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Skin serves as the first-order protective barrier against the environment and any significant disruptions in skin integrity must be promptly restored. Despite significant advances in therapeutic strategies, effective management of large chronic skin wounds remains a clinical challenge. Dermal fibroblasts are the primary cell type responsible for remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM) in wound healing. Here, we investigated whether ECM derived from exogenous fibroblasts, in combination with keratinocytes, promoted scarless cutaneous wound healing. To overcome the limited lifespan of primary dermal fibroblasts, we established reversibly immortalized mouse dermal fibroblasts (imDFs), which were non-tumorigenic, expressed dermal fibroblast markers, and were responsive to TGF-β1 stimulation. The decellularized ECM prepared from both imDFs and primary dermal fibroblasts shared similar expression profiles of extracellular matrix proteins and promoted the proliferation of keratinocyte (iKera) cells. The imDFs-derived ECM solicited no local immune response. While the ECM and to a lesser extent imDFs enhanced skin wound healing with excessive fibrosis, a combination of imDFs-derived ECM and iKera cells effectively promoted the re-epithelization and scarless healing of full-thickness skin wounds. These findings strongly suggest that dermal fibroblast-derived ECM, not fibroblasts themselves, may synergize with keratinocytes in regulating scarless healing and re-epithelialization of skin wounds. Given its low immunogenic nature, imDFs-derived ECM should be a valuable resource of skin-specific biomaterial for wound healing and skin tissue engineering.

Recombinant adenovirus (rAdV) is a commonly used vector system for gene transfer. Efficient initial packaging and subsequent production of rAdV remains time-consuming and labor-intensive, possibly attributable to rAdV infection-associated oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Here, we show that exogenous GAPDH expression mitigates adenovirus-induced ROS-associated apoptosis in HEK293 cells, and expedites adenovirus production. By stably overexpressing GAPDH in HEK293 (293G) and 293pTP (293GP) cells, respectively, we demonstrated that rAdV-induced ROS production and cell apoptosis were significantly suppressed in 293G and 293GP cells. Transfection of 293G cells with adenoviral plasmid pAd-G2Luc yielded much higher titers of Ad-G2Luc at day 7 than that in HEK293 cells. Similarly, Ad-G2Luc was amplified more efficiently in 293G than in HEK293 cells. We further showed that transfection of 293GP cells with pAd-G2Luc produced much higher titers of Ad-G2Luc at day 5 than that of 293pTP cells. 293GP cells amplified the Ad-G2Luc much more efficiently than 293pTP cells, indicating that exogenous GAPDH can further augment pTP-enhanced adenovirus production. These results demonstrate that exogenous GAPDH can effectively suppress adenovirus-induced ROS and thus accelerate adenovirus production. Therefore, the engineered 293GP cells represent a superfast rAdV production system for adenovirus-based gene transfer and gene therapy.

In this study, we selected the Basomtso Lake in Xizang, China, as the research object, and utilized 16S rDNA Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology to investigate differences in the composition and structure of bacterial community across different locations and waters within Basomtso Lake. Our aim was to explore the correlation between environmental factors and the bacterial community in Basomtso Lake. Analysis of 16S rDNA gene sequences yielded a total of 5570 valid OTUs. with annotation revealing 88 phyla, 180 classes, 349 orders, 481 families, and 694 genera. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla, while Candidatus_Aquirestis, hgcI_clade, and unidentified_MethylacidipHilaceae were the dominant genera. Redundancy analyses showed that temperature, dissolved oxygen, and biochemical oxygen demand exerted significant effects on changes in the bacterial community structure in the water bodies of the Basomtso Lake. Molecular ecological network analysis showed that Ascomycetes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes as key nodes in the network construction, with 94.5% of edges displaying positive correlations. In summary, the bacterial resources in the Basomtso Lake are rich and diversified, closely related to environmental factors. Interactions among bacterial communities in Basomtso Lake are predominatly synergistic. This study provides an important theoretical foundation for the development and utilization of bacterial diversity in Basomtso Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genistein, a potent antioxidant compound, protects dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. However, the mechanism underlying this action remains unknown. This study investigated human SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing the A53T mutant of α-synuclein. Four groups of cells were assayed: a control group (without any treatment), a genistein group (incubated with 20 μM genistein), a rotenone group (treated with 50 μM rotenone), and a rotenone + genistein group (incubated with 20 μM genistein and then treated with 50 μM rotenone). A lactate dehydrogenase release test confirmed the protective effect of genistein, and genistein remarkably reversed mitochondrial oxidative injury caused by rotenone. Western blot assays showed that BCL-2 and Beclin 1 levels were markedly higher in the genistein group than in the rotenone group. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling revealed that genistein inhibited rotenone-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. Compared with the control group, the expression of NFE2L2 and HMOX1 was significantly increased in the genistein + rotenone group. However, after treatment with estrogen receptor and NFE2L2 channel blockers (ICI-182780 and ML385, respectively), genistein could not elevate NFE2L2 and HMOX1 expression. ICI-182780 effectively prevented genistein-mediated phosphorylation of NFE2L2 and remarkably suppressed phosphorylation of AKT, a protein downstream of the estrogen receptor. These findings confirm that genistein has neuroprotective effects in a cell model of Parkinson's disease. Genistein can reduce oxidative stress damage and cell apoptosis by activating estrogen receptors and NFE2L2 channels.

