Aspongopus chinensis ach-miR-276a-3p induces breast cancer cell cycle arrest by targeting APPL2 to regulate the CDK2-Rb-E2F1 signaling pathway.

Breast cancer, the most common cancer, presents a significant challenge to the health and longevity of women. Aspongopus chinensis Dallas is an insect with known anti-breast cancer properties. However, the anti-breast cancer effects and underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Exogenous microRNAs (miRNAs), which are derived from plants and animals, have been revealed to have notable capacities for controlling the proliferation of cancerous cells. To elucidate the inhibitory effects of miRNAs derived from A. chinensis and the regulatory mechanism involved in the growth of breast cancer cells, miRNA sequencing was initially employed to screen for miRNAs both in A. chinensis hemolymph and decoction and in mouse serum and tumor tissue after decoction gavage. Subsequently, the experiments were performed to assess the suppressive effect of ach-miR-276a-3p, the miRNA screened out from a previous study, on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Finally, the regulatory mechanism of ach-miR-276a-3p in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells was elucidated. The results demonstrated that ach-miR-276a-3p notably inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, colony formation, and invasion and induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Moreover, the ach-miR-276a-3p mimics significantly reduced the tumor volume and weight in xenograft tumor mice. Furthermore, ach-miR-276a-3p could induce cell cycle arrest by targeting APPL2 and regulating the CDK2-Rb-E2F1 signaling pathway. In summary, ach-miR-276a-3p, derived from A. chinensis, has anti-breast cancer activity by targeting APPL2 and regulating the CDK2-Rb-E2F1 signaling pathway and can serve as a promising candidate anticancer agent.

HSP gene superfamily in Aspongopus chinensis Dallas: unravelling identification, characterisation and expression patterns during diapause and non-diapause stages.

Aspongopus chinensis Dallas 1851, an insect of important economic value, faces challenges in artificial breeding due to mandatory diapause and limited access to wild resources. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are thought to influence diapause in insects, but little is known about their role in A. chinensis during diapause. This study used genomic methods to identify 25 Hsp genes in A. chinensis, including two Hsp90, 14 Hsp70, four Hsp60 and five small Hsp genes, were located on seven chromosomes, respectively. The gene structures among the same families are relatively conserved. Meanwhile, the motif compositions and secondary structures of A. chinensis Hsps (AcHsps) were predicted. RNA-seq data and fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis showed that there were differences in the expression patterns of AcHsps in diapause and non-diapause stages, and AcHsp70-5 was significantly differentially expressed in both analysis, which was enriched in the pathway of response to hormone. All the results showed that Hsps play an important role in the diapause mechanism of A. chinensis. Our observations highlight the molecular evolution of the Hsp gene and their effect on diapause in A. chinensis.

Reducing the mass and decreasing the bioavailability of heavy mental from organic wastes treated by black soldier fly larvae.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), Hermetia illucens L., are widely used to reduce the mass of various wastes. However, the potential metal tolerance mechanisms during periods of waste bioconversion by BSFL remain largely unknown. To further reveal the mechanisms, BSFL were used to treat the agricultural organic wastes, including pig manure (PM), cow manure (COM), spent mushroom substrate (SMS), and wet distiller grains (WDG). After these individual and combined waste(s) were treated by BSFL, we investigated the waste reduction rates and evaluated the responses of BSFL gut microbes to heavy metals of agricultural organic wastes. Additionally, the colloidal particles of residual wastes were characterized by combing energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Size potential, Zeta potential, and excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy. Results indicated that the waste reduction rates were up to 74% in COM+WDG and 69% in WDG, most of heavy metals (e.g., Zn and Co) from organic wastes were not accumulated in the bodies of mature larvae after treatment. Further, results obtained from the prediction of gene function on the basis of 16 S rRNA data revealed that the presence of multi-resistance genes in the gut of BSFL can help the larvae resist Zn and/or Co stress. In addition, the drug sensitivity test implied that BSFL5_L and BSFL6_L from BSFL gut bacterial strains have multi-resistance to Co and Zn. Additionally, EDX results revealed that the colloidal particles in five waste residues after BSFL treatment are mainly consisted of Fe, Ca and Si, which can capture heavy metals (e.g., Cu, Mn). Results from EEM spectroscopy and PARAFAC showed that tryptophan-like and humic-like accumulatively account for 56%- 68% of all components. Importantly, these two components could strongly bind the metal elements and form colloidal particles with high stability, and therefore reduce the heavy metal pollution of agricultural organic wastes. Our findings offered an environment-friendly method to treat agricultural organic wastes, which would be far-reaching influence to our environment.

