Two-dimensional Speckle Tracking Imaging in Cardiotoxicity Caused by Treatment of Breast Carcinoma with Anthracyclines.

Objective: This research was conducted to investigate the monitoring values of routine echocardiography (ECG) and two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) in cardiotoxicity caused by the treatment of breast carcinoma with anthracyclines (ANTH). Methods: 100 patients with breast carcinoma were selected and enrolled into normal group (n=53 cases) and abnormal group (47 cases) according to whether ECG was abnormal. Routine ECG and 2D-STI were employed for the detection, ECG- and 2D-STI-related parameters were compared, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn, and the clinical application values of monitoring methods for two groups were assessed. Results: Before chemotherapy, no remarkable statistical difference was detected in routine ECG and 2D-STI parameters between normal and abnormal groups (P>0.05). After 6 cycles, E/V value of abnormal group was inferior to that of normal group ((0.93±0.16) vs (1.33±0.23). Besides, longitudinal peak strain (SRI) values of rear wall, front spacer, and rear spacer in abnormal group were inferior to those in normal group (P<0.05). Routine ECG combined with 2D-STI had the best predictive effect followed by 2D-STI and routine ECG. Conclusion: To sum up, 2D-STI was a new method for assessing myocardial lesions and possessed significant early clinical monitoring values in cardiotoxicity caused by chemotherapy after the treatment of breast carcinoma with ANTH. It had higher clinical application values than routine ECG.

Optimization of differentiation conditions for porcine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and analysis of fatty acids in cultured fat.

Cultured fat is an important part of cultured meat, and the ability of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) to differentiate into mature adipose tissue affects the quality of cultured fat. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to screen for combinations of differentiation-inducing factors (DIF) using single-factor experiment and orthogonal experimental design under two-dimensional culture conditions for ADSCs. The results showed that a combination of DIF consisting of 1 µmol/L dexamethasone, 0.1 mmol/L 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 10 µg/mL insulin, 0.1 mmol/L indomethacin, and 2 µmol/L rosiglitazone was a good choice for the differentiation of ADSCs. An combination of DIF was applied to the preparation of cultured fat with collagen as scaffolds. Forty-eight fatty acids were detected in cultured fat by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Among them, the content of twenty-one fatty acids in cultured fat was significantly higher than that of conventional porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue (P < 0.05), and the content of 14 fatty acids was not significantly different (P > 0.05). The ratio of ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids content to ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content was 1.23:1, which meant cultured fat was beneficial for human health. This study provides a method to improve the differentiation ability of ADSCs while also providing a reference for indicating the nutritional value of cultured fat.

Identification of the Key Gene DfCCoAOMT1 through Comparative Analysis of Lignification in Dendrocalamus farinosus XK4 and ZPX Bamboo Shoots during Cold Storage.

Dendrocalamus farinosus bamboo shoots, a species with rich nutritional value, are important in Southwest China. Lignin is an important factor affecting the postharvest flavor quality of bamboo shoots; however, the underlying mechanism of lignin deposition in D. farinosus bamboo shoots during cold storage is still not fully understood. In this study, the mutant D. farinosus XK4 with low lignin content at 3.11% and the cultivated variety ZPX at 4.47% were used as experimental materials. The lignin content of D. farinosus XK4 and ZPX, as well as the gene expression differences between them, were compared and analyzed during cold storage using transcriptomic and physiological methods. Our analysis revealed several key genes and found that D. farinosus CCoAOMT1 plays a key role in the regulatory network of bamboo shoots during cold storage. Tobacco heterologous transformation experiments demonstrated that overexpression of DfCCoAOMT1 significantly increases lignin content. This study provides a novel foundation for future research aimed at improving the postharvest quality and flavor of D. farinosus bamboo shoots through targeted genetic manipulation during cold storage.

Association between the incident hypertension duration and cognitive performance in older adults: data from the NHANES 2011-2014.

