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Abstract The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) has become a global public health problem. ESBL-E/CRE colonization can increase the risk of infection in patients and lead to poor disease prognosis. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate current decolonization strategies regarding ESBL-E/CRE and their efficacy. A literature search was conducted until August 2023 on the five databases to review decolonization strategies associated with ESBL-E/CRE. A meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 to compare differences in the decolonization strategy with placebo controls. The primary outcome was decolonization rates, with secondary outcomes of attributable death and adverse events. Quality of identified studies was determined using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale and cochrane risk assessment tool. Random and fixed effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate pooled value. A total of 25 studies were included. In five randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies, the decolonization effect of selective digestive decontamination(SDD) on ESBL-E/CRE at the end of treatment was significantly better in the experimental group than the controls [risk radio (RR): 3.30; 95% CI 1.78–6.14]. In three n-RCT studies, the decolonization effect in the experimental group was still better than the controls one month after SDD therapy [odds ratio (OR): 4.01; 95% CI 1.88–8.56]. The combined decolonization rates reported by six single-arm trial studies of SDD therapy ranged from 53.8 to 68.0%. Additionally, TSA analysis confirmed the effectiveness of SDD therapy. In studies on Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) therapy, the decolonization effect of the experimental group was significantly better than the controls 1 month after treatment (OR: 2.57; 95% CI 1.07–6.16). In studies without a control group and with varying follow-up times, the decolonization rates varied widely but indicated the effectiveness trend of FMT therapy (61.3–81.2%). Currently, research on the decolonization effect of probiotic therapy on ESBL-E/CRE is insufficient, and only a systematic review was conducted. SDD and FMT strategies have short-term benefits for ESBL-E/CRE decolonization, but long-term effects are unclear. The effect of probiotic therapy on ESBL-E/CRE decolonization is an interesting topic that still requires further investigation.

Abstract Background Genetic variants in COL4A2 are less common than those of COL4A1 and their fetal clinical phenotype has not been well described to date. We present a fetus from China with an intronic variant in COL4A2 associated with a prenatal diagnosis of severe cerebral encephalomalacia and subdural hemorrhage. Methods Whole exome sequencing (WES) was applied to screen potential genetic causes. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to predict the pathogenicity of the variant. In in vitro experiment, the minigene assays were performed to assess the variant’s effect. Results In this proband, we observed ventriculomegaly, subdural hemorrhage, and extensive encephalomalacia that initially suggested cerebral hypoxic-ischemic and/or hemorrhagic lesions. WES identified a de novo heterozygous variant c.549 + 5G > A in COL4A2 gene. This novel variant leads to the skipping of exon 8, which induces the loss of 24 native amino acids, resulting in a shortened COL4A2 protein (p.Pro161_Gly184del). Conclusion Our study demonstrated that c.549 + 5G > A in COL4A2 gene is a disease-causing variant by aberrant splicing. This finding enriches the variant spectrum of COL4A2 gene, which not only improves the understanding of the fetal neurological disorders associated with hypoxic-ischemic and hemorrhagic lesions from a clinical perspective but also provides guidance on genetic diagnosis and counseling.

Abstract Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has been widely used to reveal the structures of proteins at atomic resolution. One key challenge is that almost all proteins are predominantly adsorbed to the air-water interface during standard cryo-EM specimen preparation. The interaction of proteins with air-water interface will significantly impede the success of reconstruction and achievable resolution. Here, we highlight the critical role of impenetrable surfactant monolayers in passivating the air-water interface problems, and develop a robust effective method for high-resolution cryo-EM analysis, by using the superstructure GSAMs which comprises surfactant self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and graphene membrane. The GSAMs works well in enriching the orientations and improving particle utilization ratio of multiple proteins, facilitating the 3.3-Å resolution reconstruction of a 100-kDa protein complex (ACE2-RBD), which shows strong preferential orientation using traditional specimen preparation protocol. Additionally, we demonstrate that GSAMs enables the successful determinations of small proteins (

Abstract 3-dB couplers, which are commonly used in photonic integrated circuits for on-chip information processing, precision measurement, and quantum computing, face challenges in achieving robust performance due to their limited 3-dB bandwidths and sensitivity to fabrication errors. To address this, we introduce topological physics to nanophotonics, developing a framework for topological 3-dB couplers. These couplers exhibit broad working wavelength range and robustness against fabrication dimensional errors. By leveraging valley-Hall topology and mirror symmetry, the photonic-crystal-slab couplers achieve ideal 3-dB splitting characterized by a wavelength-insensitive scattering matrix. Tolerance analysis confirms the superiority on broad bandwidth of 48 nm and robust splitting against dimensional errors of 20 nm. We further propose a topological interferometer for on-chip distance measurement, which also exhibits robustness against dimensional errors. This extension of topological principles to the fields of interferometers, may open up new possibilities for constructing robust wavelength division multiplexing, temperature-drift-insensitive sensing, and optical coherence tomography applications.

