The impact of altered dietary adenine concentrations on the gut microbiota in Drosophila.

The gut microbiota influences host metabolism and health, impacting diseases. Research into how diet affects gut microbiome dynamics in model organisms is crucial but underexplored. Herein, we examined how dietary adenine affects uric acid levels and the gut microbiota over five generations of Drosophila melanogaster. Wild-type W1118 flies consumed diets with various adenine concentrations (GC: 0%, GL: 0.05%, and GH: 0.10%), and their gut microbiota were assessed via Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Adenine intake significantly increased uric acid levels in the GH group > the GC group. Despite no significant differences in the alpha diversity indices, there were significant disparities in the gut microbiota health index (GMHI) and dysbiosis index (MDI) among the groups. Adenine concentrations significantly altered the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota. High adenine intake correlated with increased uric acid levels and microbial population shifts, notably affecting the abundances of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. The gut microbiota phenotypes included mobile elements, gram-positive bacteria, biofilm-forming bacteria, and gram-negative bacteria. The significantly enriched KEGG pathways included ageing, carbohydrate metabolism, and the immune system. In conclusion, adenine intake increases uric acid levels, alters gut microbiota, and affects KEGG pathways in Drosophila across generations. This study highlights the impact of dietary adenine on uric acid levels and the gut microbiota, providing insights into intergenerational nutritional effects.

Sufentanil-induced Nrf2 protein ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury through suppressing neural ferroptosis.

As an oxidative stress and inflammation-related disease, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a prevalent pathogenic factor of ischemic stroke (IS) and seriously degrades the life quality of human beings. As an opioid analgesic for anesthesia, Sufentanil (SUF) can activate the Nrf2 protein-induced anti-oxidant effects, which indicate that SUF may be used as alternative drug for CIRI therapy, but little is known regarding to its molecular mechanisms. Thus, this research aimed to examine whether SUF pre-treatment alleviated CIRI through the modulation of Nrf2 protein-mediated antioxidant activity. Our research revealed that middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R)-treated rats exhibited apparent CIRI-related symptoms and induced damages in rats' brain, which were all notably mitigated in the MCAO/R rats. The subsequent in vitro cellular experiments verified that oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced cytotoxicity were apparently reversed by SUF co-treatment in HT22 and BV2 cells, and it was also validated that SUF was capable of suppressing inflammation and ferroptosis in CIRI models by inhibiting oxidative stress-related damages. Mechanistically, the Akt/GSK-3ß pathway was excessively activated by SUF to promote Nrf2 protein expressions and enhance Nrf2-meidated anti-oxidant effects, and it was found that SUF-induced protective effects during CIRI progression were all abrogated by co-treating cells with MK2206 (Akt inhibitor), NP-12 (GSK-3ß inhibitor), or ML385 (Nrf2 inhibitor). In conclusion, SUF activated the Akt/GSK-3ß pathway to initiate Nrf2 protein-mediated antioxidant effects, which further suppressed oxidative stress-related inflammation and ferroptosis to ameliorate CIRI progression, and SUF could potentially be used as novel therapeutic agent for CIRI treatment in clinic.

The Effect of Heat Aging on the Microstructure and Properties of Spray-Deposited AlZnMgCu Alloy Extruded Plates.

The heat-aging process, a practical aging technology that not only improves the comprehensive performance of Al alloys but also reflects the requirements of short processes, has an extremely practical significance. The effects of the heating rate and termination temperature on the "heat-aging" behavior of a spray-deposited AlZnMgCu alloy hot-extruded plate were investigated using hardness, electrical conductivity, room-temperature tensile strength, exfoliation corrosion experiments, and transmission electron microscopy microstructure (TEM) observation. The results show that as the termination temperature increases, the hardness of the spray-deposited AlZnMgCu alloy first increases to a peak and then rapidly decreases, while the electrical conductivity continues to increase. The increase in the heating rate improves the peak hardness corresponding to the termination temperature. The heat treatment process of heating at a speed of 20 °C/h to 200 °C after the spray deposition has similar mechanical and corrosion resistance properties to the RRA process and can effectively reduce the heating time from 40 h to 8 h, thus establishing a heat treatment process for spray-deposited AlZnMgCu alloy extruded plate with high aging efficiency.

