Asparaginyl Endopeptidase-Mediated Peptide Cyclization for Phage Display.

We report here an enzymatic strategy for asparaginyl endopeptidase-mediated peptide cyclization. Incorporation of chloroacetyl groups into the recognition sequence of OaAEP1 enabled intramolecular cyclization with Cys residues. Combining this strategy and phage display, we identified nanomolar macrocyclic peptide ligands targeting TEAD4. One of the bicyclic peptides binds to TEAD4 with a KD value of 139 nM, 16 times lower than its linear analogue, demonstrating the utility of this platform in discovering high-affinity macrocyclic peptide ligands.

[Imaging findings of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma in minor salivary glands].

PURPOSE: To summarize the CT and MR imaging features of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma(Ca-ex-PA) in minor salivary gland, and analyze the correlation between various features and pathological classification. METHODS: Forty-three patients with Ca-ex-PA in minor salivary gland were collected. The CT and MRI findings were retrospectively analyzed and correlated with their pathological types. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the correlation between various imaging features (tumor morphology, boundary, internal structure, bone invasion, cervical lymph node metastasis) and pathological types with SPSS 25.0 software package. RESULTS: Among the 43 patients with Ca-ex-PA, 83.7%(36/43) of the tumors were lobulated; 81.4%(35/43) showed cystic degeneration or necrosis, with heterogeneous enhancement. Coarse calcification or mixed calcification was found in 37.2%(16/43), 25.6%(11/43) had compressive absorption of adjacent bone. 75%(12/16) of type Ⅰ/Ⅱ tumors had regular morphology (round or oval), and 77.8%(21/27) of type Ⅲ tumors had irregular morphology, 93.8%(15/16) of type Ⅰ/Ⅱ tumors had well-defined margin and 66.7%(18/27) of type Ⅲ tumors had ill-defined margin. Osteolytic bone resorption occurred in 59.3%(16/27) of type Ⅲ tumors. The average maximum diameter of type Ⅰ/Ⅱ tumors was significantly shorter than that of type Ⅲ(P＜0.05). Fisher's exact test showed the characteristics of tumor morphology, boundary and osteolytic bone resorption were related to pathological grouping(P＜0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most Ca-ex-PA in minor salivary glands is characterized by lobular and heterogeneous enhanced neoplasm on CT and MR imaging. A round or oval tumor with well-defined margin usually correlates with typeⅠ and Ⅱ, contrarily, an irregular mass with ill-defined margin and osteolytic bone destruction usually correlates with type Ⅲ. Combining the three characteristics of morphology, boundary and osteolysis is more helpful to distinguish type Ⅰ/Ⅱ and type Ⅲ tumors.

Metal-Controlled Switchable Regioselective Synthesis of Substituted Imidazoles and Pyrroles via Ring Opening/Cyclocondensation with 2H-Azirines.

Catalytic selective annulation of 2H-azirines constitutes a general and modular strategy for the generation of molecular complexity. By using Pd-catalyzed ring opening/heterocyclization associated with direct cleavage of C-N and C-C bonds under appropriate conditions, the formation of imidazoles is presented. Alternatively, the silver-catalyzed radical [3 + 2] cycloannulation of 2H-azirines and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds provides highly functionalized pyrrole derivatives. Both aliphatic cyclic and acyclic diketones are tolerated with good regioselectivity. Moreover, a radical capture experiment was carried out to determine the proposed mechanism, providing support for a facile radical process.

Synthesis of (E)-2-(1-(methoxyimino)ethyl)-2-phenylbenzofuran-3(2H)-ones from (E)-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethan-1-one O-methyl oximes and iodobenzenes via a palladium-catalyzed dearomative arylation/oxidation reaction.

A new method has been successfully developed that offers a facile and reliable approach for synthesizing (E)-2-(1-(methoxyimino)ethyl)-2-phenylbenzofuran-3(2H)-one, providing 28 compounds. This optimized process enables efficient preparation of a wide range of compounds using readily available (E)-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethan-1-one O-methyl oxime and iodobenzene, and provides alternative ideas for the structural modification of benzofuran ketones.

