Inherent preference for polyunsaturated fatty acids instigates ferroptosis of Treg cells that aggravates high-fat-diet-related colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has high prevalence in Western counties. The high fat content in Western diets is one of the leading causes for this prevalence; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully defined. Here, we find that high-fat diet (HFD) induces ferroptosis of intestinal regulatory T (Treg) cells, which might be the key initiating step for the disruption of immunotolerance and the development of colitis. Compared with effector T cells, Treg cells favor lipid metabolism and prefer polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for the synthesis of membrane phospholipids. Therefore, consumption of HFD, which has high content of PUFAs such as arachidonic acid, cultivates vulnerable Tregs that are fragile to lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Treg-cell-specific deficiency of GPX4, the key enzyme in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis and preventing ferroptosis, dramatically aggravates the pathogenesis of HFD-induced IBD. Taken together, these studies expand our understanding of IBD etiology.

Efficacy of robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the treatment of pulmonary sequestration in children.

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) in the treatment of pulmonary sequestration (PS) in children. Methods: All video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and RAST performed on patients with PS at a single center from May 2019 to July 2023 were identified. The χ 2 and Wilcoxon tests were used to compare the perioperative outcomes between VATS and RATS groups. Results: Ninety-three patients underwent RATS while 77 patients underwent VATS. In both two groups, one patient converted to thoracotomy and no surgical mortality case. The median operation time was longer for the RATS group compared with the VATS group (75 min vs. 60 min, p <0.001). A lower ratio of chest tube indwelling (61.3% vs. 90.9%, p <0.001), fewer drainage days (1.0 day vs. 2.0 days, p <0.001), and a shorter postoperative length of stay (5.0 days vs. 6.0 days, p <0.001) were found in the RATS group than that in the VATS group. No significant difference was found in the incidence of short-term postoperative complications (hydrothorax and pneumothorax) between two groups. Conclusions: RATS was safe and effective in children with PS over 6 months old and more than 7 kg. Furthermore, RATS led to better short-time postoperative outcome than VATS. Multi-institutional studies are warranted to compare differences in long-term outcomes between RATS and VATS.

Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) pollination enhances the yield and flavor quality of kiwifruit.

Pollination is essential for achieving high yields and enhancing the quality of kiwifruit cultivation, both of which significantly influence growers' interests and consumers' preferences. However, compared to studies on yield, there are fewer studies exploring the impact of pollination methods on the flavor of kiwifruit Actinidia chinensis Planchon. This study examined the effects of bee (Apis mellifera L.) pollination and artificial pollination on the yield and flavor of kiwifruit in the main producing areas of China. Compared with those pollinated artificially, bee-pollinated kiwifruit exhibited a greater fruit set rate, heavier fruit weight, and greater number of seeds. Notably, the number of seeds was positively correlated with fruit weight in bee-pollinated kiwifruit, whereas no such correlation was detected in artificially pollinated fruit. Bee pollination not only enhanced the yield but also improved the flavor of kiwifruit. Specifically, bee-pollinated kiwifruit contained higher levels of sucrose and lower concentrations of glucose and fructose, while the acid content was less affected by pollination methods. Furthermore, significant differences were observed in the volatile organic compound (VOC) levels in kiwifruit subjected to different pollination treatments, with bee-pollinated fruit exhibiting a superior flavor. Our findings provide new insights into the beneficial role of bee pollination in enhancing kiwifruit yield and quality, underscoring the crucial importance of bees in kiwifruit pollination.

Early detection of dopaminergic dysfunction and glymphatic system impairment in Parkinson's disease.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the glymphatic function and its correlation with clinical characteristics and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) using hybrid positron emission tomography (PET)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS), choroid plexus volume (CPV), and enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) volume. METHODS: Twenty-five PD patients and thirty matched healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. All participants underwent 18F-fluorodopa (18F-DOPA) PET-MRI scanning. The striatal standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), DTI-ALPS index, CPV, and EPVS volume were calculated. Furthermore, we also analysed the relationship between the DTI-ALPS index, CPV, EPVS volume and striatal SUVR as well as clinical characteristics of PD patients. RESULTS: PD patients demonstrated significantly lower values in DTI-ALPS (t = 3.053, p = 0.004) and larger CPV (t = 2.743, p = 0.008) and EPVS volume (t = 2.807, p = 0.008) compared to HC. In PD group, the ALPS-index was negatively correlated with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS-III) scores (r = -0.730, p < 0.001), and positively correlated with the mean putaminal SUVR (r = 0.560, p = 0.007) and mean caudal SUVR (r = 0.459, p = 0.032). Moreover, the mean putaminal SUVR was negatively associated with the UPDRS-III scores (r = -0.544, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: DTI-ALPS has the potential to uncover glymphatic dysfunction in patients with PD, with this dysfunction correlating strongly with the severity of disease, together with the mean putaminal and caudal SUVR. PET- MRI can serve as a potential multimodal imaging biomarker for early-stage PD.