Abstract To detect the contaminate of faucets in hospitals and the splash during hand washing, and to explore the reasonable layout of hand washing pools. Two faucets with roughly the same spatial layout in the ICU of a third-class first-class general hospital were selected, and the farthest splashing distance and specific splashing points were measured by color paper. Samples were detected by ATP detection technology and routine microbial detection method, and the contaminate of faucets was analyzed. After 72 h of daily hand-washing activities, the furthest distance to the splash point was about 100 cm around the faucet, and the place 40–110 cm around the faucet was contaminated seriously. The farthest distance that the splash point reached was about 80 cm around the faucet with the center of the circle, and the area 40–60 cm around the faucet was heavily contaminated. The distance from the water outlet of the long handle and the short handle faucet to the detection point had a high negative correlation (r = − 0.811, P

Background Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS), a rare autosomal recessive liver condition, is caused by biallelic loss-of-function mutations of the ABCC2 gene. This study aimed to investigate genetic variations in the drug efflux transporter ABCC2 (MRP2) gene in patients with DJS and to characterise the expression and mechanism of the ABCC2 gene variant.Methods Trio whole exome sequencing was performed in the family to identify the genetic causes. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to assess pathogenicity. In in vitro experiments, site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce ABCC2 variants in constructs then expressed in HEK293T, HuH-7 and HepG2 cell lines. The expression of total and cell membrane MRP2 was quantified in cells expressing the wild-type or variant forms. Chloroquine and MG132 were used to evaluate the effects of p.R393W on lysosomal and/or proteasomal degradation.Results The twin probands carry DJS-associated variants c.1177C>T (rs777902199) in the ABCC2 gene inherited from the father and the c.3632T>C mutation in the other allele inherited from the mother. The ABCC2 variant, c.1177C>T, results in a p.R393W substitution in MRP2 that is highly conserved among vertebrates, drastically decreasing the expression of mutant protein by promoting proteasomal degradation. Another variant c.3632T>C results in a p.L1211P substitution in MRP2, decreasing the expression of membrane MRP2 but not changing the expression of total protein.Conclusion These results strongly suggest that the p.R393W variant affects the stability of the MRP2 protein and decreases its expression by ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation, and the p.L1211P decreases the expression of membrane MRP2, indicating that these two variants, respectively, cause a loss-of-function of the MRP2 protein and membrane MRP2 ultimately leading to DJS development.

Abstract In eukaryotes, the dynamic assembly of microtubules (MT) plays an important role in numerous cellular processes. The underlying mechanism of GTP triggering MT assembly is still unknown. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of tubulin heterodimer at their GTP- and GDP-bound states, intermediate assembly states of GTP-tubulin, and final assembly stages of MT. Both GTP- and GDP-tubulin heterodimers adopt similar curved conformations with subtle flexibility differences. In head-to-tail oligomers of tubulin heterodimers, the inter-dimer interface of GDP-tubulin exhibits greater flexibility, particularly in tangential bending. Cryo-EM of the intermediate assembly states reveals two types of tubulin lateral contacts, “Tube-bond” and “MT-bond”. Further, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show that GTP triggers lateral contact formation in MT assembly in multiple sequential steps, gradually straightening the curved tubulin heterodimers. Therefore, we propose a flexible model of GTP-initiated MT assembly, including the formation of longitudinal and lateral contacts, to explain the nucleation and assembly of MT.

Fluoride induced reprotoxicity through oxidative stress-mediated reproductive cell death. Hence, the current study evaluated the importance of the MST/Nrf2/MAPK/NQO-HO1 signaling pathway in fluorosis-induced reproductive toxicity. For this purpose, the reproductive toxicity of sodium fluoride (NaF) at physiological, biochemical, and intracellular levels was evaluated. In-vivo, NaF at 100 mg/L instigated physiological dysfunction, morphological, stereological, and structural injuries in the gut-gonadal axis of fluorosis mice through weakening the antioxidant signaling, Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1signaling pathway, causing the gut-gonadal barrier disintegrated via oxidative stress-induced inflammation, mitochondrial damage, apoptosis, and autophagy. Similar trends were also observed in-vitro in the isolated Leydig cells (LCs) challenging with 20 mg/L NaF. Henceforth, activating the cellular antioxidant signaling pathway, Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1, inactivating autophagy and apoptosis, or attenuating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can be the theoretical basis and valuable therapeutic targets for coping with NaF-induced reproductive toxicity.

Abstract Background Patients with a 5‐year recurrence‐free survival post liver resection for colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) are considered to be potentially cured. However, there is a deficit of data on long‐term follow‐up and the recurrence status among these patients in the Chinese population. We analyzed real‐world follow‐up data of patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy, explored the recurrence patterns, and established a prediction model for a potential cure scenario. Methods Patients who underwent radical hepatic resection for CRLM during 2000–2016, with actual follow‐up data for at least 5 years, were enrolled. The observed survival rate was calculated and compared among the groups with different recurrence patterns. The predictive factors for 5‐year non‐recurrence were determined using logistic regression analysis; a recurrence‐free survival model was developed to predict long‐term survival. Results A total of 433 patients were included, of whom 113 patients were found non‐recurrence after 5 years follow‐up, with a potential cure rate of 26.1%. Patients with late recurrence (>5 months) and lung relapse showed significantly superior survival. Repeated localized treatment significantly improved the long‐term survival of patients with intrahepatic or extrahepatic recurrences. Multivariate analysis showed that RAS wild‐type CRC, preoperative CEA

