Alginate oligosaccharides enhance gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function, alleviating host damage induced by deoxynivalenol in mice.

BACKGROUND: Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) exhibits notable effects in terms of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Deoxynivalenol (DON) has the potential to trigger intestinal inflammation by upregulating proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis, thereby compromising the integrity of the intestinal barrier function and perturbing the balance of the gut microbiota. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the impact of AOS on mitigating DON-induced intestinal damage and systemic inflammation in mice. METHODS: After a one-week acclimatization period, the mice were divided into four groups. For three weeks, the AOS and AOS + DON groups were gavaged daily with 200 µl of AOS (200 mg/kg body weight (BW)), while the CON and DON groups received an equivalent volume of sterile Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS). Subsequently, for one week, the DON and AOS + DON groups received 100 µl of DON (4.8 mg/kg BW) daily, whereas the CON and AOS groups continued receiving PBS. RESULTS: After administering DON via gavage to mice, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in body weights compared to the control (CON) group. Interestingly, AOS exhibited a tendency to mitigate this weight loss in the AOS + DON group. In the feces of mice treated with both AOS and DON, the concentration of DON significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to the DON group alone. Histological analysis revealed that DON exposure caused increased intestinal damage, including shortened villi and eroded epithelial cells, which was ameliorated by pre-supplementation with AOS, alleviating harm to the intestinal barrier function. In both jejunum and colon tissues, DON exposure significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the expression of tight junction proteins (Claudin and Occludin in the colon) and the mucin protein Mucin 2 (MUC2), compared to the CON group. Prophylactic administration of AOS alleviated these reductions, thereby improving the expression levels of these key proteins. Additionally, AOS supplementation protected DON-exposed mice by increasing the abundance of probiotics such as Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, and Romboutsia. These gut microbes are known to enhance (P < 0.05) anti-inflammatory responses and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including total SCFAs, acetate, and valerate, compared to the DON group. CONCLUSIONS: This study unveils AOS not only enhance gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function but also significantly mitigate DON-induced intestinal damage.

Effects of heat treatment on rumen degradability and protein intestinal digestibility of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) in goat.

The black soldier fly larvae (BSF) are used as a substitute for soybean meal due to their high crude protein content. This experiment aims to assess the impact of heat treatment on the rumen degradability of BSF and protein digestion in the small intestine using the in situ nylon bag method and the three-step in vitro method. This study comprises a total of 8 groups (n = 6). The negative control group includes only full-fat soybeans (FFS) and BSF (FF group and BS group). The positive control groups consist of a 95% BSF or 95% FFS mixed with 5% cassava (FFC and BSC groups). The treatment groups involve adding 75% water to the positive control mixture, followed by vigorous kneading to achieve uniform mixing. The resulting mixture was then pressed to a thickness of approximately 5 cm, placed in an oven, and dried for 120 min at temperatures of 120 °C and 140 °C (12FFC, 14FFC, 12BSC, and 14BSC groups). Nylon bags will be incubated in the rumen for 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h, and the small intestine protein digestion rate will be analyzed at 16 h. Compared to the BS group, heat-treated BSF showed increased (P < 0.05) rumen DM degradability and effective degradability. The 14BSC group increased (P < 0.05) rumen CP degradability and degradation kinetic parameters, while the 12BSC group decreased (P < 0.05) these parameters. The CP degradability of BSF was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of full-fat soybeans. The Idg and IDCP of heat-treated full-fat soybeans were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of other treatment groups. At the same time, heat treatment was beneficial for increasing (P < 0.05) the Idg and IDCP of BSF, and the 14BSC treatment effect was significantly better (P < 0.05) than that of the 12BSC group. Therefore, based on the results of this experiment, it is recommended to supplement BSF with cassava and subject them to heat treatment at 140 °C.

VvbHLH036, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor regulates the cold tolerance of grapevine.

