Machine Learning-Based Prediction of In-Stent Restenosis Risk Using Systemic Inflammation Aggregation Index Following Coronary Stent Placement.

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a significant global health challenge, with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) being a primary revascularization method. In-stent restenosis (ISR) post-PCI, although reduced, continues to impact patient outcomes. Inflammation and platelet activation play key roles in ISR development, emphasizing the need for accurate risk assessment tools. The systemic inflammation aggregation index (AISI) has shown promise in predicting adverse outcomes in various conditions but has not been studied in relation to ISR. Methods: A retrospective observational study included 1712 patients post-drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Data collected encompassed demographics, medical history, medication use, laboratory parameters, and angiographic details. AISI, calculated from specific blood cell counts, was evaluated alongside other variables using machine learning models, including random forest, Xgboost, elastic networks, logistic regression, and multilayer perceptron. The optimal model was selected based on performance metrics and further interpreted using variable importance analysis and the SHAP method. Results: Our study revealed that ISR occurred in 25.8% of patients, with a range of demographic and clinical factors influencing the risk of its development. The random forest model emerged as the most adept in predicting ISR, and AISI featured prominently among the top variables affecting ISR prediction. Notably, higher AISI values were positively correlated with an elevated probability of ISR occurrence. Comparative evaluation and visual analysis of model performance, the random forest model demonstrates high reliability in predicting ISR, with specific metrics including an AUC of 0.9569, accuracy of 0.911, sensitivity of 0.855, PPV of 0.81, and NPV of 0.948. Conclusion: AISI demonstrated itself as a significant independent risk factor for ISR following DES implantation, with an escalation in AISI levels indicating a heightened risk of ISR occurrence.

Death associated protein like 1 acts as a novel tumor suppressor in melanoma by increasing the stability of P21 protein.

Melanoma is a primary malignant tumor with high lethality, which occurs in the skin and eye tissues, while the molecular mechanisms of melanomagenesis remain largely unknown. Here, we show that death-associated protein-like 1 (DAPL1) expression is lower in melanoma tissues than in paracancerous tissues or nevus tissues, and Uveal melanoma patients with lower DAPL1 expression have a poorer survival rate than those with higher expression of DAPL1. Overexpression of DAPL1 inhibits proliferation of cultured melanoma cells, whereas knockdown of DAPL1 increases cell proliferation. Tumor transplantation experiment results also demonstrate that DAPL1 inhibits tumorigenesis of melanoma cells both in subretinal and subcutaneous tissues of nude mice in vivo. Finally, DAPL1 inhibits proliferation of melanoma cells by increasing the protein level of P21 via decreasing the ubiquitin mediated degradation of P21 and promoting its stability. Conversely, knockdown of P21 neutralizes the effects of inhibition of DAPL1 on melanoma cell proliferation and enhances the severity of melanoma tumorigenesis. These results suggest that DAPL1 is a novel melanoma tumor suppressor gene and thus a potential therapeutic target for melanoma.

MicroRNA257 promotes secondary growth in hybrid poplar.

Populus, a significant fast-growing tree species with global afforestation and energy potential, holds considerable economic value. The abundant production of secondary xylem by trees, which serves as a vital resource for industrial purposes and human sustenance, necessitates the orchestration of various regulatory mechanisms, encompassing transcriptional regulators and microRNAs (miRNAs). Nevertheless, the investigation of microRNA-mediated regulation of poplar secondary growth remains limited. In this study, we successfully isolated a novel microRNA (Pag-miR257) from 84 K poplar and subsequently integrated it into the 35 S overexpression vector. The overexpression of Pag-miR257 resulted in notable increases in plant height, stem diameter, and fresh weight. Additionally, the overexpression of Pag-miR257 demonstrated a significant enhancement in net photosynthetic rate. The findings from the examination of cell wall autofluorescence indicated a substantial increase in both xylem area and the number of vessels in poplar plants overexpressing Pag-miR257. Furthermore, the cell wall of the Pag-miR257 overexpressing plants exhibited thickening as observed through transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, the Fourier Transforms Infrared (FTIR) analysis and phloroglucinol-HCl staining revealed an elevation in lignin content in Pag-miR257 overexpressing poplar plants. The findings of this study suggest that microRNA257 may play a role in the control of secondary growth in poplar stems, thereby potentially enhancing the development of wood engineering techniques for improved material and energy production.

Analysis of the correlation between the systemic inflammatory response index and the severity of coronary vasculopathy.

