Genomic adaptations for arboreal locomotion in Asian flying treefrogs.

SignificanceTo adapt to arboreal lifestyles, treefrogs have evolved a suite of complex traits that support vertical movement and gliding, thus presenting a unique case for studying the genetic basis for traits causally linked to vertical niche expansion. Here, based on two de novo-assembled Asian treefrog genomes, we determined that genes involved in limb development and keratin cytoskeleton likely played a role in the evolution of their climbing systems. Behavioral and morphological evaluation and time-ordered gene coexpression network analysis revealed the developmental patterns and regulatory pathways of the webbed feet used for gliding in Rhacophorus kio.

Targeted metabolomic analysis of serum amino acids in heart failure patients.

Heart failure (HF) has been recognized as a global epidemic with high rates of morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality. The role of amino acids, which provide the body with energy, in the development of HF is still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore changes in serum amino acids in patients with HF and identify potential biomarkers. First, the serum amino acid metabolism profiles of 44 patients with HF and 30 healthy controls (Con) were quantitatively measured. Then, candidate markers were identified through the utilization of T test, multivariate statistical analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The results found that there were 11 amino acid levels that were significantly different between patients with HF and Con. Based on ROC curve analysis, the biomarkers of eight amino acids (Glutamic acid, Taurine, L-aspartic acid, L-ornithine, Ethanolamine, L-Serine, L-Sarcosine, and Cysteine) showed high sensitivity and specificity (AUC > 0.90), and binary logistic regression analysis was used in MetaboAnalyst 5.0. Among the amino acids examined, six exhibited notable alterations in accordance with the severity of HF. In conclusion, this study cannot only provide clinicians with an objective diagnostic approach for the early identification of HF, but also enhances comprehension of the underlying mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of HF.

Berberine improves cognitive impairment by alleviating brain atrophy and promoting white matter reorganization in diabetic db/db mice: a magnetic resonance imaging-based study.

Diabetic cognitive impairment is a common complication in type 2 diabetes. Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid that has been shown to have neuroprotective effects against diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of BBR on the gray and white matter of the brain by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The study used diabetic db/db mice and administered BBR (50 and 100 mg/kg) intragastrically for twelve weeks. Morris water maze was applied to examine cognitive function. T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) was performed to assess brain atrophy, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) combined with fiber tracking was conducted to monitor the structural integrity of the white matter, followed by histological immunostaining. Furthermore, the protein expressions of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B (AKT)/ glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) were detected. The results revealed that BBR significantly improved the spatial learning and memory of the db/db mice. T2WI exhibited ameliorated brain atrophy in the BBR-treated db/db mice, as evidenced by reduced ventricular volume accompanied by increased hippocampal volumes. DTI combined with fiber tracking revealed that BBR increased FA, fiber density and length in the corpus callosum/external capsule of the db/db mice. These imaging findings were confirmed by histological immunostaining. Notably, BBR significantly enhanced the protein levels of phosphorylated AKT at Ser473 and GSK-3ß at Ser9. Collectively, this study demonstrated that BBR significantly improved the cognitive function of the diabetic db/db mice through ameliorating brain atrophy and promoting white matter reorganization via AKT/GSK-3ß pathway.

Genomic evidence reveals intraspecific divergence of the hot-spring snake (Thermophis baileyi), an endangered reptile endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

Understanding how and why species evolve requires knowledge on intraspecific divergence. In this study, we examined intraspecific divergence in the endangered hot-spring snake (Thermophis baileyi), an endemic species on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Whole-genome resequencing of 58 sampled individuals from 15 populations was performed to identify the drivers of intraspecific divergence and explore the potential roles of genes under selection. Our analyses resolved three groups, with major intergroup admixture occurring in regions of group contact. Divergence probably occurred during the Pleistocene as a result of glacial climatic oscillations, Yadong-Gulu rift, and geothermal fields differentiation, while complex gene flow between group pairs reflected a unique intraspecific divergence pattern on the QTP. Intergroup fixed loci involved selected genes functionally related to divergence and local adaptation, especially adaptation to hot spring microenvironments in different geothermal fields. Analysis of structural variants, genetic diversity, inbreeding, and genetic load indicated that the hot-spring snake population has declined to a low level with decreased diversity, which is important for the conservation management of this endangered species. Our study demonstrated that the integration of demographic history, gene flow, genomic divergence genes, and other information is necessary to distinguish the evolutionary processes involved in speciation.

