Dynamic Changes of Soil Microbial Communities During the Afforestation of Pinus Armandii in a Karst Region of Southwest China.

Clarifying the response of soil microbial communities to vegetation restoration is essential to comprehend biogeochemical processes and ensure the long-term viability of forest development. To assess the variations in soil microbial communities throughout the growth of Pinus armandii plantations in the karst region, we utilized the "space instead of time" approach and selected four P. armandii stands with ages ranging from 10 to 47 years, along with a grassland control. The microbial community structure was determined by conducting Illumina sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene and the ITS gene, respectively. The results demonstrated that afforestation with P. armandii significantly influenced soil microbial communities, as indicated by notable differences in bacterial and fungal composition and diversity between the plantations and the control. However, soil microbe diversity did not display significant variation across stand ages. Moreover, the bacterial community exhibited higher responsiveness to age gradients compared to the fungal community. Soil physicochemical factors play a critical role in elucidating microbial diversity and community composition variations during restoration processes. TN, AN, TP, AP, SOC, AK, and pH were the most significant influencing factors for the composition of bacterial community, while TC, SOC, pH, and TCa were the most significant influencing factors for the composition of fungal community. Our findings indicate substantial changes in soil bacterial and fungal communities across successive stages of development. Additionally, the changes in dominant bacteria and fungi characteristics across the age gradient were primarily attributed to variations in the prevailing soil conditions and chemical factors.

Association between AMPKα1 gene polymorphisms and gestational diabetes in the Chinese population: A case-control study.

AIM: The aim is to examine the association between seven candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms in AMPKα1 and gestational diabetes in Chinese people. METHOD: We used a matched nested case-control study design, individuals including 334 participants with gestational diabetes and 334 healthy pregnant women. Confirmed 334 gestational diabetes cases and maternal age and district of residence matched controls (1:1) were enrolled. We examined seven candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms in AMPKα1 gene and the risk of gestational diabetes. The associations were estimated in Co-dominant, Dominant, Recessive, and Alleles models. The odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated by unconditional logistical regression as a measure of the associations between genotypes and gestational diabetes adjusting for maternal age, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), fetal sex and parity. RESULT: At the gene level, we found that AMPKα1 was associated with gestational diabetes (p = 0.008). After adjusting the covariates and multiple comparison correction, AMPKα1 (rsc1002424, rs10053664, rs13361707) polymorphisms were associated with the risk of gestational diabetes. In addition, gestational diabetes was related to the AAGGA haplotype comprising rs1002424, rs2570091, rs10053664, rs13361707 and rs3805486 in the haplotype models (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that the AMPKα1 genotypes (rs1002424 G/A, rs10053664 A/G, rs13361707 A/G) and the haplotype (AAGGA) are relevant genetic factors in a Chinese population with gestational diabetes.

Polymorphisms in oxidative stress, metabolic detoxification, and immune function genes, maternal exposure to ambient air pollution, and risk of preterm birth in Taiyuan, China.

Exposure to air pollutants may be associated with preterm birth (PB) through oxidative stress, metabolic detoxification, and immune system processes. However, no study has investigated the interactive effects of maternal air pollution and genetic polymorphisms in these pathways on risk of PB. The study included 126 PB and 310 term births. A total of 177 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in oxidative stress, immune function, and metabolic detoxification-related genes were examined and analyzed. The China air quality index (AQI) was used as an overall estimation of ambient air pollutants. Among 177 SNPs, four SNPs (GPX4-rs376102, GLRX-rs889224, VEGFA-rs3025039, and IL1A-rs3783550) were found to have significant interactions with AQI on the risk of PB (Pinteraction were 0.001, 0.003, 0.03, and 0.04, respectively). After being stratified by the maternal genotypes in these four SNPs, 1.38 to 1.76 times of the risk of PB were observed as per interquartile range increase in maternal AQI among women who carried the GPX4-rs376102 AC/CC genotypes, the GLRX-rs889224 TT genotype, the VEGFA-rs3025039 CC genotype, or the IL1A-rs3783550 GT/TT genotypes. After adjustment for multiple comparisons, only GPX4-rs376102 and AQI interaction remained statistically significant (false discovery rate (FDR)=0.17). After additional stratification by preeclampsia (PE) status, a strongest association was observed in women who carried the GPX4-rs376102 AC/CC genotypes (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.41-3.65, Pinteraction=0.0002, FDR=0.035) in the PE group. Our study provided the first evidence that association between maternal air pollution and PB risk may be modified by the genetic polymorphisms in oxidative stress and immune function genes. Future large studies are necessary to replicate and confirm the observed associations.

