The Role of Interleukin-24 and Downstream Pathways in Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases.

Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are pathological immune disorders and pose significant public health challenges due to their impact on individuals and society. Cytokine dysregulation plays a critical role in the development of these disorders. Interleukin (IL)-24, a member of the IL-10 cytokine family, can be secreted by various cell types, including immune and non-immune cells. The downstream effects of IL-24 upon binding to its receptors can occur in dependence on, or independently of, the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and the activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway. IL-24 and its downstream pathways influence crucial processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation, with its role varying across different diseases. On the one hand, IL-24 can inhibit the activation of pathogenic cells and autoimmune responses in autoimmune ocular diseases; on the other hand, IL-24 has been also implicated in promoting tissue damage by fostering immune cell activation and infiltration in psoriasis and allergic diseases. It suggests that IL-24, as a multifunctional cytokine, has complex regulatory functions in immune cells and related diseases. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge on IL-24's immunomodulatory actions and its involvement in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Such insights may pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies for these diseases.

EBNA1BP2 identified as potential prognostic biomarker for multiple tumor types in pan-cancer analysis.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been closely linked to the development of various types of cancer. EB nuclear antigen 1 binding protein 2 (EBNA1BP2) is a crucial molecule for stable isolation of EBV in latent infection. However, the role of EBNA1BP2 in multiple tumor types is remains unclear. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the functional characteristics of EBNA1BP2 and investigate its potential as a prognostic biomarker in pan-cancer. METHODS: We utilized data from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) and GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) databases and employed various bioinformatics analysis tools, including TIMER2.0, HPA, GEPIA2.0, PrognoScan, cBioPortal, CancerSEA, and BioGRID to explore the expression pattern, prognostic value, immune infiltration, and methylation level of EBNA1BP2 in pan-cancer. Additionally, we conducted enrichment analysis of genes associated with EBNA1BP2 to identify potential biological functions and pathways. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that EBNA1BP2 expression was significantly higher in tumor tissues compared to tumor-adjacent tissues. We observed that lower expression of EBNA1BP2 in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), brain lower grade glioma (LGG), sarcoma (SARC), and uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) was significantly associated with improved overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Furthermore, the promoter methylation level of EBNA1BP2 was downregulated in the majority of cancer types. At the single-cell level, EBNA1BP2 was found to be positively correlated with cell cycle and DNA repair processes, while negatively correlated with hypoxia. Additionally, EBNA1BP2 was associated with the infiltration of immune cells such as B cells, cancer-associated fibroblast cells, and CD8+ T cells. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that EBNA1BP2 was mainly involved in nucleoplasm and RNA binding pathways. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that EBNA1BP2 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for survival in pan-cancer. Further experimental studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms by which EBNA1BP2 contributes to tumorigenesis.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of isolated recurrent 4q35.2 microduplication in Chinese population: a seven-year single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: With the extensive use of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), an increasing number of variants of uncertain significance (VOUS) have been detected. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the pathogenicity and clinical variability associated with isolated recurrent 4q35.2 microduplications within the Chinese population. METHODS: The present study involved 14 cases of isolated recurrent 4q35.2 microduplication (including 12 fetuses and 2 cases of pediatric patients) out of 5,188 subjects who sought genetic consultation at our hospital and received CMA detection. WES technology was subsequently utilized to identify additional sequence variants in a patient with multiple clinical anomalies. RESULTS: All 14 cases exhibited isolated recurrent 4q35.2 microduplications spanning a 1.0-Mb region encompassing the ZFP42 gene. Among the 12 fetuses, 11 displayed normal clinical features, while one was born with renal duplication and hydronephrosis. Additionally, in the two pediatric patients, WES was performed for Case 1, who presented with congenital cataracts, severe intellectual disability, and seizures. This patient inherited the 4q35.2 microduplication from his phenotypically normal mother. WES identified a novel NM_000276:c.2042G > T (p.G681V) variant in the OCRL gene, which is associated with Lowe syndrome and may account for the observed phenotypic variability within this family. CONCLUSION: A series of 14 cases with isolated recurrent 4q35.2 microduplications were investigated, highlighting a potential association with increased susceptibility to renal abnormalities. Further, the present findings may expand the mutation spectrum of the OCRL gene associated with Lowe syndrome and provide valuable insights for the genetic etiological diagnosis of patients with unexplained copy number variants.