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and play a vital role during the process of plant sexual reproduction. In this study, we performed a comprehensive identification of the PbrAGPs expressed in pear pollen and further explored their influences on pollen tube growth. Among the 187 PbrAGPs that were found to be expressed in pear pollen tubes, 38 PbrAGPs were specifically expressed in pollen according to the RNA-seq data. The PbrAGPs were divided into two groups of highly expressed and specifically expressed in pear pollen. We further tested their expression patterns using RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. Most of the PbrAGPs were expressed in multiple tissues and their expression levels were consistent with reads per kilobase per million map reads (RPKM) values during pollen tube growth, implying that PbrAGPs might be involved in the regulation of pear pollen tube growth. We also constructed phylogenetic trees to identify the functional genes in pear pollen tube growth. Therefore, 19 PbrAGPs (PbrAGP1 to PbrAGP19) were selected to test their influences on pollen tube growth. Recombinant proteins of the 19 PbrAGP-His were purified and used to treat pear pollen, and 11 of the PbrAGP-His recombinant proteins could promote pear pollen tube growth. Additionally, pollen tube growth was inhibited when the expression levels of PbrAGP1 and PbrAGP5 were knocked down using an antisense oligonucleotide assay. PbrAGP1 and PbrAGP5 were localized in the plasma membrane and might not alter the distribution of pectin in the pollen tube. In summary, this study identified the PbrAGPs expressed in pear pollen and lays the foundation for further exploring their functions in pollen tube growth.

Air-water interface and preferential orientation problems are crucial challenges in cryo-EM specimen preparation. Here, the authors utilize graphene-coated EM grids functionalized by salts with various electrostatic properties, successfully overcoming preferred orientation.

Purpose: The incidence of early-onset CRC is increasing. However, the effect of age of onset on the long-term outcome of colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the age of onset and the oncological outcome of CRLM patients and to investigate whether the prognostic role of RAS mutation is altered with age. Methods: We retrospectively investigated consecutive patients at our institution who underwent initial liver resection between 2006 and 2020. The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method was used to balance the confounders among early- (≤45 years; EOCRLM), intermediate- (46–70 years; IOCRLM), and late-onset (>70 years; LOCRLM) groups. The prognostic role of RAS was assessed based on age group. Results: A total of 1189 patients were enrolled: 162 in the EOCRLM group, 930 in the IOCRLM group, and 97 in the LOCRLM group. No difference in disease-free survival (DFS) was found between the three groups. However, EOCRLM were more likely to develop extrahepatic and extrapulmonary metastasis and had significantly lower five-year OS rates than IOCRLM. After IPTW, EOCRLM remained a negative prognostic predictor. RAS mutations were significantly associated with worse survival than wild-type RAS in EOCRLM and IOCRLM. However, RAS mutation did not predict the prognosis of patients with LOCRLM. Conclusions: Patients with EOCRLM had a significantly lower OS than IOCRLM patients and age influences the prognostic power of RAS status. These findings may be helpful for doctors to guide the clinical treatments and develop follow-up strategies.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of the thoracolumbar interfascial block (TLIPB) in percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP), and to confirm that the TLIPB further minimizes perioperative pain and residual back pain on the basis of local anesthesia.MethodFrom April 2021 to May 2022, 60 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were included in this prospective randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to a local anesthesia group (A group) or a TLIPB on the basis of local anesthesia group (A + TLIPB group) before PKP. Pain level (visual analog scale, VAS), amount of analgesic rescue drugs (parecoxib), operative time, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and complications were assessed and compared between the two groups.ResultsCompared with the A group, VAS scores were lower in the A + TLIPB group, respectively, when the trocar punctured the vertebral body (7.4 ± 0.7 vs. 4.5 ± 0.9; P

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (FOC), poses a serious threat to cucumber productivity. Compared to traditional chemical pesticides, biological control strategies have attracted more attention recently owing to their effectiveness against pathogens and their environmental safety. This study investigated the effect of white rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus P5 on the production of cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B2 and the potential co-culture filtrate of strains B2 and P5 to control cucumber Fusarium wilt. A PCR amplification of CLP genes revealed that B. amyloliquefaciens B2 had two antibiotic biosynthesis genes, namely, ituA and srf, which are involved in iturin A and surfactin synthesis. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) revealed that CLPs derived from strain B2 contained two families, iturin A (C14, C15) and surfactin (C12–C17). The co-culture exhibited an enhanced accumulation of iturin A and surfactin compared to the monoculture of strain B2. Furthermore, the gene expressions of ituA and srf were both significantly upregulated when co-cultured with the fungus compared to monocultures. In an in vitro experiment, the co-culture filtrate and monoculture filtrate of B. amyloliquefaciens B2 inhibited mycelial growth by 48.2% and 33.2%, respectively. In a greenhouse experiment, the co-culture filtrate was superior to the monoculture filtrate in controlling cucumber Fusarium wilt disease and in the promotion of plant growth. Co-culture filtrate treatment significantly enhanced the microbial metabolic activity and decreased the abundance of FOC in the rhizosphere soil. These results show that the co-culture of P. ostreatus P5 and B. amyloliquefaciens B2 has great potential in cucumber Fusarium wilt disease prevention by enhancing the production of bacterial CLPs.

