Physiological and molecular responses in phosphorus-hyperaccumulating Polygonum species to high phosphorus exposure.

Phosphorus (P)-hyperaccumulators for phytoextraction from P-polluted areas generally show rapid growth and accumulate large amounts of P without any toxicity symptom, which depends on a range of physiological processes and gene expression patterns that have never been explored. We investigated growth, leaf element concentrations, P fractions, photosynthetic traits, and leaf metabolome and transcriptome response in amphibious P-hyperaccumulators, Polygonum hydropiper and P. lapathifolium, to high-P exposure (5 mmol L-1), with 0.05 mmol L-1 as the control. Under high-P exposure, both species demonstrated good growth, allocating more P to metabolite P and inorganic P (Pi) accompanied by high potassium and calcium. The expression of a cluster of unigenes associated with photosynthesis was maintained or increased in P. lapathifolium, explaining the increase in net photosynthetic rate and the rapid growth under high-P exposure. Metabolites of trehalose metabolism, including trehalose 6-phosphate and trehalose, were sharply increased in both species by the high-P exposure, in line with the enhanced expression of associated unigenes, indicating that trehalose metabolic pathway was closely related to high-P tolerance. These findings elucidated the physiological and molecular responses involved in the photosynthesis and trehalose metabolism in P-hyperaccumulators to high-P exposure, and provides potential regulatory pathways to improve the P-phytoextraction capability.

Integrated analysis of disulfidptosis-related immune genes signature to boost the efficacy of prognostic prediction in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality, accounting for approximately 1,080,000 diagnosed cases and 770,000 deaths worldwide annually. Disulfidptosis, characterized by the stress-induced abnormal accumulation of disulfide, is a recently identified form of programmed cell death. Substantial studies have demonstrated the significant influence of immune clearance on tumor progression. Therefore, we aimed to explore the intrinsic correlations between disulfidptosis and immune-related genes (IRGs) in GC, as well as the potential value of disulfidptosis-related immune genes (DRIGs) as biomarkers. METHODS: This study incorporated the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset GSE183904 and transcriptome RNA sequencing of GC from the TCGA database. Disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) and IRGs were derived from the representative literature on both cell disulfidptosis and immunity. The expression and distribution of DRGs were investigated at the single-cell level in different GC cell types. Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify the IRGs closely related to disulfidptosis. The prognostic signature of DRIGs was established using Cox and LASSO analyses. We then analyzed and evaluated the differences in long-term prognosis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), immune infiltration, mutation profile, CD274 expression, and response to chemotherapeutic drugs between the two groups. A tissue array containing 63 paired GC specimens was used to verify the expression of 4 DRIGs and disulfidptosis regulator SLC7A11 through immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: The scRNA-seq analysis found that SLC7A11, SLC3A2, RPN1 and NCKAP1 were enriched in specific cell types and closely related to immune infiltration. Four DIRGs (GLA, HIF-1α, VPS35 and CDC37) were successfully identified to establish a signature to potently predict the survival time of GC patients. Patients with high risk scores generally experienced worse prognoses and exhibited greater resistant to classical chemotherapy drugs. Furthermore, the expression of GLA, HIF-1α, VPS35, CDC37 and SLC7A11 were elevated in GC tissues. A high expression of GLA, HIF-1α, VPS35 or CDC37 was associated with more advanced clinical stage of GC and increased SLC7A11 expression. CONCLUSION: Current study first highlights the potential value of DRIGs as biomarkers in GC. We successfully constructed a robust model incorporating four DRIGs to accurately predict the survival time and clinicopathological characteristics of GC patients.

The effect of different amendments on Cd availability and bacterial community after three-year consecutive application in Cd-contaminated paddy soils.

