Association of gut microbiota with depression post-myocardial infarction: A systematic evaluation and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Depression post-myocardial infarction (MI) is becoming more prevalent. The gut-brain axis (GBA), influenced by the gut microbiota, is a critical component in understanding depression post-MI. Despite the well-established connection between gut microbiota and depression post-MI, this relationship remains incompletely understood. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocol (PRISMA-P) 2020 statement. Beginning from inception to October 2023, a systematic search will be conducted across eight electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Clinical Trials Database, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and China Biomedical Literature Database. Pre-selected studies will be independently assessed by two researchers following a standard inclusion, data extraction and quality assessment protocol. The primary outcome measures are differences in the profile of gut microbiota and rating scale scores for depression. Fixed-effects models will be used when both clinical heterogeneity and statistical heterogeneity are low, otherwise random-effects models will be used. Furthermore, subgroup analyses will be conducted on the depression severity of the participants using the same psychiatric scales employed, study type and geographic region. Random forest plot runs and research-related statistical analyses will be carried out using Rev Man V.5.3 software. EXPECTED RESULTS: This study will identify the association between the gut microbiota and the onset of depression post-MI, and provide evidence for the use of probiotics as an adjunctive treatment for depression post-MI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospero registration number: CRD42023444026.

Complex dynamics in nonlinear small time-delayed optoelectronic oscillator and application in fast reservoir computing and pulse generation.

We investigated a time-delayed optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) that displays a wide range of complex dynamic behavior under small time delay. The phase-space trajectory distributions in different dynamic regimes were compared which brings a new perspective on the underlying mechanism of the transition process. It was found that bifurcation is always possible no matter how small the time delay is even if the universal adiabatic approximation model is invalid. Hereby we proposed a versatile simple oscillator which has a potential capacity as memory carrier and high-dimensional state spatial mapping ability that brings 1000 times computing-efficiency improvements of reservoir computing over the large time delay one. Furthermore, we demonstrated a new approach for a tunable optoelectronic pulse generator (repetition rate at 0.2 MHz and 0.25 GHz) which depends critically on time-delayed input electrical pulse. The proposed oscillator is also a promising system for the applications of fast chaos-based communication.

Omega-3 PUFAs' efficacy in the therapy of coronary artery disease combined with anxiety or depression: a meta-analysis.

Objective: The evidence demonstrates that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) protect the cardiovascular system and alleviate anxious or depressive situations. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of omega-3 PUFAs in the treatment of anxiety or depressive states in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: This meta-analysis analyzed data from randomized controlled trials to determine the efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs alone or in combination with conventional psychotropic medications in coronary artery disease patients suffering from anxiety or depression. Primary outcomes included changes in depression scores, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores, and the omega-3 index. Results: Included were 6 trials involving 2,570 participants. Compared to controls,omega-3 PUFAs did not improve depression or anxiety {depression: [SMD=0.09 (95% CI: -0.07, 0.26)], anxiety [BAI: SMD=0.07 (95% CI: -0.17, 0.32)]}; For the results of the subgroup analyses, analyzed by different types of depression scales, four studies used the HAMD scale [SMD=0.19 (95% CI: -0.20, 0.58)]; 5 studies used the BDI-II scale [SMD=0.01 (95% CI: -0.07, 0.09)], all of which indicated no decrease in depression scale scores; analyzed by different types of intervention, 3 studies used the omega-3 PUFAs group [SMD=0.24 (95% CI: -0.26, 0.74)]; 2 studies used sertraline + omega-3 PUFAs [SMD=-0.08 (95% CI: -0.46, 0.31)], and the omega-3 index was elevated [SMD=1.33 (95% CI: 0.18, 2.49)], suggesting that the body's omega-3 content was indeed replenished but did not change the patient's depressive state; analyzed by different courses of therapy, a 10-week course of therapy [SMD=0.02 (95% CI: -0.23, 0.26)] and a 12-week course of therapy [SMD=0.40 (95% CI: -0.40, 1.20)] both resulted in a lack of improvement in depressive symptoms. Conclusion: According to the available evidence, omega-3 PUFAs do not alleviate anxiety or depression in coronary artery disease patients. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023391259.

Triglyceride-glucose index as a potential predictor of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease complicated with depression.

