Potential of Marine Bacterial Metalloprotease A69 in the Preparation of Peanut Peptides with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE)-Inhibitory and Antioxidant Properties.

Marine bacterial proteases have rarely been used to produce bioactive peptides, although many have been reported. This study aims to evaluate the potential of the marine bacterial metalloprotease A69 from recombinant Bacillus subtilis in the preparation of peanut peptides (PPs) with antioxidant activity and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity. Based on the optimization of the hydrolysis parameters of protease A69, a process for PPs preparation was set up in which the peanut protein was hydrolyzed by A69 at 3000 U g-1 and 60 °C, pH 7.0 for 4 h. The prepared PPs exhibited a high content of peptides with molecular weights lower than 1000 Da (>80%) and 3000 Da (>95%) and contained 17 kinds of amino acids. Moreover, the PPs displayed elevated scavenging of hydroxyl radical and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical, with IC50 values of 1.50 mg mL-1 and 1.66 mg mL-1, respectively, indicating the good antioxidant activity of the PPs. The PPs also showed remarkable ACE-inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 0.71 mg mL-1. By liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis, the sequences of 19 ACE inhibitory peptides and 15 antioxidant peptides were identified from the PPs. These results indicate that the prepared PPs have a good nutritional value, as well as good antioxidant and antihypertensive effects, and that the marine bacterial metalloprotease A69 has promising potential in relation to the preparation of bioactive peptides from peanut protein.

Visualization of transcatheter aortic valve implantation from the perspective of bibliometric analysis.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was originally devised as a treatment for patients with aortic stenosis (AS). It has since emerged as a beneficial alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), extending its reach to a broader array of patients. Our objective was to illustrate the developmental trends and focus areas in TAVI research. We sourced a total of 11,480 research papers on TAVI, published between 1994 and 2022, from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. We conducted a bibliometric analysis of these publications, generating cooperation maps, performing co-citation analysis of journals and references, and carrying out a cluster analysis of keywords. Our findings indicate that TAVI research grapples with numerous clinical challenges. We created knowledge maps that highlight contributing countries/institutions, authors, journals with high publication and citation rates, and notable references in this domain. North America and Europe have been at the forefront of research within the TAVI field. The institutions and authors from these regions exert significant influence in this area of study. Beginning in 2009, China has progressively expanded its research on TAVI over the past two decades. We anticipate that future research will increasingly focus on three key areas: implementation scope, lifelong management, outcomes and predicting the risk of TAVI. Research on TAVI is flourishing. Cooperation among different countries and institutions in this field must be strengthened in the future, especially for developing counties.

Sodium alginate-based coaxial fibers synergistically integrate moisture actuation, length tracing, humidity sensing, and electric heating.

The development of wearable electronics has driven the need for smart fibers with advanced multifunctional synergy. In this paper, we present a design of a multifunctional coaxial fiber that is composed of a biopolymer-derived core and an MXene/silver nanowire (AgNW) sheath by wet spinning. The fiber synergistically integrates moisture actuation, length tracing, humidity sensing, and electric heating, making it highly promising for portable devices and protective systems. The biopolymer-derived core provides deformation for moisture-sensitive actuation, while the MXene/AgNW sheath with good conductivity enables the fiber to perform electric heating, humidity sensing, and self-sensing actuation. The coaxial fiber can be programmed to rapidly desorb water molecules to shrink to its original length by using the MXene/AgNW sheath as an electrical heater. We demonstrate proof-of-concept applications based on the multifunctional fibers for thermal physiotherapy and wound healing/monitoring. The sodium alginate@MXene-based coaxial fiber presents a promising solution for the next-generation of smart wearable electronics.

Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase as a metabolic valve advances Methylobacterium/Methylorubrum phyllosphere colonization and plant growth.

