and is a potential therapeutic target for GC intervention.

In-Cell Western Assays to Evaluate Hantaan Virus Replication as a Novel Approach to Screen Antiviral Molecules and Detect Neutralizing Antibody Titers.

Hantaviruses encompass rodent-borne zoonotic pathogens that cause severe hemorrhagic fever disease with high mortality rates in humans. Detection of infectious virus titer lays a solid foundation for virology and immunology researches. Canonical methods to assess viral titers rely on visible cytopathic effects (CPE), but Hantaan virus (HTNV, the prototype hantavirus) maintains a relatively sluggish life cycle and does not produce CPE in cell culture. Here, an in-cell Western (ICW) assay was utilized to rapidly measure the expression of viral proteins in infected cells and to establish a novel approach to detect viral titers. Compared with classical approaches, the ICW assay is accurate and time- and cost-effective. Furthermore, the ICW assay provided a high-throughput platform to screen and identify antiviral molecules. Potential antiviral roles of several DExD/H box helicase family members were investigated using the ICW assay, and the results indicated that DDX21 and DDX60 reinforced IFN responses and exerted anti-hantaviral effects, whereas DDX50 probably promoted HTNV replication. Additionally, the ICW assay was also applied to assess NAb titers in patients and vaccine recipients. Patients with prompt production of NAbs tended to have favorable disease outcomes. Modest NAb titers were found in vaccinees, indicating that current vaccines still require improvements as they cannot prime host humoral immunity with high efficiency. Taken together, our results indicate that the use of the ICW assay to evaluate non-CPE Hantaan virus titer demonstrates a significant improvement over current infectivity approaches and a novel technique to screen antiviral molecules and detect NAb efficacies.

Long intergenic non-coding RNA 00152 promotes lung adenocarcinoma proliferation via interacting with EZH2 and repressing IL24 expression.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) behave as a novel class of transcript during multiple cancer processes, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. LINC00152 is located on chromosome 2p11.2, and has a transcript length of 828 nucleotides. The biological role of LINC00152 in LAD(lung adenocarcinoma) remains unknown. METHODS: Quantitative reverse transcription PCR(qRT-PCR) was used to detect LINC00152 expression in 60 human LAD tissues and paired normal tissues. In vitro and in vivo studies showed the biological function of LINC00152 in tumour progression. RNA transcriptome sequencing technology was performed to identify the downstream suppressor IL24(interleukin 24) which was further examined by qRT-PCR, western bolt and rescue experiments. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pulldown, and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were carried out to reveal the interaction between LINC00152, EZH2 and IL24. RESULTS: LINC00152 expression was upregulated in 60 human LAD tissues and paired normal tissues. High levels of LINC00152 expression were correlated with advanced TNM stage, larger tumor size, and lymph node metastasis, as well as shorter survival time. Silencing of LINC00152 suppressed cell growth and induced cell apoptosis. LINC00152 knockdown altered the expression of many downstream genes, including IL24. LINC00152 could interact with EZH2 and inhibit IL24 transcription. Moreover, the ectopic expression of IL24 repressed cell proliferation and partly reversed LINC00152 overexpression-induced promotion of cell growth in LAD. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals an oncogenic role for LINC00152 in LAD tumorigenesis, suggesting that it could be used as a therapeutic target in LAD treatment.

Evaluation of comprehensive environmental effect about coastal zone development activities in Liaoning Province and management advice.

Using spatial analysis function of Arcgis software, the present study investigated the building environment impact evaluation index system of coastal development in Liaoning Province. The factors of it included of current state of environmental quality, environmental impact of marine development and marine environmental disaster. Weighted factor analysis and comprehensive index method were utilized. At the end, comprehensive environment effect of coastal development in Liaoning Province were evaluated successfully. The result showed that the environmental effect of development activity were most serious, along the Zhao Jiatun coast in north of Zhimao bay and coast of Mianhua island in Dalian bay.

Long noncoding RNA HOXA-AS2 promotes gastric cancer proliferation by epigenetically silencing P21/PLK3/DDIT3 expression.

