Search

Xiao-Tian Zhang,* Zhen-Yang Mao,* Xiang-Yun Jin, Yu-Gang Wang, Yu-Qi Dong, Chao Zhang Department of Orthopedics, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chao Zhang; Yu-Qi Dong, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 160, Pujian Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13817307997 ; +86-13331873590, Email drzhangchao@sina.coml; dyqrjgk@126.comPurpose: Delayed skin healing in diabetic wounds is a major clinical problem. The tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) were reported to be associated with diabetes. However, the role of tsRNAs in diabetic wound healing is unclear. Our study was designed to explore the tsRNA expression profile and mine key potential tsRNAs and their mechanism in diabetic wounds.Methods: Skin tissues of patients with diabetic foot ulcers and healthy controls were subjected to small RNA sequencing. The role of candidate tsRNA was explored by loss- and gain-of-function experiments in HUVECs.Results: A total of 55 differentially expressed tsRNAs were identified, including 12 upregulated and 43 downregulated in the diabetes group compared with the control group. These tsRNAs were mainly concentrated in intercellular interactions and neural function regulation in GO terms and enriched in MAPK, insulin, FoxO, calcium, Ras, ErbB, Wnt, T cell receptor, and cGMP-PKG signaling pathways. tRF-Gly-CCC-039 expression was upregulated in vivo and in vitro in the diabetic model. High glucose disturbed endothelial function in HUVECs, and tRF-Gly-CCC-039 mimics further harmed HUVECs function, characterized by the suppression of proliferation, migration, tube formation, and the expression of Coll1a1, Coll4a2, and MMP9. Conversely, the tRF-Gly-CCC-039 inhibitor could attenuate high-glucose-induced endothelial injury to HUVECs.Conclusion: We investigated the tsRNAs expression profile in diabetic foot ulcers and defined the impairment role of tRF-Gly-CCC-039 in endothelial function in HUVECs. This study may provide novel insights into accelerating diabetic skin wound healing.Keywords: diabetic foot ulcers, skin healing, tsRNA expression profile, tRF-28-Q1Q89P9L84DF, endothelial damage

Compound 5p is a 4β-N-substituted podophyllotoxin derivative, which exhibited potent activity toward drug-resistant K562/A02 cells and decreased MDR-1 mRNA expression. Here, we further investigated its detail mechanism and tested its antitumor activity. 5p exerted catalytic inhibition of topoisomerase IIα, and didn't show the inhibitor of topoisomerase I. 5p exhibited the inhibitory effect on microtubule polymerization. 5p showed potent anti-proliferation against breast cancer, oral squamous carcinoma, and their drug-resistant cell lines, with resistance index of 0.61 and 0.86, respectively. 5p downregulated the expression levels of P-gp in KB V200  cells and BCRP in MCF7/ADR cells in dose-dependent manner. Moreover, 5p induced KB and KB V200  cells arrest at G 2 /M phase by up-regulating the expression of γ-H2AX, p-Histone H3 and cyclin B1. 5p induced apoptosis and pyroptosis by increased the expression levels of cleaved-PARP, cleaved-caspase3, N-GSDME as well as LDH release in KB and KB V200  cells. In addition, 5p efficiently impaired tumor growth in KB and KB V200 xenograft mice. Conclusively, this work elucidated the dual inhibitor of topoisomerase II and microtubule of 5p and its mechanism of overcoming the multidrug resistance, indicating that 5p exerts the antitumor potentiality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest I, [Xing Lv], declare that there are no conflicts of interest in relation to the manuscript titled "[Dual inhibition of topoisomerase II and microtubule of podophyllotoxin derivative 5p overcomes cancer multidrug resistance]" submitted to [European journal of pharmacology]. I confirm that the results and interpretations reported in the manuscript are original and have not been plagiarized., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is a common consequence of osteoporosis and can significantly impact the quality of life for affected individuals. Despite treatment options such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, many patients continue to experience residual back pain (RBP) even after the fracture has healed. The incidence of RBP after OVCF treatment varies among studies, and there is a need for further research to understand the risk factors associated with RBP., Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases were searched, and relevant studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two authors. Statistical analysis included single-proportion meta-analyses and pooling of odds ratios (OR) using the inverse-variance method, to calculate the overall incidences of RBP and cement leakage and identify risk factors associated with RBP., Results: A total of 19 studies were included in the analysis. The overall incidences of RBP and cement leakage were found to be 16% and 18%, respectively. Several risk factors were identified, including gender, bone mineral density, depression, baseline visual analog scale (VAS) score, intravertebral vacuum cleft, number of fractured segments, cement distribution, history of vertebral fracture, thoracolumbar fascial injury, and fracture non-union., Conclusions: This study provides potential value within the scope of the incidence and risk factors of RBP following treatment of OVCFs. The identified risk factors can help clinicians identify high-risk patients and tailor appropriate interventions. Future research should focus on standardizing the definition of RBP and patient selection criteria to improve the accuracy of estimates and facilitate better management strategies for OVCF patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of a male carrier of exceptional complex chromosome rearrangement (CCR) and the outcome of preimplantation genetic testing for chromosomal structural rearrangement (PGT-SR)., Methods: Using the modified high resolution G banding technique and whole-genome low-coverage sequencing (WGLCS), we analyzed the cellular karyotype and molecular karyotype of a male carrier of CCR, performed an analysis of the single-sperm chromosome copy number and conducted PGT-SR for the patient by next-generation sequencing (NGS). In addition, we reviewed the literature on reported male carriers of CCRs and summarized their normal/balanced sperm ratios and PGT-SR outcomes., Results: The karyotype of the patient was 46,XY,der(5)inv(5)(q14.3q23.2)t(5;14;11) (q23.2;q31.1;q21),der(11)t(5;14;11);der(14)t(5;14;11), with the translocation breakpoints located in the intergenic region. Single-sperm sequencing revealed 20.0%（7/35）of normal haploids in the male's spermatozoa， and the results PGT-SR showed a proportion of 25.0%（4/16）of normal/balanced embryos. After thawing and transferring of 2 euploid blastocysts, a healthy male infant was successfully delivered., Conclusion: The proportion of normal haploids in the spermatozoa of male CCR carriers may be higher than theoretically predicted, and PGT-SR can effectively improve the pregnancy outcome in male CCR carriers and provide valuable data for genetic counseling.