Objective To preliminarily summarize the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of functional movement disorder (FMD) based on movement disorders clinic in China. Methods and Results A total of 593 patients with movement disorders newly diagnosed in movement disorders clinic of 22 clinical medical centers from August to September in 2023 were included, including 37 patients (6.24%) with FMD and 556 patients (93.76%) with organic movement disorder. Comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of the 2 groups, the proportions of corona virus disease (COVID-19) infection (χ² = 4.217, P = 0.040) and psychopsychological symptoms (χ² = 18.694, P = 0.000) in the FMD group were higher than those in the organic movement disorder group, while age (t = 3.757, P = 0.000), age of onset (t = 3.720, P = 0.000) and proportion of hypertension (χ² = 4.736, P = 0.030) were lower than those in the organic movement disorder group. Comparison of the clinical characteristics of the 2 groups, the FMD group had higher proportions of tremor (χ² = 3.955, P = 0.047) and myoclonus (Fisher's exact probability: P = 0.011) than the organic movement disorder group, and the proportions of parkinsonism (χ² = 8.491, P = 0.004) and gait disorder (χ² = 5.028, P = 0.025) were lower than those in the organic movement disorder group. Conclusions The age and age of onset, as well as the proportions of COVID-19 infection, hypertension, psychopsychological symptoms, tremor, myoclonus, parkinsonism and gait disorder with FMD were different from those with organic movement disorder in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf force to punch strength is one of the important indexes to reflect the mechanical resistance of the leaf, but the final result is affected by the needle diameter and calibration method. To analyze the influence of different punch needle diameters and calibration methods on force to punch measurement, the difference of leaf force to punch of 30 plants with parallel vein monocots and dicots with reticulate veins under different diameters punch needle and their calibrations with functional traits from the campus of Guangxi University were measured. The results were as follows: (1) The force to punch was calibrated based on the needle circumference, cross-section area and leaf thickness. The measured force to punch varied with needle diameter and calibration method. (2) The differences among the leaf force to punch of the three diameters punch needle were different under different calibration methods. Among them, there was no significant difference in the force to using punch needles with different diameters when calibrated by punch needles circumference and needles circumference combining the leaf thickness. When only using leaf thickness for calibration, the thicker the punch needles, the force to punch increased with needle diameters, but it decreased when only using the needle cross-section area or combining the cross-section area with the leaf thickness for calibration. In addition, the leaf force to punch of monocots was significantly higher than that of dicots. (3) As the variation range of force to punch across needle diameter was calculated for each species, the correlation between this variation range and leaf traits differed with calibration methods. Vein type, leaf density, leaf mass per area, cuticle thickness and vein density significantly influenced this range. Overall, needle diameters and calibration methods significantly affect the accuracy of leaf force to punch measurements across plant groups with different venation types. We advise carefully selecting perforation needles and calibration methods for force to punch measurements based on the research questions and studied plant groups. It is suggested that the punch needle with a diameter of 0.5 mm should be applied to the blade with large vein density and small leaf mass per area, but not to the hard leaves; the needle with a diameter of 2 mm should not be applied to the blade with large vein density and small leaf mass per area. It is more reasonable to choose the needle with a diameter of 1 mm and use its circumference for calibration in three diameters.

The aim of this study was to assess changes in the expression levels of relevant factors associated with inflammation after Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) infection and compare the therapeutic effects of Qing Zhi Zhi Ke formula (QZZKF), QZZKF combined with azithromycin (AZM) and AZM on experimental mice. Fifty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: control, model, AZM (0.01 g/kg/day), QZZKF (10.16 g/kg/day), AZM (0.01 g/kg/day) combined with QZZKF (10.16 g/kg/day). QZZKF and AZM were administered by oral gavage every day for five days.Pathological changes in lung tissue were determined by hematoxylin and eosin. The levels of cytokines in lung tissues were assessed by Immunohistochemistry staining and Quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR assays were performed to explore the effects of QZZKF on the expression of surfactant protein A (SP-A), B7 homolog 3 protein (B7-H3), interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-13. The expression levels of B7-H3 and IL-13 were upregulated after MPP infection in the mouse model (P<0.05), while the expressions of SP-A and IL-12 were significantly decreased (P<0.05). After five days of therapy, the protein and mRNA expression levels of B7-H3 and IL-13 decreased, while SP-A and IL-12 increased, in response to QZZKF, QZZKF combined with AZM, and AZM. Statistical differences were detected between QZZKF and AZM, as well as between QZZKF combined with AZM and AZM, and between QZZKF and QZZKF combined with AZM. In conclusion: these results demonstrate that QZZKF combined with AZM exhibited protective effects on airway inflammation and inhibited the progression of MPP better than conventional treatments combined with western medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]