In situ immobilization is a widely used measure for passivating Cd-contaminated soils. Amendments need to be continuously applied to achieve stable remediation effects. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of consecutive application of amendments on soil health and the microecological environment. A field experiment was conducted in a Cd-contaminated paddy (available Cd concentration 0.40 mg kg-1) on the Chengdu Plain to investigate the changes in soil Cd availability and response characteristics of soil bacterial communities after consecutive application of rice straw biochar (SW), fly ash (FM) and marble powder (YH) amendments from 2018 to 2020. Compared with control treatment without amendments (CK), soil pH increased by 0.6, 0.5 and 1.5 under SW, FM and YH amendments, respectively, and the soil available Cd concentration decreased by 10.71%, 21.42% and 25.00%, respectively. The Cd concentration in rice grain was less than 0.2 mg kg-1 under YH amendment, which was within the Chinese Contaminant Limit in Food of National Food Safety Standards (GB2762-2022) in the second and third years. The three amendments had different effects on the transformation of Cd fractions in soil, which may be relevant to the specific bacterial communities shaped under different treatments. The proportion of Fe-Mn oxide-bound fraction Cd (OX-Cd) increased by 11% under YH treatment, which may be due to the promotion of Fe(III) and Cd binding by some enriched iron-oxidizing bacteria, such as Lysobacter, uncultured_Pelobacter sp. and Sulfurifusis. Candidatus_Tenderia and Sideroxydans were enriched under SW and FM amendments, respectively, and were likely beneficial for reducing Cd availability in soil through Cd immobilization. These results revealed the significance of the bacterial community in soil Cd immobilization after consecutive application of amendments and highlighted the potential of applying YH amendment to ensure the safe production of rice in Cd-contaminated soil.

Enhanced Acetone-Sensing Properties of Pt-Decorated In2O3 Hollow Microspheres Derived from Pt-Embedded Template.

Pt-decorated In2O3 hollow microspheres were prepared using a template and reflux method. The size of the prepared carbon templates was adjusted from 200 nm to 1.3 µm by introducing chloroplatinic acid during the hydrothermal process. At the same time, Pt nanoparticles inside the carbon layer were protected from oxidation and agglomeration. Also, the folds created on the surface of the hollow sphere during shrinkage led to a substantial increase in specific surface area. The response of the In2O3-based sensor toward acetone was significantly enhanced by the addition of Pt decoration. This improvement can be attributed to the increased availability of active sites for the target gas and the consequential alteration of the energy band structure. In addition, high response sensitivity, rapid dynamic processes, long-term reliability, and selectivity have all been achieved. The detectable limit is less than 1 ppm, which might satisfy the 1.8 ppm threshold value in the exhaled breath of patients with diabetes. Consequently, the proposed sensor has great sensitivity and can detect low-concentration of acetone, making it an ideal choice for applications such as monitoring daily dietary intake, managing diabetes, and inspecting industrial production processes.

Hydrogen peroxide contributes to cadmium binding on root cell wall pectin of cadmium-safe rice line (Oryza sativa L.).

Cell wall pectin is essential for cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice roots and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays an important role as a signaling molecule in cell wall modification. The role of H2O2 in Cd binding in cell wall pectin is unclear. D62B, a Cd-safe rice line, was found to show a greater Cd binding capacity in the root cell wall than a high Cd-accumulating rice line of Wujin4B. In this study, we further investigated the mechanism of the role of H2O2 in Cd binding in root cell wall pectin of D62B compared with Wujin4B. Cd treatment significantly increased the H2O2 concentration and pectin methyl esterase (PME) activity in the roots of D62B and Wujin4B by 22.45-42.44% and 12.15-15.07%, respectively. The H2O2 concentration and PME activity significantly decreased in the roots of both rice lines when H2O2 was scavenged by 4-hydroxy-Tempo. The PME activity of D62B was higher than that of Wujin4B. The concentrations of high and low methyl-esterified pectin in the roots of D62B significantly increased when exposed to Cd alone but significantly decreased when exposed to Cd and exogenous 4-hydroxy-Tempo. No significant difference was detected in Wujin4B. Exogenous 4-hydroxy-Tempo significantly decreased the Cd concentration in the cell wall pectin in both rice lines. The modification of H2O2 in Cd binding was further explored by adding H2O2. The maximum Cd adsorption amounts on the root cell walls of both rice lines were improved by exogenous H2O2·H2O2 treatment significantly influenced the relative peak area of the main functional groups (hydroxyl, carboxyl), and the groups intensely shifted after Cd adsorption in the root cell wall of D62B, while there was no significant difference in Wujin4B. In conclusion, Cd stress stimulated the production of H2O2, thus promoting pectin biosynthesis and demethylation and releasing relative functional groups involved in Cd binding on cell wall pectin, which is beneficial for Cd retention in the roots of Cd-safe rice line.