Background: Inflammatory processes could potentially impact both mood and suicide risk, however, the relationship between cytokines and suicidal ideation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between plasma levels of cytokines and suicidal ideation in population with major depressive disorders (MDD)., Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to assess the peripheral plasma levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in 88 Chinese Han first-episode drug-naïve MDD patients. Suicidal ideation in the past week were identified using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation-Chinese Version (BSI-CV). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale-14 (HAMA-14) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was used to assess depression, anxiety and childhood trauma. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between cytokines and suicidal ideation. Interaction and stratified analyses were conducted according to age, sex, marital status, education, smoking status, BMI and physical activity., Results: Among the 88 participants, 42 individuals (47.7%) reported suicidal ideation within the past week. In the fully adjusted model, a statistically significant trend was observed in the association between IL-2 level and suicidal ideation (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.00-1.97). The stratified analysis showed a statistically significant association between IL-6 level and suicidal ideation among younger people (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36) and a significant positive association between IL-8 (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.03-2.44) and IL-10 (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.27-4.96) levels and suicide ideation among higher educated populations., Limitations: The cross-sectional design, residual confounding effects and small sample size CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate a significant positive association between plasma IL-2 level and suicidal ideation in MDD patients. IL-2 has the potential to be a biomarker of suicidal ideation in patients with depression., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All the authors declared that there is no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Bamboo rats are rodents that eat bamboo, and their robust capacity for bamboo digestion is directly correlated with their gut flora. Chinese bamboo rat ( Rhizomys sinensis ) is a common bamboo rat in Chinese central and southern regions. As a single-stomach mammal, bamboo rats are a famous specificity bamboo-eating animal and their intestinal microbial composition may also play a key role in the digestion of cellulose and lignin. So, the gut microbiota of bamboo rat may play an important role in the adaptation of bamboo rats for digesting lignocellulose-based diet., Methods: To study the microbiome differences of bamboo rats from different sexes, the microbial genomic DNA was extracted from each fecal sample and the V4 region of 16S rRNA genes was amplified and sequencing on an IlluminaHiSeq6000 platform. The operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were classified, the OTUs in different sexes was identified and compared at phylum and genus levels. For isolation and screening of cellulose degradation bacteria from bamboo rats, fresh feces from randomly selected bamboo rats were collected and used for the isolation and screening of cellulose degradation bacteria using Luria Bertani (LB) Agar medium containing Carboxymethyl cellulose. The cellulase activity, biochemical characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the purified bacteria strains were characterized., Results and Discussion: A total of 3,833 OTUs were classified. The total microbial diversity detected in the female and male rats was 3,049 OTUs and 3,452 OTUs, respectively. The Shannon index revealed significant differences between the two groups ( p < 0.05), though they were all captive and had the same feeding conditions. At the phylum level, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota , and Proteobacteria were prominent in the microbial community. At the genus level, the microbial community was dominated by Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides , and Prevotella , but there was a significant difference between the two groups of bamboo rats; ~90 bacteria genus in the female group was significantly higher than the male group. Among them, Bacteroides, Colidextribacter , and Oscillibacter were significantly higher genera, and the genera of Lachnoclostridium, Oscillibacter , and Papillibacter had the highest FC value among the male and female bamboo rats. The KEGG function annotation and different pathways analysis revealed that membrane transport, carbohydrate metabolism, and amino acid metabolism were the most enriched metabolic pathways in the two groups, and multiple sugar transport system permease protein (K02025 and K02026), RNA polymerase sigma-70 factor (K03088), and ATP-binding cassette (K06147) were the three different KEGG pathways ( p < 0.05). Two cellulose degradation bacteria strains- Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecalis -were isolated and characterized from the feces of bamboo rats., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Gan, Wu, Dong, Li, Wu, Jin and Lu.)

Actinobacteria are ubiquitous bacteria undergoing complex developmental transitions coinciding with antibiotic production in response to stress or nutrient starvation. This transition is mainly controlled by the interaction between the second messenger c-di-GMP and the master repressor BldD. To date, the upstream factors and the global signal networks that regulate these intriguing cell biological processes remain unknown. In Saccharopolyspora erythraea, we found that acetyl phosphate (AcP) accumulation resulting from environmental nitrogen stress participated in the regulation of BldD activity through cooperation with c-di-GMP. AcP-induced acetylation of BldD at K11 caused the BldD dimer to fall apart and dissociate from the target DNA and disrupted the signal transduction of c-di-GMP, thus governing both developmental transition and antibiotic production. Additionally, practical mutation of BldDK11R bypassing acetylation regulation could enhance the positive effect of BldD on antibiotic production. The study of AcP-dependent acetylation is usually confined to the control of enzyme activity. Our finding represents an entirely different role of the covalent modification caused by AcP, which integrated with c-di-GMP signal in modulating the activity of BldD for development and antibiotic production, coping with environmental stress. This coherent regulatory network might be widespread across actinobacteria, thus has broad implications., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Fructose, which is produced by the isomerization of glucose isomerase, is a crucial precursor for the biosynthesis of rare sugars. In this study, thermophilic glucose isomerases (GI) from Caldicellulosiruptor acetigenus (CAGI), Thermoanaerobacter thermocopriae (TTGI), and Thermotoga petrophila (TPGI) were screened from GenBank database by a virtual probe and were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The results of characterization demonstrated that the optimal pH for CAGI and TTGI were 8.0 and were maintained at 80% in a slightly acidic environment. The relative residual activities of CAGI and TTGI were found to be 40.6% and 52.6%, respectively, following an incubation period of 24 h at 90 ℃. Furthermore, CAGI and TTGI exhibited superior catalytic performance that their reaction equilibrium both reached only after an hour at 85 ℃ with 200 g/L glucose, and the highest conversion rates were 54.2% and 54.1%, respectively. This study identifies competitive enzyme candidates for fructose production in the industry with appreciable cost reduction., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the PI3K inhibitor PX-866 or PI-103 combined with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) on the apoptosis of T lymphoblastic leukemia cells., Methods: The proliferation and apoptosis of T lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines were detected by CCK-8 and flow cytometer. The expression of proteins was measured by western blot. The effect of PI3K inhibitors combined with 3-MA on the number of autophagosomes was detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM)., Results: We found PX-866 and PI-103 treatment reduced cell viability while increasing apoptosis in CCRF-CEM and Jurkat cells, which was further enhanced when combined with 3-MA. The phosphorylation levels of AKT and mTOR were suppressed by PX-866 or PI-103, which were reversed by 3-MA. Further, the expression of LC3, ATG5, ATG12 and Beclin-1 was upregulated by PX-866 or PI-103 and downregulated by 3-MA. TEM results revealed that the number of autophagosome was increased by PX-866 or PI-103 treatment, which was reversed by 3-MA., Conclusions: The results demonstrated that 3-MA could suppress PI3K inhibitor-mediated activation of autophagy to promote the apoptosis of tumor cells. This discovery provided experimental support for constituting a promising strategy for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) therapy., (© 2023 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.)

With the construction and operation of railways in cold regions, the asymmetric deformation of subgrades due to the difference in the transverse ground temperature has become a prominent issue. A comprehensive evaluation of the transverse ground temperature difference and investigation of the corresponding mitigation measures should be conducted to avoid or minimize the damage resulting from this difference, thereby improving subgrade stability and reducing deformation. In this study, the time history variations in the homogeneity and symmetry indices of the ground temperature at typical instances that reflect the spatial and temporal changes in the temperature difference of the subgrade were proposed as evaluation indices. The feasibility of these evaluation indices was verified through numerical models with different types of anti-frost berms. Subsequently, the numerical models were used to analyze the ground temperature evaluation indices of a subgrade with expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation board and polyurethane (PU) insulation board at different locations. Additionally, the performances of each mitigation measure in eliminating or reducing the ground temperature difference were assessed and compared. The results show that all the mitigation measures could improve the homogeneity and symmetry of the ground temperature distribution. The maximum mitigation rates for the homogeneity and symmetry are 97.87% and 45.90%, respectively. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation method for the temperature difference of subgrades constructed in cold regions and a theoretical reference for the selection of anti-frost measures in the design, operation, and maintenance of subgrades in cold regions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Bio-based hydrophobic coating modified cotton fabrics with durable flame retardancy are of high interest in the application of oil-water separation for not only avoiding the use of hazardous substances but also improving the fire safety during use. Herein, phytic acid@Polyurushiol‑titanium complex coated cotton fabric was developed using the facile dip-coating method involving the sequential immersion in the solution of poly(ethyleneimine), phytic acid, titanium oxide, and urushiol. The underlying coating accommodated abundance of phytic acid, which imparted excellent flame retardancy to cotton fabric, and the top coating composed of the polyurushiol‑titanium complex endowed cotton fabric with high hydrophobicity that the water contact angle (WCA) was up to 149.8°. The hydrophobicity also guaranteed effective protection of the underlying phytic acid against chemical solvents and abrasion. Besides, the hydrophobic coating allowed cotton fabric for good self-cleaning and effective oil-water separation. Therefore, the preparation of phytic acid@polyurushiol‑titanium complex coated cotton fabric offers a promising approach to construct durable biomass-coated cellulose-based fabric with multifunctionality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bacillus subtilis has been extensively studied for its ability to inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms and its high protease activity. In this study, Bacillus subtilis was used to ferment gluten and assess the effects of the fermentation process on the physicochemical, microstructure and antioxidant properties of gluten. The results of Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and circular chromatography (CD) showed a significant decrease in the content of α-helix structures and a significant increase in the content of β-sheet structures in gluten after fermentation ( p  < 0.05). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that glutenin was degraded into small molecular peptides with a molecular weight of less than 26 kDa after 24 h of fermentation; meanwhile, the fermentation process significantly increased the free amino acid content of the samples ( p  < 0.05), reaching 1923.38 μg/mL at 120 h of fermentation, which was 39.46 times higher than that at 24 h of fermentation ( p  < 0.05). In addition, the fermented back gluten has higher free radical scavenging activity and iron reduction capacity. Therefore, fermented gluten may be used as a functional food to alleviate oxidative stress. This study provides a reference for the high-value application of gluten., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zhao, Hou, Wang, Liao, Pan, Zhang, Dong, Hu, Huang and Ou.)