Abstract Background Patients with salt-sensitive hypertension are often accompanied with severe renal damage and accelerate to end-stage renal disease, which currently lacks effective treatment. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been shown to suppress nephropathy in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mice. Here, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of FGF21 in salt-sensitive hypertension-induced nephropathy. Methods Changes of FGF21 expression in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced hypertensive mice were detected. The influence of FGF21 knockout in mice on DOCA-salt-induced nephropathy were determined. Recombinant human FGF21 (rhFGF21) was intraperitoneally injected into DOCA-salt-induced nephropathy mice, and then the inflammatory factors, oxidative stress levels and kidney injury-related indicators were observed. In vitro, human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were challenged by palmitate acid (PA) with or without FGF21, and then changes in inflammation and oxidative stress indicators were tested. Results We observed significant elevation in circulating levels and renal expression of FGF21 in DOCA-salt-induced hypertensive mice. We found that deletion of FGF21 in mice aggravated DOCA-salt-induced nephropathy. Supplementation with rhFGF21 reversed DOCA-salt-induced kidney injury. Mechanically, rhFGF21 induced AMPK activation in DOCA-salt-treated mice and PA-stimulated HK-2 cells, which inhibited NF-κB-regulated inflammation and Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress and thus, is important for rhFGF21 protection against DOCA-salt-induced nephropathy. Conclusion These findings indicated that rhFGF21 could be a promising pharmacological strategy for the treatment of salt-sensitive hypertension-induced nephropathy.

Anagrelide, nauclefine and DNMDP induce apoptosis by forming complexes with phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) and Schlafen 12 protein (SLFN12). Here, the authors present the cryo-EM structures of PDE3A-SLFN12 complexes with these compounds as molecular glues. Based on the complex structure, they developed an anagrelide analog that shows a higher potency in inducing apoptosis in cultured cells and also promotes tumor growth inhibition in tumor xenografts, which is of interest for cancer drug development.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to verify whether the prognostic value of primary tumor location (PTL) for patients undergoing resection for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is affected by tumor burden.MethodsPatients who underwent a first curative-intent surgery for CRLM from 2006 to 2017 were enrolled. The imaging tumor burden score (TBS) was calculated as TBS2 = (maximum tumor diameter in cm)2 + (number of lesions)2. Then, the prognostic role of PTL was assessed in different TBS zones.ResultsThe patient population consisted of 524 left-sided (LS) and 118 right-sided (RS) primary tumors. The distribution of TBS in the patient cohort was: Zone1: TBS

To investigate the effect of estrogen deficiency on the small intestinal mucosal barrier induced by fluoride (F), F exposure models of ovariectomy (OVX) rats (surgically removed ovaries) and non-OVX rats (normal condition) were established by adding sodium fluoride (NaF) (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/L, calculated by F ion) in drinking water for 90 days. The intestinal mucosal histomorphology, mucosal barrier function, and protein expression levels of tight junctions (TJs), adhesion junctions (AJs), and desmosomes were evaluated in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and 5-Bromo-2-deoxyUridine (BrdU) measurement showed that excessive F-induced damage to intestinal epithelial cells and inhibited the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells, eventually decreasing the number of goblet cells and decreasing glycoprotein secretion, as indicated by Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Further immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that excessive F decreased the protein expression levels of occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), E-cadherin, and desmoplakin (P

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a fatal inflammation with no effective treatment. Salidroside, a monomer isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Rhodiola, has been shown cytoprotective roles in many inflammation-related diseases. However, whether salidroside plays a protective role in an acute inflammation like SAP in mice is unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the pancreatic protection of salidroside. The results showed that salidroside attenuated caerulein with the LPS-induced pancreatic injury in a mouse model of SAP. Also, we found that salidroside ameliorated oxidative stress and inflammation responses in SAP mice. Furthermore, SAP mice treated with salidroside were associated with higher phosphorylation levels of Nrf2 and less nuclear accumulation of NF-κB p65. We further found that depletion of Nrf2 weakened the protective effect of salidroside in SAP mice. Collectively, salidroside mediated anti-oxidant stress and anti-inflammation in SAP mice partially through the Nrf2/NF-κB p65 pathway.

TCP proteins are plant-specific transcription factors, which are involved in a broad range of physiological processes of plant growth and development. However, the origin and evolutionary history of this gene family is not fully resolved. Here, we present a genome-wide survey of TCP genes in 59 species (including 42 genomes and 17 transcriptomes) covering all main lineages of green plants, and reconstruct the evolutionary history of this gene family. Our results suggested that the origin of TCP genes predated the emergence of land plants, possibly in the common ancestor of Phragmoplastophyta. The TCP gene family gradually experienced a continuous expansion and grew from a few members in algae, moss and lycophytes to dozens, and sometimes over 50 members in angiosperms. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that at least four subclades (Class I and three subclades of Class II) have been occurred in the ancestor of spermatophyte (seed plant). Both dispersed duplication and segmental duplication or whole-genome duplication (WGD) contributed significantly to the expansion of the TCP gene family over the course of evolution. Our findings provide a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the TCP gene family and highlight the importance of gene duplications in the evolution of this plant-specific transcription factors.

Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) are essential for mammalian health, development and growth. However, most mammals, including humans, are incapable of synthesizing n-6 and n-3 HUFAs. Fish can convert C18 unsaturated fatty acids into n-6 and n-3 HUFAs via fatty acid desaturase (Fads), in which Fads2 is a key enzyme in HUFA biosynthesis. The allo-tetraploid common carp theoretically encode two duplicated fads2 genes. The expression patterns and desaturase functions of these two homologous genes are still unknown. In this study, the full length of the fads2a and fads2b were identified in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Expression analyses indicate that both genes were mainly expressed in the liver and the expression of fads2b is higher than fads2a at different developmental stages in carp embryos. Heterogenous expression and 3D docking analyses suggested that Fads2b demonstrated stronger ∆6 and ∆5 desaturase activities than Fads2a. The core promotor regions of fads2a and fads2b were characterized and found to have different potential transcriptional binding sites. These results revealed the same desaturase functions, but different activities of two homologues of fasd2 genes in common carp. The data showed that fads2b played a more important role in HUFA synthesis through both expression and functional analyses.

