Chitosan Oligosaccharides Mitigate Flooding Stress Damage in Rice by Affecting Antioxidants, Osmoregulation, and Hormones.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important food crops worldwide. However, during direct seeding, rice is extremely vulnerable to flooding stress, which impairs rice's emergence and seedling growth and results in a significant yield loss. According to our research, chitosan oligosaccharides have the potential to be a chemical seed-soaking agent that greatly increases rice's resistance to flooding. Chitosan oligosaccharides were able to enhance seed energy supply, osmoregulation, and antioxidant capacity, according to physiological index assessments. Using transcriptome and metabolomic analysis, we discovered that important differential metabolites and genes were involved in the signaling pathway for hormone synthesis and antioxidant capacity. Exogenous chitosan oligosaccharides specifically and significantly inhibit genes linked to auxin, jasmonic acid, and abscisic acid. This suggested that applying chitosan oligosaccharides could stabilize seedling growth and development by controlling associated hormones and reducing flooding stress by enhancing membrane stability and antioxidant capacity. Finally, we verified the effectiveness of exogenous chitosan oligosaccharides imbibed in seeds by field validation, demonstrating that they can enhance rice seedling emergence and growth under flooding stress.

Crystal structure of hetero hexameric 11S seed storage protein of hazelnut.

Edible plant seeds provide a relatively inexpensive source of protein and make up a large part of nutrients for humans. Plant seeds accumulate storage proteins during seed development. Seed storage proteins act as a reserve of nutrition for seed germination and seedling growth. However, seed storage proteins may be allergenic, and the prevalence of food allergy has increased rapidly in recent years. The 11S globulins account for a significant number of known major food allergens. They are of interest to the public and the agricultural industry because of food safety concerns and the need for crop enhancement. We sought to determine the crystal structure of Cor a 9, the 11 S storage protein of hazelnut and a food allergen. The structure was refined to 1.92 Å, and the R and Rfree for the refined structure are 17.6% and 22.5%, respectively. The structure of Cor a 9 showed a hetero hexamer of an 11S seed storage protein for the first time. The hexamer was two trimers associated back-to-back. Two long alpha helixes at the C-terminal end of the acidic domain of one of the Cor a 9 isoforms lay at the trimer-trimer interface's groove. These data provided much-needed information about the allergenicity of the 11S seed proteins. The information may also facilitate a better understanding of the folding and transportation of 11S seed storage proteins.

Association between ambient air pollution and age-related macular degeneration: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between ambient air pollution and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, a consensus has not yet been reached. Our meta-analysis aimed to clarify this association. METHODS: Databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, were searched for relevant studies from 01 January 2000 to 30 January 2024. English-language, peer-reviewed studies using cross-sectional, prospective, or retrospective cohorts and case-control studies exploring this relationship were included. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed study quality. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled covariate-adjusted odds ratios. Heterogeneity across studies was also tested. RESULTS: We identified 358 relevant studies, of which eight were included in the meta-analysis. Four studies evaluated the association between particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) and AMD, and three studies explored the relationship between nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or ozone (O3) and AMD. The pooled odds ratios were 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-1.21), 1.17 (95% CI: 1.09-1.25), and 1.06 (95% CI: 1.05-1.07), respectively. CONCLUSION: Current evidence suggests a concomitant positive but not causal relationship between PM2.5, NO2, or O3 and AMD risk.

Current advances and future directions in combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma.

The low incidence of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is an important factor limiting research progression. Our study extensively included nearly three decades of relevant literature and assembled the most comprehensive database comprising 5,742 patients with cHCC-CCA. We summarized the characteristics, tumor markers, and clinical features of these patients. Additionally, we present the evolution of cHCC-CCA classification and explain the underlying rationale for these classification standards. We reviewed cHCC-CCA diagnostic advances using imaging features, tumor markers, and postoperative pathology, as well as treatment options such as surgical, adjuvant, and immune-targeted therapies. In addition, recent advances in more effective chemotherapeutic regimens and immune-targeted therapies were explored. Furthermore, we described the molecular mutation features and potential specific markers of cHCC-CCA. The prognostic value of Nestin has been proven, and we speculate that Nestin will also play a role in classification and diagnosis. However, further research is needed. Moreover, we believe that the possibility of using machine learning liquid biopsy for preoperative diagnosis and establishing a scoring system are directions for future research.

AhR Agonistic Components in Urban Particulate Matter Regulate Astrocytic Activation and Function.

Exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been found to accelerate the onset of neurological disorders via the induction of detrimental neuroinflammatory responses. To reveal how astrocytes respond to urban atmospheric PM stimulation, a commercially available standard reference material (SRM1648a) was tested in this study on the activation of rat cortical astrocytes. The results showed that SRM1648a stimulation induced both A1 and A2 phenotypes in astrocytes, as characterized by the exposure concentration-dependent increases in Fkbp5, Sphk1, S100a10, and Il6 mRNA levels. Studying the functional alterations of astrocytes indicated that the neurotrophic factors of Gdnf and Ngf were transcriptionally upregulated due to astrocytic A2-type activation. SRM1648a also promoted autonomous motility of astrocytes and elevated the expressions of chemokines. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonistic components, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were recognized to greatly contribute to SRM1648a-induced effects on astrocytes, which was confirmed by the attenuation of PM-disturbed astrocytic effects via AhR blockage. This study, for the first time, uncovered the direct regulation of urban atmospheric PM on astrocytic activation and function and traced the containing bioactive components (e.g., PAHs) with AhR agonistic activity. The findings provided new knowledge on understanding the ambiguous neurological disturbance from ambient fine PM pollution.

Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion at L5-S1 Segment Through an Approach Between the Psoas Muscle and the Great Vessels.

Over the years, the oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) technique has gained significant recognition for treating various spinal conditions in lumbar segments L2-L5. However, the adoption of OLIF for the L5-S1 segment has not been widely embraced by the spinal surgery community, given that significant concerns remain regarding the applicability of OLIF for lumbosacral fusion. In this study, a cohort of 20 patients underwent interbody fusion at the L5-S1 level using the OLIF technique through a single retroperitoneal oblique approach positioned between the Psoas muscle and the great vessels. The procedure involved discectomy and endplate preparation accomplished through a surgical window created on the anterolateral side of the L5-S1 disc. For secure interbody fusion cage placement, a supplementary cage insertion approach was employed. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. The mean preoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score for lower back pain was 6.3 ± 1.5 and experienced a significant reduction to 1.2 ± 0.8 at 12 months. The VAS score for lower limb pain significantly decreased from 5.6 ± 1.4 preoperatively to 0.8 ± 0.3 at 12 months after the surgery. Furthermore, the preoperative Oswestry disability index (ODI) improved from 82.4% ± 16.2% to 8.1% ± 2.0% at 12 months. Radiographic evaluations after surgery confirmed improved lumbosacral junction reconstruction for all patients. At the final follow-up, successful bony fusion was observed in all cases. Based on these findings, the OLIF technique for L5-S1 fusion represents an attainable approach for lumbosacral reconstruction. The procedure's success hinges on a comprehensive preoperative plan and precise intraoperative techniques.

Virtual screening of natural products targeting ubiquitin-specific protease 7.

Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a promising prognostic and druggable target for cancer therapy. Inhibition of USP7 can activate the MDM2-P53 signaling pathway, thereby promoting cancer cell apoptosis. This study based on watvina molecular docking of virtual screening method and biological evaluation found the new USP7 inhibitors targeting catalytic active site. Three hits were screened from 3760 natural products and validated as USP7 inhibitors by enzymatic and kinetic assays. The IC50 values of scutellarein (Scu), semethylzeylastera (DML) and salvianolic acid C (SAC) were 3.017, 6.865 and 8.495 µM, respectively. Further, we reported that the hits could downregulate MDM2 and activate p53 signal pathway in HCT116 cells. Molecular dynamics simulation was used to investigate the binding mechanism of USP7 to Scu, the compound with the best performance, which formed stable contact with Val296, Gln297, Phe409, Tyr465 and Tyr514. These interactions are essential for maintaining the biological activity of Scu. Three natural products are suitable as lead compounds for the development of novel USP7 inhibitors, especially anti-colon cancer drugs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Night eating in timing, frequency, and food quality and risks of all-cause, cancer, and diabetes mortality: findings from national health and nutrition examination survey.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of timing, frequency, and food quality of night eating with all-cause, cancer, and diabetes mortality. METHODS: This study included 41,744 participants from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2002-2018). Night eating information was collected by 24-h dietary recall and the exposures were timing, frequency, and food quality of night eating. Food quality was assessed by latent class analysis. The outcomes were all-cause, cancer, and diabetes mortality, which were identified by the National Death Index and the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision. Adjusted hazard ratios [aHR] with 95% confidence intervals [CI] were computed by Cox regression. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 8.7 years, 6066 deaths were documented, including 1381 from cancer and 206 from diabetes. Compared with no night eating (eating before 22:00), the later timing of night eating was associated with higher risk of all-cause and diabetes mortality (each P-trend <0.05) rather than cancer mortality, with the highest risk of eating being 00:00-1:00 (aHR 1.38, 95% CI 1.02-1.88) and being 23:00-00:00 (aHR 2.31, 95% CI 1.21-4.40), respectively. However, the increased risks were not observed for 22:00-23:00. Likewise, one time or over frequency of night eating was associated with higher all-cause and diabetes mortality (each P < 0.05). That risks were further observed in high-dietary-energy-density group of night eating (all-cause mortality: aHR 1.21 [95% CI 1.06-1.38]; diabetes mortality: aHR 1.97 [95% CI 1.13-3.45]), but not in low-dietary-energy-density group. Finally, correlation analysis found positive associations of night eating with glycohemoglobin, fasting glucose, and OGTT. CONCLUSIONS: Night eating was associated with increased all-cause, cancer and diabetes mortality; however, reduction of excess mortality risk was observed when eating before 23:00 or low-dietary-energy-density foods.

