Genome- and Toxicology-Based Safety Assessment of Probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila ONE Isolated from Humans.

In this study, the genome of Akkermansia muciniphila ONE (designated AKK ONE) was sequenced, assembled, and analyzed. In addition, the safety of this strain was further evaluated by toxicological studies. The results showed that the AKK ONE genome is contained on a single chromosome with a total length of 2,817,524 bp and an average GC content of 55.48%. In total, 2411, 1131, 1168, 1745, and 1402 genes were annotated to the NR, GO, KEGG, COG, and SwissProt database, respectively. Potential resistance genes, adeF, tetW, ANT(3″)-IIa, and aadA1 were detected. AKK ONE was sensitive to ampicillin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, meropenem, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol and resistant to moxifloxacin. No potential virulence-related genes were detected. The PathogenFinder database analysis showed that AKK ONE was a non-potential human pathogen. This strain had good gastroenteric fluid tolerance and a weak ability to colonize the gut. No test item-related adverse effects were observed in the acute and subchronic toxicity test. AKK ONE did not display mutagenic activity either. This strain did not change the hematological and clinical biochemical parameters of mice. The weights of the organs were not affected by AKK ONE treatment. These results support that AKK ONE is safe for use as a probiotic at a dose of 8.28 × 109 CFU/kg bw/day.

Hot water mobilizes the metabolism of energy, soluble sugar, cell wall, and phenolics to cope with chilling injury in postharvest snap beans.

BACKGROUND: Snap beans (Phaseoulus vulgaris L.) are very sensitive to low temperature during postharvest storage. Pitting, rusting, and water-soaked patches are typical chilling injury (CI) symptoms of snap beans. The appearance of these symptoms reduces the storage quality of snap beans. The energy, soluble carbohydrates, cell wall, and phenolic metabolisms of refrigerated snap beans and their relationship to CI treated with 35 °C hot water (HW) were investigated. RESULTS: HW treatment reduced CI index and electrolyte leakage and increased the contents of soluble solids, titratable acidity, and chlorophyll. HW treatment maintained higher activities of proton ATPase, calcium ATPase, and cytochrome c oxidase, which resulted in the accumulation of more adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, and energy charge. The accumulation of soluble sugar induced by HW treatment was correlated with the stimulation of sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase. The prevention effect of HW treatment on the degradation of cell wall components was related to the inhibition of pectin methylesterase and cellulase. HW-induced phenol accumulation is associated with an increase in shikimate dehydrogenase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumarine-coenzyme A ligase, as well as a decrease in polyphenol oxidase. CONCLUSION: The alleviating effect of HW on CI is due to its regulation of energy, soluble sugar, cell wall, and phenolic metabolism. Therefore, HW treatment may be an effective means to reduce CI of snap beans. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ensuring athlete physical fitness using Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) in training environments.

BACKGROUND: Sports have been a fundamental component of any culture and legacy for centuries. Athletes are widely regarded as a source of national pride, and their physical well-being is deemed to be of paramount significance. The attainment of optimal performance and injury prevention in athletes is contingent upon physical fitness. Technology integration has implemented Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) to augment the athletic training milieu. OBJECTIVE: The present study introduces an approach for assessing athlete physical fitness in training environments: the Internet of Things (IoT) and CPS-based Physical Fitness Evaluation Method (IoT-CPS-PFEM). METHODS: The IoT-CPS-PFEM employs a range of IoT-connected sensors and devices to observe and assess the physical fitness of athletes. The proposed methodology gathers information on diverse fitness parameters, including heart rate, body temperature, and oxygen saturation. It employs machine learning algorithms to scrutinize and furnish feedback on the athlete's physical fitness status. RESULTS: The simulation findings illustrate the efficacy of the proposed IoT-CPS-PFEM in identifying the physical fitness levels of athletes, with an average precision of 93%. The method under consideration aims to tackle the existing obstacles of conventional physical fitness assessment techniques, including imprecisions, time lags, and manual data-gathering requirements. The approach of IoT-CPS-PFEM provides the benefits of real-time monitoring, precision, and automation, thereby enhancing an athlete's physical fitness and overall performance to a considerable extent. CONCLUSION: The research findings suggest that the implementation of IoT-CPS-PFEM can significantly impact the physical fitness of athletes and enhance the performance of the Indian sports industry in global competitions.