BACKGROUND: Established evidences have demonstrated that hypertension was associated with the cognitive impairment. But the associations between the duration of hypertension exposure and cognitive performance are still inconclusive. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the association between the duration of hypertension diagnosis and cognitive performance in older adults by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2014). METHODS: To evaluate the relationship between the hypertension duration and cognitive performance, we conducted the logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, we also performed the Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to assess the nonlinear relationship between the duration of exposure to hypertension and cognitive performance. RESULTS: Initially, total 19,931 participants were included in this study, and 2928 individuals were enrolled. With the increase of hypertension duration, more risk of cognitive impairment was observed in the Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST) (OR = 1.012, 1.006-1.019), and a similar trend was observed in Animal Fluency test (AFT) (OR = 1.009,1.003-1.016). The RCS results showed that the hypertension duration pattern was linear associated with the risk of cognitive impairment in DDST (P for non-linearity = 0.758). Meanwhile, subgroups analysis of midlife hypertension, we revealed that linear association with the risk of cognitive impairment in DSST (P for non-linearity = 0.391) and CERAD (P for non-linearity = 0.849) among hypertension diagnose < 55 years populations. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our finding indicates that longer duration of exposure to hypertension worsens the cognition performance, especially for middle-aged hypertension.

Navigating the innovation policy dilemma: How subnational governments balance expenditure competition pressures and long-term innovation goals.

In the pursuit of economic growth, the role of innovation has become increasingly important, posing dilemmas for subnational governments as they navigate the balance between expenditure competition and long-term investments in innovation. This study aimed to investigate the intricate relationship between fiscal pressures and the pursuit of innovation goals faced by regional authorities. To achieve this, a systematic literature review was conducted, synthesizing more than 150 studies published within the past 15 years. Keyword searches were conducted across multiple databases, and additional scholarly articles were incorporated through citation tracking. Rigorous qualitative analysis techniques, including inductive coding and thematic analysis, were employed to distill conceptual insights from the literature. The analysis performed in this review reveals extensive discussions regarding the influence of competition on innovation outcomes, encompassing a wide range of perspectives. The potential advantages of localization are emphasized by some viewpoints, while others caution against the risks of inadequate investment. The effective coordination of policies across multiple levels of governance to maximize synergies between national and subnational innovation systems emerges as a complex yet crucial challenge. It is observed that collaborative networks, which facilitate knowledge exchange through industrial clustering and public-private linkages, play a significant role in leveraging regional innovation assets. Strategic approaches that successfully balance competition with long-term capacity development have been demonstrated by leading jurisdictions. These findings highlight the significance of tailored policy frameworks that account for the unique contexts of each region, providing opportunities to harness competitive motivations while sustaining investments in innovation. Ongoing coordination is essential to strike a balance between responsiveness and coherence across diverse territories. This study offers practical guidance and academic insights on strategies to align decentralized imperatives, aiming to optimize prosperity through knowledge creation within evolving multi-level innovation systems. By shedding light on these strategies, the research contributes to both practical and academic understandings of how to effectively navigate and capitalize on the dynamics of such systems.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation based on wrist-ankle acupuncture theory for pain relief during colonoscopy without anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy is essential for diagnosing colorectal diseases but can cause pain during the procedure. This study explored the analgesic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation based on wrist-ankle acupuncture theory (TENS-WAA) in colonoscopy without anesthesia. METHODS: This prospective study included 120 participants undergoing colonoscopies without anesthesia. The trial group received low-frequency, high-intensity TENS-WAA adjusted to the maximum tolerable current, while the control group received minimal current. The primary outcome was the retrospective pain score on a visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included time, heart rate, and credibility/expectancy questionnaire (CEQ) scores. RESULTS: Participants who received TENS-WAA reported significantly lower pain VAS scores than the control group (estimated median difference -1.1, 95%CI -2 to -0.4; P = 0.002). Male participants in the trial group experienced significantly lower pain scores than the control group (mean difference -1.4, 95%CI -2.41 to -0.39; P = 0.008). The trial group showed significantly less variation in heart rates (P<0.001) and higher CEQ scores (P = 0.001) than the control group. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: TENS-WAA effectively reduced pain during colonoscopy without anesthesia, especially in male participants, providing a promising noninvasive analgesic method.