Effects of climate change and anthropogenic activity on ranges of vertebrate species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau over 40 years.

Over the past 40 years, the climate has been changing and human disturbance has increased in the vast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). These 2 factors are expected to affect the distribution of a large number of endemic vertebrate species. However, quantitative relationships between range shifts and climate change and human disturbance of these species in the QTP have rarely been evaluated. We used occurrence records of 19 terrestrial vertebrate species (birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles) occurring in the QTP from 1980 to 2020 to quantify the effects of climate change and anthropogenic impacts on the distribution of these 4 taxonomic groups and estimated species range changes in each species. The trend in distribution changes differed among the taxonomic groups, although, generally, ranges shifted to central QTP. Climate change contributed more to range variation than human disturbance (the sum of the 4 climatic variables contributed more than the sum of the 4 human disturbance variables for all 4 taxonomic groups). Suitable geographic range increased for most mammals, amphibians, and reptiles (+27.6%, +18.4%, and +27.8% on average, respectively), whereas for birds range decreased on average by 0.9%. Quantitative evidence for climate change and human disturbance associations with range changes for endemic vertebrate species in the QTP can provide useful insights into biodiversity conservation under changing environments.

En los últimos 40 años, el clima ha cambiado y las perturbaciones humanas han aumentado en la vasta meseta Qinghai-Tíbet (MQT). Se espera que estos dos factores afecten la distribución de un gran número de especies de vertebrados endémicos. Sin embargo, las relaciones cuantitativas entre los cambios del área de distribución y el cambio climático y las perturbaciones humanas en estas especies de la MQT han sido poco evaluadas. Utilizamos los registros de presencia de 19 especies de vertebrados terrestres (aves, mamíferos, anfibios y reptiles) de la MQT tomados entre 1980 y 2020 para cuantificar los efectos del cambio climático y los impactos antropogénicos sobre la distribución de estos cuatro grupos taxonómicos y estimar los cambios en el área de distribución de cada especie. La tendencia en los cambios de distribución difirió entre los grupos taxonómicos, aunque, en general, las áreas de distribución se desplazaron hacia el centro de la MQT. El cambio climático contribuyó más a la variación del área de distribución que las perturbaciones humanas (la suma de las cuatro variables climáticas contribuyó más que la suma de las cuatro variables de perturbaciones humanas para los cuatro grupos taxonómicos). El área de distribución geográfica adecuada aumentó para la mayoría de los mamíferos, anfibios y reptiles (+27.6%, +18.4% y +27.8% en promedio, respectivamente), mientras que para las aves disminuyó en promedio un 0.9%. Las pruebas cuantitativas de la asociación del cambio climático y las perturbaciones humanas con los cambios en el área de distribución de las especies vertebradas endémicas de la MQT pueden aportar información útil para la conservación de la biodiversidad en entornos cambiantes.

Plasma metabolite profiles identify pediatric medulloblastoma and other brain cancer.