Abstract Background Local treatment remains the best option for recurrent colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). The current study aimed to investigate predictive factors of survival outcomes and select candidates for local treatment for CRLM at first recurrence. Methods Data were collected retrospectively from CRLM patients who underwent hepatic resection and developed first recurrence between 2000 and 2019 at our institution. A nomogram predicting overall survival was established based on a multivariable Cox model of clinicopathologic factors. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were determined by the concordance index and calibration curve. Results Among 867 patients who underwent curative hepatic resection, 549 patients developed recurrence. Three hundred patients were evaluated and had resectable and liver-limited disease. Among them, repeat liver resection and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation were performed in 88 and 85 patients, respectively. The other 127 patients received only systemic chemotherapy. Multivariable analysis identified primary lymph node positivity, tumor size > 3 cm, early recurrence, RAS gene mutation and no local treatment as independent risk factors for survival outcomes. Integrating these five variables, the nomogram presented a good concordance index of 0.707. Compared with patients who received only systemic chemotherapy, radical local treatment did not significantly improve survival outcomes (median OS: 21 vs. 15 months, p = 0.126) in the high-risk group (total score ≥ 13). Conclusion Radical local treatment improved the survival of recurrent CRLM patients. The proposed model facilitates personalized assessments of prognosis for patients who develop first recurrence in the liver.

Abstract The revolutionary improvement of hardware and algorithm in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo‐EM) has made it a routine method to obtain structures of macromolecules at near‐atomic resolution. Nevertheless, this technique still faces many challenges. The structure‐solving efficiency of cryo‐EM can be significantly reduced by the biomolecules' denaturation on the air–water interfaces, the preferred orientation, strong background noise from supporting films and particle motion, and so forth. To overcome these problems, nanomaterials with ultrahigh electronic conductivity and ultrathin thickness are explored as promising cryo‐EM specimen supporting films. Herein, we summarize the structural engineering of graphene, for example, surface and interface modification, as supporting films for grids and the application on high‐resolution cryo‐EM and discuss potential future perspectives.

Abstract Background The exploration of genomic alterations in Chinese colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is limited, and corresponding genetic biomarkers for patient’s perioperative management are still lacking. This study aims to understand genome diversification and complexity that developed in CRLM. Methods A custom-designed IDT capture panel including 620 genes was performed in the Chinese CRLM cohort, which included 396 tumor samples from metastatic liver lesions together with 133 available paired primary tumors. Results In this Chinese CRLM cohort, the top-ranked recurrent mutated genes were TP53 (324/396, 82%), APC (302/396, 76%), KRAS (166/396, 42%), SMAD4 (54/396, 14%), FLG (52/396, 13%) and FBXW7 (43/396, 11%). A comparison of CRLM samples derived from left- and right-sided primary lesions confirmed that the difference in survival for patients with different primary tumor sites could be driven by variations in the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and RAS signaling pathways. Certain genes had a higher variant rate in samples with metachronous CRLM than in samples with simultaneous metastasis. Overall, the metastasis and primary tumor samples displayed highly consistent genomic alterations, but there were some differences between individually paired metastases and primary tumors, which were mainly caused by copy number variations. Conclusion We provide a comprehensive depiction of the genomic alterations in Chinese patients with CRLM, providing a fundamental basis for further personalized therapy applications.

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a pandemic disease caused by the newly emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused more than 3.8 million deaths to date. Neutralizing antibodies are effective therapeutic measures. However, many naturally occurring mutations at the receptor-binding domain (RBD) have emerged, and some of them can evade existing neutralizing antibodies. Here, we utilized RenMab, a novel mouse carrying the entire human antibody variable region, for neutralizing antibody discovery. We obtained several potent RBD-blocking antibodies and categorized them into four distinct groups by epitope mapping. We determined the involved residues of the epitope of three representative antibodies by cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) studies. Moreover, we performed neutralizing experiments with 50 variant strains with single or combined mutations and found that the mixing of three epitope-distinct antibodies almost eliminated the mutant escape. Our study provides a sound basis for the rational design of fully human antibody cocktails against SARS-CoV-2 and pre-emergent coronaviral threats.

Aims: The use of 3D-printed titanium implant (DT) can effectively guide bone regeneration. DT triggers a continuous host immune reaction, including macrophage type 1 polarization, that resists osseointegration. Interleukin 4 (IL4) is a specific cytokine modulating osteogenic capability that switches macrophage polarization type 1 to type 2, and this switch favours bone regeneration. Methods: IL4 at concentrations of 0, 30, and 100 ng/ml was used at day 3 to create a biomimetic environment for bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell (BMMSC) osteogenesis and macrophage polarization on the DT. The osteogenic and immune responses of BMMSCs and macrophages were evaluated respectively. Results: DT plus 30 ng/ml of IL4 (DT + 30 IL4) from day 3 to day 7 significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced macrophage type 2 polarization and BMMSC osteogenesis compared with the other groups. Local injection of IL4 enhanced new bone formation surrounding the DT. Conclusion: DT + 30 IL4 may switch macrophage polarization at the appropriate timepoints to promote bone regeneration.