Research on wheat impurity identification method based on terahertz imaging technology.

The traditional detection of impurities in wheat has difficulties such as low precision, time-consuming, and cumbersome, therefore, it is important to study the method of rapid and accurate detection of impurities in wheat for correctly assessing the quality grade of wheat. Terahertz (THz) technology has many superior properties such as transient, broadband, low-energy, and penetrating, which can realize rapid and nondestructive detection of wheat quality. In this study, a classification and recognition algorithm AHA-RetinaNet-X for wheat impurity terahertz images based on RetinaNet and Artificial hummingbird algorithm (AHA) is proposed.A THz three-dimensional tomography imaging system is used to image wheat and its impurities, and two THz image datasets, respectively the wheat and impurity dataset for verifying the classification effect of wheat and impurities and the impurity dataset for verifying the classification effect of impurities. The experimental results show that the AHA-RetinaNet-X model outperforms other detection and classification models in terms of accuracy, F1-score, precision, recall, and specificity, and is able to achieve 96.1%, 94.9%, 95.2%, 95.8%, 95.5%, 95.3%, and 93.3% for the wheat and impurity dataset and the impurity dataset, respectively, 95.6%, 96.3%, and 95.2%, and the mAP value of AHA-RetinaNet-X is also higher than the other models and can reach 92.1%. The combination of THz imaging technology and AHA-RetinaNet-X can realize the classification and identification of wheat and impurities, which provides a new method for the non-contact rapid nondestructive detection and identification of wheat and impurities, and also provides a reference for the research of the identification and detection methods of other substances.

The Effects of Different Thiol-Containing Compounds on the Degradation of Sulforaphene.

Sulforaphene (4-methylsufinyl-3-butenyl isothiocyanate, SFE), produced by myrosinase hydrolysis of glucoraphenin (4-methylsulfinyl-3-butenyl glucosinolate) found in radish seeds, is strongly associated with cancer prevention. In this study, we investigated the stability of SFE (purity above 98%) under various thiol-containing compounds at 25 °C, such as sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), glutathione (GSH), and cysteine (Cys). We observed that the degradation of SFE was closely related to the presence and dissociation capacity of thiol-containing compounds in the solution, particularly the thiol group. We found that the degradation rate of SFE was influenced by incubation with NaHS, GSH, and Cys, with distinct degradation products detected for each of these thiol-containing compounds. Compared to GSH, sulfide and Cys played important roles in promoting the degradation of SFE. Furthermore, we found substantial quantities of hydrogen sulfide in conjunction with SFE during the hydrolysis process of seeds, and a heat treatment of the seeds resulted in increased production of SFE. However, the introduction of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria to the hydrolytic system did not exhibit any inhibitory effect on the degradation of SFE. These results provided a guideline for industries to improve the stability of SFE during preparation.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetuses with 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 microdeletion in the Chinese population: a seven-year single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 microdeletion syndrome is associated with developmental delays, language impairments, neurobehavioral disorders, and psychiatric complications. The aim of the present study was to provide prenatal and postnatal clinical data for 16 additional fetuses diagnosed with the 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 microdeletion syndrome in the Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 5,789 pregnancy women that underwent amniocentesis were enrolled in the present study. Both karyotype analysis and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) were conducted on these subjects to detect chromosomal abnormalities and copy number variants (CNVs). Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed to investigate sequence variants in subjects with clinical abnormalities after birth. RESULTS: Sixteen fetuses with 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 microdeletion were identified in the present study, with a detection rate of 0.28% (16/5,789). The 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 microdeletion fragments ranged from 311.8 kb to 849.7 kb, encompassing the NIPA1, NIPA2, CYFIP1, and TUBGCP5 genes. The follow-up results regarding pregnancy outcomes showed that five cases opted for pregnancy termination, while the remaining cases continued with their pregnancies. Subsequent postnatal follow-up indicated that only one case with the 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 microdeletion displayed neurodevelopmental disorders, demonstrating an incomplete penetrance rate of 9.09% (1/11). CONCLUSION: The majority of fetuses with the 15q11.2 microdeletion exhibit typical features during early childhood, indicating a low penetrance and mild impact. Nonetheless, pregnancies involving fetuses with the 15q11.2 microdeletion require thorough prenatal counseling. Additionally, enhanced supervision and extended postnatal monitoring are warranted for those who choose to proceed with their pregnancies.