Medulloblastoma is a malignancy of the central nervous system that occurs most frequently in childhood and is often difficult to diagnose due to its similarities to conventional imaging findings for other pediatric intracranial tumors such as astrocytomas and ependymomas. The purpose of this study was to identify new metabolites and differential metabolic pathways by analyzing the significantly different metabolites present in the plasma of children with medulloblastoma in comparison with those with other intracranial tumors. Plasma was collected from 37 children with medulloblastoma and 34 children with other intracranial tumors. Targeted and non-targeted metabolomics based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analyses were performed to determine metabolic changes in pediatric medulloblastomas versus other intracranial tumors. Based on multivariate statistical analysis and regression models, we identified differential metabolites in the plasma and investigated different metabolic pathways. A total of 61 differential metabolites in the plasma of children with medulloblastoma were identified by non-targeted metabolomics analysis. In addition, targeted metabolomics analysis identified four differential amino acids, thus allowing us to establish a diagnostic model for children with medulloblastoma. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that there were significant differences in patients with medulloblastoma in terms of glycerophospholipid and α-linolenic acid metabolism pathways as well as several amino acid metabolism pathways (phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis). We identified differential profiles of key plasma metabolites between children with medulloblastoma and other forms of intracranial tumor, thus providing a basis for identifying early diagnostic markers of medulloblastoma and new therapeutic targets and strategies.

A combination of Beers and STOPP criteria better detects potentially inappropriate medications use among older hospitalized patients with chronic diseases and polypharmacy: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Research on potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) and medication-related problems (MRP) among the Chinese population with chronic diseases and polypharmacy is insufficient. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PIM and MRP among older Chinese hospitalized patients with chronic diseases and polypharmacy and analyze the associated factors. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in five tertiary hospitals in Beijing. Patients aged ≥ 65 years with at least one chronic disease and taking at least five or more medications were included. Data were extracted from the hospitals' electronic medical record systems. PIM was evaluated according to the 2015 Beers criteria and the 2014 Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria. MRPs were assessed and classified according to the Helper-Strand classification system. The prevalence of PIM and MRP and related factors were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 852 cases were included. The prevalence of PIM was 85.3% and 59.7% based on the Beers criteria and the STOPP criteria. A total of 456 MRPs occurred in 247 patients. The most prevalent MRP categories were dosages that were too low and unnecessary medication therapies. Hyperpolypharmacy (taking ≥ 10 drugs) (odds ratio OR 3.736, 95% confidence interval CI 1.541-9.058, P = 0.004) and suffering from coronary heart disease (OR 2.620, 95%CI 1.090-6.297, P = 0.031) were the influencing factors of inappropriate prescribing (the presence of either PIM or MRP in a patient). CONCLUSION: PIM and MRP were prevalent in older patients with chronic disease and polypharmacy in Chinese hospitals. More interventions are urgently needed to reduce PIM use and improve the quality of drug therapies.

The Genome of Shaw's Sea Snake (Hydrophis curtus) Reveals Secondary Adaptation to Its Marine Environment.

The transition of terrestrial snakes to marine life ∼10 Ma is ideal for exploring adaptive evolution. Sea snakes possess phenotype specializations including laterally compressed bodies, paddle-shaped tails, valvular nostrils, cutaneous respiration, elongated lungs, and salt glands, yet, knowledge on the genetic underpinnings of the transition remains limited. Herein, we report the first genome of Shaw's sea snake (Hydrophis curtus) and use it to investigate sea snake secondary marine adaptation. A hybrid assembly strategy obtains a high-quality genome. Gene family analyses date a pulsed coding-gene expansion to ∼20 Ma, and these genes associate strongly with adaptations to marine environments. Analyses of selection pressure and convergent evolution discover the rapid evolution of protein-coding genes, and some convergent features. Additionally, 108 conserved noncoding elements appear to have evolved quickly, and these may underpin the phenotypic changes. Transposon elements may contribute to adaptive specializations by inserting into genomic regions around functionally related coding genes. The integration of genomic and transcriptomic analyses indicates independent origins and different components in sea snake and terrestrial snake venom; the venom gland of the sea snake harbors the highest PLA2 (17.23%) expression in selected elapids and these genes may organize tandemly in the genome. These analyses provide insights into the genetic mechanisms that underlay the secondary adaptation to marine and venom production of this sea snake.

Ancient polymorphisms and divergence hitchhiking contribute to genomic islands of divergence within a poplar species complex.

