Genetic assessment and candidate genes identification for breed-specific characteristics of Qingyuan partridge chicken based on runs of homozygosity.

BACKGROUND: Several core breeding and supporting lines of the Qingyuan partridge chicken, a representative local chicken breed in China, have been developed over 20 years. Consequently, its economic traits related to growth and reproduction have been significantly improved by breeding selection and commercial utilization, but some characteristic traits, such as partridge feathers, high meat quality and sufficient flavor, have always been retained. However, effective methods for genetic assessment and functional gene exploration of similar trait groups are lacking. The presence of identical haplotype fragments transmitted from parent to offspring results in runs of homozygosity (ROH), which offer an efficient solution. In this study, genomes of 134 Qingyuan partridge chickens representing two breeding populations and one preserved population were re-sequenced to evaluate the genetic diversity and explore functional genes by analyzing the diversity, distribution, and frequency of ROH. RESULTS: The results showed a low level of genomic linkage and degree of inbreeding within both the bred and preserved populations, suggesting abundant genetic diversity and an adequate genetic potential of the Qingyuan partridge chicken. Throughout the long-term selection process, 21 genes, including GLI3, ANO5, BLVRA, EFNB2, SLC5A12, and SVIP, associated with breed-specific characteristics were accumulated within three ROH islands, whereas another 21 genes associated with growth traits including IRX1, IRX2, EGFR, TPK1, NOVA1, BDNF and so on were accumulated within five ROH islands. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide new insights into the genetic assessment and identification of genes with breed-specific and selective characteristics, offering a solid genetic basis for breeding and protection of Qingyuan partridge chickens.

Ancient mitochondrial genome depicts sheep maternal dispersal and migration in Eastern Asia.

Sheep have been one of the most important groups of animals since ancient times. However, the knowledge of their migration routes and genetic relationships is still poorly understood. To investigate sheep maternal migration histories alongside Eurasian communications routes, in this study, we obtain mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from 17 sheep remains in 6 Chinese sites and 1 Uzbekistan site dated 4429-3100 years before present (BP). By obtaining the mitogenomes from the sheep (4429-3556 BP) found in the Tongtian Cave site in Xinjiang, Altai region of northwest China, our results support the emergence of haplogroup C sheep in Xinjiang as early as 4429-3556 BP. The combined phylogenetic analyses with extant ancient and modern sheep mitogenomes suggest that the Uzbekistan-Altai region may have been a migration hub for early sheep in eastern Asia. At least two migration events have taken place for sheep crossing Eurasia to China, one passing by Uzbekistan and Northwest China to the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River at approximately 4000 BP and another following the Altai region to middle Inner Mongolia from 4429 BP to 2500 BP. Overall, this study provides further evidence for early sheep utilization and migration patterns in Eastern Asia.

MnOOH-Catalyzed Autoxidation of Glutathione for Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Nanocatalytic Tumor Innate Immunotherapy.

The antioxidant system, signed with reduced glutathione (GSH) overexpression, is the key weapon for tumor to resist the attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Counteracting the ROS depletion by GSH is an effective strategy to guarantee the antitumor efficacy of nanocatalytic therapy. However, simply reducing the concentration of GSH does not sufficiently improve tumor response to nanocatalytic therapy intervention. Herein, a well-dispersed MnOOH nanocatalyst is developed to catalyze GSH autoxidation and peroxidase-like reaction concurrently and respectively to promote GSH depletion and H2O2 decomposition to produce abundant ROS such as hydroxyl radical (·OH), thereby generating a highly effective superadditive catalytic therapeutic efficacy. Such a therapeutic strategy that transforms endogenous "antioxidant" into "oxidant" may open a new avenue for the development of antitumor nanocatalytic medicine. Moreover, the released Mn2+ can activate and sensitize the cGAS-STING pathway to the damaged intratumoral DNA double-strands induced by the produced ROS to further promote macrophage maturation and M1-polarization, which will boost the innate immunotherapeutic efficacy. Resultantly, the developed simple MnOOH nanocatalytic medicine capable of simultaneously catalyzing GSH depletion and ROS generation, and mediating innate immune activation, holds great potential in the treatment of malignant tumors.

Piezocatalytic Medicine: An Emerging Frontier using Piezoelectric Materials for Biomedical Applications.