Transcriptome-based analysis reveals a crucial role of the 20E/HR3 pathway in the diapause of Pieris rapae.

Pieris rapae is among the most damaging pests globally, and diapause makes it highly resistant to environmental stresses, playing a crucial role in the survival and reproduction of P. rapae while exacerbating the challenges of pest management and control. However, the mechanisms of its diapause regulation remain poorly understood. This research used RNA sequencing to profile the transcriptomes of three diapause phases (induction and preparation, initiation, maintenance) and synchronous nondiapause phases in P. rapae. During each comparison phase, 759, 1045, and 4721 genes were found to be differentially expressed. Among these, seven clock genes and seven pivotal hormone synthesis and metabolism genes were identified as having differential expression patterns in diapause type and nondiapause type. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed the red and blue modules as pivotal for diapause initiation, while the grey module was identified to be crucial to diapause maintenance. Meanwhile, the hub genes HDAC11, METLL16D, Dyw-like, GST, and so on, were identified within these hub modules. Moreover, an ecdysone downstream nuclear receptor gene, HR3, was found to be a shared transcription factor across all three phases. RNA interference of HR3 resulted in delayed pupal development, indicating its involvement in regulating pupal dipause in P. rapae. The further hormone assays revealed that the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) titer in diapause type pupae was lower than that in nondiapause type pupae, which exhibited a similar trend to HR3. When 20E was injected into diapause pupae, the HR3 expression levels were improved, and the pupal diapause were broken. These results indicate that the 20E/HR3 pathway is a critical pathway for the diapause regulation of P. rapae, and perturbing this pathway by ecdysone treatment or RNAi would result in the disruption of diapause. These findings provide initial insights into the molecular mechanisms of P. rapae diapause and suggest the potential use of ecdysone analogs and HR3 RNAi pesticides, which specifically target to diapause, as a means of pest control in P. rapae.

Differential expression of microRNAs in diapause and non-diapause gonads of Aspongopus chinensis Dallas (Hemiptera: Dinidoridae): implications for reproductive control.

Aspongopus chinensis Dallas, 1851 (Hemiptera: Dinidoridae), an edible and medicinal insect, usually found in China and Southeast Asia, offers substantial potential for various applications. The reproductive cycle of this particular insect occurs annually because of reproductive diapause, leading to inadequate utilization of available natural resources. Despite its considerable ecological importance, the precise mechanisms underlying diapause in A. chinensis are not yet well understood. In this study, we conducted an analysis of comparing the microRNA (miRNA) regulation in the diapause and non-diapause gonads of A. chinensis and identified 303 differentially expressed miRNAs, among which, compared with the diapause group, 76 miRNAs were upregulated and 227 miRNAs downregulated. The results, regarding the Enrichment analysis of miRNA-targeted genes, showed their involvement in several essential biological processes, such as lipid anabolism, energy metabolism, and gonadal growth. Interestingly, we observed that the ATP-binding cassette pathway is the only enriched pathway, demonstrating the capability of these targeted miRNAs to regulate the reproductive diapause of A. chinensis through the above essential pathway. The current study provided the role of gonadal miRNA expression in the control of reproductive diapause in A. chinensis, the specific regulatory mechanism behind this event remained unknown and needed more investigation.

Heat-Insulated Regenerated Fibers with UV Resistance: Silk Fibroin/Al2O3 Nanoparticles.

