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Probiotics when applied in complex evolving (micro-)ecosystems, might be selectively beneficial or detrimental to pathogens when their prophylactic efficacies are prone to ambient interactions. Here, we document a counter-intuitive phenomenon that probiotic-treated zebrafish (Danio rerio) were respectively healthy at higher but succumbed at lower level of challenge with a pathogenic Vibrio isolate. This was confirmed by prominent dissimilarities in fish survival and histology. Based upon the profiling of the zebrafish microbiome, and the probiotic and the pathogen shared gene orthogroups (genetic niche overlaps in genomes), this consequently might have modified the probiotic metabolome as well as the virulence of the pathogen. Although it did not reshuffle the architecture of the commensal microbiome of the vertebrate host, it might have altered the probiotic-pathogen inter-genus and intra-species communications. Such in-depth analyses are needed to avoid counteractive phenomena of probiotics and to optimise their efficacies to magnify human and animal well-being. Moreover, such studies will be valuable to improve the relevant guidelines published by organisations such as FAO, OIE and WHO.

BACKGROUND Cystatin C is a protease inhibitor that is increased in the serum of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum levels of cystatin C and arterial stiffness, associated with dyslipidemia, obesity, and increased pulse pressure, in middle-aged and elderly individuals without CKD in a population in China. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional population-based study included 1,138 patients aged ≥40 years without CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate measured by serum creatinine (eGFRSCr) ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m². Study participants provided clinical details, including height and weight, and blood samples for serum measurements of cystatin C and lipid profiles and completed a clinical questionnaire. Pulse pressure was calculated as the mean systolic pressure (SBP) minus the diastolic pressure (DBP). Data underwent multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS An increase in serum levels of cystatin C was associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness. Each standard deviation in the increase of cystatin C resulted in a 22% increased risk of dyslipidemia, a 27% increased risk of obesity, and a 24% increased risk of increased pulse pressure, after adjusting for confounders. These associations were further confirmed in a sensitivity analysis by excluding participants with hypertension, diabetes, and patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). CONCLUSIONS In middle-aged and elderly individuals without CKD, arterial stiffness determined by obesity, dyslipidemia and increased pulse pressure, was significantly associated with increased serum levels of cystatin C.

In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of gallium nitride materials compared with other alternatives (mainly SiC) in optoelectronic applications are introduced. Firstly, the classification and main application scenarios of gallium nitride materials are introduced. Secondly, the physical, chemical and optical characteristic properties of gallium nitride materials are introduced, and the excellent performance of gallium nitride materials in various properties is introduced. Thirdly, the paper introduces the following advantages of gallium nitride materials over SiC, including the ability to work at higher temperatures, greater energy bandwidth, newly developed electron transfer ability, higher energy density, etc. Fourthly, the following disadvantages of gallium nitride materials compared with SiC are introduced, including the insufficient raw material of GaN, the non-practicability of materials in the preparation process of GaN, and the much higher thermal conduction efficiency of SiC materials than GaN, etc. Through these overall analysis, the current research progress of GaN and the technical barriers it may encounter are obtained, which will provide clues for the subsequent research and progress of GaN materials.

BACKGROUND The impact of an overall healthy lifestyle on early-onset stroke is still unclear. Our study thus aimed to investigate the association of overall healthy lifestyle on early-onset stroke in Chinese hospitalized stroke patients. METHODS This retrospective study included 821 hospitalized stroke patients from the First People's Hospital of Changzhou. An overall healthy lifestyle was defined as the presence of more than 2 of the following items: healthy diet, no smoking, normal body mass index (BMI