Emerging piezocatalysts have demonstrated their remarkable application potential in diverse medical fields. In addition to their ultrahigh catalytic activities, their inherent and unique charge-carrier-releasing properties can be used to initiate various redox catalytic reactions, displaying bright prospects for future medical applications. Triggered by mechanical energy, piezocatalytic materials can release electrons/holes, catalyze redox reactions of substrates, or intervene in biological processes to promote the production of effector molecules for medical purposes, such as decontamination, sterilization, and therapy. Such a medical application of piezocatalysis is termed as piezocatalytic medicine (PCM) herein. To pioneer novel medical technologies, especially therapeutic modalities, this review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art research progress in piezocatalytic medicine. First, the principle of piezocatalysis and the preparation methodologies of piezoelectric materials are introduced. Then, a comprehensive summary of the medical applications of piezocatalytic materials in tumor treatment, antisepsis, organic degradation, tissue repair and regeneration, and biosensing is provided. Finally, the main challenges and future perspectives in piezocatalytic medicine are discussed and proposed, expecting to fuel the development of this emerging scientific discipline.

3D-CEUS tracking of injectable chemo-sonodynamic therapy-enabled mop-up of residual renal cell carcinoma after thermal ablation.

Thermal ablation (TA), as a minimally invasive therapeutic technique, has been extensively used to the treatment of solid tumors, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which, unfortunately, still fails to overcome the high risk of local recurrence and distant metastasis since the incomplete ablation cannot be ignored due to various factors such as the indistinguishable tumor margins and limited ablation zone. Herein, we report the injectable thermosensitive hydrogel by confining curcumin (Cur)-loaded hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (Cur@HMON@gel) which can locate in tumor site more than half a month and mop up the residual RCC under ultrasound (US) irradiation after transforming from colloidal sol status to elastic gel matrix at physiological temperature. Based on the US-triggered accelerated diffusion of the model chemotherapy drug with multi-pharmacologic functions, the sustained and controlled release of Cur has been demonstrated in vitro. Significantly, US is employed as an external energy to trigger Cur, as a sonosensitizer also, to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for sonodynamic tumor therapy (SDT) in parallel. Tracking by the three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (3D-CEUS) imaging, the typical decreased blood perfusions have been observed since the residual xenograft tumor after incomplete TA were effectively suppressed during the chemo-sonodynamic therapy process. The high in vivo biocompatibility and biodegradability of the multifunctional nanoplatform confined by thermogel provide the potential of their further clinical translation for the solid tumor eradication under the guidance and monitoring of 3D-CEUS.

Quenching-induced interfacial amorphous layer containing atomic Ag on Fe2O3 nanosphere for high-performance lithium-ion batteries and mechanism.

The interfacial effect of nanomaterials plays a key role in their electrochemical performance when used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but interfacial modification is a big challenging. Herein, a composite Fe2O3 nanoparticles with atomic Ag/amorphous layers were successfully prepared by co-deposition and subsequent quenching method. Compared to pristine Fe2O3, it maintains a higher capacity and longer cycle life in LIBs, with a capacity of 1150 mAh g-1 after 600 cycles at 0.5 Ag-1, and a long 1800 cycles at a current density of 5 Ag-1 after activation. Detailed experiments and Ex-situ TEM demonstrate that the fusion of surface particles occurred after calcination and quenching treatment, resulting in amorphous layers. The amorphous layer can act as a stabilizer during cycling, which protects the overall nanospheres structure from collapsing and thus leads to ultra-long cycling life. Our findings shed light on the surface modification of nanoscale materials and provides a manner to enhance the electrochemical performance of nanomaterials for LIBs.

The Symptoms and Factors Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for Burns Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study From Guangdong Province in China.

The symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among medical staff have become a significant issue. Environments related to burns are highly stressful for nurses and can lead to PTSD, thus affecting their mental health. It is vital to consider that the quality of burns care, and the outcomes of such treatments, may be threatened if nurses experience PTSD. We evaluated PTSD symptoms in burns nurses and explored the correlations between demographic characteristics, work-related characteristics, professional identity, turnover intention, and PTSD symptoms. This was a cross-sectional study involving 273 nurses working in the burns unit from Guangdong, China, between July and August 2019. Nurses were recruited from 30 hospitals and completed three validated psychological questionnaires: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), Professional Identity Scale (PIS) for nurses, and Turnover Intention Questionnaire (TIQ). We also collated information relating to sociodemographic and work-related characteristics. The cutoff point for the PCL-C was defined as 38 points; 17.22% (n = 47) of participants scored higher than or equal to 38. The PCL-C score was negatively correlated with professional identity level (P < .01) and positively correlated with turnover intention (P < .01). The workplace, mean monthly income, experience of workplace violence, and professional identity level were important factors and all associated with the severity of PTSD. PTSD symptoms were common in burns nurses. Attention should be paid to the mental well-being of these staff. Screening processes need to be initiated to identify individuals suffering from PTSD and take appropriate early interventional action.

Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Mediates Antimony-induced Astrocyte Activation.

OBJECTIVE: Antimony (Sb) has recently been identified as a novel nerve poison, although the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the effects of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway on antimony-induced astrocyte activation. METHODS: Protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence, cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions separation were used to assess the distribution of p65. The expression of protein in brain tissue sections was detected by immunohistochemistry. The levels of mRNAs were detected by Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Antimony exposure triggered astrocyte proliferation and increased the expression of two critical protein markers of reactive astrogliosis, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), indicating that antimony induced astrocyte activation in vivo and in vitro. Antimony exposure consistently upregulated the expression of inflammatory factors. Moreover, it induced the NF-κB signaling, indicated by increased p65 phosphorylation and translocation to the nucleus. NF-κB inhibition effectively attenuated antimony-induced astrocyte activation. Furthermore, antimony phosphorylated TGF-ß-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), while TAK1 inhibition alleviated antimony-induced p65 phosphorylation and subsequent astrocyte activation. CONCLUSION: Antimony activated astrocytes by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Bioinspired Copper Single-Atom Catalysts for Tumor Parallel Catalytic Therapy.

The oxidation of intracellular biomolecules by reactive oxygen species (ROS) forms the basis for ROS-based tumor therapy. However, the current therapeutic modalities cannot catalyze H2 O2 and O2 concurrently for ROS generation, thereby leading to unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy. Herein, it is reported a bioinspired hollow N-doped carbon sphere doped with a single-atom copper species (Cu-HNCS) that can directly catalyze the decomposition of both oxygen and hydrogen peroxide to ROS, namely superoxide ion (O2 •- ) and the hydroxyl radical (•OH), respectively, in an acidic tumor microenvironment for the oxidation of intracellular biomolecules without external energy input, thus resulting in an enhanced tumor growth inhibitory effect. Notably, the Fenton reaction turnover frequency of Cu species in Cu-HNCS is ≈5000 times higher than that of Fe in commercial Fe3 O4 nanoparticles. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations reveal that the high catalytic activity of Cu-HNCS originates from the single-atom copper, and the calculation predicts a next-generation Fenton catalyst. This work provides an effective paradigm of tumor parallel catalytic therapy for considerably enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Piezocatalytic Tumor Therapy by Ultrasound-Triggered and BaTiO3 -Mediated Piezoelectricity.

Ultrasound theranostics features non-invasiveness, minor energy attenuation, and high tissue-penetrating capability, and is playing ever-important roles in the diagnosis and therapy of diseases in clinics. Herein, ultrasound is employed as a microscopic pressure resource to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for piezocatalytic tumor therapy under catalytic mediation by piezoelectric tetragonal BaTiO3 (T-BTO). Under the ultrasonic vibration, the electrons and holes are unpaired and they are separated by the piezoelectricity, resulting in the establishment of a strong built-in electric field, which subsequently catalyzes the generation of ROS such as toxic hydroxyl (• OH) and superoxide radicals (• O2 - ) in situ for tumor eradication. This modality shows intriguing advantages over typical sonoluminescence-activated sonodynamic therapy, such as more stable sensitizers and dynamical control of redox reaction outcomes. Furthermore, according to the finite element modeling simulation, the built-in electric field is capable of modulating the band alignment to make the toxic ROS generation energetically favorable. Both detailed in vitro cellular level evaluation and in vivo tumor xenograft assessment have demonstrated that an injectable T-BTO-nanoparticles-embedded thermosensitive hydrogel will substantially induce ultrasound irradiation-triggered cytotoxicity and piezocatalytic tumor eradication, accompanied by high therapeutic biosafety in vivo.

Ultrasound/Acidity-Triggered and Nanoparticle-Enabled Analgesia.