Background: Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a surrogate marker of insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities, which is closely related to the prognosis of a variety of diseases. Patients with both CHD and depression have a higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and worse outcome. TyG index may be able to predict the adverse prognosis of this special population. Methods: The retrospective cohort study involved 596 patients with both CHD and depression between June 2013 and December 2023. The primary outcome endpoint was the occurrence of MACCE, including all-cause death, stroke, MI and emergent coronary revascularization. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were used to assess the correlation between TyG index and MACCE risk of in patients with CHD complicated with depression. Results: With a median follow-up of 31 (15-62) months, MACCE occurred in 281(47.15%) patients. The area under the ROC curve of TyG index predicting the risk of MACCE was 0.765(0.726-0.804) (P<0.01). Patients in the high TyG index group(69.73%) had a significantly higher risk of developing MACCE than those in the low TyG index group(23.63%) (P<0.01). The multifactorial RCS model showed a nonlinear correlation (nonlinear P<0.01, overall P<0.01), with a critical value of 8.80 for the TyG index to predict the occurrence of MACCE. The TyG index was able to further improve the predictive accuracy of MACCE. Conclusions: TyG index is a potential predictor of the risk of MACCE in patients with CHD complicated with depression.

Inorganic perovskite-based active multifunctional integrated photonic devices.

The development of highly efficient active integrated photonic circuits is crucial for advancing information and computing science. Lead halide perovskite semiconductors, with their exceptional optoelectronic properties, offer a promising platform for such devices. In this study, active micro multifunctional photonic devices were fabricated on monocrystalline CsPbBr3 perovskite thin films using a top-down etching technique with focused ion beams. The etched microwire exhibited a high-quality micro laser that could serve as a light source for integrated devices, facilitating angle-dependent effective propagation between coupled perovskite-microwire waveguides. Employing this strategy, multiple perovskite-based active integrated photonic devices were realized for the first time. These devices included a micro beam splitter that coherently separated lasing signals, an X-coupler performing transfer matrix functions with two distinguishable light sources, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer manipulating the splitting and coalescence of coherent light beams. These results provide a proof-of-concept for active integrated functionalized photonic devices based on perovskite semiconductors, representing a promising avenue for practical applications in integrated optical chips.

High Q-Factor Single-Mode Lasing in Inorganic Perovskite Microcavities with Microfocusing Field Confinement.

The realization of high-Q single-mode lasing on the microscale is significant for the advancement of on-chip integrated light sources. It remains a challenging trade-off between Q-factor enhancement and light-field localization to raise the lasing emission rate. Here, we fabricated a zero-dimensional perovskite microcavity integrated with a nondamage pressed microlens to three-dimensionally tailor the intracavity light field and demonstrated linearly and nonlinearly (two-photon) pumped lasing by this microfocusing configuration. Notably, the microlensing microcavity experimentally achieves a high Q-factor (16700), high polarization (99.6%), and high Purcell factor (11.40) single-mode lasing under high-repetition pulse pumping. Three-dimensional light-field confinement formed by the microlens and plate microcavity simultaneously reduces the mode volume (∼3.66 µm3) and suppresses diffraction and transverse walk-off loss, which induces discretization on energy-momentum dispersions and spatial electromagnetic-field distributions. The Q factor and Purcell factor of our lasing come out on top among most of the reported perovskite microcavities, paving a promising avenue toward further studying electrically driven on-chip microlasers.

Structure and properties of the acellular porcine cornea irradiated with 60Co-γ and electron beam and its histocompatibility.

Acellular porcine cornea (APC) has been used in corneal transplantation and treatment of the corneal diseases. Sterilization is a key step before the application of graft, and irradiation is one of the most commonly used methods. In this paper, APC was prepared by the physical freeze-thawing combined with biological enzymes, and the effects of the electron beam (E-beam) and cobalt 60 (60Co-γ) at the dose of 15 kGy on the physicochemical properties, structure, immunogenicity, and biocompatibility of the APC were investigated. After decellularization, the residual DNA was 20.86 ± 1.02 ng/mg, and the α-Gal clearance rate was more than 99%. Irradiation, especially the 60Co-γ, reduced the cornea's transmittance, elastic modulus, enzymatic hydrolysis rate, swelling ratio, and cross-linking degree. Meanwhile, the diameter and spacing of the collagen fibers increased. In the rat subcutaneous implantation, many inflammatory cells appeared in the unirradiated APC, while the irradiated had good histocompatibility, but the degradation was faster. The lamellar keratoplasty in rabbits indicated that compared to the E-beam, the 60Co-γ damaged the chemical bond of collagen to a larger extent, reduced the content of GAGs, and prolonged the complete epithelization of the grafts. The corneal edema was more serious within 1 month after the surgery. After 2 months, the thickness of the APC with the two irradiation methods tended to be stable, but that in the 60Co-γ group became thinner. The pathological results showed that the collagen structure was looser and the pores were larger, indicating the 60Co-γ had a more extensive effect on the APC than the E-beam at 15 kGy.