Research on Non-Destructive Quality Detection of Sunflower Seeds Based on Terahertz Imaging Technology.

The variety and content of high-quality proteins in sunflower seeds are higher than those in other cereals. However, sunflower seeds can suffer from abnormalities, such as breakage and deformity, during planting and harvesting, which hinder the development of the sunflower seed industry. Traditional methods such as manual sensory and machine sorting are highly subjective and cannot detect the internal characteristics of sunflower seeds. The development of spectral imaging technology has facilitated the application of terahertz waves in the quality inspection of sunflower seeds, owing to its advantages of non-destructive penetration and fast imaging. This paper proposes a novel terahertz image classification model, MobileViT-E, which is trained and validated on a self-constructed dataset of sunflower seeds. The results show that the overall recognition accuracy of the proposed model can reach 96.30%, which is 4.85%, 3%, 7.84% and 1.86% higher than those of the ResNet-50, EfficientNeT, MobileOne and MobileViT models, respectively. At the same time, the performance indices such as the recognition accuracy, the recall and the F1-score values are also effectively improved. Therefore, the MobileViT-E model proposed in this study can improve the classification and identification of normal, damaged and deformed sunflower seeds, and provide technical support for the non-destructive detection of sunflower seed quality.

Whole Exome Sequencing Revealing a Novel PBX1 Gene Variant in a Chinese Family Causing Recurrent Neonatal Death.

BACKGROUND: Causative mutations of PBX1 are associated with congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), often accompanied by hearing loss, abnormal ear morphology, or developmental delay. The aim of the present investigation was to introduce a novel variant in the PBX1 gene identified in a Chinese family, leading to recurrent neonatal mortality. METHODS: A pregnant woman (gravida 5, para 0), who had experienced recurrent neonatal deaths, sought genetic etiology diagnosis. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was conducted to identify sequence variants and copy number variants in the fetus presenting with posterior nuchal cystic hygroma and fetal hydrops. RESULTS: A novel NM_002585.4:c.694G>C(p.D232H) in PBX1 was identified in the fetus through trio whole exome sequencing (WES), revealing a paternal mosaic PBX1 variant in blood at 11.54% (6/52 variants reads). Subsequent parental Sanger sequencing confirmed the variant detected by WES. Ultimately, the variant was classified as likely pathogenic, leading the family to elect pregnancy termination at 17 weeks gestation. CONCLUSION: The novel variant in the PBX1 gene appears to be a significant factor contributing to recurrent neonatal deaths in the Chinese family. Such findings expand the spectrum of PBX1 gene variants and provide valuable perinatal guidance for diagnosing fetuses with PBX1 mutations.

Preparation of kakkatin derivatives and their anti-tumor activity.

BACKGROUND: Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that plant-derived compounds from Puerariae flos (PF) has significant biological activities against liver damage, tumors and inflammation. Kakkatin is an isoflavone polyphenolic compound isolated from PF flower. However, the effect of kakkatin and its derivatives on anti-tumor has not been well explored. AIM: To design and synthesize a kakkatin derivative [6-(hept-6-yn-1-yloxy)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one (HK)] to explore its anti-tumor biological activity. METHODS: Hept-6-yn-1-yl ethanesulfonate was introduced to replace hydrogen at the hydroxyl position of kakkatin phenol, and the derivative of kakkatin was prepared; the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide was used to detect cell viability, a clone formation assay was adopted to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, necrosis, and cell cycles were analyzed by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion ability were evaluated by cell scratch assay and transwell assay. The potential mechanism of HK on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) SMMC-7721 cells was explored through network pharmacology and molecular docking, and finally real-time PCR assays was used to verify the potential targets and evaluate the biological activity of HK. RESULTS: Compared with kakkatin, the modified HK did not significantly increase the inhibitory activity of gastric cancer MGC803 cells, but the inhibitory activity of HCC SMMC-7721 cells was increased by about 30 times, with an IC50 value of 2.5 µM, and the tumor inhibition effect was better than cisplatin, which could significantly inhibit the cloning, invasion and metastasis of HCC SMMC-7721 cells, and induce apoptosis and G2/M cycle arrest. Its mechanism of action is mainly related to the upregulation of PDE3B and NFKB1 target proteins in the cAMP pathway. CONCLUSION: HK have a significant inhibitory effect on HCC SMMC-7721 cells, and the targets of their action may be PDE3B and NFKB1 proteins in the cAMP pathway, making it a good lead drug for the treatment of HCC.