The proficiency of phyllosphere microbiomes in efficiently utilizing plant-provided nutrients is pivotal for their successful colonization of plants. The methylotrophic capabilities of Methylobacterium/Methylorubrum play a crucial role in this process. However, the precise mechanisms facilitating efficient colonization remain elusive. In the present study, we investigate the significance of methanol assimilation in shaping the success of mutualistic relationships between methylotrophs and plants. A set of strains originating from Methylorubrum extorquens AM1 are subjected to evolutionary pressures to thrive under low methanol conditions. A mutation in the phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase gene is identified, which converts it into a metabolic valve. This valve redirects limited C1-carbon resources towards the synthesis of biomass by up-regulating a non-essential phosphoketolase pathway. These newly acquired bacterial traits demonstrate superior colonization capabilities, even at low abundance, leading to increased growth of inoculated plants. This function is prevalent in Methylobacterium/Methylorubrum strains. In summary, our findings offer insights that could guide the selection of Methylobacterium/Methylorubrum strains for advantageous agricultural applications.

Coiled Carbon Nanotube Fibers Sheathed by a Reinforced Liquid Crystal Elastomer for Strong and Programmable Artificial Muscles.

Fibers of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) as promising artificial muscle show ultralarge and reversible contractile strokes. However, the contractile force is limited by the poor mechanical properties of the LCE fibers. Herein, we report high-strength LCE fibers by introducing a secondary network into the single-network LCE. The double-network LCE (DNLCE) shows considerable improvements in tensile strength (313.9%) and maximum actuation stress (342.8%) compared to pristine LCE. To facilitate the controllability and application, a coiled artificial muscle fiber consisting of DNLCE-coated carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber is prepared. When electrothermally driven, the artificial muscle fiber outputs a high actuation performance and programmable actuation. Furthermore, by knitting the artificial muscle fibers into origami structures, an intelligent gripper and crawling inchworm robot have been demonstrated. These demonstrations provide promising application scenarios for advanced intelligent systems in the future.

Dual-trajectory of TyG levels and lifestyle scores and their associations with ischemic stroke in a non-diabetic population: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, has been implicated in the risk of ischemic stroke. However, the interplay between TyG levels, lifestyle factors, and their collective impact on stroke risk in non-diabetic populations remains inadequately explored. This study aims to evaluate the association of ischemic stroke with the joint development of the TyG index and lifestyle in the non-diabetic population. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, data was collected across three consecutive biennial surveys of the Kailuan Study from 2006 to 2011. The dual-trajectory model was used to determine the temporal development of TyG levels and lifestyle scores. Statistical analysis involved Cox regression models to evaluate the association between TyG-lifestyle trajectories and ischemic stroke risk, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 44,403 participants were included, with five distinct TyG levels and lifestyle scores trajectory subtypes identified. In the multivariable-adjusted analyses, significant differences in ischemic stroke risk among the trajectory subtypes. Group 5, characterized by the highest TyG levels and moderate lifestyle scores, exhibited the greatest ischemic stroke risk (HR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.51-2.18), while group 4, with moderate TyG levels and higher lifestyle scores, demonstrated the lowest risk (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.04-1.37), compared with group 3. Participants with elevated TyG levels were at an increased risk of ischemic stroke in cases of pronounced insulin resistance, even with a healthy lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the significant associations between the identified TyG and lifestyle trajectories and the stratification of ischemic stroke risk among non-diabetics. The TyG index is a valuable indicator for assessing insulin resistance. However, the potential benefits of lifestyle changes for those with significantly high TyG levels need to be clarified by more research to develop more effective stroke prevention strategies.

Design of Proteolytic-Resistant Antifungal Peptides by Utilizing Minimum d-Amino Acid Ratios.