The improvement of agronomic performances in the cold weather conditions for perennial wheatgrass by crossing Thinopyrum intermedium with wheat-Th. intermedium partial amphiploids.

Thinopyrum intermedium (2n=6x=42, StStJrJrJvsJvs) is resistant or tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses, making it suitable for developing perennial crops and forage. Through five cycles of selection, we developed 24 perennial wheatgrass lines, designated 19HSC-Q and 20HSC-Z, by crossing wheat-Th. intermedium partial amphiploids with Th. intermedium. The cold resistance, morphological performance, chromosome composition, and yield components of these perennial lines were investigated from 2019 to 2022. Six lines of 19HSC-Q had higher 1,000-kernel weight, grains per spike, and tiller number than Th. intermedium, as well as surviving -30°C in winter. Lines 19HSC-Q14, 19HSC-Q18, and 19HSC-Q20 had the best performances for grain number per spike and 1,000-kernel weight. The 20HSC-Z lines, 20HSC-Z1, 20HSC-Z2, and 20HSC-Z3, were able to survive in the cold winter in Harbin and had been grown for two years. Sequential multicolor GISH analysis revealed that the Jvs subgenome of Th. intermedium were divided into two karyotypes, three pairs of type-I Jvs chromosomes and four pairs of type-II Jvs chromosomes. Both Th. intermedium and the 24 advanced perennial wheatgrass lines had similar chromosome compositions, but the translocations among subgenome chromosomes were detected in some lines with prominent agronomic traits, such as 19HSC-Q11, 19HSC-Q14, 19HSC-Q18, 19HSC-Q20, and the three 20HSC-Z lines. The chromosome aberrations were distinguished into two types: the large fragment translocation with St-Jr, Jvs-St, Jr-IIJvs, and Jvs-Jr and the small fragment introgression of Jr-St, St-IJvs, and Jvs-Jr. These chromosomal variations can be used to further analyze the relationship between the subgenomes and phenotypes of Th. intermedium. The results of this study provide valuable materials for the next selection cycle of cold-resistant perennial wheatgrass.

[Mechanism of stress-induced microglial activation in depression and traditional Chinese medicine regulation].

Depression exists with high prevalence and heavy disease burden. Stress events play a key role in the occurrence of depression, but the pathological mechanism has not been fully clarified by reason of the complexity and heterogeneity. In recent years, neuroinflammation as a pathological mechanism of depression has received extensive attention. The activated microglia is regarded as the marker of neuroinflammation, which is an important link of stress-induced depression. Stress might induce microglia activation through pattern recognition receptors(PRR), intestinal flora, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis, and other pathways. Cross-talk between impaired microglia function and neurobiological factors such as inflammatory cytokines, serotonin metabolism, and neuroplasticity may lead to depression. At present, a large number of studies have proved that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) plays an anti-depressive role by inhibiting microglia activation, which may be potential treatment strategies for depressive disorder. This paper reviewed the research progress of stress-induced microglia activation in depression and summarized the mechanism of TCM against depression with regard to microglia, hoping to provide experimental evidence and consideration for TCM against depression through microglia.

Genome-Wide Association Mapping of Processing Quality Traits in Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Processing quality is an important economic wheat trait. The marker-assisted selection (MAS) method plays a vital role in accelerating genetic improvement of processing quality. In the present study, processing quality in a panel of 165 cultivars grown in four environments was evaluated by mixograph. An association mapping analysis using 90 K and 660 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays identified 24 loci in chromosomes 1A, 1B (4), 1D, 2A, 2B (2), 3A, 3B, 3D (2), 4A (3), 4B, 5D (2), 6A, 7B (2) and 7D (2), explaining 10.2-42.5% of the phenotypic variances. Totally, 15 loci were stably detected in two or more environments. Nine loci coincided with known genes or QTL, whereas the other fifteen were novel loci. Seven candidate genes encoded 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase, lipoxygenase, pyridoxal phosphate-dependent decarboxylase, sucrose synthase 3 and a plant lipid transfer protein/Par allergen. SNPs significantly associated with processing quality and accessions with more favorable alleles can be used for marker-assisted selection.