The role of amino acid metabolism alterations in acute ischemic stroke: From mechanism to application.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the most prevalent type of stroke, and due to its high incidence, disability rate, and mortality rate, it imposes a significant burden on the health care system. Amino acids constitute one of the most crucial metabolic products within the human body, and alterations in their metabolic pathways have been identified in the microenvironment of AIS, thereby influencing the pathogenesis, severity, and prognosis of AIS. The amino acid metabolism characteristics in AIS are complex. On one hand, the dynamic progression of AIS continuously reshapes the amino acid metabolism pattern. Conversely, changes in the amino acid metabolism pattern also exert a double-edged effect on AIS. This interaction is bidirectional, dynamic, heterogeneous, and dose-specific. Therefore, the distinctive metabolic reprogramming features surrounding amino acids during the AIS process are systematically summarized in this paper, aiming to provide potential investigative strategies for the early diagnosis, treatment approaches, and prognostic enhancement of AIS.

A prospective cohort study regarding usability of serum RIPK3 as a biomarker in relation to early hematoma growth and neurological outcomes after acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: The receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) is a pivotal component for triggering necroptosis. We intended to investigate predictive effects of serum RIPK3 levels on early hematoma growth (EHG) and poor neurological outcome after acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 183 ICH patients and 100 controls were enrolled for measuring serum RIPK3 levels. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and hematoma volume were recorded as the severity indicators. EHG and poststroke 6-month unfavorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores of 3-6) were registered as the two prognostic parameters. Multivariate analyses were implemented to discern relevance of serum RIPK3 to ICH severity and prognosis. RESULTS: Serum RIPK3 levels of patients, which were dramatically higher than those of controls, were independently related to NIHSS scores, hematoma volume, EHG, 6-month mRS scores and unfavorable outcome. Risks of EHG and unfavorable outcome were linearly pertinent to and efficiently discriminated by RIPK3 levels under restricted cubic spline and receiver operating characteristic curve respectively. RIPK3 levels nonsignificantly interacted with age, gender, hypertension, etc. Predictive ability of RIPK3 levels resembled those of NIHSS scores and hematoma volume. The prediction models, in which serum RIPK3, NIHSS scores and hematoma volume were integrated, were visually displayed via nomograms. The models' predictive capabilities substantially surpassed that of serum RIPK3, NIHSS scores and hematoma volumes alone. The models kept stable under calibration curve. CONCLUSION: A profound increase of serum RIPK3 levels after ICH is tightly relevant to severity, EHG and poor neurological outcomes, assuming that serum RIPK3 may emerge as a valuable prognostic predictor of ICH.

Association between oxidative balance score and resistant hypertension and arterial stiffness among US adults: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Prior studies have established the correlation between oxidative balance score (OBS) and hypertension (HTN). While the association between OBS and resistant hypertension (RHT) as well as arterial stiffness among individuals with hypertension remains undisclosed. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, total of 15,910 adults diagnosed with hypertension were enrolled from NHANES 2001-2018. OBS was calculated and categorized into quartiles. Weighted regression model, stratified analyses and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were employed to evaluate the association between OBS and RHT, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and arterial stiffness in individuals with hypertension. Among enrolled participants, high OBS quartiles consistently demonstrated a negative association with resistant hypertension across all models (all p < 0.05), indicating robust stability. Compared with the lowest OBS quartile, the risk of resistant hypertension in the highest OBS quartile was decreased by 30.8% (95%CI 0.471-0.995, p = 0.049). After dividing OBS into dietary OBS and lifestyle OBS, a significant inverse association with lifestyle OBS and RHT was observed. With regard to MACEs, the inverse association was also found in participants with high OBS. Besides, the potential relation between OBS and arterial stiffness was explored and we found OBS was significantly associated with decreased arterial stiffness (ß for ePWV, -0.014; 95%CI -0.026 to -0.001; p = 0.032). RCS analysis confirmed a nonlinear association between OBS and RHT, MACEs, cardiovascular death and nonfatal MI among participants with hypertension. CONCLUSION: Elevated OBS was negatively associated with the risk of RHT and arterial stiffness among US adults with hypertension.