Dynamic Acoustic Beamshaping with Coupling-Immune Moiré Metasurfaces.

Moiré effects arising from mutually twisted metasurfaces have showcased remarkable wave manipulation capabilities, unveiling tantalizing emerging phenomena such as acoustic moiré flat bands and topological phase transitions. However, the pursuit of strong near-field coupling in layers has necessitated acoustic moiré metasurfaces to be tightly stacked at narrow distances in the subwavelength range. Here, moiré effects beyond near-field interlayer coupling in acoustics are reported and the concept of coupling-immune moiré metasurfaces is proposed. Remote acoustic moiré effects decoupled from the interlayer distance are theoretically, numerically, and experimentally demonstrated. Tunable out-of-plane acoustic beam scanning is successfully achieved by dynamically controlling twist angles. The engineered coupling-immune properties are further extended to multilayered acoustic moiré metasurfaces and manipulation of acoustic vortices. Good robustness against external disturbances is also observed for the fabricated coupling-immune acoustic moiré metasurfaces. The presented work unlocks the potential of twisted moiré devices for out-of-plane acoustic beam shaping, enabling practical applications in remote dynamic detection, and multiplexed underwater acoustic communication.

1-Methylcyclopropene Alleviates Postharvest Chilling Injury of Snap Beans by Enhancing Antioxidant Defense System.

Research background: Chilling injury is a major disorder affecting the quality of tropical and subtropical vegetables during low temperature storage. Snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is sensitive to chilling injury. The main purpose of the present study is to investigate the alleviating effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on chilling injury of snap bean. In addition, the related mechanisms were also detected from the perspective of the changes of antioxidant defense system. Experimental approach: Snap beans were exposed to different volume fractions of 1-MCP. After 24 h of treatment, snap beans were stored at 4 °C for up to 14 days. Chilling injury index, electrolyte leakage, titratable acidity and total soluble solids were determined. Contents of chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and malondialdehyde were assessed. The total antioxidant capacity, Fe(II) ion chelating capacity, scavenging capacities on free radicals and activities of antioxidant enzymes were detected. Total phenol content and activities of related metabolic enzymes were also determined. Results and conclusions: 1-MCP treatment reduced chilling injury index, electrolyte leakage rate and malondialdehyde content of snap beans. The amounts of total soluble solids, titratable acid, ascorbic acid and total chlorophyll in 1-MCP-treated snap beans were significantly higher than those of control. The snap beans treated with 1-MCP showed stronger total antioxidant capacity and metal chelating activity. The 1-MCP treatment enhanced scavenging effects of snap beans on superoxide, hydroxyl and 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine radicals. The activities of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in 1-MCP-treated group were higher than of control. The treatment also enhanced the accumulation of phenolic compounds in snap beans by regulating the activities of phenol-metabolizing enzymes such as shikimate dehydrogenase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase enzyme, cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase and polyphenol oxidase. In conclusion, with the mechanism that involves the activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems, 1-MCP has the ability to avoid chilling injury of snap bean. Novelty and scientific contribution: This study gives insights into whether 1-MCP can regulate postharvest cold resistance in vegetables by enhancing the enzymatic antioxidant system and inducing the accumulation of non-enzymatic antioxidants. Considering the results, 1-MCP treatment could be an effective method to alleviate postharvest chilling injury of snap beans during low temperature storage.

Statistical characteristics of under-ice noise on the Arctic Chukchi Plateau.

In the context of global warming leading to rapidly changing Arctic sea ice and the environment, it is necessary to understand the statistical characteristics of noise under existing Arctic ocean environmental conditions. The data recorded from August 1, 2018 to November 2, 2019, on the Arctic Chukchi Plateau, have been studied to analyze the relationship between the ice transient events and the non-Gaussian statistics of under-ice noise. The ice-generated transient noise largely contributes to the under-ice noise environment, and the total under-ice noise exhibits non-Gaussian statistics due to the occurrence of these ice transients. The number of ice transients has a strong negative correlation with the characteristic index α, meaning that the higher the occurrence of transient events, the stronger the non-Gaussian statistics of under-ice noise. Stronger non-Gaussian noise with full ice coverage is observed compared to partial ice coverage. The under-ice noise in 0.5-1 kHz exhibits the strongest non-Gaussian statistics, followed by 1-4 kHz, while it is weakest in 20-500 Hz. The statistics of ice transients and under-ice noise have been provided in this paper, which can be used in sonar detection algorithms and have important significance for the performance prediction and optimization of sonar processors.

