Analyzing microbial community and volatile compound profiles in the fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves.

Variations in industrial fermentation techniques have a significant impact on the fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves (CTLs), consequently influencing the aromatic attributes of the resulting cigars. The entire fermentation process of CTLs can be categorized into three distinct phases: phase 1 (CTLs prior to moisture regain), phase 2 (CTLs post-moisture regain and pile fermentation), and phase 3 (CTLs after fermentation and drying). These phases were determined based on the dynamic changes in microbial community diversity. During phase 2, there was a rapid increase in moisture and total acid content, which facilitated the proliferation of Aerococcus, a bacterial genus capable of utilizing reducing sugars, malic acid, and citric acid present in tobacco leaves. In contrast, fungal microorganisms exhibited a relatively stable response to changes in moisture and total acid, with Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Cladosporium being the dominant fungal groups throughout the fermentation stages. Bacterial genera were found to be more closely associated with variations in volatile compounds during fermentation compared to fungal microorganisms. This association ultimately resulted in higher levels of aroma components in CTLs, thereby improving the overall quality of the cigars. These findings reinforce the significance of industrial fermentation in shaping CTL quality and provide valuable insights for future efforts in the artificial regulation of secondary fermentation in CTLs. KEY POINTS: • Industrial fermentation processes impact CTLs microbial communities. • Moisture and total acid content influence microbial community succession in fermentation. • Bacterial microorganisms strongly influence CTLs' aldehyde and ketone flavors over fungi.

An EMT-related genes signature as a prognostic biomarker for patients with endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an indispensable role in the development and progression of Endometrial cancer (EC). Nevertheless, little evidence is reported to uncover the functionality and application of EMT-related molecules in the prognosis of EC. This study aims to develop novel molecular markers for prognosis prediction in patients with EC. METHODS: RNA sequencing profiles of EC patients obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were used to screen differential expression genes (DEGs) between tumors and normal tissues. The Cox regression model with the LASSO method was utilized to identify survival-related DEGs and to establish a prognostic signature whose performance was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration curve. Eventually, functional enrichment analysis and cellular experiments were performed to reveal the roles of prognosis-related genes in EC progression. RESULTS: A total of 540 EMT-related DEGs in EC were screened, and subsequently a four-gene risk signature comprising SIRT2, SIX1, CDKN2A and PGR was established to predict overall survival of EC. This risk signature could serve as a meaningfully independent indicator for EC prognosis via multivariate Cox regression (HR = 2.002, 95%CI = 1.433-2.798; P < 0.001). The nomogram integrating the risk signature and clinical characteristics exhibited robust validity and performance at predicting EC overall survival indicated by ROC and calibration curve. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the EMT-related genes risk signature was associated with extracellular matrix organization, mesenchymal development and cellular component morphogenesis, suggesting its possible relevance to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer progression. Functionally, we demonstrated that the silencing of SIX1, SIRT2 and CDKN2A expression could accelerate the migratory and invasive capacities of tumor cells, whereas the downregulation of PGR dramatically inhibited cancer cells migration and invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, a novel four-EMT-related genes signature was a potential biomarker for EC prognosis. These findings might help to ameliorate the individualized prognostication and therapeutic treatment of EC patients.

Effect of Caproicibacterium lactatifermentans inoculation on the microbial succession and flavor formation of pit mud used in Chinese Baijiu fermentation.

Caproicibacterium lactatifermentans is a major caproate-producing bacterium in high-quality pit mud and has an impact on the synthesis of fatty acids during Baijiu fermentation. To develop an effective method for cultivating high-quality pit mud, we explored the role of Caproicibacterium lactatifermentans inoculation. The inoculation resulted in a high level of Caproicibacterium lactatifermentans (29.16%) and fortified pit mud produced abundant fatty acids and ethyl esters in short-term usage. Rare microbes, such as Hazenella coriacea, promoted the production of fatty acids. After long-term usage, changes in physicochemical properties led to a decrease in caproate-producing bacterium, namely Clostridium and Caproicibacterium, and an increase in microbes with limited fatty acid biosynthesis capability, including Proteiniphilum, Fastidiosipila, and Caldicoprobacter. These alterations ultimately led to a decrease in fatty acids and ethyl esters. In summary, Caproicibacterium lactatifermentans inoculation exhibited positive outcomes in obtaining high-quality pit mud. However, the maintenance of functional microbes necessitates further investigation.

Unveiling malic acid biorefinery: Comprehensive insights into feedstocks, microbial strains, and metabolic pathways.