Antifungal peptides are an appealing alternative to standard antifungal medicines due to their unique mechanism of action and low-level resistance. However, their susceptibility to protease degradation keeps hindering their future development. Herein, a library was established to design peptides with protease resistance and high antifungal activity. The peptides were incorporated with minimal D-amino acids to further improve the protease stability. The most active peptide, IR3, demonstrated good antifungal activity and low toxicity, and its molecular integrity was maintained after protease hydrolysis for 8 h at 2 mg/mL. Furthermore, IR3 could permeate the fungal cell wall, disrupt the cell membrane, produce reactive oxygen species, and induce apoptosis in fungal cells. In vivo experiments confirmed that IR3 could effectively treat fungal keratitis. Collectively, these findings suggest that IR3 is a promising antifungal agent and may be beneficial in the design and development of protease-resistant antifungal peptides.

Understanding the influence of cytokines in intrauterine hepatitis B transmission: A cross-sectional study in China.

Cytokines may related to intrauterine Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission. 205 HBsAg(+) pregnant cases and 74 HBsAg(-) women were included. Neonatal blood samples were taken within 24 h of delivery and before HBV vaccinations. Serological HBV biomarkers and cytokines were detected. 21.9 % of the newborns from HBsAg(+) women were intrauterinally transmitted, including 7.3 % with dominant transmission (DBT) and 14.6 % occult transmission (OBT). HBV DNA load (odd ratio [OR], 1.44; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.98), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (OR, 1.01; 95 %CI, 1.00-1.02) and toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) (OR, 1.27; 95 %CI, 1.06-1.52) positively correlated with DBT. Only IFN-γ (OR, 1.01; 95 %CI, 1.00-1.01) positively associated with OBT. According to the generated restricted cubic spline, TLR9 was positively correlates with rise of DBT in a log-shape. It may be possible to develop a nomogram which intercalates these factors to predict intrauterine HBV transmissions. Further research should consider immune processes involved in chorioamnionitis.

Knittable Electrochemical Yarn Muscle for Morphing Textiles.

Morphing textiles, crafted using electrochemical artificial muscle yarns, boast features such as adaptive structural flexibility, programmable control, low operating voltage, and minimal thermal effect. However, the progression of these textiles is still impeded by the challenges in the continuous production of these yarn muscles and the necessity for proper structure designs that bypass operation in extensive electrolyte environments. Herein, a meters-long sheath-core structured carbon nanotube (CNT)/nylon composite yarn muscle is continuously prepared. The nylon core not only reduces the consumption of CNTs but also amplifies the surface area for interaction between the CNT yarn and the electrolyte, leading to an enhanced effective actuation volume. When driven electrochemically, the CNT@nylon yarn muscle demonstrates a maximum contractile stroke of 26.4%, a maximum contractile rate of 15.8% s-1, and a maximum power density of 0.37 W g-1, surpassing pure CNT yarn muscles by 1.59, 1.82, and 5.5 times, respectively. By knitting the electrochemical CNT@nylon artificial muscle yarns into a soft fabric that serves as both a soft scaffold and an electrolyte container, we achieved a morphing textile is achieved. This textile can perform programmable multiple motion modes in air such as contraction and sectional bending.

Association between liver enzymes and type 2 diabetes: a real-world study.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the association of liver enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT), with type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk, particularly their dose-response relationship. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled participants aged >20 years old who underwent physical examination at our local hospital from November 2022 to May 2023. A generalized additive model (GAM) was fit to assess the dose-response relationship between liver enzymes and T2D risk. Furthermore, data from the UK Biobank (n=217,533) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2011-2018; n= 15,528) were analyzed to evaluate whether the dose-response relationship between liver enzymes and T2D differed by population differences. Results: A total of 14,100 participants were included (1,155 individuals with T2D and 12,945 individuals without diabetes) in the analysis. GAM revealed a non-linear relationship between liver enzymes and T2D risk (P non-linear < 0.001). Specifically, T2D risk increased with increasing ALT and GGT levels (range, <50 IU/L) and then plateaued when ALT and GGT levels were >50 IU/L. Elevated AST within a certain range (range, <35 IU/L) decreased the risk of T2D, whereas mildly elevated AST (>35 IU/L) became a risk factor for T2D. The UK Biobank and NHANES data analysis also showed a similar non-linear pattern between liver enzymes and T2D incidence. Conclusion: Liver enzymes were non-linearly associated with T2D risk in different populations, including China, the UK, and the US. Elevated ALT and GGT levels, within a certain range, could increase T2D risk. More attention should be given to liver enzyme levels for early lifestyle intervention and early T2D prevention. Further studies are necessary to explore the mechanism of the non-linear association between liver enzymes and T2D risk.