The various wastes generated by silkworm silk textiles that are no longer in use are increasing, which is causing considerable waste and contamination. This issue has attracted widespread attention in countries that use a lot of silk. Therefore, enhancing the mechanical properties of regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) and enriching the function of silk are important directions to expand the comprehensive utilization of silk products. In this paper, the preparation of RSF/Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) hybrid fiber with different Al2O3 NPs contents by wet spinning and its novel performance are reported. It was found that the RSF/Al2O3 NPs hybrid fiber was a multifunctional fiber material with thermal insulation and UV resistance. Natural light tests showed that the temperature rise rate of RSF/Al2O3 NPs hybrid fibers was slower than that of RSF fibers, and the average temperature rose from 29.1 °C to about 35.4 °C in 15 min, while RSF fibers could rise to about 40.1 °C. UV absorption tests showed that the hybrid fiber was resistant to UV radiation. Furthermore, the addition of Al2O3 NPs may improve the mechanical properties of the hybrid fibers. This was because the blending of Al2O3 NPs promoted the self-assembly of ß-sheets in the RSF reaction mixture in a dose-dependent manner, which was manifested as the RSF/Al2O3 NPs hybrid fibers had more ß-sheets, crystallinity, and a smaller crystal size. In addition, RSF/Al2O3 NPs hybrid fibers had good biocompatibility and durability in micro-alkaline sweat environments. The above performance makes the RSF/Al2O3 NPs hybrid fibers promising candidates for application in heat-insulating and UV-resistant fabrics as well as military clothing.

From materials to clinical use: advances in 3D-printed scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

Osteoarthritis caused by articular cartilage defects is a particularly common orthopedic disease that can involve the entire joint, causing great pain to its sufferers. A global patient population of approximately 250 million people has an increasing demand for new therapies with excellent results, and tissue engineering scaffolds have been proposed as a potential strategy for the repair and reconstruction of cartilage defects. The precise control and high flexibility of 3D printing provide a platform for subversive innovation. In this perspective, cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) scaffolds manufactured using different biomaterials are summarized from the perspective of 3D printing strategies, the bionic structure strategies and special functional designs are classified and discussed, and the advantages and limitations of these CTE scaffold preparation strategies are analyzed in detail. Finally, the application prospect and challenges of 3D printed CTE scaffolds are discussed, providing enlightening insights for their current research.

Vancomycin presoak reduces infection in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of vancomycin presoak treatment of grafts during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on the incidence of postoperative infection or septic arthritis. METHODS: Studies published before May 3, 2022 investigating vancomycin presoak of grafts during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were searched in the PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Studies were screened, and data on the incidence of postoperative infection or septic arthritis were extracted and included in the analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included for analysis after search screening, yielding a total of 31,150 participants for analysis, of whom 11,437 received graft vancomycin presoak treatment, and 19,713 did not receive treatment. Participants who received vancomycin treatment had significantly lower infection rates (0.09% versus 0.74%; OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.10, 0.30; P < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Pre-soaking of the graft with vancomycin during ACL reconstruction reduced the incidence of postoperative infection and septic arthritis.

Role of the Hox Genes, Sex combs reduced, Fushi tarazu and Antennapedia, in Leg Development of the Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae.

Mites, the second largest arthropod group, exhibit rich phenotypic diversity in the development of appendages (legs). For example, the fourth pair of legs (L4) does not form until the second postembryonic developmental stage, namely the protonymph stage. These leg developmental diversities drive body plan diversity in mites. However, little is known about the mechanisms of leg development in mites. Hox genes, homeotic genes, can regulate the development of appendages in arthropods. Three Hox genes, Sex combs reduced (Scr), Fushi tarazu (Ftz) and Antennapedia (Antp), have previously been shown to be expressed in the leg segments of mites. Here, the quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR shows that three Hox genes are significantly increased in the first molt stage. RNA interference results in a set of abnormalities, including L3 curl and L4 loss. These results suggest that these Hox genes are required for normal leg development. Furthermore, the loss of single Hox genes results in downregulating the expression of the appendage marker Distal-less (Dll), suggesting that the three Hox genes can work together with Dll to maintain leg development in Tetranychus urticae. This study will be essential to understanding the diversity of leg development in mites and changes in Hox gene function.