Corrosion Properties and Passive Film Interface of Inconel 718 in NaNO3 Solution for Laser-Assisted Electrochemical Machining.

Laser-assisted electrochemical machining (ECM) is an ideal manufacturing method for Inconel 718 (IN718) because of the method's high efficiency and good surface quality, and the basis for and key to laser-assisted ECM is its anodic electrochemical dissolution behavior. In this study, IN718 in a 10 wt % NaNO3 solution was subjected to innovative electrochemical testing and laser-assisted ECM experiments to investigate its corrosion properties and the passive film characteristics formed on its surface. The passivation-related behaviors and structures of the passive film were investigated based on open-circuit potentials, dynamic polarization, potentiostatic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was found that there was obvious active-passive-transpassive transition behavior, and the structure of the passive film in laser-assisted ECM exhibited pores and defects, resulting in weak corrosion resistance, compared with IN718 under ECM without laser irradiation. The chemical composition of the passive film was obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the passive film was composed mainly of a mixture of NiO, Ni(OH)2, Cr2O3, CrO3, Fe2O3, α-Fe2O3, α-FeOOH, Nb2O5, NbO, MoO3, MoO2, and TiO2. The passive film formed by laser-assisted ECM was rich in NiO and TiO2 and lacked Cr2O3 and MoO3, which validated its pores and defect structures. A corresponding schematic model was also proposed to characterize the interface structure between the IN718 substrate and the passive film. Laser-assisted ECM tests were performed under different current densities and machining times, and the corrosion morphology of IN718 was identified. Corrosion pits and a loose product layer appeared on the machined surface at low current densities, and the dissolution mechanism was pitting. The quantity and depth of the corrosion pits dispersed on the machined surface clearly decreased as the current density increased. Finally, a quantitative corrosion model was established to characterize the dissolution behavior of IN718 in NaNO3 solution during laser-assisted ECM.

scSemiProfiler: Advancing large-scale single-cell studies through semi-profiling with deep generative models and active learning.

Single-cell sequencing is a crucial tool for dissecting the cellular intricacies of complex diseases. Its prohibitive cost, however, hampers its application in expansive biomedical studies. Traditional cellular deconvolution approaches can infer cell type proportions from more affordable bulk sequencing data, yet they fall short in providing the detailed resolution required for single-cell-level analyses. To overcome this challenge, we introduce "scSemiProfiler", an innovative computational framework that marries deep generative models with active learning strategies. This method adeptly infers single-cell profiles across large cohorts by fusing bulk sequencing data with targeted single-cell sequencing from a few rigorously chosen representatives. Extensive validation across heterogeneous datasets verifies the precision of our semi-profiling approach, aligning closely with true single-cell profiling data and empowering refined cellular analyses. Originally developed for extensive disease cohorts, "scSemiProfiler" is adaptable for broad applications. It provides a scalable, cost-effective solution for single-cell profiling, facilitating in-depth cellular investigation in various biological domains.