Diversity and biogeography of bacterial community in the Ili River network varies locally and regionally.

Microorganisms in rivers indeed play a crucial role in nutrient cycling within aquatic ecosystems. Understanding the assembly mechanisms of bacterial communities in river networks is essential for predicting their special composition and functional characteristics in natural rivers. This study employed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence variation (ASVs) to scrutinize the bacterial community within the uniquely topographical Ili River network. The bacterial community composition varied across the three tributaries with distinct sources and the mainstream. The confluence of various sources diminished the diversity of the bacterial community and altered the functionality of within mainstream. We suggest that strong dispersal limitation predominantly shaped the community at the regional scale (46.6 %), underscoring the significant contribution of headwater sites to bacterial community composition. Contrary to expectation, the bacterial resources in the mainstream were not enriched by the higher diversity in three tributaries. Instead, confluence disturbance potentially increased the undominated processes (36.7 %) and alter the bacterial community composition at the local scale of the mainstream. The intricate coalescence at the confluence could potentially be an intriguing causative factor. Our research indicates that the composition of bacterial communities within intricate river networks exhibits biogeographic patterns, simultaneously influenced by river confluence and geographical features, necessitating multi-scale analysis.

Synergistic effect of paeoniflorin combined with luteolin in alleviating Lipopolysaccharides-induced acute lung injury.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute multifactorial infectious disease caused by trauma, pneumonia, shock and sepsis. Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Paeonia lactiflora Pall. or Paeonia veitchii Lynch, Chishao in Chinese, CS) and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., Lamiaceae, Danshen in Chinese, DS) are common traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). CS-DS herb pair has been widely used to promote blood circulation and eliminate blood stasis in Chinese clinical practice, appearing in a variety of prescriptions. However, it is still unclear for the effect and active ingredients of the herb pair on ALI. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study investigated the effect and active ingredients of CS-DS herb pair and demonstrated the synergistic effect and mechanisms of the active ingredients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells and BALB/c mice were used to establish an ALI model to investigate the effect of CS-DS herb pair on ALI. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to analyze the active ingredients and potential mechanisms of the herb pair. The synergistic effects and mechanisms of active ingredients on ALI were validated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS: CS-DS herb pair had a synergistic effect on LPS-induced ALI. Based on the network pharmacology, the compounds paeoniflorin and luteolin were screened. Both paeoniflorin and luteolin had good affinity for NF-κB and MAPK by molecular docking. LPS stimulation of RAW264.7 cells resulted in a significant increase in ROS, NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß, while the paeoniflorin combined with luteolin significantly reduced their expressions. In the LPS-induced ALI model, the combination also reduced the expression of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress levels. Furthermore, LPS activated the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, whereas the combination decreased the expression of proteins in both pathways. CONCLUSION: CS-DS herb pair alleviated LPS-induced ALI with the active ingredients paeoniflorin and luteolin, which suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress via regulation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of chuanxiong combined with Chishao on treating acute lung injury based on network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with preclinical evaluation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The herb pair of Chuanxiong Rhizome (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Chuanxiong in Chinese, CX) and Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Or Paeonia veitchii Lynch, Chishao in Chinese, CS) is a famous blood activating and stasis resolving pair that is often found in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). However, the relationship of CX-CS herb pair to ALI and its underlying mechanisms are unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study explored the effect and mechanisms of CX-CS herb pair in LPS induced ALI by network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with preclinical evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The related targets of the active compounds of CX-CS herb pair in regulating ALI were screened by network pharmacology. PPI was constructed and the potential pathways were investigated by GO and KEGG. The contribution of each active ingredient of CX-CS herb pair to ALI were calculated by network-based efficacy. The interactions between potential