This study aims to analyze the correlation between Systemic Inflammatory Response Index (SIRI) and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). It also aims to assess the predictive value of SIRI for the severity of coronary artery stenosis. A total of 2990 patients who underwent coronary angiography were included in this study. The Gensini score was used to estimate the severity of coronary vascular lesions. The predictive ability of SIRI for CHD was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Binary multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to predict the likelihood of CHD based on the SIRI index. The results showed that people with higher SIRI index were more likely to have CHD (P < 0.001). After controlling for other risk factors, the highest quartile had a significantly higher incidence of coronary artery disease compared to the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR] 2.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.73-3.92, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the Gensini score was significantly higher in the fourth quartile group (T4) compared to the first (T1) and second (T2) quartile groups (P < 0.001). Additionally, the SIRI index was significantly higher in the group with severe coronary artery lesions compared to the mild and moderate groups (P < 0.001). The SIRI index also showed a higher predictive ability for the extent of coronary lesions under the ROC curve compared to other commonly used markers, including platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P < 0.001). Therefore, SIRI index positively correlates with coronary artery stenosis in CHD patients, serving as an effective early screening marker for assessing stenosis severity.

A comprehensive workflow for optimizing RNA-seq data analysis.

BACKGROUND: Current RNA-seq analysis software for RNA-seq data tends to use similar parameters across different species without considering species-specific differences. However, the suitability and accuracy of these tools may vary when analyzing data from different species, such as humans, animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. For most laboratory researchers lacking a background in information science, determining how to construct an analysis workflow that meets their specific needs from the array of complex analytical tools available poses a significant challenge. RESULTS: By utilizing RNA-seq data from plants, animals, and fungi, it was observed that different analytical tools demonstrate some variations in performance when applied to different species. A comprehensive experiment was conducted specifically for analyzing plant pathogenic fungal data, focusing on differential gene analysis as the ultimate goal. In this study, 288 pipelines using different tools were applied to analyze five fungal RNA-seq datasets, and the performance of their results was evaluated based on simulation. This led to the establishment of a relatively universal and superior fungal RNA-seq analysis pipeline that can serve as a reference, and certain standards for selecting analysis tools were derived for reference. Additionally, we compared various tools for alternative splicing analysis. The results based on simulated data indicated that rMATS remained the optimal choice, although consideration could be given to supplementing with tools such as SpliceWiz. CONCLUSION: The experimental results demonstrate that, in comparison to the default software parameter configurations, the analysis combination results after tuning can provide more accurate biological insights. It is beneficial to carefully select suitable analysis software based on the data, rather than indiscriminately choosing tools, in order to achieve high-quality analysis results more efficiently.

Early juvenile cataract in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients: a description of two cases.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze and summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment of juvenile patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) complicated by early cataract. CASE PRESENTATION: This retrospective study collected clinical data from 210 children and adolescents newly diagnosed with T1DM who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital (Wuhan) between 2015 and 2022. Among 210 patients with T1DM, early cataract developed within 3 months before diabetes onset and 12 months thereafter in 2 (0.95 %) patients. The two patients were both females, aged 13 and 9 years, respectively. In both cases, cataracts in both eyes appeared in the early stages of T1DM, showing a short course and rapid development. After intensive insulin treatment for stringent and stable blood glucose control, one patient underwent cataract extraction with significant improvement, and her visual acuity returned to normal. The other patient received intensive insulin therapy and insulin pump therapy for 8 years. Subsequently, she underwent cataract surgery after achieving stable blood glucose levels, without complete recovery of vision. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract is a rare complication in the early stages of T1DM in children and adolescents. Ophthalmic surgery is the preferred treatment for patients with diabetic cataract after achieving stable glycemic control, which may help prevent visual impairment.

Degradation kinetics of vitamins in different enteral feeding formulas during storage at different temperatures.

Vitamin degradation may be affected differently by various food matrices. In this study, the kinetics of vitamin A, B1, and C degradation were directly compared in two types of enteral feeding formulas (EFFs) with different energy densities over a nine-month storage period at 4, 25, and 30 °C. The content of vitamins A, B1, and C was measured in the initial and stored formulas. The results justified the finding that the content of these vitamins was gradually decreased with storage time or temperature increases during the period. At each temperature during storage, the degradation of vitamins A, B1, and C followed first-order kinetics, and the rate constants calculated indicated the degradation of vitamins was temperature-dependent. The EFF-B exhibited a higher activation energy for vitamin degradation than that in the EFF-A, and the activation energy indicated an inverse relationship with the fat content of EFFs. The outcomes might provide a reference for the development and application of EEFs.