A Novel Terahertz Metamaterial Microfluidic Sensing Chip for Ultra-Sensitive Detection.

A terahertz metamaterial microfluidic sensing chip for ultrasensitive detection is proposed to investigate the response of substances to terahertz radiation in liquid environments and enhance the molecular fingerprinting of trace substances. The structure consists of a cover layer, a metal microstructure, a microfluidic channel, a metal reflective layer, and a buffer layer from top to bottom, respectively. The simulation results show that there are three obvious resonance absorption peaks in the range of 1.5-3.0 THz and the absorption intensities are all above 90%. Among them, the absorption intensity at M1 = 1.971 THz is 99.99%, which is close to the perfect absorption, and its refractive index sensitivity and Q-factor are 859 GHz/RIU and 23, respectively, showing excellent sensing characteristics. In addition, impedance matching and equivalent circuit theory are introduced in this paper to further analyze the physical mechanism of the sensor. Finally, we perform numerical simulations using refractive index data of normal and cancer cells, and the results show that the sensor can distinguish different types of cells well. The chip can reduce the sample pretreatment time as well as enhance the interaction between terahertz waves and matter, which can be used for early disease screening and food quality and safety detection in the future.

Improvement of both human and animal memory by synergy between fructooligosaccharide and L-theanine function establishing a safe and effective food supplement.

Aging is classically associated with a decline of cognitive abilities, especially in relation to memory. While the development of potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases has been in sharp focus, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a form of age-related memory loss, in the absence of severe functional impairment, a condition experienced by many healthy adults, has received relatively little attention. Advances in this space would make significant contributions to the goal of healthy aging and may also help promote cognitive performance across the wider population. The individual action of either fructooligosaccharide (FOS) or L-theanine, both natural plant-derived molecules, has been tentatively linked with improvements in cognition, but our understanding remains far from complete. We therefore determined the effect of different dose combinations of FOS and L-theanine (termed MT-01/GBL-Memory1) in mice against FOS and L-theanine monotherapy. FOS and L-theanine were found to synergistically enhance murine memory in our animal tests at a dose of 100 mg/kg (coefficient of drug interaction (CDI) < 1). In a subsequent human trial, we demonstrated that MT-01 improved the memory of healthy adults after 1 month of consumption. Our results suggest that a combination of FOS and L-theanine synergistically enhances murine memory within a specific dose range. We show that this plant natural product regimen also improves human memory in a population of healthy adults. MT-01 therefore represents a novel, safe, and effective dietary supplement to promote human memory and cognition.