Ocean ambient noise on the Chukchi Plateau and its environmental correlates.

Conducting research on ocean ambient noise under different sea ice conditions is highly important for the comprehension of the rapidly changing Arctic. We present the first results of ambient noise and its relationship to environmental forcing during the open-water, ice transition and ice-covered periods on the Chukchi Plateau. The ambient noise level (ANL) in the 20 Hz to 2 kHz band is higher, intermediate and lower during the open-water, ice transition and ice-covered periods, respectively. During the ice-covered period, the ambient noise is dominated by the ice-generated noise due to sea ice activities and shows a negative correlation with temperature. Therefore, when the temperature decreases, the sea ice is prone to shrinking and cracking, thus increasing the sea ice activities and resulting in increased ice-generated noise; when the temperature rises and is relatively high in May and June, the ANL is lowest for the sea ice inhibition to wind waves and decreased sea ice activities induced by temperature rise. Sea ice is the most predominant environmental factor affecting Arctic ocean ambient noise, and the ANL can potentially increase due to a reduction in Arctic sea ice and increase in human activities caused by global climate change.

Hybrid Metasurfaces for Perfect Transmission and Customized Manipulation of Sound Across Water-Air Interface.

Extreme impedance mismatch causes sound insulation at water-air interfaces, limiting numerous cross-media applications such as ocean-air wireless acoustic communication. Although quarter-wave impedance transformers can improve transmission, they are not readily available for acoustics and are restricted by the fixed phase shift at full transmission. Here, this limitation is broken through impedance-matched hybrid metasurfaces assisted by topology optimization. Sound transmission enhancement and phase modulation across the water-air interface are achieved independently. Compared to the bare water-air interface, it is experimentally observed that the average transmitted amplitude through an impedance-matched metasurface at the peak frequency is enhanced by ≈25.9 dB, close to the limit of the perfect transmission 30 dB. And nearly 42 dB amplitude enhancement is measured by the hybrid metasurfaces with axial focusing function. Various customized vortex beams are experimentally realized to promote applications in ocean-air communication. The physical mechanisms of sound transmission enhancement for broadband and wide-angle incidences are revealed. The proposed concept has potential applications in efficient transmission and free communication across dissimilar media.

Genetic analysis of periventricular nodular heterotopia 7 caused by a novel NEDD4L missense mutation: Case and literature summary.

BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental disorders associated with periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH) are characterized by phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. NEDD4L mutation can lead to PVNH7. However, at present, only eight NEDD4L pathogenic variants have been identified across 15 cases of PVNH7 worldwide. Given this dearth of evidence, the precise correlations between genetic pathogenesis and phenotypes remain to be determined. METHODS: This report discusses the case of a 19-month-old male child with cleft palate, seizures, psychomotor retardation, and hypotonia, for whom we verified the genetic etiology using Trio-whole-exome and Sanger sequencing to analyze the potential pathogenicity of the mutant protein structure. Mutant plasmids were constructed for in vitro analyses. After transfection into human 293 T cells, the mutant transcription process was analyzed using real-time PCR (RT-PCR), and levels of mutant protein expression were examined using western blotting (WB) and immunofluorescence (IF) experiments. RESULTS: Genetic analyses revealed a novel missense mutation Gln900Arg, located in the homologous to E6-APC terminal (HECT) domain of NEDD4L and that the parents were wild-type, suggestive of a de novo mutation. The variant was predicted to be pathogenic by bioinformatics software, which also suggested alterations in the structural stability of the mutant protein. RT-PCR results indicated that the mutation did not affect mRNA expression, whereas WB and IF results indicated that the level of mutant protein was significantly reduced by 41.07%. CONCLUSION: Functional experiments demonstrated that Gln900Arg probably did not lead to transcriptional abnormalities in this patient, instead leading to increased ubiquitination activity owing to the constitutive activation of the HECT domain, thereby promoting protein degradation. Extensive clinical reports should be generated for patients presenting with PVNH and/or polymicrogyria, developmental delay, syndactyly, and hypotonia to increase the pool of evidence related to NEDD4L.