Local anesthetics have been extensively employed to treat postoperative pain, but they generally suffer from short acting duration and potential neurotoxicity under high local concentrations, which require the controlled and sustained releasing patterns of treatment drugs. In this work, it is reported, for the first time, the construction of hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (HMONs)-based nanoplatforms for localized delivery and controlled/sustained release of loaded ropivacaine for local anesthetics, which can be repeatedly triggered by either external ultrasound irradiation or acidity triggering to release the payload, causing on-demand and long-lasting analgesia. Based on the in vivo mouse model of incision pain, the controlled and sustained release of ropivacaine achieves more than six hours of continuous analgesia, which is almost three times longer as compared to single free ropivacaine injection. The low neurotoxicity and high biocompatibility of HMONs for nanoparticle-enabled analgesia are also demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. This designed/constructed HMONs-based nanoplatform provides a potential methodology for clinical pain management via on-demand and long-lasting pain relief.

Inorganic Nanoshell-Stabilized Liquid Metal for Targeted Photonanomedicine in NIR-II Biowindow.

Gallium and gallium-based alloys, typical types of liquid metals with unique physiochemical properties, are emerging as a next generation of functional materials in versatile biomedical applications. However, the exploration of their biomedical performance is currently insufficient, and their intrinsic low oxidative resistance is a key factor blocking their further clinical translation. Herein, we report on the surface engineering of liquid metal-based nanoplatforms by an inorganic silica nanoshell based on a novel but facile sonochemical synthesis for highly efficient, targeted, and near-infrared (NIR)-triggered photothermal tumor hyperthermia in the NIR-II biowindow. The inorganic silica-shell engineering of liquid metal significantly enhances the photothermal performance of the liquid metal core as reflected by enhanced NIR absorption, improved photothermal stability by oxidation protection, and abundant surface chemistry for surface-targeted engineering to achieve enhanced tumor accumulation. Systematic in vitro cell-level evaluation and in vivo tumor xenograft assessment demonstrate that (Arg-Gly-Asp) RGD-targeted and silica-coated nanoscale liquid metal substantially induces phototriggered cancer-cell death and photothermal tumor eradication, accompanied by high in vivo biocompatibility and easy excretion out of the body. This work provides the first paradigm for surface-inorganic engineering of liquid metal-based nanoplatforms for achieving multiple desirable therapeutic performances, especially for combating cancer.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Galinsoga parviflora and its phylogenetic implications.

Galinsoga parviflora is an invasive weed in southwest of Chinese agricultural systems and commonly used as medicine and food. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of the G. parviflora was assembled from the whole genome Illumina sequencing data. The circular genome is 151,811 bp in size, which composed of one large single-copy (LSC) and one small single-copy (SSC) regions of 83,594 bp and 18,141 bp, respectively, and separated by a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,038 bp each. It encodes a total of 113 gene species (80 protein-coding, 29 tRNA, and four rRNA species), in which 19 of them with double copies. The overall GC content is 37.7% while the GC content of the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 35.8%, 31.3%, and 43.1%, separately. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Galinsoga parviflora was closely related to Galinsoga quadriradiata.

Nanoenzyme-Augmented Cancer Sonodynamic Therapy by Catalytic Tumor Oxygenation.

Ultrasound (US)-triggered sonodynamic therapy (SDT) can solve the critical issue of low tissue-penetrating depth of traditional phototriggered therapies, but the SDT efficacy is still not satisfactorily high in combating cancer at the current stage. Here we report on augmenting the SDT efficacy based on catalytic nanomedicine, which takes the efficient catalytic features of nanoenzymes to modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME). The multifunctional nanosonosensitizers have been successfully constructed by the integration of a MnO x component with biocompatible/biodegradable hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles, followed by conjugation with protoporphyrin (as the sonosensitizer) and cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic pentapeptide (as the targeting peptide). The MnO x component in the composite nanosonosensitizer acts as an inorganic nanoenzyme for converting the tumor-overexpressed hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) molecules into oxygen and enhancing the tumor oxygen level subsequently, which has been demonstrated to facilitate SDT-induced reactive oxygen species production and enhance SDT efficacy subsequently. The targeted accumulation of these composite nanosonosensitizers efficiently suppressed the growth of U87 tumor xenograft on nude mice after US-triggered SDT treatment. The high in vivo biocompatibility and easy excretion of these multifunctional nanosonosensitizers from the body have also been evaluated and demonstrated to guarantee their future clinical translation, and their TME-responsive T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging capability provides the potential for therapeutic guidance and monitoring during SDT.