targets and active ingredients were evaluated by molecular docking. LPS stimulated RAW264.7 cells and mice model experiments were adopted to verify the effect of CX-CS herb pair on ALI. RESULTS: A total of 25 compounds and 193 targets were identified in the CX-CS herb pair, of which 19 compounds and 64 targets were associated with ALI, and six compounds including baicalin, ellagic acid, baicalein, beta-sitosterol, paeoniflorin and ferulic acid accounted for 93.12% of the total combination index for ALI prevention. The CX-CS herbal pair against ALI was associated with PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways by GO and KEGG analysis. The screened active compounds showed good affinity for TNF, MAPK, and AKT by molecular docking. In vitro and in vivo tests showed that CX combined with CS synergistically inhibited LPS-induced ALI at 1:3, suppressed the release of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6, inhibited the accumulation of ROS, as well as regulated the content of SOD, MDA and GSH. Meanwhile, the herb pair was effective in inhibiting the expression of p38, ERK, IκBα, p65, caspase 3, PARP, and up-regulating the levels of AKT and Bcl-2/Bax. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed the synergistic effect of CX-CS herb pair on the prevention of ALI by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis through MAPK/NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Enhanced Biofilm Formation by Tetracycline in a Staphylococcus aureus Naturally Lacking ica Operon and atl.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major, widespread pathogen, and its biofilm-forming characteristics make it even more difficult to eliminate by biocides. Tetracycline (TCY) is a major broad-spectrum antibiotic, the residues of which can cause deleterious health impacts, and subinhibitory concentrations of TCY have the potential to increase biofilm formation in S. aureus. In this study, we showed how the biofilm formation of S. aureus 123786 is enhanced in the presence of TCY at specific subinhibitory concentrations. S. aureus 123786 used in this study was identified as Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec III, sequence type239 and naturally lacking ica operon and atl gene. Two assays were performed to quantify the formation of S. aureus biofilm. In the crystal violet (CV) assay, the absorbance values of biofilm stained with CV at optical density (OD)540 nm increased after 8 and 16 hr of incubation when the concentration of TCY was 1/2 minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), whereas at the concentration of 1/16 MIC, the absorbance values increased after 16 and 24 hr of incubation. In tetrazolium salt reduction assay, the absorbance value at OD490 nm of S. aureus 123786 biofilms mixed with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium solution increased after 8 hr when the concentration of TCY was 1/4 MIC, which may be correlated with the higher proliferation and maturation of biofilm. In conclusion, the biofilm formation of S. aureus 123786 could be enhanced in the presence of TCY at specific subinhibitory concentrations.

Effects of liraglutide on extraglycemic inflammatory markers and renal hemodynamic parameters in diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) was the leading cause of kidney disease, which has been a crucial public health. Liraglutide is a drug, widely used for DKD treatment globally. However, the extraglycemic inflammatory markers and renal hemodynamic parameters of DKD patients treated with liraglutide has been not reported. In this study, 160 patients with early DKD were enrolled, 80 cases in the control group and 80 cases in the treatment group, respectively. The individuals in the control group were treated with metformin, while the individuals in the treatment group were treated with liraglutide and metformin for 3 months. The urinary microalbumin and urinary creatinine was measured to calculate the ratio (UACR), while the Doppler ultrasound were measured before and after treatment. After 3 months of treatment, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with before and after treatment in the control group; the levels of cystatin and UACR in treatment group were lower than before treatment and control group; The end-diastolic blood flow velocity (EDV) of renal artery and segment artery in treatment group was significantly higher than that before treatment and control group; The levels of CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 in the treatment group after treatment were lower than those before treatment and those in the control group. After 3 months of treatment, blood cystatin in the treatment group decreased significantly compared with before treatment and after treatment in the control group, with statistical significance After 3 months of treatment, the EDV of renal artery and renal segment in treatment group was significantly higher than that before treatment and control group, the peak systolic blood flow velocity (PSV) and EDV of renal interlobar artery in treatment group were significantly higher than those before treatment and control group. The resistance index (RI) was significantly lower than that before treatment and control group. Liraglutide can reduce inflammatory indicators, renal artery blood flow and renal function indicators in early DKD patients.