PTI-ETI synergistic signal mechanisms in plant immunity.

Plants face a relentless onslaught from a diverse array of pathogens in their natural environment, to which they have evolved a myriad of strategies that unfold across various temporal scales. Cell surface pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) detect conserved elicitors from pathogens or endogenous molecules released during pathogen invasion, initiating the first line of defence in plants, known as pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), which imparts a baseline level of disease resistance. Inside host cells, pathogen effectors are sensed by the nucleotide-binding/leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors, which then activate the second line of defence: effector-triggered immunity (ETI), offering a more potent and enduring defence mechanism. Moreover, PTI and ETI collaborate synergistically to bolster disease resistance and collectively trigger a cascade of downstream defence responses. This article provides a comprehensive review of plant defence responses, offering an overview of the stepwise activation of plant immunity and the interactions between PTI-ETI synergistic signal transduction.

The miR6445-NAC029 module regulates drought tolerance by regulating the expression of glutathione S-transferase U23 and reactive oxygen species scavenging in Populus.

MicroRNAs are essential in plant development and stress resistance, but their specific roles in drought stress require further investigation. Here, we have uncovered that a Populus-specific microRNAs (miRNA), miR6445, targeting NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) family genes, is involved in regulating drought tolerance of poplar. The expression level of miR6445 was significantly upregulated under drought stress; concomitantly, seven targeted NAC genes showed significant downregulation. Silencing the expression of miR6445 by short tandem target mimic technology significantly decreased the drought tolerance in poplar. Furthermore, 5' RACE experiments confirmed that miR6445 directly targeted NAC029. The overexpression lines of PtrNAC029 (OE-NAC029) showed increased sensitivity to drought compared with knockout lines (Crispr-NAC029), consistent with the drought-sensitive phenotype observed in miR6445-silenced strains. PtrNAC029 was further verified to directly bind to the promoters of glutathione S-transferase U23 (GSTU23) and inhibit its expression. Both Crispr-NAC029 and PtrGSTU23 overexpressing plants showed higher levels of PtrGSTU23 transcript and GST activity while accumulating less reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, poplars overexpressing GSTU23 demonstrated enhanced drought tolerance. Taken together, our research reveals the crucial role of the miR6445-NAC029-GSTU23 module in enhancing poplar drought tolerance by regulating ROS homeostasis. This finding provides new molecular targets for improving the drought resistance of trees.

RPGR is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small GTPase RAB37 required for retinal function via autophagy regulation.

Although the small GTPase RAB37 acts as an organizer of autophagosome biogenesis, the upstream regulatory mechanism of autophagy via guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-guanosine triphosphate (GTP) exchange in maintaining retinal function has not been determined. We found that retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates RAB37 by accelerating GDP-to-GTP exchange. RPGR directly interacts with RAB37 via the RPGR-RCC1-like domain to promote autophagy through stimulating exchange. Rpgr knockout (KO) in mice leads to photoreceptor degeneration owing to autophagy impairment in the retina. Notably, the retinopathy phenotypes of Rpgr KO retinas are rescued by the adeno-associated virus-mediated transfer of pre-trans-splicing molecules, which produce normal Rpgr mRNAs via trans-splicing in the Rpgr KO retinas. This rescue upregulates autophagy through the re-expression of RPGR in KO retinas to accelerate GDP-to-GTP exchange; thus, retinal homeostasis reverts to normal. Taken together, these findings provide an important missing link for coordinating RAB37 GDP-GTP exchange via the RPGR and retinal homeostasis by autophagy regulation.

Leaf Senescence Database v5.0: A Comprehensive Repository for Facilitating Plant Senescence Research.