The Size Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on Reinforcing the Mechanical Properties of Regenerated Fibers.

Regenerated silk fibroin (RSF), made from discarded silk cocoons, can be processed into regenerated silk fibers by a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly wet-spinning process. However, the breaking strength and toughness of most RSF fibers are lower than those of natural silk. In this study, Ag nanoparticles (NPs) of different sizes were introduced into RSF to form RSF/AgNPs hybrid fibers by wet spinning. The effects of AgNPs of different sizes on the mechanical properties and structure of the hybrid fibers were investigated. The results demonstrated that the mechanical properties of hybrid fibers were significantly improved, especially the breaking strain, after the addition of four different sizes of AgNPs. With the reduction in AgNPs size (2-60 nm), the breaking strength and breaking strain of hybrid fibers tended to increase. The results showed that the hybrid fibers containing 2 nm AgNPs were remarkable, with excellent mechanical properties and toughness, and the breaking strain reached 138.27%, which was far greater than blank RSF fibers (15.02%) and even natural silk (about 21%). The S-FTIR and WAXD showed that, compared with the larger AgNPs, the smaller AgNPs contributed more to the formation of silk fibroin ß-sheet and crystallinity, and reduced the ß-crystallite size. This study is helpful to understand the relationship between the size of nanoparticles and the mechanical properties of hybrid fibers.

Potential of a winterschmidtiid prey mite for the production of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

Mass rearing of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) using natural (prey) methods is costly and laborious, limiting its application in the biological control of pests. A high-production, low-cost method using a prey substitute would help to relieve this problem. Oulenziella bakeri Hughes (Acari: Winterschmidtiidae) could be an alternative prey source, but studies on the reproductive parameters of N. californicus under rearing conditions are lacking. This study evaluated the potential of O. bakeri as an alternative prey in N. californicus rearing by comparing developmental parameters among N. californicus reared on three diets based on an age-stage two-sex life table. We found that the preoviposition period and developmental time of N. californicus did not vary based on diet. The fecundity of N. californicus adults reared on O. bakeri was 29.8 eggs per female, which was lower than that of adults reared on Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) (42.9 eggs per female); there was no significant difference between O. bakeri and apple pollen (30.2 eggs per female). The oviposition rate of mites fed on O. bakeri was 69% of that fed on T. urticae. Neoseiulus californicus reared on O. bakeri and apple pollen showed the same intrinsic rate of increase (0.25 per day), which was 86% of the rate of those fed on T. urticae. Compared with predatory mites reared on natural prey, N. californicus reared on O. bakeri had a high survival rate and good oviposition and population growth parameters, suggesting that O. bakeri is suitable for the rearing of N. californicus.

Utilizing Black Soldier Fly Larvae to Improve Bioconversion and Reduce Pollution: A Sustainable Method for Efficient Treatment of Mixed Wastes of Wet Distiller Grains and Livestock Manure.

Widespread environmental contamination caused by huge amounts of wastes generated by human activities has become a critical global concern that requires urgent action. The black soldier fly (BSFL) has gradually been used to treat different wastes due to high efficiency and low cost. However, little information is available regarding the treatment of mixed wastes by BSFLs. The impact of BSFLs on conversion of cow manure (COM) and pig manure (PM) via the incorporation of wet distiller grains (WDG) was assessed. Results demonstrate that the waste reduction rate was increased by 20% by incorporating 45% WDG to COM and PM. The bioconversion rate of BSFLs in COM and PM also increased from 1.20 ± 0.02% and 0.92 ± 0.02% to 10.54 ± 0.06% and 10.05 ± 0.11%, respectively. Total nitrogen content and δ15N/14N ratios of WDG + COM and WDG + PM were found to be significantly lower than those of COM and PM alone (p < 0.01). The organic matter changes during manure degradation were further analyzed by combing ultraviolet-visible spectrum (UV-vis) with excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy techniques and fluorescence area integration (FRI) method. The UV-vis spectra results indicate that the addition of WDG to manures resulted in the decreased aromaticity and molecular weight of the waste. EEM spectra demonstrated that the accumulative Pi,n values of regions III and V in COM, COM + WDG, PM, and PM + WDG were 58%, 49%, 52% and 63%, respectively. These results not only provide new insights into the potential of mixed wastes for BSFL treatment but also contribute to the basis for the formulation of effective management measurements that reduce and/or reuse these wastes.