How genome divergence eventually leads to speciation is a topic of prime evolutionary interest. Genomic islands of elevated divergence are frequently reported between diverging lineages, and their size is expected to increase with time and gene flow under the speciation-with-gene-flow model. However, such islands can also result from divergent sorting of ancient polymorphisms, recent ecological selection regardless of gene flow, and/or recurrent background selection and selective sweeps in low-recombination regions. It is challenging to disentangle these nonexclusive alternatives, but here we attempt to do this in an analysis of what drove genomic divergence between four lineages comprising a species complex of desert poplar trees. Within this complex we found that two morphologically delimited species, Populus euphratica and Populus pruinosa, were paraphyletic while the four lineages exhibited contrasting levels of gene flow and divergence times, providing a good system for testing hypotheses on the origin of divergence islands. We show that the size and number of genomic islands that distinguish lineages are not associated with either rate of recent gene flow or time of divergence. Instead, they are most likely derived from divergent sorting of ancient polymorphisms and divergence hitchhiking. We found that highly diverged genes under lineage-specific selection and putatively involved in ecological and morphological divergence occur both within and outside these islands. Our results highlight the need to incorporate demography, absolute divergence measurement, and gene flow rate to explain the formation of genomic islands and to identify potential genomic regions involved in speciation.

Genetic origin and composition of a natural hybrid poplar Populus × jrtyschensis from two distantly related species.

BACKGROUND: The factors that contribute to and maintain hybrid zones between distinct species are highly variable, depending on hybrid origins, frequencies and fitness. In this study, we aimed to examine genetic origins, compositions and possible maintenance of Populus × jrtyschensis, an assumed natural hybrid between two distantly related species. This hybrid poplar occurs mainly on the floodplains along the river valleys between the overlapping distributions of the two putative parents. RESULTS: We collected 566 individuals from 45 typical populations of P. × jrtyschensis, P. nigra and P. laurifolia. We genotyped them based on the sequence variations of one maternally inherited chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragment and genetic polymorphisms at 20 SSR loci. We further sequenced eight nuclear genes for 168 individuals from 31 populations. Two groups of cpDNA haplotypes characteristic of P. nigra and P. laurifolia respectively were both recovered for P. × jrtyschensis. Genetic structures and coalescent tests of two sets of nuclear population genetic data suggested that P. × jrtyschensis originated from hybridizations between the two assumed parental species. All examined populations of P. × jrtyschensis comprise mainly F1 hybrids from interspecific hybridizations between P. nigra and P. laurifolia. In the habitats of P. × jrtyschensis, there are lower concentrations of soil nitrogen than in the habitats occupied by the other two species. CONCLUSIONS: Our extensive examination of the genetic composition of P. × jrtyschensis suggested that it is typical of F1-dominated hybrid zones. This finding plus the low concentration of soil nitrogen in the floodplain soils support the F1-dominated bounded hybrid superiority hypothesis of hybrid zone maintenance for this particular hybrid poplar.

Transcriptome dynamics of a desert poplar (Populus pruinosa) in response to continuous salinity stress.

KEY MESSAGE: Using RNA sequencing analysis, we identified 9,216 regulatory and salt-related genes with differential expression and temporal expression trends which provide a clear picture of transcriptomic dynamics in response to continuous salinity stress in a desert poplar, Populus pruinosa. Populus pruinosa Schrenk is native to the desert region of western China and extraordinarily well adapted to the local salt stress. Thus, it is an ideal model for studying plants' adaptation to salt stress, but its transcriptomic responses have not been previously characterized. Thus, we analyzed time- courses of these responses via a series of sequencings. In total, we generated 157.4 million 100 bp paired-end clean reads and identified 9,216 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between salt-stressed calli and controls. Gene ontology classification analysis revealed that salt stress-related categories--including 'oxidation reduction', 'transcription factor activity', 'membrane' and 'ion channel activity'--were highly enriched among these DEGs. In addition, we grouped the 9,216 DEGs by their expression dynamics into four clusters, and the genes in each cluster showed enrichment for particular functional categories. We also found that most DEGs were activated within 24 h of the stress and their expression stabilized after 48 h. All these findings suggest that gene expression rapidly and coordinately changes during this species' adaptation to salt stress. In addition, the identified DEGs provide critical genetic resources for further functional analyses and indications of potential transgenic modifications for developing salt-tolerant poplars.