Cold stress is an adverse environmental factor that limits the growth and productivity of horticulture crops such as grapes (Vitis vinifera). In this study, we identified a grapevine cold-induced basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor (VvbHLH036). Overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout (KO) of VvbHLH036 enhanced and decreased cold tolerance in grapevine roots, respectively. Transcriptome analysis of VvbHLH036-overexpressed roots identified threonine synthase (VvThrC1) as a potential downstream target of VvbHLH036. We confirmed that VvbHLH036 could bind the VvThrC1 promoter and activate its expression. Both the transcripts of VvThrC1 and the content of threonine were significantly induced in the leaves and roots of grapevine under cold treatment compared to controls. Conversely, these dynamics were significantly suppressed in the roots of CRISPR/Cas9-induced knockout of VvbHLH036. These observations support the regulation of threonine accumulation by VvbHLH036 through VvThrC1 during cold stress in grapevine. Furthermore, overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of VvThrC1 also confirmed its role in regulating threonine content and cold tolerance in transgenic roots at low temperature. Exogenous threonine treatment increased cold tolerance and reduced the accumulation of superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide in grapevine leaves. Together, these findings point to the pivotal role of VvbHLH036 and VvThrC1 in the cold stress response in grapes by regulating threonine biosynthesis.

Pathogenicity of Duck Adenovirus Type 3 in Chickens.

Duck adenovirus Type 3 (DAdV-3) severely affects the health of ducks; however, its pathogenicity in chickens remains unknown. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the pathogenicity and major pathological changes caused by DAdV-3 in chickens. Viral DNA was extracted from the liver of the Muscovy duck, and the fiber-2 and hexon fragments of DAdV-3 were amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The evolutionary tree revealed that the isolated virus belonged to DAdV-3, and it was named HE-AN-2022. The mortality rate of chicks that received inoculation with DAdV-3 subcutaneously via the neck was 100%, while the mortality rate for eye-nose drop inoculation was correlated with the numbers of infection, with 26.7% of chicks dying as a result of exposure to multiple infections. The main symptoms exhibited prior to death were hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS), ulceration of the glandular stomach, and a swollen bursa with petechial hemorrhages. A histopathological examination revealed swelling, necrosis, lymphocyte infiltration, and basophilic inclusion bodies in multiple organs. Meanwhile, the results of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) demonstrated that DAdV-3 could affect most of the organs in chickens, with the gizzard, glandular stomach, bursa, spleen, and liver being the most susceptible to infection. The surviving chicks had extremely high antibody levels. After the chickens were infected with DAdV-3 derived from Muscovy ducks, no amino acid mutation was observed in the major mutation regions of the virus, which were ORF19B, ORF66, and ORF67. On the basis of our findings, we concluded that DAdV-3 infection is possible in chickens, and that it causes classic HHS with ulceration of the glandular stomach and a swollen bursa with petechial hemorrhages, leading to high mortality in chickens. The major variation domains did not change in Muscovy ducks or in chickens after infection. This is the first study to report DAdV-3 in chickens, providing a new basis for preventing and controlling this virus.

Accuracy of cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA testing in pleural effusion for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TP) presents a significant challenge due to the low bacterial load in pleural effusion (PE) samples. Cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (cf-TB) in PE samples is considered an optimal biomarker for diagnosing TP. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of cf-TB testing across diverse research sites with a relatively large sample size. METHODS: Patients suspected of TP and presenting with clinical symptoms and radiological evidence of PE were consecutively enrolled by treating physicians from 11 research sites across 6 provinces in China between April 2020 and August 2022. Following centrifugation, sediments obtained from PE were used for Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and mycobacterial culture, while the supernatants were subjected to cf-TB testing. This study employed a composite reference standard to definite TP, which was characterized by any positive result for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) through either PE culture, PE Xpert, or pleural biopsy. RESULTS: A total of 1412 participants underwent screening, and 1344 (95.2%) were subsequently enrolled in this study. Data from 1241 (92.3%) participants were included, comprising 284 with definite TP, 677 with clinically diagnosed TP, and 280 without TP. The sensitivity of cf-TB testing in definite TP was 73.6% (95% CI 68.2-78.4), significantly higher than both Xpert (40.8%, 95% CI 35.3-46.7, P < 0.001) and mycobacterial culture (54.2%, 95% CI 48.4-59.9, P < 0.001). When clinically diagnosed TP was incorporated into the composite reference standard for sensitivity analysis, cf-TB testing showed a sensitivity of 46.8% (450/961, 95% CI 43.7-50.0), significantly higher than both Xpert (116/961, 12.1%, 95% CI 10.2-14.3, P < 0.001) and mycobacterial culture (154/961, 16.0%, 95% CI 13.8-18.5, P < 0.001). The specificities of cf-TB testing, Xpert, and mycobacterial culture were all 100.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of cf-TB testing is significantly superior to that of Xpert and mycobacterial culture methods, indicating that it can be considered as the primary diagnostic approach for improving TP detection. Trial registration The trial was registered on Chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2000031680, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=49316 ).