Exploring the relationship between anal fistula and colorectal cancer based on Mendelian randomization and bioinformatics.

The association between anal fistula patients and colorectal cancer, as well as the potential pathophysiological mechanisms, remains unclear. To explore the relationship between anal fistula and colorectal cancer and its potential mechanisms. Analysis of GEO and TCGA databases. Disease-related genes were also referenced from Coremine Medical, GeneCard and OMIM. Core hub genes were identified through protein-protein interaction analysis by intersecting differentially expressed genes from the datasets with disease data. On one hand, a prognostic model was developed using genes and its prognostic role was validated. On the other hand, the optimal diagnostic genes were selected through machine learning. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to explore the potential causal link between anal fistula and colorectal cancer. Thirteen core genes were identified (TMEM121B, PDGFRA, MID2, WNT10B, HOXD13, BARX1, SIX2, MMP1, SNAL1, CDKN2A, ITGB3, TIMP1, CALB2). Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the intersecting genes between anal fistula and colorectal cancer were associated with extracellular matrix components, signalling pathways, cell growth, protein modification, as well as important roles in cellular activities, tissue and organ development, and biological function maintenance. These genes were also involved in pathways related to Wnt signalling and colorectal cancer development. Prognostic analysis and immune infiltration analysis indicated a close relationship between core hub genes and the prognosis and immune infiltration in colorectal cancer. Machine learning showed that core genes played an essential role in the diagnostic differentiation of colorectal cancer. MR results suggested no causal relationship between anal fistula and colorectal cancer. This study identified shared core genes between anal fistula and colorectal cancer, involved in various pathways related to tumour development. These genes play crucial roles in prognosis and diagnosis.

A pre-trained language model for emergency department intervention prediction using routine physiological data and clinical narratives.

INTRODUCTION: The urgency and complexity of emergency room (ER) settings require precise and swift decision-making processes for patient care. Ensuring the timely execution of critical examinations and interventions is vital for reducing diagnostic errors, but the literature highlights a need for innovative approaches to optimize diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. In response, our study endeavors to create predictive models for timely examinations and interventions by leveraging the patient's symptoms and vital signs recorded during triage, and in so doing, augment traditional diagnostic methodologies. METHODS: Focusing on four key areas-medication dispensing, vital interventions, laboratory testing, and emergency radiology exams, the study employed Natural Language Processing (NLP) and seven advanced machine learning techniques. The research was centered around the innovative use of BioClinicalBERT, a state-of-the-art NLP framework. RESULTS: BioClinicalBERT emerged as the superior model, outperforming others in predictive accuracy. The integration of physiological data with patient narrative symptoms demonstrated greater effectiveness compared to models based solely on textual data. The robustness of our approach was confirmed by an Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUROC) score of 0.9. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study underscore the feasibility of establishing a decision support system for emergency patients, targeting timely interventions and examinations based on a nuanced analysis of symptoms. By using an advanced natural language processing technique, our approach shows promise for enhancing diagnostic accuracy. However, the current model is not yet fully mature for direct implementation into daily clinical practice. Recognizing the imperative nature of precision in the ER environment, future research endeavors must focus on refining and expanding predictive models to include detailed timely examinations and interventions. Although the progress achieved in this study represents an encouraging step towards a more innovative and technology-driven paradigm in emergency care, full clinical integration warrants further exploration and validation.

