WITHDRAWN: Effect of Auricular Point Acupressure Combined with Three-step Analgesic Therapy on Cancer Pain.

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Treatment of Patients With Electrical Injury by Using Modified Forearm Venous Flap: Retrospective Case Series Study.

OBJECTIVE: Severe hand electrical injuries often occur in functional areas such as joints; the repair requires attention to both appearance and function due to the visibility of the hand. This study aimed to present the clinical experience of successfully repairing hand electrical injuries using improved forearm venous flaps. METHODS: From 2020 to 2022, 15 cases of severe hand electrical injuries were diagnosed, including 10 males and 5 females. Among them, 6 cases were repaired in the first web space, 4 in the thumb, 3 in the index finger, 2 in the middle finger, 2 in the ring finger, and 2 in the little finger. The size of venous flaps ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.8 cm to 12 cm × 4.0 cm. All patients underwent repair using improved forearm venous flaps. The follow-up period ranged from 5 to 8 months. RESULTS: All flaps survived without serious complications. All patients were satisfied with the postoperative aesthetics and function of their hands. CONCLUSION: The improved forearm venous flap is a simple and reliable method for repairing hand electrical injuries.

PDE1 or PDE5 inhibition augments NO-dependent hypoxic constriction of porcine coronary artery via elevating inosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate level.

Hypoxic coronary vasospasm may lead to myocardial ischaemia and cardiac dysfunction. Inosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cIMP) is a putative second messenger to mediate this pathological process. Nevertheless, it remains unclear as to whether levels of cIMP can be regulated in living tissue such as coronary artery and if so, what is the consequence of this regulation on hypoxia-induced vasoconstriction. In the present study, we found that cIMP was a key determinant of hypoxia-induced constriction but not that of the subsequent relaxation response in porcine coronary arteries. Subsequently, coronary arteries were treated with various phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors to identify PDE types that are capable of regulating cIMP levels. We found that inhibition of PDE1 and PDE5 substantially elevated cIMP content in endothelium-denuded coronary artery supplemented with exogenous purified cIMP. However, cGMP levels were far lower than their levels in intact coronary arteries and lower than cIMP levels measured in endothelium-denuded coronary arteries supplemented with exogenous cIMP. The increased cIMP levels induced by PDE1 or PDE5 inhibition further led to augmented hypoxic constriction without apparently affecting the relaxation response. In intact coronary artery, PDE1 or PDE5 inhibition up-regulated cIMP levels under hypoxic condition. Concomitantly, cGMP level increased to a comparable level. Nevertheless, the hypoxia-mediated constriction was enhanced in this situation that was largely compromised by an even stronger inhibition of PDEs. Taken together, these data suggest that cIMP levels in coronary arteries are regulated by PDE1 and PDE5, whose inhibition at a certain level leads to increased cIMP content and enhanced hypoxic constriction.

Wind pollination over 70 years reduces the negative genetic effects of severe forest fragmentation in the tropical oak Quercus bambusifolia.

Whether wind pollination in trees can offset the negative genetic consequences of anthropogenic forest fragmentation is not clearly established. To answer this question, we examined the demographic genetics of Quercus bambusifolia over a 70-year recovery period in highly fragmented forests in Hong Kong. We sampled 1138 individuals from 37 locations, and genetically analysed the chronosequence through the classification of tree diameters from the same populations using 13 microsatellite markers. Our study reveals that severe fragmentation caused a significant genetic bottleneck with very few remaining but genetically diverse individuals. We observed an enhanced genetic diversity during demographic recovery. We found full-sibs within populations and half-sibs across the study range. This reflects a limited seed dispersal and extensive pollen flow. Despite reduced genetic structure both among and within populations, overall a strong persisting genetic differentiation (F'ST = 0.240, P < 0.01) and significant small-scale spatial genetic structure (F(1) = 0.13, Sp = 0.024, P < 0.01) were observed. Existing bottlenecks and low effective population sizes within the temporal chronosequence suggest that the long-term effect of severe fragmentation cannot be entirely eliminated by wind pollination with demographic recovery in the absence of effective seed dispersal. Our results lead to recommendations for forest management.

Genome-wide DNA polymorphism in the indica rice varieties RGD-7S and Taifeng B as revealed by whole genome re-sequencing.