Superiority of opioid free anesthesia with regional block over opioid anesthesia with regional block in the quality of recovery after retroperitoneiscopic renal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Opioids are the main analgesic drugs used in the perioperative period, but they often have various adverse effects. Recent studies have shown that quadratus lumborum block (QLB) has an opioid sparing effect. The aim of this study was to further evaluate the effect of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) combined with regional block on the quality of recovery in patients undergoing retroperitoneoscopic renal surgery. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing elective retroperitoneoscopic renal surgery were divided into the opioid-free anesthesia with quadratus lumborum block group (OFA group, N.=30) and opioid anesthesia with quadratus lumborum block group (OA group, N.=30) using the random number table method. The main outcome measures were the quality of recovery assessed by Quality of Recover-40 (QoR-40) at the 24th postoperative hour. Secondary outcomes were postoperative pain score, postoperative opioid consumption, postoperative nausea and vomiting, time to ambulate, and time to readiness for discharge. RESULTS: The QoR-40 score on the first postoperative day was significantly higher in the OFA group than that in the OA group (175.41±6.74 vs. 165.07±4.55; P<0.05). OFA also significantly reduced postoperative pain (P<0.05) and morphine consumption at both the 24th and 48th postoperative hour (P<0.05), as well as time to ambulate, and time to readiness for discharge (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: OFA with regional block is superior to opioid anesthesia with regional block in the quality of recovery after retroperitoneiscopic renal surgery.

Lactobacillus crispatus-Mediated Gut-Reproductive Tract Axis-Alleviated Microbial Dysbiosis and Oviductal Inflammation in a Laying Hen Model.

Oviductal inflammation (OI) significantly reduces the egg production and economic returns in poultry farming. While Lactobacillus crispatus (LAC) is effective against inflammation, its role in treating or preventing oviductal inflammation is understudied. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic mechanisms of LAC on oviductal inflammation, with a focus on reproductive tract health, microbiome, gene expression, and cytokine levels. This study involved 24 Jingfen No. 6 laying hens aged 60 weeks, divided into four groups: the CON, OI, OI + LAC, and OI + heat-killed Lactobacillus crispatus (HLAC) groups. And it included a 10-day adaptation, a 7-day period for the development of OI using inflammation-inducing drugs (the control received saline), followed by an 8-day treatment in which the CON and OI groups received 1 mL of MRS broth daily, and the OI + LAC and OI + HLAC groups were treated with live and heat-killed Lactobacillus crispatus (109 CFUs/mL), respectively, with six hens in each group. This study showed that Lactobacillus crispatus supplementation significantly reduced the oviductal inflammation and atrophy in the hens, with the affected hens showing markedly lower egg production rates (p < 0.001) compared to the control and treated groups (OI + HLAC and OI + LAC). The daily intake of fresh (OI + LAC, p = 0.076) or heat-killed (OI + HLAC, p < 0.01) Lactobacillus crispatus notably enhanced the feed conversion efficiency. The OI group suffered significant ovarian damage and vascular rupture, more so than the CON group, while Lactobacillus crispatus supplementation mitigated this damage. The IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were significantly elevated in the OI group compared to those in the OI + LAC group (p < 0.05), with a significant reduction in the TNF-α levels in the latter (p < 0.001). The supplementation improved the microbial composition in the cecum, isthmus, and shell gland, enriching the cecum with beneficial bacteria, such as Ruminococcus_torques_group and Megamonas. This approach fostered ovarian health and follicle differentiation and preserved the epithelial cell barrier function in the shell gland, reducing inflammatory damage in the genital tract. This dual efficacy underscores the role of the probiotic in diminishing oviductal inflammation, regardless of its state.