Chemical contaminants in blood and their implications in chronic diseases.

Artificial chemical products are widely used and ubiquitous worldwide and pose a threat to the environment and human health. Accumulating epidemiological and toxicological evidence has elucidated the contributions of environmental chemical contaminants to the incidence and development of chronic diseases that have a negative impact on quality of life or may be life-threatening. However, the pathways of exposure to these chemicals and their involvements in chronic diseases remain unclear. We comprehensively reviewed the research progress on the exposure risks of humans to environmental contaminants, their body burden as indicated by blood monitoring, and the correlation of blood chemical contaminants with chronic diseases. After entering the human body through various routes of exposure, environmental contaminants are transported to target organs through blood circulation. The application of the modern analytical techniques based on human plasma or serum specimens is promising for determining the body burden of environmental contaminants, including legacy persistent organic pollutants, emerging pollutants, and inorganic elements. Furthermore, their body burden, as indicated by blood monitoring correlates with the incidence and development of metabolic syndromes, cancers, chronic nervous system diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and reproductive disorders. On this basis, we highlight the urgent need for further research on environmental pollution causing health problems in humans.

A new pepper allergen Zan b 1.01 of 2S albumins: Identification, cloning, characterization, and cross-reactivity.

BACKGROUND: Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Sichuan pepper; in Chinese) is used as a spice worldwide and is a potentially life-threatening allergenic food source, as first reported by our team in 2005. However, its allergen components are unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aim to identify and characterize its major allergen and determine its cross-reactivities with citrus seeds, pistachios, and cashew seeds. METHODS: Ionic exchange and molecular exclusion chromatography were used to isolate the protein components from Sichuan pepper seed. A protein fraction was characterized by SDS-PAGE, analytical ultracentrifugation, mass spectrometry, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The coding region of it was amplified from the genome. ELISA and competitive ELISA assays were used to investigate the allergenicity and cross-reactivity of allergens. RESULTS: This protein allergen was around 14 kDa. It was a 2S albumin similar to an α-Amylase inhibitor (AAI) domain-containing protein of Citrus sinensis. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed its thermal stability was high. A 303 bps DNA sequence of the AAI domain was cloned from the genome of the Sichuan pepper. Competitive ELISA assays showed positive cross-reactivities between this allergen and citrus seeds, pistachios, and cashew seeds. CONCLUSION: A major allergen of around 14 kDa from Sichuan pepper seed was confirmed, which belongs to the 2S albumin of plant seed storage proteins. Based on the nomenclature of the IUIS Subcommittee for Allergen Nomenclature, this allergen is designated as Zan b 1.01. The cross-reactivities were demonstrated between Zan b 1.01 and citrus seeds, pistachios, and cashew seeds.