Next-generation sequencing technologies provide opportunities to further understand genetic variation, even within closely related cultivars. We performed whole genome resequencing of two elite indica rice varieties, RGD-7S and Taifeng B, whose F1 progeny showed hybrid weakness and hybrid vigor when grown in the early- and late-cropping seasons, respectively. Approximately 150 million 100-bp pair-end reads were generated, which covered ∼86% of the rice (Oryza sativa L. japonica 'Nipponbare') reference genome. A total of 2,758,740 polymorphic sites including 2,408,845 SNPs and 349,895 InDels were detected in RGD-7S and Taifeng B, respectively. Applying stringent parameters, we identified 961,791 SNPs and 46,640 InDels between RGD-7S and Taifeng B (RGD-7S/Taifeng B). The density of DNA polymorphisms was 256.8 SNPs and 12.5 InDels per 100 kb for RGD-7S/Taifeng B. Copy number variations (CNVs) were also investigated. In RGD-7S, 1989 of 2727 CNVs were overlapped in 218 genes, and 1231 of 2010 CNVs were annotated in 175 genes in Taifeng B. In addition, we verified a subset of InDels in the interval of hybrid weakness genes, Hw3 and Hw4, and obtained some polymorphic InDel markers, which will provide a sound foundation for cloning hybrid weakness genes. Analysis of genomic variations will also contribute to understanding the genetic basis of hybrid weakness and heterosis.

Preliminary study on the active substances and cellular pathways of lactic acid bacteria for colorectal cancer treatment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor and is one of the three most common cancers worldwide. Traditional surgical treatment, supplemented by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has obvious side effects on patients. Immunotherapy may lead to some unpredictable complications. Low introduction rate and high cost are some of the problems of gene therapy, so finding a safe, reliable and least toxic treatment method became the main research direction for this study. Lactic acid bacteria and their metabolites are widely used in functional foods or as adjuvant therapies for various diseases because they are safe to eat and have no adverse reactions. Research has shown that lactic acid bacteria and their metabolites play an auxiliary therapeutic role in colorectal cancer mainly by improving the intestinal flora composition, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria and inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. It is now widely believed that the substances that probiotics such as lactic acid bacteria exert anti-cancer effects are mainly secondary metabolites such as butyric acid. Lb. plantarum AY01 isolated from fermented food has good anti-cancer ability, and its main anti-cancer substance is 2'-deoxyinosine. Through flow cytometry detection, it was found that Lb. plantarum AY01 can block cell proliferation in the S phase. In addition, Lb. plantarum AY01 culture reduces the sensitivity of mice to colitis-associated CRC induced by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) and exhibits the occurrence and promotion of tumors. According to transcriptome analysis, Lb. plantarum AY01 may induce apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells by activating the p38 MAPK pathway. This experiment provided possibilities for the treatment of CRC.

Evidence-based nursing reduces complications and negative emotions and improves limb function in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study primarily analyzed the influence of evidence-based nursing (EBN) on postoperative complications (POCs), negative emotions (NEs) and limb function of patients undergoing hip arthroplasty (HA). METHODS: The research participants were 109 patients undergoing HA in Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University from September 2019 to September 2021. Among them, 52 patients who received routine nursing intervention were set as a control group, and 57 patients that received EBN were set as the research group. The POCs (infection; pressure sores, PS; lower extremity deep venous thrombosis, LEDVT), NEs (Hamilton Anxiety/Depression Scale, HAMA/HAMD), limb function (Harris Hip Score, HHS), pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), quality of life (QoL; Short-Form 36 Item Health Survey, SF-36) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI) were compared. Finally, the risk factors of complications in patients undergoing HA were identified by Logistic regression. RESULTS: The incidence of POCs such as infection, PS and LEDVT was markedly lower in the research group than that in the control group. The postinterventional HAMA and HAMD scores of the research group were obviously lower than the baseline (before intervention) and those of the control group. The research group also exhibited obviously higher scores in various dimensions of the HHS and SF-36 than the baseline and control group. Moreover, the post-interventional VAS and PSQI scores of the research group were markedly reduced compared with the baseline and those of the control group. Factors including drinking history, place of residence and nursing modality were found to be not associated with an increased risk of complications in patients undergoing HA. CONCLUSION: EBN can lower the incidence of POCs, mitigate NEs and pain perception, and enhance limb function, QoL and sleep quality in patients undergoing HA, so it is worth popularizing.

Precise Construction of Sn/C Composite Membrane with Graphene-Like Sn-in-Carbon Structural Units toward Hyperstable Anode for Lithium Storage.