Association of CPT1A gene polymorphism with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing public health problem worldwide and its etiology remains unclear. The pathophysiology of GDM is similar to that of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and insulin resistance (IR) is the main reason for the development of GDM. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) is a candidate gene for metabolic disorders; however, the association of the CPT1A gene and GDM has not yet been studied. We aimed to explore whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CPT1A gene could influence the risk of GDM. METHODS: We examined 18 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CPT1A gene and the risk of GDM in a nested case-control study of 334 GDM patients and 334 controls. The controls who had no GDM were randomly selected through matching to cases by age and residence. RESULTS: After adjusting the family history of diabetes, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and multiple comparison correction, the CPT1A rs2846194 and rs2602814 were associated with reduced GDM risk while rs59506005 was associated with elevated GDM risk. Moreover, the GGAC haplotype in the CPT1A gene (rs17399246 rs1016873 rs11228450 rs10896396) was associated with a reduced risk of GDM. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence for an association between genetic polymorphisms in the CPT1A and the risk of GDM.

Research hotspots and trends on acupuncture treatment for headache: a bibliometric analysis from 2003 to 2023.

Background: While acupuncture treatment has gained extensive usage in addressing headaches, there remains a notable gap in the literature analysis for this field. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a literature review using Citespace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix, aiming to examine the current status, strengths, and potential future directions in the utilization of acupuncture for headache treatment. Methods: Relevant literature on acupuncture treatment for headaches between 2003 and 2023 was retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) core database. Utilizing CiteSpace 6.1.R6, VOSviewer 1.6.18, and Bibliometrix 4.1.4, we conducted bibliometric analyses across various categories, including countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords. Results: A total of 808 research reports were included. China and the United States have significantly contributed to this field. Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine holds the record for the highest number of published papers. Liu Lu has the highest publication output, while Linde K has the highest citation rate. MEDICINE leads in publication frequency, while CEPHALALGIA holds the highest citation rate. The Long-term Effect of Acupuncture for Migraine Prophylaxis a Randomized Clinical Trial is the most cited reference. Migraine was the most researched type. Filiform needle acupuncture was the most widely used stimulation method. The safety and efficacy of acupuncture have received significant attention. Modern mechanism research shows that depression, brain functional connectivity, and neuroimaging technology have become research hotspots in the acupuncture treatment of headaches. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment for headaches has established a stable trend with a promising developmental trajectory. Research in this field mainly focuses on different acupuncture prevention and treatment for various types of headaches, the safety and efficacy of acupuncture, etc. Research on the mechanism of action mainly focuses on interpreting bidirectional and holistic regulation between pain and emotion by acupuncture and the regulation of brain function connection and neuroimaging technology by acupuncture. Future research should expand on the advantages and indications of acupuncture treatment for different headaches and their modern mechanisms.

Soil respiration and its response to climate change and anthropogenic factors in a karst plateau wetland, southwest China.

It is important to investigate the responses of greenhouse gases to climate change (temperature, precipitation) and anthropogenic factors in plateau wetland. Based on the DNDC model, we used meteorological, soil, and land cover data to simulate the soil CO2 emission pattern and its responses to climate change and anthropogenic factors in Guizhou, China. The results showed that the mean soil CO2 emission flux in the Caohai Karst Plateau Wetland was 5.89 ± 0.17 t·C·ha-1·yr-1 from 2000 to 2019, and the annual variation showed an increasing trend with the rate of 23.02 kg·C·ha-1·yr-1. The soil total annual mean CO2 emissions were 70.62 ± 2.04 Gg·C·yr-1 (annual growth rate was 0.28 Gg·C·yr-1). Caohai wetland has great spatial heterogeneity. The emissions around Caohai Lake were high (the areas with high, middle, and low values accounted for 3.07%, 70.96%, and 25.97%, respectively), and the emission pattern was characterized by a decrease in radiation from Caohai Lake to the periphery. In addition, the cropland and forest areas exhibited high intensities (7.21 ± 0.15 t·C·ha-1·yr-1 and 6.73 ± 0.58 t·C·ha-1·yr-1, respectively) and high total emissions (54.97 ± 1.16 Gg·C·yr-1 and 10.24 ± 0.88 Gg·C·yr-1, respectively). Croplands and forests were the major land cover types controlling soil CO2 emissions in the Caohai wetland, while anthropogenic factors (cultivation) significantly increased soil CO2 emissions. Results showed that the soil CO2 emissions were positively correlated with temperature and precipitation; and the temperature change had a greater impact on soil respiration than the change in precipitation. Our results indicated that future climate change (increased temperature and precipitation) may promote an increase in soil CO2 emissions in karst plateau wetlands, and reasonable control measures (e.g. returning cropland to lakes and reducing anthropogenic factors) are the keys to controlling CO2 emissions.