[Clinical report and genetic analysis of a child with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome type 3 due to compound heterozygous variants of RNASEH2C gene].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a child with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome 3 (AGS3). METHODS: Trio whole exome sequencing was carried out for the child and his parents, and candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. To further clarify their pathogenicity, the crystal structure of the variants was simulated and analyzed, and the plasmid of variants was expressed in vitro. A literature search was also carried out to summarize the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of AGS3. RESULTS: The child was found to harbor novel compound heterozygous variants of the RNASEH2C gene, namely c.434G>T (p.Arg145Leu) and c.494G>C (p.Ter165Ser), which were inherited from his mother and father, respectively. Analysis of protein crystal structure suggested that the c.434G>T (p.Arg145Leu) variant may affect the stability of local structure, and in vitro experiments showed that this variant can lead to protein degradation. The c.494G>C (p.Ter165Ser) variant has destroyed the stop codon, resulting in prolonged variant. CONCLUSION: The novel compound heterozygous variants of the RNASEH2C gene probably underlay the AGS3 in this child, which has enriched the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of this disorder.

USP25 UPREGULATION BOOSTS GSDMD -MEDIATED PYROPTOSIS OF ACINAR CELLS IN ACUTE PANCREATITIS.

ABSTRACT: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammation-associated disorder in the digestive system. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 25 ( USP25 ) can modulate inflammation in diseases. This study expounded on the role of USP25 in pyroptosis of acinar cells in AP. Acinar cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and caerulein (CRE) to induce AP. Afterward, the expression patterns of USP25 , microRNA (miR)-10a-5p, and Krüppel-like factor 4 ( KLF4 ) in acinar cells were examined. Then, acinar cell viability and levels of NLR family pyrin-domain containing 3 (NLRP3), cleaved caspase-1, cleaved N -terminal gasdermin D ( GSDMD - N ), interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-18 were determined. We observed that USP25 was highly expressed in AP models, and silencing USP25 increased cell viability and inhibited pyroptosis of AP acinar cells. The bindings of USP25 to KLF4 and miR-10a-5p to KLF4 and the GSDMD 3'UTR sequence were validated. We found that USP25 binding to KLF4 inhibited ubiquitination degradation of KLF4 , KLF4 transcriptionally decreased miR-10a-5p expression, and miR-10a-5p targeted GSDMD expression. Finally, rescue experiments proved that KLF4 overexpression or miR-10a-5p suppression enhanced pyroptosis of AP acinar cells. Overall, USP25 stabilized KLF4 expression through deubiquitination, limited miR-10a-5p expression, and increased GSDMD expression, finally promoting pyroptosis of acinar cells in AP.

An integrated pore size distribution measurement method of small angle neutron scattering and mercury intrusion capillary pressure.

Small-angle neutron scattering and high-pressure mercury intrusion capillary pressure testing are integrated to analyze the pore size distribution of the broad sense shale oil reservoir samples of the Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Jimsar Sag, Junggar Basin, China. The results show that, compared with the measurement method integrating gas adsorption and mercury intrusion, combination of small-angle neutron scattering and mercury intrusion can more accurately characterize full-scale pore size distribution. The full-scale pore size distribution curve of the rock samples in the study area includes two types: the declining type and submicron pore-dominated type. The declining type is mainly found with silty mudstone and dolomitic mudstone, and most of its pores are smaller than 80 nm. Silt-fine sandstones and dolarenite are mostly of the submicron pores-dominated type, with most pores smaller than 500 nm. They also present large specific pore volumes and average pore diameters of macropores and are the favorable lithogenous facies for development of high-quality reservoirs.