Structure and properties of the acellular porcine cornea irradiated with electron beam and its in-situ implantation.

Different sterilization doses of the electron beam (E-beam) will change the properties of biomaterials and affect their clinical application. Acellular porcine cornea (APC) is a promising corneal substitute to alleviate the shortage of corneal resources. The residual DNA was significantly reduced to 18.50 ± 3.19 ng/mg, and the clearance rate of α-Gal was close to 100% after the treatment with freezing-thawing combined enzyme, indicating that the decellularization was effective. The effects of different E-beam doses at 0, 2, 8, 15, and 25 kGy on the APC were studied. With the increase in irradiation dose, the transmittance, tensile strength, and swelling ratio of APC gradually decreased, but the resistance to enzymatic degradation was stronger than that of non-irradiated APC, especially at 8 kGy. The structure of APC was denser after irradiation, but the dose of 25 kGy could cause partial collagen fiber fracture and increase the pore size. The cell viability of the APC irradiated by 15 and 25 kGy were greater than 80%. After the implantation in rabbit corneas, there was no obvious neovascularization and inflammation, but the dose of 25 kGy had a more destructive effect on the chemical bonds of collagen, which made the APC easier to be degraded. The thickness of APC in the 25 kGy group was thinner than that in the 15 kGy group 1 year after surgery, and the epithelium grew more slowly, so the E-beam dose of 15 kGy might be more suitable for the sterilization of APC.

Efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological therapy under the guidance of TCM theory in the treatment of anxiety in patients with myocardial infarction: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing pressures of modern life and work, combined with a growing older population, the incidence of comorbid anxiety and myocardial infarction (MI) is increasing. Anxiety increases the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with MI and significantly affects their quality of life. However, there is an ongoing controversy regarding the pharmacological treatment of anxiety in patients with MI. The concomitant use of commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and antiplatelet medications such as aspirin and clopidogrel may increase the risk of bleeding. Conventional exercise-based rehabilitation therapies have shown limited success in alleviating anxiety symptoms. Fortunately, non-pharmacological therapies based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, such as acupuncture, massage, and qigong, have demonstrated promising efficacy in treating MI and comorbid anxiety. These therapies have been widely used in community and tertiary hospital settings in China to provide new treatment options for patients with anxiety and MI. However, current studies on non-pharmacological TCM-based therapies have predominantly featured small sample sizes. This study aims to comprehensively analyze and explore the effectiveness and safety of these therapies in treating anxiety in patients with MI. METHOD: We will systematically search six English and four Chinese databases by employing a pre-defined search strategy and adhering to the unique rules and regulations of each database to identify studies that fulfilled our inclusion criteria, to qualify for inclusion, patients must be diagnosed with both MI and anxiety, and they must have undergone non-pharmacological TCM therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, or qigong, whereas the control group received standard treatments. The primary outcome measure will be alterations in anxiety scores, as assessed using anxiety scales, with secondary outcomes encompassing the evaluations of cardiopulmonary function and quality of life. We will utilize RevMan 5.3 to conduct a meta-analysis of the collected data, and subgroup analyses will be executed based on distinct types of non-pharmacological TCM therapies and outcome measures. RESULTS: A narrative summary and quantitative analysis of the existing evidence on the treatment of anxiety patients with MI using non-pharmacological therapies guided by Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. CONCLUSION: This systematic review will investigate whether non-pharmacological interventions guided by TCM theory are effective and safe for anxiety in patients with MI, and provide evidence-based support for their clinical application. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022378391.

Genetic analysis of protein content and oil content in soybean by genome-wide association study.

