[Value of calprotectin S100 A8/A9 in predicting the severity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children]. / 钙卫蛋白S100 A8/A9å¯¹è‚ºç‚Žæ”¯åŽŸä½“è‚ºç‚Žæ‚£å„¿ç— æƒ ä¸¥é‡ç¨‹åº¦çš„é¢„æµ‹ä»·å€¼.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of calprotectin S100 A8/A9 complex in evaluating the condition of children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted among 136 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and 30 healthy controls. According to the severity of the condition, the children with MPP were divided into mild subgroup (40 children) and SMPP subgroup (96 children). The levels of S100 A8/A9 complex and related inflammatory factors were compared between the MPP group and the healthy control group, as well as between the two subgroups of MPP. The role of S100 A8/A9 in assessing the severity of MPP was explored. RESULTS: The MPP group had a significantly higher level of S100 A8/A9 than the healthy control group, with a significantly greater increase in the SMPP subgroup (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increases in serum C reactive protein (CRP) and S100A8/A9 were closely associated with SMPP (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the combined measurement of serum S100 A8/A9 and CRP had an area under the ROC curve of 0.904 in predicting SMPP, which was significantly higher than the AUC of S100 A8/A9 or CRP alone (P<0.05), with a specificity of 0.718 and a sensitivity of 0.952. CONCLUSIONS: S100 A8/A9 is closely associated with the severity of MPP, and the combination of S100 A8/A9 with CRP is more advantageous for assessing the severity of MPP in children.

Anal metastasis in esophageal cancer: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death and eighth most common cancer, affecting > 450000 people worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is the most common histological type, whereas esophageal adenoid cystic carcinoma (EACC) is rare. The liver is the most common distant metastatic site in esophageal cancer. Anal metastasis is rare and has not been reported in clinical practice before. Here, we report anal metastases in a patient with EACC after regular chemotherapy and surgical resection. CASE SUMMARY: A 61-year-old esophageal cancer patient was found to have lung and brain metastases during standardized treatment. The patient's treatment plan was continuously adjusted according to the latest treatment guidelines. However, the patient subsequently noticed rectal bleeding and itching, and after obtaining pathology results at the local hospital, anal metastasis of esophageal cancer was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: Postoperative pathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed EACC with rare anal metastasis. More exploration of EACC diagnosis and treatment is needed.

Effect of human epididymis protein 4 on hyperoxia-induced bronchial dysplasia in newborn rats.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to elucidate the role and the underlying mechanism of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in the pathogenesis of hyperoxia-induced bronchial dysplasia in newborn rats. METHODS: Forty neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were separated into two groups: a normal control group (20.8% oxygen concentration) and a hyperoxia-induced group (85% oxygen concentration). Three time intervals of 24 h, 3 days and 7 days were chosen for each group. Haematoxylin-eosin staining was used to identify the pathological alterations in the lung tissue of the SD rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate plasma protein levels. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to determine messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. RESULTS: In newborn SD rats, hyperoxia intervention within 7 days may result in acute lung damage. In the plasma and tissue of newborn SD rats, hyperoxia induction may raise levels of HE4, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) 1. We discovered that the HE4 protein activates the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and p65, activates the downstream MMP9 signalling pathway, inhibits MMP9 mRNA expression, inhibits protein activity, reduces type I collagen degradation, increases collagen secretion and promotes matrix remodelling and fibrosis in neonatal rat primary alveolar type II epithelial cells by overexpressing and silencing the HE4 gene. CONCLUSION: Through the ERK, MMP9 and TIMP1 signalling pathways, HE4 mediates the pathophysiological process of hyperoxia-induced lung damage in rats. Lung damage and lung basal remodelling are mediated by HE4 overexpression.

Stratospheric air intrusions promote global-scale new particle formation.