Association between statin use on delirium and 30-day mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Delirium occurs frequently in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the intensive care unit. Effective prevention and treatment strategies for delirium remain limited. We aimed to assess delirium and 30-day mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were statin and non-statin users. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were identified from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database (MIMIC-IV). The primary exposure variable was the use of statins 3 days after entering the intensive care unit and the primary outcome measure was the presence of delirium. The secondary outcome measure was 30-day mortality. Since the cohort study was retrospective, we used an inverse probability weighting derived from the propensity score matching to balance different variables. RESULTS: Among a cohort of 2725 patients, 1484 (54.5%) were statin users. Before propensity score matching, the prevalence of delirium was 16% and the 30-day mortality was 18% in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Statin use was significantly negatively correlated with delirium, with an odds ratio of 0.69 (95% CI 0.56-0.85, p < 0.001) in the inverse probability weighted cohort and 30-day mortality of 0.7 (95% CI 0.57-0.85, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Statin use is associated with a lower incidence of delirium and 30-day mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the intensive care unit.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Cancer Treatment-Related Cardiac Dysfunction by Ultrasound Myocardial Strain: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Anticancer treatment regimens are effective but may lead to cardiac dysfunction. The meaning of this statement is that myocardial strain can be a good indicator of cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction. We used Bayesian network meta-analysis to compare and rank these regimens to comprehensively evaluate their influence on the heart. We searched multiple databases to identify relevant studies. Global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain, global circumferential strain, and other parameters were collected at baseline (T0), from baseline to 3 months of follow-up (T3), from 3 months to 6 months of follow-up (T6), and from 6 months to 12 months or longer of follow-up (T12). The weight mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to express continuous variables. Direct and indirect comparison and ranking of different regimens based on the forest plots and the surface under the cumulative ranking area. A total of 4613 subjects were included in 33 studies. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy (ANT), trastuzumab, paclitaxel plus carboplatin or clofarabine, and radiotherapy (RT) were more likely to reduce GLS and global circumferential strain at T3 and T12. In particular, ANT+RT resulted in a more significant decrease in GLS than ANT alone at T12 (WMD 1.15; 95% CI, 0.05-2.26). Interestingly, cardioprotective treatment regimens, such as anthracycline plus bisoprolol plus angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ANT+BB+ACEIs) (WMD -2.79; 95% CI, -5.06 to -0.52), and ANT plus rosuvastatin (STATINs) (WMD -2.92; 95% CI, -5.54 to -0.29), were more likely to improve GLS than ANT at T12. The included anticancer regimens, especially ANT+RT, reduced GLS at T12, but their combination with cardioprotective drugs improved them. These results will help clinicians choose the best therapy regimens.

Identification of canine mammary tumor-associated metabolites using untargeted metabolomics.

The canine mammary tumor is the most common tumor type in female dogs and seriously threatens their life. Currently, no effective treatments are available for this condition. Hence, it is essential to identify biomarkers that positively influence the early diagnosis and treatment and prognosis of this disease. To provide a basis for early diagnosis of canine breast tumors, in this study, 23 dogs with mammary tumors were identified via histopathological examination combined with ancillary diagnoses via blood examinations and diagnostic imaging. The canine mammary tumor and tumor-adjacent healthy tissues were collected, and their metabolites were identified utilizing a UHPLC-qTOF-MS-based untargeted metabolomics approach. The metabolic results revealed a total of 979 ion features in the positive polarity mode and 371 ion features in the negative polarity mode in the tissues of two groups; among them, 536 differential metabolites (385 in the positive and 151 in the negative polarity mode) were analyzed by PCA and PLS-DA. Subsequently, the enrichment pathways purine metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis were analyzed using Metaboanalyst 4.0, which suggested that these pathways were valuable diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic curves further confirmed 13Z,16Z-docosadienoic acid, 23-nordeoxycholic acid, and (±)12(13)-DiHOME as expected candidate biomarkers of canine mammary tumors. In conclusion, the discovery of tumor biomarkers based on untargeted metabolomics is informative for pathological mechanism studies and facilitates the early diagnosis of canine mammary tumors.

Microbial Community Succession and Its Correlation with Quality Characteristics during Gray Sufu Fermentation.

Gray sufu, a traditional fermented food derived from soybeans, undergoes a complex fermentation process. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of the microbial community during sufu fermentation and its relationship with key quality characteristics. Through systematic sampling of sufu at different phases of fermentation, 143 bacterial genera and 84 fungal genera involved in the process were identified. Among these, Chishuiella, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, and Weissella emerged as the predominant bacterial communities. After seven days of ripening fermentation, Trichosporon supplanted Diutina as the predominant fungus, accounting for more than 84% of all fungi. Using redundancy analysis, significant correlations between microbiota and physicochemical properties were uncovered. Chishuiella and Empedobacter displayed positive relationships with pH, soluble protein, and amino nitrogen content. In addition, five biogenic amines were detected, and it was determined that tyramine accounted for more than 75% of the total biogenic amines in the final gray sufu products. Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Tetragenococcus, Halanaerobium, and Trichosporon and the five biogenic amines examined. These findings shed light on the complex interactions between microorganisms and biogenic amines during the fermentation of gray sufu, thereby facilitating the development of microbial regulation strategies for better quality control.