Identification of atrial fibrillation-related circular RNAs and constructing the integrative regulatory network of circular RNAs, microRNAs and mRNAs by bioinformatics analysis.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with a high incidence of stroke. Many circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been demonstrated they are elated to various heart diseases and may play important roles in diagnostics or many pathophysiological processes. Nevertheless, there is Few studies on circRNAs functions in persistent AF. To identify AF-related circRNAs and construct the integrative regulatory network of circular RNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs, we collected human right atrial appendage tissues from 5 patients suffering persistent AF (AF group) and 5 patients with normal sinus rhythm (NSR group) and characterized the global changes in circRNA expression with high-throughput sequencing technology. The differential expression of circRNAs and the interactions between circRNAs and microRNAs were analyzed. The microRNA expression file GSE68475 dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to explore the differentially expressed microRNAs. The target genes of overlapped miRNAs were predicted by using DIANA-TarBase v8. We constructed the circRNA- miRNA-mRNA network using Cytoscape (version 3.4.0) and the network topology was analyzed by utilizing CentiScaPe app. Results showed that all of 600 differentially expressed circRNAs related to AF were screened, including 340 up-regulated and 260 down-regulated circRNAs. An integrative regulatory network was constructed, which included 30 circRNAs, 9 miRNAs and 130 target mRNAs of these miRNAs. It was concluded that that 30 circRNAs, including 8 upregulated circRNAs and 22 downregulated circRNAs, were predicted to highly possibly function as sponges of 9 miRNAs to regulate gene expression by using bioinformatics analysis. Moreover, the interactions of hsa-miR-339-5p with its related circRNAs and target mRNAs constructed the hub regulatory network in persistent AF by utilizing topology analysis. Our proposed regulatory network of circRNAs-miRNAs-mRNAs may provide new insight into the potential mechanism underlying persistent AF. Additionally, these important molecular may become novel biomarkers providing a new strategy in diagnosis and therapy of AF.

[Application of surface electromyography in children with dysphagia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the application value of surface electromyography in children with dysphagia. METHODS: A total of 20 children with dysphagia were enrolled as the observation group, and 20 healthy children, matched for sex and age, were enrolled as the control group. Surface electromyography was used to record the electromyography integral values of the submental and infrahyoid muscle groups in the resting state and the state after water swallowing. The two groups were compared in terms of the electromyography integral values of the submental and infrahyoid muscle groups in the resting state and the state after swallowing 5 mL water. The observation group was observed in terms of the changes in the electromyography integral values of the submental and infrahyoid muscle groups after 1 month of rehabilitation treatment. A Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation of the degree of dysphagia with the electromyography integral values of the submental and infrahyoid muscle groups in the observation group. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the electromyography integral values of the submental and infrahyoid muscle groups in the resting state (P>0.05), while after water swallowing, the observation group had significantly higher electromyography integral values than the control group (P<0.05). The observation group had significant improvements in the clinical symptoms of dysphagia after treatment, with significant reductions in the electromyography integral values of the submental and infrahyoid muscle groups (P<0.05). The severity of dysphagia was positively correlated with the electromyography integral values of the submental and infrahyoid muscle groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Surface electromyography is useful in the diagnosis and therapeutic effect evaluation for dysphagia in children.

A comprehensive evaluation method for sludge pyrolysis and adsorption process in the treatment of coking wastewater.

This study proposes a new evaluation method based on expert scoring and data normalization to optimize operational conditions of sludge pyrolysis and assess the comprehensive benefits of the adsorption process in coking wastewater treatment. Pyrolysis temperature, holding time and heating rate were considered as the experimental parameters in sludge pyrolysis. They were optimized by the proposed method, considering raw material cost, net energy consumption, carbon emission and adsorption capacity of sludge-derived bio-char (SB). Two operational modes (cyclic centralized and traditional distributed) were compared to identify a better solution for coking wastewater treatment. The results showed that the optimized operational conditions of coking sludge pyrolysis were that temperature of 550 °C, holding time of 60 min and heating rate of 20 °C/min, using the proposed method. Cyclic centralized mode has been demonstrated as the better mode for wastewater treatment by the proposed method, due to the higher comprehensive score of -0.296. It is a promising technology for sustainable wastewater treatment in terms of sludge recycling, energy saving and carbon emission reduction.