Actinobacteria have a complex life cycle, including morphological and physiological differentiation which are often associated with the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Recently, increased interest in post-translational modifications (PTMs) in these Gram-positive bacteria has highlighted the importance of PTMs as signals that provide functional diversity and regulation by modifying proteins to respond to diverse stimuli. Here, we review the developments in research on acylation, a typical PTM that uses acyl-CoA or related metabolites as donors, as well as the understanding of the direct link provided by acylation between cell metabolism and signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, cell growth, and pathogenicity in Actinobacteria., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To explore metabolic biomarkers associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes. Methods: Cluster random sampling method was used to select 10 867 local residents aged ≥ 20 years in Liangxi district of Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province in 2007. The baseline survey and physical examination were conducted to collect participants' information, including demographic characteristics, behavior and lifestyles, disease history, family history of diabetes, height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure, etc. Blood samples were collected and biochemical indexes (high density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, etc.) were tested. By June 30, 2020, 220 newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes during the follow-up were selected as cases, and 220 healthy individuals were matched as controls with age (±5 years) and the same sex. High performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometer was used to detect and identify metabolites in serum samples of two groups at baseline. Lasso regression and multivariate conditional logistic regression were used to explore the metabolites associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes. Results: The age of participants at baseline was (53±7) years, and 41.82% were male. 25 out of 1 579 metabolites were selected to be potentially associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes in the lasso regression model. The multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis showed that only 7-Methylxanthine had an independent effect on type 2 diabetes ( P =0.019). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) (95% CI ) of the prediction model of type 2 diabetes based on traditional risk factors was 0.80 (0.76-0.85). After the 7-methylxanthine in the model, the AUC (95% CI ) increased to 0.92 (0.89-0.95) ( P <0.001). From the second year, 7-methylxanthine could improve the prediction performance ( P =0.007). Conclusion: The level of 7-methylxanthine is related to the onset of type 2 diabetes, and can be used as a biomarker to predict its incidence risk.

Many common pathogens are difficult or impossible to detect using conventional microbiological tests. However, the rapid and untargeted nature of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) appears to be a promising alternative. To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence regarding the diagnostic accuracy of mNGS in patients with infectious diseases. An electronic literature search of Embase, PubMed and Scopus databases was performed. Quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Summary receiver operating characteristics (sROC) and the area under the curve (AUC) were calculated; A random-effects model was used in cases of heterogeneity. A total of 20 papers were eligible for inclusion and synthesis. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic mNGS were 75% and 68%, respectively. The AUC from the SROC was 85%, corresponding to excellent performance. mNGS demonstrated satisfactory diagnostic performance for infections and yielded an overall detection rate superior to conventional methods., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Fractures of the lateral process of the talus (LTPF) are rare and only rarely are associated ligamentous injuries. The injury mechanism is commonly considered to be similar with ankle sprains, where excessive varus of the hindfoot leads to avulsion fractures of the lateral process of the talus. However, previous cadaveric studies have suggested that LTPF was more likely to be caused by eversion or external rotation force with dorsiflexion of the ankle. But no clinical evidence has been provided., Case Presentation: Two patients presented to the emergency department with ankle pain after ankle eversion or external rotation. Physical examination revealed tenderness and swelling on both medial and lateral sides of the ankles. Plain radiographs and computed tomography revealed LTPF and medial soft tissue swelling, and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a discontinuity of the deltoid ligament in Case 1. Surgical exploration revealed rupture of the superficial layer of the deltoid ligaments with intact deep layer in both patients. Treatment included fixation of the lateral process of the talus with headless compression screws and repair of deltoid ligaments. Both patients achieved excellent clinical outcomes 1 year post injury., Conclusion: There are many possibilities of the injury mechanism of LTPF. These two cases provided clinical evidence that eversion or external rotation force, in addition to inversion, was also an important mechanism of LTPF., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Irrigation regimes should be chosen to maximize crop yield and water use efficiency. To realize high yield and efficient water use with the appropriate furrow irrigation regime, the effects of two regimes (alternate furrow irrigation and conventional furrow irrigation) and three lower soil moisture limits (60, 70, and 80%) were studied on winter wheat yield and water consumption using a multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The results show that under the two regimes, alternate furrow irrigation and conventional furrow irrigation, when the lower limit of the soil moisture is 70%, the harvest index (0.45 and 0.39, respectively) and crop water productivity of winter wheat (1.86 and 1.90 kg m -3 , respectively) are highest. The comprehensive fuzzy evaluation model considers multiple measures, including yield, harvest indices, irrigation volume, total water consumption, and crop water productivity - the index values are highest at the 70% condition, which are 0.3468 and 0.3432, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that a moderate water deficit is conducive to saving water resources and improving water use efficiency. In conclusion, a multi-level and multi-factor indices system of furrow irrigation regime was constructed based on ensuring winter wheat production. Conventional furrow irrigation is recommended in areas with sufficient irrigation water, while alternating furrow irrigation, which can reduce the total amount of irrigation required, is suitable for areas with water shortages., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflicts of interest., (© 2022 Xiao-Hang Li et al., published by De Gruyter.)

