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Abstract Background Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and function due to aging. DNA methylation has been identified to play important roles in the dysfunction of skeletal muscle. The aim of our present study was to explore the whole blood sample‐based methylation changes of skeletal muscle function‐related factors in patients with sarcopenia. Methods The overall DNA methylation levels were analysed by using MethlTarget™ DNA Methylation Analysis platform in a discovery set consistent of 50 sarcopenic older adults (aged ≥65 years) and 50 age‐ and sex‐matched non‐sarcopenic individuals. The candidate differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were further validated by Methylation‐specific PCR (MSP) in another two independent larger sets and confirmed by pyrosequencing. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimum cut‐off levels of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)_30 methylation best predicting sarcopenia and area under the ROC curve (AUC) was measured. The correlation between candidate DMRs and the risk of sarcopenia was investigated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Among 1149 cytosine‐phosphate‐guanine (CpG) sites of 27 skeletal muscle function‐related secretary factors, 17 differentially methylated CpG sites and 7 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were detected between patients with sarcopenia and control subjects in the discovery set. Further methylation‐specific PCR identified that methylation of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)_30 was lower in patients with sarcopenia and the level was decreased as the severity of sarcopenia increased, which was confirmed by pyrosequencing. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the methylation level of FGF2_30 was positively correlated to ASMI (r = 0.372, P

Two-component regulatory system (TCS), a major type of cellular signal transduction system, is widely used by bacteria to adapt to different conditions and to colonize certain ecological niches in response to environmental stimuli. TCSs are of distinct functional diversity, genetic diversity, and species specificity (pathovar specificity, even strain specificity) across bacterial groups. Although TCSs have been demonstrated to be crucial to the virulence of Xanthomonas, only a few researches have been reported about the studies of TCSs in Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzicola (hereafter Xoc), the pathogen of rice bacterial streak disease. In the genome of Xoc strain GX01, it has been annotated 110 TCSs genes encoding 54 response regulators (RRs), 36 orthodox histidine kinase (HKs) and 20 hybrid histidine kinase (HyHKs). To evaluate the involvement of TCSs in the stress adaptation and virulence of Xoc, we mutated 50 annotated RR genes in Xoc GX01 by homologous vector integration mutagenesis and assessed their phenotypes in given conditions and tested their virulence on host rice. 17 RR genes were identified to be likely involved in virulence of Xoc, of which 10 RR genes are novel virulence genes in Xanthomonas, including three novel virulence genes for bacteria. Of the novel candidate virulence genes, some of which may be involved in the general stress adaptation, exopolysaccharide production, extracellular protease secretion and swarming motility of Xoc. Our results will facilitate further studies on revealing the biological functions of TCS genes in this phytopathogenic bacterium.

Abstract Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystemic and placental inflammatory disease that causes maternal and infant health issues. As one of the active components in peony root extract, paeonol (Pae) exerts anti‐apoptosis and anti‐inflammatory effects. Nonetheless, the protective role of Pae in PE has not yet been characterized. A mouse model of PE was constructed through tail vein injection of 1 mg/d phosphatidylserine/dioleoyl‐phosphatidycholine suspension. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in the placenta were examined via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IFN‐γ, and IL‐4) and apoptosis markers (Bax, Bcl‐2, and caspase‐3) were tested using quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR). Western blot analysis was performed to detect the protein levels of apoptosis markers and Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway‐related molecules. Here, Pae repressed the inflammatory response in the placenta of PE‐like mouse models, as demonstrated by the decreased concentrations and mRNA levels of TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IFN‐γ and the increased concentrations and mRNA levels of IL‐4. Apoptosis in the placentas of PE‐like mouse models was attenuated by Pae, as manifested by the downregulated mRNA and protein levels of Bax and cleaved‐caspase‐3 and the upregulated Bcl‐2. Administration of Pae inhibited the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 in the placental tissues of PE mice. The JAK2/STAT3 pathway agonist (SC‐39100) reversed Pae treatment‐mediated suppression of placental inflammation and apoptosis in PE mice. Overall, Pae inhibits the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway to attenuate placental inflammation and apoptosis in PE mice.

The intrinsic dipole inside two-dimensional (2D) materials is always expected to enhance solar water splitting, while atomic replacement is a widely applied approach to designing water-splitting photocatalysts. However, the relationship between solar conversion between atomic replacement is unclear. Herein, the water-splitting photocatalytic performance of derivative Ga2S3 (D-Ga2S3) monolayers including Ga2S2Se-b, Ga2S2Se-m, and Ga2S2Se-t are investigated using first-principles studies. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that D-Ga2S3 monolayers can be synthesized due to structural stability, and impressively their dipole moments can be regulated by atomic replacement. They hold separated conduction band minimums (CBMs) and valence band maximums (VBMs), thus supporting hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) and oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) in different atomic regions. They have abundant driving forces for water splitting due to large overpotentials. Because of moderate bandgaps, they absorb large amounts of visible and infrared light. Among them, Ga2S2Se-m and Ga2S2Se-t monolayers possess solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency (∼18%), far exceeding the commercial standard (10%). More remarkably, we find that the intrinsic dipole is inversely related to the STH efficiency and can be purposefully regulated by atomic replacement. Thereby, this work directly correlates the STH efficiency with the atomic replacement. Finally, the HER and OER of single-layer Ga2S2Se-t can be accomplished under light irradiation.