The over-reliance on fossil fuels and resultant environmental issues necessitate sustainable alternatives. Microbial fermentation of biomass for malic acid production offers a viable, eco-friendly solution, enhancing resource efficiency and minimizing ecological damage. This review covers three core aspects of malic acid biorefining: feedstocks, microbial strains, and metabolic pathways. It emphasizes the significance of utilizing biomass sugars, including the co-fermentation of different sugar types to improve feedstock efficiency. The review discusses microbial strains for malic acid fermentation, addressing challenges related to by-products from biomass breakdown and strategies for overcoming them. It delves into the crucial pathways and enzymes for malic acid production, outlining methods to optimize its metabolism, focusing on enzyme regulation, energy balance, and yield enhancement. These insights contribute to advancing the field of consolidated bioprocessing in malic acid biorefining.

Integrated characterization of filler tobacco leaves: HS-SPME-GC-MS, E-nose, and microbiome analysis across different origins.

This study delves into the aroma characteristics and microbial composition of filler tobacco leaves (FTLs) sourced from six distinct cigar-growing regions within Yunnan, China, following standardized fermentation. An integrated approach using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electronic nose (E-nose), and microbiome analysis was employed for comprehensive profiling. Results derived from Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) using E-nose data confirmed the presence of notable variability in flavor substance profiles among the FTLs from six regions. Additionally, GC-MS was used to discern disparities in volatile organic compound (VOC) distribution across FTLs from these regions, identifying 92, 81, 79, 58, 69, and 92 VOCs within each respective sample set. Significantly, 24 VOCs emerged as pivotal determinants contributing to the heterogeneity of flavor profiles among FTLs from diverse origins, as indicated by Variable Importance for the Projection (VIP) analysis. Furthermore, distinctions in free amino acid content and chemical constituents were observed across FTLs. Of noteworthy significance, solanone, isophorone, durene, (-)-alpha-terpineol, and 2,3'-bipyridine exhibited the strongest correlations with microbiome data, with fungal microorganisms exerting a more pronounced influence on metabolites, as elucidated through two-way orthogonal partial least-squares (O2PLS) modeling. These findings provide a theoretical and technical basis for accurately evaluating the synchronization of FTLs in aromas and fermentation processes, and they will enhance the quality of fermented FTLs and foster the growth of the domestic cigar tobacco industry ultimately.

The roles of FXYD family members in ovarian cancer: an integrated analysis by mining TCGA and GEO databases and functional validations.

BACKGROUND: The FXYD family of ion transport regulators have emerged as important modulators of cancer progression and metastasis. However, their expression and roles in ovarian cancer (OCa) have not been systematically investigated. METHODS: The expression of FXYD genes in OCa was analyzed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), as well as independent clinical samples. The prognostic values of FXYD genes were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. To explore potential mechanisms, bioinformatics approaches including Gene Ontology, KEGG pathway analysis, GSEA and drug sensitivity correlation analysis were performed. OCa cell lines overexpressing FXYD1, FXYD5 or FXYD7 were also generated and their impacts on proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed. RESULTS: FXYD1 and FXYD6 were significantly downregulated while FXYD3, FXYD4 and FXYD5 were upregulated in OCa tissues compared to normal tissues. FXYD1, FXYD5 and FXYD7 were independent adverse prognostic factors for OCa patients. Pathway and drug correlation analysis revealed that FXYD1, FXYD5 and FXYD7 genes regulated diverse oncogenic signaling cascades and modulated the response to various chemotherapeutic agents. Overexpression of FXYD1, FXYD5 or FXYD7 enhanced OCa cell motility and invasiveness in vitro. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate aberrant expression patterns, prognostic values, and oncogenic activities of FXYD genes in OCa. FXYD1, FXYD5 and FXYD7 may serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this disease. Targeting FXYD-mediated signaling represents a promising therapeutic strategy against OCa.

A novel LINC00478 serves as a tumor suppressor in endometrial carcinoma progression.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of various cancers, but their roles in endometrial cancer (EC) are largely unknown. METHODS: The expressions of LINC00478 and PTBP1 in EC tissues were determined by RT-qPCR. Cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry and Transwell assays were executed for detecting the roles of LINC00478 in EC cells proliferation, migration and invasion. The mouse-xenograft models were established by subcutaneous injection in vivo. The interaction between LINC00478 and PTBP1 was confirmed by RNA pull-down assay and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation assay. RESULTS: LINC00478 was significantly down-regulated in EC tissues while compared to that in their paracancerous samples, and a higher expression level of LINC00478 was negatively correlated with clinical progress of EC patients. Functional experiments in vivo and in vitro revealed that LINC00478 overexpression could dramatically retard the proliferation of EC cells, decrease the rate of colony formation, suppress the migration and invasion abilities of EC cells in vitro and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00478 regulated the expression of PTBP1, a key factor in the Warburg effect, and affected the metabolic process of EC cells. CONCLUSIONS: LINC00478 acts as a tumor suppressor in EC by negatively controlling PTBP1 expression and influencing the Warburg effect, providing a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with EC.