Phillyrin alleviates high glucose-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in HBZY-1 cells through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Phillyrin, the major lignin compound of Forsythia suspense (Thunb.) Vahl, has been shown the effects of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Our study was aimed to explore the protective effect of phillyrin on glomerular mesangial cells (HBZY-1) and the potential mechanism. METHODS: Cell viability, cytokine production, levels of reactive oxygen radicals (ROS), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as autophagy and apoptosis levels were determined to verify the mechanism of phillyrin on HBZY-1 cells. RESULTS: Our result indicated that phillyrin significantly inhibited HG-induced HBZY-1 proliferation by inhibiting Bcl-2 expression and upregulating Bad, cleaved caspase-3, and -9 expression. Also, phillyrin suppressed HG-induced mesangial extracellular matrix accumulation by inhibiting the expression of fibronectin and transforming growth factor-ß1. Further, phillyrin inhibited oxidative stress and inflammation by decreasing ROS, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 contents and increasing SOD and GSH expression. Phillyrin also promoted autophagy by increasing LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and down-regulating p62 expression. Furthermore, WB assay showed that phillyrin inhibited oxidative stress caused by HG via activating Nrf2 signaling pathway, while attenuated proliferation and inflammation in HBZY-1 cells through inactivating PI3K/Akt/mTOR and NF-κB pathways. CONCLUSION: All results showed that phillyrin might be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of DN.

Targeted Metabolomics Analysis of Serum Amino Acids in T2DM Patients.

Purpose: Amino acids are the important metabolites in the body and play a crucial role in biological processes. The purpose of this study is to provide a profile of amino acids change in the serum of T2DM patients and identify potential biomarkers. Patients and Methods: In this study, we quantitatively determined the serum amino acid profiles of 30 T2DM patients and 30 healthy volunteers. T test and multivariate statistical analysis were used to identify candidate biomarkers with GraphPad Prism 9.5 software and MetaboAnalyst 5.0 on-line platform. Results: Thirty-four amino acids were quantified, and 19 amino acid levels differed significantly between T2DM and Healthy groups. Screened by the specific screening criteria (VIP>1.0; P<0.05; FC>1.5, or FC<0.67) in MetaboAnalyst 5.0 platform, 8 amino acids were identified as potential biomarkers. Pearson rank correlation test showed 14 differential amino acids were significantly correlated with T2DM-related physiological parameters. Conclusion: The results of this study provide theoretical basis for the subsequent development of dietary supplements for the prevention or treatment of T2DM and its complications.

Abnormal proliferation of gut mycobiota contributes to the aggravation of Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) constitutes a worldwide health threat, and the underlying mechanism for the development and progression of T2D is complex and multifactorial. During the last decade, gut commensal bacteria have been found to play a crucial role in the regulation of T2D and related metabolic disorders. However, as a considerable component in gut microbiome, the relationship between mycobiota and T2D and related metabolic disorders remains unclear. As a proof-of-concept, we observed that the ablation of the commensal fungi in mice can protect HFD (High fat diet) induced insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders. Both ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer 2) sequencing and culture-dependent analysis show the enrichment of Candida albicans in samples from individuals with T2D (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100042049). Repopulation with C. albicans in HFD mice accelerated insulin resistance and related disorders. Mechanically, we found the ß-glucan from C. albicans mirrored the deteriorating effect of C. albicans through the dectin-1 dependent pathway. Our current findings support that gut mycobiota play an important role in the progress of T2D and indicated the preventing of gut mycobiota is a promising strategy to alleviate insulin resistance and related metabolic dysfunctions.