Spatiotemporal response of the optical characteristics of dissolved organic matter to seasonality and land use in tropical island rivers.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM), a pivotal component in the global carbon cycle, plays a crucial role in maintaining the productivity and functionality of aquatic ecosystems. However, the driving factors of variations in the properties of riverine DOM in tropical islands still remain unclear. In this study, the spatiotemporal response of the optical characteristics of riverine DOM to seasonality and land use on Hainan Island in southern China was investigated. Our results revealed that DOM in the rivers of Hainan Island exhibited a relatively high proportion of fulvic acid and demonstrated strong terrestrial sources. The optical properties of DOM exhibited significant variations both seasonally and spatially. Land use exerted a dominant influence on riverine DOM. Specifically, during the wet season, riverine DOM exhibited larger molecular weight, increased chromophoric DOM (CDOM) abundance, and higher Fmax compared to the dry season. Furthermore, riverine DOM influenced by grassland and farmland showed higher CDOM abundance, Fmax, and humification degree in contrast to those impacted by forest and urban. Random forest and correlation analysis results indicated that grassland and farmland enhanced the Fmax of DOM by increasing levels of TP, NO3--N, Chl a, and NH4+-N in the dry season. However, during the wet season, the increased Fmax of DOM induced by grassland and farmland relied on the increments of Chl a and TP concentrations. This study improves our understanding of the spatiotemporal fluctuations of DOM in the rivers of Hainan Island, highlighting the effects of season and land use on DOM. It offers valuable support for improving water quality and contributes to enhancing human comprehension of the global carbon cycle.

Effects of pregabalin combined with tramadol/paracetamol on acute pain in patients with CT-guided puncture localization of pulmonary nodules.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of pregabalin combined with tramadol/paracetamol on acute pain in patients with CT-guided puncture localization of pulmonary nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized, placebo-controlled and single-center study, 120 patients were allocated randomly to four groups: the control group (Group P), the pregabalin-placebo group (Group BP), the tramadol/paracetamol-placebo group (Group AP), and the pregabalin-tramadol/paracetamol group (Group AB). The primary outcome was the NRS (Numerical Rating Scale) score. Other outcomes included systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), the incidence of moderate to severe pain, the analgesia recovery ratio, the incidence of adverse drug reactions and patients' satisfaction. RESULTS: No significant interaction was detected between the interventions (P = 0.752). The NRS score of the Taking pregabalin group and the Taking tramadol/paracetamol group were significantly lower than those of the Not-taking pregabalin group and the Not-taking tramadol/paracetamol group respectively (P < 0.05). There was significant difference in the NRS scores among the four groups (P < 0.001). The NRS score of Group AB was significantly lower than that of Group P (P < 0.001), Group BP (P < 0.001) and Group AP (P = 0.001). At the same time, the NRS scores of Group BP (P < 0.001) and Group AP (P < 0.001) were significantly lower than those of Group P, but there was no significant difference between Group BP and Group AP (P = 1.000). The SBP, DBP, HR, the incidence of moderate to severe pain and the analgesia recovery ratio of Group AB were significantly lower than those of Group P (P < 0.05), while the SpO2 and the number of people who were very satisfied were significantly higher than those of Group P (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse drug reactions among the four groups (P = 0.272). CONCLUSIONS: The combination or single use of pregabalin and tramadol/paracetamol can effectively relieve the acute pain after localization. Pregabalin combined with tramadol/paracetamol has the best analgesic effect and significantly reduces the hemodynamic fluctuations, with high safety and low incidence of adverse drug reactions, which has a certain clinical popularization and application value.

Large-scale geographic patterns and environmental and anthropogenic drivers of wetland plant diversity in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