Nitric oxide amplifies cadmium binding in root cell wall of a high cadmium-accumulating rice (Oryza sativa L.) line by promoting hemicellulose synthesis and pectin demethylesterification.

Nitric oxide (NO) is tightly associated with plant response against cadmium (Cd) stress in rice since NO impacts Cd accumulation via modulating cell wall components. In the present study, we investigated that whether and how NO regulates Cd accumulation in root in two rice lines with different Cd accumulation ability. The variation of polysaccharides in root cell wall (RCW) of a high Cd-accumulating rice line Lu527-8 and a normal rice line Lu527-4 in response to Cd stress when exogenous NO supplied by sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a NO donor) was studied. Appreciable amounts of Cd distributed in RCW, in which most Cd ions were bound to pectin for the two rice lines when exposed to Cd. Exogenous NO upregulated the expression of OsPME11 and OsPME12 that were involved in pectin demethylesterification, resulting in more low methyl-esterified pectin and therefore stronger pectin-Cd binding. Exogenous NO also enhanced the concentration of hemicellulose and the amount of Cd ions in it. These results demonstrate that NO-induced more Cd binding in RCW in the two rice lines through promoting pectin demethylesterification and increasing hemicellulose accumulation. Higher OsPMEs expression and more hemicellulose synthesis contributed to more Cd immobilization in RCW of the high Cd-accumulating rice line Lu527-8. The main findings of this study reveal the regulation of NO on cell wall polysaccharides modification under Cd stress and help to elucidate the physiological and molecular mechanism of NO participating in Cd responses of rice.

The role of polysaccharides functional groups in cadmium binding in root cell wall of a cadmium-safe rice line.

Exploring the mechanism of cadmium (Cd) accumulation in Cd-safe rice lines is beneficial for ensuring rice safety. D62B, a Cd-safe rice line, accumulates less than 0.2 mg Cd kg-1 in the brown rice due to strong capacity of Cd retention in the roots, and the root cell wall (RCW) polysaccharides play important roles. However, specific underlying mechanism of Cd binding on the polysaccharides is little known. In this study, the role of polysaccharides, especially pectin and hemicellulose 1 (HC1), in RCW of D62B was investigated by adsorption experiments and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis compared with a common rice line (Luhui17). Cadmium was adsorbed on RCW of two rice lines by a multilayer and inhomogeneous chemisorption way with the force of ion transfer or exchange. Cadmium was adsorbed on RCW rapidly at first stage with the limit of internal and external diffusion, and gradually reached saturation. With the removal of pectin, the Cd adsorption rate, maximum Cd adsorption amount and the shift degree of carboxyl groups in the RCW of D62B sharply decreased, which showed advantages compared with Luhui17. Sequential removal of HC1 further decreased the maximum Cd adsorption amount and the shift degree of hydroxyl groups. The results showed that more available functional groups, especially carboxyl groups in pectin and hydroxyl groups in HC1, contributed to Cd immobilization within the RCW of Cd-safe rice line, thus limiting Cd translocation to the shoot and reducing Cd accumulation in the brown rice.