A new-type binder-free Sn/C composite membrane with densely stacked Sn-in-carbon nanosheets was prepared by vacuum-induced self-assembly of graphene-like Sn alkoxide and following in situ thermal conversion. The successful implementation of this rational strategy is based on the controllable synthesis of graphene-like Sn alkoxide by using Na-citrate with the critical inhibitory effect on polycondensation of Sn alkoxide along the a and b directions. Density functional theory calculations reveal that graphene-like Sn alkoxide can be formed under the joint action of oriented densification along the c axis and continuous growth along the a and b directions. The Sn/C composite membrane constructed by graphene-like Sn-in-carbon nanosheets can effectively buffer volume fluctuation of inlaid Sn during cycling and much enhance the kinetics of Li+ diffusion and charge transfer with the developed ion/electron transmission paths. After temperature-controlled structure optimization, Sn/C composite membrane displays extraordinary Li storage behaviors, including reversible half-cell capacities up to 972.5 mAh g-1 at a density of 1 A g-1 for 200 cycles, 885.5/729.3 mAh g-1 over 1000 cycles at large current densities of 2/4 A g-1, and terrific practicability with reliable full-cell capacities of 789.9/582.9 mAh g-1 up to 200 cycles under 1/4 A g-1. It is worthy of noting that this strategy may open up new opportunities to fabricate advanced membrane materials and construct hyperstable self-supporting anodes in lithium ion batteries.

Clinical analysis of decision implementation by a multidisciplinary team in cervical cancer cases in Ganzhou, China.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the role of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) in clinical practice for cervical cancer by analyzing the development of a single-case multidisciplinary consultation for cervical cancer. Methods: Patients in MDT consultations for cervical cancer were retrospectively analyzed for clinical information, decision content of MDT discussion, implementation, and follow-up results. Results: Of the 392 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 359 had a first episode, of which 284 were stage IA-IIA2 (79.11%) and 75 were stage IIB-IVB (20.89%). Of these 392, 33 had a recurrence (8.42%). A total of 416 cases were analyzed, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy with surgery was recommended in 43 cases, of which 40 cases were implemented, and 36 of the 40 achieved the expected outcome. Surgical treatment was recommended in 241 cases, of which 226 underwent surgery, and 215 of them achieved the expected outcome. Radiotherapy was recommended in 31 cases, of which 26 cases underwent it, and 22 of them achieved the expected efficacy. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was recommended in 57 cases, of which 49 underwent it, and 39 of them achieved the expected efficacy. Other treatments were recommended in 44 cases, of which 23 cases were implemented, and 10 of them achieved the expected efficacy, with statistically significant differences compared with cases without implementation (P <0.05). MDT decisions were correlated with age; the younger the patients, the higher the implementation efficiency (P <0.05). The difference between MDT expectation in all implementation and partial implementation and age was statistically significant (P <0.05). No significant difference was found between age and MDT expectation in all not fully implemented decisions (P >0.05). Some decisions were not fully implemented due to economic status and fear of certain treatments of the patient. Conclusion: The MDT plays an important role in clinical practice such as clinical staging, treatment plan, and the complete treatment management of patients with cervical cancer, which can significantly improve the near-term treatment effect, whereas its effect on a long-term prognosis needs further clinical observation and active exploration.

AtACDO1, an ABC1-like kinase gene, is involved in chlorophyll degradation and the response to photooxidative stress in Arabidopsis.

ABC1 (activity of bc1 complex) is a newly discovered atypical kinase in plants. Here, it is reported that an ABC1 protein kinase-encoded gene, AtACDO1 (ABC1-like kinase related to chlorophyll degradation and oxidative stress), located in chloroplasts, was up-regulated by methyl viologen (MV) treatment. AtACDO1 RNAi (RNA interference) plants showed developmental defects, including yellow-green leaves and reduced contents of carotenoids and chlorophyll; the chlorophyll reduction was associated with a change in the numbers of chlorophyll-binding proteins of the photosynthetic complexes. Chlorophyllide (Chlide) a the first product of chlorophyll degradation, and pheophorbide a, a subsequent intermediate of Chlide a degradation, were increased in AtACDO1 RNAi plants. The AtACDO1 RNAi plants were more sensitive to high light and MV than wild-type plants. The AtACDO1 RNAi plants had lower transcript levels of the oxidative stress response genes FSD1, CSD1, CAT1, and UTG71C1 after MV treatment compared with wild-type or 35S::AtACDO1 plants. Taken together, the results suggest that the chloroplast AtACDO1 protein plays important roles in mediating chlorophyll degradation and maintaining the number of chlorophyll-binding photosynthetic thylakoid membranes, as well as in the photooxidative stress response.