Structural and molecular basis for urea recognition by Prochlorococcus.

Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for microbial growth and metabolism. The growth and reproduction of microorganisms in more than 75% of areas of the ocean are limited by N. Prochlorococcus is numerically the most abundant photosynthetic organism on the planet. Urea is an important and efficient N source for Prochlorococcus. However, how Prochlorococcus recognizes and absorbs urea still remains unclear. Prochlorococcus marinus MIT 9313, a typical Cyanobacteria, contains an ABC-type transporter, UrtABCDE, which may account for the transport of urea. Here, we heterologously expressed and purified UrtA, the substrate-binding protein of UrtABCDE, detected its binding affinity toward urea, and further determined the crystal structure of the UrtA/urea complex. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that UrtA can alternate between "open" and "closed" states for urea binding. Based on structural and biochemical analyses, the molecular mechanism for urea recognition and binding was proposed. When a urea molecule is bound, UrtA undergoes a state change from open to closed surrounding the urea molecule, and the urea molecule is further stabilized by the hydrogen bonds supported by the conserved residues around it. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis showed that ABC-type urea transporters are widespread in bacteria and probably share similar urea recognition and binding mechanisms as UrtA from P. marinus MIT 9313. Our study provides a better understanding of urea absorption and utilization in marine bacteria.

Dupilumab for treatment of severe atopic dermatitis accompanied by lichenoid amyloidosis in adults: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Lichenoid amyloidosis (LA) is a subtype of primary cutaneous amyloidosis characterized by persistent multiple groups of hyperkeratotic papules, usually on the lower leg, back, forearm, or thigh. LA may be associated with several skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD). The treatment of LA is considered to be difficult. However, as there is some overlap in the etiopathogenesis of LA and AD, AD treatment may also be effective for LA. CASE SUMMARY: Case 1: A 70-year-old man was diagnosed with severe AD with LA based on large dark erythema and papules on the trunk and buttocks and dense hemispherical millet-shaped papules with pruritus on the extensor side of the lower limbs. He had a long history of the disease (8 years), with repeated and polymorphic skin lesions. Given the poor efficacy of traditional treatments, this patient was recommended to receive dupilumab treatment. At the initial stage, 300 mg was injected subcutaneously every 2 wk. After 28 wk, the drug interval was extended to 1 mo due to the pandemic. Follow-up observations revealed that the patient reached an Eczema Area Severity Index of 90 (skin lesions improved by 90% compared with the baseline) by the end of the study. Moreover, Investigator's Global Assessment score was 1, and scoring atopic dermatitis index and numeric rating scale improved by 97.7% and 87.5% compared with the baseline, respectively, with LA skin lesions having largely subsided. Case 2: A 30-year-old woman was diagnosed with severe AD with LA, due to dense and substantial papules on the dorsal hands similar to changes in cutaneous amyloidosis, and erythema and papules scattered on limbs and trunk with pruritus, present for 25 years. After 16 wk of dupilumab treatment, she stopped, and skin lesions completely subsided, without recurrence since the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Dupilumab shows rational efficacy and safety in the treatment of severe AD with LA, in addition to benefits in the quality of life of the patients.

Hypoxia-induced miR-9 expression promotes ovarian cancer progression via activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR/GSK3ß signaling pathway.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors affecting women's life and health. Since OC has a poor prognosis due to extensive metastasis, there is a need to explore a new mechanism of OC metastasis. microRNAs (miRs) are single-stranded, non-coding RNAs. miR-9 has been reported to promote cancer and may provide a new strategy for OC diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to examine the function and underlying mechanism of miR-9 in OC. RT-qPCR was used to assess miR-9 expression levels. Transwell assays were used to determine the number of migrating and invading OC cells. The protein expression levels of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/GSK3ß signaling pathway were examined using western blotting. The results informed that, when compared to normal ovarian tissues, miR-9 was remarkably expressed in OC tissues, and hypoxia might lead to overexpression of miR-9-5p while inhibiting miR-9 notably suppressed the migrating and invading cell numbers in OC cells. In vivo, miR-9-5p knockdown inhibited tumor growth in a subcutaneous nude mice model of SKOV3 cells. Our findings suggest that miR-9 could be an underlying oncogene in OC, opening up new avenues for OC diagnosis and treatment of OC by targeting miR-9.