Efficacy of adjuvant curcumin therapy in ulcerative colitis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Aminosalicylic acids are recognized to be the first-line treatment options for ulcerative colitis. Currently, the effectiveness of curcumin as an adjuvant treatment in ulcerative colitis has been investigated, which was still controversial. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the efficacy and safety of curcumin as an adjuvant treatment in ulcerative colitis. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from original to July 2019, and relevant randomized controlled clinical trials were enrolled and analyzed. The primary outcomes were clinical and endoscopic remission; meanwhile, the secondary outcomes were clinical and endoscopic improvement. Subgroup analyses of doses, delivery way, form, and intervention time of curcumin were also conducted. RESULTS: Six randomized controlled clinical trials with a total of 349 patients were included. Eligible trials suggested that adjuvant curcumin treatment in ulcerative colitis was effective in inducing clinical remission (odds ratio [OR] = 5.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.84-14.56, P = 0.002), endoscopic remission (OR = 5.69, 95% CI: 1.28-25.27, P = 0.02), and endoscopic improvement (OR = 17.05, 95% CI: 1.30-233.00, P = 0.03), but not in clinical improvement (OR = 4.79, 95% CI: 1.02-22.43, P = 0.05). We can see the potential advantages in large dosage, topical enema, special drug form, and longer duration from the enrolled studies. There were no severe side effects reported. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin, as an adjuvant treatment of mesalamine, was proved to be effective and safe in ulcerative colitis. Better efficacy can be achieved with suitable dose, delivery way, formation, and intervention time, which needs further study to verify.

Crucial roles of cadmium retention in nodeâ ¡ for restraining cadmium transport from straw to ear at reproductive period in a grain low-cadmium rice line (Oryza sativa L.).

Using an ideal parental line to breed hybrid rice with low cadmium (Cd) accumulation in grain is an environmental-friendly approach to reduce the risk of Cd contamination in field. A grain low-Cd rice line YaHui2816 has stably low Cd in grain but strong Cd accumulation in straw, revealing specific pattern of its straw-grain Cd remobilization is beneficial to effectively breed hybrid rice for safe production as well as phytoremediation. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate Cd partitioning of YaHui2816 at different stages by comparison with a common rice C268A. The Cd from lower nodes and leaves was restricted in nodeⅡ, this Cd retention led to weak Cd transport from straw to ear in YaHui2816. Cd concentration in nodeⅡ of YaHui2816 was 1.56-fold and 7.36-fold higher than C268A at filling and mature stages. Thus, glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatin (PC) concentration, PC synthase (OsPCS1), GSH S-Transferase (OsGST) and Cd-remobilization associated genes were measured at filling stage. OsHMA2 and OsCCX2 were up-regulated in nodeⅡ of YaHui2816, relative expression of them were significantly higher than C268A. PCs participated in Cd remobilization process, remarkable PC increase in nodeⅡ of YaHui2816 was found in response to Cd treatment under regulation of OsPCS1 and OsGST of which PC2 was dominant form. Taken as a whole, the Cd retention in nodeⅡ of YaHui2816 acts as a 'firewall' to restrain Cd transport to grain. This work provides more insight to understand possible function of alleles for reducing Cd concentration in grain as well as strengthening Cd accumulation in straw of YaHui2816.

P uptake characteristics and root morphological responses in the mining ecotype of Polygonum hydropiper under high organic P media.

Understanding plant phosphorus (P) assimilation and its root morphological responses is important to acquire an ideal material for remediation of P-enriched environments. Pot experiments were conducted to explore P accumulation and root morphological traits in a mining ecotype (ME) and non-mining ecotype (NME) of Polygonum hydropiper under different organic P (Po) sources (G1P, AMP, ATP, IHP) and inorganic P (Pi) source (KH2PO4), and also their responses to a high level of IHP for different growth periods. Both ecotypes showed higher biomass in Pi and IHP treatments than other Po sources. P accumulation in seedlings were in the order of Pi > IHP > other Po media. Extending the growth period increased biomass and P accumulation in both ecotypes. The ME demonstrated 1.11-1.46 times higher P accumulation than the NME. Seedlings fed with IHP demonstrated significantly greater morphological parameters of fine, medium, and thick roots compared to other Po sources. Total root length, surface area, and volume of both ecotypes significantly increased with the prolonged growth period. The ME has a higher ability to develop root system and exhibits better distribution of fine roots to enhance P accumulation from high P media, and thus it is a worthy material for P-phytoextraction.