The grain yield regulator NOG1 plays a dual role in latitudinal adaptation and cold tolerance during rice domestication.

Rice originated in tropical and subtropical regions and is distributed worldwide. Low temperature is one of the most critical abiotic stresses affecting grain yield and geographical distribution of rice. It is vital to elucidate the molecular mechanism of chilling tolerance in rice for ensuring cereals production. Previously we isolated the domestication-related gene NOG1 which affects rice grain number and yield. In this study, we specified that rice varieties harboring high-yielding NOG1 allele are more distributed in low-latitude regions. Additionally, we observed NOG1 influences the chilling tolerance of rice. Through genome-wide transcriptional analysis after cold treatment at 10°C, there were 717 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in nog1 near-isogenic lines compared with the control Guichao 2, including 432 up-regulated DEGs and 284 down-regulated DEGs. Gene ontology annotations and KEGG enrichment analysis of DEGs showed that various biological processes and signaling pathways were related to cold stress, such as lipid metabolism and genetic information processing. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of chilling tolerance in rice and the molecular basis of environmental adaptation during rice domestication.

[Evaluation of risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) through a prospective multicenter study. METHODS: Eleven children's or maternal & child hospitals participated in a collective network. All infants of birth weight < 2000 g, born in or transferred to one of the participating centers from January 1st 2005 to February 28th 2006 were recruited. Timely ophthalmologic examinations were performed. The relevant data at baseline and endpoints were collected at each unit. RESULTS: A total of 882 preterm infants fulfilled the screening criteria and 752 finished a followup. And 123 infants (16.4%) had some degree of ROP. Infants with ROP had a lower gestational age, birth weight and a longer duration of oxygen versus those without ROP [(30.82 +/- 0.20) weeks vs (32.56 +/- 0.09) weeks, (1430 +/- 25) g vs (1636 +/-10) g, (11.6 +/- 1.4) d vs (4.4 +/- 0.3) d]. Through a univariate analysis, birth weight, gestational age, asphyxia, oxygen duration > 5 days, apnea, surfactant usage, pneumonia, anemia, blood transfusion, acidosis and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) were associated with ROP (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that birth weight (OR = 0.998), apnea (OR = 1.653) and blood transfusion (OR = 1.763) were independent risk factors for ROP. CONCLUSION: Asphyxia, oxygen duration > 5 days, surfactant usage, anemia, acidosis and NRDS, lower birth weight, apnea and blood transfusion may improve the risks of ROP.

Arabidopsis SUMO E3 Ligase SIZ1 Interacts with HDA6 and Negatively Regulates HDA6 Function during Flowering.

The changes in histone acetylation mediated by histone deacetylases (HDAC) play a crucial role in plant development and response to environmental changes. Mammalian HDACs are regulated by post-translational modifications (PTM), such as phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification (SUMOylation), which affect enzymatic activity and transcriptional repression. Whether PTMs of plant HDACs alter their functions are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that the Arabidopsis SUMO E3 ligase SAP AND MIZ1 DOMAIN-CONTAINING LIGASE1 (SIZ1) interacts with HISTONE DEACETYLASE 6 (HDA6) both in vitro and in vivo. Biochemical analyses indicated that HDA6 is not modified by SUMO1. Overexpression of HDA6 in siz1-3 background results in a decreased level of histone H3 acetylation, indicating that the activity of HDA6 is increased in siz1-3 plants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays showed that SIZ1 represses HDA6 binding to its target genes FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and MADS AFFECTING FLOWERING 4 (MAF4), resulting in the upregulation of FLC and MAF4 by increasing the level of histone H3 acetylation. Together, these findings indicate that the Arabidopsis SUMO E3 ligase SIZ1 interacts with HDA6 and negatively regulates HDA6 function.

Protective effect of supplemental anthocyanins on Arabidopsis leaves under high light.