Clinical Evidence of the Relationship Between Alanine Aminotransferase and Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Aim: Multiple studies have investigated the association between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and diabetes mellitus (DM); however, only a few studies have specifically examined the relationship between ALT and diabetic kidney disease (DKD). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ALT and DKD using clinical data. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 668 individuals that included non-DM (N=281), DM without DKD (N=160), and DKD (N=227) patients. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to examine the dose-response relationship between ALT and DKD risk. We also analyzed the data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2018 using the same statistical methods; 4481, 1110, and 671 individuals were included in the non-DM, DM without DKD, and DKD groups, respectively. Results: The changes in ALT activity among the non-DM, DM without DKD, and DKD groups showed a similar pattern in both our clinical data and the NHANES dataset. ALT activity increases with the onset of DM, whereas ALT activity decreases when DM progresses to DKD. The GAM revealed a nonlinear U-shaped relationship between ALT and DKD risk in the two datasets, and the lowest range of ALT was 40-50 IU/L. Both lower (<40 IU/L) and higher (>50 IU/L) ALT activity were found to be positively associated with DKD risk. Conclusion: A U-shaped nonlinear association between ALT and DKD was found in our clinical data and NHANES data. DKD risk was increased by both lower or higher ALT activity. To confirm the causality of nonlinear relationship, larger prospective studies or Mendelian randomization analysis are required.

Cd-Free Pure Sulfide Kesterite Cu2 ZnSnS4 Solar Cell with Over 800 mV Open-Circuit Voltage Enabled by Phase Evolution Intervention.

The Cd-free Cu2 ZnSnS4 (CZTS) solar cell is an ideal candidate for producing low-cost clean energy through green materials owing to its inherent environmental friendliness and earth abundance. Nevertheless, sulfide CZTS has long suffered from severe open-circuit voltage (VOC ) deficits, limiting the full exploitation of performance potential and further progress. Here, an effective strategy is proposed to alleviate the nonradiative VOC loss by manipulating the phase evolution during the critical kesterite phase formation stage. With a Ge cap layer on the precursor, premature CZTS grain formation is suppressed at low temperatures, leading to fewer nucleation centers at the initial crystallization stage. Consequently, the CZTS grain formation and crystallization are deferred to high temperatures, resulting in enhanced grain interior quality and less unfavorable grain boundaries in the final film. As a result, a champion efficiency of 10.7% for Cd-free CZTS solar cells with remarkably high VOC beyond 800 mV (63.2% Schockley-Queisser limit) is realized, indicating that nonradiative recombination is effectively inhibited. This strategy may advance other compound semiconductors seeking high-quality crystallization.

Cytokine profiles and virological markers highlight distinctive immune statuses, and effectivenesses and limitations of NAs across different courses of chronic HBV infection.

PURPOSE: The characteristics of cytokine/chemokine(CK) profiles across different courses of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and the effects of NAs antiviral therapy on cytokine profiles remain unclear. METHODS: This report provides evidence from 383 patients with chronic HBV infection. The Luminex multiple cytokine detection technology was used to detect CK profiles. The predictive power of CKs across course of disease was assessedusing univariate analyses and with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Compared to healthy control (HC), expression levels of interleukin 6 (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-21, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-1 showed a significant increasing trend during chronic HBV infection. IL-23 and IL-33 increased respectively in chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB). interferon (IFN)-gamma and TNF-α changed significantly only in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients. Whereas, myeloid-related markers decreased dramatically in those with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The ROC result suggests that combining IL-6, IL-8, CXCL9 and CXCL13 into a nomogram has closely correlation with HCC during chronic HBV infection. In addition, nucleotide analogues (NAs) antiviral treatments are capable of recoveringnormal liver functions and significantly reducing the viral loads, however, they seem to have a limited effect in changing CKs, especially specific antiviral factors. CONCLUSION: The differential CK and virological markers may serve as potential indicators of distinct immune statuses in chronic HBV infection. They also underscore the varying efficacy and limitations of NAs antiviral therapies. This next step would to break new ground in the optimization of current anti-HBV treatment programs although this requires further research.