Effects of [S,S]-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid on the efficiency of Pb phytostabilization by Athyrium wardii (Hook.) grown in Pb-contaminated soils.

Chelate-assisted phytoextraction with biodegradable chelants has been demonstrated as an efficient method to enhance heavy metal remediation efficiency by plants, while there is little available information on phytostabilization. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of biodegradable [S,S]-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) on plant growth and Pb accumulation of Pb phytostabilizer Athyrium wardii (Hook.) grown in Pb contaminated soils and to explore the feasibility of chelate-assisted phytostabilization. Greater adverse effects on plant biomass under high EDDS treatments were observed than NTA treatments. Significant increase of shoot Pb concentrations of A. wardii was noticed with increasing NTA and EDDS dosages, while EDDS induced higher shoot Pb concentrations than NTA. Moreover, root Pb concentrations of A. wardii under NTA treatments were 1.18-1.28-time higher than EDDS treatments, and a peak value of root Pb concentrations was observed at 2 mmol kg(-1) of NTA. Shoot Pb accumulations significantly increased with increasing dosages, and EDDS treatments caused a 1.44-1.6-time increase of shoot Pb accumulation than NTA. Root Pb accumulations under NTA treatments were 1.18-1.28-time higher than EDDS treatments. Maximum root Pb accumulation (155.5 mg plant(-1)) was found at 2 mmol kg(-1) of NTA on the 14th day. Higher BCF values and lower TF values were found under NTA treatments as compared to EDDS treatments. Available Pb concentrations in soil significantly increased on the 7th day with increasing NTA and EDDS dosages, then gradually decreased on the 14th day. Soil pH slightly decreased with increasing NTA and EDDS dosages. Therefore, chelate-assisted phytostabilization could be a feasible way to enhance the efficiency of Pb phytostabilization by A. wardii.

Ultrasensitive and Exclusive Chemiresistors with a ZIF-67-Derived Oxide Cage/Nanofiber Co3O4/In2O3 Heterostructure for Acetone Detection.

Gas sensors for acetone detection have received considerable attention because acetone has a significant influence on both the environment and human health, e.g., it is flammable and toxic and may be related to blood glucose levels. However, achieving high sensitivity and selectivity at low concentrations is still a great challenge to date. Here, we report a unique chemiresistive gas sensor for acetone detection, which is composed of In2O3 nanofibers loaded with a porous Co-based zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67)-derived Co3O4 cage prepared by simple electrospinning and solvothermal methods. The ZIF-67-derived oxide cage/nanofiber Co3O4/In2O3 heterostructure has abundant reversible active adsorption/reaction sites and a type-I heterojunction, resulting in an ultrasensitive response of 954-50 ppm acetone at 300 °C. In addition, it demonstrates a low detection limit of 18.8 ppb, a fast response time of 4 s, good selectivity and repeatability, acceptable humidity interference, and long-term stability. With such excellent sensing performance to acetone, our chemiresistive gas sensor could be potentially applied for environmental monitoring and early diagnosis of diabetes.

