GraphLncLoc: long non-coding RNA subcellular localization prediction using graph convolutional networks based on sequence to graph transformation.

The subcellular localization of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is crucial for understanding lncRNA functions. Most of existing lncRNA subcellular localization prediction methods use k-mer frequency features to encode lncRNA sequences. However, k-mer frequency features lose sequence order information and fail to capture sequence patterns and motifs of different lengths. In this paper, we proposed GraphLncLoc, a graph convolutional network-based deep learning model, for predicting lncRNA subcellular localization. Unlike previous studies encoding lncRNA sequences by using k-mer frequency features, GraphLncLoc transforms lncRNA sequences into de Bruijn graphs, which transforms the sequence classification problem into a graph classification problem. To extract the high-level features from the de Bruijn graph, GraphLncLoc employs graph convolutional networks to learn latent representations. Then, the high-level feature vectors derived from de Bruijn graph are fed into a fully connected layer to perform the prediction task. Extensive experiments show that GraphLncLoc achieves better performance than traditional machine learning models and existing predictors. In addition, our analyses show that transforming sequences into graphs has more distinguishable features and is more robust than k-mer frequency features. The case study shows that GraphLncLoc can uncover important motifs for nucleus subcellular localization. GraphLncLoc web server is available at http://csuligroup.com:8000/GraphLncLoc/.

Neuroprotective effects of blueberry anthocyanins against perfluorooctanoic sulfonate on planarian Dugesia japonica.

In this study, the planarian Dugesia japonica was exposed to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and blueberry anthocyanins (ANT) for 1-10 days to investigate the protective effects of ANT on neurotoxicity and DNA damage induced by PFOS. The expression of neural related genes (Djnlg, DjFoxD, DjFoxG, DjotxA, and DjotxB) in D. japonica following exposure was determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Immunofluorescence was performed to determine the alterations in neural morphology. In addition, ELISA kits were used to measure level of the neurotransmitters Dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Furthermore, single cell gel electrophoresis was measured to analyze DNA damage. In this study, PFOS treatment induced neural morphology defects, alterations in neural-related gene expression, alterations in neurotransmitter levels, and DNA damage. However, co-exposure to ANT and PFOS mitigated the damage to D. japonica induced by PFOS. Restoration of neurotransmitter contents and neural related genes expression were observed in planarians following co-application of ANT and PFOS, immunofluorescence showed that nerve morphology almost recovered, and DNA damage was decreased. The results of this study showed that ANT may have a protective effect against PFOS induced neurotoxicity and DNA damage.

Changes on lipid peroxidation,enzymatic activities and gene expression in planarian (Dugesia japonica) following exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid.

We investigated perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)-induced stress response in planarians. We administered different concentrations of PFOA to planarians for up to 10 d. PFOA exposure resulted in significant concentration-dependent elevations in lipid peroxidation, glutathione S-transferase and caspase-3 protease activities, and a significant decline in glutathione peroxidase activities compared with control groups. Exposure to PFOA significantly up-regulated the heat shock proteins hsp70 and hsp90, and p53, and down-regulated hsp40 compared with controls. PFOA exposure also increased HSP70 protein levels, as demonstrated by western blot analysis. These alterations indicated that PFOA exposure induced a stress response and affected the regulation of oxidative stress, enzymatic activities and gene expression. These results suggest that these sensitive parameters, together with other biomarkers, could be used for evaluating toxicity, for ecological risk assessment of PFOA in freshwaters.

Wireless Electric Cues Mediate Autologous DPSC-Loaded Conductive Hydrogel Microspheres to Engineer the Immuno-Angiogenic Niche for Homologous Maxillofacial Bone Regeneration.

Stem cell therapy serves as an effective treatment for bone regeneration. Nevertheless, stem cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood are still lacking homologous properties. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are derived from neural crest, in coincidence with maxillofacial tissues, thus attracting great interest in in situ maxillofacial regenerative medicine. However, insufficient number and heterogenous alteration of seed cells retard further exploration of DPSC-based tissue engineering. Electric stimulation has recently attracted great interest in tissue regeneration. In this study, a novel DPSC-loaded conductive hydrogel microspheres integrated with wireless electric generator is fabricated. Application of exogenous electric cues can promote stemness maintaining and heterogeneity suppression for unpredictable differentiation of encapsulated DPSCs. Further investigations observe that electric signal fine-tunes regenerative niche by improvement on DPSC-mediated paracrine pattern, evidenced by enhanced angiogenic behavior and upregulated anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization. By wireless electric stimulation on implanted conductive hydrogel microspheres, loaded DPSCs facilitates the construction of immuno-angiogenic niche at early stage of tissue repair, and further contributes to advanced autologous mandibular bone defect regeneration. This novel strategy of DPSC-based tissue engineering exhibits promising translational and therapeutic potential for autologous maxillofacial tissue regeneration.