Altered brain activity in patients with end-stage renal disease: A meta-analysis of resting-state functional imaging.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have revealed abnormal resting-state brain activity in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD); however, the results are inconsistent. Thus, we conducted a coordinate-based meta-analysis of whole-brain resting-state functional neuroimaging studies in ESRD to identify the most consistent neural activity alterations in ESRD patients and explore their relation to serological indicators. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search strategy was applied to select pertinent studies up to December 2022 in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases. Voxel-wise meta-analysis was conducted via the latest meta-analytic algorithm, seed-based d mapping with permutation of subject images software. Meta-regression analyses were also conducted to explore the potential effect of clinical variables on resting-state neural activity. RESULTS: Eleven studies comprising 304 patients with ESRD and 296 healthy controls (HCs) were included. Compared with HCs, ESRD patients showed decreased brain activity in the default mode network (DMN) regions, including the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex, bilateral midcingulate cortex/posterior cingulate cortex, bilateral precuneus, and right angular gyrus. The neural activities in the bilateral midcingulate cortex, bilateral midcingulate cortex/posterior cingulate cortex, and right angular gyrus were significantly associated with serological indexes including hemoglobin, urea, and creatinine levels. CONCLUSION: The present study provides a quantitative overview of brain activity alterations in patients with ESRD, and the results confirm the essential role of the DMN in ESRD patients, which may be the potential neural basis of their cognitive deficits. Additionally, some serological indicators may be used as predictive markers for progressive impairment of brain function.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Dendrocalamus farinosus CCoAOMT Gene Family and the Role of DfCCoAOMT14 Involved in Lignin Synthesis.

As the main component of plant cell walls, lignin can not only provide mechanical strength and physical defense for plants, but can also be an important indicator affecting the properties and quality of wood and bamboo. Dendrocalamus farinosus is an important economic bamboo species for both shoots and timber in southwest China, with the advantages of fast growth, high yield and slender fiber. Caffeoyl-coenzyme A-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) is a key rate-limiting enzyme in the lignin biosynthesis pathway, but little is known about it in D. farinosus. Here, a total of 17 DfCCoAOMT genes were identified based on the D. farinosus whole genome. DfCCoAOMT1/14/15/16 were homologs of AtCCoAOMT1. DfCCoAOMT6/9/14/15/16 were highly expressed in stems of D. farinosus; this is consistent with the trend of lignin accumulation during bamboo shoot elongation, especially DfCCoAOMT14. The analysis of promoter cis-acting elements suggested that DfCCoAOMTs might be important for photosynthesis, ABA/MeJA responses, drought stress and lignin synthesis. We then confirmed that the expression levels of DfCCoAOMT2/5/6/8/9/14/15 were regulated by ABA/MeJA signaling. In addition, overexpression of DfCCoAOMT14 in transgenic plants significantly increased the lignin content, xylem thickness and drought resistance of plants. Our findings revealed that DfCCoAOMT14 can be a candidate gene that is involved in the drought response and lignin synthesis pathway in plants, which could contribute to the genetic improvement of many important traits in D. farinosus and other species.