Carbamazepine cutaneous adverse reactions and HLA gene variation in the Chinese population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: Examining the association between HLA-A/B alleles and different carbamazepine (CBZ)-induced cutaneous adverse reactions in the Chinese population. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies was conducted. A systematic search was conducted of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature database and Wanfang Digital Periodicals. Results: 23 studies with a total of 1174 patients were included. In the Han population, HLA-B*15:02 is significantly associated with the increased risk of CBZ-related Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, and this correlation was not related to geographic distribution. HLA-A*31:01, B*38:02 are associated with CBZ-related maculopapular eruption in South Han population. HLA-A*31:01 is associated with CBZ-DRESS in Taiwan Han population. Conclusion: HLA-B*15:02, A*31:01 and B*38:02 genes were found to be involved in the occurrence of CBZ cutaneous adverse reactions in Han Chinese.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and cardiovascular safety profile: a pharmacovigilance analysis of the US food and drug administration adverse event reporting system.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are effective in reducing the risk of heart failure (HF) in type 2 diabetic patients. We systematically examined the association between cardiac adverse events (CAEs) and SGLT2i. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed CAEs in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System between January 2013 and March 2021. The CAEs were classified into four major groups according to their preferred terms. Disproportionality and Bayesian analyses were performed to detect signals using reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), information component (IC), and empirical Bayesian geometric mean (EBGM). Case seriousness was also described. RESULTS: There were 2,330 CAEs associated with SGLT2i, and 81 were used for HFs. The SGLT2i were not associated with over-reporting frequencies of CAE based on ROR (ROR = 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93, 1.01), PRR (PRR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.01), Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (IC = -0.04, IC025: N.A.), and multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker (EBGM = 0.97, EBGM05:0.94), unless further restricted to myocardial infarction (ROR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.89, 2.17). Additionally, SGLT2i-associated CAEs are associated with 11.33% fatality and 51.25% hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: SGLT2i present a favorable cardiac safety profile; however, concerns should be raised regarding their potential association with specific events.

A simple and rapid strategy for monitoring vancomycin concentration in serum using a multicolor immunosensor based on the ratio of gold nanobipyramids and a product of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-blue oxide of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine interaction.

Rapid and simple monitoring of vancomycin (VAN) concentration in blood is a vital strategy for maximizing therapeutic efficacy, minimizing toxicity and developing a personalized treatment plan. In this work, a simple multicolor immunosensor is proposed to enable rapid monitoring of VAN concentration in serum, without using any expensive and bulky instrument. The multicolor immunosensor platform is a system that works based on the principle that the product of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-blue oxide of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine interaction (CTAB/TMB+) and TMB+ increases simultaneously with the decrease in VAN concentration, whereas AuNBPs are insensitive to VAN. The result indicates that the reaction system has multiple distinct color variants. These distinct vivid color changes can be easily distinguished with the naked eye, and smartphone-relied red-green-blue (RGB) analysis can be used for quantitative detection, without the need for any sophisticated apparatus. The construction of this multicolor system omitted the hydrochloric acid (HCl) addition step, growth or etch procedure of noble metal nanoparticles in traditional multicolor immunosensors, which can improve the time-cost and tedious operation. The proposed method achieves a good linear relationship (r2 = 0.9679), accuracy (recoveries, 99.25-126.96%) and repeatability (n = 3, RSD, 1.27-2.17%). Moreover, a good correlation was observed between the results obtained from the new method and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (r2 = 0.8993, n = 8). In summary, this work provides a new low-cost, facile and user-friendly immunosensor platform with high potential for rapid detection of VAN and various other drugs at home, hospital rooms and rural areas.

Magnetic resonance imaging detects cerebral gray and white matter injury correlated with cognitive impairments in diabetic db/db mice.