A comprehensive analysis of TRP-related gene signature, and immune infiltration in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are involved in the development and progression of tumors. However, their role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear, and this study aims to investigate the role of TRP-related genes in CRC. METHODS: Data was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and analyses were conducted on the GSE14333 and GSE38832 datasets to assess the prognosis and mark TRP-related genes (TRGs). Subsequently, clustering analysis and immune infiltration analysis were performed to explore the relevant TRGs. In vitro validation of key TRGs' gene and protein expression was conducted using human colon cancer cells. RESULTS: Compared to normal tissues, 8 TRGs were significantly upregulated in CRC, while 11 were downregulated. TRPA1 was identified as a protective prognostic factor, whereas TRPM5 (HR = 1.349), TRPV4 (HR = 1.289), and TRPV3 (HR = 1.442) were identified as prognostic risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier (KM) analyses yielded similar results. Additionally, lower expression of TRPA1 and higher expression of TRPV4 and TRPM5 were negatively correlated with patient prognosis, and experimental validation confirmed the underexpression of TRPA1 and overexpression of TRPV4 and TRPM5 in CRC cell lines. CONCLUSION: This study identifies a TRP channel-related prognosis in CRC, providing a novel approach to stratifying CRC prognosis.

Prognostic impact of enhanced CD96 expression on NK cells by TGF-ß1 in AML.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common types of blood cancer in adults and is associated with a poor survival rate. NK cells play a crucial role in combating AML, and alterations in immune checkpoint expression can impair NK cell function against AML. Targeting certain checkpoints may restore this function. CD96, an inhibitory immune checkpoint, has unclear expression and roles on NK cells in AML patients. In this study, we initially evaluated CD96 expression and compared CD96+ NK with the inhibitory receptor and stimulatory receptors on NK cells from AML patients at initial diagnosis. We observed increased CD96 expression on NK cells with dysfunctional phenotype. Further analysis revealed that CD96+ NK cells had lower IFN-γ production than CD96- NK cells. Blocking CD96 enhanced the cytotoxicity of primary NK and cord blood-derived NK (CB-NK) cells against leukemia cells. Notably, patients with a high frequency of CD96+ NK cells at initial diagnosis exhibited poorer clinical outcomes. Additionally, TGF-ß1 was found to enhance CD96 expression on NK cells via SMAD3 signaling. These findings suggest that CD96 is invovled in NK dysfunction against AML blast, and might be a potential target for restoring NK cell function in the fight against AML.

HIV knowledge, sexual attitudes, and PrEP-Eligible behaviors among college students in Southwest China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reported cases among students in Southwest China. However, the data on HIV/sex-related knowledge, attitude toward sex, sexual behaviors, and correlates of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)-eligible behaviors among college students in this area is still limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of HIV/sex-related knowledge, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and factors associated with PrEP-eligible behaviors among college students. METHOD: An online survey from 2020 to 2021 based on a multistage stratified and cluster sampling method was conducted among college students in Southwest China, and a well-designed questionnaire collected data. Propensity score matching (PSM), logistic, and log-binomial regression were used to identify the determinants of PrEP-eligible behaviors. RESULT: A total of 108,987 students participated in the survey, and 92,946 provided valid responses. 91.6% (85,145/92,946) had good HIV-related knowledge, while only 26.0% (24,137/92,946) reported awareness of sex-related knowledge. Furthermore, more than half of the participants (64.5%) held negative stances towards engaging in "one-night stand", and 58.9% (617/1,047) reported PrEP-eligible behaviors. Log-binomial regression analysis indicated that unaware of HIV-related knowledge (aPR = 1.66, 95% CI:1.22-2.26, P = 0.001), not discussing about sex with their parent(s) (aPR = 1.16, 95% CI:1.01-1.33, P = 0.021), not receiving sex-related education in school(aPR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.07-1.45, P = 0.005), not participating in HIV/AIDS prevention activities in the past year (aPR = 1.32, 95%CI:1.09-1.60, P = 0.004), experiencing forced sex (aPR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.19-3.63, P = 0.010), and having the drug abuse (aPR = 22.21, 95% CI:5.59-88.31, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased odds of PrEP-eligible behaviors. CONCLUSION: College students in Southwest China exhibited suboptimal HIV/sex-related knowledge, received limited sex education, reported conservative attitudes towards casual sex, and significant PrEP-eligible behaviors. These findings suggest that sexually experienced college students who were unaware of HIV-related knowledge, lacked sex education, experienced forced sex, and reported drug abuse were the key individuals for evaluating eligibility for PrEP initiation, and interventions aimed at increasing awareness of HIV/sex-related knowledge, promoting participation in sex education, addressing issues related to forced sex and tackling drug abuse could contribute to reducing the incidence of PrEP-eligible behaviors among college students.