Association between the gut microbiota, inflammatory factors, and colorectal cancer: evidence from Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors primarily affecting individuals over the age of 50 years. Recent studies have suggested that the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, a community of microorganisms in the human gut, is closely associated with the occurrence and development of CRC. Additionally, inflammatory factors (IFs) have also been reported to play a significant role in the development of CRC. However, the causal relationships between the gut microbiota, IFs, and CRC remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data to explore the causal relationship between the gut microbiota, IFs, and CRC. The gut microbiota GWAS data were obtained from the MiBioGen study, while the IFs GWAS data were derived from the comprehensive analysis of three independent cohorts. Causal relationship analysis was conducted using appropriate instrumental variables (IVs) and statistical models. Results: MR analysis of the gut microbiota and CRC revealed a negative correlation between the Lachnospiraceae species in the gut and CRC risk, while a positive correlation was observed between Porphyromonadaceae species, Lachnospiraceae UCG010 genus, Lachnospira genus, and Sellimonas genus in the gut, and CRC risk. Additionally, we observed a causal relationship between IL-10 and CRC risk. These findings suggest that the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota might be associated with an increased risk of CRC and that specific bacterial groups may play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of CRC. Conclusion: Using MR analysis, this study revealed the causal relationships between the gut microbiota, IFs, and CRC. The negative correlation between the Lachnospiraceae species in the gut and CRC risk, as well as the causal relationship between IL-10 and CRC, provide important clues for the potential roles of gut microbiota regulation and inflammatory factor control in the prevention and treatment of CRC.

Comprehensive integration of single-cell RNA and transcriptome RNA sequencing to establish a pyroptosis-related signature for improving prognostic prediction of gastric cancer.

Cell pyroptosis, a Gasdermin-dependent programmed cell death characterized by inflammasome, plays a complex and dynamic role in Gastric cancer (GC), a serious threat to human health. Therefore, the value of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic indicators for patients needs to be exploited in GC. This study integrates single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset GSE183904 with GC transcriptome data from the TCGA database, focusing on the expression and distribution of PRGs in GC at the single-cell level. The prognostic signature of PRGs was established by using Cox and LASSO analyses. The differences in long-term prognosis, immune infiltration, mutation profile, CD274 and response to chemotherapeutic drugs between the two groups were analyzed and evaluated. A tissue array was used to verify the expression of six PRGs, CD274, CD163 and FoxP3. C12orf75, VCAN, RGS2, MKNK2, SOCS3 and TNFAIP2 were successfully screened out to establish a signature to potently predict the survival time of GC patients. A webserver (https://pumc.shinyapps.io/GastricCancer/) for prognostic prediction in GC patients was developed based on this signature. High-risk score patients typically had worse prognoses, resistance to classical chemotherapy, and a more immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. VCAN, TNFAIP2 and SOCS3 were greatly elevated in the GC while RGS2 and MKNK2 were decreased in the tumor samples. Further, VCAN was positively related to the infiltrations of Tregs and M2 TAMs in GC TME and the CD274 in tumor cells. In summary, a potent pyroptosis-related signature was established to accurately forecast the survival time and treatment responsiveness of GC patients.

The Cellular Structure and Toughness of Hydrogenated Styrene-Butadiene Block Copolymer Reinforced Polypropylene Foams.

Polypropylene nanocomposites containing varying amounts of Styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) were prepared through the supercritical nitrogen microcellular injection-molding process. Maleic anhydride (MAH)-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) copolymers were used as compatibilizers. The influence of SEBS content on the cell structure and toughness of the SEBS/PP composites was investigated. Upon the addition of SEBS, the differential scanning calorimeter tests revealed that the grain size of the composites decreased, and their toughness increased. The results of the rheological behavior tests showed that the melt viscosity of the composite increased, playing a role in enhancing the cell structure. With the addition of 20 wt% SEBS, the cell diameter decreased from 157 to 66.7 µm, leading to an improvement in the mechanical properties. Compared to pure PP material, the impact toughness of the composites rose by 410% with 20 wt% of SEBS. Microstructure images of the impact section displayed evident plastic deformation, effectively absorbing energy and improving the material's toughness. Furthermore, the composites exhibited a significant increase in toughness in the tensile test, with the foamed material's elongation at break being 960% higher than that of pure PP foamed material when the SEBS content was 20%.