The chemical modification of ribosomes plays an important regulatory role in cellular translation adaptation in response to environmental stresses. Nevertheless, how the modified ribosome reprograms the translation machinery for the preferential expression of the specific mRNAs encoding stress-responsive proteins to stress remains poorly understood. Here, we find that AcP-induced acetylation of K411 and K464 in ribosomal protein S1 during carbon-nitrogen imbalance, which in turn impacts its binding with distinct mRNAs. S1 acetylation shows differential selectivity for recruiting subsets of mRNAs to ribosomes. Using the RNC-Seq method, we find that mimic acetylated S1 prefers transcripts related with the formation of flagella/biofilms, two-component systems, nitrogen assimilation, amino acid degradation, and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, whereas inhibits the translation of mRNAs involved in amino acid biosynthesis and most ribosomal proteins. Importantly, further characterization of S1-binding site (SBS) sequences of mRNAs with different translation efficiencies indicated that the presence of a conserved motif allows coordinated regulation of S1 acetylation-driven translation reprogramming for cell survival during nitrogen starvation. These findings expand the repertoire of ribosome heterogeneity to the acetylation level of S1 at specific sites and its role in the ribosome-mediated regulation of gene expression as a cellular response at the translational level to stress., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The desert ecosystem is an important part of the terrestrial ecosystem. Accurate estimations of the biomass and species richness of desert plants are of great value for maintaining ecosystem stability; however, current assessments remain a challenge due to the large spatial heterogeneity in biomass and species richness and difficulties posed by time-consuming field surveys, particularly in remote areas. In the present study, There were 527 sampling sites, and each sampling site contained approximately 9 quadrats. Approximately 4500 quadrats in total were taken from the Junggar Desert of northern Xinjiang, and the spatial distribution and factors driving the biomass and species richness of the desert ecosystem were quantitatively analyzed. The results showed that the average aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, litter, and the Patrick index of the Junggar Desert in northern Xinjiang were 115.42 gm-2, 924.77 gm-2, 13.06 gm-2, and 63, with values ranging from 2-708.12 gm-2, 120.25-3537.3 gm-2, 2-56.46 gm-2, and 0-377, respectively, The mean of the variation coefficient was 56.19%, 41.16%, 62.16% and 73.83%, suggesting moderate variation. The result is affected by the differences between the desert environment and climate. Climate factors had a relatively large impact on species richness, and the variation coefficient of species richness was large, indicating a large degree of dispersion of species richness. The direct influence of environmental and climatic factors on underground biomass (BGB) is relatively small, and its coefficient of variation is small. The spatial distribution of biomass and species richness in northern Xinjiang gradually decreased from west to east. Redundancy analysis showed that climate was the main factor driving desert biomass and species richness in northern Xinjiang, with an average independent explanatory power of 20.38% and 18.57%, respectively. Structural equation modeling indicated that climate factors, elevation, and community coverage had a direct positive effect on the aboveground biomass of the desert plants in northern Xinjiang and a direct negative effect on the belowground biomass. Moreover, climate factors and biological factors showed a direct positive effect on the species richness in northern Xinjiang., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: After encountering COVID-19 patients who test positive again after discharge, our study analyzed the pathogenesis to further assess the risk and possibility of virus reactivation., Methods: A separate microarray was acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and its samples were divided into two groups: a "convalescent-RTP" group consisting of convalescent and "retesting positive" (RTP) patients (group CR) and a "healthy-RTP" group consisting of healthy control and RTP patients (group HR). The enrichment analysis was performed with R software, obtaining the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Subsequently, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of each group were established, and the hub genes were discovered using the cytoHubba plugin., Results: In this study, 6622 differentially expressed genes were identified in the group CR, among which RAB11B-AS1, DISP1, MICAL3, PSMG1, and DOCK4 were up-regulated genes, and ANAPC1, IGLV1-40, SORT1, PLPPR2, and ATP1A1-AS1 were down-regulated. 7335 genes were screened in the group HR, including the top 5 up-regulated genes ALKBH6, AMBRA1, MIR1249, TRAV18, and LRRC69, and the top 5 down-regulated genes FAM241B, AC018529.3, AL031963.3, AC006946.1, and FAM149B1. The GO and KEGG analysis of the two groups revealed a significant enrichment in immune response and apoptosis. In the PPI network constructed, group CR and group HR identified 10 genes, respectively, and TP53BP1, SNRPD1, and SNRPD2 were selected as hub genes., Conclusions: Using the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression data from GSE166253, we found TP53BP1, SNRPD1, and SNRPD2 as hub genes in RTP patients, which is vital to the management and prognostic prediction of RTP patients., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Schisandra chinensis owes its therapeutic efficacy to the dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, which are limited to the Schisandraceae family and whose biosynthetic pathway has not been elucidated. Coniferyl alcohol is the synthetic precursor of various types of lignans and can be acetylated to form coniferyl acetate by coniferyl alcohol acyltransferase (CFAT), which belongs to the BAHD acyltransferase family. This catalytic reaction is important because it is the first committed step of the hypothetical biosynthetic pathway in which coniferyl alcohol gives rise to dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans. However, the gene encoding CFAT in S. chinensis has not been identified. In this study, firstly we identified 37 ScBAHD genes from the transcriptome datasets of S. chinensis . According to bioinformatics, phylogenetic, and expression profile analyses, 1 BAHD gene, named ScBAHD1 , was cloned from S. chinensis . The heterologous expression in Escherichia coli and in vitro activity assays revealed that the recombinant enzyme of ScBAHD1 exhibits acetyltransferase activity with coniferyl alcohol and some other alcohol substrates by using acetyl-CoA as the acetyl donor, which indicates ScBAHD1 functions as ScCFAT. Subcellular localization analysis showed that ScCFAT is mainly located in the cytoplasm. In addition, we generated a three-dimensional (3D) structure of ScCFAT by homology modeling and explored the conformational interaction between protein and ligands by molecular docking simulations. Overall, this study identified the first enzyme with catalytic activity from the Schisandraceae family and laid foundations for future investigations to complete the biosynthetic pathway of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Qiang, Liu, Dong, Mu, Chen, Luo, Zhang and Liu.)

Most plants of Ligusticum have an important medicinal and economic value with a long history, Ligusticum sinense and L. jeholense ("Gaoben") has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of carminative, dispelling cold, dehumidification, and analgesia. While in the market Conioselinum vaginatum (Xinjiang Gaoben) is substitution for Gaoben, and occupies a higher market share. These three Gaoben-related medicinal materials are similar in morphology, and are difficult to distinguish from each other by the commonly used DNA barcodes. The chloroplast genome has been widely used for molecular markers, evolutionary biology, and barcoding identification. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequences of C. vaginatum , L. sinense , and L. jeholense were reported. The results showed that the complete chloroplast genomes of these three species have typical quadripartite structures, which were comprised of 148,664, 148,539, and 148,497 bp. A total of 114 genes were identified, including 81 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 29 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. Our study indicated that highly variable region ycf 2- trn L and acc D- ycf 4 that can be used as specific DNA barcodes to distinguish and identify C. vaginatum , L. sinense , and L. jeholense . In addition, phylogenetic study showed that C. vaginatum nested in Ligusticum and as a sister group of L. sinense and L. jeholense , which suggested these two genera are both in need of revision. This study offer valuable information for future research in the identification of Gaoben-related medicinal materials and will benefit for further phylogenetic study of Apiaceae., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wei, Zhang, Dong, Cheng, Bai, Liu, Qi, Zhang and Liu.)

The active components, mainly derived from secondary metabolites of medicinal plants, are the material basis for the efficacy of medicinal plants. Lignans, the secondary metabolites in plants with high bioactivity, are widely distributed in a variety of plant species, and their antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities have been proved in clinical practice. Generally, lignans are diverse in structures with many chiral centers, and most of them are optically active. The biosynthesis of lignans depends on the oxidative coupling reaction through site selection and stereo selection, which impedes synthesized lignans to form racemates, but makes them in a three-dimensional configuration. Dirigent protein(DIR) plays an important role in guiding location selection and stereo selection of lignans in biosynthesis. In vitro studies on lignan biosynthesis have shown that racemic end products are obtained in the absence of DIR proteins, while the products in a three-dimensional configuration can be yielded in the presence of DIR proteins, indicating that DIR proteins play an asymmetric role in the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites. The present study reviewed the biolo-gical significance of DIR protein, the cloning of DIR gene, gene structure, catalytic mechanism, and the research progress in Isatis indigotica, Eucommia ulmoides, Forsythia suspensa, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Panax pseudoginseng var. notoginseng, and Schisandra chinensis, which provides a reference for the follow-up research of DIR gene.

Insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) were isolated from wheat bran (WB) after microbial fermentation with single or mixed strain [ Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis or mixed lactic acid bacteria ( L. plantarum and L. acidophilus with ration of 1:1)]. Structure, physicochemical, functional properties, and antioxidant activity of the wheat bran insoluble dietary fiber (W-IDF) modified by fermentation were studied. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis suggested the successful modification of W-IDF. After fermentation with L. plantarum and mixed lactic acid bacteria, the water retention capacity (WRC), oil retention capacity (ORC), and water swelling capacity (WSC) of W-IDF were improved. The sodium cholate adsorption capacity (SCAC), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of W-IDF modified with L. acidophilus fermentation were significantly increased. Although the cholesterol adsorption capacity (CAC) of W-IDF decreased after modification with probiotic fermentation, nitrite ion adsorption capacity (NIAC), and total phenolic content (TPC) were enhanced. Additionally, W-IDF modified by fermentation with B. subtilis or mixed lactic acid bacteria exhibited superior antioxidant capacity verified by DPPH, ABTS and total reducing power assays. Results manifested that microbial fermentation is a promising methods to modify the W-IDF to provide high-quality functional IDF for food processing and human health management., Competing Interests: Y-CH was employed by Henan Cooperativity Medical Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Liao, Zhang, Yang, Huang, Pan, Hou, Li, Zhao, Dong, Hu and Hui.)

Tumor microenvironment (TME) regulated the development of the Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). To know more about the LUSC, this study tried to figure the role of fscin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) in the TME. We identified the FSCN1 as the hub immune gene in LUSC, with the use of weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the Human Protein Atlas. Furthermore, we verified the higher expression of FSCN1 in LUSC compared with the normal tissues by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. We then explored the associations among FSCN1, immune infiltrations, and inflammatory factors with the use of Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource (TIMER). As a result, the expressions of FSCN1 was negatively related to the immune infiltrations, and positively related to the expressions of IL1A, IL1B, TGFB1 and TGFA. Moreover, we used the single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of LUSC to figure out the expressions level of FSCN1, IL1A, IL1B, TGFB1 and TGFA in the different cell type's of the TME. Finally, through the cytological experiments, we found that FSCN1 affected by TGFB1 contributes to the proliferation, anti-apoptotic effect, migration and invasion of the LUSC cells. In summary, this study Identified FSCN1 as the potential therapeutic target of LUSC, and reveals a complicated immune and inflammatory net in the TME., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

IMB5046 is a nitrobenzoate microtubule inhibitor we reported previously. During screening of its structural analogues, we identified a novel compound IMB5476 with increased aqueous solubility. Here, its antitumor activity and the underlying mechanism were investigated. IMB5476 disrupted microtubule networks in cells and arrested cell cycle at G2/M phase. It inhibited purified tubulin polymerization in vitro. Competition assay indicated that it bound to tubulin at the colchicine pocket. Further experiments proved that it induced cell death by mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis. Notably, it was a poor substrate of P-glycoprotein and exhibited potent cytotoxicity against drug-resistant tumor cells. In addition, IMB5476 could inhibit angiogenesis in vitro. IMB5476 also inhibited the growth of drug-resistant KB V200 xenografts in mice. Conclusively, our data reveal a novel nitrobenzoate microtubule inhibitor with improved aqueous solubility and can overcome multidrug resistance., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Wheat germ protein including wheat embryo albumin (WEA) demonstrates extensive biological activity. In vitro dynamic digestion of WEA was carried out under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Anti-fatigue effects of WEA were evaluated using mice forced to swim. Results indicated that the digestibility of WEA decreased, antioxidant activity and the contents of aromatic amino acids (AAA) and hydrophobic amino acids (HAA) were significantly increased, and the ratio of essential amino acid (EAA) and non-essential amino acid (NEAA) were also changed during digestion. WEA significantly prolonged swimming time, reduced the accumulation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatine kinase (CK). WEA also increased glycogen storage in liver and muscle. Meanwhile, WEA revealed antioxidant activity through enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) while decreasing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Notably, WEA enhanced the mRNA expression of mitochondrial biogenesis factors in the skeletal muscles of the mice. Therefore, WEA is suitable for preparation of energy foods with attractive anti-fatigue and health benefits.

Background: The outcomes of the use of commercial in vitro maturation (IVM) medium to culture immature oocytes obtained from conventional ovulation induction, followed by rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (RICSI), are not ideal. It is thus difficult to widely adopt this approach in clinical practice. Therefore, it is necessary to explore methods for improving the clinical outcome of IVM., Aim: To study the effect of sperm on the developmental potential of in vitro-matured oocytes in conventional culture., Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients whose immature oocytes were harvested from conventional oocyte stimulation cycles and underwent ICSI at our hospital between June 2018 and August 2020. RICSI was performed using sperm collected on the day of oocyte harvest (old) and sperm collected on the day of RICSI (fresh) and oocytes matured in vitro after 24 h of culture in conventional medium. The rates of in vitro oocyte maturation, normal fertilization, normal cleavage, day-3 top-quality embryos, and useful blastocyst formation were compared between the two groups., Results: In total, 102 germinal vesicle (GV)-stage immature oocytes were cultured in the old sperm group. In the fresh sperm group, 122 GV-stage immature oocytes were collected and cultured in vitro for 24 h. There were no significant differences in the general conditions of males and females between the two groups ( P > 0.05). The oocyte maturation, normal fertilization, and normal cleavage rates of the old and fresh groups were 51.0% vs 55.7%, 61.5% vs 64.7%, and 93.8% vs 93.2%, respectively. None of the rates differed significantly ( P > 0.05) between the two groups. However, the day-3 top-quality embryo and useful blastocyst rates of the old and fresh sperm groups were 16.6% vs 63.4%; 6.67% vs 34.6%, respectively. The day-3 top-quality embryos and useful blastocyst rates of the old sperm group were significantly lower than those of the fresh group ( P < 0.05)., Conclusion: In vitro maturation with conventional culture medium combined with the use of fresh sperm collected on the day of RICSI is an easy-to-implement strategy for patients whose oocytes are completely or mostly immature., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Depression affects more than 350 million people worldwide. In China, 4.2% (54 million people) of the total population suffers from depression. Psychotherapy has been shown to change cognition, improve personality, and enhance the ability to cope with difficulties and setbacks. While pharmacotherapy can reduce symptoms, it is also associated with adverse reactions and relapse after drug withdrawal. Therefore, there has been an increasing emphasis placed on the use of non-pharmacological therapies for depression. The hypothesis of this study was that acupuncture at ghost points combined with fluoxetine would be more effective than fluoxetine alone for the treatment of depression., Aim: To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture at ghost points combined with fluoxetine for the treatment of patients with depression., Methods: This randomized controlled trial included patients with mild to moderate depression ( n = 160). Patients received either acupuncture at ghost points combined with fluoxetine ( n = 80) or fluoxetine alone (control group, n = 80). Needles were retained in place for 30 min, 5 times a week; three treatment cycles were administered. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare functional magnet resonance imaging parameters, Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) scores, and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores between the acupuncture group and control group., Results: There were no significant differences in HAMD or SDS scores between the acupuncture group and control group, before or after 4 wk of treatment. The acupuncture group exhibited significantly lower HAMD and SDS scores than the control group after 8 wk of treatment ( P < 0.05). The acupuncture group had significantly lower fractional Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuations values for the left anterior wedge leaf, left posterior cingulate gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, and left inferior occipital gyrus after 8 wk. The acupuncture group also had significantly higher values for the right inferior frontal gyrus, right insula, and right hippocampus ( P < 0.05). After 8 wk of treatment, the effective rates of the acupuncture and control groups were 51.25% and 36.25%, respectively ( P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The study results suggest that acupuncture at ghost points combined with fluoxetine is more effective than fluoxetine alone for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate depression., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest., (©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Wheat embryo globulin nutrient (WEGN), with wheat embryo globulin (WEG) as the main functional component, is a nutritional combination that specifically targets memory impairment. In this study, we explored the protective role of WEGN on Alzheimer's disease (AD)-triggered cognitive impairment, neuronal injury, oxidative stress, and acetylcholine system disorder. Specifically, we established an AD model via administration of d-galactose (d-gal) and Aluminum chloride (AlCl 3 ) for 70 days, then on the 36th day, administered animals in the donepezil and WEGN (300, 600, and 900 mg/kg) groups with drugs by gavage for 35 days. Learning and memory ability of the treated rats was tested using the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NOR) test, while pathological changes and neuronal death in their hippocampus CA1 were detected via HE staining and Nissl staining. Moreover, we determined antioxidant enzymes by measuring levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in serum, cortex, and hippocampus, whereas changes in the acetylcholine system were determined by evaluating choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, as well as choline acetylcholine (Ach) content. Results revealed that rats in the WEGN group exhibited significantly lower escape latency, as well as a significantly higher number of targeted crossings and longer residence times in the target quadrant, relative to those in the model group. Notably, rats in the WEGN group spent more time exploring new objects and exhibited lower damage to their hippocampus neuron, had improved learning and memory activity, as well as reversed histological alterations, relative to those in the model group. Meanwhile, biochemical examinations revealed that rats in the WEGN group had significantly lower MDA levels and AChE activities, but significantly higher GSH, SOD, and ChAT activities, as well as Ach content, relative to those in the model group. Overall, these findings indicate that WEGN exerts protective effects on cognitive impairment, neuronal damage, oxidative stress, and choline function in AD rats treated by d-gal/AlCl 3 ., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cambodia is rich in medicinal plant resources. One hundred and thirty-three medicinal material samples, including the hole herb, root, stem/branch, leaf, flower, fruit, seed, and resin, were collected from the Orussey Herbal Market in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and then authenticated by ITS and psbA-trnH. A total of 46 samples were identified based on ITS sequences, belonging to 24 families, 40 genera, and 42 species. A total of 100 samples were identified by psbA-trnH sequences to belong to 42 families, 77 genera, and 84 species. A total of 103 samples were identified by two DNA barcodes. According to the morphological characteristics of the medicinal materials, 120 samples classified into 50 species, 86 genera, and 86 families were identified, and the majority of them were from Zingiberaceae, Fabaceae, and Acanthaceae. Such samples have been commonly used in traditional Cambodian medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, Unani medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and ethnomedicine, but different medical systems focus on different functional aspects of the same medicinal material. The results of this study have demonstrated that DNA barcoding has a significant advantage in identifying herbal products, and this study has provided basic data for understanding the traditional medicinal materials used in Cambodia.