Current evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be an important class of functional regulators involved in human cancers development, including gastric cancer (GC). Here, we reported that HOXA cluster antisense RNA2 (HOXA-AS2), a 1048bp RNA, was upregulated in GC. Increased HOXA-AS2 expression in GC was associated with larger tumor size and higher clinical stage; patients with higher levels of HOXA-AS2 expression had a relatively poor prognosis. Further experiments revealed that HOXA-AS2 knockdown significantly inhibited GC cells proliferation by causing G1 arrest and promoting apoptosis, whereas HOXA-AS2 overexpression promoted cell growth. Furthermore, HOXA-AS2 could epigenetically repress the expression of P21, PLK3, and DDIT3 via binding with EZH2 (enhaner of zeste homolog 2), a key component of PRC2; ChIP assays demonstrated that EZH2 could directly bind to the promoter of P21, PLK3 and DDIT3, inducing H3K27 trimethylated. In conclusion, these data suggest that HOXA-AS2 could be an oncogene for GC partly through suppressing P21, PLK3, and DDIT3 expression; HOXA-AS2 may be served as a candidate prognostic biomarker and target for new therapies in human GC.

[Relationship of genotypes with clinical phenotypes and outcomes in children with cobalamin C type combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze mutation types, clinical features, and treatment outcomes of cobalamin C (cblC) type combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria (MMA-HC) and to investigate the relationship of genotypes with clinical phenotypes and outcomes. METHODS: The clinical data of 16 Chinese children diagnosed with cblC type MMA-HC by gene analysis were retrospectively analyzed. According to the onset age, the patients were classified into early onset (≤1 year) and late onset (>1 year). According to the clinical phenotype, the patients were classified into mild, moderate, and severe groups. All the patients were treated with vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) or hydroxocobalamin, betaine, folate, vitamin B6, and L-carnitine. RESULTS: Fifteen patients belonged to the early onset type, including 11 in the severe group and 4 in the moderate group. The remaining one belonged to the late onset type. Seven reported mutations and two novel mutations (c.445_446delTG and c.349G>c) were detected. The c.609G>A and c.658_660delAAG were the most common mutations detected in 13 (81%) out of 16 patients. The genotype caused by compound heterozygous mutations of these two alleles (c.609 G>A/c.658_660delAAG) was the most common in the patients, detected in 4 (25%) out of 16 patients. Patients with this genotype had severe microcephaly and eye diseases and these clinical manifestations were not improved after the treatment. The patient with late-onset cblC type MMA-HC had normal clinical phenotypes after treatment. In the 15 early onset patients, the more severe the clinical phenotype, the worse the treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The cblC type MMA-HC mainly manifests as early onset in China and c.609G >A and c.658_660delAAG are the most common mutations causing this disease. The clinical phenotypes are associated with the outcomes in children with cblC type MMA-HC.

[Surveillance of endemic situation of schistosomiasis in a national surveillance site in Honghu City from 2005 to 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the dynamics of schistosomiasis japonica in a national surveillance site in Honghu City, Hubei Province, China, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the intervention strategy of schistosomiasis control in the whole city. METHODS: The surveillance was performed in the surveillance village according to The National Surveillance Scheme of Schistosomiasis Japonica, and the results were analyzed statistically from 2005 to 2013. RESULTS: The schistosome infection rates in residents and cattle decreased from 1.76% and 20.93% in 2005 to 0 in 2013, respectively. The density of living Oncomelania snails decreased from 4.20/0.1m2 to 0.17/0.1m2, respectively. No infected snails were found during the period of 9 years in succession. The total area of snail control with molluscicidal drugs was 68.38 hm2 in the monitoring sites during the period of 9 years, and the expanded chemotherapy was performed for 634 person-times. Sixteen (person-time) advanced schistosomiasis patients received the treatment and salvation. The health education was carried out in 3 836 (person-times) students. Totally 5 685 leaflets of health education were distributed, and 17 bulletin boards of health education were performed. Five warning boards were set up at the environments with snails. CONCLUSIONS: The transmission of schistosomiasis in the surveillance site in Honghu City shows a gradually decreasing trend year by year. However, the surveillance and control of snails still should be strengthened.