The Application of Pneumatic Arm in Neuroendoscopic Transsphenoidal Pituitary Adenoma Resection.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the application experience of the pneumatic arm in transnasal sphenoidal pituitary adenoma resection under neuroendoscope. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 52 patients with pituitary adenoma who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery with pneumatic arm fixation in the Neurosurgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from July 2021 to March 2024. Among them, there were 5 cases of pituitary microadenoma, 35 cases of macroadenoma, and 12 cases of giant adenoma. Head CT and a full set of hormones were re-examined within 24 hours after surgery to evaluate the surgical effect. Follow-up was conducted by the outpatient department after surgery to assess the clinical symptoms, hormone level, and imaging of all patients. RESULTS: Among 52 patients, gross total resection was achieved in 48 cases (92.3%), subtotal resection in 3 cases (5.8%), and partial resection in 1 case (1.9%). Preoperatively, 43 patients had diminished vision, with 40 showing improvement postoperatively, 1 worsening, and 2 having no significant improvement. Thirty-eight patients had headaches preoperatively, and all showed varying degrees of improvement postoperatively. Routine hormone examination within 24 hours after surgery showed that all 20 prolactinoma patients had restored normal hormone levels, 10 of 12 growth hormone-secreting adenoma patients normalized, and 4 of 6 cases of adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting adenoma immediately relieved after surgery. Postoperative complications included intracranial hematoma in 1 case, cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 2 cases, transient diabetes insipidus in 6 cases, intracranial infection in 1 case, and no death cases. The median follow-up time of 52 patients was 18.6 months (range: 1-32 mo). During the follow-up period, the initial clinical symptoms of all patients improved to varying degrees, and they were able to work and live normally. At the last follow-up, 1 patient had recurrent tumor and 1 patient had progression. CONCLUSION: Transnasal sphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma using a pneumatic arm-fixed neuroendoscope allows the operator to perform the surgery with both hands, resulting in satisfactory overall tumor resection and fewer surgical complications. This technique has good clinical value for promotion.

Coastal conversion alters topsoil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stocks and stoichiometric balances in subtropical coastal wetlands.

The extensive conversion of coastal wetlands into agricultural and aquaculture areas has significant repercussions on soil nutrient balance. However, how coastal conversion specifically influences the dynamics and stoichiometry of topsoil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) remains limited due to the considerable spatial variability and a lack of comprehensive field data. Here, we investigated the concentration and distribution of total C (TC), N (TN) and P (TP), along with their stoichiometric balance in four distinct coastal landscapes, including natural marshes and tidal flats, as well as converted agricultural croplands and ponds. The results revealed that converted croplands and ponds exhibited significantly higher concentrations of soil C, N and P, particularly in comparison to tidal flats. Furthermore, croplands and ponds have higher topsoil C stocks than tidal flats, but little difference or even lose stored C compared to marshes. Cropland soils showed considerably higher levels of available N (NH4+-N and NO3--N) and available P compared to those in natural marshes and tidal flats. The distribution of soil TC, TN, and TP demonstrated greater spatial heterogeneity in natural marshes and tidal flats, while the converted areas were more uniform and became hotspots for N and P accumulation. Coastal conversion altered soil C:N:P stoichiometry, with cropland soils exhibiting a lower N:P ratio (2.9 ± 1.1), indicating that long-term application of N and P fertilizers could decrease the N:P ratio, as P is more retained in the soil than N. Furthermore, it was observed that the dynamics of C, N and P, as well as their stoichiometry, are closely linked to soil physicochemical properties, especially soil organic matter and texture. These findings highlight that coastal conversion and associated management practices markedly affected soil C, N and P dynamics in a representative wetland area of the subtropical regions, leading to a reshaping of their stoichiometric balances, particularly in the topsoil layer.

E3 ligases and DUBs target ferroptosis: A potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.

Ferroptosis is a form of cell death mediated by iron and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Recent studies have provided compelling evidence to support the involvement of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that regulate ferroptosis in NDDs may improve disease management. Ferroptosis is regulated by multiple mechanisms, and different degradation pathways, including autophagy and the ubiquitinproteasome system (UPS), orchestrate the complex ferroptosis response by directly or indirectly regulating iron accumulation or lipid peroxidation. Ubiquitination plays a crucial role as a protein posttranslational modification in driving ferroptosis. Notably, E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are key enzymes in the ubiquitin system, and their dysregulation is closely linked to the progression of NDDs. A growing body of evidence highlights the role of ubiquitin system enzymes in regulating ferroptosis sensitivity. However, reports on the interaction between ferroptosis and ubiquitin signaling in NDDs are scarce. In this review, we first provide a brief overview of the biological processes and roles of the UPS, summarize the core molecular mechanisms and potential biological functions of ferroptosis, and explore the pathophysiological relevance and therapeutic implications of ferroptosis in NDDs. In addition, reviewing the roles of E3s and DUBs in regulating ferroptosis in NDDs aims to provide new insights and strategies for the treatment of NDDs. These include E3- and DUB-targeted drugs and ferroptosis inhibitors, which can be used to prevent and ameliorate the progression of NDDs.