Fusing Ta-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 grains using nanoscale Y2O3 sintering aids for high-performance solid-state lithium batteries.

Solid-state lithium batteries have advantages of high energy density and usage safety and are considered as promising next-generation power sources. Among them, the garnet-type oxide electrolyte has become a widely studied inorganic electrolyte due to its high ionic conductivity and chemical stability. In this paper, nanoscale Y2O3 (NYO) particles are introduced as sintering aids for fabricating Ta-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZTO) ceramics, and the sintering effects of various NYO ratios on the properties of LLZTO are investigated. Among the samples, the LLZTO-5%NYO sample exhibits the highest ionic conductivity (7.39 × 10-4 S cm-1) and the lowest activation energy (0.17 eV). At various current densities, the polarization voltage of LLZTO-5%NYO is also the lowest without a short circuit. The full cells of LFP|LLZTO-5%NYO|Li exhibit a high capacity of 163.9 mA h g-1 with a high initial coulombic efficiency of 97.4%, and the capacity retention rate is up to 98.1% after 50 cycles. This work may inspire the development of analogous solid-state electrolytes and lithium batteries.

Structural characterization of extracellular polysaccharides from Phellinus igniarius SH-1 and their therapeutic effects on DSS induced colitis in mice.

Phellinus igniarius is a valuable medicinal and edible mushroom, and its polysaccharides exhibit excellent anti-inflammatory activity. During liquid fermentation to produce P. igniarius mycelia, the fermentation liquid is often discarded, but it contains extracellular polysaccharides. To better utilize these resources, P. igniarius SH-1 was fermented in a 100 L fermenter, and PIPS-2 was isolated and purified from the fermentation broth. The structural characteristics and anti-inflammatory activity of PIPS-2 were determined. PIPS-2 had a molecular weight of 22.855 kDa and was composed of galactose and mannose in a molar ratio of 0.38:0.62. Structural analysis revealed that the main chain of PIPS-2 involved →2)-α-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 3)-ß-D-Galf-(1→, and the side chains involved α-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 6)-α-D-Manp-(1→, α-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 3)-α-D-Manp-(1→, and α-D-Manp-(1. PIPS-2 alleviated the symptoms of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, improved the imbalance of inflammatory factors and antioxidant enzymes, and increased short-chain fatty acid contents. Combining the intestinal flora and metabolite results, PIPS-2 was found to regulate the abundance of Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Proteobacteria, Bacteroides, and many serum metabolites including hexadecenal, copalic acid, 8-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, artepillin C, and uric acid, thereby ameliorating metabolite related disorders in mice with colitis. In summary, PIPS-2 may improve colitis in mice by regulating the gut microbiota and metabolites.

Mechanistic Study on the Influence of Wax on Hydrate Formation Process.

To manage the interactions between wax and hydrate formation, a comprehensive understanding of the system's thermodynamics and flow characteristics is essential. Wax and hydrates coexist under low-temperature and high-pressure conditions, mutually influencing each other both thermodynamically and kinetically. This study focused on two main aspects: how wax affects the rate of hydrate formation in the oil-water system and how hydrate formation influences the thermodynamics of wax crystal precipitation. The presence of wax decreased the rate of hydrate formation, especially at higher wax contents. In systems with high wax content, over 70% of wax precipitated before hydrate formation, leading to less precipitation within the hydrate formation temperature range. With low water content, there were more nucleation sites for wax crystals in the oil phase, resulting in a greater difference in precipitation rates among different wax contents. For water content greater than 10%, the differences in precipitation rates were less significant, indicating a diminished effect of water content on wax crystal precipitation rates. Hydrates' hydrophilic nature had a limited impact on wax crystal nucleation and growth. Generally, wax crystals precipitate before hydrate formation, necessitating control measures for wax deposition during production processes.