Objective: To prepare the modified hyaluronic acid viscous hydrogel loaded with sliver particles and to explore the roles and mechanism of the hydrogel in healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds with bacterial colonization in mice. Methods: The experimental research method was adopted. Dopamine modified hyaluronic acid (HA-DA) and phenylboric acid modified hyaluronic acid (HA-PBA) were prepared, and their characteristic peaks were detected by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Different mass of acrylamides was added to HA-DA and HA-PBA to prepare the viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 10%, 15%, and 20%. The gelation of the viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 20% was observed in the state of tilt and inversion at 37 ℃, and the storage modulus and loss modulus of the above 3 kinds of viscous hydrogels were detected by rotational rheometer. The sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel was prepared by adding nano silver ions to the viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 20%. The concentration of silver ions released by sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, and the cumulative release rate of silver ion was calculated ( n =5). The mouse fibroblasts L929 were divided into phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group, viscous hydrogel group, and sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group, which were dealt correspondingly, and the cell survival was detected by cell counting kit 8 method after 1, 2, and 3 d of culture ( n =5). Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were selected, and forty-eight full-thickness skin defect wounds were inflicted and inoculated with the mixture of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in the back of the mice, with two wounds in each mouse. The wounds were divided into normal saline group, viscous hydrogel group, and sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group, which were dealt correspondingly, with 16 wounds in each group, and two wounds in each mouse were divided into different groups. On post injury day (PID) 3, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing was observed and the wound healing rate was calculated. On PID 3, the colony forming units of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in wounds were observed and counted. On PID 14, the epithelized epidermal thickness and the optical density of collagen fiber in wounds were observed and analyzed after hematoxylin eosin staining and Masson staining, respectively. On PID 3, 7, and 10, the expressions of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF-β 1 ), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The number of wounds in each index detecting at each time point was four. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for factorial design, one-way analysis of variance, and Bonferroni correction. Results: The characteristic peaks of HA-PBA were detected at the wave numbers of 1 369 and 1 425 cm -1 , indicating that phenylboric acid had been successfully grafted on hyaluronic acid, and the characteristic peaks of HA-DA were detected at the wave numbers of 1 516 and 1 431 cm -1 , indicating that dopamine had been successfully grafted on hyaluronic acid. The viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 20% maintained the stable and no-flow condition of gelation in the state of tilt and inversion at 37 ℃. The storage modulus and loss modulus of the viscous hydrogel increased with the increase of acrylamide content, the storage modulus and loss modulus of the 3 kinds of viscous hydrogels had no obvious changes with the increase of the oscillation frequency or time, and the storage modulus of the 3 kinds of acrylamide hydrogels were greater than the loss modulus. The release of silver ion in the sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel lasted for 7 days, and the cumulative release rate of silver ion was up to 65%. After 1, 2, and 3 d of culture, the cell survival rates in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly lower than those in PBS group and viscous hydrogel group ( P <0.05 or P <0.01), while after 1 d of culture, the cell survival rate in viscous hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in PBS group ( P <0.01). With extension of time after injury, the wounds of mice in the 3 groups shrank gradually. On PID 3, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing rates in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were (53.0±3.6)%, (75.3±6.9)%, (93.3±1.2)%, and (96.7±0.8)%, which were significantly higher than (21.8±6.4)%, (53.9±8.2)%, (72.0±7.8)%, and (92.5±0.4)% in normal saline group ( P <0.01). On PID 3 and 14, the wound healing rates in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than (43.5±2.4)% and (94.1±1.5)% in viscous hydrogel group ( P <0.05). On PID 3 and 10, the wound healing rates in viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group ( P <0.01). On PID 3, the colony forming units of two bacteria in wound of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly less than those in normal saline group and viscous hydrogel group ( P <0.01), while the colony forming units of two bacteria in wound of viscous hydrogel group were significantly less than those in normal saline group ( P <0.05). On PID 14, the wounds were basically epithelialized and the epidermis was thicker, with collagen protein content being increased significantly and more orderly arranged collagen in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group compared with those in the other 2 groups. On PID 14, the epidermal thickness in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly increased compared with that in the other two groups ( P <0.05), and the optical density of collagen fiber was significantly increased compared with those in normal saline group ( P <0.05). On PID 3, the expressions of TGF-β 1 and VEGF in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group ( P <0.05 or P <0.01), while the expression of VEGF in wounds of viscous hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in normal saline group ( P <0.01). On PID 7, the expression of TGF-β 1 in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in the other 2 groups ( P <0.01), and the expression of VEGF was significantly higher than that in normal saline group ( P <0.01). On PID 10, the expression of TNF-α in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in normal saline group ( P <0.05), the expressions of TGF-β 1 and VEGF in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group ( P <0.05 or P <0.01), and the expression of VEGF in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in viscous hydrogel group ( P <0.05). Conclusions: The sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel prepared in this study has good stability and elasticity, which can continuously release silver ions and help to accelerate the healing of full-thickness defect wounds with bacterial colonization in mice. Besides, the sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel has low biological toxicity and can promote re-epithelialization, collagen deposition as well as angiogenesis of wounds, which may be related to the infiltration and regression of inflammatory cells.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) plays an important role in brain disease diagnosis and research of brain-computer interface (BCI). However, the measurements of EEG are often exposed to strong interference of power line artifact (PLA). Digital notch filters (DNFs) can be applied to remove the PLA effectively, but it also results in severe signal distortions in the time domain. To address this problem, spectrum correction (SC) based methods can be utilized. These methods estimate harmonic parameters of the PLA such that compensation signals are produced to remove the noise. In order to ensure high accuracy during harmonic parameter estimations, a novel approach is proposed in this paper. This novel approach is based on the combination of sparse representation (SR) and SC. It can deeply mine the information of PLA in the frequency domain. Firstly, a ratio-based spectrum correction (RBSC) using rectangular window is employed to make rough estimation of the harmonic parameters of PLA. Secondly, the two spectral line closest to the estimated frequency are calculated. Thirdly, the two spectral lines with high amplitudes can be utilized as input of RBSC to make finer estimations of the harmonic parameters. Finally, a compensation signal, based on the extracted harmonic parameters, is generated to suppress PLA. Numerical simulations and actual EEG signals with PLA were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the improved approach. It is verified that this approach can effectively suppress the PLA without distorting the time-domain waveform of the EEG signal., Competing Interests: J-LT, Z-FL, and RZ were employed by the company Shaanxi Aerospace Technology Application Research Institute Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Tan, Liang, Zhang, Dong, Li, Zhang, Wang and Xu.)