The Study of Alanine Transaminase Activity in Tissues of Silkworm (Bombyx mori) via Direct Analysis in Real-Time (DART) Mass Spectrometry.

Alanine transaminase (ALT) is an important amino acid-metabolizing enzyme in silkworm Bombyx mori L., and is mainly involved in transferring glutamate to alanine (serving as an essential precursor in silk protein synthesis) through transamination. Therefore, it is generally believed that silk protein synthesis in the silk gland and the cocoon quantity increase with the increase in ALT activity to a certain extent. Here, a novel analytical method was developed to determine the ALT activity in several key tissues of Bombyx mori L. including the posterior silk gland, midgut, fat body, middle silk gland, trachea and hemolymph, by combining the direct-analysis-in-real-time (DART) ion source with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. In addition, a traditional ALT activity assay, the Reitman-Frankel method, was also used to measure ALT activity for comparison. The ALT activity results obtained via the DART-MS method are in good agreement with those obtained via the Reitman-Frankel method. However, the present DART-MS method provides a more convenient, rapid and environmentally friendly quantitative method for ALT measurement. Especially, this method can also monitor ALT activity in different tissues of Bombyx mori L. in real time.

Genetic analysis of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in ferroptosis from coronary artery disease.

Ferroptosis plays a key role in the death of cells including cardiomyocytes, and it is related to a variety of cardiac diseases. However, the role of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in coronary artery disease (CAD) is not well characterized. We downloaded CAD-related information and FRGs from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database and Ferroptosis Database (FerrDb) respectively. A total of 10 CAD-related DE-FRGs were obtained, which were closely linked to autophagy regulation and immune response. Subsequently, CA9, CBS, CEBPG, HSPB1, SLC1A4, STMN1 and TRIB3 among the 10 DE-FRGs were identified as marker genes by LASSO and SVM-RFE algorithms, which had tolerable diagnostic capabilities. Subsequent functional enrichment analysis showed that these marker genes may play a corresponding role in CAD by participating in the regulation of immune response, amino acid metabolism, cell cycle and multiple pathways related to the pathogenesis of CAD. Furthermore, a total of 58 drugs targeting 7 marker genes had been obtained. On the contrary, the ceRNA network revealed a complex regulatory relationship based on the marker genes. Also, CIBERSORT analysis showed that the changes in the immune microenvironment of CAD patients may be related to CBS, HSPB1 and CEBPG. We developed a diagnostic potency and provided an insight for exploring the mechanism for CAD. Before clinical application, further research is needed to test its diagnostic value for CAD.

An Energy-Restricted Diet Including Yogurt, Fruit, and Vegetables Alleviates High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Mice by Modulating the Gut Microbiota.

BACKGROUND: The importance of the composition of an energy-restricted diet in the treatment of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is unknown. OBJECTIVES: In this study we aimed to investigate the benefits of a novel dietary treatment (50% calorie restriction diet composed of yogurt, fruit, and vegetables [CR-YD]) in mice with MetS. METHODS: Forty 7-wk-old male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 10/group) that were fed for 14 wk ad libitum with a normal diet (ND; 10%:70%:20% energy from fat: carbohydrate: protein) or for 12 wk with a high-fat diet (HFD; 60:20:20) or the HFD followed by 2 wk of feeding with a 50% calorie-restricted HFD (CR-HFD) or YD (CR-YD, 21.2%:65.4%:13.4% energy). Body weight, fat deposition, hepatic steatosis, serum concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers, and glucose homeostasis were assessed. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was used to validate the roles of gut microbiota in MetS. RESULTS: The HFD group had 50% greater body weight and 475% greater fat deposition than the ND group (P < 0.05). Compared with the HFD group, the CR-HFD and CR-YD groups had 22% and 31% lower body weight and 49% and 75% less fat deposition, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared with the CR-HFD group, the CR-YD group had 11% lower body weight, 96% less fat deposition, 500% less hepatic steatosis, 75% lower glucose, and 450% more hepatic Akkermansia bacteria (P < 0.05). The CR-YD group also had 50% lower histopathology scores and 1.35-fold higher levels of Claudin4 than the CR-HFD group (P < 0.05). The HFD + CR-YD fecal group had 10.6% lower body weight, 119% lower steatosis, and 17.9% lower glucose (P < 0.05) than the HFD + CR-HFD fecal group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with CR alone, the CR-YD diet has a better therapeutic effect in mice with HFD-induced MetS.