New particle formation in the free troposphere is a major source of cloud condensation nuclei globally. The prevailing view is that in the free troposphere, new particles are formed predominantly in convective cloud outflows. We present another mechanism using global observations. We find that during stratospheric air intrusion events, the mixing of descending ozone-rich stratospheric air with more moist free tropospheric background results in elevated hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations. Such mixing is most prevalent near the tropopause where the sulfur dioxide (SO2) mixing ratios are high. The combination of elevated SO2 and OH levels leads to enhanced sulfuric acid concentrations, promoting particle formation. Such new particle formation occurs frequently and over large geographic regions, representing an important particle source in the midlatitude free troposphere.

Clinical value of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT in patients with primary aldosteronism and bilateral lesions: preliminary results of a single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Subtype diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) is used to determine treatment, and the potential utility of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT for investigation of PA has long been recognized. The study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with bilateral lesions identified by CT. METHODS: In total, 25 patients with PA and bilateral lesions on CT were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and adrenal vein sampling. The analysis focused on establishing the relationship between bilateral adrenal lesions SUVmax and the ratio of bilateral adrenal lesions SUVmax (CON) and clinical diagnosis, treatment outcomes, and KCNJ5 gene status. RESULTS: The concordance rate between 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and adrenal venous sampling was 65.2% (15/23). The lateralization results of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT supported the clinical decisions of 20 patients with PA, 90% of whom showed effectiveness in treatment. The SUVmax on the dominant side of the surgically treated patients was higher than that of patients treated with drugs. The SUVmax of the KCNJ5 mutant group was higher than that of the KCNJ5 wild group, and 68Ga-Pentixafor uptake was correlated with KCNJ5 gene status. CONCLUSIONS: 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT proves beneficial for patients with PA with bilateral lesions on CT. The treatment is generally effective based on the results of PET lateralization. Simultaneously, a certain relationship exists between 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and KCNJ5 gene status, warranting further analysis.

GSTO1 aggravates EGFR-TKIs resistance and tumor metastasis via deglutathionylation of NPM1 in lung adenocarcinoma.

Despite significantly improved clinical outcomes in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma, all patients develop acquired resistance and malignancy on the treatment of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Understanding the resistance mechanisms is crucial to uncover novel therapeutic targets to improve the efficacy of EGFR-TKI treatment. Here, integrated analysis using RNA-Seq and shRNAs metabolic screening reveals glutathione S-transferase omega 1 (GSTO1) as one of the key metabolic enzymes that is required for EGFR-TKIs resistance in lung adenocarcinoma cells. Aberrant upregulation of GSTO1 confers EGFR-TKIs resistance and tumor metastasis in vitro and in vivo dependent on its active-site cysteine 32 (C32). Pharmacological inhibition or knockdown of GSTO1 restores sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs and synergistically enhances tumoricidal effects. Importantly, nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) cysteine 104 is deglutathionylated by GSTO1 through its active C32 site, which leads to activation of the AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, clinical data illustrates that GSTO1 level is positively correlated with NPM1 level, NF-κB-mediated transcriptions and progression of human lung adenocarcinoma. Overall, our study highlights a novel mechanism of GSTO1 mediating EGFR-TKIs resistance and malignant progression via protein deglutathionylation, and GSTO1/NPM1/AKT/NF-κB axis as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in lung adenocarcinoma.

Effects of integrated management on surgical outcomes and mental health of patients following endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a less invasive local treatment for diseases throughout the gastrointestinal tract. AIM: To develop an integrated management protocol and analyze its effects on surgical outcomes and mental health of patients after ESD. METHODS: The study population consisted of patients undergoing ESD before implementation of integrated management and those undergoing ESD by the same pool of surgeons after implementation of integrated management. RESULTS: The management group exhibited shortened fasting time and length of hospital stay compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The management group exhibited a higher incidence rate of postoperative complications than the control group (3 cases vs 11 cases; P = 0.043). The management group exhibited a lower uncertainty score for disease knowledge compared to the control group 12 h after surgery (P < 0.05). The management group gave more scores on the domains of patient familiarity to the responsible nurses, professional skills of responsible nurses, and general evaluation compared to the control group. The management group had a higher total score of patient satisfaction towards the responsible nurses in term of health care than the control group (P < 0.01). The management group exhibited lower Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores compared to the control group 12 h after surgery (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that integrated management could improve surgical outcomes and mental health of patients undergoing ESD.