Built-in Electric Fields in Heterostructured Lamellar Membranes Enable Highly Efficient Rejection of Charged Mass.

Separation membranes with homogeneous charge channels are the mainstream to reject charged mass by forming electrical double layer (EDL). However, the EDL often compresses effective solvent transport space and weakens channel-ion interaction. Here, built-in electric fields (BIEFs) are constructed in lamellar membranes by assembling the heterostructured nanosheets, which contain alternate positively-charged nanodomains and negatively-charged nanodomains. We demonstrate that the BIEFs are perpendicular to horizontal channel and the direction switches alternately, significantly weakening the EDL effect and forces ions to repeatedly collide with channel walls. Thus, highly efficient rejection for charged mass (salts, dyes, and organic acids/bases) and ultrafast water transport are achieved. Moreover, for desalination on four-stage filtration option, salt rejection reaches 99.9 % and water permeance reaches 19.2 L m-2 h-1 bar-1. Such mass transport behavior is quite different from that in homogeneous charge channels. Furthermore, the ion transport behavior in nanochannels is elucidated by validating horizontal projectile motion model.

The Influence of Precipitated Particles on the Grain Size in Cold-Rolled Al-Mn Alloy Foils upon Annealing at 100-550 °C.

The Al-Mn alloy heat exchanger fin production process includes a brazing treatment at s high temperature of 600 °C, in which coarse grains are preferred for their high resistance to deformation at elevated temperatures by decreasing the grain boundary sliding. In this study, Al-1.57Mn-1.57Zn-0.58Si-0.17Fe alloy foils cold rolled by 81.7% (1.1 mm in thickness) and 96.5% (0.21 mm in thickness) were annealed at 100-550 °C for 1 h to investigate their recrystallization behavior, grain sizes, and precipitates by increasing the annealing temperature, using micro-hardness measurement, electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The micro-hardness results showed that the recrystallization finishing temperatures for the two samples were almost the same, 323 ± 2 °C. The EBSD results showed that when the annealing temperature decreased from 550 to 400 °C, the recrystallized grain sizes of the two samples were nearly identical-both increased slightly. Further decreasing the annealing temperature from 400 to 330 °C caused the grain sizes to increase more, with the thinner foil sample having a more significant increase. The SEM and TEM observations showed that the micron-sized primary-phase remained unchanged during the annealing process. The nano-sized secondary phase precipitates formed during the hot-rolling process experienced a coarsening and dissolving process upon annealing. The particle size of the secondary phase increased from 32 nm to 44 nm and the area fraction decreased from 4.2% to 3.8%. The nucleation analysis confirmed that the large primary-phase could act as a nucleation site through particle stimulated nucleation (PSN) mode. The relatively dense secondary phase precipitates with small sizes at lower temperatures could provide higher Zener drag to the grain boundaries, leading to fewer nuclei and thereafter coarser grains. The coarsening of the recrystallized grains in the foils could be implemented through thickness reduction and/or precipitation processes to form densely distributed nano-sized precipitates.

The effects of Lu3+, Gd3+ and Ga3+ substitution on the photoluminescence of Y2.95-x-yLuxGdyAlzGa5-zO12:0.05Ce3+ phosphors for high-power white AC-LEDs.