Dirigent(DIR) proteins are involved in the biosynthesis of lignin, lignans, and gossypol in plants and respond to biotic and abiotic stresses. Based on the full-length transcriptome of Schisandra chinensis, bioinformatics methods were used to preliminarily identify the DIR gene family and analyze the physico-chemical properties, subcellular localization, conserved motifs, phylogeny, and expression patterns of the proteins. The results showed that a total of 34 DIR genes were screened and the encoded proteins were 156-387 aa. The physico-chemical properties of the proteins were different and the secondary structure was mainly random coil. Half of the DIR proteins were located in chloroplast, while the others in extracellular region, endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, etc. Phylogenetic analysis of DIR proteins from S. chinensis and the other 8 species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, and Glycine max demonstrated that all DIR proteins were clustered into 5 subfamilies and that DIR proteins from S. chinensis were in 4 subfamilies. DIR-a subfamily has the unique structure of 8 β-sheets, as verified by multiple sequence alignment. Finally, through the analysis of the transcriptome of S. chinensis fruit at different development stages, the expression pattern of DIR was clarified. Combined with the accumulation of lignans in fruits at different stages, DIR might be related to the synthesis of lignans in S. chinensis. This study lays a theoretical basis for exploring the biological functions of DIR genes and elucidating the biosynthesis pathway of lignans in S. chinensis.

Objective: To explore the application value of next generation sequencing (NGS) in preimplantation genetic diagnosis of α/β complex thalassemia couple., Methods: The coding regions of α-globin genes (HBA1, HBA2) and β-globin gene (HBB) were selected as the target regions. The high-density and closely linked single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites were selected as the genetic linkage markers in the upstream and downstream 2M regions of the gene. After NGS, the effective SNP sites were selected to construct the haplotype of the couple, and the risk chromosome of the mutation carried by the couple was determined. The NGS technology was used to sequence the variations of HBA1, HBA2 and HBB directly and construct haplotype linkage analysis for preimplantation genetic diagnosis., Results: Direct sequencing and haplotype linkage analysis of HBA1, HBA2 and HBB showed that two of the six blastocysts were α/β complex thalassemia, one was β-thalassemia heterozygote, two were α-thalassemias heterozygotes, and one was intermediate α-thalassemia. A well-developed embryo underwent preimplantation genetic diagnosis was implanted into the mother's uterus, and a healthy infant was born at term., Conclusion: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be carried out by NGS technology in α/β complex thalassemia couples, and abortion caused by aneuploid embryo selection can be avoided.

The transition-metal-catalyzed cyclopropanation of alkenes by the decomposition of diazo compounds is a powerful and straightforward strategy to produce cyclopropanes, but is tempered by the potentially explosive nature of diazo substrates. Herein we report the Mo-catalyzed regiospecific deoxygenative cyclopropanation of readily available and bench-stable 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds, in which one of the two carbonyl groups acts as a carbene equivalent upon deoxygenation and engages in the subsequent cyclopropanation process. The use of a commercially available Mo catalyst afforded an array of valuable cyclopropanes with exclusive regioselectivity in up to 90 % yield. The synthetic utility of this method was further demonstrated by gram-scale syntheses, late-stage functionalization, and the cyclopropanation of a simple monocarbonyl compound. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that phosphine (or silane) acts as both a mild reductant and a good oxygen acceptor that efficiently regenerates the catalytically active Mo catalyst through reduction of the Mo-oxo complexes., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

To examine the effects of land use change on soil stoichiometry, we selected four kinds of land use soils in northern Guangdong: forest land (FL), sloping orchard (SO), dry land terraces (DLT) and paddy terraces (PT) to explore the changes of the contents, stocks and stoichiometry of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the 20 a process of transforming from forest land into terraced land. Results showed that land use significantly changed the contents and stoichiometric characteristics of soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. With the increase of soil depth, organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents of DLT and PT decreased significantly, while FL and SO showed a "V"-shaped change trend. There was no difference in total phosphorus (TP) content among the four land use types. The OC content of PT was the highest, with an average value of 12.36 g·kg -1 , followed by FL (10.32 g·kg -1 ) and DLT (8.80 g·kg -1 ), while SO was the lowest (5.96 g·kg -1 ). TN content was decreased in order of PT (1.01 g·kg -1 )>DLT (0.78 g·kg -1 )>FL (0.66 g·kg -1 )>SO (0.33 g·kg -1 ). TP content of DLT (0.71 g·kg -1 ) was the highest, and SO (0.22 g·kg -1 ) was the lowest. C:N was between 8.87 and 22.94, and SO was the highest. C:P was between 8.73 and 81.74, N:P was between 0.77 and 5.13, with both of which being the highest in FL. Land use, soil depth and their interaction significantly affected the contents, stocks, and stoichiometric ratio of soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, with soil bulk density, pH, and clay content as important influencing factors. The research results could provide a scientific basis for land use of subtropical low mountain forest land and rational fertilization of terraced ecosystems.

Intracorporeal classic gastrointestinal anastomosis using circular stapler in totally laparoscopic gastrectomy (TLG) for gastric cancer requires intracorporeal anvil placement and suitable access for introduction of the circular stapler to the abdominal cavity without gas leak. The novel techniques for anvil placement have been updated, but there is no progress for proper access for circular stapler. In the study, intracorporeal circular-stapled gastrointestinal anastomosis were successfully accomplished using a novel device of sealed cap access with a central hole (WLB-60/70-60/100, Wuhan Widerep Medical Instrument Co.,Ltd, China) customized to the incision protection retractor for the simple and accessible introduction of the circular stapler and anvil under the optimal maintenance of pneumoperitoneum pressure in TLG. In these 3 cases, there was no gas leakage and the pneumoperitoneum was well maintained when performing the gastrointestinal anastomosis, and there was no transition to laparotomy or other anastomosis techniques. The result suggests that the sealed cap access could be a novel choice for introduction of the circular stapler to the abdominal cavity in order to obtain laparoscopic circular-stapled gastroin-testinal anastomosis in TLG.