Partial hard occluded target reconstruction of Fourier single pixel imaging guided through range slice.

Fourier single pixel imaging utilizes pre-programmed patterns for laser spatial distribution modulation to reconstruct intensity image of the target through reconstruction algorithms. The approach features non-locality and high anti-interference performance. However, Poor image quality is induced when the target of interest is occluded in Fourier single pixel imaging. To address the problem, a deep learning-based image inpainting algorithm is employed within Fourier single pixel imaging to reconstruct partially obscured targets with high quality. It applies a distance-based segmentation method to segment obscured regions and the target of interest. Additionally, it utilizes an image inpainting network that combines multi-scale sparse convolution and transformer architecture, along with a reconstruction network that integrates Channel Attention Mechanism and Attention Gate modules to reconstruct complete and clear intensity images of the target of interest. The proposed method significantly expands the application scenarios and improves the imaging quality of Fourier single pixel imaging. Simulation and real-world experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits the high inpainting and reconstruction capacity in the conditions of hard occlusion and down-sampling.

Family-based Helicobacter pylori infection control and management strategy and screen-and-treat strategy are highly cost-effective in preventing multiple upper gastrointestinal diseases in Chinese population at national level.

BACKGROUND: The overall benefits of the newly introduced family-based Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection control and management (FBCM) and screen-and-treat strategies in preventing multiple upper gastrointestinal diseases at national level in China have not been explored. We investigate the cost-effectiveness of these strategies in the whole Chinese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Decision trees and Markov models of H. pylori infection-related non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and gastric cancer (GC) were developed to simulate the cost-effectiveness of these strategies in the whole 494 million households in China. The main outcomes include cost-effectiveness, life years (LY), quality-adjusted life year (QALY), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). RESULTS: When compared with no-screen strategy, both FBCM and screen-and-treat strategies reduced the number of new cases of NUD, PUD, PUD-related deaths, and the prevalence of GC, and cancer-related deaths. The costs saved by these two strategies were $1467 million and $879 million, quality-adjusted life years gained were 227 million and 267 million, and life years gained were 59 million and 69 million, respectively. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that FBCM strategy costs -$6.46/QALY and -$24.75/LY, and screen-and-treat strategy costs -$3.3/QALY and -$12.71/LY when compared with no-screen strategy. Compared to the FBCM strategy, the screen-and-treat strategy reduced the incidence of H. pylori-related diseases, added 40 million QALYs, and saved 10 million LYs, but at the increased cost of $588 million. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that screen-and-treat strategy costs $14.88/QALY and $59.5/LY when compared with FBCM strategy. The robustness of the results was also verified. CONCLUSIONS: Both FBCM and screen-and-treat strategies are highly cost-effective in preventing NUD, PUD, and GC than the no-screen strategy in Chinese families at national level. As FBCM strategy is more practical and efficient, it is expected to play a more important role in preventing familial H. pylori infection and also serves as an excellent reference for other highly infected societies.

Develop a bone mineral density T-score distribution nomograms based on osteoporosis risk factors for middle-aged and older adults.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to understand how age, health status, and lifestyle impact bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged and older adults, focusing on predicting osteoporosis risk. METHODS: This study included 2836 participants aged 50-88 from the Health Improvement Program of Bone (HOPE) conducted from 2021 to 2023. We used logistic regression to make a prediction tool. Then checked its accuracy and reliability using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration curves. RESULTS: Factors like age, body weight, prior fractures, and smoking were independently found to affect BMD T-score distribution in men. In women, age and body weight were identified as independent factors influencing BMD T-score distribution. A nomogram was created to visually illustrate these predictive relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram proved highly accurate in identifying men aged 50 and above and postmenopausal women based on their BMD T-score distribution, improving clinical decision-making and patient care in osteoporosis evaluation and treatment.

Identification of the serum metabolites associated with cow milk consumption in Chinese Peri-/Postmenopausal women.