A network pharmacology integrated pharmacokinetics strategy to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of absorbed components from crude and processed Zingiberis Rhizoma on deficiency-cold and hemorrhagic syndrome.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Zingiberis Rhizoma (ZR) and Zingiberis Rhizoma Carbonisata (ZRC), as two forms of ginger-based herbal drugs used in China for at least 2000 years, have been recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia and applied for specific indications in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to explore the underlying therapeutic and processing mechanism of the absorbed components of ZR and ZRC on deficiency-cold and hemorrhagic syndrome (DCHS) using network pharmacological technique combined with pharmacokinetics strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a rapid and sensitive approach was conceived to simultaneously determine the seven components (zingiberone, 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, 6-shogaol, 6-paradol, diacetyl-6-gingerol and 10-gingerol) in rat serum by HPLC-DAD-MS. The network pharmacological technique was employed to evaluate the effect of the absorbed components of ZR and ZRC on DCHS. Also, the vitro experiments were carried out to validate the functions of the seven compounds on coagulation and other major haematological effects. RESULTS: The values of intra-assay and inter-assay precision were determined to be less than 7.44%, with an accuracy value ranging from 83.64% to 107.99%. Analysis of rat plasma revealed that the extraction recoveries and matrix effects of the seven analytes were >85.76%. The method for validation following oral administration of ZR and ZRC to rats was proved to be a success in the pharmacokinetic study of the seven ingredients. Pharmacokinetics showed that ZR processing could enhance the absorption and utilization of 6-shogaol, 6-paradol and diacetyl-6-gingerol, meanwhile reduce the absorption of 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol. Through the pathway enrichment analysis, it was found that the significant biological process of ZR and ZRC on DCHS was primarily associated with complement, coagulation cascades and platelet activation pathways. The vitro experiments indicated that zingiberone, 6-paradol and diacetyl-6-gingerol had a hemostatic effect by upregulating the expression of one or more targets such as TNF-α, FⅩa, FⅫ, FⅧ, ICAM-1, vWF and ITGB3. While 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, 8-gingerol and 10-gingerol played a critical role in promoting blood circulation by increasing the expression of TM and/or PORC, and/or reducing the expression of ITGB3. CONCLUSION: In brief, network pharmacological technique in combination with pharmacokinetics strategy provided an applicable method for pharmacological mechanism study of ZR and ZRC, which, also, could be used as reference for quality control of the two drugs. In a broader sense, this combined strategy might even be valuable in uncovering the therapeutic and processing mechanism of Chinese herbs on a systematic level.

Prenatal polymetallic exposure and small for gestational age: A case-control study in Taiyuan, China.

BACKGROUND: Studies focused on independent effects of metals on small for gestational age, failing to account for potential interdependence among metals. METHODS: In this case-control study, we selected 187 pregnant women and 187 matched controls from the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. Determination of 12 elements in the venous blood of pregnant women before delivery by ICP-MS. Logistic regression, weighted quantile sum regression (WQSR) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to estimate the overall effect and identify important mixture components that drive the associations with SGA. RESULTS: An increased risk of SGA was associated with As (OR= 1.06,95%CI: 1.01,1.12), Cd (OR= 1.24,95%CI: 1.04,1.47) and Pb (OR= 1.05,95%CI: 1.02,1.08), while Zn (OR= 0.58,95%CI: 0.45,0.76) and Mn (OR= 0.97,95%CI: 0.94,0.99) were protective factors for SGA. In the WQSR positive model, the mixture of heavy metals has a positive combined effect on SGA (OR= 1.74,95%CI: 1.15, 2.62), with Sb and Cd having the highest weights. The BKMR models confirmed that the metal mixture was associated with decreased risk of SGA when the concentration of 12 metals was between the 30th percentile and the 65th percentile, and Zn and Cd had the greatest independent effect. Zn and SGA may not be linearly correlated, higher Zn level may reduce the effect of Cd on the risk of SGA. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that exposure to multiple metals was associated with risk of SGA, and the observed association with multiple metals was dominated by Zn, Cd. Sb exposure during pregnancy may also increase the risk of SGA.