Preoperative Diagnosis of Dual-Phenotype Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Enhanced MRI Radiomics Models.

BACKGROUND: Dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma (DPHCC) is highly aggressive and difficult to distinguish from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PURPOSE: To develop and validate clinical and radiomics models based on contrast-enhanced MRI for the preoperative diagnosis of DPHCC. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: A total of 87 patients with DPHCC and 92 patients with non-DPHCC randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 125: 64 non-DPHCC; 61 DPHCC) and a validation cohort (n = 54: 28 non-DPHCC; 26 DPHCC). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 3.0 T; dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with time-resolved T1-weighted imaging sequence. ASSESSMENT: In the clinical model, the maximum tumor diameter and hepatitis B virus (HBV) were independent risk factors of DPHCC. In the radiomics model, a total of 1781 radiomics features were extracted from tumor volumes of interest (VOIs) in the arterial phase (AP) and portal venous phase (PP) images. For feature reduction and selection, Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and recursive feature elimination (RFE) were used. Clinical, AP, PP, and combined radiomics models were established using machine learning algorithms (support vector machine [SVM], logistic regression [LR], and logistic regression-least absolute shrinkage and selection operator [LR-LASSO]) and their discriminatory efficacy assessed and compared. STATISTICAL TESTS: The independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, the Delong test. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In the validation cohort, the combined radiomics model (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.908, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.831-0.985) showed the highest diagnostic performance. The AUCs of the PP (AUC = 0.879, 95% CI: 0.779-0.979) and combined radiomics models were significantly higher than that of clinical model (AUC = 0.685, 95% CI: 0.526-0.844). There were no significant differences in AUC between AP or PP radiomics model and combined radiomics model (P = 0.286, 0.180 and 0.543). CONCLUSION: MRI radiomics models may be useful for discriminating DPHCC from non-DPHCC before surgery. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Simplified Chinese version of the international prostate symptom score and the benign prostatic hyperplasia impact index: cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Background: The aim of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia impact index (BII) into simplified Chinese for mainland Chinese patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: The original English IPSS and BII were translated into simplified Chinese versions based on cross-cultural adaptation guidelines. Internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach's α, then test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) in stable patients. The validity of these two adaptations was tested by the correlation between the IPSS and BII with visual prostate symptom score (VPSS) and 36 items Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The floor and ceiling effects were calculated by the proportion of participants who obtained the highest and lowest possible score. Results: A total of 105 native Chinese-speaking patients with BPH were enrolled. Cronbach's α was over 0.75 for the simplified Chinese IPSS (IPSS 0.815; IPSS-symptom 0.782) and 0.709 for the simplified Chinese BII, indicating acceptable internal consistency. The ICCs for the test-retest reliability were over 0.75 (IPSS, r = 0.836; IPSS-symptom, r = 0.801; IPSS-quality of life, r = 0.794; BII, r = 0.758), indicating excellent test-retest reliability. There were very good positive correlations between IPSS and BII (r = 0.605), as well as VPSS (r = 0.634), and very good or good negative correlations between IPSS-Qol and SF-36 physical functioning (r = -0.621), and vitality (r = -0.659), and between BII and SF-36 physical functioning (r = -0.421). No floor or ceiling effect was detected in the simplified Chinese IPSS and BII. Conclusions: This study indicates that the simplified Chinese IPSS and BII are reliable and valid measurements of the symptom and quality of life among Chinese patients with BPH, which is likely to be widely used in this population.

[MRI findings of parotid acinic cell carcinoma in 19 consecutive cases].