Through an extensive literature survey, we have upgraded the Leaf Senescence Database (LSD v5.0; https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/lsd/), a curated repository of comprehensive senescence-associated genes (SAGs) and their corresponding mutants. Since its inception in 2010, LSD undergoes frequent updates to encompass the latest advances in leaf senescence research and its current version comprises a high-quality collection of 31,740 SAGs and 1,209 mutants from 148 species, which were manually searched based on robust experimental evidence and further categorized according to their functions in leaf senescence. Furthermore, LSD was greatly enriched with comprehensive annotations for the SAGs through meticulous curation using both manual and computational methods. In addition, it was equipped with user-friendly web interfaces that facilitate text queries, BLAST searches, and convenient download of SAG sequences for localized analysis. Users can effortlessly navigate the database to access a plethora of information, including literature references, mutants, phenotypes, multi-omics data, miRNA interactions, homologs in other plants, and cross-links to various databases. Taken together, the upgraded version of LSD stands as the most comprehensive and informative plant senescence-related database to date, incorporating the largest collection of SAGs and thus bearing great utility for a wide range of studies related to plant senescence.

Novel Finding of Micropenis Caused by Mutation of the ADGRG2 Gene: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: This study reported a case of micropenis caused by a novel hemizygous mutation in the ADGRG2 gene, which aimed to expand the understanding of sexual dysplasia caused by ADGRG2 gene mutation. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the clinical data and genetic test results of a patient with micropenis admitted in September, 2022, to the Tongji Hospital. The patient was a 9-year-10- month-old male whose chief complaint was the presence of a short penis over a period of three years. In April 2016, the patient underwent corrective surgery for a clubbed penis. Upon admission to the study hospital, his height and weight were 145.0 cm (75-90th percentile) and 37.8 kg (50-75th percentile), respectively, and his BA was 12 years old. His physical characteristics included a normal face, bilateral testicle size of 2 ml, and penile length of about 3 cm. A gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-stimulating test revealed normal hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function. An HCG stimulation test indicated normal sperm production in the testis. Key abnormalities from auxiliary examinations included low testosterone and high ACTH, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and 17-OH-P levels. Genetic testing revealed a new hemizygous mutation, a splicing mutation in intron 4 of the ADGRG2 gene (ChrX: 19040187 (NM_001079858.3): c.154 + 2T > A, inherited from the mother. CONCLUSION: This study reported a case of micropenis caused by a new hemizygous mutation in the ADGRG2 gene. This indicates the importance of genetic testing and gene-guided treatments to improve prognosis.

Induction of human ESC-derived and adult primary multipotent limbal stem cells into retinal pigment epithelial cells and corneal stromal stem cells.

Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)- and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) therapies are promising alternatives for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases caused by RPE degeneration. The generation of autologous RPE cells from human adult donors, which has the advantage of avoiding immune rejection and teratoma formation, is an alternative cell resource to gain mechanistic insight into and test potential therapies for RPE degenerative diseases. Here, we found that limbal stem cells (LSCs) from hESCs and adult primary human limbus have the potential to produce RPE cells and corneal stromal stem cells (CSSCs). We showed that hESC-LSC-derived RPE cells (LSC-RPE) expressed RPE markers, had a phagocytic function, and synthesized tropical factors. Furthermore, during differentiation from LSCs to RPE cells, cells became pigmented, accompanied by a decrease in the level of LSC marker KRT15 and an increase in the level of RPE marker MITF. The Wnt signaling pathway plays a role in LSC-RPE fate transition, promotes MITF expression in the nucleus, and encourages RPE fate transition. In addition, we also showed that primary LSCs (pLSCs) from adult human limbus similar to hESC-LSC could generate RPE cells, which was supported by the co-expression of LSC and RPE cell markers (KRT15/OTX2, KRT15/MITF), suggesting the transition from pLSC to RPE cells, and typical polygonal morphology, melanization, RPE cell marker genes expression (TYR, RPE65), tight junction formation by ZO-1 expression, and the most crucial phagocytotic function. On the other hand, both hESC-LSCs and pLSCs also differentiated into CSSCs (LSC-CSSCs) that expressed stem cell markers (PAX6, NESTIN), presented MSC features, including surface marker expression and trilineage differentiation capability, like those in human CSSCs. Furthermore, the capability of pLSC-CSSC to differentiate into cells expressing keratocyte marker genes (ALDH3A1, PTGDS, PDK4) indicated the potential to induce keratocytes. These results suggest that the adult pLSC is an alternative cell resource, and its application provides a novel potential therapeutic avenue for preventing RPE dysfunction-related retinal degenerative diseases and corneal scarring.