Abstract Background En bloc right hemicolectomy with pancreatoduodenectomy (RHCPD) is the optimum treatment to achieve the adequate margin of resection (R0) for locally advanced right-sided colon cancer with duodenal invasion. Information regarding the indications and outcomes of this procedure is limited. Method In this retrospective study, 2269 patients with right colon cancer underwent radical right colectomy between October 2010 and May 2019, in which 19 patients underwent RHCPD for LARCC were identified. The overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), operative mortality, postsurgical complications, gene mutational analysis, and prognostic factors were evaluated. Survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meir method. Results Of these 19 patients who underwent LARCC, the OS was 88%, 66%, and 58% at 1, 3, and 5 years. The DFS was 72%, 56%, and 56% at 1, 3, and 5 years. The median operative time was 320 min (range: 222–410 min), and the median operative blood loss was 268 mL (range: 100–600 mL). The OS was significantly better among patients with well-differentiated tumor, N0 stage, and high microsatellite instability (MSI) and in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy. The major postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients (42%), with pancreatic fistula (PF) being the most common. On the basis of the univariate analysis, poorly differentiated tumor, regional lymph node dissemination, MSI status, and no perioperative chemotherapy were the significant predictors of poor survival (P

Abstract. Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease that is often accompanied by obesity. An increasing amount of research has elucidated the pathophysiological link between psoriasis and obesity. Since 2005, interleukin (IL)-17-producing T helper 17 cells and their main effector cytokine IL-17A have been considered to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis; the marked effect of biotherapies targeting IL-17A on moderate and severe psoriasis has further established its role in psoriasis. Recent studies have found that obesity induces T helper 17 cells to secrete IL-17A and participate in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. IL-17A may be a crucial element in the association between psoriasis and obesity. This review discusses the association between psoriasis and obesity, with a focus on and the implications regarding the need to treat psoriasis.

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are the most widely used insecticides in the world and pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems. The combined use of free-floating aquatic plants and associated microorganisms has a tremendous potential for remediating water contaminated by pesticides. The aim of this study was to determine whether plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) could enhance the phytoremediation efficiency of duckweed (Lemna aequinoctialis) in NEO-contaminated water. A total of 18 different bacteria were isolated from pesticide-stressed agricultural soil. One of the isolates, Pseudomonas monteilii FC02, exhibited an excellent ability to promote duckweed growth and was selected for the NEO removal experiment. The influence of strain FC02 inoculation on the accumulation of three typical NEOs (dinotefuran, thiacloprid, and imidaclothiz) in plant tissues, the removal efficiency in water, and plant growth parameters were evaluated during the 14-day experimental period. The results showed that strain FC02 inoculation significantly (p

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are vesicle-like substances released by eukaryotic cells. Based on their origin and size, EVs are mainly divided into exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies, and they are secreted by eukaryotic cells under physiological and pathological conditions. EVs are enriched with nucleic acids, proteins and other factors. EVs can regulate the function of adjacent and distant cells, and they are even involved in the pathogenesis of diseases. They contain proteins associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as the α-synuclein (α-syn) and tau proteins, which suggest potential roles for EVs as biomarkers and carriers of drugs and other therapeutic molecules that can cross the blood–brain barrier to treat NDs. In this review, we summarized the function of EVs in the pathogenesis of different NDs and related advances in EVs as diagnostic biomarkers and treatments for diseases.

In boreal and arctic regions, forest fires exert great influences on biogeochemical processes, hydrothermal dynamics of the active layer and near-surface permafrost, and subsequent nutrient cycles. In this article, the studies on impacts of forest fires on the permafrost environment are reviewed. These studies indicate that forest fires could result in an irreversible degradation of permafrost, successions of boreal forests, rapid losses of soil carbon stock, and increased hazardous periglacial landforms. After forest fires, soil temperatures rise; active layer thickens; the release of soil carbon and nitrogen enhances, and; vegetation changes from coniferous forests to broad-leaved forests, shrublands or grasslands. It may take decades or even centuries for the fire-disturbed ecosystems and permafrost environment to return to pre-fire conditions, if ever possible. In boreal forest, the thickness of organic layer has a key influence on changes in permafrost and vegetation. In addition, climate warming, change of vegetation, shortening of fire return intervals, and extent of fire range and increasing of fire severity may all modify the change trajectory of the fire-impacted permafrost environment. However, the observations and research on the relationships and interactive mechanisms among the forest fires, vegetation, carbon cycle and permafrost under a changing climate are still inadequate for a systematic impact evaluation. Using the chronosequence approach of evaluating the temporal changes by measuring changes in the permafrost environment at different stages at various sites (possibly representing varied stages of permafrost degradation and modes), multi-source data assimilation and model predictions and simulations should be integrated with the results from long- and short-term field investigations, geophysical investigations and airborne surveys, laboratory testing and remote sensing. Future studies may enable quantitatively assess and predict the feed-back relationship and influence mechanism among organic layer, permafrost and active layer processes, vegetation and soil carbon under a warming climate at desired spatial and temporal scales. The irreversible changes in the boreal and artic forest ecosystem and their ecological and hydrothermal thresholds, such as those induced by forest fires, should be better and systematically studied.