AIM: To investigate the role of CCR7/p-ERK1/2/VEGF signaling in the mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). METHODS: Neonatal C57BL/6J mice were evenly randomized into four groups: normoxia, OIR, OIR control (treated with scramble siRNA), and OIR treated (treated with CCR7 siRNA). Normoxia group was not specially handled. Postnatal day 7 (P7) mice in the OIR group were exposed to 75%±5% oxygen for 5d (P7-P12) and then maintained under normoxic conditions for 5d (P12-P17). Mice in the OIR control and OIR treated groups were given injections of scramble or CCR7 siRNA plasmid on P12 before returning to normoxic conditions for 5d (P12-P17). Retina samples were collected from all mice on P17, stained with adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase), and retinal neovascularization (RNV) was assessed. Retinas were also stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for RNV quantitation. The distribution and expression of CCR7, p-ERK1/2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assessed via immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: High oxygen promoted retinal neovascularization (P

AIM: To analyze clinical characteristics and postoperative outcomes after open globe injury. METHODS: Demographic characteristics(age, gender, eye trauma, profession, cause of injury and injured part), as well as complications and prognosis were analyzed in 152 cases(152 eyes)of open globe injury. RESULTS: Patients with open globe injury had an average age of 40.45±38.32 years old with a 5.9:1 male-to-female gender ratio. The left-to-right eye ratio was 1.27:1. Most patients were workers, farmers, or retired. The most common etiologies were scratches, boxing, and falls. Zone Ⅲ was the most commonly injured part. Iridoptosis or iris incarceration, retinal detachment, vitreal prolapse, hyphema or hypopyon, and vitreous hemorrhage were the most common complications. Visual acuity improved in 86 cases postoperatively but ophthalmectomy was still required in 25 eyes. CONCLUSION: Vision can be improved after surgery in open globe injury. However, patients are usually seriously injured and improvement is minimal, thereby resulting in a great loss to patients and society.

Linpan settlements (abbreviated as Linpan) are the most important traditional type of rural settlement in the Chengdu Plain, and they are an important part of the agroforestry ecological system in southwest China. In this study, we measured the micrometeorological parameters (air temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind speed) in 12 Linpans for two years to determine the seasonal micrometeorology variations; then, we explored the impacts of Linpan size and tree distribution on the Linpan micrometeorology. The results show that the Linpans undergo seasonal cooling (from 0.6 to 1.3°C), humidification (from 0.9% to 4.1%), reduction in solar radiation flux (from 92.1 to 496.0 W/m2), and changes in wind speed (by 0.4 to 0.5 m/s) compared to the surrounding environment. Both solar radiation flux and wind speed showed the following decreasing trend with respect to sampling positions in the Linpan: outside > edge > center. The Linpan size did not affect the solar radiation flux or wind speed over the four seasons. The main factor affecting solar radiation flux and wind speed was the horizontal tree distribution not the Linpan size. However, the Linpan size was significantly correlated with the air temperature in summer and winter. Large Linpans (>5 × 103 m2) showed better ability to control the temperature to within a comfortable range in extremely hot and cold seasons. The Linpan size also showed a negative relationship with the relative humidity, but only in winter. Among the tree distribution patterns, a scattered distribution was optimal to achieve a comfortable micrometeorology over the course of the year. In addition, we suggest some ways to adapt the Linpan micrometeorology, which could be used to protect traditional Linpans, as well as for ecological restoration.

BACKGROUND: Xuezhikang is the extract of red yeast rice, which has been widely used for the management of atherosclerotic disease, but the molecular basis of its antiatherosclerotic effects has not yet been fully identified. Here we investigated the changes of eNOS in vascular endothelia and RBCs, eNOS regulatory factor Caveolin-1 in endothelia, and hemorheological parameters in atherosclerotic rats to explore the protective effects of Xuezhikang. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 12/group) group C, controls; group M, high-cholesterol diet (HCD) induced atherosclerotic models; group X, HCD+Xuezhikang; and group L, HCD +Lovastatin. In group X, Xuezhikang inhibited oxidative stress, down-regulated caveolin-1 in aorta wall (P