Isobavachalcone: A redox antifungal agent impairs the mitochondria protein of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Isobavachalcone (IBC) is a natural small molecule with various biological activities; however, its inhibitory effects on Cryptococcus neoformans remain unclear. In our study, IBC showed a good antifungal effect. Through in vitro experiments, its minimum inhibitory concentration was 0.5-1 µg/mL. It exhibited the same antifungal effect as Amphotericin B in brain and lung infections in in vivo experiments. IBC also showed a synergistic antifungal effect with emodin with lower toxicity, and C. neoformans did not develop drug resistance to IBC. In the mechanistic study, significantly damaged mitochondria of C. neoformans, a significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential and adenosine triphosphate production, and an increase in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) caused by IBC were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Through drug affinity-responsive target stability combined with phenotype detection, riboflavin synthases of aconitase and succinate dehydrogenase were screened. Molecular docking, quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiments, target inhibitor and agonist intervention, molecular interaction measurements, and minimum inhibitory concentration detection of the constructed expression strains revealed that IBC targeted the activity of these two enzymes, interfered by the tricarboxylic acid cycle, inhibited the production of adenosine triphosphate, blocked electron transport, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced antioxidation imbalance and reactive oxygen species accumulation, thus producing an antifungal effect. Therefore, IBC is a promising lead drug and redox antifungal agent for C. neoformans.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetuses with absent/hypoplastic nasal bone in second-trimester using chromosomal microarray analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic copy number variants (pCNVs) are associated with fetal ultrasound anomalies, which can be efficiently identified through chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). The primary objective of the present study was to enhance understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation in fetuses exhibiting absent or hypoplastic nasal bones using CMA. METHODS: Enrolled in the present study were 94 cases of fetuses with absent/hypoplastic nasal bone, which were divided into an isolated absent/hypoplastic nasal bone group (n = 49) and a non-isolated group (n = 45). All pregnant women enrolled in the study underwent karyotype analysis and CMA to assess chromosomal abnormalities in the fetuses. RESULTS: Karyotype analysis and CMA detection were successfully performed in all cases. The results of karyotype and CMA indicate the presence of 11 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, with trisomy 21 being the most prevalent among them. A small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) detected by karyotype analysis was further interpreted as a pCNV by CMA. Additionally, CMA detection elicited three cases of pCNVs, despite normal findings in their karyotype analysis results. Among them, one case of Roche translocation was identified to be a UPD in chromosome 15 with a low proportion of trisomy 15. Further, a significant difference in the detection rate of pCNVs was observed between non-isolated and isolated absent/hypoplastic nasal bone (24.44% vs. 8.16%, p < .05). CONCLUSION: The present study enhances the utility of CMA in diagnosing the etiology of absent or hypoplastic nasal bone in fetuses. Further, isolated cases of absent or hypoplastic nasal bone strongly suggest the presence of chromosomal abnormalities, necessitating genetic evaluation through CMA.

Transboundary migration of Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) among China, Russia and Mongolia.

BACKGROUND: The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis, a worldwide pest of many crops, performs a seasonal migration, causing periodic outbreaks in Asia, Europe and North America. Although long-distance migration is well documented in China, patterns of transboundary migration among China, Russia and Mongolia are largely unknown. We performed a phase analysis of L. sticticalis periodic outbreaks among three countries based on 30 years of historical population data, analyzed the wind systems during migration over boundary regions, and traced the migratory routes in a case study of outbreaks in 2008 by trajectory simulation. RESULTS: Highly synchronized outbreak years of L. sticticalis were observed between China and Mongolia, China and eastern Siberia, China and western Siberia, Mongolia and eastern Siberia, eastern Siberia and western Siberia from 1978 to 2008, indicating possible transboundary migration between these regions. Winds at 300-600 m altitude, where adult migration usually occurs, also showed a high probability of northwestern winds in Haila'er (China), Chita (Russia) and Choybalsan (Mongolia), favoring successful adult migration from these areas to northern and northeastern China. Back trajectory analysis further showed that the first-generation adults that caused the severe outbreak of second-generation larvae in 2008 originated from eastern Siberia, eastern Mongolia, and the boundary regions of China-Russia and China-Mongolia. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that the source of L. sticticalis outbreaks in northern China was closely related to the outbreaks in Siberia and Mongolia via long-distance transboundary windborne migration. This information will help guide international monitoring and management strategies against this notorious pest. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Molecular characterization of similar Hb Lepore Boston-Washington in four Chinese families using third generation sequencing.