Excessive weight gain onset-age and risk of developing diabetes mellitus: a large, prospective Chinese cohort study.

Background: Excessive weight gain and obesity are widely accepted as risk factors for diabetes mellitus, and the age at which obesity onsets may be related to the development of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. Here, we aimed to investigate associations between the onset-age of overweight/obesity and risk of developing diabetes mellitus in China. Methods: 42,144 people with the normal weight range and without diabetes at baseline, were enrolled from the Kailuan cohort which began on the 1st June 2006. All participants were followed-up, biennially, until 31st December 2017. During follow-up, 11,220 participants had become overweight/obese. For each case, one normal-weight control was matched according to age ( ± 1 year) and sex. Our final analysis included 10,858 case-control pairs. An age-scaled Cox model was implemented to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for diabetes mellitus incidence across age-groups. Results: At a median follow-up of 5.46 years, 1,403 cases of diabetes mellitus were identified. After multivariate adjustments, age-scaled Cox modelling suggested that risk gradually attenuated with every 10 year increase in age of onset of overweight/obesity. Diabetes mellitus adjusted HRs (aHRs) for new-onset overweight/obesity at <45years, 45-54 years, and 55-64 years were 1.47 (95%CI, 1.12-1.93), 1.38 (95%CI, 1.13-1.68), 1.32 (95%CI, 1.09-1.59), respectively. However, new-onset of overweight/obesity at ≥65 years did not relate to diabetes mellitus (aHR, 1.20; 95%CI, 0.92-1.57). This trend was not observed in women or the new-onset obesity subgroup but was evident in men and the new overweight onset subgroup. Conclusion: Participants with early onset of excessive weight gain issues are at considerably higher risk of developing diabetes mellitus compared to those who maintain a normal weight.

Associations between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and extrahepatic cancers: a cohort in China.

Background: To evaluate the associations between a new definition of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and extrahepatic cancers and compare with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: We enrolled 151,391 Chinese participants in the Kailuan cohort. Hepatic steatosis was detected by abdominal ultrasound. Fine and Gray competing risk regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) between MAFLD and extrahepatic cancers. Results: MAFLD was associated with increased risk of prostate (HR =1.49, 95% CI: 1.07-2.08) and obesity-related cancers, including thyroid (HR =1.47, 95% CI: 1.01-2.12), kidney (HR =1.54, 95% CI: 1.18-2.00), colorectal (HR =1.15, 95% CI: 0.98-1.34) and breast cancer (HR =1.31, 95% CI: 1.04-1.66). The results were consistent in NAFLD vs. non-NAFLD and MAFLD-NAFLD vs. neither FLD. Compared with the neither FLD group, the NAFLD-only group had a higher risk of extrahepatic cancers (HR =1.57, 95% CI: 1.18-2.09), esophageal (HR =5.11, 95% CI: 2.25-11.62), and bladder cancer (HR =3.36, 95% CI: 1.23-9.17). The additional risk of extrahepatic cancers (HR =1.42, 95% CI: 1.17-1.73), esophageal (HR =4.37, 95% CI: 2.55-7.49), and breast cancer (HR =1.99, 95% CI: 1.01-3.92) was observed in MAFLD with metabolic dysregulation, and kidney (HR =1.83, 95% CI: 1.38-2.43), prostate (HR =1.46, 95% CI: 1.00-2.14) and breast cancer (HR =1.33, 95% CI: 1.02-1.74) was observed in MAFLD with overweight and metabolic dysregulation, as well as colorectal (HR =1.45, 95% CI: 1.07-1.96) and prostate cancer (HR =2.44, 95% CI: 1.42-4.21) in MAFLD with three risk factors. Additionally, MAFLD with excessive alcohol consumption would increase extrahepatic cancers (HR =1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.29) and breast cancer (HR =7.27, 95% CI: 2.33-22.69) risk. Conclusions: MAFLD and NAFLD shared similar excessive risks of obesity-related cancers, suggesting a driving role of FLD in these cancers. Metabolic dysregulation beyond obesity may play additional kidney, colorectal, and prostate cancer risks in MAFLD patients. It may be helpful in the clinic to relieve symptoms by treating metabolic disorders and preventing adverse outcomes of extrahepatic cancers.