Acceleration of Oral Wound Healing under Diabetes Mellitus Conditions Using Bioadhesive Hydrogel.

Oral wounds under diabetic conditions display a significant delay during the healing process, mainly due to oxidative stress-induced inflammatory status and abnormal immune responses. Besides, the wet and complicated dynamic environment of the oral cavity impedes stable treatment of oral wounds. To overcome these, a biomimetic hydrogel adhesive was innovatively developed based on a mussel-inspired multifunctional structure. The adhesive displays efficient adhesion and mechanical harmony on the oral mucosa through enhanced bonding in an acidic proinflammatory environment. The bioadhesive hydrogel exhibits excellent antioxidative properties by mimicking antioxidative enzymatic activities to reverse reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated immune disorders. Experiments on oral wounds of diabetic rats showed that this hydrogel adhesive could effectively protect against mucosal wounds and obviously shorten the inflammatory phase, thus promoting the wound-healing process. Therefore, this study offers a promising therapeutic choice with the potential to advance the clinical treatment of diabetic oral wounds.

[Study on chemical constituents of Scutelliaria regeliana].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in ethyl acetate fraction from the root of Scutelliaria regeliana. METHOD: The compounds were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by means of spectral analyses. RESULT: 23 compounds were isolated and identified. CONCLUSION: Compound 1 is new, named as scutellariae flavonol, and the others were isolated from S. regeliana for the first time.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Pharbitis purpurea].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Pharbitis purpurea. METHODS: The constituents were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, HPLC and recrystallization and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. RESULTS: Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified as daucosterol (1), umbelliferone (2), ursolic acid (3), N-p-hydroxy-cis-coumaroyltyramine (4), N-p-hydroxy-trans-coumaroyltyramine (5), N-cis-feruloyltyramine (6), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (7), (3R, 5R, 6S, 7E, 9S)-megastigman-5,6-epoxy-7-ene-3,9-diol (8), (6S,9R)-vomifoliol (9), (+)-syringaresinol (10), isovitexin (11), syringopicroside( 12), uricil (13), (6S,9R)-roseoside (14). CONCLUSION: Compounds 3, 8-2,14 are isolated from the genus for the first time.

Neurotoxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid and post-exposure recovery due to blueberry anthocyanins in the planarians Dugesia japonica.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a widely used synthetic industrial chemical which accumulates in ecosystems and organisms. Our study have investigated the neurobehavioral effects of PFOA and the alleviation effects of PFOA-induced neurotoxicity by blueberry anthocyanins (ANT) in Dugesia japonica. The planarians were exposed to PFOA and ANT for ten days. Researchs showed that exposure to PFOA affected locomotor behavior and ANT significantly alleviated the reduction in locomotion induced by PFOA. The regeneration of eyespots and auricles was suppressed by PFOA and was promoted by ANT. Following exposure to PFOA, acetylcholinesterase activity continually decreased and was unaffected in the ANT group, but was elevated after combined administration of PFOA and ANT. Oxidative DNA damage was found in planarians exposed to PFOA and was attenuated after administration of ANT by the alkaline comet assay. Concentrations of three neurotransmitters increased following exposure to PFOA and decreased after administration of ANT. Furthermore, ANT promoted and PFOA inhibited neuronal regeneration. DjotxA, DjotxB, DjFoxG, DjFoxD and Djnlg associated with neural processes were up-regulated following exposure to PFOA. Our findings indicate that PFOA is a neurotoxicant while ANT can attenuate these detrimental effects.

Two colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence probes for hydrogen sulfide based on AIE strategy of α-cyanostilbenes.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active fluorescent probes have attracted great potential in biological sensors. In this paper two cyanostilbene based fluorescence chemoprobe Cya-NO2 (1) and Cya-N3 (2) were developed and evaluated for the selective and sensitive detection of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Both of these probes behave aggression-induced emission (AIE) activity which fluoresces in the red region with a large Stokes shift. They exhibit rapid response to H2S with enormous colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent changes. They are readily employed for assessing intracellular H2S levels.

Application of blueberry anthocyanins reduces perfluorooctane sulfonate toxicity on planarians (Dugesia japonica) in locomotion, regeneration, and gene expression and contents.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) which has been distributed worldwide is a persistent organic contaminant. Blueberry anthocyanins (ANT) are phytonutrients with antioxidant activities. The influence of different PFOS and ANT concentrations on the behavioral activities, regeneration of planarians (Dugesia japonica), and the expression levels and contents of Djnad6 and Djcox1 genes has been investigated. PFOS treatments affected the gene expression levels, induced a decrease in the planarians' locomotor velocity, and increased the time required for the regeneration of the transverse amputated fragments in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Additionally, ANT treatments, to a certain extent, alleviated the damage caused by PFOS to planarians. ANT increased the planarians' locomotor velocity and the percentage of regenerating planarians with eyespots and auricles. Furthermore, ANT alleviated the expression disorders of Djnad6 and Djcox1 induced by PFOS.