Ozonation of aqueous phenol catalyzed by biochar produced from sludge obtained in the treatment of coking wastewater.

Sludge collected from industrial wastewater treatment possesses a threatening effect on environment, and changing it into functional material provides an alternative for its disposal. Biochar synthesized by pyrolysis of sludge obtained from coking wastewater treatment was evaluated for the catalytic ozonation of phenol in aqueous solution. The present work focused on testing the catalytic performance of biochar, deducing the kinetics of phenol removal in various reaction conditions, and finally elucidating the mechanism of biochar-enhanced phenol removal. The results demonstrated that biochars produced at pyrolysis temperatures of 700 and 900 °C revealed highly comparable catalytic activity in phenol ozonation, leading to around 95% phenol removal within 30 min reaction, due to the abundant carbonyl groups on biochar surface. The biochar, however, was suffered from poor stability, which was attributed to biochar loss and changes in surface chemistry. On the basis of examining reaction variables, an empirical kinetic model was developed well matching experimental results. It was found that ozone concentration adsorbed on biochar surface was first increased with a peak (3.8 mg/L for biochar obtained at 700 °C) at reaction time 10 min, after which it decreased along with proceeding reaction. In light of radical scavenging test, superoxide radical (O2-) was identified as main radical species produced from the interaction of ozone with biochar surface, while hydroxyl radical (OH) played negligible role in biochar catalytic ozonation. The promoting mechanism of bicarbonate on phenol ozonation was verified to be the generation of O2- via series reactions of HCO3- with OH and ozone, apart from increase in solution pH. These results provide important implications for future recycling of coking wastewater treatment sludge in environmental remediation.

NLRC5 silencing ameliorates cardiac fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF­ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

The proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix are the predominant pathological characteristics of cardiac fibrosis. As the largest member of the nucleotide­binding domain and leucine­rich repeat (NLR) family, NLRC5 has been shown to be pivotal in the development of hepatic fibrosis. However, whether NLRC5 is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the role of NLRC5 and its mechanisms in regulating cardiac fibrosis. CFs were stimulated with transforming growth factor (TGF)­ß1 for various times and the mRNA and protein expression of NLRC5 was assessed using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. In addition, CFs were transfected with small interfering (si)RNA targeting NLRC5 or scramble siRNA for 24 h and then stimulated with TGF­ß1 for 24 h. Subsequently, cell proliferation was measured using an MTT assay, whereas cell migration was evaluated using a Transwell migration assay. The protein expression levels of α­smooth muscle actin, collagen I, connective tissue growth factor, phosphorylated­Smad3 and Smad3 were measured using western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that NLRC5 was upregulated in TGF­ß1­induced CFs. The knockdown of NLRC5 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration, and suppressed myofibroblast differentiation and the expression of pro­fibrotic molecules in TGF­ß1­treated CFs. Furthermore, the knockdown of NLRC5 attenuated TGF­ß1­induced phosphorylation of small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad)3 in the CFs. The results of the present study indicated that NLRC5 acted as a key regulator of pathological cardiac fibrosis, and NLRC5 silencing ameliorated cardiac fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF­ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway. These results suggested that NLRC5 may be a novel target for attenuating cardiac fibrosis.

Diosgenin inhibits angiotensin II-induced extracellular matrix remodeling in cardiac fibroblasts through regulating the TGF­ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

The proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are pivotal in the development of cardiac fibrosis. Recent studies have indicated that diosgenin may inhibit high glucose­induced renal tubular fibrosis; however, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have focused on the effects of diosgenin on cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the effects of diosgenin on angiotensin II (Ang II)­induced ECM remodeling, and its possible mechanism in rat CFs. CFs were pre­incubated with diosgenin (1, 5 and 10 µM) for 24 h and were then stimulated with Ang II (100 nM) for 24 h. Cell proliferation was estimated using the MTS assay. The expression levels of α­SMA, fibronectin, collagen I, TGF­ß1, in addition to phosphorylation of Smad3 were detected by western blotting. The results demonstrated that diosgenin inhibited Ang II­induced CF proliferation and the differentiation of CFs to myofibroblasts. In addition, diosgenin was able to inhibit Ang II­induced ECM expression in rat CFs. Furthermore, diosgenin inhibited Ang II­induced expression of transforming growth factor­ß1 (TGF­ß1) and Smad3 phosphorylation in CFs. Taken together, these results suggest that diosgenin may inhibit Ang II­induced ECM remodeling by suppressing the TGF­ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway in rat CFs. Therefore, diosgenin may possess therapeutic potential for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.