Integrated analysis from multicentre studies identities m7G-related lncRNA-derived molecular subtypes and risk stratification systems for gastric cancer.

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Due to the lack of effective chemotherapy methods for advanced gastric cancer and poor prognosis, the emergence of immunotherapy has brought new hope to gastric cancer. Further research is needed to improve the response rate to immunotherapy and identify the populations with potential benefits of immunotherapy. It is unclear whether m7G-related lncRNAs influence tumour immunity and the prognosis of immunotherapy. Methods: This study evaluated 29 types of immune cells and immune functions in gastric cancer patients, and m7G-related lncRNAs and their molecular subtypes were identified. In addition, we also studied the biological function characteristics of m7G-related lncRNA molecular subtypes. Finally, the patient's risk score was calculated based on m7G-related lncRNAs, and a nomogram of staging and risk groups was established to predict the prognosis. For experimental verification, RT-qPCR were preformed from the native cohort. Results: After identifying m7G-related lncRNAs and their molecular subtypes, we found three molecular subtypes, the B subtype had the highest level of infiltration, and the B subtype may benefit more from immunotherapy. We divided GC patients into two regulator subtypes based on biological function. The two subtypes have significant immunological differences and can be used to judge ICI treatment. We established a risk score formula based on five lncRNAs, including LINC00924, LINC00944, LINC00865, LINC00702, and ZFAS1. Patients with poor prognoses were closely related to patients in the high-risk group. After comprehensive analysis of different risk groups, the efficacy of the high-risk group on bleomycin, cisplatin, docetaxel, doxorubicin and etoposide was better than that of the low-risk group, suggesting that risk subgroups based on risk scores play a guiding role in chemotherapy and that the high-risk group may benefit more from immunotherapy. RT-qPCR results showed that LINC00924, LINC00944, and LINC00865 were highly expressed in tumour tissues, while LINC00702 and ZFAS1 were expressed at low levels in tumour tissues. Discussion: In conclusion, we were the first to discover that m7G-related lncRNAs play a vital role in the tumour immune microenvironment of gastric cancer, and a risk prediction model was established to identify patients with potential benefits from immunotherapy and predict the prognosis of GC patients.

Perioperative Enteral Immunonutrition Support for the Immune Function and Intestinal Mucosal Barrier in Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Gastrectomy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of perioperative immunonutrition on patients undergoing radical gastrectomy remains undetermined. This study aimed to assess the influence of enteral immunonutrition support on postoperative immune function and intestinal mucosal barrier function following radical gastrectomy, contrasting findings with a control group to furnish evidence for perioperative enteral nutrition support. METHODS: In this prospective randomized trial, 65 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy between June 2022 and June 2023 were included. Participants were allocated to either the study group (receiving enteral immunonutrition) or the control group (not receiving enteral immunonutrition). We compared postoperative rehabilitation and complications between the groups, analyzed the intestinal mucosal barrier function markers on the 3rd and 7th postoperative days, and delved deeper into peripheral blood cell immunity, inflammation, and nutritional indicators. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 30 patients in the study group and 35 in the control group, with no significant differences in demographic attributes between the two groups. On the 3rd postoperative day, the diamine oxidase, D-lactic acid, and endotoxin levels in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p = 0.029, p = 0.044, and p = 0.010, respectively). By the 7th postoperative day, these levels continued to be significantly diminished in the study group (p = 0.013, p = 0.033, and p = 0.004, respectively). The times to first flatus (p = 0.012) and first bowel movement (p = 0.012) were significantly shorter in the study group. Moreover, postoperative complications in the study group were fewer than in the control group (p = 0.039). On the 7th postoperative day, the study group had lower peripheral white blood cell (WBC) levels (p = 0.020) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) (p = 0.031), but displayed elevated albumin levels (p = 0.006). One month post-surgery, the CD4+T and CD8+T counts were significantly greater in the study group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.012, respectively). Correlation analyses indicated that NLR and complications were associated with endotoxin levels. CONCLUSION: Administering perioperative enteral immunonutrition enhances postoperative immune and intestinal mucosal barrier functions in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy. This effect leads to diminished inflammatory responses, a decreased rate of postoperative complications, and accelerated patient recovery.