BACKGROUND: The geographic patterns of plant diversity in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) have been widely studied, but few studies have focused on wetland plants. This study quantified the geographic patterns of wetland plant diversity in the QTP through a comprehensive analysis of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional indices. METHODS: Based on a large number of floras, monographs, specimens and field survey data, we constructed a comprehensive dataset of 1,958 wetland plant species in the QTP. Species richness (SR), phylogenetic diversity (PD), functional diversity (FD), net relatedness index (NRI) and net functional relatedness index (NFRI) were used to assess the taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity of wetland plants. We explored the relationships between the diversity indices and four categories of environmental variables (i.e. energy-water, climate seasonality, topography and human activities). We used four diversity indices, namely endemic species richness, weighted endemism, phylogenetic endemism and functional endemism, together with the categorical analysis of neo- and paleo-endemism (CANAPE), to identify the endemic centers of wetland plants in the QTP. RESULTS: SR, PD and FD were highly consistent and showed a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest, decreasing with increasing elevation. The phylogenetic structure of wetland plant assemblages in most parts of the plateau is mainly clustered. The functional structure of wetland plant assemblages in the southeast of the plateau is overdispersed, while the functional structure of wetland plant assemblages in other areas is clustered. Energy-water and climate seasonality were the two most important categories of variables affecting wetland plant diversity. Environmental variables had a greater effect on the functional structure of wetland plants than on the phylogenetic structure. This study identified seven endemic centres, mainly in the Himalayas and Hengduan Mountains. CONCLUSIONS: Climate and topography are the main factors determining the geographic distribution of wetland plant diversity at large scales. The majority of grid cells in the QTP with significant phylogenetic endemism were mixed and super-endemism. At large scales, compared to climate and topography, human activities may not have a negative impact on wetland plant diversity in the QTP.

Identifying the protective effects of miR-874-3p/ATF3 axis in intervertebral disc degeneration by single-cell RNA sequencing and validation.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) severely affects the work and the quality of life of people. We previously demonstrated that silencing activation transcription factor 3 (ATF3) blocked the IVDD pathological process by regulating nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) ferroptosis, apoptosis, inflammation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism. Nevertheless, whether miR-874-3p mediated the IVDD pathological process by targeting ATF3 remains unclear. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bioinformatics analysis to identify ATF3 as a key ferroptosis gene in IVDD. Then, Western blotting, flow cytometry, ELISA, and animal experiments were performed to validate the roles and regulatory mechanisms of miR-874-3p/ATF3 signalling axis in IVDD. ATF3 was highly expressed in IVDD patients and multiple cell types of IVDD rat, as revealed by scRNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis. GO analysis unveiled the involvement of ATF3 in regulating cell apoptosis and ECM metabolism. Furthermore, we verified that miR-874-3p might protect against IVDD by inhibiting NPC ferroptosis, apoptosis, ECM degradation, and inflammatory response by targeting ATF3. In vivo experiments displayed the protective effect of miR-874-3p/ATF3 axis on IVDD. These findings propose the potential of miR-874-3p and ATF3 as biomarkers of IVDD and suggest that targeting the miR-874-3p/ATF3 axis may be a therapeutic target for IVDD.

Anesthetic Management of One-Lung Ventilation in Patients With Tracheal Bronchus: A Narrative Review.

Tracheal bronchus is a rare congenital tracheal abnormality that generally refers to the right upper lobe bronchus of the lung that originates from the trachea. Tracheal bronchus is usually asymptomatic and is often accidentally detected by fiberoptic bronchoscopy or computed tomography for other conditions. Depending on the location of the tracheal bronchial opening and possible anatomical variations, the management of 1-lung ventilation in patients with tracheal bronchus is a significant challenge for anesthesiologists. To provide a reference for anesthesiologists to better manage anesthesia in such patients, we review the pathophysiology, definition, and Conacher classification of tracheal bronchus and then discuss the diagnosis of tracheal bronchus and management of 1-lung ventilation during anesthesia according to the Conacher classification.

Effects of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L., BSF) Larvae Addition on In Vitro Fermentation Parameters of Goat Diets.

The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of different levels of BSF on rumen in vitro fermentation gas production, methane (CH4) production, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The experiment comprised four treatments, each with five replicates. The control group contained no BSF (BSF0), and the treatment groups contained 5% (BSF5), 10% (BSF10), and 15% (BSF15) BSF, respectively. Results showed that at 3 h, 9 h, and 24 h, gas production in BSF5 and BSF10 was significantly higher than in BSF0 and BSF15 (p < 0.05). Gas production in BSF5 and BSF10 was higher than in BSF0, while gas production in BSF15 was lower than in BSF0. At 6 h and 12 h, CH4 emission in BSF15 was significantly lower than in the other three groups (p < 0.05). There were no differences in the pH of in vitro fermentation after BSF addition (p > 0.05). At 3 h, NH3-N levels in BSF10 and BSF15 were significantly higher than in BSF0 and BSF5 (p < 0.05). At 6 h, NH3-N levels in BSF5 and BSF10 were significantly higher than in BSF0 and BSF15 (p < 0.05). Acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total VFAs in BSF0, BSF5, and BSF10 were significantly higher than in BSF15 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, gas production, CH4 emission, NH3-N, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and VFAs were highest in BSF5 and BSF10 and lowest in BSF15.

