Search

BackgroundIncreasing evidence shows that alterations in gut microbiome (GM) contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) successfully treats various human diseases. However, the benefits of FMT therapy to T2DM patients remain unknown.MethodsWe enrolled 17 patients with T2DM for nonblinded, one-armed intervention trial of FMT. A total of 20 healthy individuals were recruited as the baseline control. HbA1c% and metabolic parameter change were evaluated in 17 T2DM patients 12 weeks after they received FMT from healthy donors. The GM composition was characterized by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing from fecal samples prior to and 12 weeks after FMT treatment.ResultsWe found that the GM of T2DM patients was reconstituted by FMT. We observed a statistically significant decrease in HbA1c% (from 7.565 ± 0.148 to 7.190 ± 0.210, p

Abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are critical processes that are involved in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to explore the role of microRNA-491-5p (miR-491-5p) in the progression of atherosclerosis by regulating the growth and migration of VSMCs. In this study, we showed that the expression of miR-491-5p was downregulated in the atherosclerotic plaque tissues and plasma samples of the patients with atherosclerosis. The bioinformatic analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay identified that matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) was a target gene of miR-491-5p. The results showed a significant upregulation of MMP-9 in the atherosclerotic plaque tissues and plasma samples. Subsequently, the results also showed that downregulation of miR-491-5p significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of VSMCs and inhibited the apoptosis in VSMCs. Furthermore, we detected the effects of miR-491-5p mimic on the growth and migration of VSMCs, and the results illustrated that miR-491-5p mimic could inhibit the proliferation and migration of VSMCs and promote the apoptosis of VSMCs. Notably, MMP-9 plasmid could reverse all the effects of miR-491-5p mimic on VSMCs. Collectively, our study provides the first evidence that miR-491-5p inhibited the growth and migration of VSMCs by targeting MMP-9, which might provide new biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis treatment.

Combining the virtual prototyping technology,finite element analysis techniques and thermal stress analysis theory,virtual prototype model of gear casing is established by UG NX 8.0.The 3-dimensional finite element model of the gear casing is established by using the seamless links of UG and ANSYS Workbench14.5,based on the theory of finite element,thermal-structural coupling analysis is implemented to the finite element model,temperature field distribution and thermal deformation of the gear casing are obtained,and centralized positions of the thermal stress and deformation is determined,and the factors that impact the temperature field distribution and thermal deformation are obtained.Through analyzing the results of the finite element simulation,the model of the heat-structure coupling analysis can provide an important reliable analysis basis for structure design,integrated design and the thermal uniform optimization design of the gearbox that worked in the complex overloaded transmission conditions which generate large amount of heat.

A series of Li3Bi3Te2O12:xDy3+ (x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.30 mol) samples were successfully prepared by high-temperature sintering method. The phase purities of the Li3Bi3Te2O12:Dy3+ phosphors were verified by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and revealed as single-phase structure. Under 386-nm excitation, the Dy3+-doped Li3Bi3Te2O12 phosphors show three emission peaks are located at 488, 579, and 673 nm, which are ascribed to the typical transitions from 4F9/2 to 6HJ/2 (J = 15, 13, and 11), respectively. The effects of concentration on luminescence properties indicate that the optimal doping concentration was x = 0.02 mol. The prepared Li3Bi3Te2O12:0.02Dy3+ phosphor has the excellent thermal stability with high-temperature quenching temperature (T0.5 > 480 K) and high activation energy (Ea = 0.38 eV). The shift of CIE chromaticity coordinates of Li3Bi3Te2O12:0.02Dy3+ phosphor with concentrations are Δx = 0.018 and Δy = 0.020. Thus, Li3Bi3Te2O12:Dy3+ phosphors have potential application for white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis enzymes play important roles in plant growth, development and stress responses. The functions of cell wall polysaccharide synthesis enzymes in plant growth and development have been well studied. In contrast, their roles in plant responses to environmental stress are poorly understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that the rice cell wall cellulose synthase‐like D4 protein (OsCSLD4) is involved in cell wall polysaccharide synthesis and is important for rice growth and development. This study demonstrated that the OsCSLD4 function‐disrupted mutant nd1 was sensitive to salt stress, but insensitive to abscisic acid (ABA). The expression of some ABA synthesis and response genes was repressed in nd1 under both normal and salt stress conditions. Exogenous ABA can restore nd1‐impaired salt stress tolerance. Moreover, overexpression of OsCSLD4 can enhance rice ABA synthesis gene expression, increase ABA content and improve rice salt tolerance, thus implying that OsCSLD4‐regulated rice salt stress tolerance is mediated by ABA synthesis. Additionally, nd1 decreased rice tolerance to osmotic stress, but not ion toxic tolerance. The results from the transcriptome analysis showed that more osmotic stress‐responsive genes were impaired in nd1 than salt stress‐responsive genes, thus indicating that OsCSLD4 is involved in rice salt stress response through an ABA‐induced osmotic response pathway. Intriguingly, the disruption of OsCSLD4 function decreased grain width and weight, while overexpression of OsCSLD4 increased grain width and weight. Taken together, this study demonstrates a novel plant salt stress adaptation mechanism by which crops can coordinate salt stress tolerance and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]