Degeneration and Regeneration of Smooth Muscle Cells in Two Different Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Models in Rabbits.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the formation and self-healing process of rabbit abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) by focus on the degeneration and regeneration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in elastase-induced AAA model and enlarging AAA model in rabbits. METHODS: Sixty rabbits were equally divided into 2 aneurysm groups (Group A and Group B). Rabbits received a 10-min incubation of elastase in Group A (10 units/µL) and Group B (1 unit/µL). Rabbits underwent aortic stenosis above the incubated segment in Group B. Aortic diameter was measured and rabbits were sacrificed for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. RESULTS: The incubated aorta dilated immediately and ran up to maxima by day 21 in Group A. All aneurysms formed by day 21 and enlarged progressively in Group B. SMCs content, elastin content and intima-media thickness decreased significantly by day 0 in Group A. SMCs and elastic fibers were destroyed gradually in Group B, however, SMCs content was significantly lower than Group A by day 70. Intimal thickness increased significantly by day 70 in the Aneurysm groups. MMP2 maintained moderate expression in Group A, which decreased significantly by day 3 in Group B. MMP9 and RAM11 expressions were higher by day 1, but decreased significantly by day 3 in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: Irreversible degeneration of SMCs is critical to a rapid formation of elastase-induced rabbit AAA model, and SMCs excessive regeneration accounts for the selfhealing process. SMCs degradation and regeneration remain relatively stable in an enlarging AAA model. SMCs should be the key target for studying the mechanism of AAA and intervention therapy.

Use of a new off-the-shelf 3D-printed trabecular titanium acetabular cup in Chinese patients undergoing hip revision surgery: Short- to mid-term clinical and radiological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been a challenge for surgeons. The purpose of this study was to explore the short-to mid-term clinical and radiological outcomes of Chinese patients who underwent revision THA using a new off-the-shelf three-dimensional (3D)-printed trabecular titanium (TT) acetabular cup by comparison with a conventional porous coated titanium acetabular cup, to provide a reference for the recommendation of this prostheses. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 57 patients (57 hips) who received revision THA was performed from January 2016 to June 2019. A total of 23 patients received 3D-printed cups (observation group) and 34 patients received non-3D-printed cups (control group). Clinical scores including Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Short Form 36 (SF-36), upward movement of the hip center of rotation(HCOR)and limb-length discrepancy (LLD), stabilization and bone ingrowth of cups were compared between two groups. The multivariate linear regression was used to determine the factors potentially influencing the HHS score. Postoperative complications in the two groups were also recorded. RESULTS: All 57 patients were routinely followed up. The average follow-up durations in the control and observation groups were 43.57 ± 13.68 (24-65) months and 41.82 ± 11.44 (24-64) months, respectively (p = 0.618). The postoperative clinical scores significantly improved in both groups compared to the preoperative scores (p < 0.001). The VAS score did not significantly differ between the groups at 3 (p = 0.946) or 12 (p = 0.681) months postoperatively, or at the last follow-up (p = 0.885). The HHS score did not significantly differ between the groups at 3 months (p = 0.378) postoperatively but differed at 12 months (p < 0.001) postoperatively and the last follow-up (p < 0.001). The SF-36 score did not significantly differ between the groups at 3 months (p = 0.289) postoperatively, but was significantly different at 12 months (p < 0.001) postoperatively and the last follow-up (p < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the postoperative recovery of HCOR and LLD was better in the observation group. All cups remained stable, with no loosening throughout the follow-up period. But the observation group had a significantly better rate of bone ingrowth compared to the control group (p = 0.037). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that different cup types, upward movement of the HCOR, and LLD influenced the HHS score at the last follow-up (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, respectively). None of the patients exhibited severe postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The new off-the-shelf 3D-printed TT acetabular cup demonstrated encouraging short-to mid-term clinical outcomes in Chinese patients. It can effectively relieve pain, improve hip function, provide satisfactory biological fixation and high survival rate. But further follow up is necessary to assess its long-term outcomes.