Cow milk consumption (CMC) and downstream alterations of serum metabolites are commonly considered important factors regulating human health status. Foods may lead to metabolic changes directly or indirectly through remodelling gut microbiota (GM). We sought to identify the metabolic alterations in Chinese Peri-/Postmenopausal women with habitual CMC and explore if the GM mediates the CMC-metabolite associations. 346 Chinese Peri-/Postmenopausal women participants were recruited in this study. Fixed effects regression and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to reveal alterations of serum metabolic features in different CMC groups. Spearman correlation coefficient was computed to detect metabolome-metagenome association. 36 CMC-associated metabolites including palmitic acid (FA(16:0)), 7alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesterin-3-one (7alphaC4), citrulline were identified by both fixed effects regression (FDR < 0.05) and PLS-DA (VIP score > 2). Some significant metabolite-GM associations were observed, including FA(16:0) with gut species Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides sp.D2. These findings would further prompt our understanding of the effect of cow milk on human health.

Identification and evaluation of a six-lncRNA prognostic signature for multiple myeloma.

PURPOSE: Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy, and there is no cure for this disease. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in MM and to reveal related immune and chemotherapy resistance mechanisms. METHODS: In this study, lncRNA profiles from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were analyzed to identify lncRNAs linked to MM patient survival. A risk assessment model stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups, and survival was evaluated. Additionally, a triple-ceRNA (lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA) network was constructed, and functional analysis was performed. The research also involved immune function analysis and chemotherapy drug sensitivity assessment using oncoPredict and the GDSC dataset. RESULTS: We identified 422 lncRNAs significantly associated with overall survival in MM patients and ultimately focused on the 6 with the highest prognostic value. These lncRNAs were used to develop a risk score formula that stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed shorter survival in high-risk patients. We integrated this lncRNA signature with clinical parameters to construct a nomogram for predicting MM prognosis. Additionally, a triple-ceRNA network was constructed to reveal potential miRNA targets, coding genes related to these lncRNAs and significantly enriched pathways. Immune checkpoint gene expression and immune cell composition were also analyzed in relation to the lncRNA risk score. Finally, using the oncoPredict tool, we observed that high-risk patients exhibited decreased sensitivity to key MM chemotherapeutics, suggesting that lncRNA profiles are linked to chemotherapy resistance.

Study on the fabrication and controlled release behavior of N-Acetylneuraminic acid-loaded hydrogels stabilized by gelatin/whey protein isolate.

Gelatin (GEL), pectin (PEC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and whey protein isolate (WPI) were employed to formulate hydrogels for stabilizing N-Acetylneuraminic Acid (NeuAc). GEL/WPI-NeuAc hydrogels, irrespective of the ratio, exhibited a flexible and smooth surface with a continuous three-dimensional network structure internally. Porosity of the three types of hydrogels increased from 3.69% to 86.92% (GEL/WPI), 41.67% (PEC/WPI), and 87.62% (CMC/WPI), rendering them suitable as carriers for NeuAc encapsulation. The dynamic swelling behavior of all hydrogels followed Schott's second-order kinetics model. The degradation performance of GEL, PEC, and CMC/WPI-NeuAc hydrogels was optimal at a 5: 5 ratio, with degradation rates of 80.39 ± 1.26%, 82.38 ± 1.96%, and 81.39 ± 1.57%, respectively. GEL, PEC, CMC/WPI-NeuAc hydrogels demonstrated decreased release rates of 44.56%, 31.04%, and 41.26%, respectively, compared to free NeuAc, post gastric digestion. The present investigation suggests the potential of GEL/WPI hydrogels as effective carriers for delivering NeuAc encapsulation.

Versatile Pickering emulsion gel lubricants stabilized by cooperative interfacial graphene oxide-polymer assemblies.