PURPOSE: To describe the MRI features of acinar cell carcinoma of parotid gland (AciCC) and to evaluate the diagnostic value of MR functional imaging. METHODS: A total of 269 cases of maxillofacial AciCC confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed. Among them, nineteen subjects with AciCC in the parotid gland underwent preoperative MRI examination (non-enhanced scan for one case, enhanced scan for 18 cases), seventeen patients underwent diffusion-weighted imaging scan, and 15 patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced scan. MRI findings of 19 patients were retrospectively analyzed. The lesion size, location, morphology, margin, internal composition, enhancement pattern and functional imaging characteristics were analyzed. SPSS 25.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Among 269 cases of maxillofacial AciCC, there were 108 males and 161 females, male: female = 1:1.49, aged from 4 to 89 years, with a mean age of (45.95±17.33) years. 84.4% (227/269) were located in the parotid gland. On MRI images, 78.9% (15/19) had well-defined margin, 57.9% (11/19) were round or oval, and 36.8% (7/19) were lobed nodules. One case had irregular morphology and peripheral invasion. The range of maximum diameter was 6-56 mm, averaging (24.8±15.3) mm. Internal composition showed 57.9% (11/19) were cystic solid, 42.1% (8/19) were solid, 31.6% (6/19) had bleeding. T2-weighted MRI showed 52.6% (10/19) with envelope structure, 15.8% (3/19) with low signal separation inside, 38.9%(7/18) had uniform enhancement, and 61.1%(11/18) had uneven enhancement. Functional imaging showed the mean ADC value of tumor was (1.026±0.194)×10-3 mm2/s(n=17). 86.7%(13/15) TIC was type Ⅱ. CONCLUSIONS: Most maxillofacial AciCC are located in the parotid gland. It is difficult to distinguish AciCC from benign tumors with conventional MRI in morphology. The ADC value of AciCC is lower than that of benign tumors, and the type of TIC curve is mostly type Ⅱ. Combination of morphology and functional imaging can improve the diagnostic accuracy of this disease.

Unilateral lichen planus with Blaschko line distribution: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus (LP) with distribution of lesions along Blaschko's lines is a rare entity, accounting for 0.24%-0.62% of all patients. Unilateral distribution of lesions in arm, leg, trunk, and waist is even less common. Approximately 10% of patients with LP manifest nail lesions. CASE SUMMARY: A 20-year-old woman presented to our department with polygonal, purpuric, flat-topped papules over the right arm, right leg, and right side of trunk and waist for the last 5 mo. The patient initially developed nail deformation in the left middle finger with no obvious cause, followed by development of blue-purple and red maculopapular rash with pruritus. During the disease course, the skin lesions aggravated and spread to several segments due to scratching. The lesions showed unilateral distribution along the Blaschko's lines. The diagnosis of LP along Blaschko's lines was established based on dermoscopy and skin biopsy. Her cutaneous lesions considerably improved after 4-wk treatment with intramuscular glucocorticoid, oral acitretin, topical glucocorticoid, and retinoids. CONCLUSION: Cases of LP involving multiple segments of the body along the Blaschko's lines with nail damage are rare.

Genomic analysis of Thalassospira sp. SW-3-3 reveals its genetic potential for phthalate pollution remediation.

Thalassospira sp. SW-3-3 is a bacterial strain isolated from deep seawater of the Pacific Ocean at a water depth of 3112 m. It is a Gram-negative, aerobic, and curved rod-shaped bacterium belonging to the family Thalassospiraceae. In this study, we report the complete genome sequence of strain SW-3-3. It has a circular chromosome with a size of 4,764,478 bp and a G + C content of 54.7%. The genome contains 4296 protein-coding genes, 63 tRNA genes, and 12 rRNA genes. Genomic analysis shows that strain SW-3-3 contains genes and catalytic pathways relevant to phthalate metabolism. Phthalates are well-known emerging contaminants that are harmful to environments and human health. They are chemically stable compounds that are widely used in plastic products and are pervasive in our life. With the discharge of plastic pollutants, a huge number of phthalate compounds enter the ocean. The genetic information of strain SW-3-3 suggests that it has the potential to metabolize phthalates. There are 9 key enzymes in the metabolization pathway, and phthalates are finally catalyzed to produce succinyl-CoA which is further degraded through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle pathway. This genomic analysis will be helpful for further understanding of the applications of strain SW-3-3 in the remediation of phthalate pollution.