Various yellowish-green persistent phosphors of Y2.95-x-yLuxGdyAl5-zGazO12:0.05Ce3+ (x = 0-1, y = 0-1, z = 1-4) were successfully synthesized by the one-step high-temperature solid-state reaction method in air. The effects of simultaneous doping of Lu3+, Gd3+ and Ga3+ on the luminescence properties of the phosphors were investigated in detail for the first time. Herein, the microstructure, morphology, afterglow performance, luminescence properties, thermoluminescence, thermal quenching and flicker index of the efficient blue-light-activated Y2.95-x-yLuxGdyAl5-zGazO12:0.05Ce3+ phosphors were tested. The τ90 and τ80 values of Y1.45LuGd0.5Al2.5Ga2.5O12:0.05Ce3+ are 10.8 ms and 33.2 ms, respectively. These parameters are important in terms of effectiveness in reducing flicker in alternating current (AC) LEDs. Compared with the conventional Y3Al2Ga3O12:Ce3+ phosphor, the Y1.45LuGd0.5Al2.5Ga2.5O12:0.05Ce3+ phosphor has a better luminescence performance, stronger afterglow performance, and lower flicker index. The quantum yield of the Y1.45LuGd0.5Al2.5Ga2.5O12:0.05Ce3+ phosphor was 86.42% and the luminous efficiency of the LED devices prepared with it reached 92.12 lm W-1 when operated at 100 mA. Integrating sphere and spectroradiometer tests as well as CIE chromaticity diagrams indicate that the AC-WLEDs assembled by mixing the Y1.45LuGd0.5Al2.5Ga2.5O12:0.05Ce3+ phosphor and a commercial red phosphor in an appropriate ratio could obtain ideal white light with a high color-rendering index (87.9) and the flickering index was successfully reduced from 100% to 61.4%.

Aggresome formation promotes ASK1/JNK signaling activation and stemness maintenance in ovarian cancer.

Aggresomes are the product of misfolded protein aggregation, and the presence of aggresomes has been correlated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. However, the exact role of aggresomes in tumorigenesis and cancer progression remains largely unknown. Herein, the multiomics screening reveal that OTUD1 protein plays an important role in retaining ovarian cancer stem cell (OCSC) properties. Mechanistically, the elevated OTUD1 protein levels lead to the formation of OTUD1-based cytoplasmic aggresomes, which is mediated by a short peptide located in the intrinsically disordered OTUD1 N-terminal region. Furthermore, OTUD1-based aggresomes recruit ASK1 via protein-protein interactions, which in turn stabilize ASK1 in a deubiquitinase-independent manner and activate the downstream JNK signaling pathway for OCSC maintenance. Notably, the disruption of OTUD1-based aggresomes or treatment with ASK1/JNK inhibitors, including ibrutinib, an FDA-approved drug that was recently identified as an MKK7 inhibitor, effectively reduced OCSC stemness (OSCS) of OTUD1high ovarian cancer cells. In summary, our work suggests that aggresome formation in tumor cells could function as a signaling hub and that aggresome-based therapy has translational potential for patients with OTUD1high ovarian cancer.

Polymer carbon nitride nanosheet-based lamellar membranes inspired by "couple hardness with softness" for ultrafast molecular separation in organic solvents.

Membranes with ultrafast molecular separation ability in organic solvents can offer unprecedented opportunities for efficient and low-cost solvent recovery in industry. Herein, a graphene-like polymer carbon nitride nanosheet (PCNN) with a low-friction surface was applied as the main membrane building block to boost the ultrafast transport of the solvent. Meanwhile, inspired by the concept of "couple hardness with softness", soft and flexible graphene oxide (GO) was chosen to fix the random stack of the rigid PCNN and tailor the lamellar structure of the PCNN membrane. The optimal PCNN/GO lamellar membrane shows a remarkable methanol permeance of 435.5 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 (four times higher than that of the GO membrane) while maintaining a high rejection for reactive black (RB, 98.9% in ethanol). Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to elucidate the ultrafast transport mechanism of the PCNN/GO membrane. This study reveals that PCNN is a promising building block for lamellar membranes and may open up new avenues for high-performance molecular separation membranes.