Soybean seed protein content (PC) and oil content (OC) have important economic value. Detecting the loci/gene related to PC and OC is important for the marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding of soybean. To detect the stable and new loci for PC and OC, a total of 320 soybean accessions collected from the major soybean-growing countries were used to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) by resequencing. The PC ranged from 37.8% to 46.5% with an average of 41.1% and the OC ranged from 16.7% to 22.6% with an average of 21.0%. In total, 23 and 29 loci were identified, explaining 3.4%-15.4% and 5.1%-16.3% of the phenotypic variations for PC and OC, respectively. Of these, eight and five loci for PC and OC, respectively, overlapped previously reported loci and the other 15 and 24 loci were newly identified. In addition, nine candidate genes were identified, which are known to be involved in protein and oil biosynthesis/metabolism, including lipid transport and metabolism, signal transduction, and plant development pathway. These results uncover the genetic basis of soybean protein and oil biosynthesis and could be used to accelerate the progress in enhancing soybean PC and OC.

Optoelectronic Devices of Large-Scale Transferred All-Inorganic Lead Halide Perovskite Thin Films.

We report the large-scale transfer process for monocrystalline CsPbBr3 thin films prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with excellent optical properties and stability. The transfer process is robust, simple, and effective, in which CsPbBr3 thin films could be transferred to several substrates and effectively avoid chemical or physical fabrication processes to damage the perovskite surface. Moreover, the transfer process endows CsPbBr3 and substrates with atomically clean and electronically flat interfaces. We utilize this transfer process to realize several optoelectronic devices, including a photonic laser with a threshold of 61 µJ/cm2, a photodetector with a responsivity of 2.4 A/W, and a transistor with a hole mobility of 11.47 cm2 V-1 s-1. High device performances mainly originate from low defects of high-quality single-crystal perovskite and seamless contact between CsPbBr3 and target substrates. The large-scale nondestructive transfer process provides promising opportunities for optoelectronic applications based on monocrystalline perovskites.

Microfibril-Associated Glycoprotein-2 Promoted Fracture Healing via Integrin αvß3/PTK2/AKT Signaling.

Fracture healing is a complex physiological process in which angiogenesis plays an essential role. Microfibril-associated glycoprotein-2 (MAGP2) has been reported to possess a proangiogenic activity via integrin αvß3, yet its role in bone repair is unexplored. In this study, a critical-sized femoral defect (2 mm) was created in mice, followed by the delivery of an adenovirus-based MAGP2 overexpression vector or its negative control at the fracture site. At days 7, 14, 21, and 28 postfracture, bone fracture healing was evaluated by radiography, micro-computed tomography, and histopathologic analysis. Adenovirus-based MAGP2 overexpression vector-treated mice exhibited increased bone mineral density and bone volume fraction. MAGP2 overexpression contributed to an advanced stage of endochondral ossification and induced cartilage callus into the bony callus. Further analysis indicated that MAGP2 was associated with enhanced angiogenesis, as evidenced by marked MAGP2 and integrin αvß3 costaining and increased endothelial cell markers such as endomucin and CD31 levls, as well as elevated phosphorylation of protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT) in the callus. In vitro, recombinant human MAGP2 treatment enhanced the viability, migration, and tube formation ability of human microvascular endothelial cells, which was partially reversed by integrin αvß3 inhibition or MK-2206, a specific AKT inhibitor. Inhibition of integrin αvß3 abolished MAGP2-induced PTK2 and AKT activation. Taken together, our data provide the first evidence that MAGP2 promotes angiogenesis and bone formation by activating the integrin αvß3/PTK2/AKT signaling pathway.

Electrostatic Epitaxy of Orientational Perovskites for Microlasers.

Orientational growth of single-crystalline structures is pivotal in the semiconductor industry, which is achievable by epitaxy for producing thin films, heterostructures, quantum wells, and superlattices. Beyond silicon and III-V semiconductors, solution-processible semiconductors, such as metal-halide perovskites, are emerging for scalable and cost-effective manufacture of optoelectronic devices, whereas the polycrystalline nature of fabricated structures restricts their application toward integrated devices. Here, electrostatic epitaxy, a process sustained by strong electrostatic interactions between self-assembled surfactants (octanoate anions) and Pb2+ , is developed to realize orientational growth of single-crystalline CsPbBr3 microwires. Strong electrostatic interactions localized at the air-liquid interface not only support preferential nucleation for single crystallinity, but also select the crystal facet with the highest Pb2+ areal density for pure crystallographic orientation. Due to the epitaxy at the air-liquid interface, direct growth of oriented single-crystalline microwires onto different substrates without the processes of lift-off and transfer is realized. Photonic lasing emission, waveguide coupling, and on-chip propagation of coherent light are demonstrated based on these single-crystalline microwires. These findings open an avenue for on-chip integration of single-crystalline materials.