Psychological Experience of Humanistic Care Among Medical Staff in Stroke Wards: A Qualitative Research Study Conducted in China.

Background: As a special patient group, stroke patients have a significant attachment to humanistic care. However, multiple problems remain in clinical practice. Medical staff in stroke wards are the primary providers of humanistic care. Finding out the opinions of the staff that provide these medical services is vitally important for stroke patients that need access to curative and humanistic care. Objective: The aim of the study is to explore the psychological experiences of doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists during the implementation of humanistic care in stroke wards. Method: This is a qualitative phenomenological study. Medical staff (i.e., doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists) were selected from stroke wards in general hospitals (minimum level two) from 13 cities within six provinces in China. A purposive sampling method was used until saturation (n = 18). Face-to-face or video call semi-structured interviews were conducted by using a phenomenological research method. The average interview length was 60 min (range 30-90 min). The Colaizzi seven-step method was used for analysis. Results: Four themes and 12 sub-themes were extracted from the qualitative interviews of the medicine, nursing and technology staff, as follows. ➀ The ward staff reported that the behaviors of the stroke patients gradually improved when they assisted with stroke treatment idea changes, when they paid attention to solving the patients' existing problems, and when they took the initiative to create a caring atmosphere; ➁ when humanistic care in the stroke wards was carried out with consciousness and ability improvement (including proactive caring behaviors in which vocational value was not strong and in which the whole-person rehabilitation was given attention, not just implementation), the patients' behaviors improved; ➂ the stroke wards themselves were improved (the gap between the current management and the needs of medical institutions and the gap between the rehabilitation conditions and the patients' needs were addressed); and ➃ the urgent needs of the staff in the implementation of humanistic care in stroke wards were considered (the addition of full-time posts, the effective training of humanistic care, and the construction of a more harmonious doctor-patient relationship). Conclusion: In implementing humanistic care in stroke wards, the consciousness and ability of the medical staff need to be improved. In addition, the practical problems and contradictions affecting the development of humanistic care must be addressed. To improve the level of humanistic care in stroke wards, attention should be paid to the overall improvement of the personal qualities of the medical staff and the integration of a humanistic management mode.

In Vitro Effects of Tartary Buckwheat-Derived Nanovesicles on Gut Microbiota.

Evidence suggests that plant-derived nanovesicles may play a significant role in human health. Tartary buckwheat has several physiological activities; however, its underlying health-promoting mechanism remains unclear. In this study, first, Tartary buckwheat-derived nanovesicles (TBDNs) were collected, their structures were analyzed, and microRNA sequencing was performed. Next, target prediction and functional verification were conducted. Finally, the effects of TBDNs on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid levels were evaluated. The average size of TBDNs was 141.8 nm diameter. Through the sequencing analyses, 129 microRNAs, including 11 novel microRNAs were identified. Target gene prediction showed that some microRNAs could target functional genes in Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus rhamnosus-related physiological processes. TBDNs significantly promoted the growth of E. coli and L. rhamnosus, enhanced the diversity of fecal microorganisms and increased the short-chain fatty acid levels. These findings provided a new nutritional perspective for Tartary buckwheat and were conducive to promote the development and utilization of Tartary buckwheat.

Insights into Health-Promoting Effects of Plant MicroRNAs: A Review.

Plant-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in human health and are "dark nutrients", as opposed to traditional plant nutrients, as well as important components of food diversification. Studies have revealed that multiple plant-derived miRNA pathways affect human health. First, plant miRNAs regulate plant growth and development and accumulation of metabolites, which alters the food quality and thus indirectly interferes with the health of the host. Moreover, when absorbed in vivo, some miRNAs may target the host cell mRNAs to affect protein expression. In addition, plant miRNAs target and reshape the human gut microbiota (GM), which interferes with the physiology and metabolism of the host. Therefore, miRNAs play a significant role in the cross-kingdom communication of plants, GM, and the host and in maintaining a balance of the three. Future contributions of plant miRNAs can bring new perspectives and opportunities to better understand food nutrition and health care research, which will facilitate the right exploitation of plant resources.