Although a large number of water- and oil-based gel lubricants have found extensive potential applications in industrial and biomedical fields, developing new-type emulsion-based gel lubricants that may effectively integrate their characteristics and preponderances remains a significant challenge. Here a water-in-oil Pickering emulsion gel lubricant that is able to combine the high colloidal stability of traditional Pickering emulsions, the good swelling and corrosion resistance of oil-based gel lubricants, and the high cooling capacity of water-based gel lubricants prepared from a binary mixture of aqueous graphene oxide (GO) dispersion and diamino-functionalized polydimethylsiloxane oil solution in a broad concentration, pH, and water volume fraction range is reported. It can provide favourable lubrication for the Si3N4/steel and Si3N4/silicone tribopairs either in air or under water owing to the formation of a sturdy adsorbed oil film and ball-bearing actions of the GO particles. It can also be printed into various colourful 2D and 3D geometries upon direct extrusion into water, thanks to its water-in-oil nature and inherent shear-thinning and thixotropic properties, which further shows good prospects in underwater operations and artificial biomimetic organs. Our study may provide new insights into the design and preparation of novel semi-solid materials for diverse industrial, engineering, and biomedical applications.

Identification of novel therapeutic targets for chronic kidney disease and kidney function by integrating multi-omics proteome with transcriptome.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disease for which there is no effective cure. We aimed to identify potential drug targets for CKD and kidney function by integrating plasma proteome and transcriptome. METHODS: We designed a comprehensive analysis pipeline involving two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) (for proteins), summary-based MR (SMR) (for mRNA), and colocalization (for coding genes) to identify potential multi-omics biomarkers for CKD and combined the protein-protein interaction, Gene Ontology (GO), and single-cell annotation to explore the potential biological roles. The outcomes included CKD, extensive kidney function phenotypes, and different CKD clinical types (IgA nephropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis, chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis, membranous nephropathy, nephrotic syndrome, and diabetic nephropathy). RESULTS: Leveraging pQTLs of 3032 proteins from 3 large-scale GWASs and corresponding blood- and tissue-specific eQTLs, we identified 32 proteins associated with CKD, which were validated across diverse CKD datasets, kidney function indicators, and clinical types. Notably, 12 proteins with prior MR support, including fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5), isopentenyl-diphosphate delta-isomerase 2 (IDI2), inhibin beta C chain (INHBC), butyrophilin subfamily 3 member A2 (BTN3A2), BTN3A3, uromodulin (UMOD), complement component 4A (C4a), C4b, centrosomal protein of 170 kDa (CEP170), serologically defined colon cancer antigen 8 (SDCCAG8), MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MICB), and liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2), were confirmed. To our knowledge, 20 novel causal proteins have not been previously reported. Five novel proteins, namely, GCKR (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.10-1.24), IGFBP-5 (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.29-0.62), sRAGE (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07-1.22), GNPTG (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86-0.95), and YOD1 (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.18-1.64,) passed the MR, SMR, and colocalization analysis. The other 15 proteins were also candidate targets (GATM, AIF1L, DQA2, PFKFB2, NFATC1, activin AC, Apo A-IV, MFAP4, DJC10, C2CD2L, TCEA2, HLA-E, PLD3, AIF1, and GMPR1). These proteins interact with each other, and their coding genes were mainly enrichment in immunity-related pathways or presented specificity across tissues, kidney-related tissue cells, and kidney single cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our integrated analysis of plasma proteome and transcriptome data identifies 32 potential therapeutic targets for CKD, kidney function, and specific CKD clinical types, offering potential targets for the development of novel immunotherapies, combination therapies, or targeted interventions.

The binding mechanism of an anti-multiple myeloma antibody to the human GPRC5D homodimer.