Nonthermal Ultrafast Optical Control of Magnetization Dynamics by Linearly Polarized Light in Metallic Ferromagnet.

Coherent optical control of the magnetization in ferromagnetic (FM) mediums using ultrafast nonthermal effect paves a promising avenue to improve the speed and repetition rate of the magnetization manipulation. Whereas previously, only heat-induced or helicity-dependent magnetization dynamics are demonstrated in metallic ferromagnets. Here, the linearly-polarized light control of magnetization is demonstrated in FM Co coupled with ferroelectric (FE) BiFeO3 by tuning the light polarization direction. It is revealed that in the Co/BiFeO3 heterostructure excited by femtosecond laser pulses, the magnetization precession amplitude follows a sinusoidal dependence on the laser polarization direction. This nonthermal control of coherent magnetization rotation is attributed to the optical rectification effect in the BiFeO3 layer, which yields a FE polarization depending on the light polarization, and the subsequent modulation of magnetic energy in Co by the electrostriction-induced strain. This work demonstrates an effective route to nonthermally manipulate the ultrafast magnetization dynamics in metallic ferromagnets.

Stripe Rust Effector Pst_9302 Inhibits Wheat Immunity to Promote Susceptibility.

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici is an obligate biotrophic fungus that causes destructive stripe rust disease in wheat. During infection, Pst secretes virulence effectors via a specific infection structure-the haustorium-inside host cells to disturb host immunity and promote fungal colonization and expansion. Hence, the identification and functional analyses of Pst effectors are of great significance in deciphering the Pst pathogenicity mechanism. Here, we identified one candidate Pst effector Pst_9302 that could suppress Bax-triggered cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana. qRT-PCR analyses showed that the transcript levels of Pst_9302 were highly increased during the early infection stages of Pst. The transient expression of Pst_9302 in wheat via the type-three secretion system (T3SS) significantly inhibited the callose deposition induced by Pseudomonas syringae EtHAn. During wheat-Pst interaction, Pst_9302 overexpression suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and cell death caused by the avirulent Pst race CYR23. The host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) of Pst_9302 resulted in decreased Pst pathogenicity with reduced infection area. The results suggest that Pst_9302 plays a virulence role in suppressing plant immunity and promoting Pst pathogenicity. Moreover, wheat voltage-dependent anion channel 1 protein (TaVDAC1) was identified as candidate Pst_9302-interacting proteins by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening. Pull-down assays using the His-Pst_9302 and GST-TaVDAC1 protein verified their interactions. These results suggest that Pst_9302 may modulate wheat TaVDAC1 to regulate plant immunity.

Calcium ionophore improves embryonic development and pregnancy outcomes in patients with previous developmental problems in ICSI cycles.

BACKGROUND: Calcium (Ca2+) ionophores are now mainly considered as efficient treatments for fertilization failure. Recently, its application for rescuing poor embryo development was proposed but still non-routine. This study aimed to explore whether Ca2+ ionophore improves embryo development and pregnancy outcomes in patients with poor embryo development in previous intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. METHODS: This study included 97 patients undergoing assisted oocyte activation (AOA) with Ca2+ ionophore (calcimycin, A23187) treatment. Preimplantation embryonic development and clinical outcomes were compared between ICSI-AOA cycles (AOA group) and previous ICSI cycles of the same patients in which poor embryo developmental potential was present (non-AOA group). Subgroups stratified by maternal age (< 35, 35-40, ≥ 40 years, respectively) were analyzed separately. RESULTS: A total of 642 MII oocytes were collected in AOA group, and 689 in non-AOA group. Significantly higher day 3 good quality embryo rate (P = 0.034), good quality blastocyst formation rate (P <  0.001), and utilization rate (P <  0.001) were seen in AOA group. Similar results were seen in each subgroup. For pregnancy outcomes, there were significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate (P = 0.039) and live birth rate (P = 0.045) in total group. In subgroup aged < 35 years, biochemical (P = 0.038), clinical (P = 0.041), and ongoing pregnancy rate (P = 0.037) in AOA group were significantly higher than that in non-AOA group. No significant improvement for clinical outcomes for subgroups aged 35-40 and aged ≥40. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that calcimycin could improve preimplantation development and pregnancy outcomes in patients aged < 35 years with embryo developmental problems in previous ICSI cycles.