Isolation of Peptide Inhibiting SGC-7901 Cell Proliferation from Aspongopus chinensis Dallas.

Aspongopus chinensis Dallas is used as a traditional Chinese medicine as well as an edible insect. Although its anti-tumor effects have been observed, the anti-tumor active component(s) in the hemolymph of A. chinensis remains unknown. In this study, a combination usage of ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, FPLC and RP-HPLC to separate and purify active peptides was performed based on the proliferation of the human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell line treated with candidates. One peptide (MW = 2853.3 Da) was isolated from the hemolymph of A. chinensis. A total of 24 amino acid residues were continuously determined for the active peptide: N'-ECGYCAEKGIRCDDIHCCTGLKKK-C'. In conclusion, a peptide that can inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in the hemolymph of A. chinensis was purified in this study, which is homologous to members of the spider toxin protein family. These results should facilitate further works for this peptide, such as the cloning of genes, expression in vitro by prokaryotic or eukaryotic systems, more specific tests of anti-tumor activity, and so on.

Identification of the fibroin of Stigmaeopsis nanjingensis by a nanocarrier-based transdermal dsRNA delivery system.

Stigmaeopsis nanjingensis (Ma and Yuan) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an important pest of bamboo-feeding behavior and silk production by the female adult mites is seriously harmful to bamboo leaves. Due to its small size, silking and cocooning, its management is difficult. This study discusses a fast and easy method for management of the pest by disturbing the spinning behavior. Stigmaeopsis nanjingensis is host specific and feeds only on bamboo leaves. Leaf margins of bamboo are highly hydrophobic, which makes dsRNA difficult to immerse. Hence, it is a challenge to apply the commonly used feeding method to inhibit gene expression in mites. In this study, we deliver dsRNA to interfere with the expression of fibroin by body wall permeation with a nanocarrier-based delivery system. The dsRNA/nanocarrier formulation droplets could enter the body cavity within 2 min after falling on the mite. The fibroin silencing efficiency was 75.4%, and the results of electron microscopy showed that dsRNA/nanocarrier damage the morphological structure of the silk thread. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a nanocarrier-based percutaneous dsRNA delivery system in S. nanjingensis and its effect on the fibroin gene that influences the spinning behavior of S. nanjingensis. These findings may provide a new delivery system for RNAi-based control of spider mites that utilize protective webbing in the field.

AAV-Mediated Gene Transfer Restores a Normal Muscle Transcriptome in a Canine Model of X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy.

Multiple clinical trials employing recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors have been initiated for neuromuscular disorders, including Duchenne and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy, and recently X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM). Our previous work on a canine model of XLMTM showed that a single rAAV8-cMTM1 systemic infusion corrected structural abnormalities within the muscle and restored contractile function, with affected dogs surviving more than 4 years post injection. This remarkable therapeutic efficacy presents a unique opportunity to identify the downstream molecular drivers of XLMTM pathology and to what extent the whole muscle transcriptome is restored to normal after gene transfer. Herein, RNA-sequencing was used to examine the transcriptomes of the Biceps femoris and Vastus lateralis in a previously described canine cohort that showed dose-dependent clinical improvements after rAAV8-cMTM1 gene transfer. Our analysis confirmed several dysregulated genes previously observed in XLMTM mice but also identified transcripts linked to XLMTM pathology. We demonstrated XLMTM transcriptome remodeling and dose-dependent normalization of gene expression after gene transfer and created metrics to pinpoint potential biomarkers of disease progression and correction.