Targeting CD44-positive ovarian cancers via engineered paclitaxel prodrug nanoparticles for enhanced chemotherapeutic efficacy.

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is currently the fifth most lethal malignancy affecting women health owing to the lack of early diagnosis and treatment choices available before the disease has progressed to a later stage. Paclitaxel (PTX) has shown substantial antineoplastic action against a variety of human cancers, including OvCa, for multiple decades. Despite this, the therapeutic use of this drug is not yet adequate owing to surfactant-related toxicities and off-target effects. In response to these constraints, nanoparticle carriers have evolved as delivery tools for the biocompatible and target delivery of PTX. In this work, a novel polymeric PTX formulation was developed for targeted therapy of OvCa cells, which was achieved by prodrug engineering and HA decoration strategies. Further studies indicated that HA-coated nanodrugs (HA-PLA-PTX NPs) could preferentially accumulate in the CD44-expressing SKOV3 cells, which induced elevated cytotoxicity, reduced cell proliferation, and increased cell apoptosis. In vivo study also demonstrated that equivalent doses of HA-PLA-PTX NPs surpassed the clinical PTX formulation Taxol in a SKOV3 xenograft tumor model. In conclusion, HA-PLA-PTX NPs might be a potentially feasible delivery system for effective OvCa treatment.

[Gonadotrophin dose and ovarian response: relations to the clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of gonadotrophin (Gn) dose and ovarian response with the clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: Patients undergoing IVF-ET with Gn stimulation for no more than 15 days were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into 3 groups, namely group A (390 cycles) with total Gn dose :3375 IU and retrieved oocytes:4, group B (64 cycles) with total Gn dose :3375 IU and retrieved oocytes < or =3, and group C (97 cycles) with total Gn dose< or =3300 IU and retrieved oocytes< or =3. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of these 3 groups were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate and delivery rate were 38.8% and 32.5% in group A, 16.7% and 10.4% in group B, and 27.3% and 23.4% in group C, respectively. The follicle number, oocyte number, number of embryo transferred, peak serum E2 level, clinical pregnancy rate and delivery rate were significantly higher in group A than in groups B and C (P<0.05). Groups B and C had similar follicle number, oocyte number, and number of available embryos, but group C had significantly lower total Gn dose (P<0.05); the peak serum E2 level, clinical pregnancy rate and delivery rate were lower in group B than in group C, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients receiving a relatively low dose of Gn with smaller number of retrieved oocytes, Gn dose increment can improve the clinical pregnancy rate and delivery rate, suggesting a state of relatively poor ovarian response or mild ovarian reserve decrease; failure of increasing the number of oocytes retrieved with greater Gn dose suggests severely decreased ovarian responsiveness or ovarian reserve and also poor clinical prognosis.

[Influence of chronic HBV infection in the husband on the outcome of IVF-ET treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in couples with the husband positive for chronic infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV). METHODS: This study involved 102 infertile couples receiving IVF-ET with the husbands(but not the wives) positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and another 204 couples negative for HBsAg receiving the treatment served as the control group. The cumulative embryo score, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, rate of good quality embryos, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, first trimester and late miscarriage rates, delivery rate, and neonatal malformation rate were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Between the HBsAg-positive and the control groups, the cumulative embryo score (52.8-/+18.7 vs 55.4-/+16.9), insemination rate (66.9% vs 66.1%), cleavage rate (97.6% vs 97.2%), rate of good quality embryos (34.0% vs 37.1%), implantation rate (40.9% vs 34.6%), clinical pregnancy rate (56.9% vs 50%), first trimester miscarriage rate (6.9% vs 5.9%) and late pregnancy miscarriage rate (8.6% vs 4.9%), delivery rate (40.2% vs 43.6%) and neonatal malformation rate (0 vs 0) were all similar (P>0.05;). CONCLUSION: Chronic HBV infection in the husband might not affect the outcome of IVF-ET treatment.