Microplastic pollution and regulating factors in the surface sediment of the Xuande Atolls in the South China Sea.

Microplastics are widely present in the marine environment, but their pollution and potential risk assessment in the seabed sediments have not been well addressed in remote sea areas. In this study, microplastics in 50 surface sediment samples from the Xuande Atolls at the Xisha of the South China Sea were studied. There were 20 samples with detectable microplastics of 5-20 items kg-1. They were all fibers in shapes and blue/transparent in colors with the dominant chemical component of polyester and the typical size of 0.02-3 mm. We found a large spatial variability of microplastic abundance in the surface sediment with generally low or undetectable levels in the lagoon deposits and the offshore deep-sea sediments but elevated abundances in the slope sediments of the Xuande Atolls. Correlation analyses suggested that microplastic variability in the Xisha sediment was less affected by local environmental parameters such as water depth, sediment particle size, organic carbon content, and sediment types. We also found that elevated microplastics in the seabed sediments on various sides of the Xuande Atolls could be related to the seasonal change in monsoon-driven currents. Finally, a low risk of microplastic pollution in the surface sediment of the Xisha is concluded based on the assessments of the polymer hazard index and the pollution load index. These findings provide not only a baseline understanding of microplastics but also their dynamics in the surface sediment of the remote Xisha area of the South China Sea.

Dual-Ion Co-Regulation System Enabling High-Performance Electrochemical Artificial Yarn Muscles with Energy-Free Catch States.

Artificial yarn muscles show great potential in applications requiring low-energy consumption while maintaining high performance. However, conventional designs have been limited by weak ion-yarn muscle interactions and inefficient "rocking-chair" ion migration. To address these limitations, we present an electrochemical artificial yarn muscle design driven by a dual-ion co-regulation system. By utilizing two reaction channels, this system shortens ion migration pathways, leading to faster and more efficient actuation. During the charging/discharging process, [Formula: see text] ions react with carbon nanotube yarn, while Li+ ions react with an Al foil. The intercalation reaction between [Formula: see text] and collapsed carbon nanotubes allows the yarn muscle to achieve an energy-free high-tension catch state. The dual-ion coordinated yarn muscles exhibit superior contractile stroke, maximum contractile rate, and maximum power densities, exceeding those of "rocking-chair" type ion migration yarn muscles. The dual-ion co-regulation system enhances the ion migration rate during actuation, resulting in improved performance. Moreover, the yarn muscles can withstand high levels of isometric stress, displaying a stress of 61 times that of skeletal muscles and 8 times that of "rocking-chair" type yarn muscles at higher frequencies. This technology holds significant potential for various applications, including prosthetics and robotics.

Sources of organic matter and carbon stocks in two mangrove sediment cores and surface sediment samples from Qinglan Bay, China.