Climatic niche evolution and niche conservatism of Nymphaea species in Africa, South America, and Australia.

BACKGROUND: Interest in the evolution of climatic niches, particularly in understanding the potential adaptive responses of species under climate change, has increased both theoretically and within macroecological studies. These studies have provided valuable insights into how climatic traits of species influence their niche evolution. In this study, we aim to investigate whether niche conservatism plays a role in the species diversification of Nymphaea, a group of aquatic plants with a cosmopolitan distribution that is facing severe habitat loss. We will use climatic models and phylogenetic data for 23 species to reconstruct Nymphaea's niche evolution, measure niche overlap, and assess disparity through time while testing for evolutionary models. RESULTS: There was a lot of overlap in niches both within and between groups, especially for species that can be found in many places. The breadth and peaks of the niche profile varied depending on the bioclimatic variables, which suggested that the species evolved differently to cope with changes in climate. The analysis also showed that evolutionary changes happened across the phylogeny, with weak to moderate signals. The morphological disparity index (MDI) values indicated that there were disparities within subclades over time but not between or among them. Niche reconstruction and evolution analysis revealed both convergent and divergent evolution among various variables. For example, N. immutabilis, N. atrans, N. violancea, and N. nouchali evolved towards intermediate temperatures for bio2 and bio3 (isothermity) while moving towards extreme temperatures for bio8 and bio9 (wettest and driest average quarterly temperatures). CONCLUSION: Our study will improve our understanding of how changes in climatic niches are potentially driving the evolution of Nymphaea. It has significant scientific implications for the limits, assemblages, evolution, and diversification of species. This information is crucial for the ongoing efforts of conservation and management, particularly considering the inevitable effects of climate change.

The rise of baobab trees in Madagascar.

The baobab trees (genus Adansonia) have attracted tremendous attention because of their striking shape and distinctive relationships with fauna1. These spectacular trees have also influenced human culture, inspiring innumerable arts, folklore and traditions. Here we sequenced genomes of all eight extant baobab species and argue that Madagascar should be considered the centre of origin for the extant lineages, a key issue in their evolutionary history2,3. Integrated genomic and ecological analyses revealed the reticulate evolution of baobabs, which eventually led to the species diversity seen today. Past population dynamics of Malagasy baobabs may have been influenced by both interspecific competition and the geological history of the island, especially changes in local sea levels. We propose that further attention should be paid to the conservation status of Malagasy baobabs, especially of Adansonia suarezensis and Adansonia grandidieri, and that intensive monitoring of populations of Adansonia za is required, given its propensity for negatively impacting the critically endangered Adansonia perrieri.

Sex-specific circulating unconventional neutrophils determine immunological outcome of auto-inflammatory Behçet's uveitis.

Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cells that first respond to insults in circulation. Although associative evidence suggests that differences in neutrophils may be linked to the sex-specific vulnerability of inflammatory diseases, mechanistic links remain elusive. Here, we identified extensive sex-specific heterogeneity in neutrophil composition under normal and auto-inflammatory conditions at single-cell resolution. Using a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, neutrophil-specific genetic knockouts and transfer experiments, we discovered dysregulation of two unconventional (interferon-α responsive and T cell regulatory) neutrophil subsets leading to male-biased incidence, severity and poor prognosis of auto-inflammatory Behçet's uveitis. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) and exosome study revealed that male-specific negative effects of both genetic factors and circulating exosomes on unconventional neutrophil subsets contributed to male-specific vulnerability to disease. Collectively, our findings identify sex-specifically distinct neutrophil subsets and highlight unconventional neutrophil subsets as sex-specific therapeutic targets to limit inflammatory diseases.