Patient-specific 3D printed models for enhanced learning of immediate implant procedures and provisionalization.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to describe the fabrication, implementation and evaluation of 3D-printed patient-specific models for unskilled students to enhance learning in immediate implant procedures and provisionalization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The individualized simulation models were designed and processed based on CT and digital intraoral scanning of a patient. Thirty students performed simulation implant surgery and provisionalized the implant sites on the models and answered questionnaires to assess their perceptions before and after the training. The scores of the questionnaires were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: Significant differences before and after training were found in the students' responses. Students reported better results in understanding of surgical procedures, knowledge in prosthetically driven implantology, understanding of minimally invasive tooth extraction, confirming the accuracy of surgical template, usage of the guide rings and usage of the surgical cassette after simulation training. The overall expenditure on the simulation training involving 30 students amounted to 342.5 USD. CONCLUSIONS: The patient-specific and cost-efficient 3D printed models are helpful for students to improve theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Such individualized simulation models have promising application prospects.

Evaluation the food safety of cultured fat via detection of residues of adipogenic differentiation cocktail in cultured fat with high performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Cultured fat is inducing adipose progenitor cells (APCs) to differentiate into mature adipocytes for consumption. The traditional adipogenic differentiation cocktail, including insulin, dexamethasone, indomethacin, isobutylmethylxanthine and rosiglitazone, has potential food safety problems in cultured fat. Therefore, the detection of these residues is necessary to ensure food safety. In this research, a method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established to quantitatively analyze the potential residual content of dexamethasone, indomethacin, isobutylmethylxanthine and rosiglitazone in cultured fat and medium. Quantitative analysis showed that the content of four residues in cultured fat decreased to zero on Day 10. Subsequently, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the insulin content in the cultured fat and found that the insulin content in the cultured fat on Day 10 was 2.78 ± 0.21 µg/kg. After soaking with phosphate buffered saline (PBS), the insulin content decreased to 1.88 ± 0.54 µg/kg. In conclusion, this research provided an effective approach to clarify the content of potential residual components in cultured fat and it will provide reference for the safety of cultured fat in the future.

N-acetylcysteine promotes the proliferation of porcine adipose-derived stem cells during in vitro long-term expansion for cultured meat production.

Cultured meat is an efficient, safe and sustainable meat production technology. Adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) is a promising cell type for cultured meat. In vitro, obtaining numerous of ADSCs is a pivotal step for cultured meat. In this research, we demonstrated that the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs significantly decreased during serial passage. Then, senescence ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) staining showed that the positive rate of P9 ADSCs was 7.74-fold than P3 ADSCs. Subsequently, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed for P3 and P9 ADSCs and found that PI3K-AKT pathway was up-regulated, but cell cycle and DNA repair pathway were down-regulated in P9 ADSCs. Then, N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) was added during long-term expansion and showed that NAC enhanced the ADSCs proliferation and maintained adipogenic differentiation. Finally, RNA-seq was performed for P9 ADSCs cultured with or without NAC and showed that NAC restored the cell cycle and DNA repair pathway in P9 ADSCs. These results highlighted that NAC was an excellent supplement for large-scale expansion of porcine ADSCs for cultured meat.

Preparation and Quality Evaluation of Cultured Fat.

Cultured meat is rapidly developing as an emerging meat production technology. Adipose tissue plays an essential role in the flavor of meat products. In this study, cultured fat was produced by cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) based on collagen in vitro, with a 3D model. The research showed that ADSCs could attach to collagen hydrogels and differentiate into mature adipocytes. Texture analysis demonstrated that the springiness, cohesiveness, and resilience of cultured fat were consistent with porcine subcutaneous fat. Moreover, 28 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected by headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry. The relative contents of 17 VOCs in cultured fat were significantly higher than porcine subcutaneous fat and empty collagen hydrogels, and the relative contents of 5 VOCs in cultured fat were not significantly different from porcine subcutaneous fat. These findings assert the promising application of cultured fat in cultured meat production.