Interaction between the Neuroprotective and Hyperglycemia Mitigation Effects of Walnut-Derived Peptide LVRL via the Wnt3a/ß-Catenin/GSK-3ß Pathway in a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Model.

The term type 3 diabetes mellitus (T3DM) has been considered for Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to the common molecular and cellular characteristics found between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cognitive deficits. However, the specific mechanism of T3DM remains elusive, especially the neuroprotective effects of dietary components in hyperglycemic individuals. In this study, a peptide, Leu-Val-Arg-Leu (LVRL), found in walnuts significantly improved memory decline in streptozotocin (STZ)- and high-fat-diet (HFD)-stimulated T2DM mouse models (p < 0.05). The LVRL peptide also mitigated hyperglycemia, enhanced synaptic plasticity, and ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction, as demonstrated by Morris water maze tests, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, and cellular staining. A Wnt3a inhibitor, DKK1, was subsequently used to verify the possible role of the Wnt3a/ß-Catenin/GSK-3ß pathway in glucose-induced insulin resistance in PC12 cells. In vitro LVRL treatment dramatically modulated the protein expression of p-Tau (Ser404), Synapsin-1, and PSD95, elevated the insulin level, increased glucose consumption, and relieved the mitochondrial membrane potential, and MitoSOX (p < 0.05). These data suggested that peptides like LVRL could modulate the relationship between brain insulin and altered cognition status via the Wnt3a/ß-Catenin/GSK-3ß pathway.

Integrative analysis of bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the gene expression profile and the critical signaling pathways of type II CPAM.

BACKGROUD: Type II congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) is a rare pulmonary microcystic developmental malformation. Surgical excision is the primary treatment for CPAM, although maternal steroids and betamethasone have proven effective in reducing microcystic CPAM. Disturbed intercellular communication may contribute to the development of CPAM. This study aims to investigate the expression profile and analyze intercellular communication networks to identify genes potentially associated with type II CPAM pathogenesis and therapeutic targets. METHODS: RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on samples extracted from both the cystic area and the adjacent normal tissue post-surgery in CPAM patients. Iterative weighted gene correlation network analysis (iWGCNA) was used to identify genes specifically expressed in type II CPAM. Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) was integrated to unveil the heterogeneity in cell populations and analyze the communication and interaction within epithelial cell sub-populations. RESULTS: A total of 2,618 differentially expressed genes were identified, primarily enriched in cilium-related biological process and inflammatory response process. Key genes such as EDN1, GPR17, FPR2, and CHRM1, involved in the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway and playing roles in cell differentiation, apoptosis, calcium homeostasis, and the immune response, were highlighted based on the protein-protein interaction network. Type II CPAM-associated modules, including ciliary function-related genes, were identified using iWGCNA. By integrating scRNA-seq data, AGR3 (related to calcium homeostasis) and SLC11A1 (immune related) were identified as the only two differently expressed genes in epithelial cells of CPAM. Cell communication analysis revealed that alveolar type 1 (AT1) and alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells were the predominant communication cells for outgoing and incoming signals in epithelial cells. The ligands and receptors between epithelial cell subtypes included COLLAGEN genes enriched in PI3K-AKT singaling and involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, by integrating bulk RNA-seq data of type II CPAM with scRNA-seq data, the gene expression profile and critical signaling pathways such as GPCR signaling and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways were revealed. Abnormally expressed genes in these pathways may disrupt epithelial-mesenchymal transition and contribute to the development of CPAM. Given the effectiveness of prenatal treatments of microcystic CPAM using maternal steroids and maternal betamethasone administration, targeting the genes and signaling pathways involved in the development of CPAM presents a promising therapeutic strategy.

Triclosan impairs spermatocyte cell proliferation and induces autophagy by regulating microRNA-20a-5 P by pargeting PTEN.