Preparation and Property Evaluation of Conductive Hydrogel Using Poly (Vinyl Alcohol)/Polyethylene Glycol/Graphene Oxide for Human Electrocardiogram Acquisition.

Conductive hydrogel combined with Ag/AgCl electrode is widely used in the acquisition of bio-signals. However, the high adhesiveness of current commercial hydrogel causes human skin allergies and pruritus easily after wearing hydrogel for electrodes for a long time. In this paper, a novel conductive hydrogel with good mechanical and conductive performance was prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles. A cyclic freezing⁻thawing method was employed under processing conditions of -40 °C (8 h) and 20 °C (4 h) separately for three cycles in sequence until a strong conductive hydrogel, namely, PVA/PEG/GO gel, was obtained. Characterization (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy) results indicated that the assembled hydrogel was successfully prepared with a three-dimensional network structure and, thereafter, the high strength and elasticity due to the complete polymeric net formed by dense hydrogen bonds in the freezing process. The as-made PVA/PEG/GO hydrogel was then composited with nonwoven fabric for electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes. The ECG acquisition data indicated that the prepared hydrogel has good electro-conductivity and can obtain stable ECG signals for humans in a static state and in motion (with a small amount of drift). A comparison of results indicated that the prepared PVA/PEG/GO gel obtained the same quality of ECG signals with commercial conductive gel with fewer cases of allergies and pruritus in volunteer after six hours of wear.

Changes in enterovirus serotype constituent ratios altered the clinical features of infected children in Guangdong Province, China, from 2010 to 2013.

BACKGROUND: Enterovirus (EV)-related hand, foot, and mouth disease/herpangina (HFMD/HA) has been prevalent in Guangdong Province, China, since 2010. METHODS: Clinical data for EV-related HFMD/HA inpatients admitted to the Department of Paediatrics of Zhujiang Hospital from 2010 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The corresponding EV serotypes were also determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or BLAST analysis of the sequenced partial lengths of the viral protein1/5'-untranslated region. RESULTS: A total of 867 eligible inpatients admitted during 2010-2013 were included in the study. Of these, the serotype of the responsible EV was successfully identified in 824 cases. The incidence of enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection amongst pediatric HFMD/HA inpatients decreased dramatically from 55.5 % in 2010 to 8.1 % in 2013, with a similar decrease recorded for coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16). However, the incidence of non-EV71/CVA16 infection increased from 30.0 % in 2010 to 83.8 % in 2013. We noted that the types of infection caused by different EV serotypes varied: EV71 was responsible for 100 % of the paralysis cases (26/26), 84.6 % of the deaths (11/13), and 84.1 % of cases with severe central nervous system involvement (SCNSI) (74/88); echovirus contributed to 16.4 % of the deaths (2/13) and 4.4 % of the SCNSI cases; and coxsackievirus accounted for only 2.2 % of the SCNSI cases (2/90). The clinical features of HFMD/HA cases varied greatly during the time period examined, with drastic changes in the hospitalization rates (45.1, 63.7, 36.4, and 19.1 % for 2010, 2011, 2012, and 21013, respectively), mortality rates (2.3, 0.9, 2.5, and 0.0 %, respectively), paralysis (5.1, 1.2, 5.4, and 0.0 %, respectively), SCNSI (16.8, 7.1, 12.7, and 2.2 %, respectively), and acute respiratory infection (21.1, 22.0, 45.9, and 59.0 %, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The incidences of infection caused by different EV serotypes, along with the clinical features of HFMD/HA cases, changed drastically in Guangdong Province, China, from 2010 to 2013, with the biggest changes observed in 2013. The changed constituent ratios of the different EV serotypes might therefore be responsible for the differences in the observed clinical features of HFMD/HA during this period.