Eimeria tenella is an obligate intracellular parasite of the chicken cecum; it brings huge economic loss to the chicken industry. Enolase is a multifunctional glycolytic enzyme involved in many processes of parasites, such as infection and migration. In this study, the effect of diclazuril on the expression of enolase in second-generation merozoites of E. tenella (EtENO) was reported. The prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-28a-EtENO was constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Then, it was subjected to expression under the induction of isopropyl-β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside. The expressed products were identified and purified. The purified EtENO protein was used for antibody preparation. The EtENO mRNA and protein expression levels were analyzed via real-time PCR and Western blotting. Localization of EtENO on the merozoites was examined by immunofluorescence technique. The mRNA and protein expression levels of EtENO were decreased by 36.3 and 40.36%, respectively, by diclazuril treatment. EtENO distributed in the surface, cytoplasm, and nucleus of the infected/control group. With diclazuril treatment, it was significantly reduced in the surface and cytoplasm and even disappeared in the nucleus of the infected/diclazuril group. These observations suggested that EtENO may play an important role in mechanism of diclazuril anticoccidial action and be a potential drug target for the intervention with E. tenella infection.

Abstract Background Few studies have focused on the role of hepatectomy for colorectal liver-limited metastases in elderly patients compared to matched younger patients. Methods From January 2000 to December 2018, 724 patients underwent hepatectomy for colorectal liver-limited metastases. Based on a 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) model, 64 elderly patients (≥ 70 years of age) were matched to 128 younger patients ( 0.05). Old age was not an independent factor for DFS, OS, and CSS by Cox multivariate regression analysis (p > 0.05). Conclusions Hepatectomy is safe for colorectal liver-limited metastases in elderly patients, and these patients may subsequently benefit from prolonged DFS, OS, and CSS.

Abstract Background The mortality following pancreaticoduodenectomy has markedly decreased but remains an important challenge for the complexity of operation and technical skills involved. The present study aimed to clarify the impact of individualized pancreaticoenteric anastomosis and management to postoperative pancreatic fistula. Methods Data from 529 consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies were retrospectively analysed from the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit I, Peking Cancer Hospital. The pancreaticoenteric anastomosis was determined based on the pancreatic texture and diameter of the main pancreatic duct. The amylase value of the drainage fluid was dynamically monitored postoperatively on days 3, 5 and 7. A low speed intermittent irrigation was performed in selected patients. Intraoperative and postoperative results were collected and compared between the pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) group and pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) group. Results From 2010 to 2019, 529 consecutive patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Pancreaticogastrostomy was performed in 364 patients; pancreaticojejunostomy was performed in 150 patients respectively. The clinically relevant pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) was 9.8% and mortality was zero. The soft pancreas, diameter of main pancreatic duct≤3 mm, BMI ≥ 25, operation time > 330 min and pancreaticogastrostomy was correlated with postoperative pancreatic fistula significantly. The CR-POPF of PJ was significantly higher than that of PG in soft pancreas patients; the operation time of PJ was shorter than that of PG significantly in hard pancreas patients. Intraoperative blood loss and operation time of PG was less than that of PJ significantly in normal pancreatic duct patients (p

The symbiosis of host and intestinal microbiota constitutes a microecosystem and plays an important role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and regulating the host's immune system. Eimeria tenella, an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite, can cause coccidiosis, a serious intestinal disease. In this study, the effects of E. tenella infection on development parameters (villus height, crypt depth, mucosa thickness, muscularis thickness, and serosa thickness) and microbiota in chicken cecum were investigated. Fourteen-day-old male Hy-Line Variety Brown layer chickens were inoculated with sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. Cecal tissues were collected 7 d after inoculation. Relative density of goblet cells and glycoproteins were determined by Alcian blue periodic acid–Schiff staining and periodic acid–Schiff staining, respectively. Intestinal development parameters were also evaluated. Cecal contents were extracted, and the composition of cecal microflora was examined by Illumine sequencing in the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Results indicated that E. tenella infection destroyed the structure of cecal tissue and reduced the relative density of goblet cells and glycoproteins. Sequencing analysis indicated that E. tenella infection altered the diversity and composition of cecal microbiota. The populations of Proteobacteria, Enterococcus, Incertae, and Escherichia–Shigella decreased, and those of Bacteroidales and Rikenella significantly increased in the infected group compared with those in the control group. Hence, the pathological damage caused by E. tenella infection is associated with cecal microbiota dysbiosis, and this finding may be used to develop an alternative measure for alleviating the effect of coccidiosis on the poultry industry.

Abstract Background The present study aimed to compare the perioperative safety and long-term survival of patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases undergoing sequential resection (SeR), delayed resection (DeR) and simultaneous resection (SiR). Methods From January 2007 to December 2016, data from patients undergoing surgery at Peking University Cancer Hospital for synchronous colorectal liver metastases were retrospectively collected. The above three different surgical strategies were compared. Results A total of 233 cases were included, with 49 in the SeR group, 98 in the DeR group and 86 in the SiR group. The incidence of severe complications was 26.7% in the SiR group, higher than that in the DeR group (11.2%, P = 0.007) and the SeR group (16.3%, P = 0.166). The overall survival at 1 and 3 years in the SeR group (93.9 and 50.1%) was lower than that in the DeR group (94.9 and 64.8%, P = 0.019), but not significantly different from that in the SiR group (93.0 and 55.2%, P = 0.378). Recurrence-free survival at 1 and 3 years in the SeR group (22.4 and 18.4%) was lower than that in the DeR group (43.9 and 24.2%, P = 0.033) but not significantly different from that in the SiR group (31.4 and 19.6%, P = 0.275). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that T4, lymph node-positive primary tumour, liver metastases > 30 mm and SiR (compared with DeR) were correlated with poor prognosis. Conclusion Simultaneous resection has a relatively higher incidence of severe complications, and with a staged resection strategy, the prognosis of delayed resection was better than that of sequential resection.