Lung cancer is the most affected malignant tumor in the world, and its specific pathogenesis is still unclear. It has been confirmed that circ0001320 is down-regulated in lung cancer, but its mechanism has not been reported. Further study found that circ0001320 was down-regulated in lung cancer cells, localized in the cytoplasm, and had multiple miR-558 binding sites. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA-pull-down, and immunoprecipitation experiments all confirmed that circ0001320 directly bound to miR-558, and then inhibit the expression of miR-558. MiR-558 was up-regulated in lung cancer cells, and bound the downstream target genes TNFAIP1 and TPM1 to inhibit their expression. Western blot showed that circ0001320 significantly up-regulated the protein levels of TNFAIP1 and TPM1, while miR-558 blocked this effect of circ0001320. Circ0001320, TNFAIP1, and TPM1 all inhibited the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells and promoted apoptosis, while miR-558 had the opposite effects. After transfection with circ0001320 overexpression vector, miR-558 up-regulation or down-regulation of TNFAIP1, or TPM1 expression significantly reversed the inhibition of cell growth and invasion by circ0001320. Similarly, the expression of TNFAIP1 or TPM1 was down-regulated, while miR-558 expression was inhibited, and the levels of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion did not change significantly. Therefore, these fully show that circ0001320 inhibits the growth and invasion of lung cancer cells through miR-558/TNFAIP1 and TPM1 pathways, which may be closely related markers and therapeutic targets of lung cancer.

Objective: To analyze the trend of premature death of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Wuxi from 2008 to 2018 and evaluate the influence of premature mortality probability caused by four main NCDs on life expectancy. Methods: Based on the mortality data collected by Wuxi Mortality Registration System and the population data collected by Wuxi Public Security Bureau during 2008-2018, this study analyzes the trend of the probability of premature death on malignant tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. The impact on life expectancy was analyzed by using the methods of abridged life table, Joinpoint regression, and life expectancy contribution decomposition. Results: From 2008 to 2018, the total probability of premature death of four main NCDs in Wuxi were declined consistently from 11.25% to 9.25% (AAPC = -2.0%, 95% CI : -2.6--1.5), higher in female (from 7.74% to 5.91%) than that in male (from 14.49% to 12.51%). The Wuxi resident's life expectancy increased by 1.86 years (from 78.66 to 80.52 years), in males and 1.26 years (from 83.85 to 85.11 years) in females, respectively. The decline of premature death of malignant tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and chronic respiratory system diseases had a positive contribution to life expectancy, which contributed 0.34 years (23.90%), 0.15 years (10.50%), and 0.03 years (2.36%) to the life expectancy growth, respectively. Among which, premature death of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in men aged 40-55y had a negative contribution to life expectancy (-0.04 years). The probability of premature death of males with diabetes was on the rise (AAPC = 7.1%, 95% CI : 2.8-11.6), which negatively contributed to life expectancy for both males and females, reducing life expectancy by 0.03 years (-2.14%) in Wuxi. Conclusion: The premature death probability of four main NCDs in Wuxi declined consistently from 2008 to 2018, which played a positive role in the growth of life expectancy. Compared with females, males had a higher premature death probability and a slower rate of decline. More intervention and health management of premature male death on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes should be conducted to improve life expectancy further.

Bile acids has gradually become a new focus in various diseases, and ASBT as a transporter responsible for the reabsorption of ileal bile acids, is a key hinge associated to the bile acids-cholesterol balance and bile acids of enterohepatic circulation. The cumulative studies have also shown that ASBT is a promising target for treatment of liver, gallbladder, intestinal and metabolic diseases. This article briefly reviewed the process of bile acids enterohepatic circulation, as well as the regulations of ASBT expression, covering transcription factors, nuclear receptors and gut microbiota. In addition, the relationship between ASBT and various diseases were discussed in this paper. According to the structural classification of ASBT inhibitors, the research status of ASBT inhibitors and potential ASBT inhibitors of traditional Chinese medicine (such resveratrol, jatrorrhizine in Coptis chinensis) were summarized. This review provides a basis for the development of ASBT inhibitors and the treatment strategy of related diseases., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

In the past five months, success in control the national epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been witnessed in China. The implementation of public health measures accounts for the success which include different interventions in the early or later stages of the outbreak. It is clear that although not all measures were universally effective worldwide, their achievements have been significant. More solidarity is needed to deal with this global pandemic with more learning and understanding. Understanding which of the public health interventions implemented in China were effective may provide ideas for international epidemic control.

BACKGROUND For proximal humeral fractures (PHFs), locking intramedullary nails and locking plates have been widely used. However, few reports have been published on the therapy of complex PHFs accompanying humeral shaft fractures. Therefore, we performed this research to analyze the effectiveness of locking intramedullary nails and locking plates in the management of proximal humeral fractures involving the humeral shaft. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 40 cases diagnosed with proximal humeral fractures involving the humeral shaft fixed with either locking intramedullary nails or locking plates with at least of 2 years' follow-up. Clinical data were obtained from the medical records. Follow-up data included the Constant-Murley score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), visual analog scale score (VAS), and the relative strength of the supraspinatus and deltoid muscles. RESULTS In total, 19 locking plate patients and 21 locking intramedullary nail patients were analyzed. The average follow-up period was 35 months in the locking plate group and 34 months in the locking intramedullary nail group. There were obvious differences in the intraoperative blood loss, time of operation, and the length of operative incision between the 2 groups (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in Constant-Murley score, ASES, VAS, or the relative strength of supraspinatus and deltoid muscles. CONCLUSIONS For PHFs involving the humeral shaft, both locking plates and locking intramedullary nails can achieve satisfactory functional results in the long-term follow-up assessment. The locking intramedullary nail group was superior with regards to intraoperative blood loss, time of operation, and length of incision.

Innovative iron/calcium in-situ-impregnated mesoporous activated carbons (GL100 and GL200) have been prepared by iron/calcium in-situ-impregnation and Multistage Depth-Activation. Arsenic adsorption kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, and re-usability were investigated. Effects of surface-absorbed (ST-HA) and dissolved states humic acid (DHA) on the arsenic adsorption were also determined. Results suggested in-situ iron/calcium impregnation caused the well-development of mesoporous structures during ranges of 2.0-5.0 nm in GL100 and 5.0-50 nm in GL200, respectively. The increase of iron/calcium ensured surface basicity and high ash contents on GL100/GL200, and As(III)/As(V) can be better adsorbed in neutral conditions with higher kinetics in comparison with regular mesoporous carbon XHIT. Maximum adsorption capacities of As(III)/As(V) by GL100 and GL200 were 2.985/3.385 mg/g and 2.516/2.807 mg/g, respectively. Arsenic desorption and carbon re-usability of GL100/200 was improved. As(III)(As (V)) adsorption capacities by GL100 and GL200 were 2.437(1.672) mg/g and 1.740(1.308) mg/g, respectively, after eight cycles. Arsenic adsorption capacities on GL100 were proved to be promoted with the presence of low-level of ST-HA or DHA, and be inhibited at a high-level. As(V) was bound more strongly than As(III) in the presence of ST-HA. As(III)/As(V) uptakes increased slightly and decrease gradually to 1.75/1.86 mg/g in the presence of DHA (0-10 mg DOC/L). Physisorption and chemisorption mechanisms dominant in arsenic adsorption on GL100 in presence of humic acid, forming inner-sphere complexation with metallic oxide, functional groups on carbon surface and humic acid structure, or ternary surface complexation via cationic metal ions as cation bridge., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)