The Cissus quadrangularis genome reveals its adaptive features in an arid habitat.

Cissus quadrangularis is a tetraploid species belonging to the Vitaceae family and is known for the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) pathway in the succulent stem, while the leaves perform C3 photosynthesis. Here, we report a high-quality genome of C. quadrangularis comprising a total size of 679.2 Mb which was phased into two subgenomes. Genome annotation identified 51 857 protein-coding genes, while approximately 47.75% of the genome was composed of repetitive sequences. Gene expression ratios of two subgenomes demonstrated that the sub-A genome as the dominant subgenome played a vital role during the drought tolerance. Genome divergence analysis suggests that the tetraploidization event occurred around 8.9 million years ago. Transcriptome data revealed that pathways related to cutin, suberine, and wax metabolism were enriched in the stem during drought treatment, suggesting that these genes contributed to the drought adaption. Additionally, a subset of CAM-related genes displayed diurnal expression patterns in the succulent stems but not in leaves, indicating that stem-biased expression of existing genes contributed to the CAM evolution. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms of drought adaptation and photosynthesis transition in plants.

Agaro-oligosaccharides mitigate deoxynivalenol-induced intestinal inflammation by regulating gut microbiota and enhancing intestinal barrier function in mice.

Agarose-derived agaro-oligosaccharides (AgaroS) have been extensively studied in terms of structures and bioactivities; they reportedly possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that maintain intestinal homeostasis and host health. However, the protective effects of AgaroS on deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced intestinal dysfunction remain unclear. We investigated the effects of AgaroS on DON-induced intestinal dysfunction in mice and explored the underlying protective mechanisms. In total, 32 mice were randomly allocated to four treatments (n = 8 each) for 28 days. From day 1 to day 21, the control (CON) and DON groups received oral phosphate-buffered saline (200 µL per day); the AgaroS and AgaroS + DON groups received 200 mg AgaroS per kg body weight once daily by orogastric gavage. Experimental intestinal injury was induced by adding DON (4.8 mg per kg body weight) via gavage from day 21 to day 28. Phosphate-buffered saline was administered once daily by gavage in the CON and AgaroS groups. Herein, AgaroS supplementation led to a higher final body weight and smaller body weight loss and a lower concentration of plasma inflammatory cytokines, compared with the DON group. The DON group showed a significantly reduced ileal villus height and villus height/crypt depth, compared with the CON and AgaroS + DON groups. However, AgaroS supplementation improved DON-induced intestinal injury in mice. Compared with the DON group, ileal and colonic protein expression levels of claudin, occludin, Ki67, and mucin2 were significantly higher in the AgaroS supplementation group. Colonic levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß tended to be higher in the DON group than in the AgaroS + DON group. AgaroS altered the gut microbiota composition, accompanied by increased production of short-chain fatty acids in mice. In conclusion, our findings highlight a promising anti-mycotoxin approach whereby AgaroS alleviate DON-induced intestinal inflammation by modulating intestinal barrier functional integrity and gut microbiota in mice.

Seeing Your Stories: Visualization for Narrative Medicine.

Importance: Narrative medicine (NM), in which patient stories play a crucial role in their diagnosis and treatment, can potentially support a more holistic approach to patient care than traditional scientific ones. However, there are some challenges in the implementation of narrative medicine, for example, differences in understanding illnesses between physicians and patients and physicians' increased workloads and overloaded schedules. This paper first presents a review to explore previous visualization research for narrative medicine to bridge the gap between visualization researchers and narrative medicine experts and explore further visualization opportunities. Highlights: The review is conducted from 2 perspectives: (a) the contexts and domains in which visualization has been explored for narrative medicine and (b) the forms and solutions applied in these studies. Four applied domains are defined, including understanding patients from narrative records, medical communication, medical conversation training in education, and psychotherapy and emotional wellness enhancement. Conclusions: A future work framework illustrates some opportunities for future research, including groups of specific directions and future points for the 4 domains and 3 technological exploration opportunities (combination of narrative and medical data visualization, task-audience-based visual storytelling, and user-centered interactive visualization). Specifically, 3 directions of future work in medical communication (asynchronous online physician-patient communication, synchronous face-to-face medical conversation, and medical knowledge dissemination) were concluded.