CNTNAP2 Is Significantly Associated With Speech Sound Disorder in the Chinese Han Population.

Speech sound disorder is the most common communication disorder. Some investigations support the possibility that the CNTNAP2 gene might be involved in the pathogenesis of speech-related diseases. To investigate single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the CNTNAP2 gene, 300 unrelated speech sound disorder patients and 200 normal controls were included in the study. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms were amplified and directly sequenced. Significant differences were found in the genotype (P = .0003) and allele (P = .0056) frequencies of rs2538976 between patients and controls. The excess frequency of the A allele in the patient group remained significant after Bonferroni correction (P = .0280). A significant haplotype association with rs2710102T/+rs17236239A/+2538976A/+2710117A (P = 4.10e-006) was identified. A neighboring single-nucleotide polymorphism, rs10608123, was found in complete linkage disequilibrium with rs2538976, and the genotypes exactly corresponded to each other. The authors propose that these CNTNAP2 variants increase the susceptibility to speech sound disorder. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs10608123 and rs2538976 may merge into one single-nucleotide polymorphism.

Four alkoxohexavanadate-based Pd-polyoxovanadates as robust heterogeneous catalysts for oxidation of benzyl-alkanes.

Four alkoxohexavanadate-based Pd-POVs [Pd(dpa)(acac)]2[V6O13(OMe)6] (1), [Pd(dpa)(acac)]2[V6O11(OMe)8] (2), [Pd(dpa)(acac)]2[V6O11(OMe)8]·H2O (3), and [Pd(DMAP)2(acac)]2[V6O11(OMe)8]·H2O (4) (POV = polyoxovanadate; dpa = 2,2'-dipyridine amine; DMAP = 4-dimethylaminopyridine; acac = acetylacetone anion) have been synthesized and fully characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, element analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In 1-4, Pd complexes and hexavanadate anions are assembled through electrostatic interactions. Interestingly, the [V6O11(OMe)8](2-) cores in 2 and 3 are a pair of isomers that can be isolated by controlling crystallization temperature. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, the {V6} core in 3 represents a new octamethoxyhexavanadates cluster. It is notable that compounds 1-4 exhibit excellent heterogeneous catalytic performance in the oxidation of benzyl-alkanes with t-butylhydroperoxide as oxidant. Among them, the catalytic activity of 1 (conv. and selec. up to 99%, respectively) outperforms others and can be reused without losing its activity.

[The Effect of Fennel Tea Drinking on Postoperative Gut Recovery after Gynecological Malignancies Operation].

OBJECTIVE: To reveal if whether fennel fruit (Fructus Foeniculi) tea drinking enhances the recovery of intestinal function after gynecologic malignancies operation. METHODS: A total of 159 patients undergoing laparotomy for gynecological cancers were randomized into a tea group (n=78) and a control group (n=81). The patients in tea group drank a cup of fennel fruit tea while patients in control group drank the equal quantity of water twice per day from the first morning after operation until the first flatus. Every cup of tea consists of 5 gram of dried fennel fruit and 130 mL boiled water. The patents only drank the filtrate. Groups were compared in terms of time to first flatus and defecation, postoperative hospital stay, length of parenteral nutrition, ileus symptoms and other postoperative complications. RESULTS: Postoperative hospital [(5.6 +/- 1.2) d vs. (6.7 +/- 2.0) d, P<0.001], the mean time to flatus [(53.1 +/- 11.3) h vs. (64.2 +/- 13.6) h, P<0.001)], and the mean time to defecation [(4.3 +/- 1.0) d vs. (5.4 +/- 1.2) d, P < 0.001)] were significantly lower in tea group compared with those in control group. Ileus symptoms were observed more in patients in the control group compared to patients in tea group [relative risk = 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.5; P=0.001]. CONCLUSION: Fennel tea drinking after laparotomy for gynecological malignancis, an economical care, is safe, well to lerated and associated with rapider recovery of bowel motility, shorter hospital stay and fewer complications.