GPRC5D is an atypical Class C orphan G protein-coupled receptor. Its high expression on the surface of multiple myeloma cells has rendered it an attractive target for therapeutic interventions, including monoclonal antibodies, CAR-T cells, and T-cell engagers. Despite its therapeutic potential, the insufficient understanding regarding of the receptor's structure and antibody recognition mechanism has impeded the progress of effective therapeutic development. Here, we present the structure of GPRC5D in complex with a preclinical-stage single-chain antibody (scFv). Our structural analysis reveals that the GPRC5D presents a close resemblance to the typical Class C GPCRs in the transmembrane region. We identify a distinct head-to-head homodimer arrangement and interface mainly involving TM4, setting it apart from other Class C homo- or hetero-dimers. Furthermore, we elucidate the binding site engaging a sizable extracellular domain on GPRC5D for scFv recognition. These insights not only unveil the distinctive dimer organization of this unconventional Class C GPCR but also hold the potential to advance drug development targeting GPRC5D for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Enhancing prognostic insights: myometrial invasion patterns in endometrial carcinoma, with emphasis on MELF pattern-a comprehensive review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The microcystic, elongated, and fragmented (MELF) pattern, characterized by myxoid and inflamed stroma, is readily identifiable as a form of myometrial infiltration. This meta-analysis endeavors to assess the prognostic significance of MELF infiltration patterns in patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search, spanning until 11 October 2023, across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases, identified 23 relevant studies involving 5199 patients. Data analysis was performed using Stata 16.0. RESULTS: Analysis indicates that MELF infiltration predicts a higher risk of lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer patients [hazard ratios (HR) = 5.05; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.62-7.05; P < 0.05]. Notably, this association remains consistent across various patient demographics, analytical approaches, study designs, and treatment modalities. However, MELF infiltration does not significantly correlate with recurrence (HR = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.73-1.52; P > 0.05), overall survival (HR = 1.24; 95% CI, 0.91-1.68; P > 0.05), or disease-free survival (HR = 1.40; 95% CI, 0.85-2.28; P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: While MELF infiltration heightens the risk of lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer, its impact on recurrence, overall survival, and disease-free survival remains statistically insignificant.

Characterization of cotinine degradation in a newly isolated Gram-negative strain Pseudomonas sp. JH-2.

Cotinine, the primary metabolite of nicotine in the human body, is an emerging pollutant in aquatic environments. It causes environmental problems and is harmful to the health of humans and other mammals; however, the mechanisms of its biodegradation have been elucidated incompletely. In this study, a novel Gram-negative strain that could degrade and utilize cotinine as a sole carbon source was isolated from municipal wastewater samples, and its cotinine degradation characteristics and kinetics were determined. Pseudomonas sp. JH-2 was able to degrade 100 mg/L (0.56 mM) of cotinine with high efficiency within 5 days at 30 ℃, pH 7.0, and 1% NaCl. Two intermediates, 6-hydroxycotinine and 6-hydroxy-3-succinoylpyridine (HSP), were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer. The draft whole genome sequence of strain JH-2 was obtained and analyzed to determine genomic structure and function. No homologs of proteins predicted in Nocardioides sp. JQ2195 and reported in nicotine degradation Pyrrolidine pathway were found in strain JH-2, suggesting new enzymes that responsible for cotinine catabolism. These findings provide meaningful insights into the biodegradation of cotinine by Gram-negative bacteria.

Berberine enhances the function of intestinal stem cells in healthy and radiation-injured mice.

Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are pivotal for the maintenance and regeneration of the intestinal epithelium. Berberine (BBR) exhibits diverse biological activities, but it remains unclear whether BBR can modulate ISCs' function. Therefore, we investigated the effects of BBR on ISCs in healthy and radiation-injured mice and explored the potential underlying mechanisms involved. The results showed that BBR significantly increased the length of the small intestines, the height of the villi, and the depth and density of the crypts, promoted the proliferation of cryptal epithelial cells and increased the number of OLFM4+ ISCs and goblet cells. Crypts from the BBR-treated mice were more capable of growing into enteroids than those from untreated mice. BBR alleviated WAI-induced intestinal injury. BBR suppressed the apoptosis of crypt epithelial cells, increased the quantity of goblet cells, and increased the quantity of OLFM4+ ISCs and tdTomato+ progenies of ISCs after 8 Gy WAI-induced injury. Mechanistically, BBR treatment caused a significant increase in the quantity of p-S6, p-STAT3 and p-ERK1/2 positive cryptal epithelial cells under physiological conditions and after WAI-induced injury. In conclusion, BBR is capable of enhancing the function of ISCs either physiologically or after radiation-induced injury, indicating that BBR has potential value in the treatment of radiation-induced intestinal injury.