The carbon stocks (Corg stocks) in mangrove sediments and the distribution and source changes of sedimented organic matter in Qinglan Bay are not understood as the mangrove forests decrease. In this paper, we collected two sediment cores in the interior mangrove and 37 surface sediment samples from mangrove-fringe, tidal flat and subtidal habitats and then analysed the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and the stable organic carbon isotope (δ13C) and nitrogen isotope (δ15N) in the sediment samples to obtain the organic matter sources and carbon stocks in two different mangrove sediment cores from Qinglan Bay. The δ13C and TOC/TN values showed that mangrove plants and algae were the main sources of organic matter. Relatively high contributions of mangrove plants (>50 %) were distributed in the mangrove areas in Wenchang estuary, the northern region of Bamen Bay and the eastern side of the Qinglan tidal inlet. The enriched δ15N values might be related to anthropogenic nutrient inputs, including increased aquaculture wastewater, human sewage and ship wastewater. The Corg stocks in cores Z02 and Z03 were 357.79 Mg C ha-1 and 265.78 Mg C ha-1, respectively. This Corg stock difference might have been related to the salinity and the benthos activities. The high Corg stock values measured in Qinglan Bay were caused by the mangrove maturity and stand age. The total Corg storage of the mangrove ecosystem in Qinglan Bay was estimated to be approximately 263.93 Gg C. This study contributes to organic carbon stocks and sources of sedimented organic matter in global mangroves.

Effects of omega-3 supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with gestational diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIM: We assessed whether omega-3 supplementation could improve glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammatory factors in individuals with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: In this meta-study, we used a random-effects or fixed-effects meta-analysis model to analyze the mean differences (MD) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI) before and after omega-3 and placebo supplementation, thus evaluating the effects of omega-3 on glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammatory factors. RESULTS: Six randomized controlled trials (331 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. The levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (WMD = -0.25 mmol/L; 95 % CI: -0.38, -0.12), fasting insulin (WMD = -17.13 pmol/L; 95 % CI: -27.95, -6.30), and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (WMD = -0.51; 95 % CI: -0.89, -0.12) were lower in the omega-3 group compared to their levels in the placebo group. The results of the analysis of lipid metabolism showed that triglycerides (WMD = -0.18 mmol/L; 95 % CI: -0.29, -0.08) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD = -0.1 mmol/L; 95 % CI: -0.16, -0.03) decreased in the omega-3 group, while high-density lipoproteins (WMD = 0.06 mmol/L; 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.10) increased. Compared to the placebo group, inflammatory factor serum C-reactive protein (SMD = -0.68 mmol/L; 95 % CI: -0.96, -0.39) decreased in the omega-3 group. CONCLUSION: Omega-3 supplementation can decrease the levels of FPG and inflammatory factors, enhance blood lipid metabolism, and reduce insulin resistance in patients with GDM.

NRXN1 depletion in the medial prefrontal cortex induces anxiety-like behaviors and abnormal social phenotypes along with impaired neurite outgrowth in rat.

BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of disorders induced by abnormal brain developmental processes. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays an essential role in executive function, and its role in NDDs has been reported. NDDs are associated with high-risk gene mutations and share partially overlapping genetic abnormalities. METHODS: Neurexins (NRXNs) are related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). NRXN1, an essential susceptibility gene for NDDs, has been reported to be associated with NDDs. However, little is known about its key role in NDDs. RESULTS: NRXN1 downregulation in the medial PFC induced anxiety-like behaviors and abnormal social phenotypes with impaired neurite outgrowth in Sh-NRXN1 in prefrontal neurons. Moreover, tandem mass tag (TMT)-based proteomic analysis of rat brain samples showed that NRXN1 downregulation led to significant proteome alterations, including pathways related to the extracellular matrix, cell membrane, and morphologic change. Furthermore, full-automatic immunoblotting analysis verified the differently expressed proteins related to cell morphology and membrane structure. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed the association of NRXN1 with abnormal behaviors in NDDs and provided richer insights into specific prefrontal knockdown in adolescence, potentially expanding the NRXN1 interactome and contributing to human health.