An Investigation Into Whether the Facial Nerve and Auditory Nerve can be Protected by Removal of the Posterior Wall of the Internal Auditory Canal Under 30° Neuroendoscopy During Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical technique of microresection of vestibular schwannoma by removing the posterior wall of the internal auditory canal (IAC) under neuroelectrophysiological monitoring and 30° neuroendoscopy, with respect to the protection of facial and auditory nerve function. Forty-five cases of microscopic resection of auditory neuromas were performed through a posterior approach to the inferior occipital sigmoid sinus using a 30° neuroendoscope to assist in the removal of the posterior wall of the IAC during surgery. Patients underwent cranial enhancement magnetic resonance imaging examination and functional assessment of the facial and auditory nerves before and after surgery, and clinical data were collected for retrospective analysis. All tumors were removed in 41 patients, and most of the tumors were removed in 4 patients. The facial nerve was anatomically preserved in 43 patients (95.6%), and the percentage of facial nerve function preservation (House-Brackmann grade I-II) was 84.4%. Forty patients (88.9%) had anatomical preservation of the auditory nerve, with a 66.7% functional preservation rate. At 3 to 39 months of follow-up, 45 patients were reviewed with 3.0 T-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and no tumor recurrence was observed in any of the patients. Microscopic resection of auditory neuroma through the posterior approach of the inferior occipital sigmoid sinus with intraoperative use of 30° neuroendoscopic assistance to abrade the posterior wall of the IAC can eliminate dead space in certain anatomical areas during surgery and minimize surgical damage to the facial and auditory nerves, which is the basis for preservation of facial and auditory nerve function.

Chemically Asymmetric Polymers Manipulate the Crystallization of Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks to Synthesize Processable Nanosheets.

Nanosheets derived from two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) are increasingly desirable in various fields. While breakthroughs in the chemical and physical delamination of 2D COFs are rising, precisely regulating the growth of the COF nanosheets has not been realized yet. Herein, we report an effective strategy of polymer-manipulated crystallization to accurately control the growth of COF nanosheets. Chemically asymmetric polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is developed as the manipulator that selectively interacts with the aldehydes and (100) facet to induce anisotropic growth of COFs. The number of PVP constitutional units determines this specific interaction, leading to molecularly thin but thickness-controllable nanosheets with excellent dispersity. We process these nanosheets into robust A4-sized membranes for ultraselective molecular separation. The membrane intercalated with long-chain PVP demonstrates largely improved performance, surpassing the reported COF membranes. This work reports a strategy for anisotropically crystallizing 2D COFs to yield processable nanosheets toward practical applications.

[Effect of High-Concentration Uric Acid on Nitric Oxide].

Uric acid (UA) is the final product of purine metabolism in human body,and its metabolic disorder will induce hyperuricemia (HUA).The occurrence and development of HUA are associated with a variety of pathological mechanisms such as oxidative stress injury,activation of inflammatory cytokines,and activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.These mechanisms directly or indirectly affect the bioavailability of endogenous nitric oxide (NO).The decrease in NO bioavailability is common in the diseases with high concentration of UA as an independent risk factor.In this review,we summarize the mechanisms by which high concentrations of UA affect the endogenous NO bioavailability,with a focus on the mechanisms of high-concentration UA in decreasing the synthesis and/or increasing the consumption of NO.This review aims to provide references for alleviating the multisystem symptoms and improving the prognosis of HUA,and lay a theoretical foundation for in-depth study of the correlations between HUA and other metabolic diseases.

Genome-wide identification of nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family (NPF) genes reveals that PaNPF5.5 enhances nitrate uptake in sweet cherry under high nitrate condition.

NITRATE TRANSPORTER 1 (NRT1)/PEPTIDETRANSPORTER (PTR) family (NPF) plays a significant role in nitrate transport. However, little is known about the NPF genes in sweet cherry. In this study, a total of 60 PaNPF genes in sweet cherry were identified by bioinformatics, which were divided into 8 families. Transcriptomic analysis showed that most PaNPF genes responded to both low and high nitrate conditions, especially PaNPF5.5, which was highly up-regulated under high nitrate condition. Molecular analysis showed that PaNPF5.5 was a transporter localized to the cell membrane. Further functional studies found that PaNPF5.5 overexpression promoted the growth of sweet cherry rootstock Gisela 6 by accelerating the nitrogen absorption process under high nitrate environment. Taken together, we believe that PaNPF5.5 plays an important role in regulating the transport of nitrate at high nitrate conditions, and provides a promising method for improving nitrate absorption efficiency at nitrogen excess environment.