BACKGROUND: Triclosan (TCS), as an endocrine disrupter, has been found to affect male fertility. However, the potential molecular mechanism is still unknown. We aimed to investigate whether the toxic effects of TCS on spermatocyte cells was mediated by the regulation of microRNA-20a-5 P on PTEN. METHODS: GC-2 and TM4 cells were treated with TCS (0.5-80 µM) for 24 or 48 hours. Effect of TCS on proliferation of GC-2 and TM4 cells was detected using a cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay. Expression of miR-17 family and autophagy genes were detected. The interaction between miR-20a-5 P and PTEN was determined by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: TCS decreased cell proliferation of GC-2 and TM4 cells. Expression of autophagy-related genes and miR-17 family was altered by TCS. PTEN expression was significantly increased, whereas the expression of miR-20a-5 P was significantly decreased in GC-2 and TM4 cells. As predicted in relevant databases, there is a binding site of miR-20a-5 P in PTEN. The expression of PTEN was significantly down-regulated by the miR-20a-5 P mimic. CONCLUSION: As a downstream target of miR-20a-5 P, PTEN functioned in the autophagy process of which TCS inhibited the proliferation of spermatocyte cells. Our results provided new ideas for revealing the molecular mechanism and protective strategy on male infertility.

Screening primary carnitine deficiency in 10 million Chinese newborns: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) is a rare autosomal recessive fatty acid oxidation disorder caused by variants in SLC22A5, with its prevalence and SLC22A5 gene mutation spectrum varying across races and regions. This study aimed to systematically analyze the incidence of PCD in China and delineate regional differences in the prevalence of PCD and SLC22A5 gene variants. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Chinese databases were searched up to November 2023. Following quality assessment and data extraction, a meta-analysis was performed on screening results for PCD among Chinese newborns. RESULTS: After reviewing 1,889 articles, 22 studies involving 9,958,380 newborns and 476 PCD cases were included. Of the 476 patients with PCD, 469 underwent genetic diagnosis, revealing 890 variants of 934 alleles of SLC22A5, among which 107 different variants were detected. The meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of PCD in China was 0.05‰ [95%CI, (0.04‰, 0.06‰)] or 1/20 000 [95%CI, (1/16 667, 1/25 000)]. Subgroup analyses revealed a higher incidence in southern China [0.07‰, 95%CI, (0.05‰, 0.08‰)] than in northern China [0.02‰, 95%CI, (0.02‰, 0.03‰)] (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the result of the meta-analysis showed that the frequency of the variant with c.1400C > G, c.51C > G, c.760C > T, c.338G > A, and c.428C > T were 45% [95%CI, (34%, 59%)], 26% [95%CI, (22%, 31%)], 14% [95%CI, (10%, 20%)], 6% [95%CI, (4%, 8%)], and 5% [95%CI, (4%, 8%)], respectively. Among the subgroup analyses, the variant frequency of c.1400C > G in southern China [39%, 95%CI, (29%, 53%)] was significantly lower than that in northern China [79‰, 95%CI, (47‰, 135‰)] (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study systematically analyzed PCD prevalence and identified common SLC22A5 gene variants in the Chinese population. The findings provide valuable epidemiological insights and guidance for future PCD screening effects in newborns.

A DNA walker based on hairpin-shaped DNA aligner and fueled by nicking endonuclease for sensitive and rapid miRNA analysis.

BACKGROUND: DNA walker-based strategies have gained significant attention in nucleic acid analysis. However, they face challenges related to balancing design complexity, sequence dependence, and amplification efficiency. Furthermore, most existing DNA walkers rely on walking and lock probes, requiring optimization of various parameters like DNA probe sequence, walking-to-lock probe ratio, lock probe length, etc. to achieve optimal performance. This optimization process is time-consuming and adds complexity to experiments. To enhance the performance and reliability of DNA walker nanomachines, there is a need for a simpler, highly sensitive, and selective alternative strategy. RESULTS: A sensitive and rapid miRNA analysis strategy named hairpin-shaped DNA aligner and nicking endonuclease-fueled DNA walker (HDA-NE DNA walker) was developed. The HDA-NE DNA walker was constructed by modifying hairpin-shaped DNA aligner (HDA) probe and substrate report (SR) probe on the surface of AuNPs. Under normal conditions, HDA and SR remained stable. However, in the presence of miR-373, HDA underwent a conformational transition to an activated structure to continuously cleave the SR probe on the AuNPs with the assistance of Nt.AlwI nicking endonuclease, resulting in sensitive miRNA detection with a detection limit as low as 0.23 pM. Additionally, the proposed HDA-NE DNA walker exhibited high selectivity in distinguishing miRNAs with single base differences and can effectively analyze miR-373 levels in both normal and breast cancer patient serums. SIGNIFICANCE: The proposed HDA-NE DNA walker system was activated by a conformational change of HDA probe only in the presence of the target miRNA, eliminating the need for a lock probe and without sequence dependence for SR probe. This strategy demonstrated a rapid reaction rate of only 30 min, minimal background noise, and a high signal-to-noise ratio (S/B) compared to capture/lock-based DNA walker. The method is expected to become a powerful tool and play an important role in disease diagnosis and precision therapy.