Hemoglobin (Hb) Lepore is a rare deletional δß-thalassemia caused by the fusion between delta-beta genes, and cannot be identified by traditional thaltassemia gene testing technology. The aim of this study was to conduct molecular diagnosis and clinical analysis of Hb Lepore in four unrelated Chinese families using third generation sequencing. Decreased levels of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and an abnormal Hb band were observed in the probands of the four families. However, no common α and ß-thalassemia variants were detected in the enrolled families using polymerase chain reaction-reverse dot blot hybridization based traditional thalassemia gene testing. Further third-generation sequencing revealed similar Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington variants in all the patients, which were resulted from partial coverage of the HBB and HBD globin genes, leading to the formation of a delta-beta fusion gene. Specific gap-PCR and Sanger sequencing confirmed that all the patients carried a similar Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington heterozygote. In addition, decreased levels of MCH and Hb A2 were observed in the proband's wife of family 2, an extremely rare variant of Hb Nanchang (GGT > AGT) (HBA2:c.46G > A) was identified by third-generation sequencing and further confirmed by Sanger sequencing. This present study was the first to report the similar Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington in Chinese population. By combining the utilization of Hb capillary electrophoresis and third-generation sequencing, the screening and diagnosis of Hb Lepore can be effectively enhanced.

The quality evaluation of 30 Asparagus officinalis L. varieties.

Asparagus, a vital economic contributor, is a well-liked vegetable grown around the globe, and some secondary metabolites in its spear are beneficial to human health. Asparagus spears possess a significant quantity of nutrients and phytochemicals; however, the difference in these chemical compositions among various varieties has not been sufficiently studied. This work aimed to detect the chemical compositions of 30 varieties of asparagus and to assess them by principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the contents of these chemical compositions varied in varieties. Selenium (Se, 1.12-2.9 µg/100 g dry-weight [DW]) was abundant in asparagus, with an average dry matter content of 8.25%. Free amino acids (5.60-9.98 g/100 g DW) and polyphenols (6.34-8.67 mg/g DW) were both present in high amounts, along with flavonoids (4.218-8.22 mg/g DW) and protodioscin (0.44-1.96 mg/g DW). Correlation analysis, PCA, and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of asparagus. Atlas, Appolo, Jinggang 111, Jingke 2, and WS-1 were the top five varieties with comprehensive scores. This study provided valuable data for the breeding, quality improvement, processing, and utilization of asparagus varieties in the future.

Systemic immune-inflammatory indicators and bone mineral density in chronic kidney disease patients: A cross-sectional research from NHANES 2011 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to look at the relationship between the Systemic Immune Inflammatory Index (SII) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the pelvis, left upper and lower limbs, lumbar spine, thoracic spine, and trunk in a chronic kidney disease (CKD) population in the United States. METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2016) yielded 2302 people with CKD aged >18 years. CKD was defined as eGFR less than 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 or eGFR greater than 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 with urine ACR greater than 30 mg/L.SII was calculated as PC * (NC / LC) from platelet count (PC), neutrophil count (NC), and lymphocyte count (LC). Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between BMD and SII at different sites in CKD patients, smoothed curve-fitting and generalized weighting models were used to investigate non-linear relationships, and a two-tailed linear regression model was used to find potential inflection points in the model. RESULTS: We discovered a negative correlation between SII and pelvic BMD among 2302 participants after controlling for gender, age, and race [ß = -0.008; 95% confidence value -0.008; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.014, -0.002]. Lower PEBMD was related to increasing SII (trend p = 0.01125). After additional correction, only pelvic BMD remained adversely linked with SII [value -0.006; 95% CI -0.012, -0.000, p = 0.03368]. Smoothed curve fitting revealed a consistent inverse relationship between SII and pelvic BMD. Further stratified analyses revealed a substantial positive negative connection between SII and pelvic BMD in individuals who did not have hypertension, diabetes, a BMI of more than 30 kg/m2, or stage 2 CKD. The connection between SII and PEBMD in people without diabetes revealed a strong inverted U-shaped curve. CONCLUSION: In individuals with CKD in the United States, there was a negative connection between the systemic immunoinflammatory index (SII) and pelvic BMD. The SII might be a low-cost and simple test for CKD-related BMD loss.

Silencing gram-negative bacteria binding protein 1 decreases the immunity of Tribolium castaneum against bacteria.