Short-term efficacy of additional laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate short-term efficacy of direct laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy (LAG) versus non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) plus additional LAG for early gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 286 patients were retrospectively assigned into two groups: direct LAG group (n = 255) and additional LAG (ESD plus LAG, n = 31) group. A 1:2 propensity score matching was performed to equalize relevant confounding factors between two groups for analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients were successfully matched, including 62 in the direct LAG group and 31 in the additional LAG group. A significant (P = 0.013) difference existed in the drainage removal time between the additional LAG and direct LAG group (7 d vs. 6 d). Age, sex, tumor location and surgical approach were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with complications, with age ≥ 60 years (P = 0.002) and total gastrectomy (P = 0.011) as significant independent risk factors. A significant (P = 0.023) difference existed in the surgical time between the early and late groups (193.3 ± 37.6 min vs. 165.5 ± 25.1 min). CONCLUSION: Additional LAG (D1 + lymphadenectomy) after ESD may be safe and effective even though non-curative ESD may prolong the drainage removal time and increase the difficulty of surgery.

Elevated blood pressure accelerates white matter brain aging among late middle-aged women: a Mendelian Randomization study in the UK Biobank.

BACKGROUND: Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a modifiable risk factor associated with cognitive impairment and cerebrovascular diseases. However, the causal effect of BP on white matter brain aging remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, we focused on N  = 228 473 individuals of European ancestry who had genotype data and clinical BP measurements available (103 929 men and 124 544 women, mean age = 56.49, including 16 901 participants with neuroimaging data available) collected from UK Biobank (UKB). We first established a machine learning model to compute the outcome variable brain age gap (BAG) based on white matter microstructure integrity measured by fractional anisotropy derived from diffusion tensor imaging data. We then performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to estimate the causal effect of BP on white matter BAG in the whole population and subgroups stratified by sex and age brackets using two nonoverlapping data sets. RESULTS: The hypertension group is on average 0.31 years (95% CI = 0.13-0.49; P  < 0.0001) older in white matter brain age than the nonhypertension group. Women are on average 0.81 years (95% CI = 0.68-0.95; P  < 0.0001) younger in white matter brain age than men. The Mendelian randomization analyses showed an overall significant positive causal effect of DBP on white matter BAG (0.37 years/10 mmHg, 95% CI 0.034-0.71, P  = 0.0311). In stratified analysis, the causal effect was found most prominent among women aged 50-59 and aged 60-69. CONCLUSION: High BP can accelerate white matter brain aging among late middle-aged women, providing insights on planning effective control of BP for women in this age group.

PaLectinL7 enhances salt tolerance of sweet cherry by regulating lignin deposition in connection with PaCAD1.

Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs), a large family of plant receptor-like kinases, play an important role in plant response to abiotic stresses. However, little information is available about the roles of LecRLKs in the salt stress response of sweet cherry (Prunus avium). Here, an L-type LecRLK gene (PaLectinL7) was characterized from sweet cherry. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that PaLectinL7 is a plasma membrane protein. The expression of PaLectinL7 was up-regulated by salt, drought and exogenously gibberellin treatments. Overexpression of PaLectinL7 in the roots of Gisela 6 enhanced its tolerance to salt stress. Additionally, transcriptome analysis showed that lignin metabolic-related genes were regulated by PaLectinL7 overexpression. Meanwhile, the lignin contents and associated enzymes (CAD and COMT) rose concurrently with PaLectinL7 overexpression under salt stress. We also found that PaCAD1, a key enzyme involved in lignin metabolism, interacted with PaLectinL7 and could be phosphorylated by PaLectinL7 in vitro, suggesting that PaLectinL7 may regulate the enzyme activity of PaCAD1. Therefore, these results indicated that PaLectinL7, as a membrane-bound regulator, promoted lignin deposition by regulating the activities of enzymes related to lignin metabolism, thus enhancing salt tolerance.