Ten anthocyanin components have been detected in roots of purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. All the anthocyanins were exclusively cyanidins or peonidin 3-sophoroside-5-glucosides and their acylated derivatives. The total anthocyanin content in purple sweet potato powder obtained by solid-phase extraction was 66 mg g(-1). A strong capacity of purple sweet potato anthocyanins (PSPA) to scavenge reactive oxygen species (superoxide, hydroxyl radical) and the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl organic free radical was found in vitro using the electron spin resonance technique. To determine the functional roles of anthocyanins in leaves in vivo, for the first time, supplemental anthocyanins were infiltrated into leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana double mutant of the ecotype Landsberg erecta (tt3tt4) deficient in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging showed that anthocyanins significantly ameliorated the inactivation of photosystems II during prolonged high-light (1300 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) exposure. Comet assay of DNA revealed an obvious role of supplemental PSPA in alleviating DNA damage by high light in leaves. Our results suggest that anthocyanins could function in vitro and in vivo to alleviate the direct or indirect oxidative damage of the photosynthetic apparatus and DNA in plants caused by high-light stress.

[Comparison of intestinal microbial community succession based on different universal primer sets].

The important role of intestinal microorganisms in human health has been widely confirmed. At present, most of the studies on intestinal microorganisms are based on amplification of the V3-V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA gene, and little attention has been paid to archaea. In this study, a primer set which can amplify 16S rRNA gene of both bacteria and archaea at the same time was used. By comparing the community changes before and after probiotics intake, it showed that this primer set is suitable for analyzing the changes of human intestinal bacteria and archaea communities. The fecal samples of volunteers were collected, and the amplification and high-throughput sequencing were carried out by using bacterial primer set (B primer) and bacterial and archaeal universal primer (AB primer); several commonly used rRNA databases were used to determine the amplification ability of the primer set to bacteria and archaea. The results showed that AB primer could display the bacterial community amplified by B primer, and could obtain the sequence of common methanogenic archaea in intestinal tract. AB primer set can analyze the bacteria and archaea in the intestinal tract at the same time by only one amplification and sequencing, which can show the structure of intestinal microbial community more comprehensively, which is suitable for the research of intestinal microorganisms.

[Superficial temporal artery composite perforator flap in repair of temporal skin and soft tissue defects and reconstruction of sideburns].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of repairing temporal skin and soft tissue defects and reconstructing sideburns with superficial temporal artery composite perforator flap. METHODS: Between January 2018 and January 2019, 12 patients with temporal tumors were treated. There were 5 males and 7 females with an average age of 51 years (range, 37-68 years). There were 8 cases of basal cell carcinoma and 4 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. The disease duration ranged from 3 months to 4 years (mean, 13 months). The area of residual wound after tumor resection was 3.8 cm×2.5 cm-5.2 cm×3.5 cm. The superficial temporal artery composite perforator flap was designed. The hairy superficial temporal artery frontal branch perforator flap was used to repair the hair growing area and reconstruct the sideburn; and the area of the flap was 2.5 cm×1.0 cm-4.2 cm×3.0 cm. And the superficial temporal artery descending branch perforator flap without hair was used to repair the hair-free area; and the area of the flap was 2.5 cm×1.5 cm-7.5 cm×4.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly. RESULTS: All flaps survived, and the incisions at the donor and recipient sites healed by first intention. Eleven patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 9 months). The incisions were not obvious. The flaps were flat and the color of the flaps were not significantly different from the surrounding skin. The reconstructed sideburns were consistent with the healthy side and the facial appearance was satisfactory. No local tumor recurred during follow-up. CONCLUSION: For the temporal skin and soft tissue defects involving the sideburn, the superficial temporal artery composite perforator flap can be used to repair subunits with different aesthetic characteristics in sections and has the advantages of operating simply, obtaining satisfied facial appearance, and little effect on the donor site.

The blood parameters and liver function changed inconsistently among children between burns and traumatic injuries.