Gram-negative bacteria binding proteins (GNBPs) have the ability to recognize molecular patterns associated with microbial pathogens (PAMPs), leading to the activation of immune responses downstream. In the genome of Tribolium castaneum, three GNBP genes have been identified; however, their immunological roles remain unexplored. In our study, a GNBP1, designated as TcGNBP1, were identified from the cDNA library of T. castaneum. The coding sequence of TcGNBP1 consisted of 1137 bps and resulted in the synthesis of a protein comprising 378 amino acids. This protein encompasses a signal peptide, a low-complexity region, and a glycoside hydrolase 16 domain. TcGNBP1 was strongly expressed in early adult stages, and mainly distributed in hemolymph and gut. Upon being challenged with Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus, the transcript levels of TcGNBP1 were significantly changed at different time points. Through molecular docking and ELISA analysis, it was observed that TcGNBP1 has the ability to interact with lipopolysaccharides, peptidoglycan, and ß-1, 3-glucan. Based on these findings, it was further discovered that recombinant TcGNBP1 can directly bind to five different bacteria in a Ca2+-dependent manner. After knockdown of TcGNBP1 with RNA interference, expression of antimicrobial peptide genes and prophenoloxidase (proPO) activity were suppressed, the susceptibility of T. castaneum to E. coli or S. aureus infection was enhanced, leading to low survival rate. These results suggest a regulatory mechanism of TcGNBP1 in innate immunity of T. castaneum and provide a potential molecular target for dsRNA-based insect pest management.

Initial clinical and molecular investigation of 20q13.33 microdeletion with 17q25.3/14q32.31q32.33 microduplication in Chinese pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Limited research has been conducted regarding the elucidation of genotype-phenotype correlations within the 20q13.33 region. The genotype-phenotype association of 20q13.33 microdeletion remains inadequately understood. In the present study, two novel cases of 20q13.33 microdeletion were introduced, with the objective of enhancing understanding of the genotype-phenotype relationship. METHODS: Two unrelated patients with various abnormal clinical phenotypes from Fujian province Southeast China were enrolled in the present study. Karyotype analysis and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) were performed to investigate chromosomal abnormalities and copy number variants. RESULTS: The results of high-resolution G-banding karyotype analysis elicited a 46,XY,der(20)add(20)(q13.3) in Patient 1. This patient exhibited various clinical manifestations, such as global developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, and other congenital diseases. Subsequently, a 1.0-Mb deletion was identified in the 20q13.33 region alongside a 5.2-Mb duplication in the 14q32.31q32.33 region. In Patient 2, CMA results revealed a 1.8-Mb deletion in the 20q13.33 region with a 4.8-Mb duplication of 17q25.3. The patient exhibited additional abnormal clinical features, including micropenis, congenital heart disease, and a distinctive crying pattern characterized by a crooked mouth. CONCLUSION: In the present study, for the first time, an investigation was conducted into two novel cases of 20q13.33 microdeletion with microduplications in the 17q25.3 and 14q32.31q32.33 regions in the Chinese population. The presence of micropenis may be attributed to the 20q13.33 microdeletion, potentially expanding the phenotypic spectrum associated with this deletion.

The Electron Migration Polarization Boosting Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Based on Ce Atoms Modulated yolk@shell FexN@NGC.

The electron migration polarization is considered as a promising approach to optimize electromagnetic waves (EMW) dissipation. However, it is still difficult to realize well-controlled electron migration and elucidate the related EMW loss mechanisms for current researches. Herein, a novel FexN@NGC/Ce system to construct an effective electron migration model based on the electron leaps among the 4f/5d/6s orbitals of Ce ions is explored. In Fe4N@NGC/CeSA+Cs+NPs, Ce single-atoms (SA) mainly represent a +3 valence state, which can feed the electrons to Ce4+ of clusters (Cs) and CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) through a conductive network under EMW, leading to the electron migration polarization. Such electron migration loss combined with excellent magnetic loss provided by Fe4N core, results in the optimal EMW attenuation performance with a minimum reflection loss exceeds -85.1 dB and a broadened absorption bandwidth up to 7.5 GHz at 1.5 mm. This study clarifies the in-depth relationship between electron migration polarization and EMW dissipation, providing profound insights into developing well-coordinated magnetic-dielectric nanocomposites for EMW absorption engineering.