Association between genetically predicted rheumatoid arthritis and alopecia areata: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Although numerous observational studies have indicated a potential association between autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and alopecia areata (AA), the research reports lack a clear causal relationship. In this study, our objective is to utilize the Mendelian randomization (MR) design to examine the potential causal association between RA and AA. Methods: To investigate the causal relationship between RA and AA, we utilized large-scale gene aggregation data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), including RA (n=58,284) and AA (n=361,822) based on previous observational studies. In our analysis, we mainly employed the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method of the random effects model, supplemented by the weighted median (WM) method and the MR Egger method. Results: The findings from the IVW methods revealed a significant association between genetically predicted RA and an increased likelihood of AA, as evidenced by an odds ratio of 1.21 (95%CI = 1.11-1.32; P < 0.001. Both the WM method and MR-Egger regression consistently showed significant directional outcomes (Both P < 0.05), indicating a robust association between RA and AA. Additionally, both the funnel plot and the MR-Egger intercepts provided evidence of the absence of directional pleiotropy, suggesting that the observed association is not influenced by other common genetic factors. Conclusions: The results of the study suggest a possible link between genetically predicted RA and AA. This finding highlights the importance for individuals diagnosed with RA to remain vigilant and aware of the potential development of AA. Regular monitoring and early detection can be crucial in managing and addressing this potential complication.

Tumour-associated macrophages in gastric cancer: From function and mechanism to application.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumour, with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The occurrence and development of GC is a complex process involving genetic changes in tumour cells and the influence of the surrounding tumour microenvironment (TME). Accumulative evidence shows that tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a vital role in GC, acting as plentiful and active infiltrating inflammatory cells in the TME. MAIN BODY: In this review, the different functions and mechanisms of TAMs in GC progression, including the conversion of phenotypic subtypes; promotion of tumour proliferation, invasion and migration; induction of chemoresistance; promotion of angiogenesis; modulation of immunosuppression; reprogramming of metabolism; and interaction with the microbial community are summarised. Although the role of TAMs in GC remains controversial in clinical settings, clarifying their significance in the treatment selection and prognostic prediction of GC could support optimising TAM-centred clinicaltherapy. CONCLUSION: In summary, we reviewed the the phenotypic polarisation, function and molecular mechanism of TAMs and their potential applications in the treatment selection and prognostic prediction of GC.

Analysis of Cytokine Levels Based on Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Acute and Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and aqueous humor cytokine differences between acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and to evaluate the relevance of these findings.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study. Patients with CSC were divided into acute and chronic groups based on the symptom duration and were compared with normal controls. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT), hyperreflective foci (HF), and cytokines including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were used as comparison metrics.Results: A total of 62 patients (62 eyes) with CSC (22 with acute CSC and 40 with chronic CSC) and 35 patients as controls were included in this study. The chronic CSC group had significantly older average ages and worse BCVA than the acute CSC group (both p < 0.05). Both CSC groups showed significant increases in CMT and CT (both p < 0.05). In chronic CSC, the CMT was thinner, with more HF in the neuroretina (p = 0.034). VEGF levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic CSC than in those with acute CSC and controls (p < 0.05). The levels of inflammatory cytokines showed no significant difference between the CSC and control groups. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that the number of HF was positively correlated with disease duration (r = 0.311, p = 0.014), logMAR BCVA (r = 0.487, P < 0.001) and MCP-1 levels (r = 0.256, p = 0.045).Conclusions: Chronicity of CSC could lead to upregulation of VEGF. HF was associated with a more severe visual impairment in CSC patients and had relations with the levels of MCP-1.