OBJECTIVE: Burn and traumatic injury are two kinds of injury by modality. They cause acute phase response and lead to a series of pathological and physiological changes. In this study, we explored whether there are differences in routine blood parameters and liver enzyme levels between burned and traumatically injured children. METHODS: Patients under 18 years old with injuries were recruited. Their demographic and clinical data were recorded. Collected clinical data included routine blood parameters (white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), platelets (PLT), hemoglobin (HB)), serological enzyme levels (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholinesterase (CHE)), and total protein (TP) levels (albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB)). A generalized linear model and multivariate analysis of variance were used to conduct comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 162 children (109 with burns and 53 with traumatic injuries) with a mean age of 4.36 ± 4.29 years were enrolled in the study. Burned children had higher levels of RBC, HB, WBC, AST and lower levels of TP, CHE, ALB than traumatically injured children (P < 0.05). Moreover, the concentration of WBC and HB was higher in males compared to females (P < 0.001). Conversely, the level of AST and TP in males was lower, AST levels were significantly lower in males (P = 0.005). Age positively correlated with the levels of HB, AST and TP (P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with WBC (P < 0.001). With decreasing body mass index (BMI), the levels of WBC, HB, AST and TP significantly increased in both groups of injured children (P < 0.001). In addition, ISS was positively correlated with WBC and HB levels (P < 0.001), but negatively correlated with AST and TP levels (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Children with burn injuries suffered a greater acute response and liver damage than traumatically injured children. This may in part underlie clinical observations of differences in children morbidity and mortality in response to different injury types.

Transcriptomic analysis of de novo folate biosynthetic genes in Lactobacillus plantarum strain 4_3 in fermented soybean.

Folate is an important intermediate in cellular metabolism. However, because of a lack of key enzymes in the folate biosynthetic pathway, humans require supplementation with dietary folate. Some Lactobacillus plantarum strains have the ability to produce folate. To gain a better understanding of the folate biosynthetic pathway in the L. plantarum strain 4_3, which generates high folate yields, L. plantarum strain 4_3 was grown in folic acid casei medium (FACM) and fermented soybean, after obtaining a draft genome sequence. The pH values and folate yields were monitored during culturing, as were the transcriptomic profiles of cultured bacteria. The folate content increased for 12 h and then decreased before increasing again. All the genes involved in the de novo biosynthesis of folate were detected in both the genomic and transcriptomic data. The upregulation of the para-aminobenzoate biosynthesis pathway could explain the folate production in fermented soybean. Soybeans are a good substrate for the production of functional foods because of their well-suited cultivation and nutritional quality. The results of this study provide a good explanation for the high folate production observed during the fermentation of soybeans.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 Ameliorates diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction in mouse aorta via activation of the CaMKK2/AMPKα signaling pathway.

Endothelial dysfunction initiates and exacerbates hypertension, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular complications in diabetic mellitus. FGF21 is a hormone that mediates a number of beneficial effects relevant to metabolic disorders and their associated complications. Nevertheless, it remains unclear as to whether FGF21 ameliorates endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated the effect of FGF21 on endothelial function in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We found that FGF21 reduced hyperglycemia and ameliorated insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic mice, an effect that was totally lost in type 1 diabetic mice. However, FGF21 activated AMPKα, suppressing oxidative stress and enhancing endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of aorta in both types, suggesting a mechanism that is independent of its glucose-lowering and insulin-sensitizing effects. In vitro, we identified a direct action of FGF21 on endothelial cells of the aorta, in which it bounds to FGF receptors to alleviate impaired endothelial function challenged with high glucose. Furthermore, the CaMKK2-AMPKα signaling pathway was activated to suppress oxidative stress. Apart from its anti-oxidative capacity, FGF21 activated eNOS to dilate the aorta via CaMKK2/AMPKα activation. Our data suggest expanded potential uses of FGF21 for the treatment of vascular diseases in diabetes.

Is the delivery mode a critical factor for the microbial communities in the meconium?

BACKGROUND: Mothers are the primary source of bacteria for newborns, but it is unclear whether mother-to-newborn transmission occurs prior to, during or after birth. Similarly, the effect of the delivery mode on neonatal microorganisms has been the focus of controversy. METHODS: Healthy maternal and neonatal pairs that underwent vaginal birth and caesarean section were enrolled in this study. Meconium, placenta, membrane and amniotic fluid samples for newborns and vaginal, rectal and oral samples for mothers were collected. All samples were amplified and sequenced by a 16S rRNA gene primer set targeting bacteria and archaea. FINDINGS: A total of 550 samples from 36 mother-neonate pairs with vaginal births and 42 mother-neonate pairs with caesarean sections were included in this study. The negative controls showed that the data analysis in this study was not affected by contamination. There was a high diversity of microbial communities in the pregnancy environment of the foetus. Meconium samples could be divided into three distinct types that were not influenced by the delivery method. INTERPRETATION: The distribution patterns of bacterial communities in the meconium, placenta, and foetal membranes were highly similar and had nothing to do with the mode of delivery. For approximately half of the placental microorganisms, the same sequence could be found in the vaginal, rectal, and oral samples of the mother.