Prognostic biomarker replication factor C subunit 5 and its correlation with immune infiltrates in acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of replication factor C subunit 5 (RFC5) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from four aspects: expression, prognosis, biological functions, and its effects on the immune system. METHODS: The RFC5 gene expression and survival analyses, biological function analyses including functional enrichment analysis of genes co-expressed with RFC5, RFC5-interacted gene network construction, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and immune infiltration analysis were performed using data based on GDC TCGA and GEO. The CIBERSORT algorithm was employed to quantify immune cell fractions. All the statistical analyses were performed in SPSS software, GraphPad Prism, and R software. RESULTS: RFC5 expression was abnormally expressed in AML (P <0.05). Notably, differential RFC5 expression was observed among different FAB AML subtypes and hematopoietic lineages (all P <0.05). More importantly, high RFC5 expression served as an independent prognostic factor for the poor overall survival of AML patients (P <0.001). Enrichment analyses revealed that RFC5 was involved in cell cycle-related pathways in AML. CIBERSORT analysis showed high proportions of M2 macrophages in the high RFC5 expression group. CONCLUSIONS: RFC5 might serve as an effective and robust biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of AML. RFC5 might be involved in the AML progression via cell cycle regulation. Moreover, the correlation between RFC5 and immune cells might provide potential assistance for AML treatment.

Free amino acids, carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions responses to cadmium stress in two castor (Ricinus communis L.) species.

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity induce various disturbances in metabolic processes and impair plant establishment. The composition of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) and free amino acids (FAAs) can reflect the response of plants to environmental stress. In the present study, a solution culture experiment was carried out, and the secretion characteristics of FAAs as well as δ13C and δ15N were evaluated as indicative of the functional performance of two castor species (Zibo-3 and Zibo-9) under various Cd concentrations stress (0, 1, 2, and 5 mg L-1). The results indicated that: 1) The treatment of the plants with 5 mg L-1 of a Cd solution resulted in a significant decline of biomasses by 22.4% and 11.6% in Zibo-3 and Zibo-9, respectively, relative to controls; additionally, the accumulation levels for Cd in Zibo-9 were higher than those in Zibo-3, thus Zibo-9 showed higher tolerance and enrichment ability to Cd. 2) The exposure of castor to Cd treatments results in significant modifications in individual FAAs, suggesting a differential sensitivity of each biosynthetic pathway to this stress; however, a positive correlation was found between the accumulation of total FAAs and Cd treatment dosages; higher proportion of asparagine and glutamate in total amino acids for Zibo-9, and abundant secretion of arginine in Cd treated Zibo-9 may be associated with the higher Cd-tolerance and Cd-accumulation in Zibo-9. 3) Cd stress increased leaf δ13C and δ15N values regardless of the castor species; δ13C and δ15N could be used as monitoring tools for heavy metal stress in plants.

miR-383-5p Regulated by the Transcription Factor CTCF Affects Neuronal Impairment in Cerebral Ischemia by Mediating Deacetylase HDAC9 Activity.

Stroke, the leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, is caused by the blockage or hemorage of cerebral arteries. The resultant cerebral ischemia causes local neuronal death and brain injury. Histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) has been reported to be elevated in ischemic brain injury, but its mechanism in stroke is still enigmatic. The present study aimed to unveil the manner of regulation of HDAC9 expression and the effect of HDAC9 activation on neuronal function in cerebral ischemia. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) targeting HDAC9 were predicted utilizing bioinformatics analysis. We then constructed the oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) cell model and the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model, and elucidated the expression of CCCTC binding factor (CTCF)/miR-383-5p/HDAC9. Targeting between miR-383-5p and HDAC9 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNAi. After conducting an overexpression/knockdown assay, we assessed neuronal impairment and brain injury. We found that CTCF inhibited miR-383-5p expression via its enrichment in the promoter region of miR-383-5p, whereas the miR-383-5p targeted and inhibited HDAC9 expression. In the OGD model and the MCAO model, we confirmed that elevation of HDAC9 regulated by the CTCF/miR-383-5p/HDAC9 pathway mediated apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress, while reduction of HDAC9 alleviated apoptosis and the symptoms of cerebral infarction in MCAO rats. Thus, the CTCF/miR-383-5p/HDAC9 pathway may present a target for drug development against ischemic brain injury.

The complete chloroplast genome of Berberis weiningensis (Berberidaceae), an endemic and traditional Chinese medicinal herb.