Improving bee feed recipes to safeguard honeybee colonies during times of food scarcity.

In beekeeping, when natural nectar or pollen sources become limited, it is crucial to provide supplemental bee feed to maintain the viability of the bee colony. This study was conducted during the autumn food shortage season, during which bees were fed with different proportions of modified bee feed. We identified an optimal bee diet by evaluating honeybee longevity, food consumption, body weight, and gut microbe distribution, with natural pollen serving as a control diet. The results indicated that bees preferred a mixture of 65% defatted soy flour, 20% corn protein powder, 13% wheat germ flour, 2% yeast powder, and a 50% sucrose solution. This bee food recipe significantly increased the longevity, feed consumption, and body weight of bees. The group fed the natural pollen diet exhibited a greater abundance of essential intestinal bacteria. The bee diets used in this study contained higher protein levels and lower concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins than did the diets stored within the colonies. Therefore, we propose that incorporating both bee feed and natural pollen in beekeeping practices will achieve more balanced nutritional intake.

Fasting alleviates bleomycin-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis via decreased Tregs and monocytes.

PURPOSE: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic and progressively worsening condition characterized by interstitial lung inflammation and fibrosis of unknown etiology, has a grim prognosis. The treatment options for IPF are limited and new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Dietary restriction can improve various inflammatory diseases, but its therapeutic effect on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model remains unclear. This study aims to investigate whether intermittent fasting (IF) can alleviate BLM-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. METHODS: Pulmonary fibrosis mouse models were induced by BLM. The IF group underwent 24-h fasting cycles for one week prior and three weeks following BLM administration. Meanwhile, the ad libitum feeding group had unrestricted access to food throughout the experiment. The evaluation focused on lung pathology via histological staining, qPCR analysis of collagen markers, and immune cell profiling through flow cytometry. RESULTS: IF group significantly reduced inflammation and fibrosis in lung tissues of BLM-induced mice compared to ad libitum feeding group. qPCR results showed IF remarkably decreased the mRNA expression of Col 1a and Col 3a in the lungs of BLM-induced mouse models. IF also reduced the numbers of regulatory T cells (Tregs), T helper 17 (Th17) cells, monocytes, and monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages (MoAMs) in the lung tissues. CONCLUSIONS: IF may improve BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis by decreasing numbers of immune cells including Treg cells, Th17 â€‹cells, monocytes, and MoAMs in the lungs. This study offers experimental validation for dietary intervention as a viable treatment modality in IPF management.

Post-collection purity correction for internal standard correction-high performance liquid chromatography-quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance.

Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) has a potential risk of inaccurate quantification of complex organic compounds with low purity due to incomplete separation of the impurity signals and the target component signals. The high performance liquid chromatography-qNMR (HPLC-qNMR) method removes impurities from the sample by HPLC and accurately determines the purity of the sample by qNMR, avoiding the laborious, time-consuming, and costly step of qualitative and quantitative determination of impurities in conventional mass balance methods. An improved method, named post-collection purity correction for internal standard correction-HPLC-qNMR (ISC-HPLC-qNMR), was developed and demonstrated on a complex compound oxytetracycline with low purity. In this method, a correction factor was introduced to compensate for the inability to achieve 100% purity through the HPLC purification procedure. The purity value with standard deviation of the oxytetracycline study material using this method was 82.00% ± 0.82%, while that obtained from the conventional qNMR with deconvolution was 81.70% ± 0.35%. The consistency of these results demonstrated that the improved method extends the applicability to the samples where HPLC is not capable of purifying complex compounds with low purity to near 100%, especially containing highly similar structural-related impurities. Furthermore, this method allows purification and quantification without the need to identify impurities in the sample, resulting in significant savings of time and cost. Additionally, it effectively compensates for the limitations of qNMR deconvolution in handling peak overlap in the sample.