High-resolution electron microscopy requires robust and noise-free substrates to support the specimens. Here, the authors present a polymer- and transfer-free direct-etching method for fabrication of graphene grids with ultraclean surfaces and demonstrate cryo-EM at record high resolution.

Background Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains an increasing public health problem with substantial morbidity and mortality but with few effective treatments. A novel inflammatory mechanism has been proposed, but the inflammatory signals promoting the development of HFpEF remain greatly unknown. Methods and Results Serum of patients with HFpEF was collected for measurement of circulating neutrophils and markers of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). To induce HFpEF phenotype, male C57BL/6 mice underwent uninephrectomy, received a continuous infusion of d‐aldosterone for 4 weeks, and maintained on 1.0% sodium chloride drinking water. Heart tissues were harvested, immune cell types determined by flow cytometry, NETs formation by immunofluorescence, and western blotting. Differentiated neutrophils were cultured to investigate the effect of HMGB1 (high mobility group protein B1) and SGLT2 (sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2) inhibitor on NETs formation in vitro. Circulating neutrophils and NETs markers are elevated in patients with HFpEF, as are cardiac neutrophils and NETs formation in HFpEF mice. NETs inhibition with deoxyribonuclease 1 in experimental HFpEF mice reduces heart macrophages infiltration and inflammation and ameliorates cardiac fibrosis and diastolic function. Damage‐associated molecular pattern HMGB1 expression is elevated in cardiac tissue of HFpEF mice, and HMGB1 inhibition reduces heart neutrophil infiltration and NETs formation and ameliorates diastolic function. Lastly, SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin down‐regulates heart HMGB1 expression, attenuates NETs formation and cardiac fibrosis, and improves diastolic function in HFpEF mice. Conclusions NETs contribute to the pathogenesis of HFpEF, which can be ameliorated by HMGB1 inhibition and SGLT2 inhibitors. Thus, HMGB1 and NETs may represent novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of HFpEF.

Abstract Dermatologists should be aware that the clinical manifestations of syphilis are very complex and changeable. Unilaterally distributed skin lesions and painless lip ulcers may also be the clinical manifestations of secondary syphilis.

Most diploid freshwater and marine fish encode one elovl5 elongase, having substrate specificity and activities towards C18, C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The allo-tetraploid common carp is hypothesized to encode two duplicated elovl5 genes. How these two elovl5 genes adapt to coordinate the PUFA biosynthesis through elongase function and expression divergence requires elucidation. In this study, we obtained the full-length cDNA sequences of two elovl5 genes in common carp, named as elovl5a and elovl5b. Functional characterization showed that both enzymes had elongase activity towards C18, C20 and C22 PUFAs. Especially, the activities of these two enzymes towards C22 PUFAs ranged from 3.87% to 8.24%, higher than those in most freshwater and marine fish. The Elovl5a had higher elongase activities than Elovl5b towards seven substrates. The spatial-temporal expression showed that both genes co-transcribed in all tissues and development stages. However, the expression levels of elovl5b were significantly higher than those of elovl5a in all examined conditions, suggesting that elovl5b would be the dominantly expressed gene. These two genes had different potential transcriptional binding sites. These results revealed the complicated roles of elovl5 on PUFA synthesis in common carp. The data also increased the knowledge of co-ordination between two homoeologs of the polyploid fish through function and expression divergence.

A founding principle of structural biology is that, once researchers can directly observe macromolecules at sufficient resolution, it should be possible to understand how their 3D structures confer their biological functions. In two studies published concurrently in the October 2020 issue of the journal Nature, Yip et al. [1] and Nakane et al. [2] reported the sharpest images yet obtained by using single-particle cryo-EM, enabling the location of individual atoms in a protein to be determined for the first time. Both teams used improved hardware that broke the previous resolution limitations of cryo-EM imaging. With the development of these technologies, the increased signal-to-noise ratio of cryo-EM images will expand the technique's applicability. Combining these technologies may make it possible to determine biological structures with cryo-EM at a resolution even beyond 1 Å (0.1 nm) — an achievement that was near impossible in the past.①① Original source in Chinese: Hong-Wei Wang, Cryo-EM achieves atomic resolution, Bulletin of National Natural Science Foundation of China. 35 (2) (2021) 245-246.

Molybdenum is a trace element with extremely uneven distribution in the environment. It constitutes the active sites of molybdenum enzymes that can catalyze redox reactions in almost all organisms. In this study, a mouse model with a low molybdenum diet was established to investigate the differential protein expressions in the thymus and the mechanism of molybdenum regulating thymocyte development. Results showed that the thymus evidently atrophied, and the weight and organ index of the thymus substantially decreased under the condition of low molybdenum (P

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) showed several advantages to identify gene functions such as short experimental cycle, more broad hosts, etc. In this study, the feasibility and efficiency of employing Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-based VIGS system to evaluate Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance were explored in wheat. With variable conditions tested, it showed that the maximal silencing efficiency 78% on spike was obtained when the recombinant BSMV was inoculated on flag leaf at flagging stage. However, the plant may reduce its own immunity to FHB when inoculated with BSMV. To induce this impact, different Fusarium graminearum strains were tested and SF06-1 strain was selected for FHB resistance evaluation. Using this system, TaAOC, TaAOS, and TaOPR3 involved in jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway were identified to positively regulate FHB resistance, which was underpinned by the results when silencing TaAOS in wheat by stable transgenic plants.