Characterization of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents from 2017 to 2022 in China: a single-center analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the characteristics of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) related to autoimmunity and the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children and adolescents from 2017-2022 in China. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Single-center regional data from the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, were used to compare 88 children and adolescents newly diagnosed with T1DM from 2020 to 2022 (i.e. during the COVID-19 pandemic in China) and 76 children and adolescents diagnosed with T1DM from 2017 to 2019. Auto-antibodies, including glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 and insulin auto-antibodies, were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassays. DKA was defined as a pH < 7.3 and/or a bicarbonate level < 15 mmol/L. RESULTS: The median age of the 164 children and adolescents newly diagnosed with T1DM from 2017 to 2022 was 7.0 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.8-10.0 years; 51.83% male). The mean annual incidence of T1DM was 2.98 per 1,000,000 child years. The estimated frequency of auto-antibody positivity was 51.22% (n = 84), and there was no difference between the 2020-2022 group and 2017-2019 group (55.68% [n = 49] vs. 46.5% [n = 35]; p = 0.219). The frequency of DKA among the entire cohort was 57.93% (n = 95), and peaked in 2020 at 78.9% (15/19 patients). The frequency of DKA was not significantly higher in the 2020-2022 group compared with the 2017-2019 group (60.23% [n = 53] vs. 55.26% [n = 42]; p = 0.521). We found no significant difference in the frequency of DKA between patients who were negative vs. positive for auto-antibodies in the 2020-2022 group (64.10% [n = 25] vs. 57.14% [n = 28], p > 0.05). The C-peptide level and HbA1c (%) were positively correlated with onset age (R1 = 0.389, p < 0.01; R2 = 0.371, p < 0.01), and the estimated mean C-peptide level was 0.26 ng/ml (IQR: 0.2-0.4 ng/ml) in patients with DKA and 0.370 ng/ml (IQR: 0.2-0.6 ng/ml) in patients without DKA (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the annual incidence of T1DM was 2.98 per 1,000,000 child years, gradually increased over the study period, and there was no significant increase in T1DM with auto-antibody positivity in children and adolescents newly diagnosed from 2020-2022 in China compared with the previous 3 years. Furthermore, the frequency of DKA was peaked in 2020, and were not significantly different between patients who were negative vs. positive for auto-antibodies.

The effect of GnRHa treatment on BMI in central precocious puberty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recently, numerous studies have addressed the long-term effects of treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) in patients with central precocious puberty (CPP). However, the effects of GnRHa treatment on body mass index (BMI) in patients with CPP remain controversial. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between GnRHa treatment and BMI in patients with CPP. METHOD: A systematic search of databases, PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science published before August 2021 identified relevant studies. The overall effect analysis was performed using STATA version statistical software 15.0. RESULTS: The study included a total of 28 studies. At the end of GnRHa treatment, the BMI-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) was greater than baseline BMI-SDS (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.14, 95% CI, 0.04-0.23; P = .004), especially in girls with CPP (WMD = 0.15, 95% CI, 0.05-0.25; P = 0.005) and in patients with normal weight (WMD = 0.34, 95% CI, 0.19-0.48, P < 0.001). After reaching adult height, BMI-SDS returned to baseline, suggesting that the effect of GnRHa treatment on BMI would disappear as the child grew (WMD = -0.03, 95% CI, -0.39 to 0.32; P = 0.815). CONCLUSION: For patients with CPP, while treatment with GnRHa may increase the BMI in the short term after treatment, the BMI is likely to return to normal when the patients reach adult height.

Molecular and functional characterization of Schistosoma japonicum annexin A13.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects humans and animals in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Schistosome eggs are responsible for the pathogenesis and transmission of schistosomiasis, thus reducing egg production is vital for prevention and control of schistosomiasis. However, the mechanisms underlying schistosome reproduction remain unclear. Annexin proteins (ANXs) are involved in the physiological and pathological functions of schistosomes, but the specific regulatory mechanisms and roles of ANX A13 in the development of Schistosoma japonicum and host-parasite interactions remain poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, the expression profiles of SjANX A13 at different life cycle stages of S. japonicum were assessed using quantitative PCR. In addition, the expression profiles of the homolog in S. mansoni were analyzed in reference to public datasets. The results of RNA interference showed that knockdown of SjANX A13 significantly affected the development and egg production of female worms in vivo. The results of an immune protection assay showed that recombinant SjANX A13 increased production of immunoglobulin G-specific antibodies. Finally, co-culture of S. japonicum exosomes with LX-2 cells using a transwell system demonstrated that SjANX A13 is involved in host-parasite interactions via exosomes. Collectively, these results will help to clarify the roles of SjANX A13 in the development of S. japonicum and host-parasite interactions as a potential vaccine candidate.