Pharmacophore-inspired discovery of FLT3 inhibitor from kimchi.

Globally consumed kimchi is manufactured through fermenting cruciferous vegetables containing indole glucosinolates (IG). But few reports describe the IG metabolism during the fermentation. Here, we show that indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a breakdown product of IG, is transformed during the kimchi fermentation into 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) and 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-3,3'-diindolylmethane (LTr1). LTr1 was found to kill the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) receptor mutations, by inhibiting the FLT3 phosphorylation and the expression of downstream proteins (STAT5, ERK, and AKT). In the immune-depleted mice xenografted with human MV4-11 cells, LTr1 was demonstrated to reduce the tumor growth and synergize with sorafenib, an anti-AML agent in clinic. The work updates the chemical and biological knowledge about kimchi, and in particular establishes LTr1 as an FLT3 inhibitor that is effective and synergistic with sorafenib in treating AML.

A systematic review of cross-cultural adaptation of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index.

BACKGROUND: The National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was developed to accurately assess the pain, urinary symptoms, and quality of life related to chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). This study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural adaptations of the NIH-CPSI. METHOD: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and SciELO databases were searched from their established year to September 2020. Cross-cultural adaptations and the quality control of measurement properties of adaptations were conducted by two reviewers independently according to the Guidelines for the Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Self-Report Measures and the Quality Criteria for Psychometric Properties of Health Status Questionnaire. RESULTS: Area total of 21 papers with 16 adaptations, and six studies of the original version of the NIH-CPSI were enrolled in the systematic review. Back translation was the weakest process for the quality assessment of the cross-cultural adaptations of the NIH-CPSI. Internal consistency was analyzed for most of the adaptations, but none of them met the standard. Only 11 adaptations reported test reliability, then only the Arabic-Egyptian, Chinese-Mainland, Danish, Italian, Persian, and Turkish adaptations met the criterion. Most adaptations reported the interpretability, but only the Danish adaptation reported the agreement. The other measurement properties, including responsiveness, and floor as well as ceiling effects were not reported in any of the adaptations. CONCLUSIONS: The overall quality of the NIH-CPSI cross-cultural adaptations was not organized as expected. Only the Portuguese-Brazilian, Italian, and Spanish adaptations reached over half the process for the cross-cultural adaptation. Only the Turkish adaptations finished half of the measurement properties of cross-cultural adaptations.

An improved SIR model describing the epidemic dynamics of the COVID-19 in China.

In this letter, an improved SIR (ISIR) model is proposed, to analyze the spread of COVID-19 during the time window 21/01/2020-08/02/2021. The parameters can be extracted from an inverse problem of the ISIR to assess the risk of COVID-19. This study identifies that the cure rate is 0.05 and the reproduction number is 0.4490 during the time interval. The prediction values demonstrates high similarity to the reported data. The results indicate that the disease had been under control in China.

MDMPR: Mouse Developmental and Metabolic Phenotype Repository.

Mouse Developmental and Metabolic Phenotype Repository (MDMPR) is an open access, real-time database which dedicates to share mouse resources and phenotype data. MDMPR is supported by the National Key Research and Development Project "Establishment of Mouse Developmental and Metabolic Phenotype Repository" within the Key Project of "Developmental Programming and Its Metabolic Regulation" from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China's program. In the next 5 years, MDMPR will create 500 mutant mouse models related to development and metabolism, perform standard phenotyping analysis, and establish a phenotype database. MDMPR is a combination of resources and data repository, has several sub-systems, including the ES cell database, the project management system, the breeding management system, the sperm bank management system and the phenotyping database. These systems digitalize all data and ensure their authenticity in real-time. Besides the gradual increase of data during the project, MDMPR will also integrate other resources, such as human KO ES cell database, STRING database, database of Core Transcriptional Regulatory Circuitries and Enhancer-Indel database. MDMPR is anticipated to contribute to various areas of developmental and metabolic research to investigators through more convenient accesses to the resources and data in one-stop manner, thereby accelerating the research processes and ultimately serving the medical causes of human health.