Berberis weiningensis is a frequently-used traditional Chinese medicinal herb that included various active alkaloids. In this study, we assembled the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of B. weiningensis. The complete cp genome of B. weiningensis is 166,275 bp in length, and has a typical structure with large single-copy (LSC 73,624 bp) and small single-copy (SSC 18,608 bp) regions separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs 37,019 bp) of large size. The B. weiningensis cp genome contains 147 genes, of which 101 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 38 tRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Berberis species closely clustered with Mahonia species, which obviously support that Mahonia and Berberis are not monophyletic.

Spatio-temporal characteristics and control strategies in the early period of COVID-19 spread: a case study of the mainland China.

COVID-19 has caused huge impacts on human health and the economic operation of the world. Analyzing and summarizing the early propagation law can help reduce the losses caused by public health emergencies in the future. Early data on the spread of COVID-19 in 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) of mainland China except for Hubei, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan were selected in this study. Spatio-temporal analysis, inflection point analysis, and correlation analysis are used to explore the spatio-temporal characteristics in the early COVID-19 spread. The results suggested that (1) the total confirmed cases have risen in an "S"-shaped curve over time, and the daily new cases have first increased and finally decreased; (2) the spatial distributions of both total and daily new cases show a trend of more in the east and less in the west, with a "multi-center agglomeration distribution" around Hubei Province and some major cities; (3) the spatial agglomeration of total confirmed cases has been increasing over time, while that of the daily new cases shows much more obvious in the mid-stage; and (4) timely release of the first-level public health emergency response can accelerate the emergence of the epidemic inflection point. The above analysis results have a specific reference value for the government's policy-making and measures to face public health emergencies.

Identification of Parkinson's disease-related pathways and potential risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To identify Parkinson's disease (PD)-associated deregulated pathways and genes, to further elucidate the pathogenesis of PD. METHODS: Dataset GSE100054 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PD samples were identified. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted for the DEGs. The top 10 hub genes in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were screened out and used to construct a support vector machine (SVM) model. The expression of the top 10 genes was then validated in another dataset, GSE46129, and a clinical patient cohort. RESULTS: A total of 333 DEGs were identified. The DEGs were clustered into two gene sets that were significantly enriched in 12 pathways, of which 8 were significantly deregulated in PD, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, gap junction, and actin cytoskeleton regulation. The signature of the top 10 hub genes in the PPI network was used to construct the SVM model, which had high performance for predicting PD. Of the 10 genes, GP1BA, GP6, ITGB5, and P2RY12 were independent risk factors of PD. CONCLUSION: Genes such as GP1BA, GP6, P2RY12, and ITGB5 play critical roles in PD pathology through pathways including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, gap junctions, and actin cytoskeleton regulation.

Author Correction: Identifying long-term stable refugia for relict plant species in East Asia.

In the original version of this Article, an incorrect sample size was provided for the number of relict species (443 instead of 442) and the number of relict forests (423 instead of 422). These errors have been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Identifying long-term stable refugia for relict plant species in East Asia.

Today East Asia harbors many "relict" plant species whose ranges were much larger during the Paleogene-Neogene and earlier. The ecological and climatic conditions suitable for these relict species have not been identified. Here, we map the abundance and distribution patterns of relict species, showing high abundance in the humid subtropical/warm-temperate forest regions. We further use Ecological Niche Modeling to show that these patterns align with maps of climate refugia, and we predict species' chances of persistence given the future climatic changes expected for East Asia. By 2070, potentially suitable areas with high richness of relict species will decrease, although the areas as a whole will probably expand. We identify areas in southwestern China and northern Vietnam as long-term climatically stable refugia likely to preserve ancient lineages, highlighting areas that could be prioritized for conservation of such species.

Potential effects of climate change on geographic distribution of the Tertiary relict tree species Davidia involucrata in China.

This study, using species distribution modeling (involving a new approach that allows for uncertainty), predicts the distribution of climatically suitable areas prevailing during the mid-Holocene, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and at present, and estimates the potential formation of new habitats in 2070 of the endangered and rare Tertiary relict tree Davidia involucrata Baill. The results regarding the mid-Holocene and the LGM demonstrate that south-central and southwestern China have been long-term stable refugia, and that the current distribution is limited to the prehistoric refugia. Given future distribution under six possible climate scenarios, only some parts of the current range of D. involucrata in the mid-high mountains of south-central and southwestern China would be maintained, while some shift west into higher mountains would occur. Our results show that the predicted suitable area offering high probability (0.5‒1) accounts for an average of only 29.2% among the models predicted for the future (2070), making D. involucrata highly vulnerable. We assess and propose priority protected areas in light of climate change. The information provided will also be relevant in planning conservation of other paleoendemic species having ecological traits and distribution ranges comparable to those of D. involucrata.