Adoptive transfer of immature dendritic cells with high HO-1 expression delays the onset of T1DM in NOD mice.

AIMS: To investigate the potential of imDCs with high expression of HO-1 in preventing or delaying the onset of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The phenotypic features of DCs in each group were assessed using flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to confirm the high expression of HO-1 in imDCs induced with CoPP. Additionally, flow cytometry was used to evaluate the suppressive capacity of CoPP-induced imDCs on splenic lymphocyte proliferation. Finally, the preventive effect of CoPP-induced imDCs was tested in NOD mice. KEY FINDINGS: Compared to imDCs, CoPP-induced imDCs exhibited a reduced mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the co-stimulatory molecule CD80 on their surface (P < 0.05) and significantly increased HO-1 protein expression (P < 0.05). Following LPS stimulation, the MFI of co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 on the surface of CoPP-induced imDCs remained at a lower level (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a reduced proliferation rate of lymphocytes stimulated with anti-CD3/28 antibodies. The adoptive transfer of CoPP-imDCs significantly reduced the incidence of T1DM (16.66 % vs. control group: 66.67 %, P = 0.004). Furthermore, at 15 weeks of age, the insulitis score was also decreased in the CoPP-induced imDC treatment group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum insulin levels among all groups. SIGNIFICANCE: ImDCs induced with CoPP and exhibiting high expression of HO-1 demonstrate a robust ability to inhibit immune responses and effectively reduce the onset of diabetes in NOD mice. This finding suggests that CoPP-induced imDCs could potentially serve as a promising treatment strategy for T1DM.

Identification of WUSCHEL-related homeobox gene and truncated small peptides in transformation efficiency improvement in Eucalyptus.

BACKGROUND: The WUSCHEL-related Homeobox (WOX) genes, which encode plant-specific homeobox (HB) transcription factors, play crucial roles in regulating plant growth and development. However, the functions of WOX genes are little known in Eucalyptus, one of the fastest-growing tree resources with considerable widespread cultivation worldwide. RESULTS: A total of nine WOX genes named EgWOX1-EgWOX9 were retrieved and designated from Eucalyptus grandis. From the three divided clades marked as Modern/WUS, Intermediate and Ancient, the largest group Modern/WUS (6 EgWOXs) contains a specific domain with 8 amino acids: TLQLFPLR. The collinearity, cis-regulatory elements, protein-protein interaction network and gene expression analysis reveal that the WUS proteins in E. grandis involve in regulating meristems development and regeneration. Furthermore, by externally adding of truncated peptides isolated from WUS specific domain, the transformation efficiency in E. urophylla × E. grandis DH32-29 was significant enhanced. The transcriptomics data further reveals that the use of small peptides activates metabolism pathways such as starch and sucrose metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Peptides isolated from WUS protein can be utilized to enhance the transformation efficiency in Eucalyptus, thereby contributing to the high-efficiency breeding of Eucalyptus.

Comparison of micronutrients in adult enteral formulas widely used in clinical practice.

In recent decades, great progress in the area of enteral nutrition has provided a large variety and commercial availability of enteral formulas, usually produced by the nutrition divisions of several pharmaceutical or dairy manufacturers, with specific compositions for each type of disease or patient condition. Despite the widespread use of enteral formulas, both in hospitals and at home, studies performed on the micronutrient compositions of adult enteral formulas are few in China. The content of micronutrients in 31 commercially available adult enteral formulas in the Chinese market was compared with the Chinese dietary reference intakes (DRIs), the tolerable upper limits (UL), the limit requirements in Food Safety National Standards General Rules of Foods for Special Medical Purposes (GB 29922-2013), and the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) micronutrient guideline (2022). The micronutrient content was calculated by multiplying the value provided on the nutrition label for each product by the daily energy dose of 1500 and 1800 Kcal/day. The research results showed that most adult enteral formulas were generally suitable for patients on long-term total enteral nutrition support in the Chinese market, and foods for special medical purpose (FSMP) formulas were more suitable than enteral nutrition preparation (ENP) formulas. However, the vitamin D, vitamin K, and iron content in these formulas should be appropriately increased to the limit recommended by the ESPEN micronutrient guideline. The results could provide a basis for manufacturers to research and develop more suitable enteral formulas and help clinical dietitians administer more effective enteral nutrition support for patients on long-term total enteral nutrition in clinical practice, especially individualized treatment.