Type-2 diabetes not only causes gray matter injury but also induces widespread white matter damages, which may contribute the cognitive impairments. This study aimed to assess the structural alterations of the gray and white matter in 20-week-old diabetic db/db mice using magnetic resonance imaging including T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and to correlate them with the cognitive performance detected by Morris water maze (MWM). The results revealed impaired spatial learning and memory in db/db mice. T2WI detected severe brain atrophy involving the hippocampus and cortex after diabetes. DTI showed reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cortex, hippocampus, corpus callosum/external capsule, and increased radial diffusivity in the corpus callosum/external capsule of the db/db mice. The immunostaining confirmed the MRI findings showing decreased cell density in the cortex, hippocampus, and reduced integrated optical density of Luxol fast blue staining in the corpus callosum/external capsule. The correlational analysis revealed that the T2WI-derived tissue atrophy and DTI-derived FA in the relevant gray matter and white matter significantly correlated with the behavior performance in the MWM test. Collectively, the present in vivo MRI detected varying degrees of structural abnormalities in the gray and white matter of db/db mice, which might be favorable predictors of diabetic cognitive dysfunction. Our findings might provide new clues for identifying gray and white matter damages associated with cognitive decline, which is imperative for the evaluation of potential pharmacological therapies in preclinical phase.

Antitumor mechanism of kangliu pill on gliomas in mice through PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Gliomas are common malignant intracranial tumors that have worse prognosis and pose a serious threat to human health. The Kangliu pill (KLP) is an innovative herbal compound from Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University that has been clinically used for the treatment of gliomas for more than 40 years, and is one of the few drugs for primary treatment of this disorder. But the fundamental molecular mechanisms and pathways of KLP are not clear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of KLP in the treatment of gliomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in situ xenograft model of red fluorescent protein-labeled human glioma cell line (U87-RFP) in BALB/c-nu mouse was established, and the therapeutic effect of KLP on gliomas was assessed by tumor weights and fluorescence areas. A quantitative proteomics approach using tandem mass tags combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed to explore differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in glioma tissues, and bioinformatics analyses including Gene Ontology analysis, pathway analysis, and network analysis were performed to analyze the proteins involved in the network therapeutic mechanisms responsible for key metabolic pathways. Cytological experiments corroborated the above analysis results. RESULTS: Network pharmacology approach screened 246 bioactive compounds contained in KLP, targeting 724 proteins and 173 potential targets of KLP for glioma treatment. The important targets obtained after visualizing the PPI network were AKT1, INS, GAPDH, SRC, TP53, etc. The KEGG enrichment results showed that 9 proteins were related to cancer, including Pathways in cancer, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, etc. KLP had antitumor activity in gliomas, which reduced tumor weights and fluorescence areas. A number of DEPs possibly associated with gliomas were identified through quantitative proteomic techniques. Among these DEPs, 50 (25 upregulated and 25 downregulated) were identified that might be associated with KLP action. Bioinformatics showed that these 50 DEPs were mainly focused on focal adhesion, extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interactions, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Cytological experiments revealed that KLP significantly inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of U87-MG human glioma cells, and its mechanism was through the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic effect of KLP was regulation of multiple pathways in the treatment of gliomas. In specific, it interacts through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This work may contribute proteomic insights for further research on the medical treatment of glioma using KLP.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of a xerophytic plant, Haloxylon ammodendron.

Haloxylon ammodendron is a xerophytic perennial shrub or small tree that has a high ecological value in anti-desertification due to its high tolerance to drought and salt stress. Here, we report a high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of H. ammodendron by integrating PacBio's high-fidelity sequencing and Hi-C technology. The assembled genome size was 685.4 Mb, of which 99.6% was assigned to nine pseudochromosomes with a contig N50 value of 23.6 Mb. Evolutionary analysis showed that both the recent substantial amplification of long terminal repeat retrotransposons and tandem gene duplication may have contributed to its genome size expansion and arid adaptation. An ample amount of low-GC genes was closely related to functions that may contribute to the desert adaptation of H. ammodendron. Gene family clustering together with gene expression analysis identified differentially expressed genes that may play important roles in the direct response of H. ammodendron to water-deficit stress. We also identified several genes possibly related to the degraded scaly leaves and well-developed root system of H. ammodendron. The reference-level genome assembly presented here will provide a valuable genomic resource for studying the genome evolution of xerophytic plants, as well as for further genetic breeding studies of H. ammodendron.