Tracing the plasma kallikrein-kinin system-activating component in the atmospheric particulate matter with different origins.

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) perturbs hematological homeostasis by targeting the plasma kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), causing a cascade of zymogen activation events. However, the causative components involved in PM-induced hematological effects are largely unknown. Herein, the standard reference materials (SRMs) of atmospheric PM, including emissions from the diesel (2975), urban (1648a), and bituminous coal (2693), were screened for their effects on plasma KKS activation, and the effective constituent contributing to PM-induced KKS activation was further explored by fraction isolation and chemical analysis. The effects of three SRMs on KKS activation followed the order of 2975 > 1648a > 2693, wherein the fractions of 2975 isolated by acetone and water, together with the insoluble particulate residues, exerted significant perturbations in the hematological homeostasis. The soot contents in the SRMs and corresponding isolated fractions matched well with their hematological effects, and the KKS activation could be dependent on the soot surface oxidation degree. This study, for the first time, uncovered the soot content in atmospheric PM with different origins contributed to the distinct effects on plasma KKS activation. The finding would be of utmost importance for the health risk assessment on inhaled airborne fine PM, given its inevitable contact with human circulatory system.

Food Allergens of Plant Origin.

This review presents an update on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of food allergens in plant sources, focusing on the few protein families that contribute to multiple food allergens from different species and protein families recently found to contain food allergens. The structures and structural components of the food allergens in the allergen families may provide further directions for discovering new food allergens. Answers as to what makes some food proteins allergens are still elusive. Factors to be considered in mitigating food allergens include the abundance of the protein in a food, the property of short stretches of the sequence of the protein that may constitute linear IgE binding epitopes, the structural properties of the protein, its stability to heat and digestion, the food matrix the protein is in, and the antimicrobial activity to the microbial flora of the human gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, recent data suggest that widely used techniques for mapping linear IgE binding epitopes need to be improved by incorporating positive controls, and methodologies for mapping conformational IgE binding epitopes need to be developed.

Development of Thermally Stable Nanobodies for Detection and Neutralization of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B.

In this study, sixteen unique staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-reactive nanobodies (nbs), including ten monovalent and six bivalent nbs, were developed. All characterized nbs were highly specific for SEB and did not cross-react with other staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE). Several formats of highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were established using SEB nbs and a polyclonal antibody (pAb). The lowest limit of detection (LOD) reached 50 pg/mL in PBS. When applied to an ELISA to detect SEB-spiked milk (a commonly contaminated foodstuff), a LOD as low as 190 pg/mL was obtained. The sensitivity of ELISA was found to increase concurrently with the valency of nbs used in the assay. In addition, a wide range of thermal tolerance was observed among the sixteen nbs, with a subset of nbs, SEB-5, SEB-9, and SEB-62, retaining activity even after exposure to 95 °C for 10 min, whereas the conventional monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies exhibited heat-labile properties. Several nbs demonstrated a long shelf-life, with one nb (SEB-9) retaining 93% of its activity after two weeks of storage at room temperature. In addition to their usage in toxin detection, eleven out of fifteen nbs were capable of neutralizing SEB's super-antigenic activity, demonstrated by their inhibition on IL-2 expression in an ex vivo human PBMC assay. Compared to monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, the nbs are relatively small, thermally stable, and easy to produce, making them useful in applications for sensitive, specific, and cost-effective detection and management of SEB contamination in food products.

Citrinin Is a Potential Quorum Sensing Inhibitor against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that infects patients by regulating virulence factors and biofilms through a quorum sensing (QS) system to protect itself from antibiotics and environmental stress. Therefore, the development of quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) is expected to become a new strategy for studying drug resistance to P. aeruginosa infections. Marine fungi are valuable resources for screening QSIs. A marine fungus, Penicillium sp. JH1, with anti-QS activity was isolated from the offshore waters of Qingdao (China), and citrinin, a novel QSI, was purified from secondary metabolites of this fungus. Citrinin could significantly inhibit the production of violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum CV12472 and the production of three virulence factors (elastase, rhamnolipid and pyocyanin) in P. aeruginosa PAO1. It could also inhibit the biofilm formation and motility of PAO1. In addition, citrinin downregulated the transcript levels of nine genes (lasI, rhlI, pqsA, lasR, rhlR, pqsR, lasB, rhlA and phzH) associated with QS. Molecular docking results showed that citrinin bound to PqsR and LasR with better affinity than the natural ligands. This study laid a foundation for the further study of the structure optimization and structure-activity relationship of citrinin.